“My woollies are in a different case. I thought we could leave some winter clothes at my niece’s for future visits, and of course I’m always worried about a cold snap. But never mind about unpacking now. You haven’t even gone out on our private deck. We’re about to set sail. Let’s go wave to the poor dear people on the dock who won’t be accompanying us.”

At this point Regan wondered if it wouldn’t be so bad to be one of those poor dear people. Luxurious as the suite was, she had been surprised to see that it was really one large open room with two levels. And one king-sized bed. Just inside the cabin door there was a small foyer with a bath to the left. Directly ahead was the bedroom, with another bath off it. Three steps up to the right was the sitting room with sliding doors that opened onto a private terrace. The huge windows offered a breathtaking view of the Atlantic.

I want my own bed, Regan thought. I want to be able to roll over ten times a night without worrying about being mistaken for Sir Gilbert. Polite sleeping for the next five nights sounded exhausting. Veronica was sweet, but sharing a bed was just too much. Regan prayed that the couch was a Bernadette Castro special.

She followed Veronica out onto the deck, which was the highest point of the ship and stretched almost completely to the bow. The front end looked over the roof of the bridge. Veronica pointed to it. “That’s where the Captain and all those handsome officers guide us into the wild blue yonder.”

The deep boom of the ship’s whistle signaled the beginning of the voyage. Veronica rushed to the railing of the balcony and began to wave her overseas cap vigorously in the direction of the dock. The Scottish bagpipers, in one final burst of energy, whined a tinny version of “Sailing, Sailing, Over the Bounty Main.”

Veronica sniffed the air appreciatively. “Aren’t the sea breezes invigorating?”

“There is something magical about setting sail, Veronica,” Regan agreed as she breathed in the salty air. “And now I just want to get the rest of the unpacking out of the way.”

“And I shall just stand here and watch the merriment below.” From their perch they could lean over the railing and observe the promenade deck two floors down where excited voyagers were still waving and shouting to their friends and relatives.

“Well, don’t lean over too far,” Regan warned as she started back inside.

“Do pop that lovely bottle of champagne the Captain sent us,” Veronica ordered. “We must toast our journey.”

Regan thought this might be the best idea Veronica had had since she decided to marry a wealthy knight who had only taken up two weeks of her time.