If you say so, dear.
I've just finished up the first quarter on Shipshape. It was... a challenge.
It's wonderful that you think so.
Coco turned her back on the numbers before they could give her a headache.
But none of us want you overdoing things. Now, here's some i.e. tea and a nice club sandwich.
It did look tempting, particularly since she'd had no appetite for breakfast. A residual effect, she knew, of her encounter with Nathaniel.
Thank you, Coco. I'm sorry I took you away from your work.
Oh.
Coco waved a dismissive hand as Megan rose to pick up her plate.
Don't
give it a thought. To be frank, dear, I simply had to get out away from that man.
The Dutchman?
Megan smiled over her first bite of sandwich.
I met him this
morning, when I was coming down. I made a wrong turn and ended up in the hotel wing.
Restless, Coco began to fiddle with the thick gold links around her throat.
I hope
he didn't say anything to offend you. He's a bit... rough.
No.
Megan poured two glasses of tea, offered one to Coco.
He sort of glowered
and told me I needed some meat on my bones. I thought he was going to start stuffing me with the Greek omelet he was fixing, but one of the busboys dropped a plate. I escaped while he was swearing at the poor kid.
His language.
Coco seated herself, smoothed down her silk trouser leg.
Deplorable. And he's al-ways contradicting me on recipes.
She shut her eyes,
shuddered.
I've always considered myself a patient woman and, if I can be immodest for a moment, a clever one. I had to be both to raise four lively girls.
Sighing, she tossed up her hands in a gesture of surrender.
But as far as that
man's concerned, I'm at my wits' end.
I suppose you could let him go,
Megan said tentatively.
Impossible. The man's like a father to Nathaniel, and the children, for reasons that escape me, are terribly fond of him.
She opened her eyes again and smiled bravely.
I can cope, dear, and I must admit the man has a way with certain rudimentary dishes.
She patted her new hairdo.
And I find little ways to distract myself.
But Megan's attention was stuck back at Coco's first statement.
I suppose Mr. Van
Horne has known Nathaniel for some time.
Oh, more than fifteen years, I believe. They served together, sailed together, whatever you call it. I believe Mr. Van Horn took Nate under his wing. Which is something in his favor, I suppose. God knows the boy needed someone, after the miserable childhood he had.
Oh?
It wasn't in Megan's nature to probe, but Coco needed little prompting.
His mother died when he was very young, poor boy. And his father.
Her lovely
mouth went grim.
Well, the man was little more than a beast really. I barely knew John Fury, but there was always talk in the village. And now and then Nathaniel would come along with Holt when Holt brought us fish. I'd see the bruises for myself.
Bruises,