Page 72 of Sands of Sirocco
“I don’t know.I didn’t have time to see.”Victoria cleared her throat, then pushed the hair from her face and tucked it behind her ear.
“I promise you, wherever he is—I’m certain he’s glad it’s him that’s there rather than you.”Noah pushed aside his guilt.She’d been a friend to him at the worst of times, and, despite her feelings for him, she deserved his comfort and friendship now.“Let’s get you back to Cairo.”
Victoria shook her head.“I don’t want to go home.I can’t go back there.I don’t want to be alone, Noah.”
Her fears weren’t unfounded.Jahi had probably taken her from her home.And who knew what she’d been through since then.Noah swallowed the lump in his throat.“You won’t be alone.”
ChapterTwenty-Five
After the events of the day before, with Peter Osborne’s fury at her for lying and Harold Young’s injuries, it seemed a fitting day to be in church asking forgiveness for her own sins.If God doesn’t strike you down with a bolt of lightning.
She couldn’t remember the last time she’d gone to a Sunday church service with her family.Then again, she hadn’t lived at home for ages.With the nurses, church attendance and prayer were a requirement of the profession.The nurses were to be an example of godly behavior.Shining white visions of purity.The unspoken truth was that, while the nurses were closely watched, no one could monitor them all.More than one sister had been found “compromised.”
As the last strain of the closing hymn wound to a close, the organ a dissonant sound in the lofty ceilings, Ginger glanced down the pew to her family.Her mother had been particularly pleased with Ginger’s company for the service.With each little reminder of how far she had drifted from the fold, Ginger’s guilt toward her family increased.
She turned, then startled.Mr.Osborne was near the back of the church.He nodded briefly at her, then turned and walked away, down the aisle.
Was he expecting to speak to her today?She had made no progress on Lady Hendricks anyway.Dr.Radford had given her the day and future Sundays off, something Osborne had to be aware of if he was here.
“Should we get tea at Groppi’s?If we hurry we can get a seat in the garden,” Lucy said as they climbed down the front steps of All Saints Church.
Ginger nearly groaned.The service had been crowded, the need for a new Anglican church more clear than ever.The last time she’d been here, the back of the church hadn’t been so populated with standing worshippers.But with the influx of troops there simply wasn’t room anymore.She knew a good majority of the congregation now would head to places like Groppi for more tightly-packed chaos.
William looked around, shading his eyes with his hand as he squinted.“And where’s that from here?”
“Not far.”Lucy pointed the way for William.“We’re awfully close to everything that matters around Cairo.If you go just down this street you’ll find Ezbekieh and Shepheard’s.”
Ginger arched a brow at her sister.She acted as though they still had a fortune awaiting them.“Really, Lucy, you make being a snob entirely effortless.”Everything that matters.She cringed at the thought.This area of Cairo was thoroughly dedicated to the British, it was true.With the wide, cleaner streets, European architecture, imported trees, manicured gardens, there were places where Cairo seemed to disappear altogether.Across the Nile on Gezira Island, the Gezira Club offered landscapes that looked like home.
Meanwhile, the precolonial native quarters suffered from poor sanitation, cramped living spaces, and dark areas of crime.Ginger understood why the British stayed away.But as the war had progressed, the segregation had bothered her more, particularly when confronted by the reality that a great deal of locals saw them as invaders.
“Dearest, I believe there’s a man waiting to speak to you.”Her mother broke her train of thought.
At the end of the pavement, Osborne waited, hands behind his back.Did her mother know him?It was a possibility, given that they’d talked to her about the concession.Unless Lord Helton had handled that himself.
Her mother gave her a questioning look.
“Ah, yes—it’s my friend, Mr.Osborne.Go ahead to Groppi’s.I’ll follow along.”Without waiting for a response, Ginger went toward him.She didn’t need to look back to know her family would be curious.
She played with the button on the wrist of her gloves as she approached him.“Mr.Osborne.What a surprise.”Her family climbed into the car William had hired.She refocused on Mr.Osborne.“I didn’t expect we’d need to speak today.”
“My apologies.I tried to visit you at your home, and your butler informed me the family was here.”Osborne removed his hat, a bead of perspiration on his brow.He mopped it with a handkerchief.“We always need to speak.Every morning, Lady Virginia.”
Every morning?It seemed excessive.She rued the interruption that he’d given to an otherwise pleasant morning.“Why don’t you walk with me?My family is on their way to Groppi’s, and I told them I’d join them there.We can talk along the way.”She didn’t want to be seen standing outside of All Saints speaking with Osborne.Uneasiness came over her.
“As you wish.”Osborne replaced his hat and extended his hand.“After you.”
They started down the pavement.A bird chattered noisily in the tree overhead, and Ginger searched for it.European and native quarter—she loved Cairo.She and Lucy had that in common.
“Before I begin, I should mention that Lord Helton is quite unwell and has taken leave.The case has been assigned directly to me now, without his further involvement.”
Unwell?She pressed her lips together tightly.Could this be because of Victoria?Something else might have happened.“Is it his health?”
“I’m not at liberty to divulge other details.Given Lord Helton’s involvement with uncovering the concession, Sir Reginald at first believed that he would be an asset to the investigation.But Lord Helton has other pressing matters to attend to.From now on, should you need to speak to anyone about this matter, please direct yourself to me alone.”
His words did little to settle the nerves that made her head ache with tension.Despite her dislike of Lord Helton, she trusted him much more than Mr.Osborne.In a tight voice, she said, “Thank you for letting me know.”
“Have you made any further progress?”
