The Secret Woman (20 page)

“Crown Prince…”

“Well, the Crediton fortune with all its ramifications is an empire in itself. And Rex is to inherit it. Yes, I always felt a certain understanding for the Captain. After all, he is a Crediton. I doubt whether he might not think reputation well lost for a fortune.”

“But what has this to do with the mystery of
The
Secret
Woman
?”

“Everything, I should imagine.”

“Now you have whetted my curiosity.”

“Miss Brett, I am but an employee of the Company; moreover I owe allegiance to my Captain. I have been indiscreet. My only excuse is that the circumstances were extraordinary. A high wind in the treacherous Mediterranean which is not as benign as it is made out to be; a brave lady on deck; the warming comfort of brandy. Please forget what I have said and forgive me if I have spoken too freely. It must have been, my dear Miss Brett, because you were such a sympathetic companion. Now, I beg of you, forget my foolish observations. We are on
The
Serene
Lady
who very shortly will arrive at Naples. And when we leave Naples I'll prophesy that we shall have left the gales behind us. We shall sail on into sunshine; and everything will be very merry on board under the influence of our very excellent Captain.”

“What a speech!”

“I have what my mother called the gift of the gab. A not very elegant phrase, but then she was not very elegant. However she was devoted to me and she gave me what she could, and as a result I received some education. Enough to insure that I was taken into the great Crediton Empire and allowed to serve my masters.”

“You sound not altogether pleased about that.”

“About my mother's sacrifices?”

“No, entering the Empire, as you call it.”

“Oh but I am, I am the Empire's grateful and humble servant.”

“Now you talk like Uriah Heep.”

“God forbid, and as you gather I am not particularly humble.”

“I had observed it.”

“You have great powers of observation, Miss Brett.”

“It would be pleasant to think so.”

“What did you think of Gibraltar?”

He had successfully changed the subject and while I felt slightly relieved at this, I was a little disappointed.

I talked of Gibraltar; and as I talked I thought of the ape with Chantel's scarf and the sight of her arm in arm with Rex.

The powerful Empire, I thought. And those who attempted to thwart it—what happened to them?

We talked lightly for some time, and I felt I had a new friend. He was solicitous for my comfort and suggested that I might be getting cold. I thought it was time I returned to the cabin to see how Edward was, so I thanked him for the brandy and his company and made my way very cautiously, for we were still rocking, back to my cabin.

***

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. We have to think up some costumes.”

“You can't go as the Chatelaine this time.”

“Well I'm not in a castle. Who ever heard of a chatelaine on a ship? I shall be a dancing girl, I think. Hair flowing…or perhaps a yashmak. That would be fun and appropriate, because there will be an Eastern atmosphere to the whole affair.”

How excited she could become about dressing up. I found this almost childlike quality appealing. I was growing more and more fond of her, but the more I did, the more uneasy I felt as to her relationship with Rex. I wondered what would happen when he left us at Sydney and we went on. She would know that as we sailed into the Pacific he was staying behind to be feted and honored, and to work for the Company of course, while he paid attention to Helena Derringham and brought about that happy state of affairs so desired by Lady Crediton and Sir Henry Derringham: the amalgamation of the two companies.

I feared greatly for her.

***

One morning we woke to find that we were at the gateway of the East. The sun was streaming onto the decks and there was a great deal of noise and excitement everywhere.

Before Edward was dressed and had had his breakfast with me in my cabin Mrs. Blakey brought Johnny along. Chantel joined us. She was dressed in a simple white dress and jacket and she looked lovely, her hair not completely hidden by the shady white hat she wore. It always startled me to see her out of her nurse's uniform, lovely as she looked in that.

“I suppose,” she said, “that you two will have to take out the children. You poor things! I'm glad that when we're in port I have a very good chance of a few hours off duty.”

“The Captain is looking after his wife, I suppose,” said Mrs. Blakey.

“He is taking her visiting—agents and their families and so on, I believe. If she's well enough.”

“She seems a little improved.”

“It's the sunshine, this dry warmth is so good for her. We are going for a tour of the town.”

“We?” I asked.

“A party of us.” She was vague. Rex? I wondered. She said quickly: “You two ought to come to some arrangement. It doesn't need two of you to look after the boys. You could take it in turns. You see what I mean, Anna, you could look after two as well as one, and leave Mrs. Blakey free sometimes. And vice versa.”

Mrs. Blakey thought it was an excellent idea, and I agreed that it was.

“We must think about it,” I said.

“Anna is the most conscientious woman in the world,” laughed Chantel.

