Forever Safe (Beacons of Hope) (5 page)

Even though she normally treated all her maids and household staff with the utmost consideration and kindness, as her mother had taught her, she’d watched the calloused and cold way some of her friends handled their servants, as though they were invisible and unimportant. She could do that to Mr. Cushman, keep him at a distance, refuse to form any bonds the way she had with Arch.

She only had to put up with him for the next month, and then she would never have to see him again.

T
om stood near the door of the tiny shop, feet apart and arms crossed. He hadn’t moved for the past thirty minutes, not even an inch. He didn’t want Victoria to know how uncomfortable he was. She’d peeked at him in order to gauge his reaction to the various items that Madame Bisseau had tailored. But he’d schooled his face in a mask of passivity that he’d perfected. In fact, from the blush staining Victoria’s cheeks, it was clear she was more embarrassed by the sight of lacy corsets and drawers and chemises than he was. After all, he’d been exposed to frilly undergarments during his previous assignments.

Even so, he’d still had the urge to fidget like a naive school boy who was seeing such private garments for the first time. He’d nearly sputtered an oath of protest when the silver-haired French seamstress had brought out a silky, floor length nightgown. It had been pure white with a fashionable bustle on the back, along with a train.

But more than that, the gown had been thin. He’d had to recite the Lord’s Prayer twenty-two times since seeing that night dress in order to fight away images of Victoria wearing it.

After that, he’d also prayed more fervently that God would deliver him from this job. He hadn’t had any major problems over the past two weeks as Victoria Cole’s bodyguard. No further attacks. Except for a threatening letter Mr. Cole had received yesterday, there hadn’t been even a hint of a problem.

He hadn’t experienced any emotional entanglements with Victoria either. He’d kept his word to Henry Cole that he would treat his daughter with the utmost professionalism. He’d purposefully put a wedge between them the first day on the job. He’d seen the hurt in her eyes that evening at the hospital when he’d made sure she overheard his conversation with Arch. He’d regretted that he’d had to pain her, but it was for her own benefit.

She was naturally affectionate, even if she was slightly spoiled and strong-willed at times. He’d been around enough rich women to know Victoria Cole hadn’t let her beauty and wealth make her prideful. She had a freshness and innocence that was refreshing. She seemed to see the positive in every situation.

But that was the problem. She was too trusting, too sweet. She’d formed a deep attachment with Arch. And she also had friendly relationships with all the household servants. In fact, she treated them more like family than paid help. With her kind and generous spirit, he’d quickly surmised that she would grow attached to him too.

Sure, she was engaged and would be married in sixteen days. Nevertheless, he’d deemed it necessary to keep high walls between himself and Victoria. The best way to build a barricade was to hurt someone. Then the person usually erected a wall fast and furiously, just as Victoria had done. Although truthfully, her wall was flimsy. She’d had a hard time maintaining her “I’m the master and you’re my servant” charade.

“I honestly don’t think you’ll need to pack anything else beside that nightgown,” Theresa said. She was sitting on the settee next to Victoria and had been a constant companion during the shopping expeditions.

“Of course I’ll need more than the nightgown. I’m planning to do a great deal of sightseeing and shopping in all of the places I missed last time I was in Italy.”

“With that nightgown, I’m sure Nathaniel will be doing lots of sightseeing too,” Theresa said with a wicked glimmer.

Victoria gasped and slapped playfully at Theresa’s arm. “Hush!” Even though Victoria was smiling, from the way her eyes widened and her pupils dilated, Tom could tell she was mortified by her friend’s comment.

Tom had to admit, the comment unnerved him too. Not because he didn’t like the thought of Nathaniel looking at Victoria. No, on the few occasions Victoria had spent time with Nathaniel, Tom had liked the guy. He was genuine and decent. Frivolous. Flighty. Spoiled. But honest. And after he married Victoria, he’d have every right to feast upon her beauty. In that nightgown.

