‘A what?’ Harriet said, bemused.
‘An NAP, a nap,’ Marjorie said, ‘I recommend them. Now then, have I missed anything? What’s the gossip? What are we talking about?’
‘I was just about to tell our new friends how we have known each other for donkey’s years.’
‘Nearly sixty,’ Marjorie said. ‘I was working it out. We met in London when we were at the Lucie Clayton school, and Evelyn was about to get married. My word, those were the days. We had such fun, I learned all sorts of things. And to this day I swear no one can get out of a sports car better than I can. Knees together, legs at a slant.’
‘Were you both models?’ Anna asked, evidently impressed.
Marjorie laughed as she unfolded her linen napkin and laid it across her lap.
‘Goodness me, no, in those days people wanted Twiggy and Jean Shrimpton. Not a six-foot hoyden like me. And I never did get the book-balancing thing right, and at the end of the course I had put on half a stone and got a hard stare, didn’t I, Evie?’
‘You did.’ Evelyn nodded. ‘They were very strict, but we had discovered a wonderful place to eat, Au Pere de Nico in Chelsea. They did the most wonderful steak Diane, and some fabulous desserts that did nothing for my waistline. But we did meet some fascinating people. I have a menu somewhere signed by Harold Pinter.’
Marjorie nodded. ‘That’s where I met my starter husband, Lionel. And through him I met Julian, my follow on, and then Henry, so it was worth it in the end.’
‘A starter husband,’ Harriet murmured. ‘I hadn’t thought of Bruce like that.’
Marjorie shrugged. ‘No one expects to be an expert at anything to begin with, do they? And I think that includes being married. Sometimes it takes practice. And when you do find the right person, then it’s easy. Life is too short to spend with people who suck all the joy out of life, isn’t it? Henry was the right person for me. Oh dear, I do miss him.’
‘When did you lose him?’ Anna asked sympathetically.
Marjorie looked puzzled. ‘Oh, I didn’t lose him; after all, he’s not a sock that’s gone down the back of the tumble drier. He’s just not interested in water that is deeper than his waders. He’s in Scotland trout fishing. He’ll be back the day before we get home. I fully expect the washing machine to be filled with his muddy clothes and bits of twig. And then as I come in through the front door, he will yell that it’s not draining properly and we will have an argument about cleaning the filter out and then I’ll give him a big kiss and all will be well with the world.’
‘Ah, I see,’ Anna said uncertainly. ‘I’m sure he’s having a lovely time.’
‘Probably,’ Marjorie said, ‘but messing about trying to double cast with dog nobblers in the rain isn’t my idea of fun.’
‘I would ask what a dog nobbler is, but I don’t think I dare,’ Harriet murmured.
‘A trout fly,’ Evelyn said. ‘Ah, here comes the captain with his safety briefing. Are we going to get any food this evening do you think? I’m ravenous.’
‘Safety is the most important thing,’ Rocco said loudly, having rapped on the table with a spoon for silence, which took some time as everyone in the dining room had found the complimentary wine on the tables and were taking full advantage of it.
‘But in the day if we encounter a problem you will know. Because there will be several blasts on the ship’s horn. Then you must find your life jackets. Ivan here is going to demonstrate how to use one.’
Ivan, whose knowledge of English was enthusiastic but evidently limited, came forward, a bulky orange life jacket around his neck, and showed us how to fasten the straps, which was probably unnecessary, but entertaining as he wrestled to tie the straps around himself and got into a muddle. He then blew the whistle several times, which he said was to attract attention when we were in the water.
‘The blue strap is for tying rope if out at sea. All together. No one float awaysta annegando– to drown,’ he said reassuringly. ‘Lifeboat, plenty of room, very comfortable and nice. You will like it very much.’
‘I think we would rather not find out,’ Anna murmured.
‘Is there a light on the life jacket too?’ Harriet wondered. ‘So the rescuers can see us in the dark?’
‘No light needed,’ Ivan said firmly, but unconvincingly. ‘If boat sinks in nighttime we should be in port, the coast guard will be alerted. Everyone sees. From the side.’
‘That makes no sense at all,’ I said.
‘Perhaps the life jackets without lights were cheaper,’ Anna said.
Having dispensed with the life jackets, Rocco then explained about meals on board which would be at eight, one and seven o’clock most days.
Meanwhile, behind him, we watched, delighted, as Mila helped Ivan untangle the life jacket straps, and he twisted and turned and whimpered his distress, eventually stepping out of it with a disparaging kick.
‘There will be entertainment tomorrow night,’ Rocco added with a roguish twinkle. ‘I love to dance.’
He held out his arms and did a little shimmy to reinforce the fact.
