Chapter 15 #2
‘What an interesting prospect.’ Evelyn chuckled. And then her gaze went over my shoulder and her face lit up. ‘I say, I spy some more of our merry band and that one was worth waiting for, I think you will agree.’
I turned to see Jack coming towards us, tall and lean, elegant in a pale linen suit, his white shirt open at the neck. I felt an unexpected thrill and despite myself I had to admit he was very attractive, and it made me feel a bit silly for a few minutes.
‘Good Lord, it’s him again! What’s he doing here?’ Anna said. ‘Did you know about this?’
‘By the expression on her face, I would say yes,’ Harriet murmured, ‘you tinker.’
‘That’s Jack Fisher,’ I said airily, ignoring them, ‘we’ve met him already. He’s a travel writer.’
‘Is he by jingo,’ Evelyn said.
He came straight towards me, much to Evelyn’s evident delight, and the next few minutes were taken up with introductions and pleasantries about the boat and Evelyn expounding about the many delights of Venice.
‘I have been here before, but not for many years,’ Jack said. ‘I’m looking forward to seeing it again if I return.’
‘Then when you do I must introduce you to my friend Franco. He lives in the most delightful place near the Rialto bridge. I’m sure he would be very helpful,’ Evelyn said. ‘Let me have your mobile number and I will send him a message.’
I thought again for a moment how easy things could be when one had family members with connections. Or accommodating friends of friends with spare guest rooms, speedboats and holiday cottages. This was networking at its finest in my opinion. It must make life so much simpler.
‘Thank you, that would be wonderful,’ Jack said.
Another tray of champagne was offered and he took a glass.
At the other end of the sundeck, we heard raised voices for a moment, and then Rocco hurried past us with an expression that was not entirely happy.
‘I wonder what all that is about?’ Evelyn said.
‘I’ll go and find out,’ Anna said with a mischievous grin, ‘I love a bit of excitement.’
‘It will be great to have a slower pace of life for a few days,’ Harriet said. ‘All that travelling has taken it out of me. I just want some time to relax. I think in another life I would like to be a spoiled little lap dog. They seem to have no worries at all.’
Evelyn chuckled. ‘Oh yes. Imagine you awaken every morning in a soft bed, are lifted out and dressed in warm sweaters, given your favourite food. You have no debts, no job and no responsibilities and yet you are still angry because you are a chihuahua. And trust me, I know because I used to have one. A dear little scrap but furious at everything.’
‘Then I’ll be a cat instead,’ Harriet said.
‘Very wise,’ Jack said.
I wondered briefly how my son was getting on with the kittens. I hadn’t heard from him, so I assumed all was well.
Anna returned, scooping up a second glass of champagne. She turned, slightly breathless, eyes wide with excitement.
‘Big drama. Some guests haven’t turned up and nor have two of the crew members.
There’s a lot of shouting going on downstairs in the kitchen.
I think it’s called the galley. And a lot of crashing about as though someone is throwing saucepans.
I peeped through the door and there is a woman there in leather trousers, rather dramatic, and she is shouting at Rocco.
And he is shouting back. It’s all very alarming. ’
‘Perhaps that’s his wife?’ I said.
‘Really?’ Jack murmured. ‘How marvellous.’
‘You mustn’t say anything about this when you write your report,’ I said, ‘it’s insider information.’
‘From an unreliable source,’ Harriet added, ‘and we don’t want anyone to get into trouble.’
‘I’m not an unreliable source,’ Anna said indignantly.
‘Well, whatever, we are off the record,’ I said.
Jack nodded, his face serious, although his eyes sparkled with amusement.
‘I won’t breathe a word. I am sure it’s just a little difficulty that will be sorted out in no time.’
In the distance we heard the unmistakeable sound of more shouting and a histrionic scream, and a few seconds later Rocco reappeared on the sundeck, looking surprisingly unruffled although his hair was sticking up at the back as though someone had clouted him.
‘Just to let you know we will be underway very soon,’ he said.
‘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?