“I wasn’t sick. Vater locked me in my room with a guard at the door and wouldn’t let me leave.”
Elizabeth’s head snapped up. “What?”
“He was livid because I told him I wouldn’t marry the duke. I’ve never seen him so angry, but then again I’ve never truly defied him.”
“I thought you were ill. I’ve been praying for your recovery.” Elizabeth shook her head. “The man is unconscionable in his behavior.”
“I’ve determined that I cannot stay with him. Nor can I return home. He would only force me to marry, and then he would continue to find ways to run my life.” She looked at Elizabeth with an expression of pure disgust. “Do you know that my own vater actually told me that I might take lovers after I married the duke—so long as I was discreet?”
“I’m so sorry, Phoebe. I had hoped that maybe you were right—that maybe he had changed.”
“Apparently not. Now my problem is to figure out what I can do. I need to make plans.”
Elizabeth could see the determination in her daughter’s eyes but could only give a little nod. How was she supposed to help Phoebe with this matter?
“You are the only one I could come to. I need your help, Mutter.”
“Of course, you have it.” Elizabeth glanced back down at the Bible. “But I am not the only one. God will help you in this. You have only to put your trust in Him.”
Phoebe shook her head. “There isn’t time for that. Vater will have what he came for in a short time, and then he’ll be ready to leave. We were to travel to Seattle by train and then to San Francisco by ship. I must do whatever I can to escape him before we leave Helena.”
Elizabeth took a long sip of her tea and whispered a prayer for wisdom. She didn’t know if it would help Phoebe or not, but she decided to tell her daughter about the upcoming meeting she’d allowed the pastor to arrange.
“I need to tell you something before we continue.” Elizabeth met Phoebe’s confused gaze. “I have arranged a meeting with your father.”
“You have?” Phoebe’s expression changed to surprise. “But why? As you said, he already knows you’re alive. He needn’t know you are here. If he knows that, he’ll do whatever he can to keep us separated. He might even suspect my plans to leave him.”
Elizabeth could hear the fear in Phoebe’s voice. She reached out and covered her daughter’s hand with her own. “There’s much I need to tell you, but I can’t. At least not just yet, because it involves someone other than myself. I need to see your father and determine if he is the same man I left.”
“He is.” Phoebe shook her head. “He’s angry and cruel. He slapped me. He’s never done that before, but when I defied him regarding his arrangement for my marriage—he grew enraged and hit me.”
Phoebe’s words came like a punch to Elizabeth’s midsection. It very nearly took her breath, and for a moment all she could do was nod. “I was afraid of that,” she finally spoke.
“Vater is cruel and intends to impose his will upon me. He told me that he would see me married to the duke even if he had to drag me to the ceremony by my hair. And I believe he would do just that. My maid is working for him, feeding him information, so I cannot trust her. I even had to sneak out this morning in order to come see you, and I must return before long or I’ll be found out.”
“Yes, it would be best that we not give your father any reason to be suspicious.” She squeezed Phoebe’s hand. “If you go along with him, then he won’t have reason to hurt you.”
“But for how long?”
Elizabeth considered her question a moment. They would have to handle things very carefully. “Let me meet with your father face-to-face. I promise you I will make it so that he cannot impose his demands on us.”
“How? How could you ever make him do anything he doesn’t wish to do? He’s spent the last ten years telling me you were dead. He has arranged a marriage behind my back to a man more than twice my age. Vater doesn’t listen to anyone.”
“He’ll listen to me.” Elizabeth drew a deep breath. “I have the ability to cause great damage to his reputation and social standing. I never thought to use it against him, but it would seem that perhaps the time has come.”
After Phoebe had gone, Elizabeth went back to her Bible and pulled out a letter she’d finished writing only the night before. She looked over the contents, knowing that this letter might be the only thing that would keep her husband from moving toward legal recourse to take Kenny back to Germany.
She looked upward. “Lord, I pray you will make this work out in such a way that Kenny and I will be safe from Frederick’s violent temper. Please help us, Lord.”
15
Later that morning, Vater frowned at the piece of paper Hubert had just handed him. Phoebe wondered if this was the summons to meet with her mother.
“Is there a problem?” she asked casually.
“I am uncertain.” Her father wadded up the paper. “It would seem I’m being requested to meet with someone at one of the churches in Helena.”
“Ah, no doubt another sapphire-related meeting.”
Her father nodded. “Perhaps. It doesn’t clearly say.” He shrugged as if casting the matter aside. “I suppose you could come with me. We might still be able to shop.” He considered this for a few minutes. “But I have no way of knowing how long this meeting might run.”
“That’s perfectly all right, Vater. We can always shop tomorrow or another day.”
Phoebe knew without a doubt that this was the encounter of which her mother had spoken. A part of her almost wished her father had insisted she come along with him. She couldn’t imagine what information her mother held that gave her the assurance Vater would behave.
“I’m to be there at one,” Vater muttered. He pulled out his pocket watch. “That doesn’t give me much time.” He pushed back from the table and got to his feet. “Hubert, arrange a buggy for me. Be quick about it.”
“Yes, sir.” The valet went out of the suite in a hurry.
