10. The Gorge
Theresa let the words sink in. Her initial reaction came bubbling out before she could stop it.
Her skin grew hot as embarrassment coursed through her.
She didn’t love Richard, but she came here expecting to marry him and become fabulously wealthy.
It was her chance to finally live comfortably without scheming or planning for anything.
“How can this be?” She wasn’t sure who the question was directed at. In all her talks with the old Theresa, there was no mention of the possibility that Margaret had feelings for Richard. Everyone stared at her, waiting for her to respond.
I need to play the part of upset Theresa. The memory of how Theresa acted during the robbery gave her the inspiration needed to feign her displeasure. Theresa forced her voice to shake.
“When I left at the beginning of summer, you were engaged to me.” Theresa spoke directly to Richard.
“You know Margaret and I have been friends for many years. We grew up together. While you and I have had a speedy chance encounter and a whirlwind romance, it doesn’t feel the same as it does with Margaret.” Richard pulled Margaret closer to his body.
Theresa stood, her whole body shaking with anger. She didn’t want to live under the rules of a new mother and father. She didn’t want to have to go through the long process of courtship, having dull conversations with men, trying to get them to like her, or love her enough to marry her.
She wanted to be immediately settled with her own wealth and to set the rules of how she wanted to live. It was one of the top reasons she chose to switch with Theresa in the first place. Her entire plan to marry into wealth was ruined, and she wanted to rip both of their heads off.
“No, no, no, no!” Theresa paced as she yelled. “We were supposed to be wed upon my return, and you—” Theresa pointed at Margaret, “you were supposed to be my friend!”
Margaret sobbed as she nuzzled close to Richard’s arm for support, playing the victim of her own actions.
“Is this why you were my friend? To get close to him?” Theresa wasn’t too shocked that he would pick Margaret over the old Theresa. Margaret had an elevated air of grace about her that even old Theresa didn’t have.
“Please understand, Theresa,” Margaret said, now standing as well. “I have been in love with Richard for as long as I can remember.”
“So you wait until right before we are to be wed, and I am gone for the summer, to make your move to steal my fiancé? My future?” Theresa lowered her voice to a cool calm and collected tone.
I cannot let them know the true depths of my feelings. I need to stay in control.
“I know. I should have told him about my feelings earlier. But he confessed to me first,” Margaret managed to say through sobs.
“He did what?” Theresa whipped her head to stare at Richard.
“He did. He told me he loved me and wanted to be with me.” Margaret seemed to be collecting herself.
“He only did that because you encouraged him! How many times have you spent time together while I was away? How many flirtatious remarks were exchanged? How many foul words were said about me from your lips? Poisoning him against me?” Theresa spit the accusations in quick succession.
Margaret came undone again and rushed out of the room. Richard followed behind the inconsolable woman.
“You are downright cruel, Theresa; you know that, right,” he mumbled as he passed her.
“Do you even hear yourself? You betray me and you think I am the cruel one? Tell yourself what you need to make yourself feel better.” The door slammed behind him.
I don’t think he heard me, she thought miserably.
What am I going to do now? Switch with Margaret?
It would be complicated to pull off that kind of switch.
It is laughable that he would accuse me of being cruel when I have done nothing wrong.
I told the truth, which clearly his guilty conscience couldn’t handle.
The thoughts in her mind ran together as she tried to process what just happened and forgot that her new parents were still in the room.
“We are so sorry, darling!” Allen finally spoke up after the silence lingered for several minutes. Theresa glared at him.
“Why didn’t you write to tell me?” Theresa crossed the room and sat back down in the chair, and they joined her by sitting together on the couch. She would not have switched if she had known. Or maybe she would have.
But she didn’t want to waste time trying to find another wealthy match. Now she was in a new family as a daughter once more. Maybe I can find ways to enjoy the wealth I can access, even if it is limited.
As if summoned, Bruce appeared in the doorway. “Shall I have afternoon tea brought in?”
“Yes, please, Bruce. It will just be the three of us, so please be sure the kitchen prepares accordingly. Oh, and be sure Theresa’s favorite tea is brewed,” Beatrice instructed. Bruce nodded and quietly retreated from the room.
