The Sherbrooke Series Novels 1-5 by Catherine Coulter

Author:Catherine Coulter [Catherine Coulter]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Group US
Published: 1999-12-18T13:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER

9

“YOU’RE AWAKE.”

“Yes, I am,” Sinjun said, turning to see Dahling peering into the room. “I was about to get up and get dressed.”

“Why did you get undressed? Papa wouldn’t tell us what was wrong with you.”

“I was just tired. It was a long trip from London. Your papa wanted to get home quickly to you and Philip. Is there something you wanted?”

Dahling sidled into the room. Sinjun saw that she was wearing a heavy woolen gown that was too short for her, and stout boots that looked too small and very scuffed. Surely the child must be uncomfortable in such clothing.

“I wanted to see if you were as ugly as I thought.”

Precocious little devil, Sinjun thought, reminded of Amy, one of Ryder’s children, a little girl who was an imp and brazen as a brass gong, hiding, Ryder knew, a fear that was deep, very deep. “Well then, come closer. You must be fair, you know. Yes, climb up here on the bed and sit really close to me. Fairness is very important in life.”

When the little girl reached the dais, Sinjun reached down and lifted her beneath her arms and up onto the bed. “There, now make a study of me.”

“You talk all funny, like Aunt Arleth. She’s always yelling at Philip and me not to speak like everyone else does, except Papa.”

“You speak very well,” Sinjun said, holding very still, for the little girl was now running her hands over her face. Her fingers lightly touched the red mark on her cheek. “What is this?”

“I was hurt when your father and I were in Edinburgh. A flying rock. It’s nothing, and the mark should go away soon.”

“You’re not too ugly, but just a little bit ugly.”

“Thank you for relieving me of such a major curse and leaving me with just a minor one. You’re not ugly, either.”

“Me? Ugly? I’m a Great Beauty, just like my mama. Everyone says so.”

“Oh? Let me see.” Sinjun then did exactly what Dahling had done to her. She ran her fingers over the little girl’s face, pausing here and there, saying nothing.

Dahling began to fidget. “I am a Great Beauty. If I’m not now, I will be when I’m grown up.”

“You also have the look of your father. He’s very handsome, so that’s all right. You have his eyes. Beautiful dark blue eyes he has, and so do you. Mine are also beautiful, don’t you think so? They’re called Sherbrooke blue. That’s my family name.”

Dahling chewed on her bottom lip. “I suppose so,” she said at last. “But that doesn’t mean you’re not still a little bit ugly.”

“You have your father’s dark hair. That’s also nice. Don’t you like my hair? It’s called Sherbrooke chestnut.”

“Maybe it’s all right. It’s very curly. Mine isn’t. Aunt Arleth just shakes her head and says I must bear with it.”

“But you’re still a Great Beauty?”

“Oh yes, Papa told me so,” Dahling said with complete conviction.

“You believe everything your papa tells you?”

The little girl cocked her head to one side.

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