Okay. Maybe he was unnerved a little by the thought of another man looking at Victoria. He supposed his overprotective nature was coming out more than usual because she was so young.

Whatever the case, the real reason he was uncomfortable was because he wasn’t accustomed to the brashness some American women from the high society displayed. Most of the European royalty he accompanied were proper and polite, at least in public.

Madame Bisseau’s frown indicated that she hadn’t found Theresa’s comment amusing either. The French woman finished folding the silk nightgown and gently placed it with several other items in a flat box.

Through the front shop window, Tom caught sight of Nathaniel climbing down from a bright yellow phaeton. It was new. From the condition of the tires, Tom could tell that it had only been driven a couple of times.

Nathaniel was impeccably attired, as usual. He wore a light gray pin-striped suit accented with a bow tie and top hat. He cut a dashing figure in his finely tailored outfit, and he had a carefree, fun-loving look about him, especially with his wind-tossed sandy brown hair.

Nathaniel inspected the side of his phaeton, took out a handkerchief, and polished a spot. He nodded and smiled to three young ladies who flirted with him as they walked past. But his attention on them was only fleeting. Tom couldn’t fault Nathaniel for his devotion to Victoria. Even when other women vied for him, he had eyes only for his bride-to-be.

As Nathaniel proceeded toward Madame Bisseau’s salon and opened the door, Tom surveyed outside the store to make sure nothing had changed since they’d arrived and that no one was lurking nearby. No strange carriages. No lingering passers-by. No oddities.

He stepped back inside just as Victoria stood and smiled at Nathaniel. She held out her hands to him in a welcoming gesture. Although her eyes lit up at the sight of him, there was something missing from her expression. Tom couldn’t name what it was, but he’d noticed her reaction to Nathaniel before.

And he’d noted Theresa’s too. Victoria’s friend was in love with the man. Although she kept her feelings hidden from Victoria, she couldn’t hide them from Tom. He’d noticed the sideway glances filled with longing, the rapt attention whenever Nathaniel spoke, the extra long laughter at Nathaniel’s jokes that weren’t funny.

At least Theresa had the decency to make the best of the situation. Tom could tell she was sharp. She’d apparently realized early enough that Nathaniel was thoroughly enamored with Victoria. Half the time he was so busy fawning over Victoria that he forgot Theresa was even there. Victoria was kind enough to draw her friend in and keep her from being left out.

“Are you ready for our lunch at Delmonico’s, darling?” Nathaniel had taken off his hat and was raking his fingers through his hair and tossing the wayward strands back.

“I’m very ready.” Victoria cast a sideways glance at the box Madame Bisseau was now tying closed with a silk ribbon. Her eyes rounded with embarrassment, and she quickly grabbed Nathaniel’s hand and began to propel him toward the door.

“You’ll be the first to ride in my new phaeton,” Nathaniel said with a grin.

“She can’t ride in a phaeton,” Tom said.

Nathaniel halted abruptly, which in turn forced Victoria to stop. The excitement that had been playing across his features dropped into disappointment.

“With the open top, it’s too dangerous.” Tom offered the explanation before anyone could protest. The anonymous letter Mr. Cole had received yesterday might not mean anything. It had implied vague threats to the Cole family if Mr. Cole didn’t back out of a particular railroad deal he was negotiating. Even if the threats were empty and had no connection to Arch’s attack, Tom was trained to stay on high alert regardless.

“Delmonico’s isn’t that far away.” Victoria proceeded to tug Nathaniel toward the door. “I daresay a little ride won’t compromise my safety.”

“Maybe a
little ride
in Central Park after lunch.” Tom had learned to always be strict first. If he said “no” right away, then his charge was usually more open to his subsequent suggestion.

Victoria paused as though considering what she believed to be his compromise but was actually his plan all along. “Very well.” She sniffed in her attempt to be arrogant toward him. “But I shall take the ride with Nathaniel alone.”

He’d suspected as much. “We’ll see how busy the park is.”

