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

nch, but I never had the inclination to become a judge. She became fixed on
that as hard and fast as her father was fixed upon his money. I could have d
one as she wanted, but it would not have been what I wanted. Eventually, I c
ould see myself turning into her own little dancing puppet. I would not have
been my own man, but rather something tied to her and, in turn, tied to her
dead father. In her lucid moments, she knew this, but could never hold on t
o it for long."
"Is that why she moved away?" I asked.
"In part. After you were born, she got worse. Nothing to do with you, laddie
. You were as sweet a child as anyone could ask for, but her nerves were bad
. She no longer loved me by then and I... well, there are few things in life
so miserable as a marriage gone wrong. I hope you two will make a better jo
b of it than I did. She had some distant cousins in Philadelphia, so off she
went. I think she found some happiness there with such friends as she's gat
hered 'round. I know I have been happy here."
One of the logs popped noisily. Happiness. I'd taken it for granted until no
w. Looking at Father, I began to see the heaviness of the burden he'd carrie
d without complaint all these years. He hadn't told us everything, I could s
ense that, but I wasn't going to presume on him for more. What we'd learned
tonight was sufficient. Because of it I suddenly knew I was not yet a man my
self, but only a boy of seventeen and frightened.
I slept poorly for what remained of the night and was up to watch the dawn
long before it happened. The house was quiet and I imagined it to be wait
ing, wondering what was to happen once Mother woke from her own slumber. I
dressed warmly and crept outside to the stables to saddle up two horses.
Elizabeth and I had not changed our plan to spend time with Rapelji. Fathe
r knew and encouraged it. He would have his hands full dealing with Mother
and her guests and preferred us out of the way.
Roily poked his head from his box hopefully, but I passed him by for Belle
and Beauty, two mares out of the same dam who shared a calm temperament a
s well as a smooth gait. Roily vocalized his displeasure, waking the lads
who slept over the stable. One of them came down to investigate and sleepi
ly stayed on to help with the saddling before wandering off to the kitchen
in hope of an early meal.
I led the horses out to wait by one of the side doors, then went to fetch Eliz
abeth. She was just inside, pulling on her gloves. There was a sodden look abo
ut her indicating that she hadn't slept well, either. On her face, where Mothe
r's fist had landed, was a large, evil-looking bruise. She'd made no effort to
cover or disguise it.
"We don't have to go," I said. "It's not likely that you'll be called upon to go
visiting the neighbors."
"No, but I can't bear to be in this house right now. Besides, this was not my
fault." She tilted her head to indicate the damage done. "I've nothing at al
l to be ashamed of; people may think what they like."
"You don't care if they know about Mother?"
Elizabeth's face grew hard in a way that I did not like. "Not one whit."
"But why?"
"Why not? Sooner or later they'll start their speculations, their gossip abou
t her. They may as well get the truth from us as make it up for themselves."
"But it's none of their bloody business!"