Chapter 19
Chapter Nineteen
“You’ll never guess what’s waiting for you in your bedroom!” Lucy’s voice was bubbly as Ginger came through the entrance to her house. Lucy sailed down the stairs as Ginger removed her hat and gloves. “Thank goodness you’re home so early—let’s go.”
Ginger greeted the butler, who closed the front door behind her. She hurried behind Lucy, who was already on her way back up the stairs. She joined Lucy in the doorway of her room. On the bed was a large swath of opened packages revealing neatly arranged dresses, skirts, blouses, shoes, and hats.
Jaw dropping, Ginger approached the bed. “Is this all for me?” Lucy nodded eagerly. Ginger touched the fabric of a dress Lucy had laid out on the bed. Had her mother done this?
As ready-made outfits, they weren’t of the same caliber as the custom-tailored clothing Ginger had worn for most of her life before the war—but they were beautiful and stylish. More stylish than anything she currently owned.
She bit her lip, surveying everything Lucy had taken out. It didn’t surprise her that Lucy would have gone through it. Had she helped select it? “Where did this come from?” It must have cost a small fortune.
Lucy gave her a look of surprise. “Well, William, of course. Who else could afford all this?”
Of course. But the news produced a discomforting feeling in her gut. She didn’t want to owe William anything else, especially now that she was married. And Noah wouldn’t likely be thrilled with the idea. “Where is William?” She should probably thank him for his troubles.
“Getting ready for the charity polo match at Ezbekieh this afternoon. You should join us.”
“Should I?” Ginger smirked. She couldn’t think of a ready reason not to. “I suppose I can’t say I have nothing to wear.”
“Try this one.” Lucy thrust a light-blue tea party dress at her. “You’ll look so pretty in this.”
Lucy’s eagerness only confirmed that she’d chosen the outfits. Ginger bit her lip and walked behind the dressing screen in the room with the dress in hand. “Lucy, is there a reason you worry so much about the way I look?”
“To begin with, it’s a waste of your beauty for you to be constantly stuck in nursing uniforms and plain dresses.” Lucy’s voice carried over the dressing screen as Ginger disrobed.
“And …?” Ginger hung her skirt over the dressing screen.
“And what?”
“You said ‘to begin with.’ What’s the rest of it?”
Lucy cleared her throat. “Oh, I don’t know. I suppose I’ve just missed you. I always thought we’d do these things together someday.”
“Gush over frocks?” Ginger poked her head out and smiled at Lucy as she stepped into the dress.
“And go out in society together.” Lucy moved to the other side of the bed and leaned against it.
Ginger buttoned what she could, then came out from around the screen. “Can you help me finish?”
Lucy beamed then came over to help. “You look just as pretty in this as I thought you would.”
Ginger couldn’t remember the last time Lucy had been so affectionate. Was she up to something? Rather than voice her suspicions, she thanked her, then changed the subject. “Speaking of society, do you know of a Lady Hendricks?”
Lucy guffawed. “Of course I know her. Everyone knows her. She’s unpleasant, but filthy rich, so she’s invited to everything. She’ll be at the charity polo match. She’s quite philanthropic.”
Ginger smoothed her hands over the front of her dress, glancing in the mirror. Lucy was right. The color contrasted nicely with her hair and skin tone. “Do you think you can introduce me to Lady Hendricks if I go with you?”
“I can—or Mama. She knows her better than I do.” Lucy wrinkled her nose. “And I’d rather avoid Lady Hendricks if I can. Be careful around her. She’s likely not to have forgotten the scandal involving you and Colonel Benson. She remembers everything.”
Just what Ginger needed. As though finding out about Freddy Mortimer wasn’t difficult enough. She grasped the wedding band on her finger.
The drive to Ezbekieh didn’t take long, as the Braddock home was close to the European quarter of Cairo where the most popular places like Shepheard’s, the Opera House, and the gardens were located. As Ginger made her way to the polo field, she felt out of place despite her new outfit.
Did she really fit in anywhere anymore?
Not in the intelligence world, not as a nurse.
Not with her family.
She drew closer and the sounds of pony hooves from the game thudded against the hard earth. A few women stared at her. She didn’t recognize them. The men and women observing the match from lawn chairs were grouped within the cliques of their ilk.
“Mama, you won’t mind if we steal William to sit with our friends rather than yours?” Lucy said, shielding her eyes as she scanned the crowd for familiar faces.
