“Yes, and it’s empty for this crossing. We should have gotten the key and had a suite-to-suite party,” Regan said, trying to get into the mode of cocktail-party chatter. “Then Veronica could have invited everyone on board.”

“I think she already did,” Dale added from the doorway, a smiling Kenneth behind him. “There were a number of people waiting for the elevator.”

“I’ll get our drinks before the bar gets too crowded. What would you like, honey?” Mario asked Immaculata.

“Now let’s see,” Immaculata began, “I already had one of the special drinks of the day and that had rum in it. I don’t really feel like having a rum drink, but maybe I should since that’s what I started with and it’s not a good idea to mix. Oh, but look! They have champagne and—”

“Come with me to the bar while you make up your mind.” Mario turned to Regan and Dale. “Excuse us.”

“This place is unbelievable,” Dale said, looking around as Kenneth stepped over to the bar.

“Isn’t it?” Regan agreed as she took a sip of her champagne and noticed Hardwick slip out onto the terrace and stand at the railing, his back to the others.

“Regan, I love the way they did your hair,” Kenneth said as he handed Dale a Scotch. “A little too much spray, but they always seem to do that.”

“Kenneth and I can never leave our jobs at home.” Dale smiled. “While I’m checking out the furniture, he’s looking at people’s hair and thinking she could use a body wave, he could use a better color job ...”

“Or he could use hair, she could use a comb,” Kenneth chimed in. “Regan, we’ve set it up with Veronica to meet you up here Saturday morning at four A.M. We’re going to have champagne and I’m going to do a comb-out on Veronica’s hair. She wants to look great to meet her nieces. We want to be downstairs by five so that we can be on the deck when we sail into New York and past the Statue of Liberty.”

“Four A.M.?” Regan echoed.

“It’s a tradition you don’t want to miss. We’ll probably just stay up all night partying. Why don’t you join us?” Dale asked.

“Thanks, guys, but I think I’ll grab a few hours of sleep first,” Regan commented.

Within a half hour the party was in full swing. Sylvie came in with Milton and Violet. As Regan greeted them she noticed that Sylvie had the look of someone who had scored a big one, obviously pleased with the chance to impress Milton and his disdainful sister.

“Um-hmmm,” Violet said as she surveyed the surroundings with a critical eye. “Very nice. Oh, Milton, there’s that rude young man. I don’t know whether we should stay.”