"Justine Larbalestier - Strange Horizons - The Cruel Brother" - читать интересную книгу автора (Larbalestier Justine)

Greta felt dizzy and did not hear all he said. "A wife? Yes, find yourself a wife."
She turned and made her way back to the house, telling herself that she was not
running, and that her eyes did not sting.


Within the week Hans had asked Beth Colven, and she, trembling and blushing,
had said yes, and they were all -- all, for it was spring and there was seven pair
to be joined -- packed into the kirk on Sunday, and there was dancing and beer
and laughter, and Greta danced with Beth's brother William, and many others.
The wedding cakes were sugary and light and airy, but one groom brushed them
away, saying he had not the tooth for sweetmeats. His sister Greta ate no cake
neither, though Tom Hode offered it to her: "A sweet for my sweet."


"I'm not your sweet, and besides, I've no liking for them."


The merriment lasted the night through. At first light, fair Beth and all the other
brides were without their maidenhoods, and the sheets were held aloft amidst
blushing and laughter.


Greta took herself to the outhouse. In between the heartache and the retching,
Greta noted that her own blood had not come. She wiped her mouth with her
hand, straightened her dress, took a few uneven steps back towards the house
-- and then Hans was before her.


"What are you about?" said Greta -- harsher than she intended, but his clothes
were disarrayed and he looked happy when he should be as heartfelt distraught
as she was.


"I done my task now, are you happy?"


"What're you speaking of, stupid brother? Task? I see a wedding, and blood on a
sheet."


"As you told me. I got myself a wife."


"As I told you? A wife. . ."


Hans put his arms about Greta and smoothed her hair. "It's done and now we
can be together." He kissed her mouth and she felt the heat growing between
them and she thought of the babe, likely, forming inside her and also of Beth
newly filled.