Page 33 of Coral Memories

Back to trite conversation, she thought with a small sigh. “Study French, math, and science.”

“That’s quite aggressive. No shopping?”

“I didn’t say that.” He showed no sign of leaving. “And I read.”

Silas inclined his head. “What do you enjoy reading?”

“Mathematical theories, scientific discoveries, puzzle solving techniques.” From experience, she’d learned that response was often met with blank looks.

Silas stared at her again.

Just then, a woman approached them looking perturbed. Ginger assumed this was his wife.

Silas fluttered a hand to the woman. Perhaps he was late delivering her promised cocktail. “I should like to continue this conversation, but I’ve overstayed my welcome. Would you excuse me?”

“Delighted,” she replied, turning a bright smile his way. “To have met you, of course,” she quickly added. She was, after all, a diplomat’s wife. Bertrand expected cordiality of her, even as he secretly agreed with her assessments.

Ginger breezedinto Bertrand’s study the following week, surprised to find him deep in conversation with the man she’d spoken to at the party.Silas Rutherford.An undercurrent of tension rippled between the two men, piquing her curiosity.

“Your wife is truly remarkable, Bertrand,” Silas said as she approached. “Her mental acuity is astonishing.”

While Ginger enjoyed the recognition, she also noted the pinched look around Bertrand’s eyes. What had him so ill at ease?

“Her skills would be invaluable to our intelligence efforts,” Silas stated. “I want to recruit her.”

The words hung in the air, practically shimmering with unspoken possibility. Ginger’s mind began to whir, with visions of coded dispatches and clandestine operations dancing in her thoughts. To assist in such vital, high-stakes work would be the grandest mental exercise she could conceive.

“You know the dangers of such work, Silas.” Bertrand’s commanding baritone sliced through her reverie. “I cannot allow Ginger to be put in harm’s way.”

“Forgive me, but we need her skills. There aren’t many?—”

“Ginger.” Bertrand spied her and rose from his desk. “I didn’t see you there. You remember Mr. Rutherford?”

“Silas, please.” The man was quick to extend his hand without waiting for her to offer hers.

That small action was sure to annoy Bertrand. “Of course. We solved mathematical problems for a little while.”

Bertrand looked confused. “About what?”

When she hesitated, Silas jumped in with an answer. “The number of crystals in the chandelier and their value in U.S. dollars and French francs, and various cost and profit margin calculations. It was truly remarkable.”

“Parlor games,” Ginger added with a self-conscious shrug. She hadn’t meant for Bertrand to know how bored she was.

He nodded slowly. “So that’s how you amuse yourself when I leave you alone.” After a slight hesitation, he turned to Silas. “I’m not making any promises, but I will speak to my wife about your proposal.”

Silas inclined his head in appreciation. “Of course. Take your time. But I urge you not to immediately disregard the opportunity before her. We need people like her.”

That evening,after their housekeeper had cleared the dinner dishes from the table, Bertrand took her hand. “I’ve always known you have a brilliant mind meant for great discoveries. How would you like to put it to work?”

Ginger’s eyes lit up like the Parisian night. “Do you mean Silas’s offer?”

Bertrand nodded and explained the other man’s proposition. “You need to understand the dangers, my dear.”

“And the potential to save countless lives. Using my skills to make a difference is what I’ve longed to do.”

“I’m aware of that.” He took out his pipe and tapped it in his hand as he spoke. The scent of his vanilla tobacco sweetened the air. “On the surface, it’s high-level study, but if certain characters discovered what you’re doing, it could be dangerous.”

Ginger recognized the nervous gesture and the catch in his voice. “I’ll be careful.”

---