The From Paris With Love And Regency Season Of Secrets Ultimate Collection. Кэрол Мортимер

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СКАЧАТЬ personal steward served champagne as the train pulled out of Santa Lucia station while Charlotte was checking that Lady Geraldine was settling comfortably into her suite. Nico joined them as the steward pointed out features of the cabins, including the bell that would summon him for assistance at any time of the day or night.

      ‘The maître d’ will visit your cabin soon to take your lunch and dinner reservations. Our restaurant cars have tables for two or four people.’

      ‘We are a party of three,’ Charlotte informed him. And how lucky was that? No chance of an intimate table for two with soft lighting and too much champagne. If she could put up good enough barriers around that part of her that was so drawn to this man she would be safe from making a complete fool of herself.

      Was that a significant look that her grandmother was sharing with Nico?

      ‘This is your gift,’ Charlotte added, for good measure. ‘And we intend to share every possible moment of it with you. Don’t we, Nico?’

      Nico seemed to be relishing the champagne and he merely lifted his glass in a toast of agreement.

      There wasn’t room for three people to sit in one cabin. Charlotte sat beside her grandmother as they opened and perused the map of the journey. Nico stood near the door, apparently enjoying the scenery through the corridor windows and chatting to other passengers as they went past.

      They chose the first sitting for lunch and it was Nico who insisted on helping Lady Geraldine negotiate the route and cope with the sometimes jerky motion of the train. It took a long time to get through several carriages and through the bar car before they got to one of the restaurant cars, especially when everything had to be explored and admired.

      ‘The bathroom is amazing,’ Lady Geraldine declared after their first stop to wait for her, which was right beside her suite at the end of their carriage. ‘The toilet seat is made of mahogany and everything else is brass. Even the cover for the paper. And it’s all so clean and shiny.’

      The resident pianist was not yet playing the baby grand piano in the bar but they had to stop there as well.

      ‘Play something, Charlotte,’ Lady Geraldine commanded.

      ‘I can’t do that.’ Charlotte was horrified. ‘I haven’t played a piano for years and I’m quite sure it’s not allowed, anyway.’

      But the handsome young man polishing glasses behind the wooden bar grinned. ‘Go ahead,’ he invited. ‘It’s too early to bother anyone.’

      ‘Please, Charlotte.’ Lady Geraldine was heading for a nearby seat. ‘For me? It’s so long since I heard you play.’

      And she might never hear her again?

      ‘Yes…Please, Charlotte.’ Nico’s smile was mischievous. ‘I’m curious about your splinter skills.’

      Oh, for heaven’s sake. Charlotte realised she wasn’t going to win and the best way of avoiding stress in getting through this voyage was clearly going to be taking the path of least resistance. She slid herself onto the piano stool and raised the lid on the gleaming keys. She had taken lessons for years as a child and playing for pleasure had been a feature of every visit to her grandmother’s house. Until…until her life had changed overnight.

      Her hands shook for a moment as she held them over the keys. Maybe the least stressful response would have been to refuse to do this but now it was too late and if she didn’t, she might be expected to provide an explanation.

      Flicking a glance upwards Charlotte knew that Nico had seen the tell-tale tremor of her hands. She willed them to be still. Willed herself to continue, much as she’d forced herself to start that presentation in Nico’s presence yesterday. The only piece she could think of to play by heart was Beethoven’s ‘Moonlight Sonata’.

      The first notes were tentative but the piano was beautiful and within a few bars Charlotte was drawn in to the haunting sound of the music. Her stiff fingers relaxed as she remembered the release that this had once brought her. The pleasure of doing something for herself that had nothing to do with work. Mindless and satisfying and restorative. Just…pleasure…

      ‘Bravo…’ Nico’s eyes were full of admiration as the last notes died away.

      ‘I knew those piano lessons were worth every penny.’ Lady Geraldine held her hand out for Nico to help her to her feet. ‘Now, let’s go and have some lunch.’

      The lunch was three courses of beautifully prepared and presented food but Lady Geraldine only picked at hers and didn’t touch the tarte tatin served for dessert.

      ‘I’m a little tired,’ she confessed. ‘I think I’ll go back to my cabin and rest for a while.’

      ‘I’ll come and keep you company,’ Charlotte offered immediately.

      ‘No. I might need some help to get back without being knocked off my feet but I need some quiet time. I might have a nap.’

      Charlotte felt her level of concern ramp up. Gran hadn’t eaten much and now she looked pale. Was she in pain?

      It was Nico’s arm that Lady Geraldine chose to lean on to keep her balance and they had to stop at frequent intervals to allow other people to pass on their way to the restaurants.

      One of those people was another elderly woman whose head turned in surprise as she took another look.

      ‘Lady Geraldine? Jendi?’

      ‘Oh, my goodness. Winsome Black. What on earth are you doing here?’

      ‘I could ask you the same thing. What an astonishing coincidence.’

      Lady Geraldine’s head shake was incredulous. ‘It’s a small world, isn’t it?’ She turned to Charlotte. ‘Winsome’s an old friend that I haven’t seen for years. We worked together once on a huge fundraiser for that children’s charity.’

      ‘One Last Wish.’ Winsome nodded at Charlotte. ‘Such a worthy cause. They made wishes come true for terminally ill children.’

      ‘This is my granddaughter, Charlotte,’ Lady Geraldine said.

      ‘And this is my grandson, Connor.’ The good-looking young man, who was clearly aware of how much space they were all taking up in the narrow corridor, smiled at Charlotte and offered her his hand.

      She shook it with an equally conspiratorial smile. They had something in common, didn’t they? Here they both were in the company of grandmothers with…personality.

      ‘Charlotte and her fiancé are keeping me company,’ Lady Geraldine was confiding in Winsome. Her smile was poignant. ‘This trip is my last wish…’

      ‘Oh, surely not.’ Winsome smiled. ‘I seem to remember you telling me that age is only an attitude.’

      Lady Geraldine opened her mouth but then noticed the human traffic jam they were creating in the corridor. ‘We’d better get a move on,’ she said. ‘But we must get together, Winsome, and have a proper chat.’

      ‘That would be lovely.’

      ‘How about afternoon tea? We could meet in СКАЧАТЬ