Read Forever Safe (Beacons of Hope) Online
Authors: Jody Hedlund
Forever Safe (Beacons of Hope)
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Safe
The Beacons of Hope Series
The Heart of Faith Collection
The Michigan Brides Collection
Historical
Young Adult
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Book Four
F
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Safe
JODY HEDLUND
Forever Safe
Northern Lights Press
© 2016 Copyright Jody Hedlund
Kobo Edition
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form, or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior permission of the author.
Library of Congress Control Number: 2016906755
Scripture quotations are taken from the King James Version of the Bible.
This is a work of historical reconstruction; the appearances of certain historical figures are accordingly inevitable. All other characters are products of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Cover Design by Lynnette Bonner of Indie Cover Design
To all of the friends who were involved
in the creation of this book in one form or another
Your help was invaluable and your friendship is precious.
My deepest thanks for both.
May, 1876
New York City
“I
still can’t believe that in less than six weeks I’ll become Mrs. Nathaniel Winthrop III.” Victoria Cole exhaled a blissful sigh and lifted her face to the glorious spring sunshine as she rounded a bend on the park pathway. The bright rays warmed the cherry blossoms overhead so that the sweet scent mingled with that of the tulips and forsythia to create a fragrant potpourri.
“You’ll finally be in Mrs. Astor’s elite circle,” Theresa said with a tad of jealousy shading her voice.
With arms looped together, they’d already strolled most of the paths within Gramercy Park. Now their steps slowed and Victoria patted her friend’s arm in sympathy. She and Theresa had been dreaming for years about making Mrs. Astor’s official list. Victoria’s own father had come close. At last, Victoria’s marriage to Nathaniel Winthrop would secure her a place in the coveted upper echelons of New York society.
“I daresay, you’ll join me very soon,” Victoria said, smiling at her friend. “Especially since Philip Smith has asked to call on you.”
“He has such a plain last name.”
“Theresa Smith.” Victoria tried the combination. “It isn’t as fancy as Theresa Fontaine, but you can’t keep your maiden name forever.”
Theresa pursed her lips into an exaggerated pout. “If only he didn’t look like a shaggy sheepdog.”
Victoria bit back a laugh. “That’s unkind to say.”
“It’s true and you know it.”
“Perhaps you can suggest that he shave his eyebrows.” Victoria earned a tiny smile from her friend. “At the very least, you won’t have to worry about maintaining eye contact since he won’t be able to see you from underneath the bushy mounds.”
Theresa nudged Victoria with her shoulder. “Fiddlesticks. You’re much too silly.”
“That’s why you love me.” Victoria nudged her friend back, grateful for Theresa’s undying friendship. Though they shared many of the same friends, aspirations, and tastes, Theresa was about as different in personality and appearance from Victoria as any one person could be. Unlike Victoria, who had fair hair and light brown eyes, Theresa had raven black hair and eyes as dark and bold as coffee. While Victoria considered herself an easy-going, positive person, Theresa was decidedly more pragmatic and realistic.
For a moment, they walked in silence. Victoria relished the vibrant green leaves of the artfully shaped trees and shrubs. Gramercy Park was always such a peaceful and pretty place in the spring. Besides the twittering of a family of birds somewhere in the meticulously groomed garden, their footsteps along with her bodyguard’s were the only other sounds. Thankfully today, in the safe confines of the park, Arch was giving her some leeway. The giant of a man followed a discreet distance behind them.
The private Manhattan park was completely fenced in and closed to the public. In fact, only the residents who lived in the buildings surrounding the sprawling stretch of greenery had keys to the gate that led inside the wrought iron. Even so, Arch always insisted on accompanying her.
“Come on.” She tugged Theresa toward the entrance. “I know you’re anxious to see the new corsets I bought yesterday, the ones decorated with orange blossoms.”
“Yes, I’m just dying to see them,” Theresa said in her usual flat, sarcastic voice.
“You’ll love them.”
“Probably not as much as Nathaniel will.”
