Page 5 of Murder on the SS Leviathan
Lucrezia generally spoke of those who waited upon them with a dismissive air, but Cecile had never seen her behave with rudeness, nor lay hands upon someone. It was a side of Lucrezia she hadn’t thought possible.
Briefly, Lucrezia’s eyes blazed. It was a look with which Cecile was familiar, for her friend was readily outspoken when she thought herself ill-used. However, the next moment, she lowered her gaze.
‘You are right,cara.I am feeling the tiredness, and my temper took the hold of me. I only wish for all to be perfect, but I am too much high-handed. I will tell the steward as you say, and make him forgive me.’ Looking up through her lashes, she offered Cecile a small smile. ‘And you,piccola? You forgive?’
Cecile returned the pressure of Lucrezia’s hand, reaching for hers. She’d no wish for them to be at odds. Only Lucrezia appreciated all they’d gone through; only Lucrezia knew how those events had changed Cecile.
In honesty, she was the only person Cecile could speak to. What did she have in common, now, with the friends she’d made at the Beaulieu Academy? Would anyone she’d been acquainted with in London have sympathy for her? If they knew what Cecile had suffered—what she’d endured beneath Lorenzo’s roof—they would spurn her, she’d little doubt.
Even Maud had drifted from her, wrapped up in the business of being married. She was all politeness, but had no interest in learning the secrets of Cecile’s heart.
Not that Cecile wished to share all her thoughts, even with Lucrezia.
Cecile touched her cheek to that of her friend. ‘We all say things we shouldn’t when we’re out of sorts. With that in mind, I fear the motion of the sea is affecting me. I’ll retire to my cabin for a while. Claudette ought to have finished unpacking.’
Though they were located on the very uppermost deck of the ship, Cecile was aware of a slight hum through the soles of her feet. Meanwhile, the rolling lift and dip of the sea’s horizon reminded her that they were some miles from the still waters of the harbour.
Lucrezia frowned. ‘You do not wish to explore? Not all things can be judged by their size, but this ship ismagnifica. Perhaps you need only the hot tea to revive you.’
‘I’ll feel better soon, I’m sure. But you should take a turn about the deck. Claudette can act as chaperone if you need her.’
Moving to the porthole, Lucrezia looked out. ‘I hardly think that necessary. What harm can come on a ship such as this? And it’s no scandal to promenade when others do the same. See this lady walking, and she is quite alone.’
Lucrezia pulled Cecile to join her. ‘Her dress is very elegant, no? Though she may need more pins, or the confection on her head will be flying off to reach Brazil before us.’
A sudden gust obliged the woman to clutch at her Leghorn hat and hold fast to the rail. She was only a little older than they, her colouring similar to Lucrezia’s. Her slim-fitting costume of emerald, with a modest veil covering her face, spoke of respectability—or the means to appear so.
Lucrezia brought her hand companionably around Cecile’s waist. ‘Now, I shall order the peppermint tea for you and the ginger biscuits, and look in on you on my return. If you are still ailing, we shall take supper just the two of us, and I shall help put you to bed.’
Resting her head upon Cecile’s shoulder, she spoke softly. ‘We are everything to one another now,mia cara, and are you not happy? There is no one to tell us what to do, and our adventure is just beginning.’
‘No one, apart from my brother.’ Cecile braced her hand against the circular polished rim of the porthole, watching as the woman in green made her way carefully along, keeping hold of the rail as she descended the steps to the second viewing deck.
‘He will give us no trouble. The lady Maud has her husband under the woman’s spell and when we reach Rio, we shall be free to amuse ourselves.’ Standing straight again, Lucrezia tucked a blonde curl behind Cecile’s ear. ‘Your brother will be busy with his trips into the jungle to study the birds. In her condition, Maud will wait dutifully behind, but I don’t believe she will play tyrant in his absence.’
Cecile fought the swell of nausea plaguing her. Seasickness perhaps. What else could it be? As Lucrezia said, so much awaited them—though what exactly Lucrezia had in mind for their arrival in an unknown city, Cecile could not begin to imagine.
‘No one shall be watching us,cara.’ Lucrezia turned again to the window. ‘No one at all.’
