gods, was it only four days ago—you quoted Juliet to me. “ ‘Parting is such sweet sorrow/ That I shall say good night till it be morrow.’ ”
“Don’t tempt me, lady,” muttered the man.
Lauren went on. “And then you quoted Romeo—”
Mike took up the quotation. “ ‘Sleep dwell upon thine eyes/ peace in thy breast! Would I were sleep and peace, so sweet to rest!’ ”
Lauren’s breath caught in her throat. This was the man who had called her a romantic. That greedy starlet had a lot to answer for. But he was changing—he was. At that moment Lauren would have done anything Mike asked her. She looked up at him with all her love in her face, clear to see.
Mike held her shoulders lightly with his hands, bent over her, and kissed her once, gently, on the lips. “Soon,” he said, and turned and walked away.
It took Lauren a long time to get to sleep.
Chapter Nine
The morning sped by in a whirlwind of packing and last-minute decisions. Lauren instructed the purser’s office to throw her wine-stained costumes overboard, or dispose of them in any other way that suited them. She carefully packed the survivors, and then unpacked them and offered them to the models and the three dancers. When Dani and Nella had each chosen a favorite—Nella wanted the cloak, for some reason—Lauren sent the rest to the Stranges’ stateroom. She knew that Violet would seize upon the bronze silk with true delight.
Then there was their own packing to do. She had to help the models, as she had expected. Vails had to be set aside for the stewards and stewardesses who had been so tireless in securing their comfort.
Then came the moment when Lauren had to tell her models that she wasn’t going to be staying at the Bristol with them. To her surprise and chagrin, she found that both of them had expected some such development. They reassured her that they would manage very nicely alone. Lauren, subdued by so much worldliness, handed them their return-flight tickets.
Dani confiscated them at once. “I’ll look after these,” she declared. Nella nodded happily.
Then Lauren told them of the car and driver that Mike was putting at their disposal. “Just be ready when the driver comes for you on Sunday,” she warned. “I wouldn’t want you to be left behind.” She glanced at them with concern. She was so used to managing things for them that she didn’t quite picture them coping on their own. “Have you enough cash for your meals and extras?”
“Yes, Mother.” Dani grinned. Lauren was reminded of Mike’s comment. She apologized for acting like a mother hen, and the models forgave her.
They decided to eat breakfast in the dining room with the troupe, and the meal became a pleasant leave-taking. Lauren was hoping that she would never have to encounter Herbert again, but he was waiting for her outside the Tables of the World restaurant. He didn’t seem guilty or embarrassed. She decided to be civilized.
“Well, Lauren, you were lucky,” was his charming opening gambit. “Even winning a consolation prize.”
There was little to say in answer to such a backhanded compliment. “Thank you,” she said dryly.
“How are you going to handle the return trip?” he went on.
“It’s all arranged,” Lauren told him.
“Well, have a good time in London,” Herbert taunted. “I wouldn’t want to have to ride herd on those two cows.”
Lauren turned away without another word. Herbert wasn’t worth it.
Their steward had been specially requested, he told her, to see that their baggage was taken to the train. Please don’t worry, madam, it’s all taken care of,” he said confidently. Lauren relaxed and luxuriated in Mike’s providence.
She made her good-byes to the models in their sitting room before they went on deck to disembark. “That way we won’t be trying to keep in touch in the crowd,” she explained. The models were really sorry to part with her; their evident affection moved Lauren. With many good wishes for their future success, and an urgent request to look her up soon after they returned to Los Angeles, she sent them ahead of her to disembark.
Half an hour later she walked toward the boat train. Someone came up behind her and took her arm.
“There you are,” Mike said with satisfaction. “Everything all right?”
“Yes, thank you.” Lauren was too happy to say any more.
They were almost safe on the train when the reporters found them. Lauren, who hadn’t expected much notice—after all, as Herbert had reminded her, her award