Phoebe rose from the table. She wandered to the window and pulled back the curtains. “It looks like rain.”
Her father didn’t seem to hear her. Had he guessed the identity of the person summoning him? Surely he had no reason to suspect it might be Mutter, but then why did he look so upset? Mutter said he had gambling problems. Had he already managed to get into trouble here in Montana? Trouble enough that he now worried that those holding his debt might be about to cause him problems?
“Days like this make me feel rather tired.” She gave her father a smile. “I think I shall just spend the day reading and resting.”
“That would be good. We will plan to have dinner together.”
Phoebe nodded. “I hope your meeting goes well.” She opened the suite door to find Hubert about to reach for the knob on the other side. He seemed momentarily surprised but quickly recovered.
“Entschuldigen Sie, bitte.”
She excused Hubert and made her way to her room. Gerda was nowhere to be seen, and Phoebe breathed a little sigh of relief. Having finished the book she’d borrowed from the hotel’s library, she decided to return it and find another volume that might occupy her time and mind.
The lobby downstairs was aflutter with the arrival of new guests, giving Phoebe a chance to pass all but unseen to the library. The room wasn’t all that large, or perhaps it was the dark wood paneling and shelves that made it seem smaller. Phoebe perused the titles and finally settled on a thick volume of American history. She knew very little about this country and thought perhaps the book would serve her well.
When she exited the library, Phoebe found the lobby still quite overrun with people. She made her way around the edge of the room and then headed outside to the porch. Despite the overcast skies, Phoebe felt this would be the perfect place to begin her reading. What she didn’t plan on, however, was Ian Harper.
He approached as if he’d come with no other intention than to see her. There were others walking past. He gave them a
nod, then spoke to Phoebe in a very formal tone. “Miss Von Bergen, how nice to find you here.” One of the women glanced over at Phoebe, then continued her conversation with the man at her side.
“Mr. Harper.” She held up the book. “I had just come to read.”
He nodded and waited for the guests to move beyond hearing. “With it raining off and on, I think holing up here on the porch is a good solution. What are you reading?”
“It’s a history of America.” She smiled at his look of surprise. “I thought perhaps it would benefit me to know more about this country.”
“Knowledge is never a waste of time.”
She noted his casual dress. “And what are you about today?”
“I . . . ah . . . well, it’s kind of a . . . ah, complicated matter, but Kenny wanted to swim.”
“Oh, and is he there now?”
Ian laughed. “No. He wanted to see my mother first. She usually has cookies for him or some other baked treat. He’s around back in the bakery.”
“I would love to see him. Even watch you teach him to swim. My vater has just headed into town for a meeting.”
“Yes, I know.”
Phoebe frowned. “You know?”
“Well . . . I knew he was headed to town. I saw him pass by in one of the carriages.”
She nodded, relaxing her suspicious thoughts. “That makes perfect sense.”
“Yes. Kenny and I took the trolley, and we saw your father just a few minutes ago.”
“Well, although I had a late brunch with Vater, I wouldn’t mind a cookie or two myself.” She looked toward the dining room. “Perhaps you might introduce me to your mother as well.”
Ian laughed. “I’d like that.” He offered her his arm. “We should probably go around to the back rather than through the dining room. If you don’t mind.”
Phoebe took hold of his arm. “Not at all.”
“So besides reading,” Ian began, “how have you been keeping yourself busy?”
“It’s been mostly reading. However, I have had opportunity to take several nice long strolls. And from time to time I’ve been able to talk to some of the people who work here.” She didn’t bother to tell him that one of them was her mother. It was best for now that Phoebe say as little as possible.
“Perhaps you might join us in the pool. Kenny would love for you to begin your swimming lessons.”
Phoebe shook her head. “That doesn’t sound too appealing today.” She frowned at the thought of her mother facing her father. Would the pastor really be able to act as a buffer and keep her mother from harm?
“You look rather upset. Just a moment ago you were all smiles. Is something wrong?”
“I . . . well . . . there’s been quite a bit going on in my life. Things that I’m not overly happy with, and I haven’t yet determined how I will resolve them.”
“Would it help to talk?”
Phoebe hadn’t had any intention of replying in the affirmative. It wouldn’t do to share her fears and concerns with Ian. He was, after all, working for her father and might let slip some detail of their conversation.
“I suppose you might not be comfortable with that,” Ian said before she could reply. “I’m sorry if I seemed overly forward.”
“No. It’s not that.” She glanced at him and saw his look of confusion. “It’s just . . . well, as you said earlier about your trip here today . . . it’s complicated.”
“Then let us focus on something less worrisome. Do you suppose you would like to go for another ride with Kenny and me? Kenny has talked about nothing else. He really enjoyed himself.”
“I enjoyed our time together as well.” Phoebe relaxed a bit. “He’s such a sweet and smart boy.”
“He is. Do you know that he has a strong inclination toward architectural studies? He reads about various styles and then points them out to me when we’re walking about town.”
“You two spend a lot of time together.” Phoebe allowed him to help her down the porch steps. “Yet Kenny told me you aren’t his father.”
“No, I’m not.” Now it appeared Ian was the one uncomfortable with the conversation.
