Chapter 9 #2
Annoyance made the muscles in her shoulders bunch.
Lord Helton said it as a fact but how could he know?
The government would assume her father had obtained the concession illegally.
Knowing her father, he’d likely been looking for a way to recover the fortune he’d lost. “Isn’t this a rather trivial thing for the government to waste their time with?
Aren’t there more consequential matters to tend to besides hunting down and seizing the property of a dead man? ”
Osborne barked with laughter and then stilled it. He glanced at Lord Helton, as though to assure himself that his surprised reaction hadn’t been inappropriate. Lord Helton didn’t so much as twitch.
Sobering, Osborne said, “It’s a complex issue, Lady Virginia.
We must think of our interests beyond this war.
And oil could very well determine the outcome of the war itself.
Our enemies are exhausting their resources.
Think of what it might mean if Germany or the Ottomans find a fresh supply of oil—it might change the tide of the war.
You could have a hand in preventing that from happening by helping us. ”
She stared at him evenly. He implied it was her patriotic duty. “Has oil been found in Ibn Saud’s lands?”
“We don’t know. But it’s likely the land shows promise.
I doubt your father would have arranged for a concession otherwise.
” Lord Helton stood and faced the window in the office, staring out at the busy street.
“And our enemies know of it. They also know of the concession paperwork and that the agreement is in question with the death of your father. They may attempt to see what they can do about obtaining their own concession.”
“From Ibn Saud?” Ginger asked. She was finding it difficult to follow Lord Helton’s logic—and not just because he was being vague. The geopolitics of the region were cloaked with intrigue and conflicts between the locals that went back for centuries.
Lord Helton continued to face away from her, as though it pained him to have to answer her questions. “The more likely course of action is that they would attempt to strengthen Ibn Rashid’s forces against the Saud and obtain a concession from Rashid.”
Ginger’s gaze bore into the back of Lord Helton’s head.
Facing her as he spoke to her was the minimum courtesy.
As though I’m not worthy of such a conversation.
She’d made it a point to study and was determined to prove she understood him.
“Of course. Because Ibn Rashid declared himself loyal to the Ottomans.”
Osborne lifted a brow, clearly surprised she knew anything.
Ginger put on a pleasant smile. “These are interesting speculations, Lord Helton. But if there’s no known oil in that region, and the concession is nowhere to be found, and even if it is found, the government intends to seize it—I don’t know what this has to do with me. Why ask me to be involved at all?”
“We’d like you to find the concession if you can. If you are successful, we will bestow a ten percent private stake in the concession for your family.” Osborne settled his weight against the back of his chair.
A ten percent stake? Ginger’s jaw dropped. If the concession produced oil, that could mean untold wealth for her family. “I—” She frowned. “That’s generous. Unless the concession wasn’t obtained illegally. In which case it belongs to my family.”
Osborne smiled easily. “Well, I’d say that’s even more motivation to find the paperwork. If your father did nothing illegal, it would be in your family’s best interest to prove it. You won’t be able to do so without the agreement.”
He has a point. “The logical first step would be to ask my mother about this.”
“We have. She claims to know nothing of it.” Lord Helton still didn’t turn around from the window.
Claims to. His doubt was clear enough. When had they talked to her mother? “And you think I’ll have more success?”
“Hopefully.” Mr. Osborne looked apologetic at Lord Helton’s rudeness. “Besides which, we’re offering you significantly more motivation to learn what happened to the paperwork—and find it for us, if you can.”
Ginger raised her chin. “You have men in your office dedicated to this sort of thing, don’t you? Wouldn’t it be easier to ask them?”
Osborne rubbed the bridge of his nose. “We’ve made little headway in discovering anything. And your father’s most trusted associates seem to go mute when we approach them. We’re hoping they might be more congenial to his daughter.”
“You were also at home prior to your father’s death. You might investigate his activities during those last days.” Lord Helton’s voice was flat.
“And if I’m unable to accomplish what you want? I may learn nothing about the concession—or be able to find the paperwork.”
Lord Helton turned his profile. “Then you’ll get a safe passage to England and a good day.”
