A/N: I thank all of you who have been reading this, but I do feel obligated to issue a warning do to sexual content. Even though it is only referred to, and never breaks the PG-13 guidelines, I have found that there are people who are scared of that three letter word. ( I made a joke in a summary one time. The story involved swordplay and I noted that the chapter contained 'hack and slash'. The number of readers dropped by more than half.)
In truth, that word only appears once (in its six letter form) and you've already read it. Beside that, the chapter title alone should let you know that something's up.
Chapter Thirty Four: Ginny Ruins Her Life
"It's not fair," Ron scowled.
Fred and George laughed at him as they sat down on either side of him. Ginny walked over to the fireplace where her brothers were to find out what Ron was complaining about now.
"Professor Quirrell told me it was under pain of death." Ron's scowl deepened.
"And you hardly did anything," George chided.
"That's right," Fred encouraged. "All you did was talk about Quidditch."
"To a complete stranger."
"When you weren't supposed to say anything."
"Maybe that's why you can't go."
Ron looked up without humor. "You can't go either. That King put the ban on the entire family."
"That's only because they know what we're like," Fred laughed.
"Too true," George added. "We would have done the same thing you did, Ron."
"But we would have done it on purpose."
Both twins laughed.
Scowling Ron was not amused. "But what if Harry's in danger. We could help him."
"How?" Fred asked, his grin showing that he was not serious.
Frustrated, Ron called his brothers useless, and stood up to walk away.
"Sometimes, just being there can help," Ginny said in support.
"Thanks," Ron said appreciatively.
"I think Ginny's still sweet on Harry," Fred told George. The result of his remark was that both Ron and Ginny scowled as they left the common room.
Ginny couldn't get the thought out of her mind. What if Harry WAS in trouble. He had been gone for more than two weeks without any word. Something may have already happened.
Ginevra Molly Weasley would have denied it vehemently if anyone accused her of being in love with Harry Potter, regardless of what his name was now. She would admit that she was a close friend, well, a friend, and that she wouldn't mind if there was something between them, but that was normal. She could also remind anyone that he did save her life, him and Robert, but Robert was already in love with her best friend.
Ginny never told anyone but, once she heard about Pettigrew and a life debt, she 'knew' that she had one as well. That was the reason she seemed so attuned to Harry. She knew in her heart that something was wrong. She decided to talk to Professor Quirrell. A short visit couldn't hurt.
"No," Professor Quirrell said.
"No," Professor McGonagall told her.
The subject was not up for discussion.
Ginny scowled as she walked away. She looked very much like Ron at that moment. She had heard them talking about 'dire circumstances', and she was not stupid. She knew they were talking about Harry. And she had proven to everyone that she could handle herself. She proved that she had learned from her past mistakes. They were still treating her like a child and she was already Thirteen. It was her birthday. Ginny decided that she would show them she could handle herself.
Sneaking into the boy's dorm was easy, and she had made it a point never to mention that she knew how to get into Harry's trunk. Once she had the invisibility cloak it was even easier to sneak out. Now she only needed to choose her moment.
It seemed so simple. Professor Quirrell was always with someone, and he often went back and forth between worlds. On the other hand, Father Maurice was often alone, although he would only be at the school for another month. He felt an obligation to the students, and he was not needed in his own world at this moment.
She knew Father Maurice's routine perfectly. He had mentioned several times to Captain Grissom that he would often end his nap by going to his window and watching the cadets perform onboard the frigate. And so it was that they next day Ginny waited inside his office, hidden and quiet underneath the invisibility cloak. As she waited, she never once thought of whether or not it was a good idea. She had decided that someone should make sure Harry was safe. She owed Harry a life debt and therefore it should be her. Her mind was set. She would steal the stone, then use it.
