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

swordsman, and had once won a duel with the master of AvonelтАЩs principal fencing academy. A feat that
had given him something of a reputation these past three years.

тАЬNo, I make it something of a rule,тАЭ Sennet said. тАЬNever risk your life over a woman who cannot
remember your name. Sensible, donтАЩt you think?тАЭ

ErasmusтАЩ answer died on his lips, for he saw Samual Hayes half-hidden behind a column, trying to catch
his attention.

Erasmus excused himself and made his way over to the young man.

Young Samual was the only son of neighbors of the Flattery family. The Hayes family were kindly if not
terribly competent people, who had lost their estate not too long ago from bad investments and profligate
spending. Not an uncommon story, unfortunately.

тАЬI have to get out of here,тАЭ Hayes said as Erasmus came near. тАЬItтАЩs the navy men; theyтАЩre after me.тАЭ He
paused, avoiding ErasmusтАЩ eyes. тАЬBut I have no place to go.тАЭ

Erasmus reached out and took HayesтАЩ arm. Better to find out what went on here. He owed it to the
young manтАЩs parents. тАЬCome along, then. You can hide at my homeтАФat least until youтАЩve told me whatтАЩs
happened. DonтАЩt look so frightened, Hayes; unless youтАЩve



murdered the prince royal, itтАЩs unlikely agents of the navy will try to rest you from me without a proper
warrant, and I rather doubt the officers present this evening have one in their pockets. They have other
things on their minds.тАЬ

Erasmus steered Hayes toward the door, wondering if he would miss anything that evening, but then
decided that he had only come out of boredom. An unhealthy reason in the first place. The rescue of a
family friend seemed infinitely preferable.


Chapter Two
IT was not a secret in Avonel that the Earl of Skye had a preference for a certain type of womanтАФpetite,
white-blonde, green-eyed, and young. An Entonne accent was desirable but not absolutely necessary. For a
man of surpassing intellect, his tastes were hardly extraordinary.

The woman who answered the door, however, was not only a complete stranger, but she had none of the
characteristics that Skye expected. In truth, he thought her a rather unusual looking woman. Not more than
twenty-three, he guessed, but he had seldom seen a woman soтАж faded. Her hair, her skin, they appeared
to be drained of color. The hair was red, but of such a lifeless variety. If anyone were to return from death,
Skye thought they would look like thisтАФas though part of their life had been drained away. Yet her eyes
had the gleam of youth and even standing there, holding the door, he sensed a vivacity about her.

She curtsied with grace. тАЬLord Skye, it is an honor. Please, come in,тАЭ she said pleasantly. Whoever she
was, she was no oneтАЩs maid servant.

He hesitated on the doorstep. тАЬThis is the right address?тАЭ