"David Weber - Honor 09 - Ashes of Victory" - читать интересную книгу автора (Weber David)

"There've been a few problems back home in the Star Kingdom that I do know
about, however," he went on after a moment. "For one thing, your title was
passed on to your cousin Devon when you were officially declared dead."

"Devon?" Honor rubbed the tip of her nose, then shrugged. "I never really
wanted to be a countess anyway," she said. "Her Majesty insisted on it -- I
certainly didn't! -- so I really can't complain if someone else has the title
now. And I suppose Devon is my legal heir, though I hadn't thought much about
it." She grinned crookedly. "I suppose I should have considered it long ago,
but I'm still not really used to thinking in dynastic terms. Of course," she
chuckled wickedly, "neither was Devon! Do you happen to know how he took his
sudden elevation?"

"Grumpily, I understand." White Haven shook his head. "Said it was all a bunch
of tomfoolery that would only get in the way of his research on his current
monograph."

"That's Devon," Honor agreed with something very like a giggle. "He's probably
the best historian I know, but getting his nose out of the past has always
been all but impossible!"

"So I was told. On the other hand, Her Majesty insisted someone had to carry
on the Harrington title. She was quite firm about it, according to my
brother." White Haven paused, and Honor nodded her understanding. William
Alexander was Chancellor of the Exchequer, the second ranking member of the
Cromarty Government. If anyone was likely to be privy to Queen Elizabeth's
thinking, he was. "She personally discussed it with your cousin . . . at some
length, I understand," the earl added.

"Oh, dear!" Honor shook her head, her good eye brimming with delight. She'd
had her own experience of Elizabeth III in insistent mode, and the thought of
dear, stuffy, bookish Devon in the same position filled her with unholy glee.

"Well, she also got around to actually providing some lands to go with the
title, as well," White Haven told her. "So at least the new Earl Harrington
found himself with the income to support his new dignities."

"She did?" Honor demanded, and he nodded. "What sort of lands?"

"Quite a nice chunk of the Crown Reserve in the Unicorn Belt, I believe," he
said, and Honor blinked.

The term "lands" was used in the Star Kingdom as a generic label for any
income-producing holding associated with a patent of nobility. It was a sloppy
term, but, then, both the original colonial charter and the Constitution
tended to be a bit sloppy in places, as well. The same term had been used from
the very earliest days of the Manticore colony to refer to any income source,
whether it was actual lands, mineral or development rights, fishery rights, a
chunk of the broadcast spectrum for HD, or any other of a whole host of
grants, which had been shared out among the original colonists in proportion