Page 35 of Murder on the SS Leviathan
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Lucrezia fastened the last of the buttons of Cecile’s blouse, high under her chin, and held out her dark blue jacket.
Cecile murmured her thanks. Even with the Gigot sleeves puffed above the elbow, the garment fitted tightly, and putting it on, or taking it off, was almost impossible without help.
Such was the price of fashion, and she hadn’t been able to resist the ensemble when she’d seen it in Paris. Of the finest, lightweight wool, both skirt and jacket were embroidered with floral motifs in black thread.
With her hair pinned in a neat chignon and a simple toque hat perched atop, the effect was elegant—and Cecile felt in need of a little elegance this morning.
Her mind, and her heart, might be in turmoil, but her appearance would not betray her.
The night before, when she’d kissed Lance, she’d felt not just excitement but an awakening. He’d said she was only seeking comfort—that the kiss hadn’t signified anything more; but that wasn’t the truth.
She’d known just what she was doing, and it had been cowardly of her to leave when she did.
Of course, she’d been anxious that the night-watchman would discover them, but a far deeper fear had caused her to stop what she’d begun; the fear of yielding to an uncontrollable torrent of feeling.
Lucrezia—impetuous, reckless and irreverent as she was—was right about one thing. If Cecile wished to take charge of her destiny, it would be a mistake to enslave herself to any man; and those chains came not only from marriage vows.
The kiss had awakened her to a fierce attraction, flooding her with the strongest of desires: to taste, to touch, to submit herself to passion.
And, it had awakened her to something far more dangerous.
Within the warmth of Lance’s arms, looking into his eyes, she’d been consumed by a yearning stronger than any she’d felt before—to be seen, and known.
Her will had slipped away in that moment; her only thought the man before her.
All from a single kiss.
And Lance? He’d seemed to regret the embrace immediately. Certainly, he’d made no attempt to detain her, or to change her mind.
’Molto bella—although, there is a little something missing.’ Lucrezia looked at Cecile with an appraising eye. ‘Ah! But I see it now. The earrings,cara. I have the pendants of pearl which would be most perfect with this costume.’
As ever, with such matters, Lucrezia was right.
‘Come. They are in the other room. We go together.’ Rising, she smoothed down her skirts. ‘And, after, you may visit the Lady Maud, as I know you are wishing. If she feels stronger, I should like, perhaps, the three of us to play cards—the game of Hearts, perhaps.’
Lucrezia looked so hopeful Cecile could only nod, though Maud had never seemed eager for Lucrezia’s company.
Taking the inner passageway, they were surprised to find that the door to Lucrezia’s cabin wouldn’t open. She bent to the keyhole.
’Claudette has left the key inside the lock. We shall have to go round.’ Lucrezia looked most put out, setting off immediately to the double doors that led onto the deck.
Reaching the cabin from the other side, they were even more surprised to find the door unlocked.
‘Negligente!’ Lucrezia clucked her teeth and pushed the door wide, revealing a room still cloaked in darkness.
‘The lazy girl has not even drawn back the curtains!’ Entering, Lucrezia opened them fully, securing each to the side.
The rest of the room looked tidy enough, though Cecile noticed that the decanter of wine usually kept upon the side cabinet was missing.
‘I shall be but a moment.’ Lucrezia set off for the bedroom. ‘The earrings are in the drawer with some other baubles.’
There came the sound of another curtain being pulled upon the rail, then a cascade of furious Italian.
Running through, Cecile saw Lucrezia standing by the bed. Light from one half of the window flowed across the room, directly illuminating the dressing table on the far side.
Someone was slumped before the mirror, her head resting on the polished wood, dark hair spilling from where it had been pinned.
