The Secret Woman by Victoria Holt

Author:Victoria Holt
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub, mobi
Tags: Mystery, Fiction, Romance, Suspense, Historical, Gothic
ISBN: 9780385036016
Publisher: Doubleday
Published: 1970-11-03T11:00:00+00:00

Dick Callum was right. Although it was cold in Naples where our stay was very short, as soon as we sailed out we moved toward the warmth. I often saw Dick Callum, who made a point of looking after me. I realized that he was an important member of the crew, being in charge of a large proportion of the staff, whereas the Captain was concerned with the navigation and this of course meant rare appearances. I felt this to be good, and when I had imagined myself going on this voyage I had thought that it would be like living in the same house with him. How different it was.

“The Captain comes down from the heights only rarely,” Dick Callum told me.

Chantel came to my cabin and I often went to hers, and I mentioned to her that I had seen her on the occasion when she had lost her scarf; she did not show the slightest embarrassment.

“Right at the last minute,” she said, “Rex Crediton asked me to accompany him, so I did. You’re looking shocked. You think I should have had a chaperon. My dear Anna, this is not England. We are allowed a little license surely in foreign parts? As a matter of fact poor Dr. Gregory had been bullied into taking Miss Rundle and that was something we could not endure. Escape was the only possible alternative. So … we lost them. Poor Dr. Gregory, he came back looking exhausted and … murderous.”

“Not very kind of you,” I commented.

“No, but wise.”

“Was it?” I asked, hoping this would lead to confidences, but it didn’t.

She turned the tables on me which was a favorite trick of hers. “You seem to be getting on well with Mr. Callum.”

“He has been most kind.”

“So I’ve noticed.”

“It’s natural that we should notice each other,” I told her.

She laughed suddenly. “You are enjoying this, Anna. It’s different from the old Queen’s House, eh? Imagine being there now, and thinking of me here … and all that might have been.”

“I admit that I am finding this very interesting. But …”

“Oh stop it, Anna. You are not going into dismal prophecy, are you? You should always be gay. You never know what is round the corner. Every cloud has a silver lining, they say, and they wouldn’t have kept on saying it if it hadn’t been true.”

“They also say that it never rains but it pours.”

“You’re determined to be gloomy. Well, I intend to enjoy life.”

“Chantel, what happens when we arrive in Sydney?”

“I long to see it. I hear it’s quite fantastically beautiful. I shall ask if I may go up to the bridge when we come into the harbor so that I can see it perfectly.”

“Lots of people will leave the ship then … including your Mr. Rex Crediton.”

“But your Captain will remain.”

“My Captain!”

“My Mr. Rex Crediton!”

“Oh Chantel, there are times when I am a little uneasy.”

“My poor Anna. I must teach you to enjoy life. Did you know we are going to have a fancy dress dance? It’s customary you know.

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