Jo went into full mother-mode. 'A hot shower, not a strip wash. Tom, get him a change of clothes. I'll put the kettle on, or would you prefer some soup, Ed? I've got some leek and potato I could defrost?'
‘There's no need for all this fuss,' said Ed, shaking his head from time to time, like a dog. 'I'll just change me gear and carry on.'
‘You can have a tot of rum when you've done everything Jo said,' said Marcus firmly. 'Then you're for your bunk and a couple of hours' kip.’
Everyone except Marcus and Carole clustered round Ed when he emerged from the shower, warm and dry, to drink the soup. 'The catch on that door is weak,' he said. 'When the wash from that container ship hit us I just lost my balance for a moment. Then splash.'
‘Thank goodness Marcus knew what to do,' said Dora. 'He was a hero!'
‘Just doing his job, lass,' said Ed, to Jo's secret approval, 'but I do reckon I owe my life to him.'
‘That is quite heroic,' muttered Jo, buttering another of her home-made brown rolls for Ed. Seabathing had obviously given him an appetite.
‘I did a sailing course when I was in the sixth form,' said Tom. 'We had to practise man-overboard techniques. Bloody difficult! Were you terrified, Ed?'
‘Well, I had several things on my side: it's summer, so although the water's freezing cold, it's not as cold as in winter; it's daylight; and we're out of the shipping lanes.' He took a huge slurp of soup, draining the mug. 'I reckon I got a bit careless because we'd done the difficult bit.'
‘I've made you a hot-water bottle,' said Jo. 'When you've finished your rum you're to go to bed and sleep. Captain's orders.'
‘I'll go up and see if Marcus wants me to steer,' said Tom.
‘Good idea, lad. He'll be glad of a break too, I reckon.' Dora went with Tom. Seeing him help rescue Ed had made her see him in a slightly different light. She'd known he was thoroughly capable, handy about boats, but now she'd seen him being brave as well. She felt a glow of pride.
‘Would you like me to relieve you?' Tom asked Marcus almost shyly.
Seeing how the two men related to each other, Dora realised that everything had changed, not just how she saw Tom, but how Tom regarded Marcus. He had been promoted from 'man who has the perfect job' to something approaching a god.
‘That would be kind. I'll get my head down for a while. You see where we are on the chart? Dora will spot buoys with you, and there's the GPS as well.'
‘I don't think Ed approves of the GPS,' said Tom. Although Marcus had stepped away from the wheel, he hadn't yet disappeared to his cabin. He chuckled.
"Log, lead and lookout" is what he prefers,' said Marcus, 'and he's right. When all your fancy equipment goes wrong, you have to rely on your eyes.'
‘Sorry, but I don't understand,' said Dora.
‘You explain,' said Marcus to Tom. 'I'll just be down there, Tom. Don't hesitate to call me. I'll only be cat napping.’
When they were alone there was silence. Dora wanted to acknowledge Tom's part in the rescue, but she couldn't quite think of the words. She had just decided to keep it simple when Carole appeared.
‘What a commotion! You were great, Tom!’
Dora felt a stab of something that felt like jealousy, and not because Carole had used the very form of words Dora had just decided on.
‘Just doing my job, ma'am,' said Tom, sounding like an American cop film.
Carole laughed and pushed his shoulder playfully.
Dora winced. Why was it that Carole, who hardly knew Tom, could tell him how she felt and be so easy with him? And yet she'd been easy with him when they'd been playing backgammon in the forepeak, before they heard the engine note change.
Determined not to let Carole take over the conversation, she said, more forcefully than she'd meant to, 'What's this log and lead business?'
‘Er, well, it's not an expression I'm familiar with-'
‘If you're going to talk about ship-handling, I'm going,' said Carole. 'Would you like a cup of tea, Tom?’
Dora was fairly sure this was the first time she had heard Carole offer to make anything for anyone else except Marcus. 'I'd love one, too,' she said quickly, determined to make Carole actually do something.
‘Oh God, I wasn't going to make everyone tea!’
‘Go on, there's a good girl,' said Tom.
Carole bridled charmingly and went down below.
Dora bit her tongue to stop herself saying something bitchy and, at that moment, nothing unbitchy occurred to her. `So, the log thing?' she managed eventually.
‘Right. Well, presuming he's not talking about the ship's log, which is where they write down everything that's happening-'
‘Like people tailing in.'
‘That's right, only it'll be things like "man overboard -altered course to starboard" and explaining how Marcus manoeuvred so we could pick Ed up.'
