Death on a Dark Sea (The Inspector Felix Mysteries Book 2)

by R. A. Bentley

  Passing one over, Ken glanced suspiciously at the seating plan. Señora Pérez, he noted, was on the starboard side. 'If you think she's a looker,' he said with amiable malice, 'you should see the girl.'

  'What girl is that?'

  'Blonde in a swimsuit — bloody gorgeous!'

  'Get away! The daughter, d'you reckon?'

  'Doubt it. Florrie says he's an ugly little beggar.'

  'Well he must have something going for him. I wonder what?'

  Ken chuckled. 'I wonder! What's he do — any idea?'

  'None whatever. Anyone pays us twenty quid a night can make it how he likes.'

  'I reckon it's drugs. Or smuggling. Or white slavery! You don't get that sort of money legal, do you?'

  Grantham gave him a warning frown. 'You'll have us walking the plank, you will. Keep it down.'

  'Ooh, isn't this nice?' said Mrs Teague, bustling in. 'What a topping view! She flopped down gratefully on one of the chairs. Phew! That's better. It's like a furnace down there.'

  'Hello, doll,' said Ken. 'How are you getting on with Giuseppe? Pinched your bum yet has he?'

  'No, but I'm hoping! Isn't that Froggies, though? It's a smashing galley — all aluminium! What he hasn't got's not worth having. Mind you, he cooks for fifteen most days if you include the crew, all by himself!'

  'Careful now, or you'll start him off,' warned Ken, putting on his Dennis face. 'Humph, that's nothing! We'd do meat and two veg' for a watch of a hundred while she rolled her topsides under. And we never spilled the gravy!'

  'Nor we did,' said Dennis. 'What are you doing up here anyway, Florrie?'

  'Oops, sorry. I came to tell you we're pouring.'

  Chapter 2

  'Connie,' said Luther Baker, 'you're looking even lovelier than when I last saw you. How do you do it?'

  'I'll bet you say that to all the girls,' said Connie. She liked the courtly, white-haired Texan, preferring to forget he was in the same lethal business as Luis. Unbent by age, he stood taller than anyone else in the room, even without his trademark Stetson hat.

  Luther smiled amiably down at her. 'In point of fact, I'm somewhat niggardly with my gallantries,' he drawled. 'I tend to reserve them for women of both beauty and intelligence — a rare combination. Which means, young lady, that if I were forty years younger, I should be asking your mama if I might call on you.'

  'If you were forty years younger,' laughed Connie, 'I might allow you to. Are you here to be dragged in chains behind Luis' chariot?'

  'I beg your pardon? Oh, you mean the race. Well, it was never very serious on our part, you know. However, I've manfully paid my forfeit – if you recall, a jeroboam of champagne – and intend to drink my share of it. Say, have you met my great-nephew and niece yet? Connie, this is Alice, this is Alice's friend Ruby, and this handsome young man is Robert.'

  Robert Baker, perfectly exemplifying the epithet "earnest and bespectacled," gravely shook her hand. He shared his unremarkable features with his sister, who was a year older. It was difficult to believe they had sprung from the same stock as their charismatic great-uncle. Ruby, by contrast, was rather pretty, albeit excessively made-up, her short, dark hair garnished with a gold band and a feather. Connie suspected her mother would put her down as a flapper.

  'Gee, ain't this a beautiful boat!' Ruby enthused. 'Why, there's even a piano! Is she yours? I mean, are you Señor Pérez's daughter?'

  'Lord no! Daddy works for him, that's all.'

  Risking her mother's wrath, Connie had emerged late from her cabin to find their guests already established in the saloon. A waitress was moving among them with sherry and tapas. There was no sign of Maurice or anyone likely to be Jeremy, and she guessed the two of them had sloped off somewhere to gossip. Accustomed to hiding in the shadow of Maurice's flamboyant personality she was feeling a little exposed, but then she saw him appear from forrard. His expression said it all. 'Not come?' she asked.

  'No!'

  'Oh, Maurice, I'm so sorry. Perhaps he missed the train or something.'

  'More likely forgotten all about it. It really is too bad of him.'

  'Maybe he'll turn up later. The launch will bring him out.'

  'Yes, I suppose so,' sighed Maurice, and for a moment looked distractedly about the room, as if the missing Jeremy might suddenly be discovered there.

  'Well?' said Connie, spreading her arms impatiently. 'Will I do?'

