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she confessed, looking from Trescot to Eddie helplessly.
    Trescot turned to Eddie.
    â€œMy Kitty has a few colourful frocks.”
    â€œKitty is his er companion,” Eddie explained to Henrietta. “She’s the only woman on the trip with us.”
    He suggested that they visit Trescot’s cabin to take a look at Kitty’s wardrobe.
    Once again Henrietta found herself in the Second Class section of the ship.
    She drew her cape over her shoulders and glanced nervously around as Trescot opened the door to his cabin.
    â€œKitty’s here,” he called over his shoulder as Eddie and Henrietta entered behind him.
    A plump woman with tousled hair inspected them from her bunk. She was lying one arm under her head with her features almost hidden under wreaths of cigar smoke.
    â€œKitty, we’ve got a piano player!” Eddie told her, indicating Henrietta. “Thing is, she didn’t board the ship expecting a new career, so she has nothing suitable to wear for tonight. Have you anything she could borrow?”
    Kitty gestured to a trunk, which stood half open and still unpacked in the corner of the cabin.
    Eddie and Trescot started pulling garments from the trunk, while Henrietta looked away as garish camisoles and bodices landed in a heap with gaudy skirts and frocks.
    All the while she was aware of Kitty regarding her with lazy amusement.
    â€œHey, this looks possible.”
    Eddie now held up a deep scarlet gown with puffed sleeves and plunging neckline.
    â€œAre you sure?” asked Henrietta dubiously.
    â€œAbsolutely!” said Eddie cheerfully. “It will add a real touch of glamour. Why don’t you try it on for size?”
    â€œI will help her,” suggested Kitty, sliding her legs over the side of the bunk, cigar in her mouth.
    After Eddie and Trescot withdrew Henrietta slipped out of her dress and stepped into the scarlet gown.
    â€œYou’re an unlikely find,” remarked Kitty. “Purty little thing that you are. You got no protector on board?”
    â€œProtector? Well, I have my Nan a companion, Mrs. Poody.”
    â€œYou’re gonna need more than any Mrs. Poody to protect you in that!” chuckled Kitty.
    â€œI can protect myself well enough,” said Henrietta somewhat stiffly.
    Kitty took the cigar from her mouth.
    â€œHoney, don’t get mad at me. I do know the boys. They’ve quite an eye for a purty gal.”
    â€œE-even Eddie?” she enquired, as she was thinking of Eddie as someone she could turn to in a crisis.
    â€œ Especially Eddie!” giggled Kitty.
    Her gaze softened as she took in Henrietta’s alarm.
    â€œUh-oh! You haven’t fallen for Eddie, have you?”
    â€œNo, I haven’t!” exclaimed Henrietta truthfully.
    â€œThat’s healthy of you. The only real passion in his life is music anyway.”
    With that she threw open the cabin door and called out down the corridor.
    Eddie and Trescot whistled as they entered.
    â€œMy, oh my!” exclaimed Eddie, shaking his head. “What do you think, Trescot?”
    â€œAn eyeful, all right,” chortled Trescot.
    Henrietta blushed.
    â€œI-I’m not sure. I d-don’t feel like me in it.”
    â€œYou’re a new you, that’s all. You’ll need some make-up, of course.”
    â€œMake-up?” Henrietta echoed.
    â€œI’ll sort that before the performance tomorrow,” offered Kitty.
    â€œRight,” declared Eddie, rubbing his hands. “Well, let’s go show the others the dress, shall we?”
    As the two men opened the door to usher her out, Henrietta threw a hapless look over her shoulder at Kitty.
    Kitty threw herself back on the bunk and lay there, drawing on her cigar.
    â€œLamb to the slaughter,” she murmured as the door closed behind the two men and Henrietta.
    *
    The following day Henrietta spent most of her time rehearsing with the orchestra. Eddie was a perfectionist and wanted