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I told him I thought they were brave. They have so little, but they’re not afraid to try their luck on another shore, so far away. Many will be leaving their families and friends and their homes for ever. At least he and I will return to our beloved Broadmere.

He looked at me slyly and added, ‘With a great fortune to restore it.’

I felt a twinge of concern then. It was the flippant, careless way he said it, as if Esme were simply a pot of gold to be mined.

I asked him whether he loved her. He replied, much too hastily, that he did.

Then he stuck out his bottom lip and accused me of not considering his feelings and asking Esme whether she loved him.

‘Do I not count for anything?’ he said, and I found myself patting his arm and consoling him as if he were a boy, all the while knowing I was being played.

The craggy hills of Cork came into focus, clearly defined against the big blue sky. ‘There she is, your beautiful Ireland,’ he said. ‘Like a lovely-looking potato that’s rotting on the inside.’

I told him off for being such a cynic and we laughed. I do so enjoy my nephew when he is spirited. It pains me to think of him making wrong decisions and suffering the consequences. I do wish my dear brother were alive to guide him.

We stood together and watched as the Titanic drew close to the land and then dropped anchor.

Small tenders went out and returned sometime later with passengers, luggage and mail.

Shortly, we were joined by Maggie, beaming cheerfully from beneath an extravagant black hat embellished with what might easily have been mistaken for long-tailed widowbirds.

Their feathers flapped in the wind, giving the impression that they were about to launch themselves off the brim and fly away.

‘Hello, Connie. Hello, Ravenglass,’ she trilled in that merry way of hers that is so infectious.

She told us that she had just been having tea in the Café Parisien with Mr Andrews.

He asked her to let him know if there was anything she could think of that would make the voyage more comfortable.

I asked her if she managed to come up with anything, for I most certainly couldn’t. She gave a sniff and said that she would have to think of something simply to indulge him. She said he’s like a lover who can’t take his hands off his paramour – well, I know what that is like!

Maggie went on to tell us that she had found a squash court and a Turkish bath, and even a gymnasium, although she and I couldn’t imagine why anyone would want to go in there.

‘Oh, I can see you on one of those mechanical bicycles, Mrs Brown,’ Lester exclaimed with a laugh. ‘Or the electric horse. Woe betide the horse that tries to buck you off!’

Maggie laughed with him. She has a wonderful sense of humour.

‘You’re a mischief, Ravenglass!’ was her response.

But Lester’s gaze was drifting to the wealthy young widow who has been attracting a great deal of attention on account of her exceptional beauty and playful eye.

I noticed him talking to her yesterday evening, before dinner.

She’s called Delia Finch and is what many would call ‘fast’.

Mrs Finch was now walking towards us with a swish of her skirts and a flick of her hips, and a determined glint in that playful eye.

I sensed trouble, but Maggie insisted that I go inside with her to browse among the goods some Irish merchants had brought aboard for our amusement.

I didn’t want to leave Lester and Delia Finch alone together, but had no alternative.

Maggie was most determined. When she’s like that, I don’t imagine anything can allay her.

She suggested I buy something for Alice Aldershoff.

Ireland is famed for its linen, after all.

Maggie brought up the Potemkin Diamond, and mentioned the preposterous myth of being able to see the face of Catherine the Great in the flaws.

People are so simple-minded to invent something like that, and to believe it.

At least Maggie had the sense to laugh at it.

She told me that the gem is one of the most valuable diamonds in the world and that she has it on good authority that Walter-Wyatt wants to leave it to a son.

What a delightful gossip she is! But he’s unlikely to have a son now, for Alice is almost forty.

Maggie glanced at me slyly and suggested that he might leave it to Lester.

I hadn’t thought of that. Really, it had not even entered my mind. But I can just picture Bertha’s face enlivening at the smallest hint of that famous diamond ending up at Broadmere, as a Ravenglass heirloom. She’s like a greedy magpie, going berserk at the sight of anything that shines!