“Theresa!” Victoria nearly tripped at her friend’s bold insinuation. The corsets were for her trousseau, which was steadily growing with each passing day of shopping and fittings for the wedding and honeymoon.
Her saucy friend lifted her gloved hand to her mouth and pretended remorse. But her eyes were mirthless. “Oh, that’s right. We mustn’t speak of what happens after the wedding. It’s supposed to be a big secret for all of us debutantes.”
Victoria glanced over her shoulder toward Arch and prayed he hadn’t heard a word Theresa had spoken. Even though her loyal bodyguard was bald beneath his hat and old enough to be her father, he had excellent hearing. Rarely did anything escape his attention. He was tall and burly and wore an attitude that said, “If you bother me, I’ll crush you like a bug.”
Her father had hired Arch after a frightening incident four years ago when she’d returned home from a trip to Michigan. An erstwhile enemy of her father’s, Big Al, had gone to jail many years previously for attempting to have her father murdered. Once he was released from prison, he’d sought revenge against her father. As part of his scheming, Big Al had decided to target Victoria, kidnap her, and demand a ransom. Fortunately, he’d been captured while stalking their home and had been locked back in prison.
During the past four years that Arch had been her bodyguard, there had been several threatening letters and an incident at the opera when an employee from one of her father’s competitors had grabbed her as she’d been exiting her carriage. But overall Victoria felt silly for having a bodyguard.
She knew her father had just been worried that even though Big Al was in prison, he might try to have some of his men strike again. And she knew that because her father was one of the wealthiest men in New York City, there were plenty who would stop at nothing to see him come to ruin. Even so, Victoria had long since concluded she didn’t need Arch.
As much as she would miss her dear bodyguard, she had decided that once she was married, she’d convince Nathaniel to free her from the overprotective watchfulness. After all, he was amenable to whatever she wanted. He made it his number one occupation to give her everything her heart desired. That was only one of numerous reasons she loved him.
“Let’s go.” Victoria smiled again and counted her blessings, of which she had many, particularly a mother and father who adored her, a fiancé who loved her beyond reason, and faithful friends, like Theresa, who endured all her whims. “I’m sure Mother will have tea waiting for us.”
Theresa picked up her pace. “And hopefully those delectable lemon tarts she had last time.”
They came to the gate, stood back, and waited as Arch inserted the family park key and unlocked it. He swung open the gate and glanced both ways down the street before waving them through.
Theresa started forward but stopped abruptly. “Oh dear.” She held out her hands. “I’ve lost one of my gloves.”
Sure enough, only one of Theresa’s hands was covered in a lacy white glove that rose to the sleeve ruffles of her peach-colored polonaise of silk taffeta. The matching skirt was trimmed with layers of bustles in the back, much the same way Victoria’s was. However, Victoria’s gowns were all designed in Paris, a fact Theresa never failed to lament when reflecting on her imitation creations.
“I’ll walk back and retrieve it,” Theresa said, giving Victoria a push through the gate. “You go ahead.” Without waiting for Victoria’s acquiescence, Theresa bustled away.
“Are you sure you don’t want help looking for it?”
“No. I remember exactly where I took off my gloves.” Theresa’s skirt swished in her haste. “I insist you go on without me.”
“Very well. I’ll wait for you outside.”
Theresa lifted her hand in a half-wave to acknowledge Victoria’s comment but didn’t slow her pace. Victoria ambled out of the park past the tall black fence with posts that were spiked on the top like spears to keep out intruders. Her stately home stood directly across the street. The five stories of brownstone ended in a fashionable black slate mansard roof with ornate iron cresting.
She flounced her full skirt of sapphire faille and twisted to shake out the pleated train that lay on the ground like organ pipes. All of a sudden, Arch yelled and shoved her so hard that she would have fallen, except that the narrow fence bars caught her.
The metal was bruising, even through the layers of her garments. Her Belgian straw bonnet trimmed with ivory ribbons and sapphire feathers tipped over her eyes. For a moment all she could hear was scuffling and shouts behind her.
