“You never did tell me what you got,” she said to Catherine.
“I found some beautiful ornaments for my daughter and daughter-in-law,” Catherine said. “They’re shaped like bells.”
“I hope you got something for yourself,” Denise said sternly.
Catherine would have liked to mention the charm and bracelet Rudy bought her. She didn’t want to appear ungrateful. But since his daughter hadn’t exactly been happy about the purchase she decided to keep her mouth shut about it. No sense bringing up a sore subject.
“This trip is what I gave myself,” she said.
Their cruise director had arrived on the scene, and taken the mike. Her greeting to the travelers spared Catherine from having to say anything more. She decided she would be sure to thank Rudy again later for his kindness.
Meanwhile, their server had returned with more drinks and Elsa was asking everyone if they had enjoyed Cologne.
“Tomorrow,” she said, “we will be stopping in the village of Braubach. Many of you have signed up for the excursion to Koblenz, where you will enjoy a walking tour of this beautiful Roman city. And we also, in the morning, have the excursion to tour Marksburg Castle, the seven-hundred-year-old fortress that is the only Rhine castle never to have been conquered. It will provide you with excellent views.”
“That sounds good,” said Arnold, who had joined them and claimed the empty seat on the other side of Denise.
“At the end of our morning tours we will be casting off at 11:45 and will enjoy scenic sailing on the Rhine during which I will be offering commentary for you,” Elsa said. “Then at 3:45, I know you won’t want to miss Chef Bruno’s demonstration of how to make Rüdesheim coffee. We will be serving that and tea on the terrace along with a variety of German pastries.”
“Best pastries in the world,” Charlie informed the rest of the group.
“Tomorrow at approximately five in the afternoon we will be docking in Rüdesheim, famous for their wine, especially Riesling. There you may enjoy walking about the town to shop at the Christmas market or join us for an excursion to the Eberbach Monastery estate for a dinner of German specialties. I know you will want to be back on the boat at nine for a demonstration by a traditional glassblower right here in our lounge where he will create for you a work of art from industrial glass.”
“Decisions, decisions,” quipped Denise after Elsa had finished her spiel.
“What’s everyone going to do?” Sophie asked, looking at Rudy.
Rudy looked at Catherine.
“I think the castle sounds intriguing,” she said. “You can’t come to Germany and not see a castle.” And find a prince.
“I’m up for the castle,” said Rudy.
“Me, too,” Sophie said with a determined nod.
“What did you want to see, Athena?” Catherine asked.
“Actually, I had signed up for touring the castle,” she said.
Catherine strongly suspected that if she and Rudy had opted for the walking tour of Koblenz, then Athena would have switched to that.
“Who knows? We might find a prince,” Denise quipped.
“I was thinking you already had,” Charlie said to her.
“Same here,” put in Trevor. He turned to Sophie. “You may call me your highness.”
“You can call me anything,” said Charlie. “Just don’t call me late for dinner.”
Judging from his round belly it looked like no one ever had.
The cocktail hour ended and the group of friends made their way to the dining room where Charlie and Trevor and Arnold all found seats at a table near the original six. Catherine noticed that the girl who had been so intently watching Trevor had managed to beat an older woman to a seat next to him. She caught the pained look on his face, quickly covered by polite indulgence. Yes, a very nice man.
Catherine hoped Sophie Miles would wake up to the fact. Why on earth she was so fixated on Rudy was a mystery.
It wasn’t such a great mystery why the college girl kept trailing poor Trevor. He was attractive enough to catch any woman’s eye, young or old. But it was so plain he wasn’t interested. Longing for someone who wasn’t interested was a strange and inexplicable phenomenon.
The next morning Catherine found herself in the omelet line with Trevor’s young admirer and introduced herself.
“I’m Harriet,” the young woman said. “I’m here with my German class.”
“How fun to be traveling with friends in your class,” Catherine said.
“It’s okay,” Harriet said, damning her traveling companions with faint praise.
“I saw you last night in the lounge after dinner. That was quite an interesting-looking man