"Duncan, Dave - Paragon Lost v1" - читать интересную книгу автора (Duncan Dave)

A smile flickered and was gone. From his pocket came a paper
that she recognized instantly as one of Beau’s handbills. She had
helped him design it and was still furious that Master Snider’s
printer had ruined it by setting Available At Gossips’ Corner in the
largest type. The visitor spread it on the table and her suspicion
flamed higher.

“That is outdated, my lord. We have a newer version. I can fetch
one.” She began to rise.

“Pray do not trouble. I have seen that, also. The only difference is
that Sir Beaumont’s name was changed to ‘Ned Cookson.’ Will you
tell me why?”

5 Paragon Lost

Long-smoldering anger made her blurt out the truth. “He was
ordered not to claim to be a gentleman, my lord.”

“Ordered by whom?”

“By Blades from the palace! The Royal Guard! They harass him!
They threaten to report him to the Watch for wearing a sword when
he is not of rank. They frighten his pupils away. Is that why you are
here, master? To cause us more trouble?”

Master Harvest shook his head vigorously. “Mistress, I am shocked
by this. I thought I had put a stop to it.”

“They are not so bad now as they were last year,” she conceded.
“But by any name he is still the same expert fencer, my lord. His
time is almost all spoken for just now, but I am sure he would be
honored to wait upon your lordship at your convenience.”

The visitor sighed and laid his hands on the table. He stared at
them, not at her. “Mistress, I truly believe it is in Beau’s interest that
I speak with him as soon as possible.”

“He is currently instructing at a noble house not very far away from
here. I could send a boy and have him call on you at your
residence.”

Another sigh. “Lady Beaumont, pardon my doubts. Your husband
is far from the first man to try teaching Ironhall fencing outside the
school itself. In four centuries, very few have succeeded in earning
a living at it. It is the best system, of course, but it needs great
dedication. At Ironhall we pound the boys’ heads with mallets of
honor and service and tradition, day in and day out, all through their
adolescence. Anything less than that and it won’t work.”