“Don’t test my patience, Madeline.I wouldn’t be surprised in the slightest if you put these radical notions in Virginia’s head.First, she declares her interest in becoming a nurse and now she rejects the best offer of marriage likely to ever come her way.”Her father stopped his pacing and stood behind Ginger’s chair.“You’re making a mistake.”
“The way I see it,” Madeline said, rising from her seat, “it’s you who’s making the mistake, Edmund.You’re alienating your daughter by insisting she marry your choice for her.But it’s not your decision to make.And if you can’t see how her desire to be a nurse isn’t radically different from her lack of desire to marry Stephen Fisher, then you’re a fool.”
“Well, she’ll never have my blessing for that ridiculous plan now.”Her father stormed toward the door.“You hear me, Virginia?I will make sure no program will accept you.Now hurry and finish your breakfast—we have a train to catch.Thank you for your hospitality, Madeline.I’ll take my leave of you now.No need to see us off.I’ve already told the servants to pack our things.”
“My, what a temper,” Madeline remarked, watching the door her father had left through.“Nothing like a little morning indigestion.”
“I’m sorry, aunt.”Ginger closed her eyes, her head aching.The hours of sleep she’d lost in the morning already made thinking clearly difficult—not to mention the confrontation with Stephen.“He behaved like a beast.”
“Do stay here for a few days, my dear.Some time in the city may do you some good.I’d hate to see you return on a train with Edmund when he’s in such a foul mood.He might hem and haw all he’d like, but you’re a grown woman.He can’t really stop you from spending a few more days with your family.”
Henry’s mouth set to a line as he adjusted his collar.If he’d been angry with Ginger for telling Stephen no, he hadn’t said so.That, at least, had been a relief.“I agree with Madeline.You should give Father some days to adjust to the news.”
She didn’t see why her father was taking it so hard.He liked Stephen but there were plenty of other rich young men out there.Still, Stephen had said something about going to Egypt to protect his investment.Was it possible there was something more with Stephen’s business relationship than was evident?
As Henry sat once again, Ginger touched the crook of his arm.“And you?Does my decision upset you?”
Henry hesitated in his response, but the weary look in his face gave the impression of being far less impartial than he had suggested.“I support your decision.You have the right to choose whom you will marry.But it makes me worry you seem to think and act unilaterally, Ginny.”
Madeline bristled in her seat.“It’s not as though she’s chosen to run off with a man far beneath her class, Harry.She’s simply said ‘no’ to one offer.”
Henry’s lips tightened, wrinkling the skin around his mouth.Then he said, “And an offer which might impact the woman I’m in love with.”
Madeline rolled her eyes.“Oh, Harry, then do attach to someone else.Angelica is a flighty girl, without an ounce of brain in her blonde head.At least Charlotte Thompson had spirit and wit.”
Ginger stiffened.Only Madeline would give voice to a sentiment they all shared.She held back a smile.
Henry didn’t appear amused, though.A shadow crossed his face.
The subject would never cease to be a sore one with Henry, Ginger suspected.He winced, then put a hand over his vest as he stood.“That may be.But I care for Angelica.And I may be more prone to falling in love than my sister, but I also do everything with a great deal of consideration as to how it will affect her—and the rest of my family.”
Henry left the two women with a slight bow.A lump rose in the back of Ginger’s throat, a dark feeling of gloom enclosing her heart.“I’ve disappointed him.”
Madeline leaned forward in her seat and reached for Ginger’s hand.“You are not a disappointment.We’re women.Our situation is not as easy as men like to pretend it is—particularly when it’s such a struggle to do anything without their permission.I may not understand your choice, my dear, but this is your decision.Your father’s and brother’s opinions are irrelevant.”
“To be honest, it’s more difficult to disappoint Henry than Papa.Henry at least has tried to be impartial, even though I know he isn’t.My father has ignored the many times I’ve told him I’m uncomfortable with Stephen’s particular brand of love.”Ginger sighed, not feeling any appetite for the breakfast set before her.She was tempted to tell Madeline of Stephen’s earlier assault but fear tightened around her chest.“Is it really all right if I stay with you for some days?”
Madeline nodded.“I just wish Meg was here to keep you company.I’m afraid I’m not nearly as exciting as she is.But perhaps Gran and I can come up with some interesting ways of keeping your mind from the heaviness of your heart.”
It would also give her the opportunity to visit Charlie Martin.Perhaps even spend some time with James Clark.That alone made her spirits feel lighter.She smiled.“Thank you, aunt.Though after breakfast I need to find Henry and smooth things over with him before he goes to Somerset.And do try not to mention Charlotte to him.Any talk of her still seems to set his teeth on edge.”
Madeline put her forefinger and thumb to her lips and twisted them as though she was turning a key in a lock.“Mum’s the word.I shan’t mention her again.Now,” Madeline held up her copy of theDaily Sketch,“have you heard of this marvelous dog that has been carrying coded messages in Belgium?The things they think of!They’ve apparently trained the creature to act as a carrier pigeon.”
“And the Germans haven’t just shot the poor thing?”Ginger leaned toward the newspaper to look at the image of the dog.“It seems a rather precarious thing to put his image in the papers.”
“Well, they can’t start killing every dog they see.”
As they turned toward other topics, Ginger felt herself relax.She was glad the confrontation with Stephen had taken place here at her aunt’s house, rather than at Penmore.Even though her mother was similar to her sister, her mother was more likely to take her father’s side.
And without Stephen’s proposal, her future felt clearer.She would go to Egypt with her family, which she wanted to do, anyway.She longed to explore all the antiquities which had fascinated her so much as a girl, and work on her Arabic, too.
If only Stephen wasn’t promising to haunt her there, as well.
Ginger remembered Stephen’s hands on her breasts and gave a sudden jolt.Shuddering, she clenched her teeth, feeling the taint of his touch again.She had to find a way to be rid of him.Would Henry help her?
When she’d finished breakfast, Ginger went in search of her brother.She found him upstairs, dressing for the journey home.Henry excused the valet and Ginger came in and sat on the bed.
Henry surveyed his appearance in the mirror and adjusted his cufflinks.“What is it?”