Ginny Weasley was not completely foolish. She had prepared herself to make a conditional transfer to the other world. When she held the stone, she would will that it should only take her to Harry if he was in danger, although in the back of her mind was the image of her saving his life, and his being eternally grateful, and almost everybody around them would be better off as a result. In the past, she had even daydreamed about which sounded better: Mrs. Harry Potter or Mrs. Harry Somerset. Her daydreams usually ended up with her being Lady Ginevra.
Ginny listened for the steady snores and quietly slipped into the priest's private rooms where he lay sleeping on a couch. With a deftness that would have surprised her brothers, she quickly found the pouch that held the control stone and began to work it open. She grabbed the control stone, but forgot herself as she stepped away. Her foot caught on the cloak she was wearing, and she fell backward, hitting a chair.
Father Maurice was awake instantly, and saw Ginny lying on the floor, the invisibility cloak now lying underneath her. And he saw that she was dressed in the seaman's clothes that Grissom had given her to wear for her class. He also saw what was in her hand.
"Child, please do nothing. You do not understand the dangers you hold." The words were spoken softly but seemed to have the opposite effect. Ginny crawled backwards to get away from the priest as she tried to focus her mind on the stone. She tried to picture the image she had prepared. She tried to picture herself in that world, saving Harry if he was in danger.
The control stone is not as fickle as the Traveler stone itself. It must be given conditions, and if it can fulfill the conditions, it will. The circumstances were such that it could fulfill the conditions in Ginny's mind, but only because she added a variable in her thoughts: The word, 'IF'.
As Father Maurice watched in horror, Ginny Weasley faded out of existence to reappear . . . somewhere.
Captain French looked through his scope. He issued the call to set the sails to bring the Adventurer closer to the three ships in the distance. They would make contact sometime in the late afternoon if all remained on their current course. It would delay their return to Portsmouth by a few hours but they would see home soon enough.
"Mister Planck," The Captain called to the midshipman hurrying to his post. "Move along or we will be docked before you get to your place."
"Aye, Sir," the sullen fifteen year old said as he continued on his way.
The Captain nodded his approval, and set to look at the sails again. Then the call was heard from the lookout, as the Commander came up.
"A SHIP." A call came from the rigging.
"ANOTHER FRIGATE?" the Commander called back.
"NO SAILS," came the reply.
"We'll get a closer look," French said, "PILOT SET SAIL DUE SOUTH."
"AYE, CAPTAIN."
"Commander, call to quarters. Have the guns ready but the ports closed. It may be one of ours on a rescue, or even a friendly ship."
"Aye, Captain. Look safe but be ready to hit back."
The Captain moved from his larboard position to the fore. He wanted to know for certain. In the meantime, he had all the preparations made, including the use of the engines should they need to run. At four bells, 10:00 A.M., he ordered the ship around and called the officers to conference.
"The lookout has completed his count. There are at least eight Greatships, and three dozen frigates and gunboats. They are all Turkic, probably their entire Atlantic fleet, although I do not see how they could get them together without our knowing."
"Where are they heading, though?" Commander Slye mused. "I would guess Dover. Perhaps Calais. Or even both. I think they mean to invade us."
"Dover?" Lieutenant Wallace asked incredulously. "It's madness."
"Madness?" Captain French asked with a humourless grin. "To take out our two main ports by surprise attack at the beginning of a war? The madness of a genius if he can pull it off."
"But why us?" Wallace asked. "It's the Byzantines they hate."
"They hate us as well, I assure you, Lieutenant, and we did send a fleet their way to let them know where we stand. I would wager they massed their Mediterranean fleet for a surprise for the Greeks. But we are here, and we must send the alert. We head north under full sail. Once we reach land, we contact the nearest barracks in the first port we find. They should be able to teleson the message to the Admiralty. I want both of you to understand what our objective is. That fleet has sent two cutters after us, and they can catch us if we do anything but head in a straight line. All it takes is one lucky shot by one of their marksmen and I could lose my command. I want everyone on this ship to know what we are doing"
Lieutenant Wallace swallowed. This was more than a run with a privateer. "Aye, Sir. I will inform the midshipman and then tell the men."