  'Will you?' frowned Maurice. 'Oh my goodness, you did it! Let's have a look at you.' He stood back and observed her critically, his head on one side. 'Do a twirl,' he commanded. Connie, rather self-consciously, twirled. 'Perfect!' he said. 'Absolutely and completely perfect! You're the dearest, sweetest girl and I love you. Now remember, you mustn't say anything until they've given up guessing. Lucia is here, by the way.'

  A diminutive young woman with jet-black hair and enormous brown eyes was grinning at her from the other end of the saloon. 'Lulu!' cried Connie, hastening to embrace her friend. 'Oh, how wonderful! I had no idea! Andrew, How lovely to see you again.'

  'We've been commanded to appear,' said Andrew lugubriously. 'Or rather, I have. I'm expecting either promotion or the sack.'

  'I'm sure it won't be the sack!' said Connie. Holding Lucia's small hands, she stood back and observed her, 'Goodness, the size of you! It can only be a week or two, surely?'

  Lucia nodded excitedly. 'Sí, Yes! September she come!'

  'Perhaps I'll draw you,' said Maurice. 'Would you like that? A little memento. However, I predict a boy.'

  'No, it will be a girl,' laughed Lucia. 'I tell Andrew this!'

  'Who is that fellow talking to the boss?' asked Andrew. 'The one in the amazing Ruritanian uniform. He came over with us but didn't speak.'

  Connie turned to look at them. Squat and barrel-chested, with arms a little too long and legs too short, Luis Pérez always reminded her of an ape. He seemed twice the size of the military newcomer, who might have been about thirty, swarthy, with drooping black moustaches and slightly exophthalmic, heavy-lidded eyes. Hunched over the pair of them, looking glum, was her father. 'I've never seen him before,' she said. 'I can find out if you like. Oh Lulu, how marvellous to see you! It feels like absolutely ages. What shall you call her? Have you decided?'

  A steward appeared at the aft companionway. 'Ladies and Gentlemen, dinner will be served shortly in the deckhouse. If you would like to move this way, my colleague will show you to your places.'

  Connie decided to look for her mother, wanting to tell her about Lucia, but found Luther again at her side.

  'Connie, I forgot to say, for which I sincerely apologise, how sad we were to hear about your unfortunate crewman. It must have been a terrible shock for you.'

  'Connie stared up at him in astonishment. 'Luther, you have restored my faith in human nature. Thank you!'

  'How so?'

  'Because no-one on this ship seems to want to acknowledge it, or make any allowance for it. It's as if it never happened.'

  'Oh, I see. Well I did offer my condolences to Captain Simmons, and Luis of course.'

  'What did they say?'

  'The former thanked me politely, if rather stiffly, and the latter merely nodded. I kinda wondered if I was in breach of some protocol. Or perhaps it's your English reserve one hears about?'

  'Well that hardly applies to Luis, and had it been up to me I'd have cancelled this party.' She paused. 'Oh dear, I suppose that sounds rather rude.'

  Luther gave her a fond smile. 'Perhaps a little undiplomatic. However, I should have been here tonight in any case. As, I imagine, would Colonel Escobar.'

  'Is that the gentleman talking to Daddy and Luis? We wondered who he was. He appears to be looking at us.'

  'At me — no doubt with disfavour. We are enemies.'

  'Enemies!'

  'Commercially speaking. We both hope to sign a contract with our estimable host. I suspect only one shall do so.'

  'Oh I see. And is it very important that you secure it?'

  'Yes
it is.'

  'Then I hope you do. Although I'm afraid I know less than nothing about the business.'

  'I'm relieved to hear it, Connie. You shouldn't concern yourself with such things. Come, let us eat.'

  Taking her elbow, Luther steered her towards the companionway, handing her, with great solicitude, up steps she negotiated daily in fair weather and foul. She might have made some amused remark, but the look that had passed between the two men had unsettled her and she took her place in silence.

  Julia's seduction of the caterers had proved of little benefit. Even with its numerous windows thrown open and the sun-blinds lowered, the handsome teak and mahogany deckhouse was scarcely cooler than the saloon, and by general consent the men removed their coats.

  'Is this normal for Cowes Week?' asked Luther.

  'No, not at all. Probably brewing up for something,' said Humphrey, running a finger round his collar. 'We could do with one of those punka wallahs.'