Allen answered Theresa’s question.
“We were worried you would act out foolishly if we wrote to you explaining the elopement. We know you have a history of overreacting to bad news, and with you away, we didn’t want you to elope with a stranger up North.”
Theresa thought back to her conversations on the train and could understand their concerns. The previous Theresa was impulsive and acted immature for her age.
“Okay, well then, hopefully you have a plan on how to clean this mess up since I wasn’t here to stop it and there is nothing that can be done to fix it. I would very much like to be excused after tea. I think I need some fresh air, and a walk to the park would help me to clear my head.”
Beatrice and Allen, in shock, nodded their heads. Theresa recognized the looks of uncertainty.
I’m sure they have no clue where the level-headedness has come from. Gone is the immature girl that was foolishly in love with a man. Now they must reckon with a woman who has experienced more than they can comprehend.
“I think that is a splendid idea,” Beatrice said, interrupting her thoughts.
“There is no rush in getting married. I know you will find someone who will make you very happy one day.” Allen smiled at Theresa, which she returned as warmly as she could.
Theresa was already planning her revenge, though. She wanted to punish both Margaret and Richard for their treachery, and she had an idea of how to ease some of the guilt she carried about her past.
This was going to happen to old Theresa; what I did to her was awful. But I was a stranger. She was going to be betrayed by her closest friend. The best way to make amends for what I did to the old Theresa is to avenge this betrayal.
Afternoon tea arrived. She found it easier to smile and be congenial as she ate and talked with Beatrice and Allen. They thought their daughter had come to accept the fate of her friend and former fiancé, but she was finishing up the last bits of her plan and was excited to execute it.
Not long after she finished afternoon tea, Theresa was out the front door and on her way down the street. She was looking for someone specific. There was a woman she needed for the first part of her plan: punishing Beatrice and Allen.
While they feigned innocence, Richard would have talked to them about ending our engagement to ensure no bad blood between the men of the two families. And they allowed it. Theresa stomped slightly harder as the thought of family betraying family made her blood boil.
A voice spoke from deep within, reminding her of what she had done to Abigail.
The switch with Abigail was an accident.
This is different. I barely knew her, and the tether beckoned me to switch with her.
Maybe the switch will be something good for her.
She could have a whole new life with the robbers.
Besides, she was coming home to the worst kind of betrayal.
She shook her head and returned her focus to her plan. The second part would be to punish both Richard and Margaret. She hadn’t fully decided how she was going to do that, but she wanted it to be completely devastating to them both.
“I didn’t go through all the work that I did to get here for it to be ruined by those two selfish people,” Theresa mumbled to herself as she walked a little faster, looking back and forth. Just as she passed a small alley, she saw her: the woman she was looking for.
The tattered coat hung past the woman’s knees and looked as though it used to be a checkered pattern. Maybe a shade of green and blue in a previous life, it was now dull gray and brown, with holes and large streaks of mud. Her hair was chopped short.
Likely a self-inflicted haircut. She smiled at the thought. I like her already, she does what she must to survive. She took a steadying breath and headed towards everyone’s downfall.
She remembered seeing her briefly on the carriage ride and Bruce making a snide comment.
“Once one person is living on the street then more will come,” he’d said. At the time, she hadn’t given his comment much thought, but now she was thankful she’d paid attention enough to remember.
Theresa approached the woman slowly as she rummaged through a burlap sack.
Once she was close enough, Theresa noticed the woman was older than her, maybe in her fifties, and that her face was weathered from years of being in the elements. Theresa called out to the woman.
“Hello.” Theresa held out her hand. “My name is Theresa.” The woman looked at the outstretched hand as though it was going to attack her or steal from her, so she responded by closing her bag and holding it close to her chest.
“I don’t mean to frighten you. I was hoping we might be friends and even help each other get what we want.” Theresa took another small step, both hands lifted, showing she meant no harm.
“What is it you think I want from you?” The woman sneered, looking over Theresa, untrusting and unwavering in her resolve.