Sensing how uncomfortable Lindsay was with his attention on her, Christian addressed Ginny. "What I've shared with you and your friend, Miss Chisholm, are merely accusations for which I have no proof."

"But you believe them to be true," Ginny finished grimly."Please call me Ginny."

He ducked his head."Yes, Ginny. I believe them to be true."

"And the Robsons are at this Foundlings Placement Society?" Lindsay asked, rising to her feet as well.

He scratched his jaw."I was told they were not. Of course, I was also told that they did not take in any children from the fire at 84 Orchard Street. And I know for a fact that this is a blatant lie."He scowled, clearly unhappy with his inability to find out more."If you want to know for sure whether the children are there, I'm afraid you're going to have to go there and check things out for yourself." He pressed a piece of paper into Lindsay's hand."Here's the address."

Lindsay didn't even look at it before passing it to Ginny.

"Thank you, Christian," Ginny said, unable to contain her excitement at the prospect of another solid lead."We'll leave right away."She pulled closed the collar of her coat in anticipation of heading out into the cold."I could just kiss you for how kind you've been."

"Really?" both Lindsay and Christian blurted out in unison.

Ginny blinked, then flushed cherry-red."Well... I..." Her gaze darted from an open-mouthed Lindsay to the fair-haired man, who was suddenly smiling."Lindsay, I-"

Christian let out a genuine laugh that shook his entire body and caused Ginny to jump."I think it was a figure of speech." He cocked his head to the side and grinned, more than willing to be wrong."Isn't that right, Ginny?"

Relief melted Ginny's knees. "Yes. Yes, it was."

"Of course it was," he continued, eyes twinkling."Now that that's settled, you should also know that there is no need to rush out of here. Unless the noise in this place is already driving you mad."He raised his voice over the sound of footsteps running down the hall."Though I wasn't exactly able to find out what you were hoping, I am rather good friends with Mr. Ward's secretary and I was able to arrange an appointment for you to speak with Mr. Ward in the morning. It was the best I could do."

Ginny and Lindsay's gazes met, their next plan of action formed in the blink of two sets of determined eyes.

He shrugged and smiled a little."It also happily allows me the opportunity to offer you a room for the night. Three little boys were adopted out last night and since we're expecting four more tomorrow, we haven't bothered to fill the room yet. It's very plain, I'm afraid. But it is clean and the bed has fresh sheets." His gaze strayed out the window."Best of all, no snow."

"I don't know-" Lindsay hedged, not sure what Ginny would want.

"Please," he tried again."Those are storm clouds brewing again outside. It would be my pleasure for you to enjoy lunch and supper here as well. Our cook makes a mean stew."He cocked his head to the side and smiled."If you don't mind the absence of meat, that is."

Two little girls, one chasing the other, ran down the hall. Christen tried to grab one of them, but she just giggled louder as she evaded his hands."Girls!"

Ginny and Lindsay had to flatten themselves against the wall to keep from being run into. Lindsay grimaced in pain but said nothing, stepping back into the center once the two tiny whirlwinds had blown by.

Christian chuckled softly and scratched the back of his neck."Sorry about that, ladies. Saturdays are always a little crazy. C'mon now." He gave them both his most charming smile."Don't disappoint me now that I've gone to the trouble of tempting you. I'll throw in a bath all for the same low, low price of nothing at all." Though they hadn't said they would be, he knew they'd be sleeping on the streets if not here and the murder of a local prostitute just the night before still had him very unsettled."Where else can you find a deal like that?"

Lindsay glanced at her friend and shrugged."The decision is yours. I'll follow you anywhere, Ginny."Her lips curled into a genuine smile."But you already knew that."

"I knew that," Ginny confirmed softly, her voice so low and warm that Christian felt his own cheeks heat at the innocent but intimate exchange. Ginny took a moment to consider their options, which weren't many. True, she was anxious to head to the Wards' orphanage, but she couldn't deny that a night out of the cold would help both her and Lindsay regroup. It was, however, the rings around soft brown eyes that sealed their fate for the evening. Ginny was well aware that her friend hadn't slept a wink. That Lindsay had held her all night instead. A pang of affection for Lindsay pierced Ginny's heart.

Decision made.

"Thank you, Christian," the redhead said firmly. She bowed her head politely."We accept your most kind offer."

Lindsay grinned, hearing a confidence in Ginny's voice that had been absent only moments before. Atta girl. She stuck out her hand and the man took it automatically. "I didn't introduce myself before." Her grin turned slightly sheepish."I'm String Bean."

Chapter Seven.