The only good thing about Dreadnaughts is that they were slow. Any frigate could outsail them. But those ships were deadly. Their metal hides would bounce back any normal shot, and their guns were massive by comparison. One shot from them could sink any sail. A frigate had to run.
It was six bells, 3:00 P.M., when the sails were sighted. The Captain called for his scope. It was only one ship and they would intercept it if they remained on course. "Commander, set the signals for danger, and to flee to the west. We'll try to warn them, whoever they are."
"Aye, Sir, and if it is one of theirs?"
"The guns are ready are they not."
"They are, Sir."
The Captain watched as the ship came closer. "Damn them," he cursed.
The Commander came forward. "Sir?"
"That ship. She is from Roumeleia, obviously a merchant. She has pulled back her sails and turned to meet us. She will be sailing in the wrong direction." The Captain's frustration was evident.
"But our signals?"
"Are probably just colourful pennants for them. Have the pilot alter course. We will try to pass alongside and give them the warning. It is all we can do. Commander, see all men to stations."
"Ahoy, Byzantine," Captain French called to the merchantman as they began to pass. He had shouted the word Danger when a marksman shot him dead. At that signal the ports opened on the disguised sloop and eleven cannons opened up in a broadside of chain and bolts, aimed upward. The rigging was destroyed as were most of the sails. The main mast was also cracked but holding, but there was no immediate movement up top. Almost everyone who was still on deck had been killed or wounded.
One of the exceptions was the midshipman, Henry Planck, bosun's mate. He was on the other side of the ship, in the rigging, when the guns went off. As he saw the flash, he was suddenly hit by a falling body and thrown overboard, where he landed with a loud splash. Whoever had fallen into him landed almost next to him. Other splashes could also be heard.
Lieutenant Wallace was on the gun deck when he heard the noise. Without hesitation he ordered the ports opened and the guns to fire. Thanks to his quickness and the preparedness of his men, the Byzantine was still broadside to them so that twelve of the sixteen guns still hit their mark. But the men of the Adventurer were not aiming for the sails. They were aiming for the gundeck or lower. The Byzantine, not thinking of a possible return of fire, was unprepared, not that it would have made much difference. Her gun deck was a shambles. She could not fire another round.
The Commander shouted orders to all who could be spared. The engines were engaged, and the ship forced to turn. He looked for the Byzantine and saw her sailing toward the Turkic cutters. She could be ignored. But he needed to rescue his men. By his count at least a third of the crew above decks had jumped to avoid the chain. That was too many men to lose, or to abandon. As the remaining sails were cut or hauled away, Seamen ran to the sides to look for survivors.
Ginny's head popped to the surface and she spit out a mouthful of salt water. "Harry, Harry," she began to call out.
A black-haired boy came up next to her as she called out a third time. "Here," he coughed, "Thanks. I thought I was done for."
Ginny thought his voice sounded funny and turned to look at him. She could almost hear Fred saying behind her, "Oops, wrong Harry." Instead she heard Harry gasp when he saw her.
Henry was amazed but questions could be left for later. This strange girl, who had knocked him off the ropes had saved his life. But she was dressed as a seaman. And she knew how to act like a seaman. As they noticed the Adventurer turning, she did not try to swim for the ship but for where the ship would be. And she paused only long enough to make sure he could follow.
"I'm behind you, angel," he called out as he swam after her. As the ship passed in its sharp turn, they grabbed the rigging that had been laid over the side. Henry grinned again as the girl climbed up with a degree of experience. They, and the rest of the men, clambered on board and Henry took a deep breath. That was when he looked at his savior and grinned. "Will you marry me, angel?"
The girl gave him a wry smile.
Captain Slye looked over the crew once the last of the survivors was picked up. The cutters were closer but still far enough away. The Byzantine sloop had slowed them down to trade information but not enough to give the Adventurer a clear edge. All of the crew were clearing the deck of debris or tying off the ropes. Even the strange girl was helping. It was clear she had a knowledge of the sea.
