He jumped to his feet, nearly knocking her over. “I will not leave without her. She’s my wife.”
“She’s not!” Micah said, getting to his feet. “Nor does she want to be.”
Camri touched Arthur’s sleeve. “Mr. Morgan, it really is for the best that you go.”
“And I said no.” He turned on her in a rage, grabbing her shoulders and shaking her hard. “I won’t go!”
“You’d better be lettin’ her go,” Patrick said, appearing at Camri’s side. He towered over Arthur and gripped his shoulder. Micah came to her assistance as well.
Camri had expected Patrick to come home soon but hadn’t anticipated him being here quite this early. If Arthur didn’t mind his manners, she knew there would be a fight.
“Now, ye’d be wise to back away,” Patrick said, giving Arthur a push. At the same time, he all but pulled Camri behind him.
Arthur nodded. “I’m sorry for my conduct. It’s just that I’ve been half mad trying to find Kenzie. I love her, and I don’t want to lose her again.”
Patrick did nothing but eye the man with suspicion.
Micah let go of Arthur’s arm and stepped back. “You’ve already lost her,” he said in a way that suggested there was absolutely nothing more to be discussed.
Arthur’s head lowered. “Please just let me see her. Talk to her.”
Camri felt sorry for him. He seemed sincere. She stepped around Patrick. “As I said, Mr. Morgan, she’s not able to see you now and wishes for you to go. Let us know where we can reach you, and we’ll make arrangements for a meeting in a few days.”
Micah didn’t wait for Camri to say more, just started dragging Arthur toward the door.
When they were outside, Camri turned to Patrick and smiled. “Hello, sweetheart. I’m so glad you could join us.”
“And for sure I’m glad I could as well. What in the world would that be about?”
“That is Mr. Arthur Morgan, the man who left Kenzie at the altar. The man who says, however, that he didn’t desert her, but rather his family deceived them both. The man who wants her to marry him as soon as possible.”
Patrick gazed toward the ceiling. “Heaven help us.”
Judith was about to clear the table of coffee cups and uneaten cookies when Caleb arrived. She was so happy to see he’d returned. Given all the excitement, she wanted nothing more than to sit quietly beside him and listen to him read to her, as he often did.
She had left the dishes and started toward him when she caught sight of a woman dressed head to toe in black. The woman’s veil concealed her face, but the cut of her clothes and manner of walking left little doubt that she was wealthy.
“Judith, I have a bit of a surprise for you,” Caleb said. His tone and expression were almost apologetic.
The woman lifted her veil, and Judith couldn’t suppress her gasp. “Victoria!”
Her cousin sneered. “Yes. I’ve come for my inheritance, but I’m told you’ve stolen that away as well as the rest of my family’s money.”
Judith looked at Caleb. “How?”
“Apparently she convinced the headmistress of the school to arrange her return. She arrived in town this morning, making her demands at Mr. Bridgestone’s office.”
“Her demands?”
“Yes, my demands. I want my inheritance,” Victoria said, stepping closer. “I don’t care about the rest of it—although it does sicken me to see you take what is rightfully mine.”
“I don’t want your money, Victoria,” Judith said, finally gathering her wits. “And I had nothing to do with the arrangements Grandmother decided.”
“Grandmother.” Victoria’s voice dripped with sarcasm. “You hardly knew her well enough to call her that. I suppose, however, knowing there was money to be had, you could call her whatever she desired.”
“I’m sorry I had to bring her here,” Caleb said to Judith. “We are in charge of her, however.”
“No one is in charge of me,” Victoria countered. Her face reddened in anger. “I won’t have it.”
