Page 6 of A Zephyr Rising
“You won’t be able to avoid Stephen at the party,” Henry called behind her.He crossed his arms.
“Don’t remind me.”Ginger cut her eyes at him, but smiled.“But I can avoid him now.”Henry knew what she thought of his best friend and fortunately never tried to press the issue beyond a gentle ribbing.
She would have appreciated him telling Stephen to let the matter rest, though.Instead, he only seemed to tell Ginger to adjust herself to the idea.
She raced from the room into a darkened hallway leading to a back staircase.Her life felt as though it was being placed in a vise—everything more uncertain than ever.This was going to be a long party indeed.
ChapterThree
The music from the string quartet drifted through the trees and Ginger fingered her champagne flute with gloved hands.Guests strolled over the lawn, enjoying the perfect weather.Small groups formed clusters throughout the grass—the groundskeeper would grumble to see all the pits from the women’s heels come morning.
When she’d been younger, Ginger had watched the women in their beautiful dresses from the windows of the house, wishing to join them on the lawn.The garden parties then had seemed like a wonderful adventure—romantic, too.A chance to smile at a handsome young man, to feel the thrill of love.
Her own experiences had been quite different.
“It won’t be long before parties like this are but a memory,” a familiar woman’s voice said behind her, breaking into her thoughts.
Ginger’s mouth opened.Her friend, Charlotte Thompson, stood there, a picture of grace.A lace parasol rested against her shoulder.The last big event Ginger had attended before coming home from London had been Charlotte and Robert’s wedding.“What are you doing here?”Ginger hugged her.“You’re supposed to be on your honeymoon.”
“Yes, well,” Charlotte pushed a perfect dark curl behind her ear, “Robert decided it was too dangerous for us to continue abroad.And we were having the most wonderful tour of France.”
They weren’t the only ones caught by terrible timing for their trips.A few ladies Ginger had talked to this afternoon had mentioned their ruined holidays.Ginger gripped her arm.“And where is your groom?”
Charlotte shrugged and toyed with the single strand of pearls around her neck.“Heaven knows.Probably chumming it with your brother.If he can lure Henry away from Angelica Fisher.Henry looks absolutely besotted with her, by the way.”
Did it bother Charlotte to see Henry moving on?Ginger couldn’t tell from Charlotte’s expression.But, then again, she’d chosen Robert over Henry.And she’d been a radiant bride.“Henry is easily besotted.”Ginger sipped her champagne.“I can’t tell you how relieved I am you’re here.I’ve been hiding from Henry and his friends and it’s been quite lonely.”
“You mean you’ve been hiding from Stephen.”Charlotte smirked.“Aren’t you hoping for a double wedding?You with Stephen.Henry with Angelica.”She guffawed softly.“The whole thing seems incestuous.”
Ginger’s cheeks warmed.Only Charlotte seemed to understand her dislike of Stephen.“Oh, Charlotte—what on earth am I to do?The man refuses to leave me alone.”
A footman paused in front of them with cucumber sandwiches on a silver platter.They declined.“You could tell him no.”Charlotte adjusted her parasol.“You don’t want to marry him.”
If only it were so easy.Then again, Charlotte had been away when Stephen had proposed.She didn’t know what had happened when she’d told Stephen no.“I did.But my father has made his expectations clear.Forced me to tell him I needed a month to consider his proposal.And it’s not as though I have other offers coming my way.”
Marriage was her destiny.The only adventure to liven up her routine-choked life.Or so she’d been told.And if they didn’t settle her situation soon, people would call her an old maid.
Another footman came by with champagne, which Charlotte accepted.She twirled the stem in her fingertips and the light bouncing through it threw reflections on the grass.“Because Stephen has frightened all other potential suitors away.”
Irritation pricked her throat.Charlotte wasn’t exaggerating.All the young men in her circle assumed she was Stephen’s intended, both from his possessiveness and his attentiveness.Given his status and wealth, few would dare to cross him.“If those potential suitors aren’t willing to stand up to Stephen, I’m uncertain they’d interest me.”
Charlotte frowned.“What you need to do is make a secret attachment elsewhere.Outside all the usual circles of our friends.”She scanned the lawn.“Now who can we fix you up with?”
A secret attachment?Ginger couldn’t think of anything more unlikely.
“Ginny, Henry was asking for you—” Lucy came scrambling up.Her stylish hat sat smartly over her braided dark brown hair.She stopped by Charlotte.“Oh, I’m sorry to interrupt.”
“It’s fine.”Ginger smiled at her sister.She remembered being fourteen years old at garden parties.Old enough to feel she should be part of the conversation, young enough to feel she still belonged in the nursery.“Lucy, you remember my friend Charlotte?”
“How do you do?”Lucy curtsied.She inspected Charlotte’s elegant attire briefly before turning her gaze to Ginger.“Henry said it was important.”
Ginger exchanged a glance with Charlotte, an uneasy feeling coming over her.“I suppose if it’s important.”
Charlotte smiled at Ginger encouragingly.“I’ll go with you.”
Lucy adjusted her hat.“What do you think of my frock?Will Angelica like it?Is it as fancy as hers?She won’t mind me bothering her.I haven’t seen her all summer and I’m eager to hear all about her debut ball.”
Ginger remembered when the girls she’d gone to finishing school with had debuted before her, she’d felt a similar hesitation in knowing if their friendship would survive their new status as an adult.
