Page 37 of A Zephyr Rising
Ginger leaned against the stiff wooden post on the four-poster bed.“I don’t want you to leave for Penmore with any tension between us.You’ve risked life and limb for me the past few days, and I’m not trying to be ungrateful.”
“I know.”Henry ran his hands over the front of his vest.“I expect I’ll be exchanging this for my uniform in the coming days.But don’t exaggerate the danger.While I took risks, they were quite by accident.”
“You’re braver than you let on.”Ginger set her hands on either side of her on the bed and leaned back.“Did Stephen give you the details of John Martin’s naturalization after he left me?”
Henry shook his head.“No...though I can’t say I want to ask him about it now.He left before I spoke with him again.And if he took the news as badly as you say, I don’t want him to feel I’ve abused our friendship.”
“I’m not sure I can avoid it.”She scrunched her face with guilt.“He accused me of that.And I asked him about the details as best I could before he left—though I think he wanted to strike me for it.He says David Peterson has set up the naturalization for five days from now.But you must get some paperwork to get him out of prison first.”
Henry sighed.“I’ll give it a couple of days and then ring Stephen to get the details sorted.If you don’t mind.Much as it may have been foolish of me, I really do care for Angelica.I don’t want to do anything more to threaten my standing with her right now.”
She stared at him, her mouth feeling dry.If she told him about the way Stephen had assaulted her, it might mean yet another threat to his relationship with Angelica.If Henry confronted Stephen, what would it mean for Henry’s hopes with the girl?
How many times in the last few days had she told her family that Henry’s relationship with Angelica was more of a solution to the security of Penmore than her engagement with Stephen?
She couldn’t rely on Henry to help her with this.
Not without doing more damage.
She gritted her teeth, blinking back the sheen of tears threatening her.No wonder Stephen had felt so free to do whatever he wanted to her.
But she had to dosomethingto put a wedge between her and Stephen.Just not with Henry’s help.
Her voice felt scratchy as she finally answered Henry.“I don’t mind if you take some time before talking to Stephen about John Martin.Just don’t forget about it.”She stood, her arms swinging as she sauntered over to him and planted a kiss on his cheek.“Thank you for being such a good big brother.”
“Hmmm, I try.Though you wouldn’t let me forget the Martins even if I could.”Henry chuckled and then ruffled her hair, just slightly, as he used to do when she was a girl.
She jerked backward with a tight smile, trying to pretend nothing was amiss.“Don’t make more work for poor Violet.I’m already going to have to send her to unpack my things again.”
His eyes gleamed and then he quirked an eyebrow.“Yes, poor Violet.We should give any maid that has to deal with you and Lucy a raise.”
Ginger shrugged.“I can agree with the part about Lucy.”She clasped his hand.“I’m glad we can be friends again before you leave.Can you try to fix things with Father for me?Convince him that joining the nurses will be a good thing?”
“I can’t say Madeline has done you any favors with the matter.Just be careful, Ginny.I don’t see this situation with Father getting better if you continue to press the issue.Can you let this idea go?You’ve done quite a lot of crusading the last few days.You may have to sacrifice some things you want.”
Henry’s lack of support stung, but didn’t surprise her.She swallowed hard and gave him a stiff nod.If he only knew she’d just sacrificed her own dignity and pride for his sake.
As she left him, she pressed a hand over her heart, taking a slow, shallow breath.She’d gone to Henry, hoping to find the security and comfort she’d always expected from him.Now she felt more alone than ever.
ChapterThirteen
“There’s a telephone call for you, Lady Virginia,” Giles announced from the doorway to the sitting room.
Ginger looked up from the settee, where she and Gran had been in the middle of a card game.After her father and Henry had left for the train station an hour earlier, Madeline had called Gran over for a visit.
A telephone call at Penmore was a rare enough event.Who would call her here at her aunt’s?Ginger frowned and set her hand down, the cards silkily shuffling into a pile.“Who is it?”
“A Mr.David Peterson, my lady.He asked for your brother first, but since I informed him he was no longer here, he asked for you instead.”Giles held the door for her.
David Peterson?Even though he’d helped her, Ginger felt a chill go up her spine at his name.He was Stephen’s friend.Maybe Stephen had told him of her refusal.He could be angry Ginger had tricked him.She excused herself from her grandmother and went into the foyer, where the telephone stood on the console table.
She took the earpiece and then leaned into the heavy mouthpiece.“This is Virginia Whitman.”
“Lady Virginia.David Peterson.”The voice on the line crackled with static, sounding as though it came from a tin box.“Where on earth is John Martin?If he doesn’t arrive in the next hour, I’m afraid the opportunity will completely pass us over.”
“John Martin?”Ginger went rigid with shock.But Stephen had said...
She remembered the distant look in his eyes when she’d asked.
