Morrison was delighted to see that Celia Kilbride had joined the table. Her presence made it much easier for him to spend time there. And I will say she’s a beautiful woman, he thought, as he walked across the room.
To his dismay he realized the dining room was half-empty. The final meal was supposed to be festive. It was a time when contact information was exchanged to cement new friendships.
He consoled himself with the good news he had received from his sales office that morning. Even though publicity that followed Lady Em’s murder and the attack on Brenda had generated cancelations, new passengers had been calling the reservations office to snap up the now-available rooms. He was not happy to hear that vendors were waiting at the Southampton dock to sell I SURVIVED MY QUEEN CHARLOTTE CRUISE T-shirts.
I’ll be glad to see the last of this group, he thought, as he nodded to the next table and then smiled broadly at Celia and Professor Longworth.
Then to his annoyance, he realized that Brenda had arrived and had made no effort to cover the raw marks on her throat. Miracle of miracles, she’s recovered her appetite, he thought. I wonder how many new people she managed to talk to before she came to dinner.
There was one thing he was sure of: she wouldn’t be sailing on Queen Charlotte again. His office had confirmed that Lady Em had paid for both her, the almost-merry widow Yvonne and her now-rescued husband.
Glancing around, he was glad to see that Fairfax was at the Captain’s table entertaining a new group of passengers.
He knew that as a courtesy he should ask Yvonne if she had been able to contact her waterlogged husband. He noticed that instead of the gray she had been wearing, in anticipation he was sure, of changing into black, this time she had on a rose-colored jacket and matching slacks. She confirmed that she had spoken to the doctor on the ship. Roger was recovering nicely but had been asleep when she called. She told them not to wake him up and left a loving message for him.
It almost brings a tear to my eye, Morrison thought, with a sneer.
He turned to Celia. He liked the navy-blue jacket she was wearing and the simple scarf tucked around her neck. “Despite the sadness of Lady Em’s passing,” he began, “I hope you had some pleasure on this trip, Ms. Kilbride.”
“It was a privilege to be on this beautiful ship,” she said sincerely.
Feeling left out, Brenda blurted, “Mr. Morrison, I do hope we will be able to quickly and amicably settle our differences after my,” she paused, “room invasion. But after that’s over, I know my close friend and I will welcome the opportunity to sail with you again. As your guests, of course,” she added directly.
Morrison tried to bare his teeth in a smile. The first course had been served, and he noticed that Brenda had plowed her way through a generous serving of caviar and signaled for more.
Professor Longworth knew it was time to make his presence known. “I can only say what a delight the trip has been,” he began, as he heaped caviar onto his plate, “and how much I enjoy being a lecturer on your ships, Mr. Morrison. As the Bard said, ‘Parting is such sweet sorrow.’ ”
My father used to say, “Good riddance,” Morrison thought to himself.