A Zephyr Rising by Annabelle McCormack

Author:Annabelle McCormack [McCormack, Annabelle]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Independently published

Chapter Eight

Ginger rushed into the sitting room at her aunt’s house in London. She surveyed the quiet scene—Henry resting on the sofa reading the newspaper, their aunt and grandmother having tea. She kept her emotions in check and then said, “I’ve decided I want to be a nurse.”

Her aunt, midway to lifting her teacup to her lips, paused. A curious and flabbergasted expression glimmered in her eyes. No doubt she found Ginger’s appearance—still in the gown from the previous evening, hair bedraggled—to be outrageous enough. Ginger had done her best to tidy herself, but she was aware of how ridiculous she appeared for the time of day.

Henry lowered his paper and Gran turned toward her, chewing a biscuit slowly. Gran spoke first. “Heavens. It’s Ginny. For a moment I thought the voices in my head were speaking aloud at last.” The very faintest lilt of a Scottish accent was evident in Gran’s voice. Her grandmother had been out of Scotland for most of her life, but Ginger had always loved the way she spoke.

Henry gave his grandmother a wry smile and folded his newspaper. “I highly doubt the voices in your head are declaring their desire to become a nurse.” He stood and approached Ginger. Though he’d clearly slept and bathed, the bruise on his cheek still altered his appearance. “Now what’s all this?”

Ginger had expected this reaction. Though they were the three people in her family who promised to be the best candidates to give the news to, she had a sudden urge to retract the statement. At least before she’d spoken it, she relished the excitement. Now she was nervous.

“She says she wants to be a nurse, you ninny.” Her aunt replaced her cup on its saucer with a clink and motioned to her servant, who waited nearby to pour a third cup. “Come and have a cup of tea, Ginger dear. It’s a delicious oolong. You’ve had a frightful night and morning. Giles can order a maid to draw a long, hot bath. And we’ll fetch you some of Meg’s clothes. I can hardly believe you’ve been wandering in public looking like that.”

Ginger swallowed her disappointment. Of all people, she’d expected support from her mother’s sister. Aunt Madeline was outspokenly political—a supporter of women’s rights. She’d even taken Meg to some of the suffragette rallies.

“I am tired.” Ginger set her handbag on the sofa. “But I’m not delusional. I want to be a nurse. At first, I thought perhaps a doctor. The London School of Medicine is just around the corner from the hospital. With the war coming, we will need women as doctors and nurses. But then I realized by the time I finish the training, the war may very well be over. So a nurse it is. I even had the matron lend me a couple uniforms so I can take them to the tailor and have some custom-made for myself.”

“Nurses and doctors, my goodness, what a scandal. I can see it now: ‘Earl of Braddock’s daughter to become a nurse.

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