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

om?"
"This one," I said, taking him farther down the hall.
"I understand that you have a good library here."
"Yes. Downstairs. Any of the servants can show you the way."
"I'll look forward to it. I was unable to bring many books. Perhaps you woul
d like to inspect my own small collection?"
"Another time, Dr. Beldon. I must return to the ladies, you know."
Again the incessant smile, this one tinged with regret and goodwill. "Yes.
The ladies can be quite demanding. Good night, then, Mr. Barrett. Thank you
once more for your kindness."
The man sounded utterly sincere. A bit nonplussed, I left before he could t
ry drawing me into another conversation.
Tempting as it was to retreat to my room, I felt bound to go back to the pa
rlor and look after Elizabeth. She was still grimly playing, missing a note
now and then as her thoughts wandered. Mother was employing her scratching
stick. Mrs. Hardinbrook looked bored.
At the end of the piece I applauded louder than the others and walked up to t
he spinet. "Excellent, Elizabeth. You get better every day."
She knew what I was up to and seized upon it smoothly and with both hands.
"You are so kind, Jonathan." She stood up and away from the instrument an
d curtsied to her audience. "Ah, but I am weary myself. In another minute
I'm sure I shall fall asleep on my feet."
"You have had a very long day," I agreed. "Mother, may we be excused? I wa
nt to see that Elizabeth makes it upstairs without stumbling."
"Poor thing," said Mrs. Hardinbrook, all sympathy. She started to launch int
o a no doubt pretty speech, but Mother interrupted her, granting us permissi
on to leave. We took it.
Once outside, Elizabeth and I dropped our formal pretenses and marched towa
rd the stairs as equals.
"Thank you for the rescue," she said.
"Always at your service."
"It looks like we're going to be lumbered with them for as long as Mother is
here."
"Sadly, yes."
"Or at least until Father throws them out. Did you see how that harpy was t
rying to push her brother on me?"
"I noticed that he refused."
"Is that supposed to—"
"No slight intended, dear sister. I only meant to say that Beldon was aware
that such a liaison would incur Mother's extreme displeasure. You have not
hing to fear from him regarding unwanted attentions."
"Thank goodness for that," she sighed. "Do you think it would help to write
to the king? We could ask him to send soldiers to Philadelphia to restore or
der there, then Mother and her friends could leave us in peace."
"I'm sure he would find it of great interest in forming his policies."
Her good humor and mine both in place, I saw Elizabeth to her room and grat
efully returned to my own. Jericho had my things set out for the night, and
a good fire was going as usual. The tray from our small meal had been clea
red away, but he'd left a cup of wine and a plate of biscuits on the mantel
 for later. He'd also lighted the lamp on the table where my studies waited