Read Online Dying For a Cruise by Joyce Cato - Free Book Online Page B

his hand past his chest to go on to rub the back of his neck. It was not a wholly disguising move, for his nape did indeed feel hardened with knots, and his back fairly ached with tension. He’d be glad when this was all over with. He only wished he had a more definite plan.
    ‘Have you noticed the way he’s been acting?’ he fumed. Like a man with a bad tooth who felt compelled to keep biting down on it, he couldn’t seem to keep off the subject of his simmering rage. ‘Buttonholing poor old Captain Lester, demanding to know how everything works, and then having the damned cheek to ask Lucas about the boat’s running costs and so forth. None of his damned business, if you ask me. I could tell Lucas didn’t like it.’ David scowled at the newspaper, unaware that his wife was becoming ever more agitated. ‘And he keeps running his hand across the deck rails, almost patting the damned thing! Anyone would think that he owned the Stillwater Swan . He was all but caressing that brass bell Lucas has had fixed on the outer wall to the bridge.’
    Dorothy watched her husband, her eyes darkening anxiously. ‘You look tired, sweetheart,’ she said softly. ‘You shouldn’t work so hard. I know it’s all these extra clients you’re taking on, and I know we could do with the extra money. But you’re wearing yourself down to a frazzle – it’s no wonder things are getting on your nerves a bit.’ She moved to stand behind him, running her fingers gently through his hair. ‘You know you’ll make partner one day,’ she coaxed, ever the sweet, perfect wife. ‘Old Soames will …’ She paused delicately, searching for the right words that didn’t sound too mercenary, then gave a soft sigh. ‘Well, he is getting on a bit, and Barry Pringle and old Mr Ford both know that they need new blood.’
    David sighed angrily. ‘It’s not that,’ he said, then could have kicked himself. If Dotty thought it was the pressures of work getting to him, why on earth hadn’t he let her go on thinking it? Instead he’d opened his mouth before thinking. If that was an example of how he was going to carry on, he was probably going to get caught. And then what would happen to Dotty and the baby?
    ‘Damn that man!’ he suddenly burst out, slamming one fist into the palm of his other hand, and feeling the shock of it tingle all the way up his arm.
    Dorothy jumped back instinctively at the hard ‘whack’, and her lower lip began to tremble. She moved around to stand in front of him, needing to see his face.
    ‘It’s all about him, isn’t it?’ she said, her voice tiny. ‘Gabriel Olney.’
    For just over a month now, David had stiffened whenever the other man’s name was mentioned. And she couldn’t understand why. Olney had been a client of her husband’s firm of solicitors for years, and David hadn’t seemed to mind before.
    At those quiet, almost whispered words, David shot a quick look up at her that thoroughly alarmed his wife.
    Dorothy stared down at him for a moment in utter amazement, which quickly turned to a sickly kind of fear. For a moment, she thought, dazed, David had looked – well – almost afraid .
    But why? Unless … She crouched down in front of him with a quick, subtle agility that took her husband’s breath away. In spite of her ethereal appearance, Dorothy Leigh was, in fact, a very fit young woman. She’d been a walker for all her life, and still enjoyed taking Josie, their collie, for five-mile rambles. She’d always had a hearty appetite, and she was, as her doctor had robustly reassured her, absolutely in top shape. No need to cut out the walks – in fact, the GP had told her, exercise was good for her in her condition. When told that she was going on a cruise and would like to take the opportunity for a long swim, he’d happily agreed that it was a good idea, just so long as she didn’t strain herself.
    Now, Dorothy bent lithely down by her husband’s side, anxiously reaching out for his