‘Have you been on a yacht like this before, Miss…?’
‘Oxana, please.’ She sits down on the bed. ‘No, I haven’t. It’s amazing. I expect you know the family well.’
Feris looks at her hesitantly.
‘Do you like Turkish Delight?’ Oxana asks quickly. ‘There was a box in my room at the hotel.’
‘I love it. In Turkey we call itlokum.’
Oxana reaches into her case, and takes out a small circular box. She opens it and folds back the wrapping paper, releasing a miniature cloud of powdered sugar. ‘Rose and lemon,’ she murmurs. ‘With pistachio nuts. Go on, Feris. Have one.’
‘Maybe just one.’ Feris extends a tentative finger and thumb.
Oxana does the same. ‘Mmm. So good. I’ve also got a mini-bottle of pink champagne. Perfect for two.’
Feris watches warily as Oxana takes out the bottle. ‘I’m not really supposed to drink on duty.’
‘You’re not on duty yet.’ Oxana opens the bottle with a deft twist of the wrist, reaches for the glass on the bedside table, and pours. ‘Here.’
Feris looks at her dubiously but takes the glass.
‘I bet you’ve got the hardest job on the boat,’ Oxana says. ‘Keeping an eye on everything. Keeping everyone happy.’
‘It is hard,’ Feris admits, taking a cautious sip of the champagne. ‘Sometimes very hard. You have to be prepared to be unpopular.’
‘Oh no. Poor you. Here, have anotherlokum, I can’t eat them all on my own.’
‘Maybe just one more.’
Oxana smiles. ‘Your English is really good.’
‘Thanks. I grew up in Izmir. Everyone there speaks English as a second language.’
‘So what are the other stewardesses like?’
‘They’re OK.’ Feris sips. ‘They know they’re here to work.’
‘And there are male crew too?’
‘Yes.’
‘Nice?’
She shrugs. ‘Sure. Everyone gets on fine.’
‘Are there… romances?’ Oxana takes a sip from the champagne bottle and nudges thelokumbox towards Feris.
‘Officially, no,’ says Feris, helping herself. ‘It always leads to trouble. But you can’t reallystoppeople… Do you have a boyfriend?’
Oxana shakes her head and looks away. ‘It’s difficult, being a nanny. Plus, I just don’t think guys are very attracted to me.’
‘I’m sure that’s not true.’ Feris drains her champagne. ‘You’ve got lovely eyes. And nice hair, as far as I can see, under that hat.’ She glances at Oxana’s scarred cheek. ‘Can I ask… What happened there?’
‘I was attacked by a stranger on a bus,’ Oxana says, her voice not quite steady. ‘He had a knife and slashed my face as he walked past. They never caught him, and I… I still have nightmares about it. I think I see him everywhere.’
‘Oh, Oxana.’ Feris takes her hand. ‘I’m so sorry.’
Oxana’s lips tremble. ‘Thank you,’ she whispers. She gives Feris a brave smile. ‘I’m sure I’m safe here, though. I mean, the Yilmaz family are nice people, right?’