Forbidden Rapture [antikvár]

CHAPTER ONE The slim, fair girl came aboard alone, a mink coat draped around her shoulders with orchids on the lapel. When she reached the head of the gangway she gave her name and cabin number to the young officer on duty there, and the ready smile which he had been giving to other passengers was absent from his face as he stared a moment at Delia Neve. Then a shy look came into his eyes. 'It's a pleasure to have you aboard, Miss Neve.' He gave her a smart salute. T once heard you sing in La Boheme at the Metropolitan and it was a memorable experience.* 'Thank you.' Her speaking voice had an attractive huskiness, and her smile lingered only a moment before it was gone. The Gothic Star seems a nice ship and I'm sure I'm going to enjoy the cruise.' 'I hope, Miss Neve, that you will sing for us one evening?' 'I'm afraid that won't be possible.' She gazed straight at him with blue-green eyes like frozen gems, then she handed him her passport and tickets and followed a steward to her state cabin, while another followed with her handcases. They went along a wide central com-panionway to the main deck and along a corridor whose carpet was a deep blue colour. A door was opened for her and she entered the suite which would be hers for the next six weeks, while the Gothic Star cruised the blue waters of the Mediterranean. Left alone in the solitary luxury of her state cabin, Delia removed her mink coat and let it fall carelessly to a white velvet couch, where it draped itself like a dark-furred animal, while the orchids lay crushed beneath its