Vater got to his feet and handed his drink to Hubert. He smiled ever so briefly. “You look lovely, as always. I’ve long thought that gown one of the most charming you own. You will have all of the men eating from your hand.”
“I certainly hope not.” She reached out to adjust her father’s white bow tie. “You look quite dapper yourself.”
“Perhaps I shall capture the attention of a rich widow, ja?”
The smile faded from Phoebe’s face, causing her father to raise a brow. “You are worried that I might marry again?”
She wasn’t at all sure what to say. Obviously he could not remarry. Not with her mother alive. “If you marry again, then I won’t be able to hostess your parties.”
“Well, that will come to an end anyway. You will marry soon and have a home of your own in which to hold parties.”
Vater had been speaking more and more about her marrying. It wasn’t a topic Phoebe found at all to her taste. Her father intended to arrange her marriage, as was most generally done among their class, but Phoebe hadn’t cared for any of the men he was considering.
“But I have no desire to marry.” She forced a smile. “And I know you would never force me to do something so undesirable.”
He looked at her for a long moment, then shook his head. “Come, we will be late,” her father said, offering her his arm. “There will be plenty of time to talk about this when I get back from the sapphire mine. I think you will be rather pleased at what I have come up with.”
Phoebe said nothing more, hoping her father would just forget about the matter. As they walked through the hotel, Phoebe found herself actually looking around as if she might espy her mother.
“Are you looking for someone?” her father asked.
She knew she would have to be more careful. “Always, Vater. You have taught me to be well apprised of my surroundings and to assess the people near me.”
He looked down at her, never slowing his pace. “I’m glad to know you remember your training. Especially here, where danger might well lurk. People and places can be deceiving.”
Phoebe looked away. “Ja. Indeed they can.”
In the dining room a crowd had already gathered. Several dozen people milled around the open area of the dance floor while the orchestra played softly in the background. The women were beautifully gowned in an array of fashions that included some of the finest money could buy. Their jewels glittered in the soft light of the chandeliers. Meanwhile the men were resplendent in formal black coats and white ties.
Lord Putnam, her father’s longtime friend and associate, came forward to make introductions. Phoebe smiled and received the well-wishes of the attendees. The women made effusive comments about her beauty and the richness of her gown, while the men conducted themselves in polite admiration.
“Graf Von Bergen, I would like to introduce you to that most talented lapidary I told you about. This is Mr. Ian Harper.”
Phoebe’s eyes widened as she recognized the man from the natatorium. He had traded his swimming costume for black tails and white bow tie. He smiled at her, then took hold of her father’s hand. “It is an honor to meet you, Graf Von Bergen.”
“The honor is mine. I have heard about your skills in faceting jewels. I think we might have cause to work together.”
“So your associate mentioned. I should be happy to know more.”
“This is my daughter, Fräulein Von Bergen.” Vater looked to her. “This is Mr. Harper, whom we heard so much about.”
“Miss Von Bergen.” He bowed slightly.
“I am glad you could attend our party, Mr. Harper.” She felt her heart skip a beat when he glanced up and gave her a wink. How bold that he should act in such a way! Phoebe turned to her father, hoping she wouldn’t have to explain. Thankfully he was already speaking to someone else. She looked back to Ian Harper, who had straightened and watched her with a somewhat amused expression. Phoebe reined in her nervous reaction.
“The pleasure is all mine.” His smile broadened. “I had rather hoped we’d see each other again.” His blue eyes were dark and intense.
There were others to meet, and so Phoebe found herself quickly moved away from the handsome Mr. Harper. She couldn’t help but glance around the room from time to time to see where he had gone. Generally he was caught up in conversation with two or three other gentlemen, but on occasion Phoebe found him being entertained by a beautiful woman or two. It surprised her to find herself wishing she might be among them.
“I don’t believe we’ve met,” a male voice sounded to her left. “Graf Von Bergen said that I should come and make your acquaintance.”
