bar, look in the library on your way back.”
“Yes, m’m.” Pansy sped off, leaving Gertie standing there with a sick look on her face.
Looking at her, Cecily felt a sense of impending doom. “What is it?”
“I just remembered something, m’m.”
“What is it?”
Gertie sent a worried glance at Phoebe, then said quickly, “We found a walking stick stuck in a holly bush in the woods this afternoon. I think it belonged to the colonel, m’m.”
Phoebe uttered a little cry, while Cecily asked sharply, “Are you sure?”
“Well, it had his initials on it, F.G.F., and what looked like a military cross. Didn’t see the colonel anywhere, though.”
Phoebe uttered a shrill scream. “The Christmas Angel! He’s killed my Freddie!” With that she slumped into a dead faint.
CHAPTER 13
A few moments later, while Cecily and Gertie were still trying to revive Phoebe, Pansy returned with the brandy.
Cecily took it from her, and tried to dribble a few drops in between Phoebe’s lips. Making things difficult was the wide brim of Phoebe’s hat, which kept getting in the way.
Cecily would have taken it off her head, except that Phoebe never removed her hat in public. Although she had never openly admitted it, it was generally believed by her peers that she was completely bald and wore a wig. Cecily wasn’t about to prove or disprove that theory.
Having no luck with the brandy, she decided to wait it out. Eventually Phoebe would recover. She looked at Pansy, who was hovering close to Gertie, her face creased with worry.
“I looked for the colonel, m’m,” she said, plucking at the folds of her skirt. “I couldn’t see him anywhere. I asked in the bar and no one’s seen him all afternoon.”
“Oh, bugger,” Gertie muttered. “That’s why Clive was so scared. He must have seen the Christmas Angel.”
Cecily carefully put the brandy down on the hallstand. “What are you talking about, Gertie?”
The housemaid shivered, and hugged her arms. “It were in the woods, m’m. Up on Putney Downs. We were looking for mistletoe when we found the walking stick, and then Clive thought he heard something and the next moment he was off and running with James back to the sleigh where we left Lillian and then he took off so fast like he was scared or something and we hit a bump and James was leaning out and he fell out of the sleigh and broke his arm and-”
“What!” Cecily halted the torrent of words with a sharp gesture of her hand. “James has broken his arm?”
“Yes, m’m. He fell out of the sleigh. But Clive bound his arm up and we took him to Dr. Prestwick and he put it in a cast.”
“Oh, for heaven’s sake.” Cecily considered for a moment taking a gulp of brandy, then thought better of it. “How is the child now?”
“Well, he’s hurting a bit but he was playing with his soldiers when I left him with Daisy. I think he’s going to be all right.”
Hearing a moan, Cecily turned her head. Phoebe’s eyes were open and she was struggling to sit up. Putting a hand under her friend’s elbow, Cecily asked, “Did Clive tell you what made him run from the woods?”
“No, m’m. We were too busy worrying about James.”
“I think we need to speak with Clive. Please find him, Gertie. He should still be on the grounds somewhere. Have the footmen help you look for him, and while they are about it, have them look for the colonel, too.”
“Yes, m’m, though if you ask me, Colonel Fortescue is somewhere out there in the woods.”
Phoebe moaned again and slumped back, eyes closed once more.
Gertie stomped off, leaving Pansy to tremble alone. Cecily was about to order the child to the kitchen when the front door opened, and Kevin Prestwick strode into the foyer.
Doffing his hat, he took one look at Phoebe and rushed over to her. “What happened here?”
“Phoebe just heard about the Christmas Angel. The shock made her faint.” Cecily watched anxiously as the doctor lifted one of Phoebe’s limp arms and took out his pocket watch.
“Pulse is normal,” he announced, after a tense moment or two of silence. “I wish I had smelling salts with me.” His glance fell on the glass. “Is that brandy?”
Cecily handed it to him. “I thought it might revive her.”
The doctor tilted Phoebe’s head back. Holding her nose, he tipped the glass to let the liquid run into her open mouth.
Phoebe coughed, spluttered, and sat up. “What are you doing?” She glared at the doctor. “Are you trying to choke me?”
Kevin handed the glass back to Cecily. “She’ll be all right. Now, where’s my wife? She said she’d be ready to come home by now.”
“I’m right here.” Madeline appeared as if by magic in the hallway entrance. “What’s this I hear about Colonel Fortescue missing?”
Cecily sighed. Apparently Pansy had not been discreet in her search. “We’re a little concerned, since no one has seen him all afternoon. Gertie found his walking stick in the woods on Putney Downs.”
Phoebe moaned again, but this time managed to hold on to her senses. “Poor, poor Freddie. Whatever am I going to do without him?”
“I’m sure nothing dreadful has happened to him,” Cecily assured her, being sure of no such thing. “Perhaps he got tired of waiting for you and went home?”
Phoebe’s face turned red with indignation. “Frederick would
“We don’t know that he was in the woods. We only know his walking stick was found there.” Cecily looked at Madeline for help. “Someone could have stolen it and taken it there.”
“He had it with him when we got here this afternoon.” Phoebe started crying. “I know he’s dead. That dreadful murderer has killed him.”
“He’s not dead.” Madeline’s voice echoed clearly across the foyer.
Everyone turned to look at her. Cecily caught her breath at the sight of Madeline’s face, eyes wide and glazed over, her expression completely blank.
Cecily stole a look at Kevin. He was staring at his wife as if he didn’t recognize her. Undoubtedly this was the first time he’d seen her in a trance. Up until now, Madeline had always been careful to conceal that element of her powers from him.
Cecily felt a warm rush of gratitude for her friend. Phoebe would never know the sacrifice Madeline had made to help her.
Madeline spoke again, her voice flat and unemotional. “He’s cold. Very cold. He’s frightened. All alone in the dark. Trees all around, bushes… cold and damp. He’s in the woods.”
“I told you so.” Gertie spoke from the hallway, startling them all.
Madeline blinked, and glanced at her husband.
Phoebe stopped crying and reached for the doctor’s hand. “Please, find him for me?”
Kevin seemed not to hear her. He was still staring at Madeline with a strange look on his face that made Cecily nervous. This latest revelation concerning his wife would not sit well with him.
Cecily had not seen Clive standing behind Gertie until he stepped forward. “I’ll be happy to search for the colonel, m’m.”
Kevin jumped, as if suddenly gathering his senses. “Good man. I have a carriage outside. We’ll take that.”
“On your way out, Clive, tell Samuel to take the footmen out to help.” Cecily held out her hand to Madeline. “Thank you,” she said quietly, hoping her friend understood how much she meant it.
