If you haven’t read Behind the Veil, you probably shouldn’t read this preview, as the book is part of the Ideal Courtship Series, and you’ll get spoilers. But, if you have, here’s the first chapter of Finding Frances. Enjoy!

Chapter 1

“Every broken heart has screamed

at one time or another:

Why can’t you see who I truly am?”

~ Shannon L. Alder

Frances stumbled as she ran blindly through the pre-dawn light.  Her knees hit the ground hard, sending currents of pain coursing through her battered body.  King Phinneas would know her loyalty now after all she was doing to get back to him.  She pressed her splayed hands into the damp earth, pushing herself to her feet.  Stretching her tired muscles and shielding her eyes against the sun’s first rays, she squinted to see if there was anything that pointed to King Phinneas.  Yet, the landscape around her was empty.  Like her heart. 

A rustle ahead caught her attention.  Frances had just enough warning to jump aside as the twang of a bow string sent a bolt deep into the trunk of the tree whose roots she’d tripped over just a moment before.  Her eyes darted wildly around.  “Who’s there?  It’s me, Frances.”  She hated the fear she heard in her own voice.

A black and red clad figure stepped out, crossbow still cradled along his forearm.  “Frances?”  The tall blonde boy looked unsure.  He glanced behind him before narrowing his eyes.  “Weren’t you with Areli?”  His gaze grew harder, and Frances noticed he didn’t lower the weapon trained on her.

“Hardly,” she spat.  “Areli.”  She flung the name away like a bad smell.  “I’ve always been loyal to King Phinneas, David.”

David looked behind him again, making Frances certain that’s where camp was.   “But, you left.”  His blue eyes pierced hers.  Still, he dropped the crossbow a fraction of an inch.

Frances exhaled, lowering her gaze.  Did everyone know of her treachery?  “I did,” she said, rushing on as the weapon snapped back to attention.  “My friends were worried we’d get punished when that stupid girl escaped.  They convinced me to leave camp.  I thought we were going to do something to aid the battle—they told me someone was injured.”

“Jacob mentioned that.” David said, shouldering the weapon.  “That doesn’t explain Areli, though.”

“When I found out they were headed to Areli, I left.  Then, when they came back, they captured me—forced me to his camp.  I came as soon as I could sneak away, but you had all gone.  I’ve been trying to find you ever since.”  She looked at him imploringly, “Please, David.”

David looked down, blonde bangs falling into his face.  He ran his hand over his chin, stroking the stubble that was just beginning to show.  “King Phinneas will decide what to do with you,” he said, turning on his heel. 

Frances followed, unsure of her reception.  If she couldn’t even convince David, what hope did she have?  She’d already been on the wrong side of King Phinneas’s welcoming party once.  “Nice place,” she said as David pushed tree branches aside to reveal a grimy cave entrance. 

“Well, King Phinneas hasn’t had a chance to add all the amenities with Areli hot on our heels.  And that Hadar look alike.”

“Look alike?”  Frances eyed him warily.  “You don’t think he’s the real thing?”  She didn’t know which answer she hoped to hear.  Mary and Nykole had certainly been convinced—had even convinced him to rescue her it seemed.  Just thinking their names together made Frances’s heart hurt.  The three of them had been inseparable since King Phinneas first rescued them after their village had been destroyed—except, Mary said that had been King Phinneas too.

“Of course he’s not the real thing,” David scoffed, his voice bringing her back to reality as he finished rearranging the foliage around the door.  “You know how Areli lies.”

“Do I?”  She thought, ducking her head to step under the branches and into the cave.  The motion shot pain down her back where the wounds she had were still tender—wounds she’d had treated in the hospital tent in Areli’s camp.  He hadn’t seemed like the villain King Phinneas made him out to be.  Everything about him had been kind.  She closed her eyes remembering the way he had looked as he stood in the entrance of his tent, watching her leave, his blue eyes shining in the semi-darkness.  Still, he had let her go, keeping his word that she was no prisoner.  What about now?  She wondered if she’d be so lucky here.

