The pilot - Der Pilot (eng-deu)

intend to convince London’s theatre owners to support you?”
    â€œThat’s irrelevant. I don’t want to perform in their → run-down theatres any more. I want to sing on the best stages in the world – Broadway. I want Abraham to take me over there and make me famous, and tonight I will convince him. And that’s where I’ll need your help, Stephen.”
    â€œMy help? I’m just your father’s nurse.”
    â€œPrecisely. I need you to keep my father out of Abraham’s way. In fact, I don’t want him to know I have a guest at all.”
    â€œWhy do you want to keep Mr Ryder’s presence a secret?”
    â€œI know my father. If he met Abraham, he would → antagonize him. But I’m not going to let that happen. I had Lester put Abraham in my mother’s chambers to keep him away from Father.”
    â€œPardon me, Madam, but why don’t you simply ask your father to be kind to Mr Ryder?”
    â€œAnd he’d love to → comply , wouldn’t he”, sagte sie verächtlich. “Have you already forgotten how he had me thrown out of the Coliseum? Believe me, Stephen, if he knew about Abraham he’d → pull out all stops to drive him away.”
    â€œBut it doesn’t feel right. You don’t want to lie to your father, Madam, do you? After all, he’s my employer.”
    â€œAnd I’m but a serving maid?” Margaret konnte ebenso strafend blicken wie ihr Vater.
    â€œOf course not. I meant ...”
    Sofort war sie wieder versöhnlich. “I know what you meant. And don’t worry. You don’t have to lie to him. Just don’t tell him anything about it.”
    Stefan sah zu Boden. “It still means I’m not being honest with him.”
    â€œMaybe he deserves no better. Remember, the last time I talked to him, he falsely accused you of choking him. Where’s the honesty in that?”
    Stefan schwieg.
    Er schenkte Chesterfield gerade Tee nach, als es an der Tür klopfte und Margaret ihren Kopf ins Zimmer steckte. Ihr Vater hielt sich nicht mit Begrüßungen auf.
    â€œLook who has finally found a spare minute to visit her old, useless father. I assume you must be very → bored , Margaret, if you show up here.”
    â€œYou haven’t lost any of your charms, have you, Father?”, gab sie zurück. “I’ll be with you in a minute, but first I need to have a word with Stephen.” Sie winkte Stefan zu sich in den Flur.
    Chesterfield schnaubte. “If she fires you, don’t bother to say goodbye.”
    Stefan trat in den Flur und schloss die Tür hinter sich. Margaret hatte sich umgezogen und trug jetzt ein violettes Kleid mit eng geschnürtem Korsett und ausladenden Röcken. Sie bewegte sich unbeholfen, als sei sie es nicht gewohnt, Korsetts zu tragen.
    â€œMilady, you look lovely”, sagte er bewundernd.
    Margaret deutete auf die Zimmertür. “Did you tell him?”
    â€œNo.”
    Die Erleichterung war ihr anzusehen. “Good. I need you to do something important for me.”
    â€œJust say the word.”
    Sie senkte die Stimme zu einem verschwörerischen Wispern. “I want you to keep Abraham occupied while I’m with my father. I told Abraham that I couldn’t introduce them because Father was too ill, and that I’d be back with him in half an hour. He’s in the drawing room now. But I want you to talk to him and keep him there. The last thing I need is for him to wander around the house alone.”
    â€œMadam, I’m just a servant. Do you really think I’m the right person to keep Mr Ryder occupied?”
    â€œDon’t be modest. Stephen. You’re a good listener, and I trust you.”
    â€œWell, in this case I’ll try not to disappoint you.” Ihr Vertrauen schmeichelte ihm, auch wenn ihm nicht ganz wohl bei der Sache war.
    â€œThanks. Now hurry.”
    Abraham Ryder saß in einem Ohrensessel und blätterte gelangweilt in einem Buch. Als er Stefan bemerkte, legte er es achtlos zur Seite. “You there, Winston”, sagte er mit seinem breiten Akzent, “Do you know where I can find the lovely Maggie?”
    â€œSir, Lady Margaret is → attending to her father just now.” Stefan wünschte, er beherrschte Mr Hunts würdevoll herablassenden Tonfall. “She will be with you as soon as her duties allow and sends me to keep you company.”
    â€œWell,