Phoebe looked up and met the smile of yet another handsome stranger. She hadn’t even realized her father had left her side, but she saw he was very much occupied in conversation.
“I am Ernst Eckhardt,” the tall, blond-haired man announced. “And you are Fräulein Von Bergen.”
“Ja.” She immediately recognized the accent of her homeland. “You are German.”
He smiled and whispered in German, “I am Prussian, but do not say as much. We are, after all, quite unified now, are we not?”
Phoebe laughed. “I suppose we are. What brings you here so far from home?”
“I had business in America and had heard about the Wild West. Cowboys and Indians. I wanted to see such sights for myself.”
“I haven’t seen any of the latter but did run across several of the cowboys. Dirty, smelly, and rather foulmouthed men. If one could call them men. They seemed hardly more than boys.”
“Perhaps that is why they are called cowboys instead of cowmen.” Ernst laughed and leaned closer. “What I want to know is whether they were wearing those big hats and shooting their six-guns.”
Phoebe smiled. “I’m happy to say that while they were in possession of big hats, they seemed to be without any six-guns.”
“So you were not able to see a shootout.” He gave a tsking sound. He switched back to English. “Such a pity, for I have heard it can be most exciting.”
“That is a type of excitement I can do without, I assure you.” Phoebe heard dinner announced. “You must excuse me. I need to find my father.”
“I would be happy to escort you to your place at the table,” Eckhardt said, offering his arm.
Phoebe thought to refuse but then noted that her father was already at their table. “Very well. Danke.”
The dinner went off as planned with each course more delicious than the last. Phoebe heard the overwhelming approval of the guests and saw her father’s expression of great satisfaction. It was hard to imagine him acting in the heinous method her mother had described when he could be so very charming, as he was just now.
The orchestra had taken a slight break when the coffee and brandy service had begun, but now they were back and striking up some glorious waltz music to encourage dancing.
“I do hope you would do me the honor of the first dance.”
Phoebe looked up to find Ernst Eckhardt offering her his hand. She smiled. “I would be happy to dance with you.” She adjusted her train, then allowed Eckhardt to sweep her into the circle of other dancers.
“Your party was quite successful, ja?”
“It would appear so.” Phoebe caught sight of her father deep in conversation with several men. Apparently he was content with the situation, for he was laughing quite merrily.
“How long will you remain in America?”
Phoebe shook her head. “I have no way of knowing. Vater is on business, and I am only accompanying him for the pleasure of seeing the sights.”
“Business in America must be taxing. There is so much distance to be covered from one place to another. It truly is a wild country out here in Montana. I myself will travel to San Francisco next.”
“What a coincidence. We are planning to travel there as well, but not for any extended stay. We have booked passage on a ship that will take us first to Japan and then to Ceylon and India.”
“So yo
u are making a grand world tour. How wonderful!”
“I have enjoyed the trip thus far, I must admit.” Phoebe smiled. “You are a superb dancer, sir. Perhaps the best partner I’ve had since arriving in America.”
He chuckled. “I have trained in such arts since I was a young boy. My mutter insisted. She was always quite concerned with propriety.”
The music ended, and Phoebe dropped her hold on Eckhardt. “Thank you for the dance.”
“Perhaps we might share another yet tonight.”
His tone sounded quite hopeful, and Phoebe didn’t want to discourage him. “Perhaps. I would like that very much, but for now I must see to the other guests.”
He led her from the dance floor, then paused, clicked his heels together, and bowed low. “Until later then.”
Phoebe danced with numerous other men throughout the evening. Each seemed quite fascinated by her stories of life in Germany, especially as it pertained to her royal connections. Phoebe had come to find most Americans were quite fascinated by nobility. Perhaps because they had none of their own. In Europe every royal family was somehow connected, either through blood or marriage. It was like one great extended family with kings and queens, princes and princesses, and noblemen of every rank. And while Phoebe had never known anything else, she found that Americans were in awe of such things.