‘So not a great read then?’
Tom acknowledged her gentle teasing and Dora was relieved to feel their old ease returning. 'You learn to read between the lines. Logs can be gripping.'
‘OK, so what's the other sort of log then? When it's not part of a tree, that is.'
‘Obviously it was originally part of a tree – they used to trail one behind the ship – oh, never mind. What it means in Ed's terms is a sort of wheel that counted how many leagues or nautical miles you'd travelled.'
‘Not fathoms?'
‘No, that's depth, and it's metres now. That's the "lead" part. That used to be a bit of lead on a long line that was marked out in fathoms. Sometimes they used to put tallow on it so it would pick up sand or shale or whatever so they could tell what the bottom was like. Then, if they wanted to anchor, they knew if it would hold or not.’
Dora found herself surprisingly interested. Tom really did know his stuff. 'So that's working out how deep the water is. How does that help?'
‘The least depths are marked on the chart so you know that at any stage of the tide you've always got a bit more water than that. The lookout bit is self-explanatory.'
‘So what it all means is that you have to have old-fashioned methods to check your new-fangled machinery. I didn't realise navigation was so low tech.’
Tom laughed. 'It involves a lot of calculations which fortunately I don't have to do. Oh, here's Carole with the tea.' He smiled warmly at her and she smiled back. 'That was quick.'
‘Oh, Jo had already made it. I just brought it up. Here.' She handed Dora a mug, slopping a bit over her hand. Fortunately it wasn't desperately hot.
‘Has Marcus gone for a nap?' she said, putting Tom's mug down carefully. 'I might slip in and join him.’
She gave a little giggle and Tom and Dora exchanged pained glances as she went below.
A moment later she reappeared. 'He doesn't want to be disturbed,' she said importantly. 'I'm going to get a drink of water.’
Dora thought she seemed tense and wondered if there'd been time for a row in those few minutes she was in the cabin with Marcus.
‘I hate to be fussy,' said Tom, oblivious of any tension, 'but this tea is really cold. You wouldn't make me another cup?’
Carole smiled winningly. 'Anything for you, Tom, if I can work out how to do it.'
‘On the gas,' snapped Dora. 'It's quite simple.’
Jo was still clearing up when Carole joined her in the galley. 'I've got to make more tea for Tom,' she said. 'At least he wants me,' she added in a mutter so soft Jo could ignore it.
‘Oh, OK. Shall I do it for you?'
‘I'm not stupid, you know. I can boil water.'
‘It was just that I'm over here.' Jo sensed hurt behind this somewhat belligerent statement. 'Of course you're a very capable young woman, Carole.' Jo didn't know this for a fact, but she had run Marcus's life for him for a while. She must be capable or he wouldn't put up with her.
Carole filled the kettle and banged it on to the stove, slopping water over the burners so that when she tried to light the gas, it spluttered and refused to co-operate.
‘What's the matter?' asked Jo gently.
‘Everything! I wish I'd never come on this horrid trip. Everyone hates me. Marcus is being vile. I just wish I could go home!'
‘Well, you can, quite soon. Don't get upset, Carole. No one hates you.'
‘I think Marcus does.'
‘I'm sure he doesn't.' Jo's words were automatic but she thought something must have caused Carole to feel like this, and she blamed it on Marcus. It wasn't fair to bring Carole on this trip, when he must have known what she'd be like, and then be unkind to her. Jo had noticed that he was rather dismissive of her and their relationship wasn't exactly loving, in public at least, but she did hope they could hold it together until the end of the trip. Being a ship's agony aunt wasn't part of Jo's job description.
‘Do you think he's too old for me?' Carole's question seemed more of a plea.
Jo took a breath to give herself time to consider her answer. 'Well, it's a very personal thing, of course.’
‘But do you?'
‘Carole, love, it's nothing to do with me.'
‘I know! I just want your opinion. Dora thinks he is.'
‘Did she say that?' It was unlike Dora to be so outspoken. Karen, now, she'd have said exactly what she thought.
‘Not exactly. She said that as much as she loved her dad she couldn't go out with someone remotely his age. How old is Dora's father?'
‘I don't know! I should imagine he's a bit older than Marcus, though.' Jo swallowed, having done a few sums and come to the wrong answer. 'Do you think he's too old for you?'
‘Maybe. I mean, he's very sexy, but sometimes he's quite bad-tempered.'
‘Younger men can be bad-tempered too, you know, but Iadmit they tend to be more tolerant.' Jo didn't want to think about Marcus's sexiness at that point.