"Lieutenant, do you have the casualty list?"
"Here, Sir, and I should note that among the missing are two of the boys. Our young lady could have been either of them. Probably the Hampton boy. He always overdressed, and never said much."
"And gave us the impression that he was a half-wit," Slye noted. "That girl is afraid of something. Very much afraid."
"Sir, if I may. A fair number of the boys the Navy takes as crew are runaways or orphans. Her fear is understandable. If she tells us who she is, we will send her home." The Lieutenant paused. "Regardless of what home is like."
Slye nodded. "Mister Wallace. You say that with a level of personal understanding. You made your way through the ranks?"
"Aye, Sir. I myself came on board listed as an orphan. I think I understand her all to well."
"Then I am open for suggestions. Otherwise I must turn her over to the dockmaster when we reach port." The captain paused to look aft at the pursuing cutters. "If we reach a port."
"There is one possibility, Sir, although I hesitate to suggest it because of the girl's apparent age. She saved Mister Planck by knocking him overboard as the sloop's guns fired their chains at us. Mister Planck suggested they marry. It was not a serious remark but . . ."
Slye laughed at the suggestion. "Mister Wallace, you are a master tactician. That would easily solve all of our difficulties. After all, ships in time of peace may transport an officer's wife and family. She is then free to leave this ship without fear of an inquiry."
"If she will agree, Sir," Wallace pointed out. "And if she is of age. Even then, we do have one potential problem. Under the circumstances, she will be examined by a healer when we dock, nominally to see to her health, but also to determine that this is not a ruse. The girl must be willing to do what is necessary."
Slye nodded. "A difficult choice for such a young girl, but if you are correct about her background, we can try to make it less painful. I have friends who could use a servant . . ."
"And," Wallace continued, "we must ask Mister Planck to give up all hope for future happiness."
"Perhaps some happiness," the Captain said with amusement. "I think if I wave a possible commission at him, Mister Planck will agree quickly enough. Besides, it is not as though he will have to stay married to the girl."
Ginny was expecting the summons. She reported to the Captain's cabin as soon as she could be spared. They were in such dire need at the instant that they put her to work once they knew she could handle herself. She was not surprised to see Henry Planck there as well. As both men were standing, she remained standing as well. After the day's events no one could tell that her clothes had been spotless only a few hours ago. She fit in with most of the crew.
"I know you do not want to say anything," the captain told her in a calm voice, "but if we could have at least your Christian name."
"Gine. . ." Ginny started to say, then caught herself. Ginevra might not be a common name and that alone could be enough for them to find her. Ron had said 'under pain of death'. And Harry, her Harry, had said that in this world they speak plainly. If they say they will do something, they will. She stopped herself, but the captain smiled.
"Jenny is fine. We only wanted a name. It is hard to keep calling someone 'You There'."
Ginny smiled politely but she was still nervous. The captain and crew had the wrong idea about her. They thought she had disguised herself as one of the boys on board, one of those who had been lost. She could not tell them the truth.
"Jenny." Captain Slye spoke softly. "We do want to help you. We know you do not want to be turned over to the yard when we dock, but that is what we are supposed to do." The Captain noticed her expression flicker, perhaps a flicker of hope. "And a fair number of men on this ship have had similar difficulties with their lives. We do have a solution, which you might be agreeable to."
"I don't understand, Sir."
"Well." The captain paused. "Mister Planck noted that you specifically called his name after you took him over the side with you. It appears that you are taken with our bosun's mate. If that is the case, Mister Planck has agreed to help us in resolving this issue. I need to ask, however, if you know how old you are."
Ginny suddenly understood what the captain was talking about. A woman on board at sea was not permitted unless she was family. And she knew how old she had to be to be considered an adult. She decided on the truth.
"Thirteen. Yesterday was my birthday."
The Captain nodded with relief. "You are old enough but barely. And that could work in your favour."
