Page 10 of Sands of Sirocco
In her nightmares, she never revisited the day she shot her brother or the way Stephen Fisher killed her father.She revisited this.The knife at her breast.The smell of cigarettes.Stephen carving his initials and blood on his mouth.When she thought of this, the dull reality of the nightmare she’d lived came back to the surface.No sudden jolt or opening of her eyes could reduce the cold sweat that broke out on her neck.Time, they said, would help.
But it hadn’t.
She pulled the neckline’s gauze-like fabric over the scar.Bahiti’s dark eyes met hers.“Ana asef.”I am sorry.
“You don’t have to be.”Ginger swallowed.“It’s a war wound.I have many.”
She sat at the vanity as Bahiti swept her hair above her head.It took only minutes before the maid transformed her appearance.The upper-class lifestyle of her youth felt so distant, especially during moments like this.And what would her mother say if she told her she was considering leaving the nursing service to train as a surgeon?
She sighed and stood from the vanity.As she reached the dining room, she heard the deep baritone of a male voice, followed by the laughter of her mother and sister.William must have arrived while she’d been upstairs.She sucked in a deep breath and entered the room.She was capable of polite, practiced smiles.
Her mother and sister looked up from their seats.A man, only about ten years older than her, stood.He wore an olive military jacket and matching trousers, the Royal Flying Corps insignia on his left breast.To Ginger’s surprise, his left arm was in a sling.
He gave Ginger a sheepish grin, his light-blue eyes warm.“You must be Cousin Virginia.I’ve heard so much about your beauty and kindness from the servants at Penmore.”He came forward and took her hand, then pressed a kiss to the back of it.“William Thorne.At your service, my lady.”
At least he seemed friendly.
He led her to the table.Ginger briefly met her sister’s eyes.William clearly wasn’t what Lucy expected.No doubt Lucy had vilified him in her imagination to the point of making him a rude country bumpkin.While Ginger doubted he’d been blessed with the same upbringing Henry had, who her father had prepared to be the next Earl of Braddock, William was likely from a polite background.
He ran his hand through his jet-black hair, shifting in his seat.A dimple showed in his cheek as he smiled again.“I’m quite nervous, you see.It’s an odd thing, filling the shoes of another man you know little about.”
“You don’t need to be nervous.We’re all eager to learn more about Penmore.How are you enjoying it?I miss home,” Lucy said.Her thinly veiled contempt tinged the features of her oval face.
Why was Lucy so determined to be rude?Whatever William had been before, it wasn’t his fault that the title and house had fallen to him.He was the rightful earl, and Lucy should know that.Ginger’s mother shot her youngest daughter a sharp look.
William reddened and looked down at his empty plate.“Penmore is beautiful.I can’t imagine a lovelier place to grow up.”
Living in Penmore felt like another lifetime ago.Her family longed for it … sometimes Ginger did, too, when she let herself think about it.But those memories were linked with Henry.And Stephen lurked in them also.
Her stomach tightened as she settled back into her seat.As Bahiti came by with the first course, she sipped her wine.“Where did you grow up, Lord Braddock?”
“Sussex.”He spread his napkin on his lap.“And—William.Please.”He shifted in his seat again.“I’m aware of the complexity of my presence.My most sincere condolences, Lady Braddock.And to all of you.Losing your closest family members is horrible enough without having to dine with an upstart who took the family home out from under you.”
If she was honest, William wasn’t what Ginger had expected either.She hadn’t given too much thought to the man who was now master of her former home.Thinking about him was too fraught with the guilt of what she’d done to her family.But he seemed to be a gentleman.
“That’s very kind of you.”Her mother bowed her head.Ginger could tell her mother was seething at Lucy for her rudeness.“We don’t consider you an upstart at all.”
“Regardless, I’m here to assure you of the honor of my intentions.”William thanked Bahiti as she served him a soup.The familiar smell of cream of potato made Ginger smile.It was the one dish Bahiti made well.She was no cook.
William sipped a spoonful of soup.“I want to do right by you all.I’ve gone through the books, and it doesn’t appear much was put aside, but I want to do my part to rectify—”
“How do you plan to do that?”Lucy interrupted, quirking a dark brow.
Ginger wanted to pull her by the sleeve over to another room and tell her to behave.Even if Ginger had no intention of entertaining William as a suitor, she’d still treat him politely.Lucy’s failure to do so seemed baffling.Then again, Lucy had asked what they all wondered.But asking so plainly was rude.
William held his spoon over the soup bowl, awkward and frozen.“Ah, that is—”
“Is there a Lady Braddock waiting for you at home?”Lucy asked.
“Lucy,” her mother said in a scolding tone.Her mother wouldn’t spare words for her later, Ginger was certain of it.It was entertaining, seeing Lucy be the one to clash with her.Just like life had been before the war.Ginger presently held the title of troublesome daughter.
“What?If inappropriate topics are dinner table fare, there’s no harm in asking.”Lucy smiled as sweetly as she could at William.
Ginger resisted the urge to cover her face.Someone needed to save William from his lack of experience.And from Lucy’s impertinence.
He reddened further.“Of course, of course.I apologize.You’re correct, Cousin Lucy.This is no time to discuss finances.”He tugged at his collar.“And, sadly, no, I’ve never had the good fortune of marrying.But I’d very much like to.”
Lucy’s expression changed, a hint of a smile in her eyes as she looked at Ginger meaningfully.“Well, you’ve come to the right house.”
