Page 9 of Below the Deck

‘Absolutely marvellous – the best trip we’ve ever done for Ashworth, don’t you think, darling?’ agreed Rory.

Talia bit back the truth; the words she really wanted to say –yes, it’s luxurious and beautiful, but I’m afraid I’m quietly losing my mind – and you, my husband, can’t even see it.

Instead, she simply nodded.

As soon as they’d been served a mouth-watering main course of seared swordfish with tropical salad dressed with a pineapple glaze, Rory launched into a long-winded story about last year’s trip to the Caribbean and an ill-fated rum tasting trip. Most people were laughing along, though Sam looked rather unimpressed, and Lucy sat in silence, eyes fixed on her plate. How out of place Lucy seemed here – not at all like the raucous, extroverted sales people Rory usually brought on these trips.

When her husband wound down, the captain gave him a polite smile. ‘Now it’s your turn,’ said Rory. ‘You must have one or two juicy stories you can share with us, Captain – just between us, naturally. What happens on theLussostays on theLusso, eh?’

Talia stifled a groan.Can’t he stop trying to sound like a twenty-something on a stag do?

‘I’m afraid I try not to make a habit of gossiping about guests,’ said Captain Taylor.

‘Oh, come on, Captain! We won’t breathe a word of it, will we?’ Rory darted quick looks across the table; the group responded only with an embarrassed silence.

Captain Taylor sighed. ‘Well, I suppose if I keep themanonymous … I did have a supermodel on board once who demanded three hundred fresh roses in the salon every evening – the crew were run ragged. And then there was the tech mogul who insisted his Greek salad ingredients were cut into perfect twelve-millimetre squares – I’m not joking. Our poor chef quit halfway through the charter.’

The table burst into laughter. Talia was surprised that the captain was speaking so candidly; perhaps the wine was loosening her tongue.

‘But I’ve been looking forward to this charter,’ she went on. ‘You’re not theLusso’s usual crowd. I get a lot of hedge fund types, footballers, the uber-rich. But a property development team on your bonus trip?’ She smiled. ‘You’re a touch more down-to-earth.’

‘We do try,’ Sam said.

‘And, Captain, have you ever had to deal with any tricky situations on board?’ Talia asked, curious now. ‘Any … I don’t know, accidents, or things going wrong?’

Captain Taylor laughed. ‘Well, there’s never a dull moment on a superyacht.’ She paused to take a sip of wine. ‘Of course, there have been a few accidents among my crew over the years – nothing serious, thankfully – a few near misses from swinging fenders, things like that.’

‘And what’s it like to work in the industry?’ asked Talia. ‘You must be in the minority as a female captain, I assume?’

‘Yes, we’re a rare breed. And it’s tough at times. There’s still a lot of good old-fashioned sexism in the maritime world. It’s my young female crew members who get the worst of it – from people in the industry, but also on board.’ The captain stopped abruptly – perhaps she felt she’d said too much – andpushed back her chair. ‘Anyway,’ she said, ‘this has been wonderful. I’ll leave you all to your desserts and cocktails – enjoy the rest of your evening.’

Before the group could respond, Captain Taylor gave Michaela a brisk nod and strode off towards the stairs to the bridge.

After a sweet coconut mousse, it was time for so-called Polynesian Puzzles – a pub quiz-style game Rory had asked the crew to put together for their first night. Michaela handed outLusso di Marebranded notepads and pens to everyone as they got ready to play.

Talia took a deep breath and tried not to keep glancing across the table. She’d stuck to one cocktail over dinner, but everyone else – except perhaps Lucy, who was still sipping tonic water – must have sunk three or four. It was getting louder, rowdier, by the minute. It was making her nervous. Who knew what people might say, after a few too many? Who knew what they’d do?

‘I’m going for a bathroom break,’ Talia excused herself. No one responded; leaving her bag hanging over the back of her chair, she turned and walked slowly to the nearest toilets, inside the salon. Alone in the privacy of the bathroom, she closed the lid to the loo, sat and let her head drop into her palms. She took deep, steadying breaths; she needed to halt her tears before they started.

How am I going to do this? It’s only the first night and I’m breaking down …She blew her nose, dabbed at her eyes with the tissue, and took a few more deep breaths.

Come on. No one can see me like this.Appearances wereeverything, after all; they were what mattered. Sheknewthat; it had been drummed into her skull since she was a girl. Keep your emotions tucked inside; never let anyone know how you truly feel. As long as youlookall right, you’llbeall right.

Steeling herself, she flushed the loo, used a damp tissue to tidy her make-up in the mirror and headed back to the table. Hoots of laughter and groans of ‘No one’s going to know that except Rory!’ met her ears before she was halfway there. They’d started without her, then.

‘Talia!’ shouted Rory, as she took her seat back at the table. ‘Oh Christ, I didn’t think you were joining in, and now we’ve organized our teams – three on each side, with Michaela reading out the questions …’

Thank God. I can get away.‘Oh, that’s a shame. But don’t worry – I’m exhausted from the journey anyway. I’ll leave you all to it and head to bed.’

‘If you’re sure, darling?’ said Rory.

‘Absolutely.’

Sensing eyes on her from across the table, and now keener than ever to make her escape, Talia picked her bag up from her chair, swung it over her shoulder and headed downstairs to the master stateroom.

With the door closed behind her, she was overcome with relief so strongly she almost wept again. One of the stewardesses must have been in here while she was at dinner: the bed was turned down ready for sleep, the pillows were plumped and the cabin’s surfaces looked freshly polished. Even the slightly garish golden ornament on the desk near the window – a yacht-shaped sculpture with a long, pointed sail – had an extra sheen now.

She sighed and walked over to the dressing table, placedher bag down next to her and rifled through the side pockets for her phone. There it was – untouched, safe and sound.