Page 35 of A Zephyr Rising
She squared her shoulders, even though she didn’t feel strong now.She felt awful.Like a manipulative, cruel woman.“No, I don’t think so.But maybe when my family returns from Egypt, we can be friends.”
He gave a scoffing laugh.“As though that would ever be enough to satisfy me.”He loosened his collar.“I was going to tell you another time, but I’m going to Egypt to work with your father.And my father is going to allow Angelica to come with me—she’s very keen to see Egypt and with Henry going, she wanted to be close to your family.”
She didn’t know whether to feel sorry for him or to be dismayed he was following her family to Egypt.
He spread his hands in front of him.“I need to protect my investment.”
Her dismay turned to revulsion.Did he mean her?What could he mean?
“I won’t change my mind.”A wave of tiredness came over her.She didn’t want to have this argument, not now, not at this time of day.The thought of him being in Egypt was overwhelming and oppressive.“I know you care for me, Stephen, but I don’t return your feelings.I won’t marry you.Not now.Not ever.”
Stephen’s face darkened.He stalked toward her slowly, looming in front of her.“You will.I promise you.”She backed away from him, feeling threatened, and her back hit against the bookcase with a soft thud.“You’re mine.And you always will be.”
Pinning her shoulders against the bookcase with a forearm across her clavicle, he grabbed her chin roughly in his fingertips.His mouth descended upon hers with a force that made her heart hammer into her chest.Paralyzing fear froze her.His lips moved against hers and she felt the clash of his teeth against her lips, his breath on her face.
His hands cupped her breasts, fondling her through the fabric.His touch was enough to spur her into action.She reached for the closest book, fished it from the shelf with a shaking hand, then slammed the spine into the side of his head.
Stephen swore and sprang back.He touched the side of his head where she’d hit him, then inspected his fingers as though expecting to find blood.She wished she had hit him so hard.Hopefully she’d given him a good bruise, at least.
The book clattered to the floor as she ripped herself away from the bookcase, scrubbing her lips with her fingertips.“How dare you?”Her voice rippled with fury.The taste of his cigarettes remained on her lips, and she wanted nothing more than to go and bathe and rid herself of any trace of the repulsive kiss.“I’ll?—”
“You’ll what?”Stephen’s eyes narrowed.“Tell your father?Henry?And you don’t think they’d only see your lewd behavior as more reason for you to marry me?Careful, dearest Ginny.If you admit too freely how I’ve spoiled you, you may not like the consequence.Everyone knows we’ve spent the summer together.And you’ve just told David Peterson you intend to marry me.You think anyone will believe you?”
Herlewd behavior?As though she’d invited it.Sickened, she swallowed back bile.“Get out,” she gritted through clenched teeth.
Stephen glowered at her.“This isn’t over.”
He left and she sank onto the floor, struggling for breath, hands shaking.
His threats sliced into her skin and she relived the horrible kiss all over again.
She thought she’d disliked him before.Now, hatred ran through her veins.
ChapterTwelve
The door frame shook as the door opened and her father strode through into the breakfast room.Ginger set her teacup on the table slowly.She felt her face drain of color at the fury in her father’s expression.All of it was directed at her.From her seat at the head of the table, Madeline tilted her head over her newspaper.
“What did you do?”Her father’s face was red.
How had he learned of it so quickly?Both Madeline and Henry had promised not to tell her father before she had a chance to—and they were the only ones she’d told.
Had Stephen called her father to complain?
Henry stood from his place beside her.“Father—this isn’t the time.It’s been a hard morning for Ginny.”
“Difficult because she made it so.”Her father paced behind her chair.“You refused Stephen?”
“Yes.”Ginger set her hands on the edge of the table in front of her.“I thought about it—as I promised I would—and decided I would rather die an old maid than marry Stephen.”After his unwelcome kiss this morning, she no longer felt even the slightest guilt at refusing him.
A vein in her father’s neck twitched.“And that’s it then?That’s all the answer he’s to expect from you?”
Madeline folded her newspaper.“Really, Edmund, you’re being too hard on the girl.She has a right to refuse offers she deems unsuitable.”
“Frankly, this is none of your business,” her father snapped.
Ginger cringed.She’d never seen her father be rude to her aunt like this, even if he didn’t have the best opinion of her politics.
Madeline lifted her chin.“Odd that you should say that while standing in my house.”She buttered a roll but kept her gaze leveled at her father.
