Chapter 4 The Drinks Party

Early the next morning, Nell and I caught a train together to Toronto, since the Race Train was due to leave in the evening.

During the journey, we chatted about this and that - her job, my job, her ambition to become a writer, and so on. Of course, each of us made sure that the other was not married! I also made sure that she would not tell anyone else on the Race Train what my job was — as much as she knew about it.

'Nell,' I had asked, 'are you good at keeping secrets?'

'I keep half a dozen every day before breakfast,' she replied. 'Why? What secret do you want me to keep?'

'It's very important that no one on the train knows that I am not what I seem to be - a waiter,' I said. 'I mean, there may be one or two other people who have to know, but I must be the one to tell them. And that means not only that you mustn't say anything, but also that you'll have to be careful not to give me away by anything you do — any look on your face, or something like that. OK?'

'OK,' she agreed. 'You're a real mystery man.'

We parted at the station not just as good friends, but something more: there was a strong attraction between us, which we had both been deliberately feeding with the occasional approving glance and with the light and easy mood of our conversation. I kissed her goodbye on the cheek, and she left to go about her travel agent's business.

I made my way to the uniform centre and was measured up for a waiter's uniform. I was given a grey jacket, two pairs of grey trousers, five white shirts, two gold waistcoats, and two striped ties in the railway company's colours. I particularly admired myself in a waistcoat.

The Race Train was already standing at the platform, so I went there, boarded and introduced myself to the rest of the crew. The head waiter was a small Frenchman called Emil.

'Have you ever worked in a restaurant?' he asked.

'No, I haven't.'

'Never mind,' he said. 'I'll show you how to set places, and give you only easy jobs to do. Even so, we'll appreciate the extra

help.'

He gave me a copy of the train's timetable, explaining that I should learn it by heart, since the most common question passengers ask is where and when the next stop is. Passengers expect anyone in a uniform to know absolutely everything about the train, he said. Then he introduced me to the rest of the dining-car staff— Cathy and Oliver, my fellow waiters; Angus, the Scottish cook; and Simone, Angus's assistant.

'The first job,' Emil announced, 'is to prepare for a drinks party when the passengers board. We have half an hour, so come on.'

I asked Emil to show me first where my sleeping compart­ment was, so that I could change into my uniform. Then I returned to the dining-car and helped the others.

The Race Train was so famous that a large crowd of people came just to watch the fortunate few board.

Julius Filmer was among the first to arrive, looking as elegant as usual in a long grey coat and a patterned silk scarf. He came with a woman who could only be Daffodil Quentin: when you are no longer young and you have a name like that, I thought, you are bound to colour your hair blonde. You are bound to wear too much make-up and show off your expensive fur coat even when it's a warm evening.

Most of the passengers went to their bedrooms first, before coming to the dining-car for the drinks party. The dining-car was rapidly filling up and I was busy serving champagne when the Lorrimores made their entrance. Mercer Lorrimore and his wife Bambi looked quite ordinary: only their clothes and perfect haircuts announced their wealth. Behind them were a young man and a sulky teenage girl — Sheridan and Xanthe, their children.

'Where do we sit?' Mercer asked me.

'Anywhere you like, sir,' I said.

They saw an unoccupied table and made their way towards it. Sheridan pushed past an elderly couple, nearly spilling their champagne, and sat down, saying in a loud voice, 'I don't see why we have to sit in here when we have our own private car.' Mercer told him to be quiet and to behave; Bambi and Xanthe stared out of the window - whether in boredom or embarrassment, it was hard to tell.

Soon the car was full. Julius and Daffodil shared a table with the elderly couple, Mr and Mrs Young. I listened to their conversation as much as I could, but it was all perfectly innocent.

Nell was acting the efficient hostess, making sure that everyone was happy and calling them all by name. Only the Lorrimores were sitting in silence, while everyone else was chatting and getting to know one another. At one point, Nell passed me as I was coming out of the kitchen with more drinks.

I looked at her with admiration. 'You're wonderful,' I said.

'Yes, aren't I?' she replied with a smile.

Date: 2015-12-24; view: 747