“I’m sorry if I’ve overstepped my bounds.” Phoebe fell silent, uncertain if she’d offended him.
“Well . . . it’s . . . ah . . .”
“Complicated?”
He met her gaze and gave her a weak smile. “Yes.”
“Miss Phoebe!” Kenny came running toward them with an older woman following behind.
Phoebe laughed at Kenny’s enthusiasm. He might very well have run right into her, but Ian took hold of him before they collided. “Are you gonna come swim with us?”
“I might come watch, but I’m not ready to brave the water.” Phoebe was utterly charmed by the boy’s smile. His face radiated happiness, and for a moment Phoebe wondered if she’d ever known that kind of joy.
“Phoebe, this is my mother, Georgia Harper. Phoebe thought she’d like to have a sweet treat, and I told her you were probably supplying Kenny with cookies enough for all.”
The woman’s name sounded strangely familiar, but Phoebe couldn’t quite remember why. “How do you do? I’m Phoebe Von Bergen.”
Mrs. Harper smiled and nodded. “I’ve seen you about. You’re much too pretty to go unnoticed.”
“She’s pretty like—”
“Hey, Kenny, you’d better get those cookies from Grandma Harper and get on over to the natatorium,” Ian interrupted. He fixed the boy with a look that seemed stern. “We don’t have a lot of time.”
Kenny immediately lost his smile and turned to grab up the cookies Mrs. Harper held in a knotted cloth. Without another word to any of them, he ran off in a mad dash. Phoebe thought it all so very curious.
“I should get over there,” Ian said, looking at Phoebe. “He can’t swim well enough to be left alone. Feel free to come watch . . . if you like.”
Phoebe watched him go with a strange sense of loss at his departure. She turned to Mrs. Harper and saw the woman looked almost worried.
“Is something wrong, Mrs. Harper?”
The woman perked up. “Not at all, my dear. I’m very glad to meet you. I’ve heard some very nice things about you.”
“Oh?” Phoebe thought it rather odd and looked back over her shoulder in the direction Ian and Kenny had gone.
Mrs. Harper chuckled. “Well, Ian for sure had some pleasant things to say, but I was speaking more about Chef Michel. He thought you hung the moon and the stars.”
For a moment Phoebe actually felt disappointed that the source of praise wasn’t solely from Ian. But just as quickly she smiled and nodded. “He was a remarkable man. I was sorry to hear he’d quit. I can’t help but feel somewhat responsible.”
“The man was homesick. He had been ever since coming here. I wouldn’t give it another thought.” Mrs. Harper took hold of Phoebe’s arm and gave a little tug. “Why don’t you come back to the kitchen with me, and I’ll fix you up a plate of goodies. We can’t let your sweet tooth go without satisfaction.”
Ian sat down beside Kenny. He could see the boy was still upset. “I’m sorry for being so abrupt with you.”
“Is Phoebe a bad person?”
Ian shook his head. “Why would you ask that?”
“’Cause Mama said I couldn’t tell anybody who I was because there were some bad people who might hurt me.”
“Phoebe isn’t a bad person. I was just worried that if you told her again she was pretty like your mama . . . well . . . she might want to meet your mama. And with all the things that are worrying your mother right now, I don’t think that would be wise.” He wasn’t going to lie to the child, but neither could he explain that Phoebe was his sister.
“I’m afraid, Ian.” Kenny looked up, and the fear was clearly registered in his eyes. “What if someone hurts Mama?”
“We’re doing all we can to make sure that doesn’t happen, Kenny. Remember that God is watching over you and your mother. He loves you and He wants you to trus
t Him.”
Kenny nodded, but his expression looked less than convinced. Ian decided distraction was the best thing to get the boy’s mind off his troubles. “Today I’m going to teach you how to dive.”
“Really?” Kenny perked up. “Oh boy! I’ve wanted to dive for a long time.”
“I know, and I think you’re finally swimming well enough that we can give it a go. Come on, let’s get changed.” Ian began to pull off his boots. “Last one dressed has to give the other one two of his cookies.”
Kenny all but flew across the room, tearing off his clothes as he went, which made Ian laugh. Hopefully cookies and diving would keep his mind off the fact that there were bad people who wanted to hurt him and his mother.
It was nearly a half hour later when Phoebe arrived. Ian had thought perhaps she wouldn’t come at all. In fact, he’d almost wished it for fear of Kenny saying something that would reveal their connection.
“Miss Phoebe!” Kenny waved from where he was treading water. “I’m learnin’ to dive.”
“Das ist gut.” Phoebe stood well away from the pool’s edge. “That’s the way we say that is good in German.”
“Das ist gut.” Kenny tried the words on for size.
Phoebe smiled. “Well, are you going to show me what you’ve learned?”
“Just watch me.” Kenny swam to the side and climbed out of the pool. “I’m really good. Ian says it’s like I was born in the water.”
He went to the place where the water was deep enough and then, without further ado, made a perfect dive into the pool. Ian couldn’t help but throw a smile at Phoebe.
“A fish couldn’t do better.”
“He is quite the swimmer,” Phoebe agreed.
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