It was well past bedtime at the orphanage, and the corner room on the second floor was quiet and dark except for the faint glow of light allowed in by the bedroom window. Faintly musty but free from dust, the room appeared to be well cared for, though it clearly hadn't seen fresh air since the autumn. It was nearly eight p.m. when Ginny leaned back on the bed on her elbows and groaned out her delight, purposefully tearing her eyes away from Lindsay's naked legs. Stop looking at her like that. She's your friend."Mmm. This bed is soooooooo soft. It feels great, Pumpkin Patch."

Lindsay snorted."From all that moaning and carrying on over there, I can just imagine that it does. And I think a pumpkin is a fruit, not a vegetable."

Ginny shrugged good-naturedly then burrowed a little deeper into the mattress, lying flat on her back. "You're just jealous because I'm all comfortable here and you're standing over there on the cold floor."She fought the urge to remind her dear friend that the doctor had told her she'd be more susceptible to illness than usual now that she had no spleen. She sighed inwardly, reluctantly acknowledging that it wasn't her place to fuss over Lindsay once the woman was capable of taking care of herself, though her instincts were screaming otherwise.

"True," Lindsay murmured honestly from her spot across the small room. Her back to Ginny, she gazed out into the night's sky, absently finger-combing her squeaky-clean, wet hair with one hand."It's really coming down out there." She rubbed a patch on the frosted glass clean with her fingertips.

Both women were dressed in rough-hewn, v-neck cotton nightshirts that reached to mid-thigh, gray woolen socks, and nothing else, courtesy of Christian, who had kindly seen to having their clothes laundered that afternoon. Much to Ginny and Lindsay's relief, he assured them that his laundress had the tightest clothes wringer in the city and that their garments would be dry by morning.

Lindsay idly watched the falling snow. Not a soul was traveling on the road below the window. The normally deep wagon wheel ruts that gouged the streets had been smoothed over by a deep layer of heavy powder that glistened in the lamplight."The streets are going to be horrible tomorrow," she mumbled.

"Mmm..." Ginny fluffed her pillow, scrunching up her nose as the pillowcase tickled the tender skin on the back of her neck."I expect it will be difficult. But that won't stop us from getting where we need to go."

Lindsay turned to regard Ginny seriously."No, it won't."

They held each other's gaze for several long seconds and Ginny could feel her temperature rising at the intense look Lindsay was giving her. Instinctively, she recognized the darkened, heavy-lidded eyes and the slightly erratic rise and fall of Lindsay's chest as poorly veiled desire. Her mouth went dry and she felt a vague ache blossom between her legs.

Ginny climbed beneath the blankets and sheet, yawning, her mind reeling at her own body's response and the fact that deep down inside she not only wanted to see that particular look again, she craved it. But she's a girl! her mind blithered. Still, her reaction was something she didn't think she could ignore. Keep ignoring, she reminded herself.

"Aren't you coming to bed?" Ginny asked, scrubbing what she was sure was a blush off her face. Lindsay was silent for so long that she was forced to glance up from the navy blue blanket and into eyes that twinkled with affection and ... fear.

Lindsay frowned a little at Ginny's attentive gaze and, in a moment of uncharacteristic insecurity and despite the fact that she was almost painfully clean, she glanced down at her clothes, then her hands, wondering if Ginny thought she was too dirty to share a bed with. Was she?

Ginny recognized the gesture for what it was and she felt a tiny surge of anger even asher heart sank."I wouldn't turn you away if you'd just crawled out of a pig pen, Lindsay." She smiled what she hoped was an encouraging smile. Lindsay was the most self-assured person she'd ever met."As it is, you're as shiny as a new penny." She inclined her head invitingly. "You don't get a chance at a bed often. C'mon."

A tiny smile edged its way onto Lindsay's face and she slowly padded across the room, passing a wooden cradle and a short three-drawer dresser as she moved. She licked her lips nervously and lifted the blanket and sheet to climb inside, moving over to the very edge of the bedsit was soft and warm and an involuntary sigh escaped her lips.

Ginny rolled over so that she was facing her friend. The bed was narrow. Just like the one I shared with Alice. But her stomach had never done flip-flops when her sister crawled into bed with her. This was very different. Ginny felt as though her senses were magnified; every breath, every heartbeat sounded loud to her ears. The rustling of stiff cotton sheets brushed against skin tingling with sensation and she drew in the scent of lavender soap and wool with every breath.

Lindsay eased over to her side as well, mindful of her ribs as she mimicked Ginny's position. Vibrant eyes gone nearly purple in the light made her smile in pure reaction. She fell into eyes that almost appeared translucent in the dim light and swallowed convulsively."Umm... This is nice."

