"Smith, Wilbur - Courtney 02 - Monsoon" - читать интересную книгу автора (Smith Wilbur)

Although Hal had married Elizabeth mainly to provide his orphaned twins
with a mother, very soon they had all come to love her, as they loved
Dorian from when she had given birth to him. All of them but Black
Billy, of course.

William Courtney loved nobody but his father, and he was as fiercely
jealous of him as a panther. Elizabeth had protected the younger boys
from his vindictive attentions, until the sea took her from them and
left them defenceless.

"You should never have left us," Tom told her softly, then glanced
guiltily at Guy. But Guy had not heard him, too intent on his prayers,
and Tom moved across to the other coffin, which flanked his natural
mother. This belonged to Judith, the Ethiopian princess, the mother of
Black Billy. The marble effigy on the lid depicted a handsome woman
with the fierce, almost hawklike features that her son had inherited
from her. She was in half-armour, as befitted one who had commanded
armies against the pagan. There was a sword on her belt, and a shield
and helmet rested on her chest, the shield blazoned with a Coptic
cross, the symbol of Christ that predated even the ministry of Rome.

Her head was bared and the bush of her hair was a dense curling
crown.

As he looked at her Tom felt the hatred he bore her son rise in his
chest.

"The horse should have thrown you before you had a chance to whelp that
cub of yours." This time he spoke aloud.

Guy stood up and came to join him.

"It's ill luck to speak so of the dead," he cautioned his brother.

Tom shrugged.

"She can't hurt me now." Guy took his arm and led him to the next
sarcophagus in the row. They both knew it was empty.

The lid had not been sealed.

"Sir Francis Courtney born 6th January 1616 in the County of Devon.
Knight of the Order of the Garter and of the Order of St. George and
the Holy Grail. Navigator and Sailor. Explorer and Warrior.

Father of Henry and Valiant Gentleman." Guy read the inscription
aloud.

"Unjustly accused of piracy by the craven Dutch settlers of Cap de
Bonne Esperance, and most cruelly executed by them on the 15th July