Free Mask on the Cruise Ship by Melanie Jackson Page B

classmate in.
    Sure, a bright guy like Talbot would know that.
    But would it matter to him?
    Mother bent down and whispered to me. “Dinah, you’re scowling yourself into a little gnarled walnut. Is there something you want to tell me?”
    â€œUm,” I said. I couldn’t bring myself to say what I’d been thinking. Twerpy or not, Talbot was a fellow Lord Bithersby-ite. Besides, I had no proof.
    Mother took hold of my hand. Rather tearfully, she told the others, “Dinah — shy and reluctant to speak! This girl is ill . I knew it. One can’t be tossed into glacial waters without some side effects. I’d better get her into a warm bed right away. Oh dear, I don’t want her going the way of Ophelia … ”
    Oh no. The inevitable literary reference. I had no idea who Ophelia was, except that she must be of the drowned-rat variety. “Mother,” I protested.
    â€œNow, now, what’s this?” a jolly voice demanded.
    It was Captain Heidgarten. As in, the ship’s captain. Broad-shouldered, in a starched white uniform brimming with gold buttons, he towered over the rest of us, even Jack, who was no slouch. Captain Heidgarten’s blue eyes twinkled at us out of his brown-bearded, sunburned face. “I’ve been intending to pay my compliments to you, Dinah, on your singing abilities. I had the pleasure of seeing you in The Moonstone last fall and am looking forward to attending one of your performances aboard the Empress . But now I see I have to offer my congratulations to you as well. Anyone who survives the brutal clutches of the waters of Mendenhall is remarkable indeed.
    â€œAnd congratulations to you, too, young man,” the Captain said to Jack and shook his hand. “Everyone’s telling me what a hero you were today. When we return to Vancouver, I intend to recommend you for a Royal Lifesaving Medal.”
    â€œAw, no,” mumbled Jack, blushing to the roots of his sandy hair.
    The Captain clapped him on the back. “Be assured, there’s a job for you on our Happy Escapes fleet whenever you want it.”
    â€œNo!” choked Mr. Trotter. “That is,” he coughed, as the Captain turned an inquiring gaze on him, “no doubt about it.”
    Captain Heidgarten smiled at me again. “So, my dear. I wanted to invite you and your family to dine with me this evening. Afterwards, I thought we might take in a show together. Hans and Roman, the famous magicians, are performing one of their now-you-see-it, now-you-don’t extravaganzas. But it all depends on whether you’ve recovered.”
    Hans and Roman! I’d seen them on TV. Wouldn’t miss out on this evening for anything. “That’d be great,” I exclaimed. “Don’t worry, that brief dip in the lake was … ” I shrugged to indicate how laughably insignificant my near-drowning had been. “Nope, I feel just fine.”
    And then I fainted.
    Forget Hans and Roman. I had my own magic act: now you see Dinah, now you don’t.
    I tried to say this out loud. After all, I was dining with the ship’s captain, so I should come equipped with wisecracks. Everyone at the table — Captain Heidgarten, Mother, Jack, Julie, Evan — stared at me expectantly.
    â€œWhat was that, Dinah?” Madge asked.
    I tried again. “ … You … see … Dinah … ”
    â€œOf course I see you,” Madge returned, sounding irritable. “These staterooms are small. It’d be hard to miss a red-headed lump in the bedclothes.”
    The faces and the dinner table evaporated. Dang, and there’d been grilled potato wedges, along with cheddar cheese-sprinkled sour cream to dip them in. I’d been about to reach for a particularly fat wedge …
    I forced my sleepy eyelids partway open. I was in bed, all right. Those blurry surroundings would be our stateroom. That blurry auburn-haired girl over there on the chair