No Friendly Drop. E-book. Formato EPUB - 9782385747732

No Friendly Drop. E-book. Formato EPUB. The great hall of Tassart was lit only by the flickering light of burning logs as Lady Grayle came down the wide, uncarpeted staircase. It was early summer, still light out of doors, but the big house was always cold, and Lady Grayle hated twilight, so the curtains were drawn before dinner and the wood fire in the great Tudor fireplace of the hall, like the Vestal Virgins&rsquo; lamp, was never out from year&rsquo;s end to year&rsquo;s end.<br />The glow from the fire, reflected from a hundred points in the rich oak panelling, was kind to Lady Grayle as she stood looking down into the flames, one foot resting on the low brick step, her long skirt drawn up to let the heat play upon a slim leg. Lady Grayle was fifty-five; even by daylight no stranger would have thought her fifty and by this mellow light she seemed still in the prime of life, her figure perfect, her skin glowing, and her eyes bright with vitality; only the broad velvet band around her neck betrayed what it was intended to conceal. A close inspection would have revealed tiny wrinkles round the eyes and mouth, but they were the wrinkles that come early to anyone who rides hard to hounds in all weathers; the mouth was too straight and hard for beauty, the mouth of a woman accustomed to pick her own line and follow it.