The Riverboat Mystery (Jenny Starling #3)(27)

Jenny, about to carry on and stomp off to her bedroom in high dudgeon, suddenly remembered the cramped proportions of said bedroom, and did an abrupt turn in the direction of the railings instead. A few more breaths of air before turning in would do her no harm, after all.

She heard Gabriel’s footsteps on the plank, and a moment later saw his dark shape silently make its way towards the large tent.

‘Ah, chaps, I was hoping to catch you alone for a few minutes,’ she heard him say jovially. ‘I thought it best to tell you straightaway, so there would be no misunderstandings, so to speak.’

Jenny, who had already guessed exactly what it was that Gabriel Olney wished to say — namely ‘you’re both fired’ — hastily decided she’d had enough air for one night, and stepped through into the games room.

Although most of the lights had been turned off now that the Swan’s engines were idle (the bulk of the electricity coming via a generator that the turning paddle wheels kept charged up), she easily made her way into the salon. She’d gone through the room so often, her mind had memorized the layout of it without her conscious thought. From there she went through the galley and into her own little cubbyhole of a bedroom. There she brushed her teeth at a tiny washbasin, donned her nightgown and crawled into the tiny bed.

It squeaked and groaned like a tub of trampled mice. Jenny gave a grunt, turned off the puny overhead light, and rolled onto her side. She only just managed to stop herself falling off the narrow mattress, and gave a long, tremulous sigh.

Then she closed her eyes and went to sleep.

*

Breakfast next morning was an odd affair. Lucas Finch was determinedly jovial. It was almost as if he was trying to fool himself into thinking that he didn’t really care that the Swan was lost to him. He helped himself to huge amounts of food, and ate it with every outward appearance of pleasure.

Francis watched him with blank eyes that Lucas would catch now and then, and ignore.

Jasmine simply sat and glowered — at her husband, at Lucas, and at the parrot.

The parrot, sensitive soul that he was, was very much aware of her acrimonious gaze and paced nervously across the sideboard. So intent was he on keeping an eye on Jasmine that when he reached the end he kept on walking, and with a squawk of utter surprise fell off.

Jasmine laughed nastily.

Lucas looked down at the parrot, which turned and looked up at him, and said mildly, ‘What a pillock.’

He returned his attention back to his eggs and bacon, and beamed at Dorothy Leigh, who was half-heartedly picking her way through some deliciously fragrant scrambled eggs with herbs.

‘Do you have any pets, love?’ he asked, and nodded at the parrot, which had flown back to the sideboard and was eyeing his dish of nuts and fruit with a somewhat bilious eye.

Dorothy smiled. She was rather fond of the parrot. ‘I have a dog. She’s a collie, actually. I have a devil of a job keeping her coat in top condition. I seem to spend hours grooming her.’

Lucas cast the parrot an amiable look, and then reached for a piece of peach with which to tempt him. ‘The things you do, hey?’ he said softly, watching the bird eat, with a crinkle-eyed smile.

Dorothy gave him a rather tender look. She thought Lucas was being a really good sport about all this, and she liked that in a man. She had no idea what Gabriel had done to him to make him part with the boat, but she knew it must be breaking his heart. Yet here he was the next morning, acting as right as rain, and trying to make sure that all his guests were having a good time. He might be a diamond in the rough, but at least he was acting like a real man should.

When he turned back from feeding his bird, she gave him a dazzling smile.

Gabriel watched her, his lips twisting into a malicious grin.

Let old Lucas have his moment of glory. He could afford to be magnanimous, now that he had what he wanted. Now, all he had to do was get rid of Jasmine.

David Leigh suddenly pushed his plate away. ‘If you don’t mind, I think I’ll just . . . er . . . go and change. I was hoping to take a walk before we started off.’

Lucas glanced at the young solicitor. He had difficulty in focusing his thoughts. All he could think about was the Swan. His lovely, elegant and beloved Swan. ‘What? Oh, yes, that’s fine. We won’t set off until ten o’clock or so. Take your time, me old china,’ he said heartily.

David nodded. Dorothy tried to catch his eye, but he studiously avoided looking at her as he rose. She gnawed on her lower lip worriedly as she watched him go. He’d said nothing about her joining him for this walk of his. Should she go up to their room and invite herself along? Or was he desperate for some time alone? Oh, if only Gabriel wasn’t aboard for this trip. She was sure that all of this tension was his fault. Poor Lucas. Poor Jasmine. And poor, poor David. She stabbed her mound of eggs viciously with her fork.

But she was not the only one who’d be glad when this trip was over. Jasmine Olney, for one, was desperate to get to the bank. If only she could withdraw some money before the second cheque Gabby had written out could be cleared, she might yet be able to salvage something. Better still, if she could only think of some way of getting her hands on all their money! She’d be off like a shot. Let Gabriel divorce her if he couldn’t find her!

Lucas was finding it harder and harder to carry on playing the role of genial host. All he could think about was what would happen once they docked. For as soon as David Leigh had drawn up the papers, and they’d been signed and processed, the Swan would glide out of his life forever.