‘I – ah – eee – k.’ Great. I can only squeak.
24
23 DECEMBER, STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN
We’re sitting around the breakfast table, discussing last night’s pantomime,The Snow Queen, after having arrived in Stockholm in the early hours of the morning. Princess is missing, so I’m only half listening to the chatter, wondering if I should go and check on her.
When there’s a break in the conversation, I ask, ‘Where’s Princess?’
‘In her cabin, I presume,’ Karen says, buttering a slice of sourdough. ‘She and Barry were up late. When I left the bar, the karaoke machine had just come out, and wow that woman has certainly got a set of lungs on her. What she lacks in talent she makes up for with her energy.’
I smother a laugh, imagining it without any trouble at all. ‘Is she OK?’ I face Barry’s way.
He fumbles with his napkin, averting his gaze. Huh. ‘Yeah, love. Just a late one. Princess belted out a number of bangers. Quite the fan of karaoke.’
I contemplate it. ‘Princess has more stamina than all of us put together though. Belting out bangers is one thing, but she’s never missed a breakfast, not one.’ There is the fact she’s seventy-five; have all the late nights finally caught up with her? But no, I remember her saying she’d never miss breakfast in the dining carriage because it was a chance to eavesdrop on gossip and ogle handsome men. Maybe she was joking and just trying to get me to leave my cabin that day.
I fold up my napkin and push my chair back. ‘I’ll go check on her. What’s her room number?’
‘Number one.’ Barry blushes. ‘Or so I’ve heard.’
Only the best for our very own Princess. ‘Of course.’ Leaving the group, I ask sweet George where cabin number one is and am surprised to find it’s past the library carriage, in another area I haven’t explored before. These must be the super-deluxe suites that cost more than I care to imagine.
I knock at the door and hear a faint ‘I’m not here right now.’
‘Princess, it’s me, Aubrey. Open up.’
A loud groan greets me. ‘I can’t.’
‘Why? Are you sick? Do I need to call the medic?’
‘No.’
‘Then what is it?’ I lean my head on the door, barely able to make out her voice.
‘You’ll ask me tough questions and I don’t have the heart to lie.’
What would Princess do if the situation was reversed? She’d simply ignore me and storm into my cabin all guns blazing, so that’s what I do.
‘Wow.’ I’m momentarily distracted by the beauty of her cabin. It’s about four times the size of mine. Stunning artwork hangs on walls. There’s a dressing room with a full-length mirror. Princess lies prone in a king-size bed that’s as regal as she is. She’s hiding her face behind a satin eye mask.
I make my way through a small a lounge area with antique-style furniture. Off to the side there’s a small library and an actual bar! I whistle my appreciation. ‘This is next level. No wonder you don’t want to leave!’
Princess pulls the eye mask down. ‘Tell the group I died. Tell them I slipped off in my sleep and it was all very peaceful.’
‘What? Why?’
‘It’s the only way. Just tell them, will you? That I love them all and I’ll be waiting for them at the pearly gates when their time comes.’
‘Not going to happen.’ Only one of us can fake a death around here, and I’ve already claimed that for missing Miles. ‘I’ll do no such thing,’ I reply firmly. ‘What’s all this about then?’
‘Fine. Just tell them I got off the train early this morning.’
‘Princess.’
She sighs. Without her make-up and glamorous clothes, she seems so much more fragile. Vulnerable. Lovable. Ooh. I get it.
‘Is this about Barry?’
