Page 5 of A Zephyr Rising
“He was by my side because Henry was around—not because I welcomed his company.”Ginger gritted her teeth.She hadn’t been able to get rid of Stephen, in fact.
Her father bristled, obviously as irritated as she.“You can’t put him off, Virginia.What reason can you possibly have for refusing him?”
“To begin with, I don’t particularly trust him, Father.Or like him much.”Ginger dipped her chin defensively.She wouldn’t mention the way he acted so possessively of her.“It may be easy enough for you to marry me off to him.But there are many other wealthy, respectable gentlemen out there, if you’re worried.”
“You may accuse me of being unromantic, but Stephen has loved you for years.You haven’t given him the chance he deserves.”Her father sighed.“Not to mention, the match is something our families both wish for.”
Much as she hated to be the only one opposed to the apparent happiness for everyone, Ginger set her lips in a firm line.Arguing with her father was pointless.He would accuse her of being too young to know what she wanted, as he’d done before.
“Papa—” she rarely used the term, but now seemed a good time “—you must trust me to decide about this.I have to be married for life to whomever I choose, after all.What if I want more than Stephen is offering?You can hardly fault me for hoping to love the man I marry.”More than that, she longed for the thrill of romance, even if she wouldn’t admit it to her father.
Her father approached, his posture as perfect as ever.He held out a hand for her and she offered one.Gently, he patted her hand between his.“Hard days lie in store for us all, Virginia.I’d like to see you settled with a young man who can provide for you and give you all the comfort you need.Stephen’s a wealthy man already.You’ll want for nothing with him.And in time, you may even grow to love him.If it’s the fact that he’s not the heir to Lord Knotley’s title?—”
If love made one’s skin crawl the way Stephen’s attentions did hers, she wanted nothing to do with him.“It’s the man, not the title.Though, to be honest, I find Rufus Fisher a much nicer prospect.Think he’ll divorce his wife for me?”She smiled jauntily.
Her father’s eyes widened, aghast.
Ginger chuckled, and she leaned forward and kissed his cheek.“Don’t worry, I’d never bring scandal to the family.Besides which, I’m not interested in Rufus, either.”
“I know you wouldn’t.”He squeezed her hand warmly.
Ginger turned back and hurried out of the library before her father said anything more.Ginger heard him chuckle softly as she closed the library door behind her.Beyond the hall, Henry descended the massive staircase gracing the heart of the stately house, newspaper in one hand.
Henry would want to know about the Martins.“Going somewhere?”She fell into step beside him.
“Not precisely.”Henry eyed her.“Shouldn’t you be getting ready for the garden party?”
“Not quite yet.”Ginger spotted Mrs.Williams crossing the foyer.“Oh—Mrs.Williams, would you be so kind as to tell Mother there won’t be any delivery from Mr.Martin today, after all?I’ll be outside to explain it to you both directly.”
“I’ll tell her ladyship immediately.”Mrs.Williams’ face was sober as she rushed out of the foyer.
“No delivery for the garden party?What is the world coming to?”Henry grinned and ran a hand through the dark locks of hair over his forehead.“Now, what is it you needed?”
Ginger motioned for him to follow her.“The delivery leads to a much bigger issue and partially why I wanted to see you.”Ginger paused as Henry opened the door to the parlor for them.They went into the room and Ginger recounted the way she’d found Mrs.Martin earlier.
Henry slapped his newspaper on a table beside a settee.“That’s outrageous.John Martin is no threat.And neither is his father.And how is the woman supposed to scrape by in their absence?”
Thank goodness.Henry had often been her refuge in disagreements with her father.“My point exactly.Father seems preoccupied, though.Is there anything you and I can do about it?”
Henry frowned.“What did Father say?”
“He said he’d ask a solicitor.”Much as Henry often spoke boldly, he rarely went too far outside their father’s wishes.Would he defer to her father here, also?
Henry drummed his fingers on the table.“I’ll see who I can get to help.A solicitor may help see about naturalization, but I don’t know if that’ll be enough.We may need to speak to someone within the Home Secretary’s office.”He gave Ginger a serious look.“But you should prepare yourself for there being little we can do.They passed the Aliens Restriction Act for good reason.Now that we’re at war, Germany won’t hesitate to reach her fingers into the country with spies.And there are many likely already here, waiting for instructions.”
His words made worry snake its way tightly around her chest, strangulating her.Could there really be spies among them?Even in places like Penmore?No.They were safe here.
But they may not even be staying here.Did Henry know about Cairo?She wanted to discuss the matter withsomeone.If they went to Cairo, who knew how long they would be there?
The door opened and the butler, Mr.Pierce, stepped inside.He came toward them.“Lord Stephen Fisher is here to see you, my lord.”
The worry about spies seemed to dwindle compared to seeing Stephen right now.She wasn’t ready to talk to him.Ginger’s eyes darted to the door, hoping she had time to escape.
A tall, thin man, Mr.Pierce had a keen eye—and always seemed to guess the gravity of the situation at hand.“Would you prefer for me to wait to let him in until you’ve slipped away?”Mr.Pierce asked Ginger.
“Pierce, don’t indulge her.”Henry’s words were dry.His loyalty to Stephen had always been at the expense of what Ginger wanted.
Ginger ground her teeth.She gave Mr.Pierce a grateful look.“Yes, please.”She headed toward the back exit.