They reached the end of the corridor and stepped into a gallery.  No soaring columns or marble halls.  Just drab gray everywhere she looked.  Her heart hammered when she noticed King Phinneas walking towards her, talking animatedly with Jeffrey.

“—And find me some clothes to change into.  I can’t believe I’m still wearing these rags.  I’m a king!”

“I know, Sire,” Jeffrey said, not meeting his eyes.  “But, we left so quickly, the men didn’t grab anything from the Sappington cave.  We thought there’d be provisions here.” 

Frances gasped, noting the accusation in Jeffrey’s tone and flinched, knowing King Phinneas would recognize it as well.  As he turned to tell Jeffrey that insolence would not be tolerated, his eyes fell on Frances, who froze, hand over her open mouth.

“And what did you bring me this baggage for?”  he sneered.  “I’m looking for supplies, not traitors.”

David took her arm, preventing her from leaving.  “She spent the night in Areli’s camp.  I thought she might have some intelligence.”

King Phinneas eyed her with renewed interest.  “Well, speak, girl.”

Frances glanced uncomfortably back at David, her whisper still carrying.  “I didn’t spend the night.  I left to find you as soon as the camp quieted down.”

“Useless as usual,” King Phinneas said, turning back to Jeffrey.  “Get her out of my sight,” he glanced at David.  “For good this time.”  David gulped but nodded.

“Wait!” Frances cried, pulling her arm from David’s grasp.  “That doesn’t mean I didn’t hear things.”

“This better be good,” David whispered. “I’m not going down with you.”

Slowly, King Phinneas spun on his heel, turning once again to face them.  “I’m listening,” he said, steel eyes narrowed.

Frances gulped, casting around for any snatch of information that would save her life.  “He’s pursuing you.”

King Phinneas rolled his eyes.  “Obviously.  Hence, these mediocre accommodations.  Now, if you have nothing else.” He waved his hand dismissively.

“He left Michael behind.  He was in the hospital tent with me when—”

“What?” Jeffrey interrupted.  “He didn’t bring Michael?  Why not?”

“Or Hadar.”  Now that she was talking, the words poured from her. “He was going—”

“So, the old man’s by himself, is he?”  King Phinneas’s lips curved into a smirk.    “You’re sure about this?”  Frances’s head bobbed like a toy.  “Believe me when I say if you’ve lied to me, these will be your last words.”

Frances held to this ace like a lifeline.  “I’d never, Sire.  You’ve always had my loyalty.  I’ve returned to you twice now.  Does that count for nothing?”

“Yes, yes,” King Phinneas waved her away like a persistent fly.  “So, no Hadar and no Michael.”

“That wasn’t the real Hadar anyway,” David said before he realized who he was talking to.  King Phinneas glared.  “You, um, told us Areli was pretending,” he finished lamely.

“Of course it wasn’t Hadar.” King Phinneas said just a bit too loudly.  “I’m sure he’s just dropping the charade because we found out.  But, Michael.  What’s he doing there?”

“Maybe he realized Michael’s a liability.  Since we caught him, maybe he’s not willing to risk it again.”  Jeffrey guessed.

“Oh, that girl!”  King Phinneas spat.       

“Emma.”  Jeffrey supplied.

“She’d better not cross paths with me, or she’ll think what I did to her friend was merciful,” King Phinneas snarled.

“She didn’t accompany them either,” Frances supplied.

He glared at her interruption.  “Of course not, you idiot.  She lives in Sappington.  I’m letting you live, girl, for now, but don’t get used to it.  You still have much to atone for.”  Frances looked down, eyes brimming.  When would it ever be enough?

David took a step away from her, drawing King Phinneas’s attention to him.  “Get back on duty, boy.  And take this to the maid’s quarters.  Third corridor.”

Frances curtsied and rushed after David, who was eager to get away. 

“In there.”  He pointed to a doorway before hurrying off.

Frances pushed the door open to a room tightly stacked with bunk beds.  The finery had never extended to the maids, but she thought her repeated loyalty might have earned her a bit of comfort.  She dropped onto an empty bed, jamming her face into the pillow.  Curling into herself, she tried to subdue her wrenching sobs.  At last, she fell into a fitful sleep.