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.
Then Arch grabbed her arm and dragged her forward without giving her the chance to right her hat. She blew at the feathers hanging in front of her face and attempted to keep up with him even though he was half-carrying her like a parcel under his arm.
“What’s happening, Arch?” she asked.
But the burly man couldn’t hear her over the instructions he was roaring at the footman of their Irving place mansion across the street. “Send for the police!” He sounded strangely winded and weak. “The attacker’s getting away!”
“Attacker?” Victoria strained to see behind her, but once again the feathers and ribbons on her hat blocked her view. “Who was it?”
Arch stumbled across the street to the short flight of scrubbed stone steps at the front of the Cole home, with her in tow. Victoria was surprised when Arch’s grip around her slackened and he deposited her none-too-gently on the landing in front of the footman. Her bodyguard was usually so much more careful with her.