"Walter Jon Williams - Wall, Stone, Craft" - читать интересную книгу автора (Williams Walter John)

УAnd you are, I take it, Mrs. Shelley?Ф

Mary straightened and gazed defiantly into GeorgeТs eyes. УMrs. Shelley resides in England. My name is Godwin.Ф

GeorgeТs eyes widened, flickered a little. Low English murmurs came to MaryТs ears. George bowed again. УCharmed to meet you, Miss Godwin.Ф

George pointed to each of his companions with his hat. УLord Fitzroy Somerset.Ф The armless man bowed again. УCaptain Harry Smith. Captain Austen of the Navy. Pasmany, my fencing master.Ф Most of the party, Mary thought, were young, and all were handsome, George most of all. George turned to Mary again, a little smile of anticipation curling his lips. His burning look was almost insolent. УMy name is Newstead.Ф

Mortal embarrassment clutched at MaryТs heart. She knew her cheeks were burning, but still she held GeorgeТs eyes as she bobbed a curtsey.

George had not been Marquess Newstead for more than a few months. He had been famous for years both as an intimate of the Prince Regent and the most dashing of WellingtonТs cavalry officers, but it was his exploits on the field of Waterloo and his capture of Napoleon on the bridge at Genappe that had made him immortal. He was the talk of England and the Continent, though he had achieved his fame under another name.

Before the Prince Regent had given him the title of Newstead, auburn-haired, insolent-eyed George had been known as George Gordon Noel, the sixth Lord Byron.

Mary decided she was not going to be impressed by either his titles or his manner. She decided she would think of him as George.

УPleased to meet you, my lord,Ф Mary said. Pride steeled her as she realized her voice hadnТt trembled.

She was spared further embarrassment when the door burst open and a servant entered followed by a pack of muddy dogsЧwhippetsЧwho showered them all with water, then howled and bounded about George, their master. Standing tall, his strong, well-formed legs in the famous side-laced boots that he had invented to show off his calf and ankle, George laughed as the dogs jumped up on his chest and bayed for attention. His lordship barked back at them and wrestled with them for a momentЧnot very lordlike, Mary thoughtЧand then he told his dogs to be still. At first they ignored him, but eventually he got them down and silenced.

He looked up at Mary. УI can discipline men, Miss Godwin,Ф he said, Уbut IТm afraid IТm not very good with animals.Ф

УThat shows you have a kind heart, IТm sure,Ф Mary said.

The others laughed a bit at thisЧapparently kindheartedness was not one of GeorgeТs better-known qualitiesЧbut George smiled indulgently.

УHave you and your companion supped, Miss Godwin? I would welcome the company of fellow English in this tiresome land of Brabant.Ф

Mary was unable to resist an impertinence. УEven if one of them is an atheistical upstart Irish schoolmaster?Ф

УMiss Godwin, I would dine with Wolfe Tone himself.Ф Still with that intent, under-eyed look, as if he was dissecting her.

Mary was relieved to turn away from GeorgeТs gaze and look toward the back of the inn, in the direction of the kitchen. УBysshe is in the kitchen giving instructions to the cook. I believe my sister is with him.Ф

УAre there more in your party?Ф

УOnly the three of us. And one rather elderly carriage horse.Ф

УForgive us if we do not invite the horse to table.Ф

УYour ape, George,Ф Somerset said dolefully, Уwill be quite enough.Ф

Mary would have pursued this interesting remark, but at that moment Bysshe and Claire appeared from out of the kitchen passage. Both were laughing, as if at a shared secret, and ClaireТs black eyes glittered. Mary repressed a spasm of annoyance.

УMary!Ф Bysshe said. УThe cook told us a ghost story!Ф He was about to go on, but paused as he saw the visitors.

УWe have an invitation to dinner,Ф Mary said. УLord Newstead has been kind enoughЧФ

УNewstead!Ф said Claire. УThe Lord Newstead?Ф