Ginny gave the Captain a confused look, but Henry Planck stepped up to her and took her by the hand.
"Jenny, would you consent to be my wife?"
"What?"
"Jenny, it is this way. We will have to take vows. The Captain can witness that. And we will have to consummate the marriage. But once we are on shore we can ask the church to disallow the union because of your age. And Jenny, the captain can make arrangements for you to have a place, as a maid perhaps. He has friends. You will be taken care of. You need never have to return home, if that is what you are afraid of."
Ginny's look shocked Henry, but he had no idea of the truth of her situation. He misinterpreted her fear. After all, she had revealed herself to save his life and she knew she was saving him. Somehow, some way, she must truly care for him.
"Jenny," he said urgently, "I know this must be hard for you, but it is the only way. To be honest I would not object if the marriage lasted more than one night. I will understand if you do not want to be married to me. For my part, I would want someone like you. Not only are you beautiful, you know about life at sea and you can understand me." He added as tenderly as possible, "I would be willing to commit myself to a lifetime with you because of what happened on this one day. And I will be as gentle with you tonight as I can."
Henry moved his hands to her shoulders. "The only other choice you have is the hope that you can run away again. I will not force the issue. If you think that would be better, then that is what we will do."
Ginny paused as she thought about all of her alternatives. And she thought about the stone, her best solution, that now lay somewhere on the ocean floor. She heard Henry ask once more, "Jenny, will you marry me?"
Ginny looked down and tried to think, but she had only two options. She steeled herself and quietly said yes, then cringed as Henry's hands seemed to take a possessive hold. The Captain called in the Lieutenant and the First Mate, then began the ceremony. It was deliberately brief. They held hands as Ginny said the words she needed to say and Henry his. Then he kissed her. It was also brief.
No one congratulated them. The three men left, with the captain giving the couple his cabin for the remainder of the night. Everyone looked on it as a marriage of convenience to be ended in the early morning, assuming they reached port.
Ginny jumped when Henry touched her shoulder.
It was by the first light of dawn that land was sighted, and the ship came quickly to the docks. It was a small seaport somewhere in Devon but it was along the communications lines. The message was relayed to Dover and London within minutes.
Bosun's Mate Henry Planck was relieved of his duties for the rest of the day. It was supposed to be sufficient time to settle the matter. He escorted his wife from the ship and took her to the local church. He knew she was afraid, but he was doing all that he could. He had her wait while he went to talk to the Monsignor, and was grateful when one of the sisters of the attached school offered her time. His conversation with the Monsignor was short and to the point.
"Are you Jenny?" the sister asked. "I am Sister Claire. I heard about your adventures. I hope their memories will be treasures for you in the future. I understand you are married."
"For now," Ginny said with a touch of bitterness.
"I will not judge you, child, but if I may put my hands on you."
A surprised voice. "Are you a healer?"
An amused response. "I thought that was obvious." Sister Claire touched either side of her head, talking lightly as she moved her hands to Ginny's back and chest, then her stomach. Ginny relaxed as the pains she had been feeling seemed to melt away, including the pain of marriage. "Did you want to marry him?"
"Not really."
"But he is asking my husband to nullify your marriage. I would have thought that is what you wanted."
"I don't want that either."
"Do you know what you want?" Sister Claire asked that question with a sense of importance.
"I want what I can't have," Ginny said mournfully.
"I will be honest with you, child. You must know what you want and you must decide now. I do not know what road brought you here but you must choose your path." Sister Claire placed her hand on Ginny's stomach. "For good or ill, your life is no longer your own."
Ginny's eyes bulged as she understood and fear took hold of her. "But he doesn't want me. He did it for a promotion, and for . . ."
"You will need clothes. We have some in your size that we can spare." Sister Claire stood up. "Did you ask him what he wanted?" She left before Ginny could answer
Ginny put her hand on her stomach. She knew what Sister Claire had meant but it seemed unreal. She took a deep breath and stood up, and went to find Henry Planck.