Ginny nodded, feeling most of her nervousness melt away as she absorbed Lindsay's low, husked words. "It is," she softly confirmed. Ginny lifted her hand to gently reach across the space that separated them, moving towards Lindsay's face.

Unaccountably, Lindsay flinched.

Ginny's hand froze and then she slowly drew it back. Even when they'd first met, Lindsay hadn't seemed so apprehensive of her touch."What's the matter?" she asked, hurt coloring her words. She felt a little ill."You can't think I was going to do something to hurt you?"There was a quiet disappointment in Ginny's voice that made Lindsay's heart twist in her chest.

"No," Lindsay said quickly. "I just um..." Her eyes darted around the room, restless and anxious."I usually don't like to be touched... if I don't know it's coming, that is."

"Mmm," Ginny acknowledged. That much she knew was true. She had already suspected that someone... someone whose neck she could wring with her bare hands, had hurt her friend very badly. Oh, Lindsay.

Lindsay tried to shrug it off."I was just surprised, that's all."

Ginny winced inwardly, her eyes softening. "I'm sorry," she whispered."I should have said something."She gestured with her chin. "I was just going to, well, push back that bit of hair. It was falling in your eyes and-" And I wanted to see your face. The thought came unbidden but for once Ginny didn't fight it."You are so pretty," she said without thinking, her eyes widening when she realized she'd said it out loud.

"I...I am not!" Lindsay sputtered, unable to believe what she'd just heard.

Ginny narrowed her eyes and set her jaw."You are so, Lindsay Killian."

An expression dropped over Lindsay's face, so cold that Ginny had to fight hard not to shiver."You're making fun of me," Lindsay rasped, clearly wounded.

Ginny shook her head forcefully. "No, I'm not."She scooted closer to her companion, reaching out and grabbing hold of her nightshirt before the spooked woman could bolt from the bed."I wouldn't do that," she insisted gently."You know I wouldn't."

Lindsay's eyes slid shut."How can you think that?" Her voice was the barest of whispers and held a note of self-disgust."Look at you and... well, then just look at you." She opened her eyes and pointedly stared at her companion. "We're nothing alike."And she was right. Physically, though they were nearly the same height and close to the same weight, they looked drastically different.

Lindsay's frame appeared long and was covered with a lean layer of hard-earned muscle. To her eyes, the sharp planes of her face were far too harsh and, though her skin was pale, there was an overall darkness to her features that overshadowed her actual coloring. It didn't matter that the scratches on her face had disappeared with time and that the deeper cuts, the ones that had required stitches and had scarred, were well hidden by her clothing. She felt the way she felt, and missing a good portion of her left ear didn't exactly help her badly battered self-image.

Ginny, however, looked exactly the way Lindsay imagined a woman should. Even though she didn't have much weight to spare, there was a softness to her. Her shape was, all at once, feminine, alluring, and oddly maternal. Hope radiated from behind bright, youthful eyes, and deep dimples creased flushed cheeks when she laughed or flashed a heartfelt smile. The lush curves of Ginny's breasts, hips, and bottom were, to Lindsay, as inviting as they were beautiful.

"Lindsay?"Ginny waved her hand in front of Lindsay's face. "Hello?"

Lindsay's eyes suddenly darted from Ginny's body to her face."I... I..."

Ginny pressed her fingers to Lindsay's lips to quiet her."I have no idea what you're talking about or where you're getting these crazy ideas." In her rush to comfort her friend, she spoke from her heart, forgetting to be bashful about what was so painfully obvious to her eyes. "You are a beautiful woman, Lindsay, and kind and wonderful. Anyone who told you differently was a liar."

There was a fierceness in Ginny's words that startled Lindsay."But-"

"Shh..." Ginny crooned, her voice taking on a more tender note."Just listen to me."Her eyebrows lifted in gentle entreaty."Okay?"

Lindsay swallowed hard, very aware that Ginny had moved closer. She imagined that she could feel the heat of her skin through their nightshirts, the rhythmic warmth of Ginny's breath brushing against her face. She nodded, closing her eyes and drawing in a ragged breath when warm, tentative fingers reached out and delicately traced her eyebrows, then cheeks, stopping only to curl under her chin.

Ginny's heart began to pound. In a bright explosion of clarity, her mind finally caught up with signals from her body and she knew exactly what she wanted to do. She wanted to kiss Lindsay. The thought startled and excited her, and when Lindsay's eyes fluttered open again, she gasped, realizing that while she was nervous she wasn't the least bit afraid."Lindsay?"Ginny's gaze dropped to Lindsay's lips and she imagined their softness against hers. She could hear the darker woman swallow.

