Gavin’s smile was a grimace of pain. “The pleasure was all mine.” He stood up. “I’ll let you two have a chance to chat before bed. Tomorrow morning please bring her to the Sit-and-Be-Fit class again. I’ll be there . . . probably every day this week. Now I must really be going.”

He let himself out. Regan took off her clothes and put on a robe. Veronica re-emerged and queried, “Where is Mr. Gray?”

“I think he was tired. He said he’ll see you in the morning.”

“Poor fellow must be. He’s so thoughtful, but tonight I caught him just staring into space. He takes his responsibilities on this ship so seriously that he’s busy from early in the morning until late at night.” Veronica turned for Regan to unzip her dress. “I had to use the facilities so desperately, but he’s so generous with his time I didn’t want to leave him for a moment. It was embarrassing enough having to go this morning. Naturally I turned on the tap.”

Veronica retreated into the dressing area as Regan pulled out the couch.

“You can’t go to sleep, Regan, until you tell me all about your adventures tonight. Perhaps you should invite this young man to our party—it’s going to be smashing. I’m sure everyone would love to have the chance to meet him . . .”

Regan pulled the covers over her head and thought, three and a half days to go.

Chapter 34

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24

BRIGHT SUNLIGHT STREAMED through their portholes as Luke and Nora sat in companionable silence, sipping their morning coffee and sharing the miniature shipboard newspaper that was slipped under their door each day.

“Darling, what should we plan to do today?” Nora asked as she picked up a copy of the Daily Program.

A knock at the door precluded a response.

“Could it be? . . .” Nora asked as Luke opened the door.

“I want my CAWFEE,” Regan yelled, imitating Nora’s roommate from a brief hospital stay earlier in the year.

“Well, come in and shut the door before the men in their white jackets take you away,” Nora laughed.

“One almost did last night.”

“What, dear?”

“Never mind,” Regan mumbled as she slumped in the chair opposite Nora and poured herself a cup from their breakfast cart. “There’s nothing like the third cup of the day.”

“It’s okay, I was finished anyway,” Luke said wryly as he sat down on the love seat.

“Oh, sorry, Dad. If you don’t mind, I’m going to put through another phone call, so sit here.”

Nora looked curious. “Who are you calling now?”

“The Inspector in Oxford again. I want to see if he had any luck with getting the newspapers from Greece.” Regan frowned. “Isn’t it too much of a coincidence that two people from the same family were murdered within months of each other? I don’t know. There’s got to be a connection.”