"Jenny," Henry said with a polite smile. "We were coming to get you. All you need do is make your mark on these two papers."
Ginny grabbed the first paper and ignored the quill. "Do you mind if I read it first?" She wanted to smirk as Henry looked surprised. "If I sign this, then we are officially married."
"In the eyes of the Church, and to satisfy the Navy that you were on the ship as family," the Monsignor told her, "but your husband has told me of your circumstances. You might prefer to make your mark then to sign your name."
Ginny nodded and took the quill, marking the place shown her. She handed the paper to the Monsignor and Henry handed her the second paper. She read the paper with its simple language. The marriage would be annulled because both parties realized that she was too young to understand the commitment she was making. As she read the paper, a drop of water fell on it and smeared the fresh ink. She began to cry.
"Please. I don't want to be alone."
"Jenny?" Henry was confused.
"I'll be your wife," Ginny pleaded. "I'll do whatever you want. Please."
"Child," the Monsignor said soothingly, "The Church will help you."
Ginny shook her head. Her fist was in her mouth as she tried to stifle her sobs. She felt as though she couldn't breathe. She didn't know what to do. "Please help me," she said so softly that no one heard.
Then someone pulled her into a hug and held her tight. It was Henry holding her and whispering to her that he was here, that he would be here as long as he needed her. His voice seemed to hold a grateful tone.
"Jenny," Henry whispered to her. "I told you before. I would be proud to have you as my wife. You are young, but so am I. We have time to work things out. And when you're older, and a woman . . ."
"I am a woman," Ginny said, and tried halfheartedly to push herself away.
"I know you are," Henry said condescendingly as he put his hand on her cheek.
"You don't understand," Ginny said as she took his hand and put it on her stomach. "I am . . ." She began to cry again.
Henry understood. She didn't need someone for the future. She needed someone now. If he left her, she would truly be alone. Henry blinked back a tear of his own. He was eight again and a man in a blue jacket was holding a coin. The Mother Superior was telling him to take it. He did as he was told, and the man took him from the orphanage and put him on the ship, and he cried. The sisters were gone and he was alone. Then someone came and held him. He said he would be there to help but that Henry would have to work hard. With that help, the ship became a home.
Henry surprised everyone including himself by laughing. He put his hands on either side of Ginny's head and forced her to look at him.
"Jenny Planck, you are my wife and if you are willing to put up with me, I will do everything I can for you. Do you understand?" Henry forced her to nod her head yes, and she ended up laughing through her tears. "This marriage will take a great deal of work, but if you are willing to try, I will be there to help. Will you try?"
"I will," Ginny promised. When she walked out of the church arm in arm with her husband, they were both smiling. Henry would be there if he needed her.
"Ye see," one of the seamen said as they noticed the couple.
His friend nodded, and both walked up to Henry and Ginny. "Excuse me, Sir, Goody Planck."
"That's you dear," Henry said when Ginny jumped, then turned to the two men. "That's the first time she's been called by her married name."
Both seamen grinned, and the one continued. "Begging your pardon, Sir, but when we was cleaning the decks, I found this." He pulled out a rag and showed them the control stone. "I thought it might be yours, Ma'am, because it's such a pretty thing." He noted Ginny's look of recognition. "I know it's just a polished stone, ain't worth much, but if it were the biggest ruby in Araby, I'd still give it back to you."
Ginny gratefully took the stone wrapping it again in the rag, and thanked the seamen as best she could, but her words were cut short by the ringing of the ship's bell. "We have to go," she said, remembering from her lessons what the bell meant.
"Jenny," Henry said anxiously, grabbing her arm. "WE have to go. You have to stay on shore." He reached into his pocket, and pulled out some money and gave it to her. "I didn't want to rush this but now I have no choice. This will get you to London. Find a place THERE. Do not go to Portsmouth, and especially not to Dover. Once you have a flat, go see Naval Affairs. I have to go." He kissed her strongly, which took Ginny by surprise. "We'll have to work on that," Henry added with a wry smile.
