Page 11 of The Cruise

Selwyn explained that he’d travelled from London. His flight from Heathrow had been most enjoyable, and despite the time difference creating tiredness, he felt relaxed already.

Guests learnt from Bridgette that the Captain had the penthouse suite and spent his time travelling around the world.

‘Imagine how much money it takes to spend all that time on a ship,’ Kath whispered as she studied the Captain. ‘He must be loaded but looks a bit vague to me.’

‘He probably forgets to disembark after each cruise,’ Jane replied.

They watched as asparagus soup trickled down the side of the Captain’s mouth. He peered under his hat, and his eyes were vague as he stared at the guests, as if questioning how he’d travelled through so many decades to arrive at this table.

‘Let me help you,’ Bridgette said. She explained that she knew the Captain from previous cruises and over the years they’d become friends. Leaning in, she dabbed at his mouth with a napkin, then gently removed the hat and placed it to one side. The worry lines on his wrinkled face softened.

‘Thank you, my dear.’ The Captain smiled.

‘Do you think he has the early stages of dementia?’ Jane whispered to Kath.

‘If he has, I’ll get on well with him.’ Kath had finished her soup and, puzzled, touched her fingers to her ear lobes. ‘I thought I was wearing earrings – and where are my glasses?’

‘There was a pair of earrings beside the bathroom sink and your glasses are on your head.’

‘Ah, of course.’ Kath sighed.

‘Your earrings will be there when we go back to the suite, no harm done,’ Jane said.

‘Bridgette tells me that she’s a gardener.’ Selwyn turned to speak to Jane, and her heart sank. ‘An excellent gardener who has won many awards.’

‘That’s nice.’

‘She’ll be hosting talks that includeFrom Your Garden to Show Garden.’ Selwyn took a sip of wine. ‘Do you like gardening?’

‘Not really, my cottage is mostly lawn,’ Jane said.

‘I’m more of a pot man myself.’

Selwyn coughed, and his leg touched Jane’s thigh again. Flinching, she gripped her knees and shuffled her feet away. Jane noted Selwyn’s dreadlocks and beautiful smooth skin. It was the colour of ebony and shone with good health. ‘Do you mean that you like marijuana?’ Jane asked, ‘Oh, I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said that.’

‘Well, yes, I like that too.’

Selwyn’s voice was rich, his gaze hypnotic, and Jane’s jaw dropped as she stared into deep brown eyes, as indulgent and inviting as chocolate.

Bridgette interrupted, ‘I’ve won lots of awards, including gold at Hampton Court and the Chelsea Flower Show.’

‘You must be very talented,’ Jane said but she wasn’t paying attention. Something about Selwyn was unsettling, and Jane yearned for the dinner to be over. Ignoring Bridgette, she turned to Kath. ‘Please, will you talk to me,’ Jane hissed.

‘You seem to be doing very nicely on your own.’ Kath nodded as she tucked into her main course. ‘But eat up, this sea bass is delicious, although I’m not sure what else is on the plate.’ She poked at the carefully arranged food with her fork.

‘Fried basil leaves, curried cauliflower and caper vinaigrette,’ Jane replied robotically.

‘I wonder if there are seconds?’ Kath munched happily.

‘There will be mountains of food over the next two weeks. I’ll have to be airlifted off.’ But as Jane stared at her dinner, she realised that suddenly, she had no appetite, and there was an unfamiliar thud in her chest.

‘Are you all right?’ Kath asked, ‘you haven’t touched your dinner.’

‘I’m fine,’ Jane snapped, terrified that others on the table might notice. Was she having a panic attack or something more serious? Pushing back her chair, she struggled to her feet. ‘I’m terribly sorry,’ she began, ‘but I feel exhausted and I’m going to have an early night.’

‘It must be the long journey,’ Kath said and eyed Jane’s unfinished meal.

‘Off you go, run along, it’s far better to catch your sleep than spoil your holiday,’ Bridgette insisted. Everyone exchanged glances. It was easy to see how Bridgette had earned her nickname of ‘bossy’.

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