LeeS: переводы

→-˜Only natural,’ agreed Enrico. -˜Missing her mother.’

→-˜She is moping a little, my Lord,’ said Nello.

→-˜What can you do for the little one?’ NiccolГІ asked.

→-˜Your Grace,’ he bowed.

→His stableman appeared out of the shadows.

→-˜Nello!’ called the Duke. -˜Come here!’

→He stepped forward and stroked the filly’s muzzle. She huffed sadly down her nostrils.

→-˜You did it!’ said the Duke, eyes shining. -˜The little miracle!’

→He led the Duke into the stables and back to the furthest stall. Darker than the shadows in which she stood, wings drooping, was the flying horse.

→-˜Sorry if I startled you, my Lord,’ said Enrico. -˜But I thought you might be about to leave. And I didn’t want you to miss what I have to show you.’

→-˜Ah!’ said NiccolГІ, letting the breath hiss out between his teeth when he saw who it was. -˜You are getting better at this.’

→-˜My Lord!’ came a whisper from behind the Duke. By a strong effort of will, he managed not to jump but turned round slowly.

→-˜Georgia,’ Maura called softly. -˜Can I come in?’

→There was a knock on her door.

→Suddenly she wished she were a di Chimici, with the money and the power to have her enemies eliminated. She wouldn’t have hesitated at that moment to send an assassin to Russell’s room. Then she was horrified at her own thoughts. So that was what it was like to be someone like the Duke! The only difference between them was that he did have the power and money. Georgia felt ashamed.

→She thought of Gaetano and Cesare and Luciano and how they treated her with respect and affection. Falco too. And lately she had caught him looking at her with something more in his expression. There was her new friend Alice at school too. They had started having lunch together regularly and had met a few times after school. It felt good to have a female friend again. If it weren’t for Russell, her life would definitely be improving. Now she just felt trapped, unable to escape from the strain of living in the same house with someone so hateful. And she wouldn’t even be able to visit Mr Goldsmith if Russell succeeded in his scare campaign.

→Georgia lay on her bed, clutching the broken horse, tears scalding her cheeks. In the last twenty-four hours her world seemed to have collapsed. She wished for the millionth time that she had stravagated on Tuesday night instead of wimping out. Now she didn’t know if she would ever be in Talia again. And Russell had got away with his mean trick and was spreading vile rumours about an innocent friendship. How did he do that? He was in the wrong, no question about that, but she was the one that Ralph and Maura were arguing about downstairs. How she hated him!

→Enrico was watching from the loggia above the main entrance when the carriage came into view on the road from Remora. He decided to make himself scarce until the Duke had established his son in his quarters. He headed back out to the stables to check up on his prize. Actually, he was avoiding contact with young Falco; Nello had told him all about the accident and Enrico, who would slide a blade between a man’s ribs without a second thought, if he was being paid enough, was squeamish about illness and physical defects, especially in children.

→Today the palace was buzzing with activity. A message had come to say that the Duke was bringing his youngest son back to the palace for a few weeks. Falco was a great favourite with the household because of his sweet nature and angelic looks and the tragedy of his situation. The cook was bustling around making his favourite dishes and the maids were cleaning his bedroom and dusting all the formal rooms so that there should be nothing for the Duke to find fault with.

→-˜Dia!’ he exclaimed to himself. -˜I had no idea just how rich these di Chimici were.’