by Rose Donovan
She tapped lightly on the door of Sadie and Victor’s cabin, not wanting to disturb them in case he was asleep. Licking her sticky fingers, she paused to take in twilight at sea. Weak moonlight filtered through the clouds. A persistent cool breeze ruffled her hair.
If she listened carefully, she could hear the sounds of chairs scraping, laughing and general chatter from above. They must be finishing dinner, she thought. She must hurry in case Ian decided to return to his cabin.
A perfect silence came from Sadie’s cabin after her knock, so Fina half walked, half scampered down the deck toward Ian’s cabin, number 5.
Suddenly, just as she was about to enter the lounge, a high-pitched screech came from the cabin on her left. It was a scream of shock and fear.
“Ouch!” yelped Fina as she twisted her ankle in surprise.
She limped over to the cabin door and began to knock. Before she had even rapped twice, the door opened abruptly and she almost fell head over heels into the cabin.
Another screech issued from the open mouth of Emeline, who had flung open the door. Pushing past Fina, she sprinted out of the room, running down the deck.
Fina poked her head around the door.
Then she saw it.
10
“Mon Dieu!” bellowed a voice. It was Gustave, who had crept up right behind Fina. “What was that catastrophic rumpus? Ah – it makes my head ache! It sounded like a shrieking swine!” Fina was rooted to the spot, unable to move away from the doorway.
A small, inky, crab-like creature scuttled across the bedclothes and leapt onto the floor.
That was enough for Fina. She spun round and dashed down the darkened deck toward the lounge, then skidded to a halt as she ran straight into the arms of Ian.
He grabbed her and she responded with a hug. She scanned his face and could see by those furrowed eyebrows that he was concerned about more than her well-being. Was it just her fancy or did she see a look of fear in his eyes?
“Oh, Ian! There’s some horrible creature in Emeline and Patricia’s room. The scream you heard was from Emeline. She must have seen it come out from one of the beds!”
She turned back toward the cabin, afraid she might see the creature again. Ian held her as she turned. A small crowd had gathered, including a trembling Emeline. She was taking care to stay safely within the pool of light that spilled out from the open doorway. Lev emerged, grimly triumphant, with a jar. Fina was relieved the jar was opaque.
The captain exited the room and removed his cap. “Dear guests. Do not trouble yourselves with worry. A scorpion may sometimes find its way aboard a ship, but we have never found one in a guest cabin. Perhaps it attached itself to Miss Caulk’s luggage.”
Emeline scowled at Captain Mills. She looked rather dubious, but that was how she always looked, thought Fina.
Ian said in a soft voice, “What colour was it, Fina?”
“Inky black.”
“Hmm. Might be Tityus trinitatis. They are found mostly in Trinidad. Scorpions do bite, but are usually not lethal. Except for Tityus trinitatis. It’s blessed luck Miss Caulk discovered it before retiring for bed.”
Fina began to shake all over. She often had recurring nightmares where she felt insects crawling on her – so seemingly real that they would awake her in the night.
Ian wrapped her tightly in her shawl. He withdrew a small flask from his pocket and said, “Here, take a sip of this. It will calm your nerves and help you to sleep. I’ll need some myself – I am afraid of insects and spiders… and scorpions generally fall into that category.”
The sweet liquid fire burned her throat. She coughed and smiled.
“Never had rum, have you?” he said with a laugh.
She laughed along with him. “I have now. It’s not bad. I could get used to it.”
As they walked down the deck past the huddled crowd, Fina turned to give him the envelope.
“I was supposed to slip this under your door. I don’t see a need for secrecy since you’ll know it’s from Ruby in any case.”
“How is she?”
“She insists it is a touch of the flu, but I think it’s seasickness. One of the staff gave her a tonic for it.”
Suddenly Ian grabbed her arm. A bit too tightly. “Which member of the staff?”
“The cook. Sarah Breeze.”
He let go of her arm. “So sorry, I didn’t mean to squeeze so hard. I was just – worried, that’s all. You know I care about Ruby. Even though she is cross with me.”