Maggie told me that the diamond is no longer on display for Walter-Wyatt has hidden it where no one will ever find it.

That’s very sensible. I would think a gem of that value is just begging to be stolen.

I said I hoped he’d show it to me while I’m there.

It would be a pity to leave without seeing it.

‘A great pity,’ Mrs Brown agreed. ‘But I suspect he’ll want to show it off. After all, that’s why he bought it in the first place.’ I had to laugh at that. Maggie ne mache pas ses mots !

I was returning to my cabin to freshen up before luncheon when who should I bump into in the hall, but Orlando!

What an extraordinary coincidence! He boarded the ship at Queenstown!

What luck. We are travelling to New York together.

How magnifique that we will have time to get to know one another, because we are confined to this ship with nowhere to escape for three or four more days.

‘How lovely to see you again, Miss Fleet,’ he called out, and his smile was wide and genuine, and so very handsome.

I told him that I was travelling with Lester, and he congratulated me on his engagement to his cousin Esme.

‘We must raise a toast to your nephew,’ he said, and I replied that Lester would very much enjoy that.

‘I will take great pleasure in telling him that you are here,’ I said.

Then, as I made my way to the dining room, I realised that Lester really must behave himself now and not allow a whiff of scandal to besmirch him.

Orlando is Alice Aldershoff’s first cousin, and the man upon whom I have set my heart. Lester must be above reproach.

I had lunch in the dining room with Lester, Maggie and Mr Gilsden, whose mother was asleep, having been up all night, keeping watch in case the ship ran into trouble and started sinking.

I was relieved that Lester had not invited Mrs Finch to join us, although she might well have declined.

The Earl and Countess of N appeared to want to join us, until they saw Maggie presiding loudly over the table in her gaudy hat.

At that point, they nodded politely and glided towards a table for two at the other side of the room.

I didn’t care, I find Lady N as sour as an old lemon and am much happier in the company of the exuberant Maggie Brown.

I searched the room for Orlando – Lester is most eager to see him – but did not find him.

He must have been dining in the Café Parisien.

I was disappointed, but reassured myself that we have days on this ship in which to get better acquainted.

The fact that he is here has breathed new life into me.

I feel energised and excited, and optimistic about my stay in America.

Now I have found Orlando, even the dullest things look gilded.

We dined on chicken Lyonnaise, green beans and creamed carrots.

Really, the cuisine is exceptional, and to think they manage to provide it all in the middle of the Atlantic!

I did not enjoy a glass of wine on account of my imminent seance with Miss Norris.

I know not to mix alcohol with spiritual practices.

It is imperative that one is always clear in mind and good of heart and intention, otherwise one might draw into one’s domain a lost soul from the lower planes. One does not want to do that!

Mr Gilsden did not drink either, for he was going to make up a rubber of bridge after luncheon with Lord N, Sir J and Lester.

Lester, on the other hand, enjoyed a couple of glasses of chilled Sauvignon, declaring that he is always luckier at cards if he has been tranquilised aforehand with wine.

I did not argue with him for it isn’t my place, but, judging by his dwindling fortune, that method is clearly not working for him.

I hope they will be sensible and not play for excessive amounts of money!

After luncheon, I made my way back to my cabin.

As I turned to unlock my door, the door to Lester’s cabin behind me opened and out stepped Glover.

When he saw me, a supercilious look spread over his face and he greeted me insolently, clipping the consonants of my name and looking at me with an impertinent gaze.

I have taken to ignoring him and it has given me great pleasure to do so, but unfortunately, at that moment, I needed him to bring a chair from Lester’s cabin into mine, for the seance.

I had to step down off my high horse in order to give him instructions.

He carried them out with a petulant expression on his face, as if I was asking much of him.

As soon as it was done, I went to my cabin and closed the door behind me.

How I hate him with his conceited air and impudent tongue.

Once we return to London, I will most ardently insist on his dismissal.

It wouldn’t be fair on Esme Aldershoff to have him roaming their new home and potentially thieving.

No, there will be no argument – the man has to go.