She hesitated, nodded curtly, and turned to Theresa, who was trailing after the couple. “Theresa, will you ride with Nathaniel to Delmonico’s? I hate for him to be alone with his fun new toy.”

Nathaniel smiled down at Victoria. “You’re so sweet, darling. But I’ll be all right.”

“I don’t mind,” Theresa said. She stepped forward and slipped her arm through Nathaniel’s boldly. “We can’t let you have all the pleasure to yourself. You need to share some with the rest of us.”

Nathaniel’s eyes took on an excited glimmer again, but he attempted to dampen his enthusiasm as he looked at Victoria. “If you’re sure you don’t mind?”

“Of course not. I want you to have fun.”

Nathaniel grinned, showing off his carefree charm, which Tom guessed appealed to young women. “Are you ready for the ride of your life?” Nathaniel said to Theresa.

Her eyes reflected eagerness. But Tom gave her credit for responding sarcastically and hiding her enthusiasm. “Just try not to kill me.”

It was Victoria’s turn now to trail behind the couple. As Nathaniel joked with Theresa, Victoria beamed at the two. Apparently Victoria didn’t think she had anything to worry about between her fiancé and her best friend. Tom hoped she was right.

A few minutes later, Tom was settled across from Victoria in the carriage. They followed the phaeton where Nathaniel and Theresa perched on the high open bench and were laughing and talking. Victoria hadn’t seemed to notice that Theresa’s arm was still linked with Nathaniel’s. Or if she did, she wasn’t bothered by it.

As a matter of fact, Victoria wasn’t bothered by too much when it came to Nathaniel. She had none of the passionate emotions one would expect from a woman on the cusp of her wedding.

The crazy spinning in his mind came to standstill. “You don’t love him.”

“What?” Victoria’s eyes jerked to his. She appeared startled, much like a cornered doe.

“You’ll run away and leave him standing at the altar just like you did your last fiancé.”

The golden brown flickered with confusion. “How do you know about that?”

“Who doesn’t? Both of your previous broken engagements made the newspaper. Jacob Anthony Ratcliff in December of ’73 after your debutante party. And Samuel Hildebrandt in ’74.”

She didn’t contradict him. In fact, her expression told him she was indeed guilty.

“At least with Jacob you had the decency to break it off well before the wedding day. But poor Samuel.”

She started to speak but clamped her lips closed.

“Don’t you think you owe it to Nathaniel to end your relationship before it’s too late?” Especially, to avoid complications. Samuel, fiancé number two, had stalked Victoria for months after the called-off wedding until she’d gone to Europe. Even if Samuel wasn’t stalking her anymore, the ex-fiancé had been at two parties that she had attended. And it was clear the man was still in love with her.

“You have no idea what you’re talking about,” she finally said. “Please refrain from saying anything else.”

“So you’re planning to go through with a loveless marriage?”

“Of course I am.”

He quirked his brow. He’d caught her.

She rolled her eyes. “I’m going through with the marriage. What I meant to say is that it’s not loveless.”

“Then you love him?”

She started to nod.

“Be honest.”

“I feel a great deal of affection for Nathaniel,” she said slowly, as though weighing each word. “He’s good and sweet and generous.”

“So is my mother, but I’m not marrying her.”

“He loves me,” she rushed, her voice rising a notch to make her point.

“And my mother loves me.”

She released an exasperated breath, forming her lips into a pout that he’d found strangely pretty the past couple of weeks. “I’m marrying him. He’s everything I’ve ever wanted in a man. And that’s that.”

“Or maybe he’s everything your father ever wanted.”

The carriage bumped over a rut jostling her. But she rapidly regained her composure and lifted her chin. “I chose Nathaniel. My father had nothing to do with it.”

Tom shrugged. Let her think what she wanted. He knew, however, that Mr. Cole wasn’t the type of man to play roulette with his daughter’s choice of a marriage partner. Tom had no doubt Henry Cole had been intimately involved in each of the negotiations long before Victoria had accepted the proposals.