He stepped through and removed his cap. Underneath, his hair was short, military style, greying round the edges. His face was tanned, with deep-set lines, and she could tell that underneath his clothes he was muscled. He clearly took care of himself. She noticed that his eyes did not travel to the plunging neckline of her robe. She would have to be careful.

‘Is this about Mark?’ she blurted.

His face betrayed no expression as he nodded. ‘I understand you last saw him in Åndalsnes, when we docked?’

‘That’s right,’ she said cautiously. ‘His shift had finished, he got off the boat.’

He nodded, his granite eyes not leaving her face as he circled her and sat down uninvited in a chair by the window. ‘Only his shift hadn’t finished,’ he said. He offered no further explanation.

‘Oh.’ Clutching her robe tightly, she followed him and sat down opposite.

‘This is unlike Mark.’

She nodded in agreement.

‘Did he tell you of his plans?’

She looked down and to the side. Outside the window the sky was white with the promise of further snow.

‘Madam?’ he prompted.

‘He was meeting a woman, I think.’ She spoke haltingly, her tone loaded with hesitation.

He nodded. ‘Go on.’

Anna took a deep breath and exhaled. ‘I’ve known Mark for a while, before this cruise. Our relationship wasn’t what you think.’ She picked up the belt of her robe and let it run through her fingers before glancing at Patrick. ‘We were friends.’

Patrick tilted his head. ‘So, he left his job to be with this… woman?’

Anna nodded. ‘He asked me not to tell, but I can see you’re all worried about him.’ Even as she spoke, she berated herself. This was a risky lie, too risky. He would have told his crewmates that he’d slept with her. Locker room talk, boys together; Anna was a catch, of course he’d bragged about her. ‘I’m sure he’ll be fine,’ she said. Her tone was one of finality, signalling the end of the conversation.

Patrick nodded gravely. Planting his hands on the arms of the chair, he pushed himself to a standing position.

‘Did he come to the Arctic Suite often?’ he asked.

Anna concealed a sigh. He was pressing her. ‘A couple of times. We were friends, like I said.’

Patrick’s mouth twisted in an odd smile. ‘Were you also friends with his wife?’

It was as though the snow outside had entered the suite. A sudden chill, the realisation like a violent blow to her chest. He didn’t believe her. And she hadn’t known Mark was married.

She raised her chin. ‘Yes, of course.’

He nodded again. ‘Jasmin, isn’t it? Mark’s wife’s name, I mean?’

She hesitated, just for a moment. ‘That’s right.’