she clearly didn’t believe him, Priscilla learned nothing other than that Sebastian had been appointed to the board.
After a day’s shopping in New York which would cost Bob several crates of fish paste, she didn’t mention it again. However, Bob was afraid she might raise it with Emma over dinner, and if she did, he would have to deftly change the subject. Thank God Lady Virginia hadn’t carried out her threat to join them on the voyage, because if she had, she wouldn’t have rested until she’d found out exactly what had happened in the early hours of that first night.
Priscilla eventually emerged from the bathroom, but not until ten past eight.
* * *
“Perhaps we should go through to dinner,” Emma suggested.
“But aren’t the Binghams meant to be joining us?” said Harry.
“Yes,” said Emma, checking her watch. “More than half an hour ago.”
“Don’t rise, darling,” said Harry firmly. “You’re the chairman of the company, and you mustn’t let Priscilla see that she’s annoyed you, because that’s exactly what she’s hoping for.” Emma was about to protest when he added, “And be sure you don’t say anything over dinner that Virginia could use in court, because there’s no doubt which side Priscilla Bingham is on.”
With all the other problems Emma had faced during the past week, she’d put aside the possible court case, and as she hadn’t heard from Virginia’s solicitors for several months, she’d even begun to wonder if she’d quietly dropped the action. The problem was, Virginia didn’t do anything quietly.
Emma was about to place her order with the head waiter when Harry stood up.
“I’m so sorry to have kept you waiting,” said Priscilla, “but I lost all track of time.”
“Not a problem,” said Harry as he pulled back her chair and waited until she was comfortably seated.
“Perhaps we should order,” said Emma, clearly wishing to remind her guest how long they had been kept waiting.
Priscilla took her time as she turned the pages of the leather-bound menu, and changed her mind several times before she finally made her choice. Once the waiter had taken her order, Harry asked her if she’d enjoyed her day in New York.
“Oh yes, there are so many wonderful shops on Fifth Avenue that have so much more to offer than London, although I did find the whole experience quite exhausting. In fact, when I got back to the ship, I simply collapsed on the bed and fell asleep. And you, Mr. Clifton, did you manage to do any shopping?”
“No, I had an appointment with my publishers, while Emma went in search of a long-lost cousin.”
“Of course, I’d quite forgotten you’re the one who writes novels. I just don’t find the time to read books,” said Priscilla as a bowl of piping hot tomato soup was placed in front of her. “I didn’t order soup,” she said, looking up at the waiter. “I asked for the smoked salmon.”
“I’m sorry, madam,” said the waiter, who removed the soup. While he was still in earshot, Priscilla said, “I suppose it must be quite difficult to recruit experienced staff for a cruise ship.”
“I hope you won’t mind if we start,” said Emma as she picked up her soup spoon.
“Did you catch up with your cousin?” asked Bob.
“Unfortunately not. He was visiting Connecticut, so I joined Harry later, and we were lucky enough to get a couple of tickets for an afternoon concert at Lincoln Center.”
“Who was performing?” asked Bob as a plate of smoked salmon was placed in front of Priscilla.
“Leonard Bernstein, who was conducting his Candide overture, before he played a Mozart piano concerto.”
“I just don’t know how you find the time,” said Priscilla between mouthfuls.
Emma was about to say she didn’t spend her life shopping, but looked up to see Harry frowning at her.
“I once saw Bernstein conducting the LSO at the Royal Festival Hall,” said Bob. “Brahms. Quite magnificent.”
“And did you
After a day’s shopping in New York which would cost Bob several crates of fish paste, she didn’t mention it again. However, Bob was afraid she might raise it with Emma over dinner, and if she did, he would have to deftly change the subject. Thank God Lady Virginia hadn’t carried out her threat to join them on the voyage, because if she had, she wouldn’t have rested until she’d found out exactly what had happened in the early hours of that first night.
Priscilla eventually emerged from the bathroom, but not until ten past eight.
* * *
“Perhaps we should go through to dinner,” Emma suggested.
“But aren’t the Binghams meant to be joining us?” said Harry.
“Yes,” said Emma, checking her watch. “More than half an hour ago.”
“Don’t rise, darling,” said Harry firmly. “You’re the chairman of the company, and you mustn’t let Priscilla see that she’s annoyed you, because that’s exactly what she’s hoping for.” Emma was about to protest when he added, “And be sure you don’t say anything over dinner that Virginia could use in court, because there’s no doubt which side Priscilla Bingham is on.”
With all the other problems Emma had faced during the past week, she’d put aside the possible court case, and as she hadn’t heard from Virginia’s solicitors for several months, she’d even begun to wonder if she’d quietly dropped the action. The problem was, Virginia didn’t do anything quietly.
Emma was about to place her order with the head waiter when Harry stood up.
“I’m so sorry to have kept you waiting,” said Priscilla, “but I lost all track of time.”
“Not a problem,” said Harry as he pulled back her chair and waited until she was comfortably seated.
“Perhaps we should order,” said Emma, clearly wishing to remind her guest how long they had been kept waiting.
Priscilla took her time as she turned the pages of the leather-bound menu, and changed her mind several times before she finally made her choice. Once the waiter had taken her order, Harry asked her if she’d enjoyed her day in New York.
“Oh yes, there are so many wonderful shops on Fifth Avenue that have so much more to offer than London, although I did find the whole experience quite exhausting. In fact, when I got back to the ship, I simply collapsed on the bed and fell asleep. And you, Mr. Clifton, did you manage to do any shopping?”
“No, I had an appointment with my publishers, while Emma went in search of a long-lost cousin.”
“Of course, I’d quite forgotten you’re the one who writes novels. I just don’t find the time to read books,” said Priscilla as a bowl of piping hot tomato soup was placed in front of her. “I didn’t order soup,” she said, looking up at the waiter. “I asked for the smoked salmon.”
“I’m sorry, madam,” said the waiter, who removed the soup. While he was still in earshot, Priscilla said, “I suppose it must be quite difficult to recruit experienced staff for a cruise ship.”
“I hope you won’t mind if we start,” said Emma as she picked up her soup spoon.
“Did you catch up with your cousin?” asked Bob.
“Unfortunately not. He was visiting Connecticut, so I joined Harry later, and we were lucky enough to get a couple of tickets for an afternoon concert at Lincoln Center.”
“Who was performing?” asked Bob as a plate of smoked salmon was placed in front of Priscilla.
“Leonard Bernstein, who was conducting his Candide overture, before he played a Mozart piano concerto.”
“I just don’t know how you find the time,” said Priscilla between mouthfuls.
Emma was about to say she didn’t spend her life shopping, but looked up to see Harry frowning at her.
“I once saw Bernstein conducting the LSO at the Royal Festival Hall,” said Bob. “Brahms. Quite magnificent.”
“And did you
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