Somehow, part of the old Ginny surfaced. "I'll work on it while you're gone."
Henry looked at her smirk and smiled. "That's my angel." Then he ran to the ship.
Ginny watched him, and every other sailor, run to the ship. She was alone.
The young girl walked the streets of London with more of a sense of depression than of awe. With help from the Monsignor, she found a ride to London, to the markets. From there she found out exactly how far it was to the Office of Naval Affairs. Then she had to wait for a clerk.
It was already late in the afternoon when she finally sat down with someone. Everything went fine until she was asked for her address. Minutes later, she was out the door. She could come back after she had a place to stay.
"OY, Dearie." The woman shook the sleeping girl. Ginny stirred on the bench she was sitting on, where she had fallen asleep. "What you doin' out here at this time of night?"
Ginny rubbed her eyes. "I was looking for a flat. I was tired from walking."
"Well, you pick a right bad spot. You must have just missed the last patrol. The Armsmen will pick you up if they find you sleeping here." The woman looked at the girl. "You said you were looking for a flat? You don't have no place to live? How do you expect to pay for a place?"
"I have money," Ginny said carefully. "But I didn't know where to look."
At the woman's prompting, Ginny got up and they walked together. "My name's Mary."
Ginny paused. "Uh, Jenny. Jenny Planck."
"You don't sound too sure."
"I was married only a couple of days ago." It took little prodding for her to tell her story, but Ginny did remember to tell that she was hiding on the ship as a boy.
The woman laughed. "You do have a fine mess to deal with. But I'm already done with work, so I'm going to help you. I have a friend, we're in the same profession. She said there's a vacant room where she is."
Ginny smiled at her good fortune. It might be the middle of the night but in the morning she would have somewhere to stay. "Can I afford it?"
"Dearie, if ye can't it's because your husband came home. And even then, you just might."
"Thank you, Mary. I do appreciate it."
"The truth is, Jenny, I'd have left you on your own if I had any sense, but then you might have ended up as competition."
"Competition?"
Mary stopped to look at the young girl. "You must be as innocent as they come. Jenny, it is after midnight. I'm a woman out walking all by herself, except that you're here. Don't you know what that means?" She received a blank stare, and rolled her eyes. "I'm a whore, dearie. Do you know what a whore is?"
Ginny nodded with sudden fear. "Then why are you helping me?"
Mary smiled. "Any number of reasons, really. I don't want you ending up like me. I don't want the competition. I thought you might be a new girl." She pointed at the newspaper that Ginny had bought. "You know your letters. I thought you might have been a runaway." She leaned to whisper, "I was taking you to the Armsmen."
Ginny had to give an amused smile because of the way Mary had said that last line.
"It's this way, Jenny. Once you told me about Henry and the baby, I had a thought. You need help and I can help, and maybe you can return the favour."
"How?" Ginny asked carefully.
Mary pointed to the newspaper a second time. "I have a boy. He's five. The church says they'll teach him, but . . . they'll all know his mother makes her living on her back" She smiled. "Could you teach him his letters?"
Ginny thought about the strange request and nodded.
A few minutes later, Mary snorted. "The very luck. There's Sarah."
Ginny looked out of her window at the crowded London street. It was a noisy neighborhood but she was assured it was safe because 'there's always someone around'. It was a small room and not that lucky a find. It was in the front, where all the noise was. But it was a place to stay and it was cheap.
Mary told Sarah all about "Jenny," and Sarah woke up the concierge as early as she could. And now she had a place to stay.
Ginny sat down on the bed and thought to herself. A week ago, she was still twelve. She had a family, she went to school, she had friends. Now she was alone in a strange city in a strange world with a stranger for a husband and a baby on the way, and her first two friends in London worked at the world's oldest profession. Ginny was grateful for all the noise. It meant that no one could hear her. She was still crying when she went to sleep.
