"Chelsea Quinn Yarbro - St Germain 2 - The Palace" - читать интересную книгу автора (Yarbro Chelsea Quinn)

"You are kind, Massimillio." Demetrice had come to the door and stood watching
the huge man as he added his finishing touches to the broth, which had begun to
simmer.
"Ah, Donna Demetrice, it is a simple matter to be kind to you. You are good, you
are pleasant, you like what I cook. I don't mind making special meals for you,
because you enjoy them and it pleases me to watch you eat." He poured some of the
steaming broth into a large wooden mug. "There. Now, when you have finished that,
I fear you must leave, for I have much to do before tomorrow. Two Bolognese
merchants and the officers of the Arte della Lana and the Arte di Calimala are to take
their meal at midday tomorrow with Laurenzo. They will speak of nothing but cloth
and money and will not taste so much as the ginger in my savor sanguino."
"Poor Massimillio." Demetrice felt genuine sympathy for the huge man. "Well, if
you will, save me some leftovers and we can share a late meal together."
The cook turned to her, startled. "Will you not be eating with the others?"
"Not if they mean to talk only of cloth and money." There was a teasing light in
her eyes as she stretched out her hand to him. "It will be much more pleasant to have
my meal here, with you. Il comestio is nicer in good company."
"All meals are nicer in good company," Massimillio announced with awful
hauteur. Then he relented somewhat, saying, "It will be a treat to share the meal with
you. I am making a berlingozzo and a minestra of spring lamb, for we have just got
the first new lambs."
Although these were not the greatest delicacies available to the Fiorenzan upper
class, they were still special treats. Demetrice smiled delightedly. "If they do not
enjoy your art, Massimillio, be certain that I will."
"Bella mia. I will perish of joy," he announced, and took back the empty cup she
handed him. "Now, you must rush off to your bed, or the virtue of the broth will be
for nothing."
Demetrice thanked him again, and left the kitchen for her small bedroom, three
floors above. She tasted the ginger, garlic and coriander long after she had
extinguished the candle and pulled the worn damask hangings around her bed.
***
Text of a letter from Alessandro di Mariano Filipepi to Leonardo da Vinci:


To Leonardo in Milano, his friend Botticelli sends his affectionate greetings on
our Beato Antoninus' Day:
I am sending with this a wallet containing some new tinctures that may interest
you. Laurenzo's new friend, the alchemist I have told you of before, developed
them. I have used them myself and have found that the colors they produce are of
rare luminosity. Try them, I urge you.
I had your letter of March 27 in good time. If you are as much distressed by the
Sforzas as you say, then why do you remain? You know that Laurenzo would
welcome your return, and surely there is work for you to do in Fiorenza that will
interest you as much as your work in Milano. Consider, then, caro amico, for you
are much missed here. Even that sharp-tongued Poliziano speaks of you
affectionately.
You will perhaps be saddened to learn that Laurenzo has not been well. As has
been his practice in the past, he has taken the waters and he insists that he is better.
But I am worried. His hands often swell and he is sometimes weak without reason.
Often of late, his kinswoman Donna Demetrice Volandrai reads to him, sometimes