In The Shadow - стр. 31
– Mother, he's safe and sound! Stop crying, or your eyes will turn red. Men love our tears, but I think Philip has had enough of women's tears, for he has left so many women of France as widows. Our dear Philip needs cheering and dancing! – said Alienor affectionately, stroking her mother's narrow back.
– You are right, you are right! Let us make a feast in honour of his return! We'll sing and dance and laugh! Let us surround him with mirth and make him forget the horrors he has seen and the things he has done! – Lady Norton immediately cheered up. She rose from her chair by the window and went to the door.
– He did these horrors for the good of England, Mother! These Frenchmen will not rest, will not be satisfied, these wolves! – Alienor followed her mother.
They went out into the corridor and, lifting the hem of their skirts a little higher than they should, hurried to the kitchen: the cooks and the cookesses had a lot of work to do! Dozens of dishes had to be prepared in honour of the master's son's return! Meat! Fish! Poultry! All the freshest, most delicious! There must be plenty of wine too!
– My dear, when men kill each other and leave each other's wives as widows, there's nothing romantic about it! But my boy is back! Alive… How long I have waited for this day! We shall have to go to church and give God a prayer of thanks! – said Lady Gilda. – No, no! We'll have mass! Send the maid to the priest! Let her prepare a long and beautiful Mass for tomorrow!
– I will, Mother! And mass is necessary! – Alienor exclaimed enthusiastically, but then a shadow darkened her brow, and she added: – The celebration will be not only in honour of his return, but also in honour of his engagement… He's getting married. And do you know to whom?
– Married? – This news made Lady Norton stop her step, press her palms to her breast and almost cry with happiness: "Oh, will I soon hold my grandchildren in my arms? And who is the lucky lady? May God send them happiness and fertility! May her womb nurture and bear many children!
– He's going to marry Brigid, mother! – bending down to her mother's face, Alienor said quietly. No one must hear their conversation.
– But, my dear, it is already agreed that she is to marry William Tury! Of course it's wrong of him to try to hurt you and avenge your rejection by marrying your best friend, bu…-" Lady Norton whispered loudly, surprised.
– 'Forget it! Neither Brigid, nor her father, nor her mother know of that fool's letter! Our Philip loves her! He never told me so openly, but in his letters he often asked about her, and told me to send warm greetings from him! – She had already resigned herself to the fact that Brigid would not be married to the man she loved, for Miss Norton knew that her brother would love, protect, and cherish her friend. And Philip himself deserves to be happy! As he said: "Brigid may not love him now, but she will love him later." After all, how can one not love this blond, blue-eyed handsome man?
– But… Brigid is poor! Her father won't give her a dowry, you know he's in disgrace! Why should our boy marry a maiden of such reputation? What will they say of us? That we are related to traitors? – Lady Gilda said indignantly, and her face flushed.