It was nearly ten when Phoebe finally had a chance to dance with Ian Harper. He had been occupied for most of the evening by her father and his cronies, but now he seemed to be completely devoted to her.
“I have watched you dance all evening, and I must say, I’m rather intimidated,” he said, leading her onto the dance floor.
“But why should you be intimidated?”
He smiled. “I’m not much for dancing. I haven’t had a lot of opportunity in my life.”
“That is quite all right. If you’d rather not dance, I would be happy to just talk.” She hoped she didn’t sound too forward. There was something about this man that fascinated her. Since their first meeting she hadn’t been able to put him from her mind, and with all that had happened since her arrival, Phoebe was grateful for the diversion.
“But if we stop dancing, you will be set upon by all of those other men who desire to dance.” He took a slight misstep but quickly corrected his footing and kept Phoebe from looking awkward. “See? I told you.”
Phoebe laughed, gazing into those wonderful blue eyes. “You are doing fine. So I gather that rather than spending your spare time dancing, you swim.”
He gave a slight nod. “I love to swim, and the natatorium is a blessing to all who feel the same. Even when the hotel was closed for several years, the swimming continued. I tried to get over here as often as possible. But, as I recall, you do not swim.”
“No, but it does sound like fun to at least wade in and enjoy the curative powers of the waters.”
“Surely you aren’t sick.”
For a moment he held her gaze captive. Goodness, but he was handsome. Up until now she hadn’t found American men all that appealing. They were much too rough around the edges, lacking the refinement that came with years of social placement. Even the poor in Europe knew their place, but here in America the classes crossed constantly. Those who were poor one day could find themselves among the socially elite the next. No one seemed to know their place, because those places could change at the drop of a hat. But Ian Harper was different. There was a soft gentleness to his expression. From his dark brows to his perfectly sized nose and rather pointed chin, he was most appealing.
“Are you sick?” he asked again with concern.
She started, realizing she had let her thoughts travel. “No. I’m quite healthy. In fact, I believe this Montana climate agrees with me.”
“It’s a wonderful place to live,” he agreed. “I was born here.”
“It’s quite lovely.”
“Have you had a chance to venture out and see much of the surrounding beauty?”
Phoebe couldn’t take her gaze from him. There was something so enticing about the tiny laugh lines around his eyes—eyes that seemed to twinkle in delight as if he were privy to some wonderful amusement.
“I must say,” she finally replied, “I haven’t.”
“We should remedy that. I would be happy to take you out riding. I cannot imagine anything more pleasant than to spend the day with a beautiful lady.”
Phoebe felt herself flush. She lowered her face, uncertain as to what had come over her. She wasn’t a shy wallflower unused to men’s praise, but this man made her feel almost like a schoolgirl.
The music ended, and she dropped her hold rather quickly. She drew a deep breath and forced herself to look again to Ian Harper’s face. “I believe I would very much enjoy riding out to see the area.”
“Wonderful. I’ll try to arrange something very soon. I’ll send you word here at the hotel if that meets with your approval.”
She nodded. “It does, Mr. Harper.”
“Ian. You must call me Ian.”
“Ian,” she repeated. It was a very informal manner of address, but Phoebe thought it almost challenging. If not a little decadent. She smiled. “And you may call me Phoebe. Although perhaps not in my father’s company.”
He chuckled. “I understand. Phoebe is a rather unusual name. It’s a Bible name.”
“Yes, I suppose I do recall my mutter saying she chose that name from the Bible, but I’m not at all familiar with that. Phoebe is also a Titan goddess, but I’m certain that description doesn’t fit me.”
He chuckled. “I wouldn’t know about Titan goddesses, but the Phoebe of the Bible was highly regarded as a woman of leadership and Christian charity. It’s a beautiful name.” His eyes looked directly into hers. “For a most beautiful lady.”