‘Tom's really nice.'
‘Yes.' Jo really didn't know what to say now. In her mind, Tom was Dora's. But Dora always maintained they were just good friends.
‘I think he fancies me.’
Jo bit her lip. 'I'm sure he does, but I really don't think you should flirt with Tom on this trip. It would be awful if he and Marcus fell out.'
‘But it might make Marcus jealous, then he'd want me again.'
‘Nothing is certain where men are concerned,' said Jo, with feeling. 'Look what happened to me!'
‘What happened to you?'
‘On the other hand, I don't suppose that's very unusual. My husband left me for a much younger woman.’
‘Oh.' Carole certainly didn't seem surprised.
‘Who's now pregnant.’
This caused her to be a bit more animated. 'Oh, that's nice.'
‘I suppose it is.' Jo suppressed a pang of jealousy. 'For her. Carole, do you want children?'
‘Oh yes. I'd love a baby.'
‘Leave Marcus then – he's far too old to be a father.' She had spoken without thinking, but the thought of Marcus tolerating a demanding toddler with the patience demand ing toddlers required was too unlikely to be considered.
‘Quite old men become fathers these days,' said Carole, pouting a little.
‘I know, but because it's biologically possible doesn't mean it's desirable. I think if Marcus wanted a family, he'd have had one by now.’
Carole considered. 'Hm. I think you may be right. Maybe I'll finish with him.' She moved as if to go and do it that very moment.
Jo put out a hand and would have physically stopped her had it seemed necessary. 'But not till this trip is over, please! We don't want a lot of upset.'
‘I won't be upset. I don't mind dumping people. I've done it lots of times.'
‘But Marcus would be! Think, his glamorous girlfriend leaving him, in front of a whole lot of people! It would be awful!'
‘But that would serve him right for being so horrible.'
‘Was he really horrible? I don't see he can have had time.' Jo drew Carole to the table and pushed her gently into a chair. Tom would have to wait for his tea.
‘Just now. He was a bastard!'
‘Everyone else seems to think he was a hero.' Jo teetered between disliking Marcus, because that seemed the safe thing to do, and wanting to stick up for him and stop his girlfriend leaving him.
‘Well, he wasn't heroic to me! I thought I'd snuggle up with him while he had a nap and he told me not to disturb him!'
‘He's probably very tired. He's been on watch more or less all day, with only the odd hour off here and there. He needs some rest, Carole.' He's old, she could have added, but didn't.
‘He could have rested with me there! He never seems to have any trouble at night, snoring away!'
‘Older men do tend to snore more. Don't know why,' said Jo, reflectively.
‘Well, it's disgusting. I'm sure Tom doesn't snore.’
‘You'd have to ask Ed,' said Jo, whose mouth was fighting for permission to smile. 'Although not now!’
‘Do you think I'm being silly?'
‘A bit. I think you should just wait until you and Marcus are home. I'm sure you'll find the magic comes back into your relationship.' The thought that she actually could find work as an agony aunt flitted through Jo's mind as this platitude emerged.
‘I don't think there ever was much magic. I think he just wants me because I'm so young and pretty.'
‘Those are not bad things to be,' said Jo, wishing she herself was above wanting to be those things. 'And he wouldn't have done more than take you out to dinner if you were only that.'
‘And I did fancy him rotten. Still do, really.’
Jo didn't reply. A 'me too' from her at this point would not be helpful.
‘But maybe a younger man would be more fun.' Carole rested her chin on her hand, thinking hard.
‘You could have some space on your own. Have fun being single, for a while.'
‘I've never been single,' said Carole, sounding as if this was an achievement.
‘I definitely think you should try it. I'd never been single, either, before my husband did what he did, and although that was absolutely awful, I've had a lot of fun since.' Saying the words out loud made her realise just how true they were.
‘I think I'd feel weird, not having a boyfriend.'
‘You should talk to Dora about this. She was engaged for years-'
‘Engaged? She didn't say she'd been engaged.'
‘Didn't she? Then maybe she didn't want anyone to know, but that's not the point. She had a boyfriend for years and now she's single. I think she's having much more fun.'
‘So she and Tom really aren't an item?’
To Jo's immense relief the kettle chose this moment to boil over and Dora appeared. 'Where's this tea, then?'
‘The kettle's only just boiled,' said Carole, who hadn't got up and wasn't now making the tea. 'So, Dora, you were engaged before, were you?’
Dora shot Jo a horrified glance.