Her mother gave William an encouraging smile. “No, of course not. I’m certain William has better things to do than listen to the gossip of old women like me.”
“Francine!” Lucy called out. Lucy’s friend stood from her seat, waving from a few feet away.
As Lucy hurried over toward her and the other young women in the party, Ginger exchanged a glance with William. “I’m certain Lucy’s introduced you to half of Cairo at this point.”
William smirked. “If I’m honest, I don’t remember even two names. It’s all been a bit of a blur.” He held his palm out, indicating that Ginger should lead the way. “Lucy has more energy than I.”
“She’s certainly an enthusiastic socialite.” Ginger smiled, clasping her handbag in her fingertips.
“And I take it you’re less enthusiastic?” William quirked a brow.
A breeze ruffled Ginger’s skirt, a welcome break from the heat of the late-afternoon sun.
“I don’t think it takes too much to be less enthusiastic than Lucy.
She’s quite young.” She regretted the words immediately.
Lucy wanted to be taken seriously and probably by William.
Painting her as a young girl in front of William would only cause problems later.
Lucy had already seated herself beside two young women Ginger didn’t recognize, along with a few officers. “Come and meet my friends. Francine and Katherine Platt, my sister Virginia. But we all call her …” Lucy stopped, with a look to Ginger, “Ginger.”
That was unusual. Lucy had never cared one whit what Ginger preferred. Maybe she’d been paying attention when William had asked the question the other night.
Francine and Katherine offered pleasant, identical smiles and Ginger blinked.
They were clearly twins. They introduced the officers with them.
Ginger took one of the open seats near them on the lawn, and William sat between her and Lucy.
“Ready to watch the match?” Ginger asked Lucy, leaning forward so she could see past William.
Lucy laughed. “Oh, you know me. I don’t know a thing about polo, but I love the refreshments.” Since her family had returned to Cairo, Lucy practically glowed. She was back in her element.
As Lucy turned back toward her friends, William’s eyes drifted over Ginger. “You look lovely, by the way. Is that from your new wardrobe?”
She fidgeted with her handbag. Not only had he spent that much money on her but he’d likely felt some level of encouragement to do so.
“Yes, thank you.” She gave him a faint smile. “I’m so grateful—”
The sound of the ponies drew closer, drowning out her words. Ginger looked up at the players on the field, the sunlight bright in her eyes.
Then one man on horseback came into view. Noah.
What was he doing here?
Fate would have it he would be playing. After all, he was a skilled horseman and athletic. Any team of officers that met on this field would gladly snatch him up.
He hadn’t noticed her yet and she bit her lip, staring at him. In the golden light of the sun with sweat soaking the shirt that clung to his muscles, he reminded her of a tanned, dark-haired …
She stopped her train of thought, then blushed.
Lucy watched her.
She looked away, then down at her lap. With her wedding ring there, their secret felt shared.
As alluring as he was, she couldn’t be the only one attracted to him. Jealousy snaked around her mind. He’s mine now though.
Lucy arched a brow. “Enjoying the view?”
“Aren’t we all?” one of Lucy’s friends chirped from her seat. She and her sister giggled.
Ginger pressed the cool side of her fingers to her cheek, wishing she’d brought a fan. “It’s warmer than I expected it to be.”
William gave an affable smile. “Isn’t this so splendid? When I think of the weather back home in England, it seems like I’ve come on a proper holiday.”
Lucy snickered at William’s obliviousness. Of course, Noah wasn’t the only comely man out there, but he stood out. It wasn’t the first time Ginger had seen women fawn over him. He had a magnetism, combined with an utter lack of interest in the attention given him, that made him irresistible.
Stupid, stupid Ginger. She had to do a better job of hiding her attraction to her husband.
The thought almost made her melt right there.
A smattering of applause broke into her thoughts as one team scored. “Do you know what chukka this is?” Ginger asked Lucy’s friend, who was closest to her. She didn’t know how Lucy could tell the sisters apart.
“The second,” the officer beside her replied.
William accepted a tall Pimm’s Cup from a man serving refreshments, then took one for Ginger. “Here, I’m certain you’re eager to unwind after your long day of work.”
“Ginny is a nurse,” Lucy told her friends. “She’s recently come to Cairo from Alexandria to work at a hospital here.”
As they murmured congenial responses, Ginger handled the cold glass. Cucumber and orange floated near the top, along with mint. She sipped it, sneaking a glance back at the field. Had Noah seen her?
“Are you a polo enthusiast?” William asked.