“Yes, I know that, Ian. But you must see that this whole scenario seems rather, well, dashed odd.” Fina decided to take the plunge. She was blunt more often than not on accident – why not do it on purpose for once?
“Why are you here, Ian?”
He stared out over the railing, not looking at her. “I’m afraid, Fina. I’m afraid.”
And with that, he spun on his heel and melted into the sombre fog that had crept onto the deck.
11
“Pass the marmalade, will you, Feens?” asked Ruby.
Mumbling a garbled “yes” in between forkfuls of eggs, Fina slid the clear jar across to Ruby. The orange gelatinous substance quivered from the motion of the sea.
As if answering an unasked question, Ruby said, “I think I can just manage some toast and perhaps a coffee. With loads of cream, of course.”
Fina grinned at Ruby, whose face had almost recovered its normal colour, in contrast to the shades of grey it had assumed last night. The tonic had worked wonders. Ruby’s dark blue silk dressing-gown-combination-frock seemed to fit her mellow, reflective mood.
Fina’s introspective side had gone into overdrive as well. Though she had already felt what one might term “an atmosphere” yesterday, the terrifying scorpion incident only confirmed it. What did it all mean? Could the scorpion be connected to their mission? Surely that couldn’t be the hint or clue sent to them. And, as usual, she turned back to her food to soothe her nerves.
“Could you pass me a plantain? Or maybe two? I think I’ll eat myself silly on this trip.”
“Don’t worry – you’ll soon be sick of plantains by the time we return to Oxford! Though they are lovely and I have missed them.”
With few occupants, the dining room was quiet and peaceful, striped by bars of sunlight slipping through the slatted wooden blinds. Nevertheless, a crunching sound interrupted their desultory exchange. Emeline Caulk shook the newspaper she held in front of her face as if it would shield her from their conversation. It was an effective device. She had uttered no more than two words to them since she had marched into breakfast. Fina tried to be compassionate – must be the poor woman’s nerves. Who wouldn’t be taciturn after finding a scorpion in their cabin?
She shivered again, brushing her neck to make sure insects hadn’t somehow crept up her shoulder.
As she hadn’t had a chance to read that same newspaper when she’d picked it up in the lounge, Fina let her eyes roam over the headlines held up across from her. “Loch Ness Monster Hoax”. “Hollywood Scandal”. “London Banking Embezzlement Scheme – Thousands of Pounds Missing – Police Seek Top Bank Worker”. Good Lord. No wonder it felt good to ignore the news.
Fina sensed a consummate consumer of gossip sat behind that newspaper. She decided to save her more secretive questions for Ruby until later.
“Are you going to work with Gustave today?”
“Yes. Dolores wants to look at some sketches, so I’ll need to see what I can pull together in a few hours’ time. I think I’m feeling up to it now.”
The scraping of chair legs next to her indicated a new visitor had arrived at their rather pathetic party.
“Good morning, Miss Aubrey-Havelock. And good morning to you – you must be Miss Dove. I’ve heard so much about you,” intoned Balraj. Though he retained his charming manner and handsome dishevelled look, Fina noticed that his jaw made little rhythmic popping motions, in and out. Without taking his eyes off Ruby, he helped himself to a piece of toast.
“How alarming!” Ruby said with a deprecating giggle. “It is indeed a pleasure to meet you, Mr Chadha. I am a consummate fan of your work. And I admire you greatly for your stand against the film industry.”
He positively glowed with pleasure. “You know all about that, do you? Well, we will have to talk soon – in more depth, I hope.”
Selkies and kelpies, thought Fina. He’s laying it on rather thick. Balraj leaned across the table and stared intently at Ruby’s face.
As if he could sense any advance on Ruby, Ian materialised out of nowhere, casual as ever in a light blue linen suit.
“I hope I’m not interrupting,” he said, clearly meaning exactly the opposite. He moved closer to Ruby.
Ruby let out an audible sigh. She glanced at Fina with an exasperated look.
She was saved from taking any action by the entrance of a small boy.
“Fina!” Victor yelped as he rushed to Fina’s side. “Come quickly!”
