‘So, it looks like I’m taking you for dinner then.’
‘Well, if you must.’
I sit back in my seat and think about how nice dinner will be with him. Maybe I’ll wear Soraya’s kaftan.
‘Umm, anyway, so what was it that you did in Manchester?’
‘I was a window cleaner. See, that’s why I said about the water. Went through tons of it.’
‘Oh, wow. That one hadn’t crossed my mind. No wonder the windows are sparkling on the yacht.’
‘Oh, yeah. Don’t get me started on the best way to get your windows sparkling. My dad was a window cleaner before me, and then I took over from him. Family business since 1963.’
‘But now you’re a yacht skipper. What about the family business?’
‘It’s a long story… One I’ll tell you another time.’
Elias pulls the car into the marina car park and pulls up the handbrake. He looks quite serious.
‘Yeah. I will tell you… Maybe one day, if the time is right.’
‘Sure.’ The Mysterious Mancunian of Manchester has just become a whole lot more mysterious. Jasmine and Poppy’s words spring into my head.This is how it starts, Mam. I’m telling you now. This is only the beginning.I try to ignore their little voices as I spotLady Jane.
‘Anyway, here we are. Lady Janeawaits.’
We walk to the yacht, and Elias leads me onto the bridge. He does some safety checks, running around the boat like a headless chicken while I sit on the seat beside the captain’s chair. It is like I am second in command, and I momentarily feel a sense of importance until Elias returns to start up the engines.
The engines roar with power, and once again, the water bubbles beneath us. The rope tied to the marina has been hauled in, and we are off.
‘I’ll be a bit busy for a few minutes, just while I steer us out of here. But we can sit back a bit once we hit the open sea, okay?’
‘Yes, of course. I’ll sit here quietly and try not to distract you.’
I feel like a queen as I sit on the yacht as people watch us leave our mooring. For a moment, I am Lady Jane, and for once, I experience what it must be like to have such luxury at your fingertips. I just wish my clothes were a bit fancier and I wasn’t wearing an old jumpsuit I bought in Swansea market. How the other half live. Despite my fashion crisis, I think I am beginning to feel inspired. I go to grab my notebook from my bag to make some notes as we set sail, and I notice that I have a message on my phone.
A message from Michael flashes up in large print on the screen.
The girls just told me you’re going on a boat trip with some scammer.What the hell is wrong with you? You have no idea who he is. Get offthat boat now. Anything could happen to you!!!
Howdarehe tell me what to do. He is allowed to go on any midlife crisis he wants and even change his name to make himself sound younger. But god forbid I go sailing with a very pleasant skipper. Why is it that my family all think I don’t deserve my own happy life? So selfish, the lot of them.
I roll my eyes under my oversized sunglasses.Oh, Michael, I’m going to have words with you when I get back. Very strong ones.
‘Everything alright?’ asks Elias.
Instinctively, I touch his arm.
‘Oh, yes, fine. Hopefully, we won’t have phone reception where we’re going.’ I try to smile and swiftly switch my phone off, throwing it back into my bag.
But as I head further out into the open sea, completely alone with Elias, as much as a part of me is delighted and enjoying every moment, I realise that we are heading into choppy waters. The truth is that Jasmine, Poppy and Michael are right: I don’t know the slightest thing about Elias. He could be anyone, but the problem is I am starting to enjoy his company. I am just going to have to go with my instinct on this one.
Chapter Twelve
After we have sailed for half an hour, Elias suggests we anchor up. I look over to the beautiful bay nearby and agree it is the perfect spot. I have no idea where we are, but it is certainly stunning, with crystal-clear sea and shoals of colourful fish swimming around us.
As we gently sway in the water, I relax on the deck and lie on a sunbed decorated with the yacht’s insignia of gold and blue whilst I wait for Elias to get us some drinks. I thought perhaps if we lay on the sunbeds for a while, we might be able to have a chat, and I’d get my chance to find out more about him. However, Elias suggests we dive off the boat since this is the perfect place for a swim. Fortunately, I packed my swimwear, assuming that swimming might be involved today.
Once I finish my soft drink, I change in the small bathroom with gold-plated taps. I must adjust my sarong twenty times before I have the confidence to walk back out.
