Page 56 of Sands of Sirocco
“Oh, never mind.”Lucy laughed and scooted him from his seat, switching with him.She leaned closer to Ginger and lowered her voice.“But I’m curious … what did you say to make her run away from you as though you’d invoked a mummy’s curse?”
Ginger’s lips curled with laughter at Lucy’s accurate depiction of Lady Hendricks’ flight.But if Lucy had noticed it all the way from here, it was likely other people had noticed also.“I mentioned Freddy Mortimer to her.”
Lucy’s eyes widened.“No, you didn’t.”
“Why?”Ginger asked.She bit her lip, feeling unusually out of her depth.
Lucy looked around and then whispered, “Freddy Mortimer was Lady Hendricks’ lover.Until her husband came back injured from the war and put a stop to it, that is.”
Lover?Ginger’s mouth opened in surprise.“And this was a known fact?”
“Well …” Lucy eyeballed her friends.“Rumored, of course.But all anyone had to do was take one look at them to know.Quite scandalous, of course, but the woman can get away with practically anything, given her fortune.No one would dare cross or insult her.”
Unless they unknowingly committed the faux paus, as Ginger had.Just what she needed.
But it also made Lady Hendricks her best option to learn more about Freddy Mortimer.“You don’t know where Mr.Mortimer lives, do you?”
“He had a room at Shepheard’s.I’ll ask Francine if she knows.”Giving Ginger a curious look, Lucy added, “Why?”
Ginger hesitated.Much as she wanted to confide in Lucy, it was better if her sister didn’t know about the concession.Even the slightest wrong word might lead Ginger down a terrible rabbit hole of trying to explain—and lie—about their father’s behavior.What Lucy didn’t know was better at this point and would keep her safer.
“A nursing friend of mine from Alexandria asked me to give him a letter when I got to Cairo.She hadn’t been able to have it delivered to him successfully.”
Lucy seemed to accept the explanation.Before she could say anything more, though, William looked over at them.“Come now, I simply must know what you’re discussing.”
Lucy gave him a bright smile.“Oh, did you ask Ginger about what I mentioned?”Lucy and her friends looked at Ginger.
Settling some stray hairs under her hat, Ginger said, “Did he ask me what?”
“If you want to go Sphinxing with him.”Lucy exchanged smiles with hidden meaning to her friends.
Ginger lifted an eyebrow.Sphinxing was a popular term for going to visit the Sphinx, though most of the nurses she’d known who went that way usually did it with an officer or two as an escort.It also was frequently a site for romance, as many of the trips were done in the moonlight.
Instead of bristling at her sister’s teasing, Ginger opted to pretend she didn’t understand.She gave William a regretful look.“I’m sorry to have to disappoint.But perhaps Lucy or my mother would go Sphinxing with you?Lucy, maybe even your friends would like to go.”
Lucy and her friends erupted into another round of giggles.William exchanged a puzzled look with Ginger.“I’m afraid I don’t understand the joke.”
Ginger eyed the empty glasses beside Lucy.Then she offered, “It must be the Pimm’s.”
William chuckled.“Quite right.”He sipped his drink.“Nothing like a good gin in the afternoon.Can I get you a tea sandwich, Ginger?”
As Ginger sat under the sun, sipping her own drink and eating sandwiches, she found herself unexpectedly unwinding.Lucy was in a jovial mood, and her friends, though vapid, were companionable and amiable.And despite her conversation with William lacking any depth, she enjoyed his company.
Not to mentionthe view, as Lucy had put it.
With only eight men on the field, it was entirely possible for her to watch Noah unreservedly.Maybe it was the alcohol in her own drink, but she didn’t think she’d ever enjoyed watching a man on horseback swinging a mallet so much.
She’d like to go Sphinxing with Noah.
As the game ended, she had absolutely no idea as to the score.
Then, Noah started across the field.He brought the dark bay pony to a trot, then dismounted.His gaze locked with hers, and he brought the reins back over the pony’s neck.Leading the pony toward her, he stopped only a few feet away.
Ginger didn’t dare look away, despite the murmurs she heard around her.“Lord Braddock.”Noah gave a polite smile to William, then gave his full attention to Ginger.“Lady Virginia.”He wiped some of the sweat from his brow, and Ginger wobbled up from her seat.
How many Pimm’s Cups have I had?
“You played polo well.”Her voice sounded raspy.“I didn’t know you played.Do you play often?”
