‘Is everything quite all right?’ Evelyn asked politely.
‘Assolutamente. Absolutely,’ Rocco said.
He gave a polite little nod and strode off, presumably towards the bridge. We noticed he had a red splodge on the back of his white shirt, as though someone had thrown a tomato at him.
‘I say, this is very promising,’ Evelyn said. ‘I know this sort of things goes on all the time on the big ships, but here we are going to see it all at closer quarters.’
I looked across at Jack and saw he was grinning.
‘Don’t you dare,’ I said, trying not to laugh.
He made a zipping motion across his mouth.
‘Not a word.’
The man I now knew to be Roy came weaving over towards us.
‘So what’s going on, ladies?’ he said. ‘Trouble in paradise? Someone told me the chef hasn’t turned up.’
He seemed to have forgotten our earlier encounter.
‘Nothing like that, I’m sure. Last-minute crew training,’ Evelyn said smoothly. ‘Oh, look! We are off! And look, here comes Marjorie at last! She was going to unpack and have a nap. Very sensible.’
It was true, the boat had started to move away from the quayside and out into the open waters. It was terrifically exciting and we all went to stand at the rail, looking out as we passed one beautiful building after another.
I gave a huge sigh of contentment. I was really looking forward to the week ahead. And if nothing else, I was also looking forward to the evening meal. We had been promised Michelin-star meals, something I was very unused to. I just hoped the chef had turned up after all.
I leaned back on the ship’s rail and sipped my champagne feeling both glamorous and elegant. Like Audrey Hepburn in one of those Hitchcock films which started out with everyone in evening dress, having a sophisticated time. And merrily laughing because they were all so rich and attractive.
Hmm, but then they always degenerated into something else involving complicated pursuits and spies and other people’s hidden agendas. I’d have to avoid all that sort of thing.
Just to bring me back down to earth with a bump, my phone pinged with the arrival of a text. Well that was something Audrey didn’t need to deal with when she was chasing across Paris with Cary Grant.
Ben
Jenna gave the kittens their jabs, they were very brave and she was so nice with them. And before you ask she didn’t charge me anything, so I said I would take her out for a drink to say thank you.
Me
Oh I see!!!!!
Ben
It’s not like that!
Me
Of course it isn’t.
Now it was all beginning to make sense. Perhaps there were other sorts of equally interesting hidden agendas going on at home?
16
Marjorie was tall and statuesque and dressed very stylishly in a green linen dress and a chunky metal necklace which clinked and clattered as she sat down.
‘Here she is at last,’ Evelyn said, ‘now I can introduce you. This is my friend Marjorie.’
‘Sorry to be late to the party,’ Marjorie said, ‘I’ve been having a Necessary Adult Pause.’
