Page 52 of Sands of Sirocco
Noah kept his face blank.This was the sort of information Lord Helton ought to have heard before Noah brought it to him.Is he simply playing dumb?“I intend to find out.Is his office here at the Savoy?”
“I don’t believe so.But”—Lord Helton checked his pocket watch—“in a few hours he’ll be at the polo match the Ladies of the Missionary Society are hosting in Ezbekieh.It’s a charity match to raise money for the Red Cross, and they’ve recruited some officers to play.”He folded his hands.“For that matter, I need to send my regrets.I was set to play in the match, and I’m not feeling up to it given the circumstances.”He gave Noah a sharp look.“Would you care to take my place?”
Noah rubbed the back of his neck.He hadn’t played polo in over a year and was completely out of practice.Lord Helton was one of those men who regularly played in the Gezirah Club.“I’m not certain they’ll view me as a suitable replacement but if Osborne is there, it might be worth my while.”
“He’ll be there.He’s on the other team.”Lord Helton wrote an address on a slip of paper.“This is the headquarters for the Ladies of the Missionary Society.Please give them my regrets.”
Noah took the address from Lord Helton and stood.As he turned to go, Lord Helton said, “Peter Osborne thinks you’re responsible for the crimes that Lord Braddock committed last spring.He’s been digging, trying to find out the truth about the information I concealed on behalf of your lover.”
Noah recognized Lord Helton’s purposeful dig at Ginger for what it was: an attempt to draw blood where he could.This might the best time to tell Lord Helton about the marriage, have the matter done with before Helton found out another way.
But if Peter Osborne dug too deeply, Ginger’s family could be at risk.They’d be ousted from society.
Noah met Lord Helton’s eyes.“Which crimes, precisely?”Why had he played dumb about the man following Noah, then?
“All of them.He’s very concerned about the smuggling ring and the underground network with the extremist nationalists though.He believes both to be currently active.”
“And are they?”
“They’ve changed leadership, to be sure.”A haggard expression crossed Lord Helton’s face.“We captured who we could, and Fisher is cooperating and giving us names we’ve needed all along.But it’s too late for some of it.Trails have long since gone cold.Men have vanished.”
“Are you at risk from Osborne’s search?”
Lord Helton lifted his pen.“We’ll see.I concealed more than I should have.”He nodded toward the door.“You’d do well to remember that when you’re around the Whitman woman.”
Lord Helton’s words weighed heavily on Noah.He knew what Helton had risked.When he’d chosen to spare Ginger and her family from Lord Braddock’s crimes being known, Helton had put himself in a position where his own job could be scrutinized.
But how had Osborne learned of any of it?
“It would be highly coincidental for Peter Osborne to dig into Braddock’s crimes at the same time as Stephen’s return, wouldn’t it?”Noah remained fixed in front Lord Helton’s desk.
Lord Helton’s gaze was analytical.“What are you suggesting?”
“I’m suggesting Peter Osborne has had his information from the only other person who knew the extent of Braddock’s crimes: Fisher himself.”Noah set his hands on Lord Helton’s desk and leaned toward him, an energized buzz in his arms.“Think of it.Who else could have given him the threads with which to search?Fisher was certainly forthcoming about Lord Braddock’s concession—but why?What could he possibly have to gain from making so much of this information available?”
“Are you asking me or simply musing upon the possibilities?”The breath that Lord Helton drew was exasperated.“I’ve told you before and I’ll repeat it.You’re too emotionally involved with this whole affair.You can’t be a part of this investigation any longer.You’ve lost complete objectivity with Fisher.”
“It’s my emotional involvement that kept me searching for a trace of the Aleaqrab from midnight until now,” Noah remarked dryly.“I need to question Fisher.With Alastair’s help.You know Alastair has the means—”
“Alastair’s methods will not be acceptable for a man of Fisher’s social status.”Lord Helton tapped his pen against the desk.“Trust me to do my job, Benson.Fisher is no longer your concern.And neither is the Whitman woman.Don’t force me to say more on the subject.”
Noah came to a fully upright position.“So long as I’m breathing, Ginger Whitman will always be my concern.She’s my wife not my lover, for the record.And if you threaten her again, not only will I stop my search for Victoria, but I’ll also request an immediate transfer to France.Fortunately, I know French and German just as well as Arabic.Don’t forget it.”Then Noah left Lord Helton’s office, before he said anything he might regret.
ChapterNineteen
“You’ll never guess what’s waiting for you in your bedroom!”Lucy’s voice was bubbly as Ginger came through the entrance to her house.Lucy sailed down the stairs as Ginger removed her hat and gloves.“Thank goodness you’re home so early—let’s go.”
Ginger greeted the butler, who closed the front door behind her.She hurried behind Lucy, who was already on her way back up the stairs.She joined Lucy in the doorway of her room.On the bed was a large swath of opened packages revealing neatly arranged dresses, skirts, blouses, shoes, and hats.
Jaw dropping, Ginger approached the bed.“Is this all for me?”Lucy nodded eagerly.Ginger touched the fabric of a dress Lucy had laid out on the bed.Had her mother done this?
As ready-made outfits, they weren’t of the same caliber as the custom-tailored clothing Ginger had worn for most of her life before the war—but they were beautiful and stylish.More stylish than anything she currently owned.
She bit her lip, surveying everything Lucy had taken out.It didn’t surprise her that Lucy would have gone through it.Had she helped select it?“Where did this come from?”It must have cost a small fortune.
Lucy gave her a look of surprise.“Well, William, of course.Who else could afford all this?”
Of course.But the news produced a discomforting feeling in her gut.She didn’t want to owe William anything else, especially now that she was married.And Noah wouldn’t likely be thrilled with the idea.“Where is William?”She should probably thank him for his troubles.
