Night Over Water - Ken Follett [191]
He looked up at her, reddening. “You have inherited your father’s bad manners, young lady,” he said. “Please go away.”
She was crushed. Nothing could be more hateful to her than to be told she was like Father. She turned away without another word, feeling close to tears.
Passing through number 4 compartment she noticed Diana Lovesey, Mervyn’s beautiful wife. Everyone had been riveted by the drama of the runaway wife and the pursuing husband, and amused when Nancy and Mervyn had been obliged to share the honeymoon suite. Now Margaret wondered whether Diana might know what had happened to her husband. It would be embarrassing to ask, of course, but Margaret was too desperate to worry about that. She sat down next to Diana and said: “Excuse me, but do you know what happened to Mr. Lovesey and Mrs. Lenehan?”
Diana looked surprised. “Happened? Aren’t they in the honeymoon suite ?”
“No—they’re not on board.”
“Really?” Diana was obviously shocked and mystified. “How come? Did they miss the plane?”
“Nancy’s brother says they decided not to finish the flight, but I don’t think I believe him.”
Diana looked cross. “Neither of them said anything to me.”
Margaret looked an inquiry at Diana’s companion, the mild-mannered Mark. “They certainly didn’t confide in me,” he said.
In a different tone of voice Diana said: “I hope they’re all right.”
Mark said: “What do you mean, honey?”
“I don’t know what I mean. I just hope they’re all right.”
Margaret nodded agreement with Diana. “I don’t trust the brother. I think he’s dishonest.”
Mark said: “You may be right, but I guess there’s nothing we can do about it while we’re in midair. Besides—”
“He’s not my concern anymore, I know,” Diana said irritably. “But he was my husband for five years and I’m worried about him.”
“There will probably be a message from him waiting for us when we get to Port Washington,” Mark said soothingly.
“I hope so,” Diana said.
Davy, the steward, touched Margaret’s arm. “Lunch is ready, Lady Margaret, and your family are at table.”
“Thank you.” Margaret had no interest in food. However, these two could tell her no more.
As Margaret stood up to leave, Diana said: “Are you a friend of Mrs. Lenehan’s?”
“She was going to give me a job,” Margaret said bitterly. She turned away, biting her lip.
Her parents and Percy were already seated in the dining room, and the first course was being served: lobster cocktail made with fresh lobsters from Shediac. Margaret sat down and said automatically: “I’m so sorry to be late.” Father just glared at her.
She toyed with her food. She felt like laying her head on the table and bursting into tears. Harry and Nancy had both abandoned her with out warning. She was back at square one, with no way to support herself and no friends to help her. It was so unfair: she had tried to be like Elizabeth and plan everything, but her careful scheme had fallen apart.
The lobster was taken away and replaced by kidney soup. Margaret took one sip, and put down her spoon. She felt tired and irritable. She had a headache and no appetite. The superluxurious Clipper was beginning to feel like a prison. They had now been en route for almost twenty-seven hours, and she had had enough. She wanted to get into a real bed, with a soft mattress and lots of pillows, and go to sleep for a week.
The others were also feeling the strain. Mother was pale and tired. Father was hungover, with bloodshot eyes and bad breath. Percy was unsettled and nervy, like someone who has drunk too much strong coffee, and he kept throwing hostile looks at Father. Margaret had a feeling he. was going to do something outrageous before long.
For the main course they had a choice: fried sole with cardinal sauce, or fillet steak. She did not want either but she chose the fish. It came with potatoes and Brussels sprouts. She asked Nicky for a glass of white wine.
She thought about the dreary days ahead. She would stay with Mother and Father in the Waldorf,