She hurriedly pushed back her chair from the table and joined Victor on deck. Great spurts of water emanated from the calm sea like confetti into the morning air. “There’s another one!” shouted Victor, jumping up and down. “Golly! And another!” Fina was concerned he might wet himself from the excitement.
Though his initial cries of alarm to her made her heart nearly leap out of her chest, she could not be cross with him. The whales were rather marvellous, she thought. They slowly loped along next to the boat at an unhurried clip.
“Look! A baby!” he cried. Fina had to restrain him, otherwise she was sure he would have jumped overboard to join the whales on their morning jaunt. Naturally, Gilbert had heard his squeals and raced over instantly to join in the cheering squad. Lev and Neville were now by the children’s side, handing them small field glasses to examine their friends more closely.
A small crowd materialised around the children. They were all a delighted, joyful family for a few brief moments on the ship. Fina knew the squabbles, jealousies and insecurities would rise up in a few moments again – just as sure as the whales would continue their rhythmic spouts.
As expected, as soon as the whales had decided they had better plans than to perform for the ship, Fina heard a “tsk, tsk” sound from behind her. She craned her neck around, reluctantly, to see who could disapprove of such a joyful moment.
It was Patricia, tall and austere, dressed in a delightful white suit with a matching hat. Her lapel held a beautiful cameo brooch. She wore matching dangling cameo earrings. Fina wondered if these cameos were Patricia’s lucky charms, given her interest in spiritualism. Beneath her hat, her perfect hair was twisted and curved like ocean waves in a Japanese woodcut panel.
She moved closer to Fina, propelled as if by an unseen force. Fina backed up against the railing. It was impossible to relax with this woman looming over her.
“Have you seen the whales, Mrs Burbage? They could be humpbacks, perhaps… do you suppose?”
With a sniff, Patricia dismissed the whales. “Miss Aubrey-Havelock. I had hoped to find you with your friend, Miss Dove. There’s something I wish to speak to you both about. It’s a matter of some urgency.” She glanced around conspiratorially, earrings swinging. “A confidential matter.”
“I see,” said Fina, as her fingers and arms began to tingle with anticipation. Perhaps this would be related to the charged exchange of glances she had seen pass between Patricia and Sadie the previous evening. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Ruby’s graceful form approaching from the dining room. “Here she comes now. Shall we take a turn about the deck?”
Patricia looked around once more. The whale-watchers had dispersed, and the faint clatter of cutlery suggested that most of the other passengers were safely occupied at breakfast.
“By all means,” she said curtly, turning toward Ruby. “If you’re agreeable, Miss Dove?”
“Delighted,” said Ruby, clearly not sure what she was agreeing to. She raised an inquisitive eyebrow at Fina. Fina waggled her head and winked in a way that tried to convey that she should play along. Ruby seemed to get the message.
As they started off, Patricia took a deep, trembling breath. Her self-assurance, so valiantly maintained in front of the other passengers, was showing some cracks now that she was out of the public eye. She was clearly desperate to open up to someone, thought Fina. And yet no words were forthcoming.
“Er, is there something we can help you with, perhaps, Mrs Burbage?” Fina asked at last.
Patricia gripped the brass rail that enclosed the deck. “It’s true that I do have a predicament. But it’s very hard to put into words.” She paused to adjust her hat, which had been nudged askew by the warm breeze. “Tell me, have either of you by any chance noticed any sort of – well, what you might call an atmosphere on board this ship?”
Beside her, Fina felt Ruby prick up her ears. Patricia was oblivious.
“It’s interesting you should say that,” replied Ruby. “Now that you mention it, there has been some tension among the passengers. My friend and I have some experience in investigation, so—” she gave Fina a sidelong glance “—we’re very sensitive to such things.”
“So you are investigators! I thought as much,” said Patricia. Even in the midst of her anxiety, she still managed to sound smug, thought Fina. “I can always tell,” she went on. “You see, I’ve had occasion to hire investigators several times in the past. My husband’s oil business was a very lucrative one. And great wealth always tends to attract scoundrels. It brings out the worst in people. Of course, that’s something you’ll know all about, given your sleuthing experience.” Her mouth twisted into a thin smile. It seemed that her wide experience of investigators had not supplied a high opinion of the profession.