Again Phoebe felt her emotions unravel a bit. The effect this man had on her was almost alarming. She’d never felt so aflutter.
“Thank you,” she managed to say. To avoid embarrassing herself by showing her sudden case of nerves, Phoebe turned quickly and walked away to join her father.
8
Ian returned home around eleven. He left the party after his dance with Phoebe, deciding that there was no better way to end the evening. Phoebe Von Bergen had captured his thoughts since that first encounter at the pool. He supposed it was because of his connection to Kenny and Elizabeth. But also because she was a strikingly beautiful woman who seemed displaced. There was something about her that spoke of sadness and tragedy, and now he knew why. However, one thought continued to run through his mind. Would realizing the truth cause further despair, or would it set her free?
“Jesus said the truth would set us free,” Ian whispered, glancing upward at the night skies.
He supposed Phoebe’s feelings were also a reflection of being away from her home and country. Ian couldn’t imagine what it would be like to leave America for foreign soil. Here she knew only a handful of people, but back in Germany she no doubt had friends and even other family members with whom she could talk and spend her days. But being away from those people and her homeland paled in comparison to the growing intrigue between Phoebe and Elizabeth. And Graf Von Bergen.
“Lord,” he whispered as he approached the back door of his home, “I need wisdom. If Elizabeth has come like I asked, then we’ll have to iron out the details of what’s to be done. This is a powder keg just waiting to be set off. I don’t want her to suffer, and I certainly don’t want Kenny to bear the brunt of a violent and overbearing father. Still, I can’t help but feel it isn’t right to get in the middle of this.” He put his hand on the doorknob and drew a deep breath. “You gave Solomon wisdom. Please give me some as well.”
He found his mother and Elizabeth in the living room, waiting for him with expressions that betrayed their worry. He knew that neither woman would expect or desire him to offer pleasantries. He hadn’t looked forward to their discussion of what was to be done, but he knew it couldn’t be postponed. He pushed a wing chair closer to where his m
other and Elizabeth sat on the couch.
“I had a long talk with Phoebe,” Elizabeth began. “She has read the letters and knows about her father’s threats, not only to me, but to her.”
“And what did she say?” Ian posed the question as he pulled off his bow tie.
“She agreed to say nothing to her father just yet.”
“Would you mind if I were to make myself informal?”
“Please,” Elizabeth said. “I wouldn’t want you to be uncomfortable. After all, this is your home.”
Ian nodded and cast off his tailed coat. “I heard that your husband intends to travel. I met and spoke with him. It seems he plans to visit some of the sapphire mines east of here.” He paused, seeing the weariness in Elizabeth’s eyes. For all these years she had carried the weight of the world on her shoulders, constantly in fear that the past might catch up with her.
“With him gone,” Ian continued, “I thought it might buy you some time to talk to Pastor Clearwater.”
“I have to admit we were just discussing that.” Elizabeth looked to Georgia. “Ever since Kenny went to bed, we’ve done little else.”
Ian’s mother got up and walked to where her son had deposited the evening coat. Ian gave her a smile and loosened his collar. “Glad to be out of that coat. It was very warm and stiff. I can’t say I enjoy formal evenings.”
“Your father never cared much for them either.” His mother had the offending coat in hand and was already moving across the room to drape it on the back of a chair. “I told Elizabeth about the things we discussed. She understands your misgivings about interfering in her marriage,” his mother said from across the room.
“I’m glad.” He looked at Elizabeth. “I don’t want to see you in a position of abuse, but neither am I comfortable with helping you lie.”
Elizabeth nodded and began to wring her hands. “If it were just me, I wouldn’t care. I would show myself and let Frederick manage all of Phoebe’s questions about the lies he told her and Dieter. But there’s Kenny. I cannot allow him to be harmed. Frederick would be livid should he learn that I have his son with me. There would be absolutely no peace about it, and he would no doubt have the authorities involved.”
A Beauty Refined Page 8
