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Chapter 21: Cocktails For Four
Freddie Clegg lazed back in an armchair in the Nietzsche's bar. He was enjoying the view across Rome as the airship continued its journey southwards. Bertie and Elspeth were there too, the three of them sharing an early evening cocktail. The Vatican , the Colosseum, and the Forum slid away behind them and eventually the jumble of suburbs gave way to countryside.
Bertie was standing at the guard rail that stretched the length of the bar in front of the viewing panels. Jennings appeared at the doorway and gave a discrete cough.
“Ah, excuse me, Miss Grant, Gentlemen,” he said.
“Quite all right, Jennings , we're just enjoying the view, what is it?”
“I just wondered if I could have a word with Mr Clegg, sir. Something that needs his attention.”
Clegg put down his drink. “That's all right, Jennings . What's the problem?”
“Ah, well, sir, I wonder if you could come back to your cabin for a moment. You see there's a girl in there and you hadn't mentioned that anyone would be joining us at Rome .”
Clegg looked bemused.
“A girl you say, Jennings . Attractive filly or what?” Bertie cut in.
“Hard for me to say, sir.”
“Oh, come on Jennings , don't be so stuffy. I know you've got an eye for the ladies as much as the next man.”
“Standards are very different, Sir – we all have our own tastes. I would say, however, that the reason I claimed it was hard for me to say was because I had seen no more than her feet sticking out from under Mr Clegg's bed. I am sure, Sir, you will understand that in those circumstances, irrespective of my personal preferences, it is quite hard for me to say.”
Clegg chuckled. Elspeth stared at Clegg. She obviously wasn't amused. “Freddie, what's this all about?”
“I have absolutely no idea my dear,” he said disingenuously. “I can only surmise that my reputation has gone on ahead of me and the women are just deciding to turn up in order to save me the bother of abducting them.”
Bertie laughed. “First rate idea,” he said. “Get them to form a line and bring their own ropes, what! Save us all a lot of trouble. Ha!”
Elspeth turned to Jennings . “Has she any idea what is going on here?” she asked.
“Goodness, I've no idea, Miss. She should still be under the bed. At least she will still be in the cabin. I took the precaution of locking the door behind me.”
“Good man,” said Clegg. “I suppose I'd better go and sort this out. Come on Jennings , you'd better show me what's what.”
The two of them left the lounge. Elspeth was staring out of the window with a frown on her face. Bertie slid on to the couch alongside her. She appeared not to notice. “Bit of an odd business,” he began.
“Yes,” Elspeth responded, shortly.
“Clegg didn't seem to know anything about it.”
“No.” Elspeth went on staring out through the window.
“Elly, I would like to… “ Bertie started.
“Elspeth,” she cut in. “It's Elspeth.”
“Sorry. Elspeth. Look, I know you think I'm a bit of a waste of space around here.” He paused. He went on. “Err, some sort of contradiction would have been in order there, you know.”
Elspeth raised an eyebrow but didn't reply.
“All right. Look, Clegg has been happy to have me along. I sorted out young Sally, without which there'd have been a few problems. Unless I am completely mistaken the reason that we have Miss Sally Fellows along with us is because you failed to spread out Alice 's clothes in the right order down the beach. This is a fact which I have not bothered to share with our Mr. Clegg.” Elspeth went to interrupt him but he ignored her. “Now, I quite understand that I am not a professional like you and you may find my manner a little jocular for your taste but please don't conclude that I am not fully engaged in this enterprise. I am as stuck into this as you are, so I'll thank you to at least give me credit for that.”
Elspeth was taken aback by his forthright remarks. She knew that the problems on the beach were her own fault and even if he was a bit of a yahoo she had to admit that he'd shown no signs of faltering. “Bertie, I apologise. I've been an ass,” she said. “Can we at least declare a truce?”
“Don't see why not old thing,” he grinned. “Can I get you a drink?”
“Yes, why not. But can you make it ‘Elspeth' rather than ‘old thing'. I do much prefer to be called by my given name.”
“Absolutely old – sorry – Elspeth, coming right up.”
