"Lee Edgar - Plot 03 - Plot For A King" - читать интересную книгу автора (Edgar Lee)

time had come, she had left Essex with hardly a backward glance. Everything was now in front of
her–a new life, with a new husband, in a new land.
She smiled up at Andrew and winked mischievously. The tall, golden-haired girl with the deep,
blue eyes was standing beside her and she and Andrew shook hands like strangers. Mary Beth
did not go in for all this cuddling stuff so he quickly pecked her on the cheek as she blushed and
held her nose in the air. One day, he thought wickedly, that iceberg will melt and we’ll all drown.
There was damp sand on the hem of her white dress as she stepped over the high gunwale and
climbed aboard the small boat which had come to fetch them and soon Carrie was waving as it
finally disappeared into the early morning mist. As Andrew turned and strode purposefully up the
beach towards the horses, he thought briefly of them crossing the Channel in winter time and said
a little prayer for their safety.


UPON his arrival at Rettendon Hall, Andrew was greeted by his other sister, Rachel. He picked up
her daughter and whirled her around. Antoinette had an infectious giggle and, at four, was a
picture in her pink smock.
‘And how’s my favourite niece, then?’ he said.
The little girl had her mind on other things. ‘Daddy’s gone with John Henry.’
Andrew smiled. ‘Oh has he now? And what have you been doing with yourself all day?’
She proudly stuck her chest out. ‘I’ve been helping mummy with the cleaning.’
‘Well, that’s a good thing to do. I bet she appreciates your help right now.’
‘My mummy’s going to have a baby,’ she told him formally.
‘Yes, I know.’ They rubbed noses. ‘Would you like a new brother or sister?’
Placing her finger on her little chin, she thought for a moment. ‘A brother, I think. Yes, I’d like a
brother.’
‘Don’t you go raising her hopes, Andrew Bosvile,’ called Rachel from the doorway. ‘The gender
of the child is beyond my control and you know it.’
He stood up and walked to his sister, slipping his arms round her waist from behind and placing
his hands carefully on that neat, round belly. ‘And what does Mark prefer?’
‘Oh, he wants a boy, too. But I can’t just produce to order, you know.’
‘I know that and I’ll bet he’ll be happy with whatever comes. And so will you, won’t you, Toni?’
Antoinette came and hugged her mother’s leg. ‘Sometimes, I think that I would rather have
another sister to play dolls with. Boys don’t play dolls, do they, Uncle Andrew?’
He smiled. ‘No, my chick, not normally. Boys like swords and things.’
‘Some boys never grow up,’ said Rachel with a sigh. Andrew dropped his hands from her and
turned away with sadness.
Rachel must have sensed she had hurt her brother for she suddenly grabbed his arm and held
him close. ‘I’m sorry. I know that what you and John Henry are doing is for the best and you are
trying to serve King and country in the only way you can but I suppose it’s all the intrigue and
secrecy which frustrates me at times. What with you flitting about all over England and Scotland
like a shadow, carrying secret messages between John Henry and Prince Charles. I do worry,
you know.’
Her rounded belly rested against him and he could see why Mark loved her so much. Andrew
smiled to himself. She was very like Carrie in her affection, if not alike in looks. They both got it
from their parents, who loved each other and their children deeply. It was a shame Mary Beth was
was so cold. Carrie once told him that she had never seen Mary Beth’s mother, Julie, smile. Upon
reflection, Andrew had to admit that he have never seen Mary Beth actually smile - not with her
eyes anyway, and that’s where it really matters.
‘A penny for them,’ offered Rachel.
He shrugged and pulled away from her and sat in the big chair, looking out of the window. ‘I was