Page 48 of Sands of Sirocco
Ginger lived daily with the reality of what she’d done.Especially now, being in this house, haunted by the memories of what she had been so powerless to stop.Though her father and brother were ultimately to blame, she’d participated in the destruction of her family.
Finding her voice at last, Ginger said, “Stephen Fisher killed Papa, I told you that.He’s the only one to blame.And he’s the reason our family came to ruin.”She cleared her throat and then added in a softer voice, “And now he’s returned.”
Her mother flinched.“What do you mean?”
“He’s been captured and he’s back in Cairo.And he’s told the authorities about the concession Father supposedly obtained from Ibn Saud.”Ginger set her shoulders back.“Noah told me last night.”
“Damn.”Her mother’s voice was a breathless whisper.She rarely swore.Her mother set both hands on the edge of the table, gripping it so firmly that her knuckles turned white.She sat rigid in her chair.“No wonder they were asking me about it.”
Her reaction proved to be exactly what Ginger had feared the most.“Does that mean the concession exists?”
Her mother’s face paled.“Your father told me not to speak of it.He feared the government would try to take it from him after they’d learned of his crimes.He said it could be quite valuable after the war and wanted me to sell it to provide for our family rather than wait for the exploration, which could take decades.”
“The governmentdoesintend to seize it.”Ginger approached her, then sat and took her hand comfortingly.“Noah said if I help them locate the papers about the concession, they’ll allow us to have ten percent.Otherwise, they plan to seize it in its entirety.”
“He didn’t obtain it illegally!”Her mother had a desperate edge to her voice.Then, as though realizing her composure had slipped, she drew a deep breath.“What are you going to do?”
“To begin with, I thought I’d ask you.”
“I’m uncertain what happened to it.It’s missing.Mr.Brandeis couldn’t find any paperwork about it in his files.Your father entrusted everything to him.”
“Father’s solicitor in Cairo?”How can something so important go missing?Ginger’s disappointment stung.
Her mother gave a furtive glance back toward the house.“After your father’s death, I paid Mr.Brandeis a visit to ask him about it and the rest of the estate.The paperwork about the concession had vanished.And with it, any claim we have.Only your father could have induced Mr.Brandeis to turn over something so valuable.But Brandeis claimed he never gave it to your father.”
However modest a lead, it might help.She’d have to speak to Mr.Brandeis.“Do you have his address here in Cairo?”
Concern showed in her mother’s eyes.“Will you try to find the concession?”
“I must.There’s no choice, really.If it isn’t found and if I don’t help, we’ll be left with nothing.”She didn’t want to tell her mother just how far she’d involved herself with the matter—leaving it as a casual hint would be best for now.“Do you think it’s possible Father tried to hide the concession in the days before his death?”
“Of course it’s possible.Your father was mad with worry.”Her mother raised her gaze to Ginger’s.“But the world your father was a part of was also what led to his downfall.We know that better than anyone.Please do be careful how deeply you dig.I might have some of his old files and his datebook.The CID took most of it, but I hid some things that might have been incriminating.”
Incriminating of her mother?Ginger didn’t want to know anything that she might want to forget later.“Can you give me what you have?”
Her mother’s gaze faltered.“I’ll see.In the meantime, you would do well to remember that your obligation to your family is foremost.Any of the servants could have seen you last night.I won’t hesitate to tell Colonel Benson to keep his hands off you if I see him again.”
Ginger cringed with embarrassment.“Mother—”
“No, absolutely not—no argument from you.I can’t pretend not to be disappointed to find you right back to the behavior that tore us apart.I thought you had learned your lesson.”Her mother eyed the wedding ring on Ginger’s hand.She sniffed.“I suppose he gave you that?”
Ginger tugged it between the fingers of her right hand.She threw her shoulders back.“He loves me, Mama.I can’t save our family through marriage to William, I’m sorry.Not when I love Noah.”
“You hardly know anything about the man!”Her mother’s voice was a frustrated growl this time.She settled her expression, then said, “Who is his mother?His father?Where was he born?For goodness’ sake, Ginger—I married for loveandmoney, and look where it got me.Having to rely on the money my mother can divert toward me, ashamed, and isolated.Marry a kind man.That will get you much further in the end.”
“Noah is a kind man—”
Her mother sipped her tea then frowned.A gnat floated on the top of it.She sighed and removed it.“A man that’s willing to allow your name to be ruined is not a kind man.Your Colonel Benson may be many things, including handsome, but you should remember that he’s made a career in the military by being an accomplished liar.”Frowning, her mother poured her tea into the dirt beside the verandah.
Ginger held her tongue.The truth was, on that point, she couldn’t argue.
“Didyou look over some of the study materials I gave you?”Dr.Radford glanced from her work on the patient in surgery toward Ginger.She’d excised a gangrenous piece of flesh while Ginger irrigated the wound with Dakin’s solution.
“Briefly.”Ginger dabbed the surrounding skin with gauze.She’d hardly been able to sleep after she’d arrived home, too happy after her evening with Noah.In the end, Dr.Radford’s books had been the only thing that had helped her settle her mind.“I read one volume through once, which isn’t usually enough for me when I’m studying anything.But it was quite interesting.”
Dr.Radford gave her a pleased look.“If you can prepare, I’ll give you the first round of exams in a few days.See if you qualify to be trained in anesthesia.”
Ginger drew her hand back from the wound, and Dr.Radford continued her work.“I’m uncertain I’m going to be a nurse for much longer.I hope to return to England in a few months and study as you did,” Ginger said.