‘I'm sorry, Dora,' said Jo, 'it just slipped out. I was only telling Carole that she should try being single if she splits up with Marcus. You're having fun, aren't you?’
Before Dora could answer Carole went on. 'And then I asked her if you and Tom were an item.’
Jo could have thrown the scalding tea bag at Carole just then. 'Carole, dear, I really don't think you should keep going on about this. A boat trip is not the place to have showdowns. Ed could have died in the sea. Please, let's not have any scenes.'
‘What do you mean?'
‘I mean that you're not to split up with Marcus, you're not to try and ensnare Tom, and just try and fit in with everyone else.'
‘Ensnare? What's that mean?' asked Carole.
‘You know perfectly well what it means!' Jo's temper had finally reached breaking point. 'Now, let's just all behave like adults, stick with the men we came with and don't try and get anyone else's!'
‘You know, Jo,' said Carole thoughtfully, having let this tirade pass her by, 'I came on this trip because I thought Marcus was interested in one of the women. I really don't think it's Dora.' She glanced at Dora to double-check she wasn't her rival. 'Could it possibly be you?’
Jo realised she could either lose her temper completely or burst out laughing. She laughed. 'Carole, if you think a man like Marcus would fancy a woman like me, you must need your bumps felt! Now, take your tea, everyone, I'mgoing to have a nap.' She grabbed a mug and hurried off before anyone could say anything else that would make her want to scream, either with hysteria, or with laughter.
Dora looked at Carole. 'Well, that's us told! Do you want some cake? If not, could you bring some up anyway? I know Tom will want some.'
‘Oh, OK.’
Carole seemed a little surprised at Dora's friendly, down-to-earth attitude. Dora was quite surprised at it too, but she decided it was a good strategy. It would keep everything as normal as possible. Kind and rational Jo was obviously near the end of her tether and she was almost there herself. It was also quaintly British – have a nice cup of tea and everything will be all right.
‘Don't forget your water,' said Dora. 'Or whatever it is you were having.’
When the buoys became more frequent, Tom called down to Marcus who was awake and in the wheelhouse in seconds. Carole and Dora made themselves scarce immediately.
‘Let's go and see what might be for supper, shall we?' suggested Dora. 'Jo's done all the cooking so far. It's exciting to think we'll be eating it tied up against Holland, isn't it?'
‘It would be nicer to eat out, really,' said Carole.
‘There might not be anywhere, then we'd have to start cooking when everyone is starving and bad-tempered. My dad's always grumpy when he's hungry.' She had been about to say 'I expect Marcus is too' but she managed to stop herself in time.
The two girls went down into the galley. Dora opened the fridge to see if Jo had taken anything out to defrost. She hadn't. She opened the freezer and Carole looked over her shoulder at the array of frozen vegetables. 'I could make a salad. I make brilliant salads. I used to have a job doing it.’
‘I don't know if there's much to make salad with,' said Dora peering in.
‘You've got green beans and all sorts. Don't worry. I can make salad with anything.' Carole opened the fridge again. 'Look, there's celery, green peppers, a leek, lots of things in here. Don't worry, it'll be delicious. I'll forget about food combining and put croutons in it.'
‘There are potatoes and carrots and things outside, in the lobby by the bottom of the steps.'
‘Excellent. Marcus isn't big on salad so I don't often make them. This'll be fun!’
If anyone had suggested to Dora that preparing a meal with Carole could possibly be described as fun she would have been totally disbelieving. But it was. Carole started chopping and peeling and grating with huge enthusiasm. The wooden salad bowl was filling up with all sorts of colours, textures and, potentially, flavours.
‘Now, the dressing,' said Carole. 'Has Jo got any decent olive oil?’
Dora handed Carole the bottle. 'I think that it's been pressed by the hands of virgins from trees planted on sacred ground, or whatever.’
Carole laughed. Dora was surprised. 'You're really into this, aren't you?' she said.
‘Yes I am, and I suddenly feel a lot more cheerful. I've been quite depressed recently but I've started taking some new supplements and I think they've just kicked in.'
‘Oh, right.'
‘Or it could be that I've decided that Marcus and I are history. I'll have to find somewhere else to live, of course, but that'll be OK. I won't go until I've got that sorted.'
‘You won't dump him until you get home though, will you? Imagine the upset!'
‘That's what Jo said, but I think once you've made a decision you should act on it.’
Dora chewed her lip. Carole had suddenly become incredibly proactive and while it was brilliant in lots of ways, the thought of a sulking – or, worse, heartbroken -Marcus at mealtimes was dreadful. 'We don't want Marcus being all miserable though. We need him, for one thing, and for another, he takes up quite a big space as it is. If he was surrounded by a black cloud of despair there'd be no room for the rest of us.'
