Peter Lovesey - The False Inspector Dew

Barbara gave him a quick smile. 'Maybe someone told you I'm not so good at it.'

'You're doing fine.'

'I haven't had a lot of practice.'

'Your parents dance a lot. I saw them on the floor at the Savoy. They're pretty good.'

'Livy is. He does a marvellous tango. I don't know where he learned his dancing. It was before he met Mother for sure. Mother likes to dance because she has beautiful ankles, and she can twirl around and show them off, but she's not really a dancer. She isn't co-ordinated. See how her hips are out of time with the rest of her body?'

'Stop. You'll make me laugh.'

'I guess I'm being mean. I've seen too much of my mother lately.'

'I came to ask you if you would like to join a card game,' said Paul. 'Do you play whist?'

'Who with?'

'Only the guy who found my billfold and that woman in a blue dress who is trying to organize the concert. You and I could team up and win some free drinks. How about it, Barbara?'

''m not really a whist player.'

'You're pretty hot on mental arithmetic. It's mainly remembering which cards have been played. Come on, we could be a great team. I'm so confident that I'll underwrite any losses we make.'

'I ought to let my mother know where I am.'

'You think so?' said Paul. He performed a spin turn so that Barbara could see her mother nodding encouragement over Livy's shoulder.

Two card games were already in session in the walnut panelled alcoves in the smoking room. Jack had reserved a table. He had bought two packs of playing cards from the bar steward. They were on the table with the seals unbroken. Paul introduced him to Barbara.

'Now we're just waiting for Miss Masters,' said Jack.

'Katherine,' said Paul. 'Let's keep it as informal as we can.'

Katherine arrived a moment later noticeably refortified with scent. 'I had to get some money from my stateroom,' she explained after another round of introductions.

'Are we playing for money?' Barbara asked.

'Of course, dear. It's a very dull game otherwise,' said Katherine.

'I have some English money I could use up,' said Jack.

'I thought it was against the rules to gamble,' said Barbara.

'Is it?' said Katherine, disappointed. 'They take the pleasure out of everything if they can.'

'We could keep a score and settle up later,' Paul suggested.

'What a marvellous idea.'

'One English pound on each rubber?' said Jack.

It was agreed. Paul drew the lowest card and became the dealer. Clubs were trumps. He dealt himself a poor hand. Jack and Katherine won the first game and the second.

'I told you I was not much good,' Barbara said to Paul.

'My dear, you haven't had the cards to play,' Katherine told her. 'Whist is dreadfully boring if you don't get the cards.'

They played three rubbers and Paul and Barbara won just one game.

'We're not much opposition for you,' said Paul.

'Let's break off for some drinks for ten minutes,' said Jack. 'What can I get you, ladies?'

'Anything with ice in it,' said Katherine. 'Do you find it warm in here? I do. I'll just slip up to my cabin and freshen up.'

'Let's have a bottle of champagne between us,' said Jack. 'My treat.'

'Lovely!' said Katherine. 'What a marvellous man you are — good at cards and generous with drinks. See you shortly.' She gave Barbara a wave and hurried out.

While Jack was at the bar ordering the champagne, Paul remarked to Barbara, 'Nice people.'

'Yes, I like them. I still wish we could even the score at cards.'

He smiled. 'It's not important. We're enjoying the game.'

'We might do better if we both remembered that the second player generally plays low and the third ought to play high.'

Paul was laughing now. 'You told me you weren't a whist player.'

Barbara's cheeks reddened, i know the fundamentals.'

'Sure. It makes very good sense. I'll amend my play accordingly.' He might have added that it pleased him to find that Barbara had some spirit to match her bobbed hair and painted lips. He had been inclined to think of her as a sweet girl squashed to nothing by her mother.

'And shall we have an understanding that when either of us leads we are looking to our partner to return the same suit at the first opportunity?' Barbara went on solemnly.

'If we can also have an understanding that we try to finish the game in time to get some more dancing in,' said Paul.

She looked pleased. 'I'd like that.'

'Win or lose?'

'You ought to have more faith in my suggestions. Of course we're going to win.'

'Easy on the champagne, then,' cautioned Paul as Jack returned with a steward.

'Katherine not back yet?' said Jack. He told the steward, 'We'll open it ourselves when the lady returns.'

They did not have long to wait. 'So sorry to keep you,' Katherine told them. 'I felt I really had to go back and check my face after what happened. I was on my way back from D Deck where my stateroom is, and a door along the passage opened. The man stepped out, took one look at me and shot back into his cabin. From the look on his face, he might have seen a ghost.'

'I wouldn't worry about that,' said Jack. 'I expect he was just a fellow who thought you were going to ask him to appear in the concert. He didn't know that you'll settle for a game of whist instead.' He uncorked the champagne. Katherine's frightened man was not mentioned again.

Paul and Barbara picked up eleven tricks between them in the first game after play resumed. Paul was scrupulous in playing low when he was second and high when he was third. He watched whatever Barbara led and returned it when he won the lead. They won three games in succession and took the rubber.

'What's happened to you two?' asked Jack. 'Are you playing better or have we had too much champagne?'

'Someone has,' said Katherine with a trace of pique. 'You blocked my long suit in that last game. We could have picked up two more tricks.'

'I don't think we ought to have post mortems,' answered Jack. 'I'll try harder next time, partner.'

They won a game, but lost the rubber. The unease between Jack and Katherine was almost palpable. Jack started smoking. Katherine pursed her mouth in a way that made her look years older.

'It's incredible how your luck can change in cards,' said Paul as he and Barbara won another rubber and evened the score.

'You need more than luck,' said Katherine, with a glare at Jack.

'Shall we make this the deciding rubber?' Paul suggested.

'Just as you wish,' said Jack.

'If you don't mind,' said Barbara, it's a long time since I played whist. I find it hard to concentrate.'

That's the champagne, my dear,' said Katherine. it affects us all in different ways. Are you going to deal, partner, or shall we sit here looking at each other until we reach New York?'

Paul and Barbara won the last rubber by two games to one.

'That's it, then,' said Jack. 'Congratulations. America wins. We owe you a pound apiece.'

'You stood us the champagne,' said Paul. 'Weil call it quits.'

'One should always pay one's debts,' said Katherine. 'Barbara, here's my pound.'

Jack with unexpected force, said, 'Put it away. You don't pass money across a table here. Are you crazy?'

Katherine pushed the pound note at Barbara and said, 'Take it.'

Barbara hesitated. She looked to Paul for help.

Paul took the note and said, 'Yes, I'll buy a round for you, Katherine. That's really generous.'

'Leave me out,' said Jack, still angry. 'I've had enough for tonight — of everything.' He curtly wished them goodnight and left.

Katherine's eyes had filled with tears.

Barbara took her hand. She gave Paul a look that said she was capable of looking after Katherine. She said, 'Maybe some coffee would be better than a drink, Paul.'