Night Over Water - Ken Follett [173]
This morning they had hardly spoken. She had woken up just as the plane was coming down at Botwood, and when she got up, Mark had already gone ashore. Now they sat opposite one another in the aisle seats of number 4 compartment, pretending to eat breakfast: Diana toyed with some strawberries and Mark was breaking up a roll without eating it.
She was no longer sure why it had made her so angry to learn that Mervyn was sharing the honeymoon suite with Nancy Lenehan. She just thought Mark should have sympathized with her and supported her. Instead he had questioned her right to feel that way and implied that she must still be in love with Mervyn. How could Mark say that, when she had given up everything to run away with him!
She looked around. On her right, Princess Lavinia and Lulu Bell were carrying on a desultory conversation. Neither had slept at all because of the storm, and both looked exhausted. To her left, across the aisle, the F.B.I, man, Ollis Field, and his prisoner, Frankie Gordino, ate in silence. Gordino’s foot was handcuffed to his seat. Everyone seemed tired and rather grumpy. It had been a long night.
Davy, the steward, came in and took away the breakfast plates. Princess Lavinia complained that her poached eggs had been too soft and her bacon overdone. Davy offered coffee. Diana did not take any.
She caught Mark’s eye and tried a smile. He glared at her. She said: “You haven’t spoken to me all morning.”
“Because you seem to be more interested in Mervyn than me!” he said.
Suddenly she felt contrite. Maybe he had a right to feel jealous. “I’m sorry, Mark,” she blurted out: “You’re the only man I’m interested in, truly.”
He reached out and took her hand. “Do you mean it?”
“Yes, I do. I feel such a fool. I’ve behaved so badly.”
He stroked the back of her hand. “You see ...” He looked into her eyes, and to her surprise she saw that he was close to tears. “You see, I’m terrified you’ll leave me.”
She had not been expecting that. She was quite shocked. It had never occurred to her that he was frightened of losing her.
He went on. “You’re so lovely, so desirable, you could have any man, and it’s hard to believe you want me. I’m scared you’ll realize your mistake and change your mind.”
She was touched. “You’re the most lovable man in the world—that’s why I fell for you.”
“You really don’t care for Mervyn?”
She hesitated, only for a moment, but it was enough.
Mark’s face changed again, and he said bitterly: “You do care for him.”
How could she explain? She was no longer in love with Mervyn, but he still had some kind of power over her. “It’s not what you think,” she said desperately.
Mark withdrew his hand. “Then set me straight. Tell me how it is.”
At that moment Mervyn entered the compartment.
He looked around, located Diana and said: “There you are.”
She immediately felt nervous. What did he want? Was he angry? She hoped he would not make a scene.
She looked at Mark. His face was pale and tense. He took a deep breath and said: “Look here, Lovesey—we don’t want another row, so maybe you should just get out of here.”
Mervyn ignored him and spoke to Diana. “We’ve got to talk about this.”
She studied him warily. His idea of a conversation could be one-sided: a “talk” sometimes turned out to be a harangue. However, he did not look aggressive. He was trying to keep his face expressionless, but she had a notion he was feeling sheepish. That made her curious. Cautiously she said: “I don’t want any fuss.”
“No fuss, I promise.”
“All right, then.”
Mervyn sat down beside her. Looking at Mark, he said: “Would you mind leaving us alone for a few minutes?”
“Hell, yes!” Mark said vociferously.
They both looked at her, and she realized she would have to decide. On balance she would have liked to be alone with Mervyn, but if she said that, she would hurt Mark. She hesitated, afraid to side with one or the other. Finally she thought: I’ve left Mervyn, and I’m with Mark; I should take his side. With her heart pounding, she said: “Say your piece, Mervyn. If you can’t say it in front of Mark, I don