Page 17 of Sands of Sirocco
“Yes, that’s right.”She didn’t want to make any of the other wounded men move.Squeezing another bed into the row by the window seemed the best solution.
“To where?”the orderly asked.
“Over by the window.I want to fit another bed into that row.And then I’ll need some help to move the patient.”
The orderly scratched his head.“I don’t think I can do that.”
She didn’t have time to argue with him.She tilted her head.“I wasn’t really asking.”
His mouth opened, his face reddening.He shut his mouth once more and nodded.
“Good.”She smiled congenially.Pulling rank wouldn’t earn her any favors, but she didn’t care about that right now.Too many other worrisome thoughts troubled her.“Now, if you please.”
As she went back to work, she passed Private Emerson once more.He didn’t smile or thank her.
No pretense.She mused on the concept as she moved from soldier to soldier.So much of her life was filled with pretense.The request, while simple, refreshed her.The only person in her life she didn’t have to pretend around was Noah.And she never saw him.
Their time together had been so brief.So passionate.She barely knew him.Their likes and dislikes, family history, and interests had seemed so unimportant when they’d been together.Their love affair had surprised them both.And there were times over the summer when she’d wondered if she hadn’t just magnified the entire experience in her mind.
Her father and Henry had tried to convince her that Noah wasn’t the type to take a serious interest in a woman.That he’d been using her.Sometimes their words rang through her nightmares, reminding her of the risk she’d taken.
“There you are.”Miss Fitzgibbon seemed to materialize beside her.“You have a guest waiting to speak to you in my office.A Mr.Peter Osborne, from the Foreign Office.”
Ginger lifted her chin sharply.Mr.Osborne is already here?She’d been so busy, she’d barely noticed the passage of time.Pressure built at the base of her neck.
She removed her apron, then draped it over one arm as she followed Miss Fitzgibbon to her office.As they drew closer, Ginger tried to relax her shoulders.This conversation could go wrong in several different ways.
Miss Fitzgibbon opened the door for her, and Mr.Osborne stood from his chair.“Thank you, Matron.I’ll require a few minutes to discuss a private matter.”
Miss Fitzgibbon’s dark eyes were on Ginger.“Is that amenable to you, Sister Whitman?”
“Yes, of course.”She appreciated the matron asking.Many matrons listened to the chain of command without question.That the matron had taken the time to inquire whether Ginger wanted to be left alone with Peter Osborne spoke of her excellent character.
The door shut and Osborne faced her.In the light of day and at closer proximity, he was younger than she’d imagined—perhaps in his late twenties.His jaw was strong, with a full but well-trimmed beard and moustache a similar dark blond color to his hair.He was handsome.The corners of his grey eyes had soft lines that crinkled with his smile.He removed his hat.“I hope you’re more at ease today, Lady Virginia.I realized after I left you last night how very startling my appearance may have been.”
“Mr.Osborne.”Ginger clasped her hands together in front of her.“How can I help you?”
Osborne motioned toward the chair beside him.“Please.Do be seated.”
She did, stiffly, feeling encroached upon with him still so close.
He moved around to the other side of the desk, inspected the matron’s chair, then sat.With his eyes still on her, he pulled out a silver cigarette case and offered her a cigarette, which she declined.
Lighting a cigarette, he leaned back in his seat, his manner elegant.“Lady Virginia, it’s come to Sir Reginald Wingate’s attention that there’s been some quite irregular behavior surrounding you.”
This must be about the deserter from the train.She set her hands on the arms of the chair.“I can explain, Mr.Osborne.I had two patients at once, both with equally dire wounds.The deserter would have died regardless of orders …”
He gave her a quizzical look.“Yes?”
“Is this about the deserter?”
“No.”He drew on his cigarette.Smoke trailed from his lips.
Sheepishly, she set her hands back on her lap.“Ah.”Heat rose to her cheeks.“In that case, please proceed.”
He gave her a patient smile.“I don’t think I have to inform you of the surprising discovery we made of your involvement in several government affairs last spring.The matter with your father was a messy business, one I’m certain you’d rather forget.”
Her throat tightened.Just how much did he know of what had happened with her father?Or her?Lord Helton had promised to keep the information sealed.“I didn’t know my involvement was known, to be honest.”
