Jim Bishop gave her his colorless smile, nodded to Rafael Luna and steered Ginny to an alcove half-hidden by a huge potted palm.

“I am glad to see you safe,” he said before she could speak, “for everyone has been worried about you. You are well, are you not?”

“No, but now is not the time or the place to confide to you all the details, except that you must rescue me from Rafael Luna!”

“Yes, I rather thought you looked unhappy.” He gave a discreet cough. “It was reported that you were in his company willingly. I had to be certain, you understand. You’ll not have to go with him, I’ll see to it.”

Ginny grasped his arm, her tone urgent. “Steve is in a prison somewhere! You must find him. General Luna may know where he is. Oh, you have to find him, Mr. Bishop, before Luna gets to him. He hates Steve, and wants to kill him!”

“I don’t think we’ll have to worry about that. No, don’t look at me that way, and please, if you will, keep your voice down. It has come to my attention that Steve has already freed himself, and should soon be in Mexico City.”

Her knees began to quiver, and the hand she had put on his arm trembled as she said, “He is safe?”

“As safe as a man like him can ever be.”

“Why, Mr. Bishop, is that humor I hear?” She smiled, nearly giddy with relief. A trace of a smile touched Bishop’s thin lips, slightly warming his gray eyes as he regarded her.

“That is a most interesting gown, Mrs. Morgan.”

“Yes.” The swift glance she shot Luna was filled with loathing. “It was suggested I wear it this evening.”

Bishop merely nodded, not asking any embarrassing questions, and Ginny wondered if he had known about Luna all along. It would be just like him, to wait until the time was convenient for his own plans before he interfered!

“I think it would be wise if you were to leave very soon,” Bishop said. “I will have one of my most trusted men escort you home.”

“Oh, yes, I would like to leave as soon as possible,” she said in a low voice, “but there is the matter of General Luna…. If he decides that I cannot, he is not above creating an embarrassing scene and making trouble.”

“I will see to all the details, and deal with General Luna myself—unless it becomes unnecessary.” Bishop’s attention was suddenly directed over her shoulder, and she knew him well enough now to recognize his abruptly altered tone as a clear sign of perturbation.

Ginny, half-afraid that Rafael had come up behind her, set her chin in a defiant slant and turned, steeling herself for a public confrontation that would only be humiliating. It was the final degradation, but it would be behind her and she would be free of him!