She didn’t have much time to play tourist now though.With the British offensive, there was an ever-steady stream of wounded soldiers entering the military hospitals.The men were often the most seriously wounded, too ill to board the ships heading back home.
The tram stopped at a cross street.Despite herself, Ginger glanced back.The man was gone.When had he gotten off?
Ginger disembarked.When she’d arrived at the hospital from the front and found a note from her mother requesting she come to dinner, the matron had warned her she shouldn’t be out late.Tensions with the locals had been rising.
The heels of her shoes clacked against the pavement as she increased her pace.
She reached the three-story narrow house Lord Helton had loaned the Whitman women for their use.Nestled among a row of similar homes, it wasn’t in the poshest neighborhood of the European quarter of Alexandria.Many of the homes provided shelter for the local British officers and their wives—at least, the women who’d come into Egypt before the government had banned the practice.
Unfortunately, as the war had gone on, the enlisted soldiers who had risen in the ranks were not the upper class, polished officers from war’s beginning.Even the local Egyptians, who had at first looked at the officers with admiration, disliked this new crop of ill-mannered men.
Her mother, a dowager countess, bore the surroundings with as much dignity as possible.Lucy never ceased complaining about the neighbors.
Her mother’s maid from Cairo—the only servant whose service Lady Braddock had kept—greeted her with a smile when she opened the door.“Good evening, Bahiti,” Ginger said, breezing past her and into the foyer.
Bahiti led Ginger back toward the dining room.Ginger nearly tripped as she entered.Her mother and Lucy stood by the table, each wearing stylish evening dresses fit for one of the many white tie dinners they’d attended at their home in England.Ginger hadn’t expected this level of elegance.
Her mother smiled.“Ginger, darling!It’s so good to see you safe and sound.”She wrapped her arms around Ginger’s neck.“Though you’re barely on time.We’ll speak more at dinner.Hurry, go upstairs and change.”She wrinkled her nose at Ginger.“That scarlet hat clashes terribly with your red hair.”
Ginger removed her boater hat and turned it in her hands.“I—” She frowned.“I wasn’t planning on changing, Mother.”
Her mother gaped at her.“You can’t meet William looking like that.”
William?Ginger blinked, her brain slogging.
Lucy poured a glass of wine from the crystal decanter on the buffet.“Mother told you about this dinner two months ago.”She sipped her wine, and her eyes narrowed.“And don’t say she didn’t because I heard her.It doesn’t matter to you.”
Ginger adjusted her collar.Don’t start, Lucy.She wouldn’t let her sister dampen her good mood.“What am I supposed to change into?”
“I have a dress in your room.”Her mother slipped her hands into hers.“Don’t you remember?William is coming tonight.He arrived in Alexandria this morning.He’s come to tour the house in Cairo.”
Oh.Ginger nearly groaned.Since her father’s earldom had passed to a distant cousin after his and Henry’s death, all Lucy could talk about was “Cousin William Thorne” and how he’d stolen Penmore out from under them.He’d planned a trip to Egypt to settle her father’s estate and review the details with the Whitman women.“I forgot he was coming.”
“Hurry now.William will be here at any moment.”Her mother waved to Bahiti to take Ginger upstairs.
Her mother’s sudden need to impress him seemed strange.“I don’t think I really need to change.I must be back at the hospital in a few hours.It’s a dinner.And I’m tired, Mother.”
“Clearly.You look terrible.”Lucy glared.“You’ll never impress him with bags under your eyes and that dowdy outfit.”
Ah.There it was.Leave it to Lucy to be so blunt, both about Ginger’s appearance and the goal of this dinner.This was to be a matchmaking occasion.William was a distant cousin and a bachelor.If he married Ginger, her family could regain their home.Ginger was the logical choice, considering Lucy’s age.Lucy hadn’t even debuted into society yet.
“I don’t want to impress him.”Ginger studied the twinkling crystal decanter on the buffet.Where had the crystal come from?“My outfit is what I’m allowed to wear while traveling.I’ve seen nurses reprimanded for wearing pastel-colored blouses and pearls—they’re quite strict with what we can wear.”
“Go and change.”Her mother shooed her from the room.“Bahiti will see to your hair.”
Too tired to argue, Ginger allowed Bahiti to lead her up the tight staircase in the back of the house.Frustration throbbed at the base of her skull, but she couldn’t be angry with her mother over this.She didn’t know any better.They moved past the two larger bedrooms, which her mother and Lucy occupied, to a small one facing the alley behind the house.
As Ginger ducked into the room, she sighed.She shouldn’t have had to ask why her mother went to such trouble.Or why a fancy gown they couldn’t afford lay on Ginger’s bed.
She’d turned twenty-five in October.In her mother’s mind—really, in the eyes of society—she was an old maid.
She looked at the ring Noah had given her.Her mother would have to be disappointed twice over.Once when Ginger refused to display an interest in William Thorne and again when she learned Ginger intended to marry Colonel Noah Benson, whom her mother despised so much.The last time her mother had mentioned Noah, it was only to discuss the ruin he’d brought to their lives and her reputation.
Noah had promised they’d marry as soon as they were able.Their encounter in Gaza had been like a dream—one she’d thought of often.Her heart had been so light for the week after she’d seen him, she practically felt as though she’d floated through some of the more gruesome parts of treating the wounded from Gaza.
Still, she pulled the ring from her finger and switched it to her other hand.It was better not to raise questions.
She disrobed quickly, and Bahiti came up behind her.As the beaded navy frock came over her head, Ginger stiffened.The dress’s square neckline barely covered her scar.She shielded it with her hand, hoping Bahiti wouldn’t see it.The Egyptian woman hesitated before pulling Ginger’s hand away.Bahiti’s expression didn’t change as she took in the jagged lettersS.A.F.
