"Sean Russell - River Into Darkness 1 - Beneath the Vaunted Hills" - читать интересную книгу автора (Russell Sean)

seemed very apt to Erasmus. It was as though they all hovered about, rubbing antennae, caught up in a
collective orgy of adoration.

He could not see the woman who was the focus of this adulation, but he could see the reactions of those
around. They were transported, foolish with delight at finding themselves in the company of this woman.
And it was not just the men. The women seemed hardly less affected. Erasmus felt it himself, and he still
had not caught a glimpse of the countess.

тАЬCan you see her, Barton?тАЭ Erasmus asked, for Barton was a good half a foot taller and looked over
virtually everyoneтАЩs head.

тАЬAlmost,тАЭ he answered, not shifting his gaze away from the spectacle.

Suddenly someone in the throng moved to one side and Erasmus thought he caught a glimpse of a
beautiful smile.

тАЬNow, now, gentlemen. Not polite to stare. Actually, the countess has gone, and what you see there are
merely the people who were so unbelievably fortunate as to actually have spoken with her.тАЭ

тАЬSennet,тАЭ Barton said, turning to a dapper young man who looked on in vast amusement. тАЬDo you know
Erasmus Flattery?тАЭ

тАЬNo, but certainly I know your brother, the duke. Your servant, sir. And I should add that I know you
by reputation. IтАЩm not an empiricist myself, but, even so, one cannot help but hear the name of Erasmus
Flattery. Not these days.тАЭ

Erasmus never knew how to respond graciously to praise, and as usual changed the subject. тАЬWere you
serious?тАЭ Erasmus asked. тАЬAre these merely the people who spoke with the countess?тАЭ

Sennet bobbed his head, his long, rather sharp nose performing a precise arc in the air. Erasmus thought
the marquisтАФfor this was undoubtedly the Marquis of SennetтАФwas the most oddly formed man. His
chin seemed to have been drawn out too far, his forehead sloped back. Freckles of vastly differing sizes
were scattered over his face, and yet all of this seemed to be offset by the most kindly eyes, large and
filled with humor, with deep lines at their corners from much laughter, Erasmus suspected.

тАЬYes,тАЭ Sennet said, his amusement apparently growing. тАЬIsnтАЩt it wonderfully absurd? ItтАЩs really a
madness. A collective madness.тАЭ His look became just a bit more serious, as though something in this
disturbed him.

тАЬIтАЩve never actually seen the countess myself,тАЭ Erasmus said, wondering if there was as much regret in
his voice as he heard. тАЬIs she as beautiful as everyone claims?тАЭ

Sennet tilted his head to one side. тАЬOne would have to say yes, I think. It is very odd. I actually believe
there are other women in Avonel just as beautifulтАФperhaps even in this roomтАФbut they do not have the
effect of the Countess of Chilton. It is a force of personalityтАж I donтАЩt think I know a word to describe
the effect, for she is more than enchanting.тАЭ He shook his head and laughed. тАЬWell, you see, I am as
besotted as everyone else. Though I shall not duel with others who do not declare her the most beautiful
woman who has ever lived, which apparently happened this week past.тАЭ

Erasmus thought this a good thing. He seemed to remember hearing that Sennet was a formidable