Page 80 of The Cruise Club

But the words he’d spoken to Venetia echoed loudly in his mind.

I want you to find someone who makes you truly happy…

Ruskin thought of Carmen and wondered if he’d ever truly find happiness for himself.

The sun was still hot as Ruskin stood on his balcony and finished the last sip of his whisky. A tiny bird fluttered down, perching lightly on the railing beside him, its beady eyessharp with curiosity. As if studying Ruskin, the bird tilted its head and chirped.

‘You’re not done yet,’ the bird seemed to say, ‘there’s still work to do.’

As the bird flew away, Ruskin turned his attention to Peter’s request for help. There was no clear explanation, but could there be a pattern? Was there a thread connecting these seemingly unrelated incidents?

Mentally listing the victims, Ruskin considered their backgrounds, the location of their cabins and possible movements around the ship. Had they dined at the same table or attended the same events? Or was there a more subtle link that Peter and his team had missed? His years crafting mysteries told Ruskin that there had to be a common denominator, something everyone was unaware of. Surely, if the passengers had been careless, the lost items would have turned up by now?

Yet they hadn’t.

Ruskin stepped back into his suite, the warmth of the whisky lingering on his tongue. The steady hum of the ship beneath his feet reminded him that they were all trapped in this floating world together, and the missing jewellery wasn’t just a coincidence. Something, or someone, was at the heart of the matter.

And Ruskin intended to find out who.

Chapter Thirty-Two

Carmen was preparing for the evening ahead with Theo and stood in her bathroom under the soft glow of the light above the mirror. The face that stared back seemed unfamiliar, and she felt she was seeing herself in a different light. Her skin was slightly tanned and glowing, and her eyes sparkled confidently. Even her hair appeared softer, lightened by the sun. In such a short time, the plain and drab woman who’d boarded the ship seemed to have vanished, replaced by someone she hardly recognised but liked. A lot.

It was wonderful to be on this cruise, feeling its magic take hold and bring her to life. A pendant nestled at her throat, and as it caught the light, Carmen reached out to touch the engraved pattern, silently thanking Theo for his kindness. Stepping back, she smoothed her evening dress, marvelling at how it hugged her figure. Fran’s impeccable taste was still a revelation, and with the help of the boutique’s assistants, every outfit her new friend had chosen mirrored the changes Carmen was feeling.

Even her mother had undergone a transformation, andspending time with Holden had softened Betty beyond recognition. Carmen could hardly believe the change, for her mother had been brusque and impatient for as long as she could remember.

Earlier, as Carmen helped Betty dress, there had been an unfamiliar ease in her mother’s demeanour. Reaching for the long-handled comb to smooth Betty’s hair into place and spray it with lacquer, Carmen braced herself for the usual sharp remark about being too rough.

Instead, to Carmen’s astonishment, Betty murmured, ‘Thank you, dear.’

Carmen nearly dropped the comb. Had she heard correctly? Her mother had thanked her! She’d watched Betty’s reflection in the mirror, searching for some trace of annoyance, but Betty’s face was soft and as Carmen fastened a pearl necklace, her mother smiled warmly then reached out and patted her daughter’s hand, with a gentle, reassuring touch.

A lump formed in Carmen’s throat. Who was this woman, and what had Holden done to her? Whatever it was, Carmen wasn’t sure if she should be wary or relieved.

‘Where are you dining tonight?’ Carmen asked.

‘We’ll eat in the Terrace Restaurant. Holden has reserved a window table,’ Betty replied, pinning her brooch and slipping rings onto her fingers.

‘You seem to have grown very fond of him,’ Carmen said softly. ‘Do you think he might propose?’

‘Oh, Carmen…’ Betty giggled like a girl. ‘Don’t be so silly.’ But as she reached for her cane, she paused and looked at her daughter. ‘But then again… I have very strong feelingsfor him, and stranger things have happened. It might be fun to have a change at my time of life.’

As Carmen slipped into her jewelled sandals and picked up her clutch, she hoped that Betty would find happiness with Holden. Carmen wouldn’t allow herself to think of her own feelings for Ruskin, but as she flicked off the lights and opened the cabin door, she couldn’t help but think that between Betty and herself, at least one of them had found love.

Perched on a chair in front of a mirror, Dicky sat in his dressing room rehearsing his punch lines. His face broke into a well-practised smile, and he chuckled at his reflection as though hearing the audience’s rapturous applause. Beside him, his outfit for the evening, prepared by the wardrobe department, was neatly laid out.

The bathroom door opened, and Melody appeared. Gripping her silky gown, she moved across the room to sit beside Dicky. Her fingers searched through the array of cosmetics until she selected her Kryolan paint stick and held it out. ‘Here, try this. It will get rid of those dark shadows,’ Melody said.

‘Cheers,’ Dicky replied. He dabbed it lightly under his eyes.

After Dicky had generously paused the start of his act to ensure that Melody received more applause and a standing ovation from the audience in the Neptune Theatre, an amicable rapport had struck up between the two performers. Now they treated each other with respect, sharing conversation and discussing improvements to their acts.

Melody talked about her friend, Danni Del Rio. The memory still haunted her, but she admitted now that Danni’s fall from the balcony in Benidorm had been a tragic accident. On reflection, Dicky wasn’t to blame. Danni had alcohol issues, and although Melody had tried to get her to slow down, Danni lived a chaotic life, and it was inevitable that, ultimately, her ending would be messy.

‘I’m sorry,’ Dicky said, ‘it must have been very painful for you to watch her decline.’

‘It was and still is when I think of her. Danni burned brightly. Too brightly.’ Melody fastened a sparkling bracelet to her wrist. ‘How’s your wealthy widow?’ she asked.

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