All Bedlam Courses Past (part two hundred nine)

All Bedlam Courses Past

Chapter Eight

Things Relative

(part two hundred nine)

But Monaghan lifted a hand. “Time enough. Time enough. We shall take all our business in order, pleasing Miss Gremot.”

Let the record state that Gorman smelled, and that his smell was of whiskey. He lay his arm where it touched Myra’s, the two chairs placed in a nook—and by the crew, conversationally. Myra stood to leave; Gorman stood to block. He made a vulgar little speech she would not repeat. Shute pressed for the nature of it.

It was horribly offensive. It was frightening. She preferred not.

But if Mr. Gorman is a shipboard accoster, Miss Buckley must appreciate…

Well. She would not have another woman suffer, no. The nature had been his seeing Myra go off alone. He had watched her with that fellow. He had seen they headed their opposite ways. Myra looked class to Gorman. He could tell her blood was up. Gorman was a man who could do her better.

She hadn’t screamed; she had felt mortified. She had beaten at him with her hands, and he had put his arms around her. She had begun to weep. Gorman slackened his grip at this, but caught her by the sleeve. The sleeve tore partly away. This producing of evidence seemed to sober Gorman. He let go altogether, and Myra, faint but making to flee, saw him root in pockets, mumbling things that implied he would give her money.

The Crownhaven party broke at this, and went variably for the house conveniences, while Mrs. Koker was tasked with coffee and rolls to fuel the second session. Mrs. Koker, possessing that heartland habit of resentful overdoing, brought a summer sausage, sliced ham, cheeses, a fruit bowl, and a box of fine chocolates, in addition to rolls and coffee.

Monaghan had three more bits to show, if Phelan would oblige. To give them their due, they must sort the statements of Mr. Demrose tomorrow. “Ah, but never waste a good supper.”

Half an hour of early dining, then, and innocent questions for Ebrach.

They didn’t see much Chicago trade, down at this end of things? Not that there isn’t wealth the world over, to be sure…

And Mrs. Demrose, before her marriage, when she’d been Mrs. Buckley, was it for coming here, for the séance, she had met Ryan-Neville, the name he’d had those days?

But the place is laid out something like a resort, I’ve seen…do you effect cures at all, Mr. Ebrach?

Treating the spirit, why not? The Mother Church has had her go at it, and the spirit seems the worse, if anything.

Mr. Gorman’s statement came next  from the briefcase.

He was asked by Mr. Shute if he understood his cooperation to be free and voluntary.

Not yet.

Shute tried a profitless rehashing of cruise times and dates.

Abrupt, he asked Gorman, What if I told you a lady had made a complaint against you?

221

Bedlam

All Bedlam Courses Past (part two hundred ten)

(2025, Stephanie Foster)