“Quite,” said Ruby in an equally chilly tone. Her footsteps quickened, tapping impatiently on the planks. “Please note that we are not professionals, by any means. My time is mostly taken up with my chemistry studies at Oxford, and Fina is in the same college, reading history. But let’s get back to the voyage, shall we, Mrs Burbage? What exactly is worrying you about this trip?”
The thin smile vanished and Patricia took another shuddering breath. She turned to Fina. “You were there last night – you saw what happened.”
“The scorpion, yes.” Fina shivered in sympathy. “I can’t help but feel you and your sister were lucky. That could have been a nasty accident.”
“Accident?” Patricia gave another of her dismissive sniffs. “That was no accident. That scorpion was planted in my bed on purpose!”
Ruby and Fina exchanged glances. “But why would someone do such a thing?” asked Fina.
Lowering her voice, Patricia leaned in closer. She removed her sunglasses and pointed the tip of one of the arms at Ruby. “Because someone is trying to kill me – and that someone is on board this ship at this very moment. I’m certain of it.”
They had reached the bow, and all three paused to watch the prow of the ship cut cleanly through the cerulean water. Behind Patricia’s back, Ruby tilted her head sideways as if to communicate to Fina that clearly, the woman was suffering from heatstroke. “I’m sorry, Mrs Burbage. Do you have any evidence for this belief?”
“Tsk tsk,” clicked Patricia. “I don’t need fingerprints or cigar-ash to tell me when I’m being persecuted. My late husband was a very shrewd man, and back in Canada, he made a great many enemies in the course of his career – ignorant people who don’t understand the way the oil business works. It’s not like running a nursery school, for goodness’ sake,” she said with another sniff. “Naturally, some of those people have carried a grudge ever since. There have been other attempts on my life: last year, my chauffeur found the brake cables on my car had been cut – cut! – and I’ve had several attacks of food poisoning that my doctor considered to be extremely suspect. But there has been none so audacious as this one.”
She paused for breath and seemed to regain a measure of confidence.
“Now that you’re aware of the fac
ts,” she went on, “you’ll be able to protect me and identify the perpetrator. I trust that won’t take you long?”
That’s torn it, thought Fina. Ruby whirled around, nearly knocking over Patricia as she did so, as if to emphasise the point that she was standing too close to them.
“Mrs Burbage. As I’ve said, we are not investigators. We are here on holiday – holiday mixed with other work. We are not at your disposal. Let me be clear. Just because you believe you are being targeted does not mean I, or rather we, share your opinion. Now, if you have specific information you’d like us to pass along to Captain Mills, we would be happy to do so, though I cannot imagine why you wouldn’t talk to him in the first place.”
Patricia recoiled, drawing her chin back with a haughty glare.
“If I had wanted to approach the captain, you may be sure I would have done so already,” she retorted. “Miss Dove, I will leave the matter in your hands. But I can assure you it would be in your best interest to reconsider.” Adjusting her hat once more, she stalked off down the opposite side of the ship.
“Phew!” Ruby shuddered. “If anyone deserves a beast in their bed, it’s her. I am so glad I missed that episode. I don’t like anything that crawls or scuttles.”
“It was ghastly. And why would anyone use a scorpion as a murder weapon? Do you think it could have wandered onto the ship and into her room by mistake? All the doors were unlocked when we came on board.”
“Could it have attached itself to someone’s luggage? I don’t know anything about scorpions, but it does strike me as a dubious explanation.”
“Possibly, but I wouldn’t like to have to suggest it to her myself.”
Ruby shook her head ruefully. “Much as I’ve love to interrogate all our fellow passengers and crew on their feelings about Patricia Burbage, I’m afraid I’ve got to get back to those designs for Dolores. She asked me to let her have something by lunchtime.” Ruby’s expression turned introspective, a sure sign that the creative fires were burning. “Feens, do you think she’d look good in yellow? A dark gold type of shade?”