"P. N. Elrod - Jonathan Barrett 01 - Red Death" - читать интересную книгу автора (Elrod P N)

"Prospects?"
Elizabeth's mouth twisted in disgust. "After she finished going on about Ca
mbridge, she started asking me about the unmarried men in the area."
"Uh-oh."
"All of them, including old Mr. Cadwallader. He must be seventy if he's a d
ay."
"But very rich."
"Now who's taking sides?"
"Not I. I was just thinking the way she would think."
Elizabeth groaned and finished off her wine. I made to pour her another and
she did not refuse it. "I hope things settle down quickly in Philadelphia so
she can go back. I know that it's wicked, wishing one's mother away, but..."
"She's only our mother by reason of birth," I said. "If it comes to it, Mrs.
Nooth's been more of a mother to us than that other woman." I nodded at the
portrait. "Or even Mrs. Montagu. I wish Father had married her instead."
'Then neither of us would have been ourselves and we wouldn't be sitting he
re getting drunk."
"It's something to think about, isn't it?"
"Wicked," she concluded with an unrepentant grimace.
"Yes, I'm born to be hanged for that one."
"God forbid," she added.
As one, we lifted our glasses in a silent toast to a lot of different things.
I was feeling very muzzy now, with all ray limbs heavy and glowing with inne
r warmth. It was too nice a feeling to clutter up with the inevitable scoldin
g that awaited me the moment I stepped into the kitchen.
"P'haps," I speculated, "I should leave Mother and Mrs. Nooth to their work.
"
Elizabeth instantly noted my change of mind and smiled, shaking her head i
n mock sadness for my lost bravado.
"P'haps," I continued thoughtfully, "I could just borrow a loaf of bread from
one of the lads, then pick up a small cheese
from the buttery. That would fill me 'til supper. Father should be home by
then and Mother will have something else to worry about besides me."
"And have one of the servants blamed for the theft of the cheese?"
"I'll leave a note, confessing all," I promised gravely. "Mrs. Nooth will su
rely forgive . . ." Then something soured inside and the game lost its charm
. "Damnation, this is my own house. Why should 1 creep around like a thief?"
Someone's shoe heels clacked and clattered hollowly against the wood floor
of the hall. Elizabeth and I instantly recognized her step and hastily repl
aced the glasses and wine bottle in the cupboard. The answer to my plaintiv
e question swung into the doorway just as we shut everything away and turne
d our innocent faces toward her in polite regard.
Mother.
She wasn't fooled by our pose. "What are you two doing?" she demanded.
"Only talking, Mother," said Elizabeth.
Mother sniffed, either in disbelief or disdain. Fortunately she was too fa
r away to pick up any fumes from the wine. She turned an unfriendly eye up
on me. "And where were you all day? Mrs. Nooth placed a perfectly good mea
l on the table and your portion went to waste."
With as many servants as we had, I doubted that. "I'm sorry, Mother."