Veronica’s prayers for Sir Gilbert must have been right to the point. About thirty seconds after her head hit the pillow, the snores began. As a snore pattern, it was rather unique, Regan found herself thinking. A short bark followed by a watery gurgle that reminded her she was due for a teeth cleaning.

Regan hunched and twisted and tried to get herself into a comfortable position. These pillows are too thick, she thought as she punched them with her fist. But they’d be perfect for Dad’s clients, she mumbled as she lay back down, yet was still involuntarily propped up. Pulling them out from under her head, she leaned them against her ears, ensconcing herself in a tiny fort in an effort to dull the cacophony emanating from the king-sized bed.

Usually she could drop off to sleep quickly, but tonight her mind refused to slow down. The first day was over and she totally understood why Philip had insisted that Veronica must not travel alone. If Regan had not been there, Veronica would have plunged from the railing. For the next four and a half days, until she delivered her to her niece, either Regan or someone she could trust would have to stick close to Veronica’s side.

Oddly, it was not so much the eventful day she had just completed that was on her mind, but scenes from the weekend at Oxford, which kept insisting themselves into her thoughts. The way she and Kit had joked about Athena. Her own belief that ten years ago Athena had chosen not to come back to school. It was as though she could feel Athena’s presence, hear Athena’s rapid, emotion-charged, accented voice. I want to call Livingston, Regan thought, and find out if there’s anything new. But it’s too late to do it tonight.

Crouched in a fetal position, Veronica slept the night away. For hours, Regan lay awake staring wide-eyed at the terrace, watching the constantly evolving shadows as the ship glided through the Atlantic. She shut her eyes briefly, then opened them again and saw a shadow that resembled a human silhouette framed in the terrace door. She bolted up and felt her pulse leaping as her breath caught in her throat. In a split second the moon moved from behind the clouds and the shadow disappeared. Regan shuddered. She who was almost never nervous had experienced an instant of pure terror. She swallowed quickly. Was that what it was like for Athena in the last minutes of her life? Tears stung her eyes.