"David Weber - Worlds of Honor 4 - Service of the Sword" - читать интересную книгу автора (Weber David)

For Elizabeth, just a few years short of her majority, this scrutiny was something for which
she had some training. For thirteen year-old Michael, still at an age when traditional forbearance
shielded him from the greedy eye of the newsies, there had been little preparation.
The resemblance between father and son came across despite Prince Michael's apparent
youth, extending beyond the Winton's clean-cut features and strikingly dark skin. It had
something to do with the set of the youth's jaw, the manner in which he carried his head straight
and square on his shoulders, even in the way he seemed unaware of the myriad gazes that
flickered in his direction and then politely away againтАФan unawareness that was never rude or
rejecting, simply unaware.
To be fair to Prince MichaelтАФMidshipman WintonтАФCarlie reminded herself with the fierce
determination of one who is certain it is only a matter of time before she screws up, part of
Carlie's own uncertainty had nothing to do with Michael Winton himself. The midshipman's
dossier had given no indication that Michael Winton expected privileges or had been given them,
but Lieutenant Carlotta Dunsinane couldn't quite believe this was so, and deep inside she was
steeled for trouble.
To make matters worse, as part of the RMN's on-going naval expansion, Intransigent's middy
berth was filled to burstingтАФand suddenly, cynically, Carlie realized the reason why there had
been a couple of changes in those assigned to her care. Doubtless there were those in a position to
learn of Mr. Winton's new assignment in advance, those who saw an advantage to having their
son or daughter serve on the Crown Prince's middy cruise, an advantage that nothing as trivial as
a sudden change in posting could make impossible.
As supervisor of Intransigent's middy berth, Lieutenant Dunsinane was under conflicting
pressures. She had to simultaneously guard and direct her young charges, yet try to break them if
there was anything in them that needed breaking. This was never an easy task, but it was going to
be made more difficult with a middy berth overloaded with scions of rank and privilege.
Then there was the ATO's acute awareness that the RMN desperately needed good officersтАФ
with the emphasis on "good"тАФbut there were those who thought that any officer was a good
officer with the fleet spread so thin. So Carlie knew that there would be those in the command
structure who would fault her for breaking any of those who had survived the gruelling three and
a half T-years they'd spent at the AcademyтАФnot to mention fault her for wasting the money
invested in that training.
And fault her even more if one of those whose training didn't pan out was the carefully
watched, highly observed Prince Michael Winton. Yet she'd also be faulted if Midshipman
Winton passed his cruise without proving himself.
 Carlie swallowed an impulse to offer her resignation here and now.
"Mr. Winton will be reporting to you in just a few days, so you have time to prepare
yourself," Captain Boniece continued. "May I offer you a word of advice?"
"I would accept your advice gladly, Sir."
"Give the young man a chance to prove himself before you condemn him."
"I'll do my best, Sir."
Carlie Dunsinane meant every word. She also knew how difficult keeping those words was
going to be.
As she was leaving, she saw Tab Tilson, the head communications' officer, coming in with
the latest dispatches. Before the door slid closed, she heard him say:
"More changes, Sir, I'm afraid."
The door slid shut before Carlie could hear what those changes were, but she sincerely hoped
they had nothing to do with her already overcomplicated middy berth.
***
Ephraim Templeton ruled his household with an iron rodтАФor more literally a very flexible
whip and a willingness to use it. However, much of how he regulated his household was based on