Goosebumps ghosted up her arm. Even though Oxley looked meek, she had a feeling he was dangerous—but surely he wasn’t a killer. Then again, she’d seen the look on his face when he’d seen Delilah talking to Max Lawton, too. He’d seemed mad enough to kill. Lily didn’t want to get on his bad side. But if Oxley had a bad temper, she might be able to work that in her favor. An idea started to form and she turned back to her room. Things were looking up for little Lily Sumner.
Chapter Eight
Breakfast was held in the main dining room. The smell of bacon was enticing, but Nora headed straight for the coffee urns at the end of the pastry table. She liked to get her eight hours of sleep and that certainly hadn’t happened last night. She’d need some extra help to navigate the day. She had no idea how Aunt Julia could be so chipper this morning. Apparently the prospect of a fresh investigation invigorated her.
The mood was somber. People clustered in groups, whispering. Giles looked positively distraught. He rushed over to Nora and Julia.
“Everyone is talking about Delilah,” he whispered.
Julia glanced around the crowd. “That’s only natural. Let them talk it out. It might be wise to make an announcement so they can get all the gossip out into the open and be done with it.”
“Do you think so?” Giles looked doubtful.
Aunt Julia nodded. “Don’t mention our suspicions, of course.” Her gaze was riveted on Clifford Oxley who had just arrived. His eyes were appropriately red rimmed, and he appeared to be in a fog, as one would if someone close to them had just died.
Nora’s focus was caught by a waiter wheeling a cart of silver domed dishes past them. Hopefully they were loaded with pancakes. Nora had seen eggs, bacon and fruit up on the buffet but she was really in the mood for pancakes.
Giles took to the stage, clearing his throat and clanging a spoon on a crystal goblet. “Attention!”
The crowed stopped whispering and turned to the stage. Nora and Aunt Julia headed for the plates on the buffet table.
“As you know, a terrible tragedy has happened.” Giles looked appropriately distressed. “I want you all to be aware, however, that we have everything under control. The ship will stay the course despite our fallen singer. Everything will continue on as planned. We will not forget Miss Delilah Dove, but we must carry on and enjoy ourselves as she would have wanted. And I’m happy to announce that Miss Lily Sumner will be taking her place.”
Giles paused as people clapped softly. He gestured toward the buffet. “Eat as much as you like!”
The prospect of food livened up the crowd and the level of noise grew as people headed to the buffet to fill their plates.
Nora was starving. She loaded her plate with scrambled eggs, biscuits and gravy, sausage and pancakes, which she smothered in maple syrup. Aunt Julia spooned some eggs Benedict onto her plate with a side of grits and then scanned the room.
“Let’s sit next to the Hinchcliffes, shall we?” She had a certain gleam in her eye as she headed off toward one of the round tables where the trio sat with loaded plates.
“Mind if we join you?” Aunt Julia hovered next to Martha Hinchcliffe.
“Not at all. Please do.” Martha gestured toward two empty chairs and they sat down. Today she was wearing bright yellow and sported a hat with a brim as large as the platters they used for the pastries on the buffet table.
Aunt Julia made a process out of flapping open her napkin and depositing it in her lap. Nora was more efficient, having shoved her napkin into her lap in seconds in her haste to start eating. She was already on her second forkful when Aunt Julia spoke.
“Dreadful business last night. I hope it didn’t keep you awake.” Julia glanced at Martha out of the corner of her eye as she cut into the eggs Benedict, causing the hollandaise sauce and yolk to run down the side of the muffin.
“Not at all.” Martha leaned toward Aunt Julia over her full plate, which was loaded with syrup-soaked pancakes, fruit and sausages, and lowered her voice. “I have a little something for sleeping.”
“That’s quite good to have.” Aunt Julia turned her attention to Vera and Beau. “I saw the two of you out there, hopefully you were able to sleep after such an unpleasant accident.”
Beau yawned. “Yes, I was. I’m usually a light sleeper but last night I was fast asleep when Vera woke me to tell me about the scream. Must be all the fresh air.” He gestured toward the windows where the riverbanks rolled lazily by. They were passing a deeply forested area and the banks were lined with the lush green foliage of river birch, sugar maple, red oak and Virginia pine.
“It was a busy day.” Vera picked up the lone piece of toast that sat on her plate and nibbled the edge. “I didn’t sleep a wink after seeing… seeing… that.”
“Yes, it was quite disturbing.” Aunt Julia tucked into her food.
“I heard the announcement about Delilah’s replacement. Is Lily one of the other singers?” Martha asked.
Nora nodded. “Yes. Aunt Julia and I met her in Delilah’s dressing room yesterday when Giles gave us a tour of the ship.”
Aunt Julia frowned. “Speaking of her dressing room, I wonder what will happen with Delilah’s clothes and personal effects.”
“Clothes and personal effects?” Vera looked down at her outfit, a smart tailored suit in blue with white polka dots. Maybe she was trying to figure out if she was the same size as Delilah, hoping to get one of those sparkly gowns at a discount.
“Oh, yes.” Aunt Julia munched on a strip of bacon. “She had a lovely dressing room filled with clothes and personal memorabilia of her career. She had pictures dating back almost a decade. Might even have been someone famous in there. I didn’t think to look, did you, Nora?”
“No. I suppose they’ll pack them up and send them to her family.” Nora glanced back at the buffet. She was still hungry.
Vera put down her toast. “All this talk is very upsetting. Perhaps I should go lie down. I’m still unwell from whatever I had yesterday.”
Beau jumped up to escort her and Aunt Julia forked up another bite of eggs. “Take care, dear, we wouldn’t want you to be out of commission for the rest of the cruise.”
Martha simply snorted, her dark eyes following them as they headed off toward the stairs.
“Such an attentive husband. You’ve raised him well,” Aunt Julia said.
Martha’s face flushed with pride as she soaked a piece of pancake in a puddle of syrup. “Thank you. Though I’m not sure about some of his decisions.” Martha glanced up at the retreating couple. “I always thought he’d pick someone with a little more… personality. She’s too agreeable. Not much of a challenge for my Beau.”
“Indeed,” Aunt Julia said, stealing a sideways glance at Nora.
Luckily, the Entwhistles appeared at the table then, breaking the awkward silence that had fallen after Martha’s comment. Beulah’s plate was filled modestly with a spoonful of eggs, one slice of toast and some fruit. Harold had a pile of bacon atop an omelet.
“Mind if we join you?” Beulah asked.
“We’d be happy to have you. It seems we have a vacancy.” Martha pointed to the chairs just vacated by her son and Vera and the Entwhistles sat. Beulah took a few minutes to situate the large bag with knitting needles and yarn flowing out of the top that had been hanging from her elbow.