Tears streaked Lucy’s red face, her eyes shifting as she looked at the lines of the scar.Her mother stiffened.
“My actions were the only things that spared us from scandal,” Ginger said.“Lord Helton agreed to hush the whole matter up on my behalf.Had the knowledge of Father and Henry’s crimes been disseminated, the damage would have been irreparable.”
“Thank you.”Her mother’s voice was brusque.Pain took on a new vigor in her eyes.“I have nothing more to say to you, Ginger.Except that I’d like for you to leave this house.Right now.”
“Mama, please!You must listen to me.We could all be in danger—”
“I’m sorry for this humiliating display, William.I apologize.”Her mother gave her a withering stare, then rushed from the space.
Lucy looked stricken.She moistened her lips, her mouth opening as she searched Ginger’s gaze.The news had been worse for her than for her mother.“Ginny, how could you?”she finally managed.Then she turned and fled after her mother.
William set his hands behind his back.“It seems we all have our secrets.”
His words landed like soft blows.He’s right.You’ve been a hypocrite.Ginger gave him an apologetic look.“I’m terribly sorry, William.You’re perfectly right in condemning me.Would you—my trunk is in my bedroom.Can you have it fetched while I ring for a carriage?”
She would have to send for the rest of her things later.There was no time for it now.If Noah had escaped the palace, maybe he would still meet her at his friend’s safe house.She prayed he would be there.
Ginger tried to gather her thoughts, feeling sick.At least no one could ever threaten her again with exposing the truth about Henry’s death.But her mother might never see her again either.
William gave her a sympathetic look but stayed rooted in place.“I obviously came into this situation with no understanding of the facts.”He gave her a sad smile.“I don’t know the details, but I know you’re a good woman.You have a kind heart, and I can’t think that confessing that to your family was easy.I admire it.”
Ginger’s throat constricted with tears.At least he had offered some sort of olive branch.She clasped her hands together.“Thank you.I’ve put you in a terrible position.But, please, take care of my family.Please take them home to England.It isn’t safe for them here.”
“You have my word.”
Ginger started forward.She stopped, then went over and kissed his cheek gently.Considering how disgracefully she’d brushed off his proposal, he was being kind.“I’m grateful for you.You’ve been an unexpected blessing to us all.”
She left him in the foyer, trying to keep her composure.After ringing for a carriage, she went out the door to wait for a servant to come out with her trunk.Ginger glanced back into the house.
“Please forgive me,” she whispered.Then she shut the door.
ChapterThirty-Four
Getting to Alastair’s house turned out to be a harder process than Noah had expected.He’d been able to reach the roof of a building about a block away by climbing a tree.He didn’t dare go by the street.Victoria knew Noah had been there before Abdin Palace.Given her questionable loyalties and Alastair’s failure to appear tonight, there was a chance Alastair had betrayed him also.
But Noah foolishly sent Ginger there.Which meant he had no choice but to go, even if it could be a trap.Lord Helton and Stephen may already be there waiting for him.
He surveyed the remaining roofs between where he stood and Alastair’s house.From here he could see the minarets of Sultan Hassan’s famed mosque in historic Cairo, shining in the moonlight.Beyond that stood the famed Citadel of Saladin.The medieval fortress was a stark reminder of how very close the British military was to his location—the army used it as a military garrison.He couldn’t count the number of times he’d visited the citadel on military business.
And now he was being called the enemy.
Noah’s attention shifted back toward Alastair’s house, now only one building away.
Would Alastair really have betrayed him?Acid burned his throat, his jaw clenching.After Henry Whitman had shot him, he’d become more wary of friendships.And now Victoria joined Henry’s ranks.She’d kept the truth about Jack away from him to manipulate him into saving her father instead.
According to her, Jack was being held captive here in Cairo.
The revelation had only made him doubt Alastair more.How could Alastair, who prided himself on his information networks, get so much wrong about all of this?
Noah pressed forward, reaching the edge of the roof where he stood.He’d been forced to make a few jumps across buildings to reach his intended target.He wasn’t comfortable with heights but his recent experiences jumping from buildings brought a new level of dislike.His palms felt slick as he crouched and jumped again.One more jump.
One more opportunity to fall.
The chance of being heard was great.It was one thing to crawl quietly from one rooftop to the next.Quite another to take a flying leap.He also had no doubt Alastair had one of his pupils on watch at the roof.He’d have to neutralize the youth.
He didn’t dare stand to attempt seeing the street from here.
Was Ginger here?Crawling across buildings had slowed his progress.The chances of her beating him here were high.
