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A Caress Of Twilight :: Гамильтон Лорел
Страница: 187 из 236Since mine had not manifested in my twenties, I'd been NicEssus into my thirties. But the courts knew that my powers had come at long last. They knew I had a new title. She'd forgotten on purpose.
Fine. Besides, I'd been rude first. "I will always be my father's daughter, but I am no longer NicEssus." I put a pensive look on my face. "Has the king, my uncle, not told you that my hand of power has manifested?"
"Of course he told me," she said, sounding defensive and contrite all at the same time.
"Oh, I'm sorry. Since you did not use my new title, I assumed you did not know."
She let the anger show on that lovely, careful face for an instant, then smiled, a smile as sincere as her love for me. "I know that you are now Princess of Flesh. Congratulations."
"Why, thank you, Mother."
She shifted in the small chair, as if I'd surprised her again. "Well, daughter, we should not let it be so long between talks."
"Of course not," I said, and kept my face pleasant and unreadable.
"I have heard that you are invited to this year's Yule ball."
"Yes."
"I look forward to seeing you there, and renewing our acquaintance."
"I am surprised that you have not also heard that I had to decline the invitation."
"I had heard and find it hard to credit." Her hands stayed gracefully poised on the arms of the chair, but her body leaned forward just a bit, spoiling that perfect posture. "There are many who would do much to be so honored with an invitation."
"Yes, but you do know that I am now heir of the Unseelie Court, do you not, Mother?"
She sat up straight again and shook her head. I wondered if all that gold leaf on her hair was heavy. "You are coheir, not true heir. Your cousin is still true heir to that throne."
I sighed and stopped trying to look pleasant, settling for neutral. "I'm surprised, Mother. You are usually better informed."
"I don't know what you mean," she said.
"Queen Andais has made Prince Cel and me equals. It remains only to see which of us produces a child first. If I take after you, Mother, it will surely be me."
"The king is most eager that you attend our ball."
"Are you listening to me, Mother? I am heir to the Unseelie throne. If I travel home for any Yule celebrations, it must be the Unseelie ball."
She made a small movement with her hands, then seemed to remember her poise, and placed them carefully back on the arms of the chair. "You could be back in the king's good graces if you but come to our ball, Meredith. You could be welcome at court again."
"I am already welcome at court, Mother.
Fine. Besides, I'd been rude first. "I will always be my father's daughter, but I am no longer NicEssus." I put a pensive look on my face. "Has the king, my uncle, not told you that my hand of power has manifested?"
"Of course he told me," she said, sounding defensive and contrite all at the same time.
"Oh, I'm sorry. Since you did not use my new title, I assumed you did not know."
She let the anger show on that lovely, careful face for an instant, then smiled, a smile as sincere as her love for me. "I know that you are now Princess of Flesh. Congratulations."
"Why, thank you, Mother."
She shifted in the small chair, as if I'd surprised her again. "Well, daughter, we should not let it be so long between talks."
"Of course not," I said, and kept my face pleasant and unreadable.
"I have heard that you are invited to this year's Yule ball."
"Yes."
"I look forward to seeing you there, and renewing our acquaintance."
"I am surprised that you have not also heard that I had to decline the invitation."
"I had heard and find it hard to credit." Her hands stayed gracefully poised on the arms of the chair, but her body leaned forward just a bit, spoiling that perfect posture. "There are many who would do much to be so honored with an invitation."
"Yes, but you do know that I am now heir of the Unseelie Court, do you not, Mother?"
She sat up straight again and shook her head. I wondered if all that gold leaf on her hair was heavy. "You are coheir, not true heir. Your cousin is still true heir to that throne."
I sighed and stopped trying to look pleasant, settling for neutral. "I'm surprised, Mother. You are usually better informed."
"I don't know what you mean," she said.
"Queen Andais has made Prince Cel and me equals. It remains only to see which of us produces a child first. If I take after you, Mother, it will surely be me."
"The king is most eager that you attend our ball."
"Are you listening to me, Mother? I am heir to the Unseelie throne. If I travel home for any Yule celebrations, it must be the Unseelie ball."
She made a small movement with her hands, then seemed to remember her poise, and placed them carefully back on the arms of the chair. "You could be back in the king's good graces if you but come to our ball, Meredith. You could be welcome at court again."
"I am already welcome at court, Mother.