In The Shadow - стр. 28
– He looks like our Miss Alienor! Could he be her brother? – One of the girls guessed as the richly dressed nobleman disappeared around the corner of a wide stone corridor decorated with expensive tapestries, among which a huge dark green tapestry with the Norton tree was a special place.
The girls whispered and agreed that the handsome man was indeed Miss Alienor's brother, and therefore the son of Sir and Lady Norton, and they hurried to find an older servant to ask the poor fellow what he knew of the handsome young Norton.
But Philip was completely oblivious to the lustful and admiring glances of the maids: he was looking at Brigid, his copper-haired bride, so modest, so shy… How sweet it would be to undress her himself on their wedding night! Of course, he will not be allowed to take off her wedding dress, but still he will get the most tasty piece of the bride's garment: her white, long, night gown. He takes it off slowly, so as not to frighten the chaste Brigid, and when the dress is on the floor, he will cover the bride's body with soft, tender kisses…
Entering, without knocking, into his father's chamber, young Norton was displeased to find that he was not in the room. But Philip did not have to wander round the castle and garden: as he opened the door to leave the chambers, he almost knocked his own father down.
With a short sigh of surprise, his father rushed to embrace his son.
– You're back… You're back! – Sir Norton whispered fervently, not letting Philip out of his loving embrace.
– I told you I would come back, father! And here I am! – Philip said in a trembling voice, full of tenderness and joy.
– Six months! Not a word! – Sir Norton sobbed, pulling away from his son. Then he put his palms round Philip's smooth-shaven face, and, as if he could not believe that it was not a dream, pressed it so tightly that the young warrior had to laughingly withdraw his father's large, warm hands from him.
– How can there be none? I sent two letters! – Philip was surprised, but then laughed ringingly. – But the Devil with them! How glad I am to see you, dear father! What a fine beard you have grown! It's time for braids! Have you not heard that the King's court nowadays imitates Henry and his short beard? You're part of this court, it's time you got rid of those cosms!
– Enough, my son, enough! Let the young spoil their beards, but we old men will remain true to the old days," said Sir Norton, smiling good-naturedly and patting his son on the shoulder. – What an outfit! It is as if you had not come back from the war, but to a wedding!
– How cleverly you've got me, Father! I am going to marry! – Philip said in a more serious tone, and a happy smile lit up his handsome face. – I have dreamed of this girl for five years, and now she has given her consent!
– She has?
– And her father, of course.
– When did you have time? Must be some Spanish passion rose?
– Only one girl could win me over. Only one rose. A rose born in my beloved Mother England.
– And the name of this beauty…
– Brigid Guise.
The happy light in Sir Norton's blue eyes faded, the corners of his lips drooped.
– Come into my chambers, my son," he began.
– What is wrong, father? – Philip interrupted, as he recognised the shadow that had suddenly darkened his father's countenance.