"Andre Norton & Rosemary Edghill - Carolus Rex 1 - The Shadow of Albion" - читать интересную книгу автора (Norton Andre)

were drawn back from the sides and looped to each bedpost with a tasseled bullion
cord. A .merry fire crackled in the carved stone fireplace at the foot of the room,
and such of the furnishings as Sarah could see from her supine position rivaled for
elegance any of the engravings in Cousin MashamтАЩs pattern books. Some private
house in the neighborhood of the accident, no doubt тАУ but why was she here?
Sarah clutched at a strap dangling near the head of the bed, and by its aid
managed to pull herself upright, realizing only then that her traveling clothes had been
removed and a nightdress substituted. In a sudden pang of fear Sarah clutched for
her fatherтАЩs ring, and relaxed as she felt the hard shape of it, still laced on its ribbon
beneath the bosom of the nightdress. She leaned back against the carved maple
headboard, weak with the effort of moving.
тАЮOh тАУ!тАЬ A gasp of dismay made Sarah turn her head. A maid stood in the
doorway to the right of the bed, regarding Sarah woefully.
тАЮIтАЩd only stepped out for a moment when I heard you ring тАУ Mistress did not
think youтАЩd wake before sundown, my lady.тАЬ
Sarah smiled reassuringly, tfiough the effort made her entire face hurt. тАЮThere is
no harm done. But tell me тАУ where am I?тАЬ
The maid bobbed a nervous curtsy. тАЮBulford Hall, my lady. Mistress Bulford said
I was to sit with you until you woke. Shall I тАУ тАЬ
тАЮPlease help me up,тАЬ Sarah said, not meaning to interrupt, but unable to bear lying
helpless a moment longer. The maid came to the side of the bed and helped to turn
back the heavy brocaded coverlet. тАЮWhat is your name?тАЬ Sarah asked kindly,
hoping to dispel some of the girlтАЩs nervousness.
тАЮRose, my lady.тАЬ
It was the third time since her awakening in this strange place that Sarah had been
addressed by a title that was not hers. Before she could correct Rose, the girl had
turned away, collecting a voluminous woolen shawl from a nearby table and
returning to wrap it about SarahтАЩs shoulders.
тАЮMistress says тАУ or she would say if she was here, my lady, how very sorry she is
that you hasnтАЩt your own things to hand, but never you fret, тАШcoz Jem has ridden for
Mooncoign and'tтАЩwill not take him long at all, with the Squire putting him up on the
fastest in all the stables тАУ тАЬ
Sarah leaned upon RoseтАЩs arm and stood shakily upon limbs that quivered with
more than the aftermath of the accident. The girl chattered on nervously, to SarahтАЩs
growing unease. The nightdress that had replaced her plain traveling costume was of
fine Indian lawn, lavished with ribbons and lace and far too fine for the succor of
some nameless accident victim. And surely all the coachтАЩs injured passengers could
not be lodged in this splendor?
Rose settled Sarah in a chair before the fire before running to the clothespress to
return with another shawl to wrap SarahтАЩs legs. тАЮIs there aught else I can fetch you,
my lady?тАЬ
тАЮIтАЩm afraid there must be some mistake,тАЬ Sarah began weakly, wondering how
best to explain that she was not whatever highborn lady Rose mistook her for.
тАЮThere you are, Rose. I must say тАУ тАЬ What the speaker must say would remain
forever a mystery. Catching sight of Sarah, she swept a deep curtsy.
тАЮYour Ladyship! How sad that mis dreadful accident should be the cause of your
visit to my humble establishment тАУ which is, nevertheless, honored by your
presence,тАЬ Mistress Bulford amended firmly.
тАЮWhere are the coach and the other passengers?тАЬ Sarah asked, but apparently her
hostess misunderstood, for she replied: