The possibility was too horrible to entertain. Victoria cast it aside. Theresa was her best friend. They’d always done everything together. Theresa wouldn’t have any reason to bring her harm.
A movement outside the opposite carriage window caught Victoria’s attention. She slid over and peered out. Several dilapidated boats were tied to an old weathered dock and looked as if one angry storm could sweep them into the sea. She searched for any person she could call to rescue her. But the only sign of life was a single gull circling above the boats.
What if Theresa had lied about Tom?
The thought forced its way into her head unbidden. She didn’t want to think the worst of Theresa, but she still couldn’t comprehend the possibility that Tom would leave her, especially not if he suspected she was still in danger.
What if the driver had done something to Tom first? Maybe injured him? She swallowed hard, unwilling to consider the possibility that he’d been killed.
“Lord, please, no.” The prayer squeaked out past her tight throat. She didn’t want Tom to get hurt or even die on account of her. She didn’t want him to be in the slightest danger at all. “God, please watch over him,” she whispered. “Don’t worry about me. Just keep him safe.”
She realized with sudden clarity that she’d give her life for Tom. She’d sacrifice everything to keep him alive. She’d never felt that way for anyone else. In fact, she was quite sure she’d always just thought about herself, what she wanted and what was best for her. She’d lived selfishly without ever having to make any sacrifices that had mattered.
How many people had she hurt as a result of her selfishness? How many beaus? How many friends? Perhaps even Theresa?
“I’m so sorry,” she whispered, more to God than to anyone in particular.
Clinging to Nathaniel was just one more selfish act. She didn’t love him. And it wasn’t fair to marry him for what he could do for her. He deserved so much more than that. He deserved a young lady who would passionately love him and appreciate all he had to offer.
She tugged off her left glove one finger at a time. When her hand was finally bare, she held it up. The large sapphire was beautiful, but it didn’t belong to her. It belonged to some other woman who would be the kind of wife Nathaniel needed.
She removed the ring. Once she got out of her predicament, she would return it to Nathaniel the first opportunity she had. She’d tell him how sorry she was for hurting him, for leading him on. Even though she couldn’t marry Tom, she wouldn’t relegate Nathaniel to her second option. He deserved to be someone’s first choice.
The carriage door jerked open, startling her. When a hand reached in and shoved a rag against her nose and mouth, she lashed out, clawed at his hands, and wrenched her body in an effort to free herself from his grasp. But the fumes overpowered and weakened her.
“Miss Fontaine didn’t mention that you’d be such a fighter,” came a male voice.
Miss Fontaine? As in Theresa Fontaine? Her best friend? The world began to turn fuzzy.
“Got to quiet you up,” the man spoke again, although from a distance. “Or you’ll alert the entire Cape of your whereabouts.”
She attempted to push his hand away but this time only batted at air. The man must be mistaken about Theresa. He had to be. She tried to form a denial, but her tongue was too heavy to speak, even if she could have gotten the words past the rag.
She began to fall backward and couldn’t stop herself. When she landed against the seat, Nathaniel’s ring slipped from her hand. As much as she wanted to deny what was happening, she couldn’t. Her heart told her the truth. Theresa had betrayed her.
Chapter 20
Tom leaned into the door with all his weight and silenced his heavy breathing.
The footsteps in the hallway picked up pace and veered directly toward his room. Suddenly, he realized they were different than Splash’s, heavier and flatter.
“Arch?” he croaked past the gag.
“Tommy boy?”
Tom’s chest loosened at the sound of his friend. He banged on the door in answer.
The doorknob rattled.
Tom released his pressure against the door. He wanted to instruct Arch to pick the lock, but the telltale clicks told him Arch was doing just that.
Within seconds, Arch had the door unlocked. He forced it open, pushing Tom back in the process. At the sight of