Chapter 8 #2
“And she won’t let you help her up for some fresh air, I suppose.”
“So Baines says, and happen Wanda’s right to refuse.
I was up a bit ago. There’s a rough, blustery wind blowing, and spray everywhere—reminds me o’ walking on the fells wi’ me da when I were a lad.
It’s not right, but, for a delicate lass used to town ways.
She were on the London stage, you know.” He sighed.
“She were that excited about sailing to America, but mebbe it wasn’t such a grand notion after all. ”
Daisy was far too well brought up to ask if he was also having second thoughts about having married Wanda, but that did not stop her wondering. “It was fine the first two days,” she pointed out, “and I dare say it won’t stay rough all the way across. She’ll enjoy seeing America, anyway.”
“Aye, that she will.” Gotobed cheered up, in the process losing much of the Yorkshire influence in his speech. “I’m greatly looking forward to it myself. You and Fletcher are off to Washington, I gather?”
The others joined in the conversation, with Gloria frequently applied to as the fount of all knowledge. Daisy asked Miss Oliphant what her plans were.
The witch, with the aid of a small legacy, intended to tour small towns in the long-settled eastern states, where she hoped to find people who remembered old herbal remedies.
“Then, if my funds stretch so far,” she said, “I shall visit Indian reservations to learn what I can about native medicine. Witch hazel is an example, widely used now, of course. I am sure there must be other plants whose medicinal properties are little known.”
Gotobed was fascinated. He had thought of America chiefly in terms of its industrial might, with a special interest in steel as used to construct skyscrapers.
“Wanda was a little vague about what she wanted to see and do,” he said.
“T’lass has niver been abroad. As I expect you others know, she was a singer and dancer in the theatre, Miss Oliphant, with no opportunity for travel.
I thowt we might cross the country by train, see the Mississippi and the Rocky Mountains and whatever other natural wonders can be visited. She’ll like that.”
Daisy blinked. She was prepared to bet natural wonders were not what had attracted Wanda to America, if, indeed, there was any attraction other than marriage to Gotobed.
“I expect Mrs. Gotobed would enjoy visiting Hollywood, in the state of California,” suggested Miss Oliphant. “I understand that is where many cinematographic films are made.”
“Now there’s a grand idea! But I’m very taken with this plan of yours to visit the Indians. Suppose I hire a motor car, and the three of us go jaunting off to the reservations together?”
Dismay flashed across Miss Oliphant’s face. “That would be delightful,” she said tactfully, a fib if ever Daisy had heard one, “but perhaps you had better consult Mrs. Gotobed before making new plans and wait and see how your existing arrangements work out.”
“We’ve nothing settled yet, save a visit to Arbuckle’s place. I’ve all the time in the world, for I’m semi-retired, and what business I need to do can be done by cable for a few months.”
“Miss Oliphant, why don’t you come and visit, too?” Gloria said impulsively. “I’m sure Poppa would be happy to have you.”
“Why, that is very kind of you, my dear! It is true I have no definite plans. Perhaps a few days … But I should not wish to impose …”
“Do say yes,” Gotobed urged heartily. “It’ll give you a chance to find your feet. Arbuckle won’t mind; he’s a hospitable sort of bloke.”
“He certainly is,” Daisy confirmed. After all, her commissions from her editors and Alec’s invitation to Washington all stemmed from Arbuckle’s determination to have them go to stay at his “little country place.”
“If Mr. Arbuckle chooses to repeat the invitation,” said Miss Oliphant, a trifle flushed, “when he is feeling quite well again, then I shall be happy to accept.”
“Jolly good,” said Phillip.
The steward brought their sweets, balancing his full tray with ease as he crossed the room.
However, instead of circling the table as usual to place each dish before its orderer, he plunked the tray down at the end and passed out the bowls and plates.
“Don’t want to give anyone an earful,” he explained cheerfully. “There’s a bit of a blow on.”
Savouring her poire belle Hélène, Daisy glanced around the Grand Salon. Their table was typical—about half the passengers had not turned up for lunch. The Purser and Chief Engineer headed their tables, but none of the sailing officers was present.
Lady Brenda was there, with Chester Riddman beside her, looking morose. Her new hair-do did not appear to have improved his temper. Daisy decided to try to catch her after lunch to ask what Denton had been wearing.
Their coffee came, sloshing about in the heavy-based mugs which had been substituted for cups and saucers. The steward offered liqueurs “on the house,” at the Purser’s behest, as a tribute to those still on their feet.
“By Jove,” said Phillip, grinning, “if there’s anything in what Miss Oliphant says, we’d better have crème de menthe all round to help us stay on our feet!”
“I am not at all certain that the alcohol does not nullify any benefit from the mint,” the witch said dryly. “However, none of you appears to need it.”
“Touch wood,” said Daisy, suiting action to the word. She
laughed. “All the same, I’ll have some. What about you, Miss Oliphant?”
“I shall take a glass of Crabbe’s Green Ginger Wine, if you have it, Steward. It is an excellent cordial, and who knows but that it may help in our present situation.”
Phillip and Gloria opted for crème de menthe, while Gotobed joined Miss Oliphant in requesting ginger wine.
“My mam used to make ginger-beer,” he reminisced. “There was always a crock brewing in the larder. She used to give it us for the collywobbles, from scrounging green apples like as not.”
“There you are,” said Miss Oliphant triumphantly. “Your mother was a herbalist in her way.”
Gotobed laughed. “So she was, think on! I’m a healthy man, but gin I fall ill, I’ll come to you afore I trouble our good doctor.”
When they left the Grand Salon, Lady Brenda and Riddman were just receiving their coffee, so Daisy resigned herself to losing track of her quarry again.
Gotobed walked beside her. “Mrs. Fletcher,” he said, in perfect King’s English, “I hate to trouble you, but might I ask you to drop in to see Wanda? I understand why she doesn’t want to see me, or rather, doesn’t want me to see her, but I’m troubled in my mind as to whether her maid is doing all that can be done for her comfort. ”
“Of course I’ll go. She may refuse to see me, too, but if not I’ll try to persuade her at least to try some mint tea. Or ginger-beer might go down better.”
“Very likely.” He lowered his voice, a touch of Yorkshire creeping in again. “I’m afraid she’s taken agin Miss O. I dare say it wouldn’t do for the three of us to do a bit of travelling together. A great shame. Miss O. is an interesting lady.”
“Isn’t she,” Daisy agreed.
“If you want to find me afterwards, I shall very likely be
up on deck, smoking a pipe. You won’t want to go out, but you can send a deck steward to fetch me.”
“Right-oh.”
They reached the door, where Miss Oliphant was waiting. “Mrs. Fletcher, if you would like to come with me now, I shall give you some mint for your husband,” she offered.
“Yes, please.” Daisy smiled at Gotobed, and she and the witch started towards the companion-way. “Mr. Gotobed has asked me to pop in to see Wanda. He’s afraid the maid may not be taking proper care of her. Would you mind if I managed to persuade her to drink some mint tea, too?”
“Not at all. I have plenty. He is a dear man,” she added, so low Daisy only just made out the words and was not sure whether she was intended to hear or not. “That creature does not deserve him.”
Wanda had not hidden her dislike of Miss Oliphant. Obviously, the feeling was reciprocated.
Daisy did not enter Miss Oliphant’s cabin, as one of the women sharing it was laid low in her bunk.
However, though she did not see them this time, she recalled with unease the red labels on certain of the array of vials and jars in the teak chest. Had the envelope the witch handed to her not contained enough crushed leaves for both patients, Daisy would have thought twice before giving any to Wanda.