Forever Phoebe by Chalon Linton

Chapter 26

Franklin’s every limb shook. Whether from rage or fear, he could not say. He paced outside of Phoebe’s bedchamber as the doctor completed his examination. Franklin planned to marry the girl and could see no reason why Abraham forbade his presence in the room. It took great resolve to not argue the validity of his being by Phoebe’s bedside, but in the end, Franklin decided Phoebe would want him to keep peace with her brothers.

The door clicked open, and the doctor exited.

“Is she injured?” Franklin frantically asked.

“She only needs rest,” the doctor answered.

“Come see for yourself.” Mrs. Adler bid him enter as the doctor left them, and Franklin’s feet could not move quickly enough.

“What of Hannah?” Phoebe sat up in bed and addressed Abraham.

Abraham slowly shook his head. “They are still searching.”

“I want to join the search.” Phoebe began to pull back the covers from her lap.

With a gentle hand, Abraham pressed Phoebe back to her pillows. “You will be of little help in this condition.” Phoebe huffed and defiantly folded her arms. Franklin knew then that she was not gravely injured. Abraham touched the top of his sister’s head. “I will join Geoffrey if you promise to remain. I am only able to give my best effort if I know you are here. Safe.”

Phoebe’s features softened. “Very well.” She unfolded her arms and waved her hand. “Hurry.” Her voice thickened, and moisture pricked her eyes. “You must find Hannah and return her safely.”

Abraham nodded once. He turned and addressed Franklin. “Will you join me?”

Franklin glanced at Phoebe, and an ache claimed his breathless heart. “Allow me a moment.” Abraham strode from the room, followed by Mrs. Adler, leaving Phoebe, Franklin, and Miriam. Franklin moved to Phoebe’s bedside. “You frightened me.”

Phoebe looked at her hands in her lap.

“When you sprinted into the woods after that man . . .” Franklin drew a deep breath.

“I couldn’t stand and watch.” Phoebe met his gaze. “You understand I had to do something.”

Franklin sat on the side of the bed and reached for Phoebe’s hand. “Won’t you let me protect you?”

Phoebe glanced at her abigail sitting near the fire before she looked back at Franklin and whispered, “He’s coming back. The Bride Snatcher.”

“What do you mean?” Franklin’s grip on her fingers tightened.

“He said he’d come back for me.”

Franklin’s heartbeat froze in his chest.

“When I fell from my horse, he told me he’d return.” Phoebe appeared much too calm. Franklin shifted, intent to sound the alarm. “What are you doing?” Phoebe asked, tugging on his fingers.

“You must tell your brothers,” Franklin said.

“No!” Phoebe shouted. She looked at her abigail, then whispered, “Geoffrey is overwrought. His focus needs to be on finding Hannah. You must give your word that you will keep this between us.” Franklin could not fathom keeping such a secret. Phoebe placed a hand on his cheek and turned his face to her. “Please. Promise me you will not tell.”

Franklin felt like a fox in a trap. He could not please Phoebe and follow his instinctive desire to warn her brothers of the kidnapper’s threat. His lungs burned as he nodded mutely. “You must promise me something in return,” he said. “You mustn’t leave the house without me or your brothers present.”

Phoebe pressed her lips tight, and Franklin could see the battle in the clashing green of her eyes. “I give my word,” she finally consented.

Franklin kissed the back of her hand. “Abraham and I need to join the search. I pray we will return soon with good news.”

***

Miss Vane had disappeared. Franklin swore they had searched every shadow, shack, and inn multiple times. Either the kidnapper’s horse had wings or the Bride Snatcher had conjured a disappearing charm, for no trace of the man, or Miss Vane, could be found.

Franklin returned home to sleep for an hour and change his clothes before setting out again. When Mrs. Thurston entered his room with a tray of food, his mother followed. “This is most distressing,” she said. She fingered the charm of the necklace she wore. “What will become of Miss Vane?”

Franklin laid the napkin on his lap and dug in to the stew Mrs. Thurston had delivered. He swallowed two bites. He truly had no response to that. “We will continue to search. I’m to head directly to Primly Park.” Franklin tore off a chunk of bread and sopped it in the stew.

When Phoebe had raced after the kidnapper, he had discarded his sling so he would not be hindered. When he returned home, Thurston had brought him another, but the throbbing in Franklin’s arm had subsided, and his back no longer ached, so he had left it setting beside his bureau and wore only the splint.

“Miss Jamison must be beside herself.” Mrs. Everly looked out the window and then roughly pulled the drapes farther open. “To watch one’s friend be whisked away . . .”

“She is lucky she was not injured.” Franklin tossed his napkin aside and stood. He opened the box on his mantel and removed his pistol. A tear rolled down his mother’s face as he kissed her cheek and left.

He arrived at Primly Park only to be informed that a clue had been found; Miss Vane’s riding bonnet had been discovered. The Jamison brothers had ridden to the Blue Goose Inn to consult with the other members of the search party. Windly relayed the message that Franklin should meet them there.

