“I’d rather not have it either,” Judith admitted.
“As I tried to explain to Miss Whitley,” Caleb began, “the city is in shambles, and none of her old friends are in a position to take her in. Otherwise, believe me, I would happily deliver her to them.”
“I can stay at a hotel,” Victoria shouted. “I won’t stay here.”
“I also tried to explain to her that she is underage and no respectable establishment would have her without a chaperone. She doesn’t seem to understand the dangers of being on her own.”
“I am perfectly able to take care of myself.”
By now Camri and Patrick had joined them. Judith looked at her friends and shook her head. The situation was more than she could begin to understand. What in the world was Caleb thinking, bringing Victoria here?
“We can set up a cot for her in our room,” Camri offered. “It’ll be tight, but I don’t see what else we can manage, other than putting her out here with the others. Once we move back to the house, she can share Judith’s room.”
“I will not!” Victoria said, shaking her head.
Camri gave her a patient smile. “Well, then you can have my room, and I’ll share with Judith.”
“I don’t know why you all refuse to listen to me,” Victoria said, stamping her foot. “I don’t want to be associated with you. I will not be forced to stay with any of you.”
Caleb spoke up at this. “You will, as I told you on the way over here, unless you want me to have you locked up in an institution where you can be dealt with until you calm down and become more reasonable.”
This caused Victoria to take a step back. “You’re all monsters. You would put me in prison for no other reason than to suit your own desires.”
“No one wants to lock you up, Victoria.” Judith smiled and tried to reach out to her. “I want to be your friend. We all do. You’ve suffered a great loss. You aren’t yourself.”
“Oh, I think you know exactly how much those people meant to me,” Victoria said. She was calmer, but her voice was filled with hate. “I could not possibly care less about what happened to them. My father was a fool, my brother conniving, and my grandmother was an overbearing tyrant. I don’t care that they’re gone. I’m neither in mourning nor shock. I simply want my money and to be left to go my own way.”
Victoria’s acrid words left Judith’s stomach on edge. If she hadn’t known better, she might have believed the girl was simply distraught. But Victoria was telling the truth. She didn’t care about her family dying. She was ruthless and heartless, and Judith could see the hate in the girl’s blue eyes. They would all have to watch their backs until she could figure out how to manage the situation.
She looked to Caleb. “Whatever are we to do?”
CHAPTER
12
At his sister’s insistence, Caleb went to Arthur Morgan’s hotel to meet him and speak to him about his claim on Kenzie. The lobby of the hotel was crowded as Caleb made his way to the grand staircase. He walked up to the second floor, then sought out Morgan’s room number. He wasn’t sure what his insertion into the matter could do, but Camri had begged him to at least go and meet the man.
Morgan answered the door after Caleb’s first knock. He was a tall, well-groomed man of thirty or more years, and his demeanor exuded confidence.
“Mr. Arthur Morgan, I presume?” Caleb held his homburg in his hand.
Morgan nodded. “And you are Caleb Coulter.”
Caleb handed him his card. “I am. Thank you for receiving me on such short notice and at such an early hour.”
“It’s no problem. I want to do whatever I can to convince everyone that I am innocent of wrongdoing in this matter. I want very much for Kenzie and I to be married at the first possible opportunity.” Morgan motioned to the sitting area. “Please have a seat. Would you like me to arrange to have coffee served?”
“No, that isn’t necessary.” Caleb chose a gilded-frame throne chair and sat. “I’d rather just get to the heart of the matter.”
Arthur Morgan smiled, and a look of relief crossed his face. “I would like that as well.” He sat and crossed his legs. “What would you like to know?”
Caleb smiled. He was glad to see the other man let down his guard. “I suppose you realize your arrival here has caused quite an upset.”
“I do, but I couldn’t leave things as they were. Kenzie thought I had abandoned her—that I no longer loved her. That simply isn’t true.”
“Then tell me your side of the matter.”
Morgan nodded and began to explain the details of what had happened the previous September. “I worked so hard to win her over. My parents were appalled that I would marry beneath our social standing, but I told them that Kenzie is perfect the way she is. She is graceful, charming, and kind—even my parents had to admit that much. I love that Kenzie treats everyone with respect and the deepest sincerity. It doesn’t matter if they have money or are begging on the streets.”