The man was awful. If he hadn’t done so much to help her family in the spring, she’d be tempted to treat him with equal contempt. “Can you give me a starting point, at least? Surely you must know something more about the matter. Or send an envoy to Ibn Saud? He’d certainly know about it.”
“Ibn Saud’s Ikhwan army is currently at odds with Sherif Hussein, which makes our situation with him tenuous.
He’s also at war with Ibn Rashid. Sending a diplomatic mission to him right now could be a waste of men and extremely dangerous, especially when we need our best men in Palestine now.
” Lord Helton’s tone was clipped, but at least he did her the favor of assuming she understood.
Perhaps she’d proven she could keep up earlier.
Osborne’s grey eyes were warmer. “To answer your other question—no, we know little. However, we have a name that you might find useful: Freddy Mortimer. Apparently, the man was connected to the concession. How, we don’t know.
And I would caution you that asking about him isn’t likely to help.
We’ve tried to find more about the man, without results. But it’s a start, I suppose.”
She had never heard the name before, but it was better than nothing. She was completely inadequate for this job.
Lord Helton rose from his seat. “We appreciate your willingness to help, Lady Virginia, and we’ll apprise you with further information as we have it. Mr. Osborne will meet with you tomorrow at the hospital and give you any further instructions we might have.”
His posture indicated the conversation was over. Ginger stood and gathered her things. “Mr. Osborne, give me a moment to speak to Lady Virginia.”
Osborne’s brow furrowed. He looked apologetically toward Ginger as he left the office, closing the door behind him.
Lord Helton clasped his hands behind his back. “I feel the need to make myself clear. Nothing has changed regarding my wishes with Colonel Benson. Hopefully, your emotional attachment has ended, but if not, let me remind you of your promises.”
She sucked her cheeks in. Lord Helton wasn’t the sort of man to trifle with. “Our arrangement wasn’t that I’m not allowed to be in love with him, Lord Helton. It was that I would cease contact with him until the end of the war. I’ve done as you asked.”
“I know what our arrangement was.” Lord Helton’s face was stern.
“I also know what I’ve commanded of Colonel Benson.
I can’t keep the man from seeking you out, but I will not have you distracting him once again, is that clear?
Unless you’d like the newspapers filled with the sordid crimes of your father. ”
Her jaw set. Lord Helton had protected her family from complete ruin by keeping her father’s crimes concealed. As far as Ginger knew, only a handful of people were aware of her father’s misdeeds.
“Are you suggesting that—even now—you’d be willing to allow my father’s name to be besmirched and my family ruined simply to punish me?” Ginger stared at him, appalled.
“We had an arrangement, Lady Virginia. I can’t help it if the true nature of your father’s crimes sees the light of day.
They deserved to be and I spared you from that as a reward for your service to our country.
Don’t forget that. And do remind Colonel Benson of the fact when he seeks you out again. ”
She stood unnaturally still, her spine rigid. He knew Noah had found her in Palestine. She didn’t meet his gaze, afraid of what he’d see there. Would he be furious at her for breaking her promise?
He set both hands on the desk and leaned forward. “You are to keep your distance, understood? I don’t care what means you employ to convince Colonel Benson that you are not available to him. Just do it.”
Swallowing hard, she took her leave of Lord Helton, allowing Osborne to escort her back toward the entrance of the Savoy.
“I apologize about Lord Helton,” Osborne said as they walked toward the lobby.
“The man is an insufferable snob. But he’s an excellent spymaster.
Perhaps the two go hand in hand.” A smile lit his eyes.
“Fortunately for us, I’ll be handling most of the work with you.
Lord Helton is just overseeing occasionally.
I’m very much looking forward to working with you, Lady Virginia. ”
Ginger said good-bye, then left him in the lobby. Thank goodness she’d be working with Osborne instead of Lord Helton.
Lord Helton’s threats to release information about her father unnerved her. Even now, her family enjoyed relative acceptance in society, despite their lack of funds. But if her father’s crimes were exposed, her family would never be admitted to polite society again.
Diving into the world her father had been so deeply involved in before his death worried her. She shivered.
Who knew what skeletons she might uncover?