“William.”Ginger struggled to find sympathy for him.He’d lied repeatedly.So easily.“You didn’t impress me when you bragged.”Letting out a sigh, she went on, “That didn’t seem to quite fit the parts of you that were impressive, like the kindness and generosity with which you’ve handled my family’s situation.”
William gave her an astonished, sheepish look.“Forgive me, Ginger.I’m so sorry.I never meant to lie to you.Well—I meant to, but what I mean is—I didn’t intend for it to get this far.”
“Then what exactly did you intend?To feign an injury for the rest of your life?”She couldn’t make sense of how he’d believed he could continue such a lie.
“No.I simply thought one day my arm could show improvement.”William sucked an audible breath through his teeth.“I didn’t think it through.I was foolish and ashamed of my inability to contribute my service to my country.Going to Penmore felt like a fresh start.”His mouth turned in a scornful smile.“I suppose now I’m even more foolish and ashamed.”
Despite her best efforts, Ginger pitied him.How could she not?He wasn’t the first man she’d met who’d been emasculated by his inability to serve in the war.But his lies hurt in a strange way.Her fingers tightened on the cool metal of the bracelet.She had hoped William was trustworthy.“I can’t say I’m not disappointed, William.”
He ducked his chin, his gaze downcast.“Will you forgive me, cousin?”
Ginger’s heart throbbed.His apology seemed sincere.Mostly she felt annoyed at the ridiculous of it all.“I’ll have to think about what you’ve told me.But no more lies, please.My family has faced their fair share of them these last few months.”She felt like a hypocrite saying it.“And I suggest you tell my mother and sister the truth.It would certainly be much easier to experience some adventures while here in Egypt if you can use both arms freely.”
William extended a hand to her.Hesitantly, Ginger took it and William gave hers a warm squeeze.“I promise, Ginger.I won’t lie.And I’ll make this up to you and your family.”
Ginger removed her hand from his, stiffly.She wanted to believe him.Wanted to hope that the good man she’d thought she’d recognized in him was real.But she didn’t know what to believe anymore.
Ginger headedtoward Jane Radford’s office, tension creeping into her bunched shoulders.She’d been looking for the doctor all morning, but without success.She couldn’t help feeling that Jane was avoiding her.Which made it particularly awkward given that Ginger had been wanting to ask to leave early for the day.
After she’d found Paul Hanover’s address at Giza the previous night, she’d lain awake thinking about the possibilities.Even her dreams had been convoluted imaginings of a trip out to Giza.
Jane answered the door to her office when she knocked.She allowed Ginger in.“I’m sorry to assign you away from me this morning, I had some …” Jane trailed off and gave her a half-hearted, tense smile.“Apologies.Did you need something?”
Ginger furrowed her brows.Jane’s instant apology spoke of guilt, but why would she be guilty?“Yes, actually.I thought of something that might be useful to Mr.Osborne, but it needs to be done as soon as possible.I wanted to request the rest of the morning off to see to it.”
“Of course, whatever you need.”Jane wrapped her hands over her elbows, her arms drawn in as though she hugged herself.“Ginger … I …” She looked down at the Oriental rug that lined her office, as though troubled.“I met Colonel Benson yesterday.”
A knot formed in Ginger’s throat.Oh.She should have expected this.
Jane’s eyes lifted.“I realized right away that Captain Young had spoken his name.It’s so obvious, really.”She gave Ginger a cool look.“And you knew, didn’t you?You knew who Captain Young meant?”
Ginger rolled her shoulders back and they creaked in response, so tense from bunching them.“I knew.”She wanted to tell Jane the whole truth.But who knew if Jane could be trusted?“Colonel Benson and I had a brief romance in the spring.”
Nodding, Jane went to her desk and gathered an open file.“I suppose I invited the possibility for mischief into the hospital when Peter Osborne approached me about allowing you to work for me.”Shutting the file, she frowned.“But I’m increasingly unsettled about it all.I’m uncertain what your newfound profession asks, but I’m a physician first.My greatest interest is the welfare of my patients.The politics of war are secondary to me.”
Being lectured by Jane Radford was something Ginger hadn’t expected.And if it had been a year ago, she might have felt more chastened.But her last sentence made Ginger bristle.“It’s easy to pretend we’re neutral when we sit behind the lines, watching the carnage come in.But we aren’t.”Ginger twisted her mouth.“The politics of war find us anyway.They found me last spring in an enemy soldier who I knew would die if I handed him over.Then in a deserter who I allowed to die so I could save another man instead.”
Ginger steeled her gaze.“I had doctors at the casualty clearing station order me to allow men to die when I knew I could save them.I watched Irish and Indian soldiers receive unfair treatment.Nurses who offered lifesaving care were reprimanded or expelled from the service for simple things like walking late at night with a man or allowing a kiss.”Ginger laughed sardonically.“And couldn’t we all use the relief of romance right now?”She stepped toward Jane.“Look at yourself, unable to even use the rank that’s rightfully yours.All of it is politics.Men in a room somewhere making decisions that affect the rest of us.We’re all just pawns.”
Jane blinked.Hugging the file she’d gathered, she said, “You sound as though you’re at a crossroads.But I think you’ll need to decide soon.”
“Decide what?”Ginger asked.Irritation bubbled in her throat, choking her.She’d wanted so badly to be friends with Jane.That chance seemed to slip away now.
“What it is you’re fighting for.”
ChapterTwenty-Nine
Ahawk screamed overhead, and Noah squinted into the crystalline sky.The sun had reached the highest point, but here the heat never lost its intensity during the day.The unforgiving surroundings, the barren Sahara Desert with its golden glow and smooth curving dunes, felt especially ominous today.Nothing moved near here.He tasted the sand on his lips.
Noah closed the door to the motorcar he’d borrowed from Alastair.He squinted, shielding his eyes as he looked toward the building where Lord Helton had brought him to visit Stephen before.In the daytime it appeared even more abandoned than it had at night.
No guards greeted him.
A flush of adrenaline tingled through his body as he came closer.He pulled out his revolver and held it in both hands.
“Hello?”His voice fell into the emptiness of the void around him.
The door to the place was open a crack.
