Page 43 of A Zephyr Rising
God, help me.
The car stopped in a cloud of dust.She released a restrained breath.
Her mother and Mr.Pierce met her outside.Her mother’s hands were clasped in front of her, her expression placid.
But one look was enough for Ginger to be certain.
She knew.
Ginger stepped out onto the gravel and hurried toward her mother.“Good morning, Mama.”She took her mother’s proffered hands and kissed her cheek, lightly.
Her mother pulled back and her mouth twisted.“I can’t say it’s been a very good morning for me, Ginger.”
Ginger grimaced, her gaze flicking toward the window of her father’s study.“Is he very angry?”
Sighing, her mother’s arms drooped by her sides.“I don’t know that ‘angry’ is the right word for it.He wants to see you.Straight away.”
“Are you coming with me?”Ginger asked her mother as Violet disappeared into the house with her bag.Ginger wished she could go with the maid.She didn’t really know where Violet was headed—she’d never paid attention.But the gates of hell seemed preferable right now to facing the wrath of her father.
Her mother shook her head.“He wants to speak to you alone.He’s in his study.”She rubbed her temple, as though she was fighting a headache.“I know you didn’t want to marry Stephen, but this?You don’t know this man.And we’ve never even met the fellow.I thought you wanted love.”
Ginger swallowed the lump in her throat.“Father left me no other option.I wouldn’t normally have rushed into an arrangement like this, but I want to be a nurse for the war, Mama, and Father?—”
“Yes, your father told me all about it.”The gravel crunched under her mother’s shoes as she shifted her weight.“I understand why you’ve done this, but, Ginger, you’ve been gently bred.What you’ll see in this war will stay with you forever.”Biting her lip, her mother added, “Do yourself the favor of convincing your father this man is everything you’ve been claiming you want.I’ve done what I could to help.The rest is up to you.”
The darkness beyond the front door seemed cold, uninviting.A week of carefully cultivating a plan hadn’t been enough.
A lifetime wouldn’t be enough.She’d always be frightened, always feel she wouldn’t get it right.
The walk to her father’s study felt interminable.Though she couldn’t see them, she was certain she felt the eyes of the household on her.James had wanted to come with her.He’d been worried that making the announcement without asking her father for her hand would be too bold a step.
She couldn’t explain to him his proposal wouldn’t be welcome no matter how properly he offered it.This was the easier way.
Opening the door to the study, she found her father at his desk.He didn’t move as she approached and stopped beside him.A map of Egypt was laid out on the desktop.His hands were on either side of the map, his head bent in concentration.
“Getting ready for the trip?”Ginger finally said.His refusal to look at her didn’t bode well.
He nodded and drummed his fingers on the desk.“Did you hear?”
“Hear what?”she asked, feeling more off-balance than before.
“Friedrich Martin was repatriated.Sent to Germany two days ago.”His fingers cracked as he clenched and unclenched a fist.“I thought you’d be interested to find out.”
Her heart fell.No…She’d been worried.Especially after she’d seen Stephen at the internment center.That bastard.She was sure he’d been behind it.Thank goodness she’d been able to save John from a similar fate.At least she hadn’t completely failed.
“Did—how is Mrs.Martin?”she managed.A sick feeling clenched in her gut.
“As one might expect.But she’s grateful you helped her son.Both of them.Calls you her guardian angel.”Her father still hadn’t met her gaze.
“It must have been Stephen.”Ginger folded her hands in front of her.“I saw him at the detention center after I finally turned him down.I’m certain he had a hand in having Mr.Martin repatriated with speed.”She lifted her chin.“And what’s more—Stephen attempted to take liberties with me.You ought to know what sort of man he is, in case you still believe he’s worthy of me.”
“Liberties?”Her father gave her a sharp look, one that burned her to her core.
“Yes, well, I fought him off.”This wasn’t the sort of conversation she would ever feel comfortable having with her father.
“Then you’d be wise not to speak of it to anyone.”His eyes were hard and flat.
So much for protecting me.
