Page 15 of A Zephyr Rising
Ginger held out her hands.“It’s all right.You go on.”
The older girl handed Ginger the baby and curtsied.She took her sister by the hand and went up the stairs.
The baby in Ginger’s arms squirmed, swiveling his head to stare at her face.He reached out with chubby fingers toward her jaw, pawing at her clumsily.She smiled at him, but he felt awkward in her hands—not at all like she’d imagined holding a baby would be like.
Of course, she’d never held a baby.
The baby stared at her, unblinking, the concern in his eyes growing, his tiny face scrunching as his lip quivered.A sharp, ear-piercing squeal followed as he cried, his entire face turning red.
Ginger held him away from her body.Perhaps she’d gotten too close.
She turned, scanning the faces of the other children, but they were toddlers.
Relief filled her as Mrs.Martin’s footsteps sounded behind her.She took the baby in her arms.He calmed immediately.“Charlie’s not in the house.”She bounced the baby against her hip.
“My brother went out after him.He told me to tell you to gather your valuables and come with us to Penmore.I sent the older girls to pack a bag.”
“Thank you, my lady.”She lifted a trembling hand to her forehead.“I don’t understand why this is happening.”
At least Mrs.Martin had the courtesy not to make Ginger feel worse about the incident with Archie Winser.Ginger cringed.“I’m so sorry?—”
Mrs.Martin’s eyes widened as though she believed she had offended Ginger.“I didn’t mean that, my lady.I meant to my family.My husband is a good man.”
Every day, the atrocities the German soldiers committed against the Belgian citizens filled the newspapers.As much as she sympathized with the Martins, Ginger understood why her countrymen were furious with the Germans.She shared their anger.But what was happening to the Martins was unconscionable.“The awful truth is I fear it’s only going to become worse the more we’re drawn into this war.The news from Belgium is frightful.Is there anyone else in town you can trust, Mrs.Martin?”
Mrs.Martin cradled her baby closer.“They’re all afraid.I’ll go and pack a handbag with some things.”
“We should hurry.Henry seemed under the impression someone was watching the front of the shop.”
Mrs.Martin took only minutes to return with a bag no larger than a book.Her daughters came down the stairs with her, carrying a small suitcase.Ginger helped them extinguish the oil lamps in the room before they all hurried outside.
“This way.”Ginger kept her voice low as they went down the path leading to the gate.They’d gone only a few steps when the crashing sound of glass shattering behind them made Ginger jump.
Mrs.Martin whirled around toward the house, horror on her face.“The shop!”She hugged her baby closer.
The smell of smoke reached Ginger before she saw flames shooting from the top of the roof.Her heart pounded.Who would do such a thing?“Hurry!”Ginger lifted one of the smaller girls nearest to her.“Hurry, Mrs.Martin!”
They fled past the gate.Ginger felt a sharp pinch in her ankle as she twisted it.She ignored the pain, her grip tight on the little girl.Each step ached, her teeth grinding as she led the Martin children forward.“Quickly, quickly now!”
The car wasn’t far, but somehow the distance felt longer than when she’d followed Charlie.Fear clawed at her.She had the unmistakable feeling they were being watched and followed.
Would someone really attack a woman fleeing with her children?
Ginger shivered.Or her?Many of the villagers benefited from the Braddock estate.Surely, they wouldn’t attack.
If they could even recognize her this time of night.
As they neared the car, Bosworth rushed to her aid.“Lady Virginia, please hurry into the car.”He took the child from her and helped her step inside.Mrs.Martin and her children followed, the space quickly becoming crowded.A few of the children sat on the floor.Ginger settled the little girl she’d carried onto the seat, then stepped back out of the car.
“Henry said not to wait for him,” Ginger told Bosworth.He nodded and jumped into his seat.
Ginger stared at their pale white faces, the terror in their innocent, wide eyes.They breathed heavily, shoulder to shoulder.Mrs.Martin stared out the window toward her home.The reddish haze of flames filled the dark night.
Pinning her arms against her stomach, Ginger backed away from the car slowly.She closed the door to the car, the scent of petrol stinging her eyes.She could be to blame for this.
Bosworth turned toward her.“My lady?”
She swallowed hard.“Go on ahead, Bosworth.I’ll be along with Henry.”
