"Elizabeth Moon - Serrano 6 - Change of Command" - читать интересную книгу автора (Moon Elizabeth)

responsibility.

She had been determined to go away, to change herself into someone else, and break the connection
with the rash young Brun who fell into captivity; but watching her father's enemiesтАФenemies she
had not known he hadтАФat her father's funeral, that resolve weakened.



Prima Bowie sat embroidering a collar with a row of tiny green leaves, and kept a sharp eye on her
household. It was hard to realize that only a short time ago she had been Prima Bowie in truth,
Mitch's first wife and mother of nine children, with a real household to manage, a household with
a garden and weaving shed, with courtyards for the children, and servants and tutors. Now she was
Prima Bowie on her new Familias identity card, because that's what Hazel had told them, and even
Hazel didn't know that wasn't a name but a title. She had been called Ruth Ann in childhood, long
before she was any man's prima, but no one had called her that since her father died. And Mitch's
last name wasn't BowieтАФthat was his title. He was really a Pardue. So her name ought to be Ruth
Ann Pardue.

Should she tell someone? It would not be fitting to be called Prima Serrano, when that young woman
became his first wife. She knew that, even as she hated the thought of being second or third
behind such a young thingтАФand, what was worse, a heathen abomination who was actually in the
military.

"Prima?" She looked up, to see Simplicity in the doorway. "Hazel's here, Mama . . . Prima . . ."

Simplicity had never learned not to call her Mama. Prima wished again that Mitch had not made such
a fuss about it, but he had, and she'd had to send the child to the servant's hall even before she
was out of the virgin's bower. It occurred to Prima that now she could reverse that decision.

"It's all right to call me mama here, Simplicity," she said softly. The girl's expression relaxed.

"Mama! But the RangerтАФ"

"Isn't here. You may say Mama."

Simplicity ran over, just like the small child she was inside, and hugged Prima clumsily. "Love
you, Mama."

"I love you, Simplicity," Prima said, greatly daring. She patted the girl on the shoulder. "There
now. Go to the kitchen and bring us some lemonade."

"Yes, Mama." Simplicity had always been biddable and sweet; Prima could not help wishing Mitch had
appreciated that sweetness more.

Hazel tapped at the doorframe. "Prima?"

"Yes." Prima pushed the needle through her work, and laid it aside. "Come in, have a seat. What is
the news?"

Hazel looked at her. "You could turn on a vid."