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

. Well, even Greek was preferable to the company in the parlor. I readied m
yself for bed, wrapped up warmly in the dressing gown, and opened the first
book.
Rapelji had picked out an especially tricky passage for translation, but
it took my mind away from present-day conundrums. The only time I looked
up was when Mother and Mrs. Hardinbrook passed by my closed door on the w
ay to their rooms. Their voices increased and faded along with their foot
steps. I took the moment to stretch and look out the window.
High clouds obscured the stars and moon, making it very dark. Jericho would
have called in the boy and his lantern by now. If he hadn't turned up at t
his late an hour, it could only mean that Father would be staying another n
ight. Damnation.
The intricacies of an ancient battle and the warriors that fought it held my
attention for another hour, then someone lightly knocked on my door. I knew
who it was and, with a sigh of slight annoyance, answered.
Elizabeth stood waiting with a wan look and a drooping eye. "I couldn't slee
p," she explained apologetically. My annoyance faded. It had been our habit
in the past to visit one another for a late-night talk when wakeful. I'd mis
sed those talks without knowing it until now.
I invited her in and shut the door quietly. "I could give you some of this Gre
ek. It does the job for me."
She threw herself facedown on the bed and propped her chin on her fists. "M
other has that woman in her room and they're still yammering away. I had no
idea that two people with so little to say could do so for so long."
"Why don't you listen in? It could be entertaining."
"I tried, but they don't talk about anything interesting. It's always about c
lothes, food, or people I've never heard of and wouldn't care to meet. Rubbis
h, the lot of it. What did you say you were doing?"
"Greek. Care to try some?" I wandered back to my chair and offered her th
e book I was working from.
She considered the offer, but turned it down. "Will you be seeing Mr. Rape
lji tomorrow?"
"Yes, if I can get this finished. He'll probably put me over the coals as usual.
"
"Oh, may I come along and watch?"
"Yes, you may and very welcome. With you there it won't be so horrible."
"What exaggeration. You know he never even raises his voice."
"It's the way he doesn't raise it that bothers me."
She laughed a little, which was good to hear. "Perhaps he will find somethi
ng interesting for me to do as well. I absolutely do not want to be here to
morrow. One thing I did hear through the wall was Mother making plans to vi
sit some of the neighbors to introduce that woman. She said I'd be coming a
long. Nice of her to let me know about it, don't you think?"
"We can be gone before breakfast," I assured her. "Rapelji won't mind feedi
ng us."
"Thank goodness. I'll wager that Mother wants to look the men over hereab
outs in hopes of matching me up with one Ugh!"
"Don't you want to get married?"
"Someday, but not to any man that she would pick."
"She picked Father, didn't she?"