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She nodded. ‘I’m surprised how familiar it feels. It’s reminding me of the times when Casper and I shared adventures together. Although most of the time he had left me to my own devices. He always seemed to have some crew member to shout at or problem with something. I spent a lot of time reading, exploring the ship, talking to other passengers, and nearly always going ashore on my own when we docked. I must have been more confident then. Or perhaps I had no other choice. Go and see things, Casper used to say, tell me about them when you get back. It would have been so much more enjoyable if he had come with me. Why didn’t he?’
Good question. But then Casper hadn’t been the sort of man to engage in discussion. Eddy once remarked he was a great bloke but the type who was only happy if he had his own way, which was surprisingly insightful. And Casper seemed to make my sister happy, so why would I question it?
We eventually found our fellow cruisers out on the top deck, having a party to celebrate leaving Southampton. There were crew members everywhere. Young, attractive, and smiling, with full trays of sparkling wine and orange juice, and even some platters of canapés which, by the time they got to us looked rather battered. Our new shipmates were obviously keen to enjoy themselves to the utmost and the noise of the chatter mixed with the music which was playing over the loudspeakers was deafening.
‘I say, this is nice,’ I said, a glass of bubbly in one hand and a chicken vol-au-vent in the other. ‘Doesn’t it feel great, to be on a ship again, heading off for an adventure. And don’t those officers look marvellous. I never could resist a man in uniform. I even have a sneaky liking for the postman. He wears shorts even in winter, but then he’s young and does have rather marvellous calves.’
‘Down girl, you need to pace yourself,’ Diana said.
‘They are buttering us up with all this,’ a discontented voice said behind us, ‘and I should think so too, after the last time.’
We turned to see a fierce-looking man with a ruddy complexion and a glass of wine in each hand.
He took a slurp from one. ‘Thelma and I were on the maiden voyage. Never known such a shambles. This one’s free to compensate. Our friends Les and Carol had terrible problems with their shower, and I heard a rumour some people had raw whatsit running through their bathroom. Look Thelma, are those giant prawns over there? Yes, get me two will you.’
‘It hasn’t put you off then?’ I asked.
Our companion drained his glass, put it down and took the plate Thelma brought him.
She nodded at it in some satisfaction. ‘I got you one of those bruschettas you like too, Ken. And you were lucky to get it. It’s like a pack of wolves have been round already.’
Ken chomped away happily for a moment.
‘There’s no need for it, see? There’s plenty of food on the ship.’
‘At the moment,’ I murmured.
‘You should try the Amité buffet later,’ Thelma said encouragingly, ‘it’s always really good on this cruise line. But don’t hang about.’
‘Have you done a lot of cruises then?’ I asked.
‘Twenty-one,’ she said, looking smug, ‘this is the twenty-second. So we are old sea dogs. Any questions, just ask us.’
I didn’t like to tell her that Diana had been on twice that number at least.
‘Do you have a favourite?’
Ken and Thelma squinted thoughtfully at each other for a moment.
‘My favourite was our cruise to the Baltic on the Pirandello. Ten years ago, it hardly seems possible. Such a wonderful trip. Even though it was a bit cold. And we didn’t get an invitation to dine with the captain. Which was a shame. I’m sure he would have enjoyed us,’ Thelma said wistfully.
‘I know he would,’ Diana replied and gave me a wide-eyed look, daring me to speak.
In a remarkable coincidence, Casper had been the captain of the Pirandello. And she’d told me that he preferred to have his meals in his cabin in peace given half a chance.
‘Look there’s Les and Carol now. They’re late,’ Ken said, waving at someone. ‘They’ll have missed all the good stuff. They should know better.’
They wandered off and Diana and I went in the other direction towards a waiter who had just appeared through the glass doors with a new tray full of glowing cocktails.
We found a quiet corner out of the wind in the shelter of a lifeboat and raised our luminous drinks towards each other. Diana patted down her wild grey curls and pursed her lips towards her glass.
‘Un moment,’ someone called, ‘don’t drink that!’
It was Raphaël again, his camera still slung around his neck, looking very attractive in dark blue trousers and a blindingly white shirt with the now familiar BVP logo embroidered in red.
Diana gulped and almost spat her drink out.
‘Why? Is it poisoned?’