  'Care to volunteer, Humphrey?' said Julia.

  'Effie could do it,' suggested Maurice. 'We could rig up a bit of canvas and run a line to her cabin. She could tie it to her big toe and work it while reading.'

  'Poor girl — how cruel!' said Ruby.

  'I honestly doubt if she'd mind,' said Winifred. 'Rain or shine the child seems irrepressibly gay. I wish I were that age again.'

  'So she should be,' said Julia. 'It's not every girl travels the world with little to do and full board and lodging provided.'

  'I must remember to be grateful,' murmured Connie, raising a smile from Luther.

  'I fear it would merely be moving hot air about,' said Luis, who was not known for his sense of humour. 'However, I'll have Simmons rig a windsail at the forrard hatch. It might help a little below, should we get a breeze.'

  But they made the best of it, and with the help of copious Rioja and an excellent escabeche of locally-caught lobster the meal began pleasantly enough. As always, it was Maurice who led the conversation. Seated as far from his stepfather as his mother could place him, he was in sparkling, if brittle, form, his jokes and wry observations punctuated by regular gusts of laughter.

  He's still upset, thought Connie. He's just not showing it. She had found herself between Robert Baker and Colonel Escobar, who she was relieved to discover spoke excellent English. She began to be grateful to him, for Robert quickly proved as dull as he looked, and also seemed more interested in Ruby, whom, it transpired, he had met only the day before. Escobar turned out to be Mexican, very polite and attentive, with a slightly didactic manner that seemed more academic than soldierly. It came as little surprise to discover, while exploring a shared interest in the theatre, that he had once been a lecturer in Spanish and English literature. He and Luther had been placed at the same distance from Luis, who was at the head of the table, but nevertheless contrived to say nothing to each other. At the same time she was aware of Luther's eyes permanently on them as they talked. Was he annoyed at her for fraternising with the "enemy?" How was she supposed to avoid it?

  Suddenly the hum of conversation was interrupted by a squeal from Julia. 'Is this true, Lucia?' she cried. 'Three weeks!'

  Lucia responded with her customary dazzling smile and slow, exaggerated nod. What a dear she is, thought Connie, and for a moment felt quite jealous of Andrew.

  'Isn't that cutting it a bit fine?' frowned Winifred. 'Agnes' boy was —'

  'We must have a toast,' interrupted Humphrey. 'Have you chosen a name yet?'

  'We think Constanza,' said Lucia, glancing shyly at Connie.

  'Or Hubert,' insisted Andrew.

  'Oh, how lovely!' said Winifred. 'Why didn't you tell me Constance?'

  'Luis,' said Julia sharply, 'We're going to toast the baby.'

  Luis, who to begin with had seemed dour and withdrawn, had begun an earnest-sounding discussion with Escobar in Spanish. It was, as far as Connie could ascertain, about the poetry of Lorca. He now broke off, turned to Lucia and solemnly raised his glass. Escobar did the same.

  'To the incipient Bainbridge, then, be it a Constanza or a Hubert,' declared Humphrey. 'Ye gods, it's hot! Perhaps I should go and arrange for this windsail.'

  Daddy, you're drunk, marvelled Connie. Her father was never drunk. Neither was he in the habit of proposing toasts to incipient babies. He was right about the heat, though. Patches of perspiration were everywhere at chests and armpits and the women were surreptitiously dabbing themselves with eau de Cologne. It had become quite airless and heavy, with the evening sky, previously a cloudless blue, now overcast.

  At their end of the table, conversation petered out as the stewards served them steak with grilled gazpacho sauce and recharged their glasses. Waiting until they'd finished, Winifred turned to Escobar. 'Tell me, Colonel, why, with your background, did you become a soldier? It's rather a change, isn't it?'

  Escobar looked suddenly uncomfortable, glancing, as if for support, at Luis. 'I should imagine,' he said, 'that most men will take up arms for a just cause, even academics.'

  'I doubt, however, if they'd slaughter their own people,' said Luther dryly.

  No-one spoke. Connie could sense Escobar's body tensing with anger, as if he might spring at his rival or perhaps throw wine in his face, but he simply said, 'Your father probably did.'

