Page 3 of A Zephyr Rising
“Imprisoned?”Friedrich Martin was one of the kindest men in town.What had he done to deserve imprisonment?“Surely they’ve made a mistake.”
“There’s no mistake.”Mrs.Martin sniffled.“It’s because of the Aliens Restriction Act.He’s German.And now I’m terrified they’re coming for the rest of us.The police have ordered me to report to them every day.”The words brought a fresh round of tears.
Report to them?Whatever for?Ginger gathered the distraught woman into her arms.“But, Mrs.Martin—you’re an Englishwoman.You have nothing to fear.”
Mrs.Martin shook her head.“I lost my citizenship when I married Friedrich.Women must adopt their husband’s, you see.I’m so very frightened for my children.”She gulped and pulled away from Ginger.“I’m sorry, Lady Virginia.I shouldn’t carry on like this in front of you.You’re practically a child yourself.”
Ginger stiffened.The statement made her feel as though Mrs.Martin thought of Ginger as naïve and overprotected.
She took a steadying breath.Mrs.Martin couldn’t have meant it as an insult.After all, Ginger only debuted a couple of years earlier, and the townsfolk still referred to her and her younger sister Lucy as the “Whitman girls.”
“You’ve had a terrible shock.I’m honored you’ve trusted me.”Ginger furrowed her brow.“I hope it isn’t horribly insensitive for me to ask—but what reason did they give for arresting John?He was born here.”
Regret filled Mrs.Martin’s expression.“Unfortunately not.Friedrich thought it would be useful if his mother helped me with John, as he was my first-born and my mother died when I was a girl.He was born in Germany and spent the first three months of his life there.”
A thump behind the door reminded Ginger of the children inside.“Mrs.Martin, what can we do?How can I help you?Surely my father will assist you.”In times like these, her father’s earldom—as well as his work in the Foreign Office—might be more influential to people like the Martins.
“I’d be so grateful for you to make some inquiries about Friedrich and John’s whereabouts.”She gripped Ginger’s forearm tightly.“What if they’ve sent them to Germany?”
The thought was frightening.Ginger knew little about the Aliens Restriction Act, but surely they had more decency than to repatriate honest men with homes and families in England?
“I’m certain my father will help get Mr.Martin and John back home, if he can.”Ginger put a hand on Mrs.Martin’s shoulder.“In the meantime, do you and your children have all you need?”How was the woman to feed and care for seven children without her husband?
Mrs.Martin wrung her hands, her handkerchief fluttering to the ground.Her face reddened.“For now.I don’t have the money for the order until Friedrich returns, Lady Virginia.I apologize, we can’t fill the order.The farmer never brought our own order yesterday.”
Ginger regretted having mentioned the order at all.“Oh, never mind that.We’ll make do.”Ginger dropped her hand to her side.“But if you need anything at all, Mrs.Martin, please let me know.We all must care for each other, especially during these precarious times.”
The statement sounded hollow to Ginger as she rode back toward Penmore, replaying the conversation in her mind.She should have offered to cancel the debt entirely, even if it wasn’t her place to do so.Or offered them food and shelter.
She would talk to her mother.They’d return tomorrow with some money.Her mother wouldn’t let the Martins go hungry.And Ginger was sure the church would have resources to help them.
But why had the police arrested John, too?He was a boy, just sixteen.
The chauffeur swung the car around a pothole and the entire frame jolted in response, bumping her against the side.Dust flew up and Ginger waved it away, distractedly.
Something had to be done for the Martins.
ChapterTwo
Ginger hastened into the library, removing her hat as she approached her father.He stood by one of the tall windows in the room,glancing through a long, official-looking letter.
She slowed as she drew closer to him.Her father’s gaze was pensive, focused outside.His face was half in shadow.The silver streaks in his dark hair stood out in the dim light.She caught her breath, feeling like she had as a young girl.Back then, she’d always had orders not to disturb her father.
Obeying the order had been tricky, considering how much she’d loved the library.Even now, the scent of it—old books and sweet pipe tobacco—made her want to curl up in a nook and read.
A floorboard creaked under her feet and her father looked up.His brow furrowed as he studied her expression.“You look flushed.Should I ring for the doctor?”
He must have been truly concerned.Her father was rarely an alarmist.
“No, I’m well, thank you.”Ginger fidgeted with her hat.“Father—I’ve just come from town.”She sat on a sofa by the fireplace.“Mr.Martin never came with the order for the kitchen this morning.He couldn’t because the police have arrested him.John Martin, too.Mrs.Martin mentioned something about the Aliens Restriction Act.”
Her father lifted his thick, dark eyebrows.“John?”He didn’t seem surprised about Mr.Martin, though.
“Apparently, he was born in Germany.We must help them.”Ginger placed her hands on her lap, though her fingers curled in.Her father had already appeared to be troubled when she’d arrived.Perhaps she’d caught him in a foul mood.Either way, behaving emotionally would make her plea seem immature.
“And they never thought to naturalize?”Her father grimaced.“I’m uncertain much can be done.Foreign nationals of military age will all be under intense scrutiny.And in some ways, it may be for their own safety.There have been attacks on the German-born in England already.”
She bit her lip.She hadn’t thought of that.