The ship was lying some distance from the port and when we took the boys on deck they were greatly excited by the sight of young Arabs no bigger than themselves who were swimming out to the ship and begging for coins. When these were thrown into the sea they dived for them, right down to the harbor bed. The water was so clear that we could see the coins and the dark wriggling bodies as they went under.

Edward and Johnny shrieked with pleasure, and wanted to throw pennies into the water; we had some difficulty in preventing their jumping in themselves. But I was caught up in the excitement just as they were.

Miss Rundle strolled along and stood with us, watching.

“It's begging,” she said, “nothing more.”

Her nose twitched in the unpleasant way it had, but the sun was too warm, the excitement too great for us to take much notice.

And then another voice spoke behind us.

I felt the color rise in my cheeks and I couldn't help being aware of Miss Rundle's observant eyes.

“Good morning, Captain.” Mrs. Blakey spoke first.

“Good morning,” I said.

Edward stood still, overawed, and I knew that the sight of his father pleased him even more than that of little Arabs diving for pennies.

“Good morning, Captain,” said Miss Rundle. “We don't often have the pleasure of seeing you.”

“How good of you to refer to it as a pleasure. But you see I'm in charge of the ship and it's been taking up most of my time and attention. Later when we get a run at sea I might be able to avail myself of the
pleasure
of your company.”

She was pleased by his remark; she tittered a little.

“Well, Captain, we shall look forward to that.”

I thought: He can charm even her.

“And is my son enjoying the trip?” he asked.

“Aye, aye, sir,” said Edward, and we all laughed.

Johnny said: “You're a real captain, are you, sir?”

“Absolutely real,” replied Redvers. “Guaranteed not to disappear in a puff of smoke. So don't be afraid when you see Gulli-Gulli tonight.”

“Gulli-Gulli?” cried Edward on a shrill note of excitement.

“Mystery man,” said the Captain. “You wait and see.”

“When? Why?” cried the children simultaneously.

“Tonight. I daresay you will be allowed to sit up for him.” He turned to us and smiled and my heart beat faster and I fervently hoped I didn't betray my feelings.

“What time does this mystery man appear?” asked Mrs. Blakey.

“Half-past eight. We shan't linger over dinner.”

“
Please
,” cried Edward, and then, “Gulli-Gulli. Gulli-Gulli.”

“Well, I think this once, don't you?” I said to Mrs. Blakey.

She agreed.

The Captain said: “I wanted to see you.” He was looking straight at me and smiling and I knew I was not hiding my feelings adequately. It was ridiculous, it was unwise; it was wrong to feel like this about another woman's husband. My only excuse was that it had happened before I knew.

He went on: “You'll be doing a little sightseeing, I suppose. I wanted to tell you not to go unaccompanied. I've arranged for a conveyance for you both and the boys. The First Officer will go with you.”

“Thank you,” I said.

He bowed and left us. Edward's eyes followed him adoringly; I wondered if mine did the same.

Miss Rundle sniffed slightly. “He has quite a reputation,” she said.

I glanced at the children and she shrugged her shoulders. I felt very angry with the woman.

It was two hours before we left the ship and set off in the company of the First Officer, who took us to the mosque where we heard the call to prayer from the high tower and went into the bazaars. I bought some white and gold slippers with pointed toes which curled up at the tips and a piece of turquoise colored silk with which I thought I might make a dress.

There were spangled scarves in lovely bright colors to be bought very cheaply and I thought one might help me to dress up for the fancy dress dance. Mrs. Blakey bought perfume of which there was a great deal for sale. It was very strong, and smelled of musk. For the boys we bought a red tarboosh apiece and these they delightedly wore. We agreed though that they should have a rest in the afternoon as they were to have a late night and we returned to the ship all of us rather exhausted by the sudden change of temperature.

Chantel did not return until an hour or so before dinner.

I had gone to her cabin earlier to find it empty. I wondered where she was. I went back to my cabin and when she did come she asked me to come into her cabin to see her purchases. She had bought several bottles of the Egyptian perfume, a necklace and bracelet, and swinging earrings made of gold and lapis lazuli.

“They are lovely,” I cried. “They must have cost a great deal.”

She laughed at me. And I thought: Rex has given them to her.

“Well,” she said, “you must remember that things are cheaper here than at home.”

She sat on her bed trying the various perfumes; the cabin was full of the smell of musk and flowers—not our English spring flowers with their light refreshing scents but the heavy exotic essences of the East.

“I shall go as Queen Nefertiti, I think.”

“A Queen's a step up from a Chatelaine,” I commented.

“Nurse Loman must always be at the top. Who was Nefertiti?”

“A Queen of Egypt. I think her husband had one of her eyes put out because she was so beautiful he thought other men might covet her.”