Back on the accommodation deck, Jennings unlocked the door to Clegg's cabin and the two went in. Clegg crouched down and peered under the bed. He could see a young girl trying to edge as close to the cabin wall as she could. “Please, come out, Miss,” he called to her. “ Esce prego, signorina . I feel we need to have a conversation.”
Gabriella wriggled around under the bed and crawled out. She sat on the floor of the cabin staring up at the two men with a frightened look. “Please, I meant no harm,” she said in accented English, “please don't have me taken off the airship. You can't, please don't.”
Clegg looked down at the girl. The dress she had chosen clung closely to a figure that was agreeably curved. Her dark hair, eyes and complexion contrasted greatly with the paler look of the four girls that Clegg knew were swinging in their cages almost directly above them. She was certainly attractive and, given her presence in his cabin, resourceful. He tried to reassure her but whatever her accent, her English was evidently better than his Italian. “ Non sia impaurito,” he said. “Don't be afraid.” He sat down on the edge of the bed. “Come and sit here.” He patted the bed alongside him. “I'm sure we can sort out something. Jennings , why don't you leave us so we can have a chat.”
“Yes, of course Sir.” Jennings gave his best butlering bow. Gabriella gave a half suppressed giggle. “If you'll excuse me, Miss,” he said, and left Clegg and the girl alone.
As he left he heard Clegg say, “Now, young lady, perhaps you could explain what you are doing here?”
Jennings returned to the lounge to find, extraordinarily, his master and Miss Elspeth chatting amiably over two large and, he suspected, very dry martinis. “Ah, Jennings ,” Bertie greeted him cheerily, “what's afoot with the mysterious stowaway?”
“Exactly that as far as I could see, Sir,” Jennings replied. “She was most anxious that Mr. Clegg kept her on board.”
“And Freddie's got no idea of who she is?”
“Not as far as I could tell, Sir.”
“Believe me,” said Elspeth, “the last thing Freddie likes on trips like this are surprises. Drama, yes. Excitement, yes. Even the occasional bit of danger. But surprises, no.”
“Well he did seem to be making the best of it. But then the young lady is of, shall we say a comely appearance. I would say she had all the attributes of a good child bearing woman if you'll permit me to say in the chest and hip department but with the slimness of waist that accompanies youth but so often fades in later years. Rather a Mediterranean ‘type' if you know what I mean.”
Elspeth smiled. “Why Jennings , I do believe you are something of a xenophobe. If you looked any further down your nose you be peering at your shoes. Surely you haven't taken against this girl just because she's a foreigner.”
“Not at all, Miss. I certainly don't believe we should look down on foreigners. After all, it's hardly their fault is it?”
“ Jennings , stop it,” Bertie chortled, you're just too much of a hoot.”
Elspeth was, nevertheless, concerned. This wasn't planned, she hated having to improvise and there was more than enough to worry about with the four women that they already had on board. On the other hand they were proving remarkably trouble free – the globes had been a good idea and Insing's “adjustment” seemed to be working .Apart from making sure they were watered and cleaned out each day there wasn't much to do for the women. Perhaps some diversion would be beneficial. Freddie could be a trial if he got bored.
Just as she was thinking this, her attention was attracted by the sound of raised voices in the corridor outside the lounge. Clegg and Schneer were evidently engaged in a very animated discussion and it was clear from the tone that Schneer was losing. Moments later the door to the lounge opened and Clegg ushered Gabriella inside.
“Good evening everybody,” Clegg announced to the assembled group. “I'd like you all to meet my niece, Signorina Gabriella Balzinni. Our crew failed to make arrangements to greet her at Rome and I have had to take First Officer Schneer to task over it. He'll be making a cabin available for Gabriella and I thought it would be pleasant if she joined us for dinner this evening.”
“Niece?” queried Elspeth.
“Yes,” said Clegg, firmly. “Surely you remember me speaking of her?” Elspeth looked sceptical but Clegg just grinned.
“Capital idea, Clegg,” Bertie grinned. “Nice to meet you, Gabby old thing.”
Gabriella turned towards Clegg with a puzzled look. “Gabby?” she said.
“Don't worry,” said Clegg, “you'll get used to it.”
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