Page 44 of Hearts Aweigh
Emily patted her. “Completely unnecessary. Your happiness is what matters. Besides”—the matchmaker’s face stiffened—“I have my fill of notes to deal with at present.”
The cryptic comment didn’t escape Spencer’s notice. He studied the woman as she bid them goodbye and exited the restaurant. Even people in their seventies might haveunderhanded tendencies. Who exactly were these Shippers? Could they be trusted not to take advantage of his mother?
Spencer eyed Abby, who sat in a dreamy coma, her attention pointed at the waves outside the window. He cleared his throat with all the subtlety of a muscle car’s engine.
She jolted. “Oops.” Her voice sounded the tiniest bit breathless. “What were we discussing? Oh, right. What did you mean by ‘recreation’?”
Spencer employed the silence technique as he took a long drink of water from his glass. Truth be told, he had no idea what they were doing or why. He’d made the suggestion on the spur of the moment because Emily Windsor was offering another marriage candidate to Abby. What did his new nanny truly know about these ladies? It was dangerous, yielding such an important decision as marriage to them. He knew from firsthand experience the soul-crushing tribulation of divorce, and he owed it to his employee to look after her.
Spencer swallowed. “You’re the one who pointed out a cruise was for relaxation. I’ve decided to spend time with my daughter in a frivolous, noneducational activity.”
“Excellent decision.” She gave him an approving nod. “But where do you want to go? Were you planning to visit a resort at the next port?”
“As to that”—he crossed his arms—“I’d prefer to stay aboard, but I’m unfamiliar with what the ship offers. I assume you must be well-versed in its attractions. What would Madeleine enjoy the most?”
His daughter knocked a swan off the table with her elbow. “Oops!” She bent over the arm of her chair. “I can’t reach.”
Abby retrieved the napkin and returned it to her. “She liked the splash pad. I bet she’d adore the kiddie pool. It has slides and fountains and everything.”
“More water activities?” Spencer cringed. “Isn’t there any recreation that would allow us to remain dry?”
“Don’t worry.” She laughed. “I’ll be Maddie’s lifeguard. You can stay on solid ground, far away from the pool.” Abby wrinkled her nose. “Just don’t wear a suit.”
Her skin folded in mischievous crinkles between her green eyes. A smattering of light freckles dusted the spot. He forced himself to look away and took another drink of water. As an employer, he was protecting Abigail O’Brien from making bad matrimonial choices arranged by an opinionated group of golden-girl matchmakers. But was that his only reason? He shoved away the suspicion that a tinge of jealousy colored his motivation.
Business. That’s all this was.
CHAPTER 21
EMILY PAUSED OUTSIDEALTHEA ANDDaisy’s cabin door. Was she doing the right thing? Heaven was silent, so she was going with her gut. This blackmailer needed to be stopped.
No one messed with her family.
She knocked on the door. Gerry opened it and moved away to allow her entrance. With no windows, the inner cabin resembled a spacious closet. The contained space barely had room for the four of them. Daisy stood inside the cramped bathroom, fixing her makeup in the mirror. Althea sat on one of the white-duvet-covered single beds, and Gerry settled beside her.
Emily twisted her purse handles and entreated heaven one last time.
“Girls”—she plopped her bag on the compact desk by the wall—“I have important news.” She cast a nervous glance at the Shipper in the bathroom. “A blackmailer has taken up residence on the MSBuckingham.”
Daisy’s hand stilled briefly before she continued applying her mascara. “You don’t say. First there were drug smugglers. Now blackmailers.”
Althea tsk-tsked. “It’s getting so a body isn’t safe anywhere.”
Emily rapped on the desk. “Just like we tracked down the smugglers, it’s our duty to find who’s threatening the passengers with these black envelopes. Show them, Gerry.”
Gerry produced the taped-together note and passed it to Althea.
“Mmm-mmm-mmm.” The sassy Shipper hummed in disgust as she read. “Whoever wrote this has a flair for the dramatic. He thinks he’s some villain in a Sherlock Holmes novel. ‘Indiscretion equals money.’”
Daisy’s body drew tight. Emily waited for her friend to confess she recognized the words, but Daisy remained silent. Instead, she replaced her mascara wand in the tube.
Gerry took the note from Althea and walked to the bathroom door. “Do you want to see this, Daisy?”
“No, thank you.” Daisy dabbed a spot of her favorite magnolia-scented perfume on her throat. “Althea can tell me about it later.”
Frustration boiled inside Emily. Why was Daisy pretending ignorance? Didn’t she trust the Shippers with her secrets after everything they had overcome together?
Daisy meandered from the bathroom, picking a single piece of lint from the black sleeve of her jacket. “I’m ready.”
