Chapter 31 #3
Ginger set her hand on the rail, dashing down the stairs when Lucy reached the ground level. At the bottom of the staircase, Lucy gave a little cry. Then, she covered her mouth, before she flung her arms around the neck of the man standing near the bottom step.
Stephen.
The world around Ginger seemed to grind to a screeching, exaggerated halt. She gripped the rail, her knees buckling. Then Stephen lifted his light-blue eyes to hers, his head tilting to the side as his arms enclosed Lucy.
The hair on the back of Ginger’s neck stood on end.
He was dressed in white tie, his gaunt face clean-shaven.
As though he was a guest.
Ginger’s heart slammed into her chest, then took off at a pulse that made her dizzy. Though it had long since healed, the scar above her heart burned at the memory of the last time she’d seen him in the desert.
She hesitated, wanting to run back and yell for Noah.
But she couldn’t leave Lucy with him. Not even for a second.
Stephen held her gaze, unblinking, as she took the last steps down toward him, her legs feeling heavy. She needed a gun. A knife. Anything.
She needed to get him away from Lucy.
Ginger reached Lucy as she released Stephen from the tight embrace. Grabbing Lucy’s arm, Ginger hauled her back toward her. “Ginny, look.” Lucy wiped a few tears from her cheeks. “It’s Stephen. He’s back. At long last.”
Not telling Lucy the truth about Stephen had been reckless. Ginger gave Stephen a contemptuous look, not caring who overheard her or what confusion she might cause Lucy. “Stay the hell away from my sister.”
Lucy gasped. “Ginny! That’s no way to greet an old friend.”
A few passersby gave them a look, too polite to intervene but curious at the obvious display of Ginger’s contempt for Stephen.
“Darling. I’ve missed that fire in your soul.” Mockery seeped through Stephen’s voice, contempt on his cracked lips. He couldn’t hide his recent imprisonment entirely, no matter how well-dressed or clean he was now.
But why was he free?
His presence here showed an utter lack of concern at his status as a fugitive criminal.
Ginger positioned herself between Stephen and Lucy. “She might not know what you are, but, believe me, I will tell her. I see now I should have done it a long time ago. I know exactly what you are, you bastard. So stay away.”
“Have you gone mad?” Lucy’s hands clenched into tight fists.
Ginger stared her down over her shoulder with an unmistakable, hard look.
“Go back upstairs and find Mother and William. Tell them we need to leave now.” She prayed, for once, Lucy would cooperate.
She didn’t want to reveal Stephen’s murder of their father right here but she would if it made Lucy listen to her.
Lucy’s eyes searched hers, wide with confusion. “But it’s Stephen—”
“And I’m telling you, he’s not the man you think.
Now go. I’m more than willing to make a scandalous, embarrassing scene that people will gossip about for weeks if you don’t.
” Ginger didn’t have to read her mind to understand her heartbreak.
Whatever hopes Lucy had harbored for William had likely been destroyed today, either when William had talked to her family or just moments ago.
And now, here Ginger was trying to cryptically inform her that the other man who had caught her childish fancy was a villain.
Anger burned in Lucy’s eyes, unlike anything Ginger had seen before.
Whatever progress they’d made, the fractional advancement of their relationship into friendship teetered in the balance.
She thinks I’m doing this on purpose.
“You ruin everything.” Lucy managed after a few beats, then turned on her heel and ran back up the stairs.
Ginger turned back to face Stephen. They were relatively alone, but thankfully there were palace guards nearby. Some help, if necessary. “I have no quarrel with your mother and sister, Ginny. I don’t mean them any harm. In fact, I think it’s wise for them to leave right now.”
She gave him a hard stare. He knows about the bomb. “The people here tonight are innocent civilians, Stephen.”
His eyes flickered, but he looked pleased. “Then you’re aware of the imminent danger we’re all in.”
She lowered her voice. “These are people who you once considered friends. What good will this do? The nationalists have no more desire to be ruled by the Germans than they do by the British.”