‘What on earth are you talking about?'
‘Heartbreak takes up a lot of space, trust me. When I finally broke up with John after about a hundred years, I had to leave the village. There just wasn't space for me and his broken heart in it.'
‘Oh, wow,' said Carole, looking up from her chopping. 'And if you think how small a boat is, even a big one like this, well – nightmare.'
‘I suppose..
‘And where would you sleep? There isn't anywhere else.’
‘Couldn't I share with you?'
‘No,' said Dora firmly. 'I don't have any problems with sharing a bed with women but mine isn't very big. So please don't say anything to Marcus until you're home!'
‘Say anything to me about what?' Marcus's voice caused both women to jump and emit small screams.
‘I'm going!' said Dora. 'Let me out of here!’
She pounded up the stairs to the wheelhouse where Jo and Tom were in charge. Tom was at the wheel and Jo was peering into the distance. She'd obviously had her 'nap' and Dora hoped she now felt calmer.
‘What on earth's the matter, Dora?' said Tom, blithely. 'Has the beast escaped? And if it has, did you close the door behind you? We don't want it up here.'
‘Oh God! This is worse than any beast! I think Carole is going to finish with Marcus although I begged her to wait until we got home. The trouble was Marcus appeared.'
‘He wanted a cup of tea,' explained Tom. 'I did offer to make it.'
‘Oh Lord, what will happen now?' said Jo. 'She is selfish sometimes.'
‘Actually we've been having a nice time down there. She's made a brilliant salad, and the lasagne's in the oven.'
‘Oh, fab! Did you find the garlic bread? It's next to the bags of frozen peas.' Jo hesitated. 'What did she find to make a salad out of? I haven't got any lettuce. We've used it.'
‘She's really imaginative when it comes to salad.’
‘That's good,' said Tom. 'I like salad.’
Jo and Dora looked at him. 'Real men don't like salad,' said Dora firmly.
‘That's right,' said Jo.
‘Rubbish. I like what I like.' Tom began whistling softly between his teeth, completely unabashed by the women's firm assertion that his liking for salad was somehow unmanly.
‘Well,' said Jo after a moment, 'I hope we don't find the salad all over the floor, if Macho Man here is so fond of it.' Dora chuckled. 'I do feel a bit sorry for Marcus, actually.’
‘Mm, being dumped is no fun,' said Jo.
Only Tom continued to whistle, unaffected by recent dumping experiences from either the dumper's or the dumpee's perspective.
Marcus seemed fairly unaffected too when he appeared in the wheelhouse holding a mug. 'Sorry, did anyone else want tea? I very selfishly just made one for me.'
‘I'm going to wait until we tie up and then have a big drink,' said Jo after a few seconds. 'I think I need one.’
‘Me too,' said Dora.
‘We're a good two hours away, Tom might need something before then,' said Jo, returning to her unofficial horizon-watching duties.
‘I'm fine for now, thanks.' Tom smiled at Dora and something in his smile made her blush slightly.
To her surprise, it was Marcus who came to her rescue. 'If you're not doing anything else, Dora,' he said, 'I think Carole could do with a hand down there. She wanted to know if Jo had a micro-plane grater. She wants to put ginger in the salad.'
‘I'll go and see,' said Dora and fled back down the stairs almost as fast as she'd come up them a few minutes earlier.
‘Well! What happened?' she said to Carole when she landed in the saloon. 'Did you finish with him?'
‘Yes! He was very calm about it. He said, "If you feel it's time to go I mustn't hold you back." He kissed my cheek. It was rather sweet.'
‘You don't mind that he didn't beg you to stay?' Dora felt that Carole might be the sort of woman who'd appreciate a bit of begging.
Carole laughed. 'Oh, Marcus doesn't beg. No, I was just pleased he wasn't too hurt really, because as you and Jo both said, it could have been terribly awkward. I'll sleep on the sofa tonight.'
‘Oh, good idea!'
‘So let's get this dressing made and then we should set the table,' said Carole firmly. 'And do you think we could open the wine yet?'
‘Definitely,' said Dora finding a bottle and a corkscrew simultaneously, 'although we won't be there for another couple of hours. I didn't think you did drink.'
‘Oh yes, just not all the time.’
Then a door opened at the top of the stairs. 'Any tea going?' called down Ed. 'When a man's been half drowned, he needs a cuppa.’