  With great presence of mind, Lucia turned to Connie. She had been meaning to ask, she said, where she had acquired that lovely frock. Having rehearsed her answer to this question all evening, Connie was able to say, albeit with her heart thumping under her ribs, that it had been specially made for her by a marvellous new couturier. More, however, she was not at liberty to reveal, having been sworn to secrecy. She couldn't see her mother, who was on the same side of the table, but Julia looked very sharply at Connie and then her son, who, apparently unconscious of the exchange, was chatting animatedly to Ruby. 'I'm not much for watercolour,' she heard him say. 'Jeremy is your man for that.' Connie mentally groaned. That's all we need, she thought, blasted Jeremy.

  'What does your friend look like?' asked Andrew. 'There was a chap about your age waiting to come across with us — very red hair and wearing a sort of velvet smock. I thought he was probably an artist when I saw him. The boatman said he wasn't on the list and wouldn't let him on. There was a bit of bother about it.'

  'I think it was dyed — his hair.' offered Lucia, then seeing Connie's expression abruptly stopped.

  Slowly and unsteadily, Maurice rose to his feet. It seemed as if he was about to make an announcement, and conversation ceased. Leaning heavily on the table he faced his stepfather. 'You are utterly beneath contempt!' he snarled, and turning on his heel he pushed his way from the room. Luis immediately got up and followed him.

  'Oh dear, sorry about that!' said Julia brightly. 'Fathers and sons, you know.'

  'And if you want to know who designed my frock,' said Connie to the startled company. 'It was Maurice.'

  It was now quite late, and those of the party not at business in Luis' study had moved back into the saloon. It had proved impossible to recapture their earlier gaiety and they sat in silence or quietly chatted. Seating herself at the piano, Connie had essayed a few tunes but no-one seemed inclined to dance and she was reduced to toying with Für Elize.

  Alice drifted over to watch. 'Can you play the rest of it?'

  'Not very well.'

  'Neither can I.'

  'This thing's out of tune most of the time anyway. I'm looking forward to getting home to ours.'

  'Do you like cruising?'

  'It's been fun but I've had enough of it now; especially since, you know, the squall.'

  'Yes, it was frightening, wasn't it?'

  'That's not quite what I was thinking of.'

  'Where is Maurice?' asked Ruby. 'He was real fun before that dreadful scene. He had us in stitches.'

  'Confined to his cabin,' said Julia, 'I don't feel I can interfere. He was really very rude to Luis, and unfair too. He could hardly have known this Jeremy boy was coming.'

  'H
e must have thought someone might,' said Connie, 'or there wouldn't have been a proscriptive list.'

  'It wasn't proscriptive, Connie. It was just to avoid anyone being left behind. One can hardly blame the boatman for turning away an odd sort of fellow with bright red hair who wasn't even on it.'

  'I wanted to tell him how much I like your lovely frock,' said Ruby. 'I reckon it's real clever to design something like that. And make it too! Is that what he wants to do? Professionally I mean.'

  'I rather think he does,' sighed Julia resignedly. 'But Luis. Well you know, they're not quite —'

  'As open-minded as us?' suggested Winifred.

  'No, they're not; they're terribly traditional. And of course he wants him to come into the business. It'll never do, of course, I can quite see that. I suppose it was inevitable, his father being French and everything. I just wish he hadn't chosen tonight to demonstrate his talent. You really shouldn't have encouraged him, Connie.'

  'I didn't encourage him. He asked me to do it and I did. No-one has complained about it, that I know of. Are you complaining?'

  'Escobar never came back,' said Andrew diplomatically. 'I suppose he's still upstairs.'

  'Perhaps he found us tiresome,' said Winifred. 'We're not being very gay, are we?'

  Robert looked at his watch. 'Uncle seems to have been in there for hours.'

  'It's not even an hour yet,' Alice told him.

  'Why don't you young ones go and explore the ship? suggested Winifred. 'You'd best keep away from the study, but you could look around the deck and chartroom. I'm sure Captain Simmons wouldn't mind. It's probably a bit cooler up there too, now it's getting dark.'

  'I'm game,' shrugged Alice. 'How about you two?'

  Andrew looked at Lucia, who was curled at his side like a child. He had an arm protectively around her. 'I think she's asleep. We'll stay put if you don't mind.'

  'Okay,' said Robert, standing up. 'Let's go see the Captain. Coming Ruby?'

  'I think I'll stay down,' said Ruby, turning away.

  'Please yourself then.' Looking disgruntled, Robert followed his sister up the aft companionway.