Stephen gave a shrug. “I have no interest in the plans of nationalists. Or Germany.” Taking a meaningful step toward her, he ducked his chin. “For many months now, the only thing that’s interested me is returning every favor a certain colonel bestowed upon me.”
He reached for her but she stepped back, the heel of her shoe jutting against the bottom step. Her pulse increased. “Noah did nothing to you. You brought everything upon yourself.”
Stephen’s hand dropped to his side. “I see things differently. And really, what else matters but what people perceive? Truth is a tricky thing. All it takes is a few well-planted lies in the garden of the mind, and ideas sprout. Ideas that grow so tall that they shadow the sun. Until all anyone can remember is the dark. And everything else in that garden is forgotten.”
Ginger recoiled from his words. What is he planning?
As she searched his gaze, Stephen squinted toward the chandeliers throwing light into the staircase.
“In fact, because I know you’re so worried about these people, I’m going to give you a choice.
Go now, to the cellar, and find that device you’re worried about. Save them. It’s in the wine cellar.”
He must be lying. Why would he tell her? She caught her breath. “Or?”
“Or find your lover. Tell him I planned it all from the start. That he would be involved in the assault of a British officer. That he would supply a missing lorry of arms to a nationalist group. And tonight, his attempt to blow up Abdin Palace. And then he’ll be the traitor.”
What was he talking about? She only knew about Captain Young. She furrowed her brow. How did he possibly think he could make Noah culpable of so many crimes? “No one will ever believe you—”
“Won’t they?” Stephen adjusted his bow tie, as though it were loose around his neck.
“No, they won’t. Whatever Noah has done was for Lord Helton—”
“You mean Lord Reginald Helton, of course? As in the man who freed me from prison just days ago? Who signed papers swearing his knowledge of Noah Benson’s intent to frame me for all his own crimes and illicit activities?
Helton, a man desperate enough to do anything to free his daughter and angry enough at you for breaking your word to him to be swayed in his loyalties? ”
The ground beneath Ginger’s feet gave way again.
It can’t be true.
Would Lord Helton betray Noah like that?
… and her?
But Victoria was free, wasn’t she? Where was Lord Helton, exactly?
Stephen smiled cruelly. “Yes, dear girl. I’ve already won.
There’s nothing you can do. And now, you can go and try to tell Noah.
But if you do, you’ll bring these walls down around you.
Or I go up there now while you try to save these people.
Officials are on their way to arrest Noah, and I plan to make sure he doesn’t get away. ”
The soft strains of violins from upstairs, the gaiety of the laughter and noise, blurred with the pounding of her heart. She willed Noah to come to the doorway to save her from this excruciating choice.
But what could she do if she went to the wine cellar? Stephen did nothing without an ulterior motive. If she went anywhere alone, she was vulnerable to his attack. “But … I-I don’t know how to dismantle a bomb. What am I supposed to do?”
“It’s easy enough. Remove the detonation cords from the blasting caps.” Stephen shrugged.
As though she knew what that meant.
Did he want her to choose to go upstairs?
Her mouth felt dry, her fingertips trembling. “I’ll tell the guards about the bomb. I’ll scream. Make your plan known to all who are here. You can’t stop everyone.”
Stephen’s lips pursed. “Then you may seal the fate of all who are here.” He leaned toward her.
“How do you think I slipped a device in here while I was in prison? I have help, Ginny. There’s someone else planning to detonate the device if I am unable or if a scene is made.
” He pulled out a pocket watch. “Steady now. If you don’t choose, I’ll have to choose for you.
If you don’t go to the cellar, then I will.
If you go, then I’ll go upstairs. Tick-tock. ”
Bile crept up her throat.
Her family was upstairs. Noah was upstairs.
Everything Stephen was telling her could be a lie.
But if it isn’t?
If she did nothing to try to save them from the bomb, would they all perish?
She let out a shaky breath, then shouldered her way past Stephen, her head feeling dizzy with uncertainty. Who knew what she would find in the cellar, but what choice did she have?
“Save them, Ginny.” Stephen’s voice sounded behind her, a soft creepy whisper. “If you can.”