“I can do whatever I want.” Her eyes flashed with all the pain and anger that he’d brought her. But as in the past, he knew making her angry at him was for the best. Then she’d go out of her way to avoid him, and that would make leaving her easier. Maybe.
Before leaving her, however, he had one more job to do. Find her attacker and make sure she was completely safe. During the past few weeks, Arch had been tracking leads. But unfortunately his friend had only run into dead ends.
So, during an exchange of telegrams last week, they’d decided to implement their backup plan regarding the perpetrator. They would disclose Victoria’s location and hopefully lure the attacker out to the isolated Race Point Lighthouse.
“If you want me to find your attacker, then you can’t cancel the wedding.” He hadn’t wanted to say it, to give her the more logical explanation for why he’d sent the telegram to Nathaniel.
She pressed her lips together in a line of determination that told him she wouldn’t be satisfied until he explained himself.
“I do think you belong with Nathaniel,” he started, and when she began to tug away from him, he rushed to finish. “But that’s not the only reason I sent him the telegram.”
She ceased struggling and gave him her full attention.
“I’ve come to the conclusion that the attacker was hired by someone who doesn’t want you to get married.”
“How can you be sure?”
“A dozen little clues.” He’d been slowly putting all the pieces together. The attack on Arch had been planned by someone who knew Victoria’s habits. If he’d wanted to kill her, then he wouldn’t have simply attempted to stab her. No, the stabbing had been intended to wound her enough to postpone the wedding. When that hadn’t happened and the Coles had hired him to be her new body guard, the perpetrator had to think of a different way to stop the wedding. Swapping drivers on the way to the ceremony had been so well-timed, perfected down to the last detail.
“Who wouldn’t want me to get married?” she asked. He couldn’t keep from noticing the redness of her hands, likely from the strong lye soap. The pungent odor was strong in the damp air. “That makes no sense.”
“Maybe one of your father’s competitors feels threatened by your marriage.” He’d heard Victoria talk with Theresa on more than one occasion about how her marriage to Nathaniel Winthrop would move Victoria’s family into Mrs. Astor’s elite circle. Such a move would benefit Mr. Cole’s business aspirations. A competitor would want to stop the advantage. And anyone who knew how much Mr. Cole loved his daughter would also be willing to capitalize on that affection. Continued threats would make Mr. Cole desperate enough to give in to any demands his enemies might make.
“Whatever the case,” he continued, “the new wedding plans are already public. And so is your current location.”
She glanced around the beach, the horizon, and then inland to the sand dunes, as if expecting to see an attacker. “So I’m no longer safe here?”
“If anyone comes, I’ll see them. That’s why I chose this place.”
“What if someone tries to sneak out here at night under the cover of darkness?”
“Hopefully Dad would see them.” And of course, Tom intended to stand guard. His plan wasn’t foolproof, but it was still the best way of trapping and netting their culprit. He was counting on the imposter not knowing exactly how isolated the lighthouse was and believing it would be an easy place to capture Victoria. He was also hoping the attack would happen sooner rather than later.
“And have you told your parents?” She looked first at the upstairs window of the bedroom where Dad was sleeping and then toward the sitting room where Mom was chatting with Jimmy. “Do they know the truth now?”
“No. They don’t need to know.”
“You’re planning to let them think you’re still married to me indefinitely?”
“For a while.” Once they captured the attacker, he’d return Victoria to Newport, get the annulment, and leave for Europe. Maybe he’d tell his parents about the annulment the next time he visited, explain that he and Victoria were just too different and that parting ways was the only option. In the meantime, he wouldn’t say anything. He’d let his mom and dad stay blissfully ignorant as long as possible.
“I don’t feel right about deceiving them any longer,” she said. “Maybe we should tell them everything.”