Franklin remounted Chipper and turned in a circle. At last, there was a lead to follow, but that lead felt a bit askew. To have searched for nearly twenty-four hours and found nothing—and now for Miss Vane’s bonnet to be discovered. Franklin directed Chipper down the lane, but every step he took away from Primly Park added a foreboding weight in his chest. It was a feeling he could not ignore. Franklin cursed, and using his leg cues, he steered Chipper through the tall trees lining the drive and rode around the side of the estate. Evening began to descend, and Franklin halted Chipper in the shadows of the trees.

A cloaked figure crouched low among the garden hedges, frequently looking backward as if worried about being followed. Franklin kept to the trees, curiosity trumping fear as he moved in unison with the silent figure as it picked its way through the foliage to the garden’s edge. After another quick look about, the secretive figure began to run across the open space toward the woods. Franklin could now tell by the flow of the cloak that it was a woman. A short, petite woman whom he had a sinking feeling he cherished. The black hood of the cloak flew back for a brief moment before it was righted, and Franklin caught a flash of hair that matched the orange sunset forming in the west.

Chipper moved into a gallop on Franklin’s command, and they quickly caught up to Phoebe. She looked over her shoulder and stopped. Franklin said nothing as he maneuvered his horse to block her path. Gratitude that he had followed his intuition to remain at Primly Park overshadowed the myriad of questions flooding his mind.

“Franklin.” Phoebe’s chest rose and fell quickly. “Why are you not in Halsham? Should you not be searching for Hannah?”

Franklin bit back his curse. “You’re questioning my purpose? Should you not be indoors? Safe? Ensconced in the security of Primly Park?” Franklin’s voice rose. “Do your promises mean nothing? I took you at your word, Phoebe! Did you take me for a fool?”

She hung her head and pressed a hand to her lips. Her shoulders began to shake, and Franklin knew he’d made her cry. With a frustrated sigh, he dismounted and stood in front of the woman he loved. He slipped his fingers beneath the hood of the cloak and lifted it back. His hands cupped her face.

“I’m very angry with you,” Franklin said. His finger stroked her cheek. “And, at the same time, I find you adorable.”

Phoebe blinked rapidly. Her eyelashes glistened with tears. “I meant to keep my word. But I have to try to save Hannah.” Her breath shook, and she leaned in to Franklin’s touch, placing her hand over his.

Franklin leaned low. “Isn’t that what you wanted me to do?”

Phoebe’s breath shuddered. She pulled a note from her sleeve. Franklin took the paper and silently read.

If you wish to save Miss Vane, return to the riverbank. Alone.

Franklin’s heart hitched, and he tried valiantly to control the tremor ricocheting through his veins. “When did you receive this?” he asked in a whisper.

“Not twenty minutes ago,” Phoebe said. “Miriam delivered my dinner tray, and the note was folded into my napkin.”

“We must summon your brothers,” Franklin said, taking Phoebe’s hand and turning toward his horse.

“No!” Phoebe cried out, pulling her hand free and grabbing his arm. “Hannah will be hurt if I involve anyone else.”

“But do you not see it’s a trap? The kidnapper lured the others to the opposite side of Halsham. Do you plan to recover her on your own?” Franklin grabbed Phoebe’s cold fingers again. “You cannot go. I won’t let you.”

“I must,” Phoebe said.

“My love. Please. Reconsider,” Franklin pleaded.

Phoebe wiped her eyes and met his anxious gaze. “I do love you, Franklin Everly. But if you deny me the chance to save my friend, I will never forgive you.”

Franklin groaned as he pulled Phoebe to his chest. He tightened his arms and cradled her head in his hands. He pressed his face into her hair and whispered, “Blast your obstinance!” Franklin refused to move. He knew the moment he slackened his hold, he would have to let Phoebe go. That knowledge gripped his heart, clenching it in a fist so tight he could hardly breathe.

Phoebe shuddered in his arms. Her warm exhale fell against his neck. But the seconds, the singular moment, passed all too quickly. Her hands moved to Franklin’s chest, and she stepped backward, freeing herself from his embrace. They stood looking at each other for one breathless heartbeat after another.

“I cannot allow you to go alone,” Franklin said. “I will follow but remain back—I give you my word—I will keep my distance to keep you both from harm. But . . . if you need me . . .”

Phoebe gave a slight nod.

“Truly?” Franklin asked. He grabbed Phoebe’s fingers, squeezing them tightly. “I will interfere only if you are in danger.”

“I will do what I must to save Hannah,” Phoebe said. “We must not jeopardize her safety . . .” A sob choked her words.

“I know, my love. I know.” Franklin pulled her to him again, but she remained still for only a moment before pulling away.

Franklin knew she meant to leave.

He placed his hands on either side of her face and kissed the top of her head, allowing his lips to linger for one second, then two. He slowly lowered his hands, reached into his coat pocket, and withdrew his pistol. “Take this with you.” He held the gun forward, and after a breath, Phoebe lifted it from his hand. “Use it if you must.”

Phoebe stared at the gun, resolute and indomitable. With a slow nod, she placed the weapon in the pocket of her cloak.

“If you have not returned to me in thirty minutes, I will no longer keep my distance,” Franklin said. The throbbing ache in his chest persistently mocked his futility. “Despise me if you must, but that is all the time I can allow.”

Phoebe nodded again as her eyes misted with tears. She stepped forward, kissed Franklin’s cheek, and walked away.