"Yeah?" Came the breathy reply.

"Can... Can I kiss you?"A hopeful gaze moved up to meet Lindsay's. "I know I shouldn't." Ginny's voice lowered an octave. "But... But I really want to."

Lindsay thought her heart would pound out of her chest."You did it before," she reminded Ginny, her calm, clear words sounding foreign to her own ears.

A slow smile worked its way across Ginny's face. Lindsay hadn't laughed or been repulsed by her shocking request."Mmm... I kissed your fingers. I remember."She scooted a tiny bit closer, holding her breath and praying that Lindsay wouldn't move to stop her.

"It was my first kiss."

Ginny's eyes widened a little."Really?"She didn't try to hide her delight."Mine too." She ducked her head, a pink flush tinting her skin."Well, except for Alice."

A bolt of jealously lanced through Lindsay before she realized who Ginny was talking about. Her eyebrows crawled up her forehead and stayed."You kissed your sister?" she croaked, the last word a note higher than the others.

Ginny nodded, wanting to curl up into a ball and die.

Lindsay's face took on a puzzled expression."On the mouth?"

Another half nod.

"Well, ewwwwww!"

"Don't say it like that! It was just one time." Ginny made a face. God, this is embarrassing."She was tired of practicing on her pillow and nervous about seeing John, her beau. And she wanted to... well..."

"Try it on a real pair of lips," Lindsay ventured. She was starting to enjoy the way her friend was squirming.

"Yes." Ginny suddenly had a hideous thought and her jaw worked a few times before she could managed to utter a word."You won't tell anyone, will you?"

"I dunno," Lindsay hedged, her own nervousness forgotten."I was planning on taking an ad out in the."

"Bu... Bu... you ca-" Ginny's eyes turned to slits when it finally hit home that she was being teased."That was not nice! But..." The corner of her mouth quirked and she reluctantly admitted, "It was funny."

Lindsay's body shook with silent laughter."I thought so."

"You would."Then Ginny recalled what had started this entirely embarrassing conversation and she wouldn't be distracted."So can I?"Oh, please.

"Kiss me?"Suddenly, Lindsay remembered why her heart had been in her throat only seconds before.

Ginny bit her lower lip and nodded mutely.

"We're both girls," Lindsay told her flatly.

Ginny looked at her like she was a dullard."I know that!"

"I'm just making sure."

"Does that mean you don't want to kiss me... because I'm a girl."Ginny crossed her fingers and toes.

Lindsay blushed. Badly."No," she said softly."I mean, it's okay that you're a girl. That's good. Very good. And you're sweet too. And-"

"Lindsay?"

Lindsay suddenly clamped her mouth shut aware she was rambling."Err... yes?" she said from between clenched teeth.

Ginny looked at her fondly, her heart swelling with every passing second."I can't kiss you if you're babbling."

Lindsay blinked."Oh."

With exaggerated slowness, Ginny lifted her head from the bed. To her surprise, Lindsay mirrored her actions, dark hair shifting as she moved. When their noses were almost touching and she could feel Lindsay's uneven breaths as though they were her very own, Ginny tilted her head just a fraction. Two sets of eyes closed and tentative, trembling lips brushed against each other with gentle passion.

The contact was brief and sweet and so tender that it made up for a lifetime of harshness in those few seconds alone. Lindsay's tongue briefly drew across Ginny's silky lower lip before she pulled away, a breathy sigh escaping her.

When the kiss ended, Ginny's eyes remained closed for a handful of heartbeats, as though she was in a trance. Then they popped open, brimming with wonder. Her blood sang through her veins and the urge to reclaim those silken lips was nearly more than she could bear. She touched her mouth in simple awe, tracing the moistness of her lips. Oh, my God.

"Wa..." Lindsay had to stop and collect herself before she could continue. The simple gesture had rocked her to the core."Was that okay?"

Okay? Ginny smiled brilliantly."That was very okay, Lindsay. I've-" She shook her head in confusion."I don't know what to say," she whispered. "I didn't know it would feel like that."She sat up a little, not trusting herself to keep from moving to repeat the wonderful experience."I didn't think it would be like that."Wow.

Lindsay cursed her own clumsiness. "I'm sorry," she said self-consciously, her face creasing into a worried scowl."I thought... I haven't ever...I never wanted to before, but with you I did and I mean...Ugh!"