“Amen,” Caleb declared, and the others murmured the word in unison.
“Before we begin to eat,” Caleb said, turning to Victoria, “I need to say something. Kenzie tells me that you allowed Arthur Morgan into the house while we were gone. I don’t want that to happen again. He’s not welcome here.”
Victoria frowned. “I’m sorry. I didn’t realize. I didn’t even know who he was. He said he was a good friend of Kenzie’s, and I thought you’d want me to extend charity.” She lowered her gaze and drew her hand to her right eye as if to blot a tear. “I apologize.”
“I’m sure you meant no harm, but now you know. It’s not wise for any young woman at home alone to allow a stranger entrance,” Camri said, slathering mustard on a slice of bread. “Kenzie shouldn’t have left you alone.”
“I didn’t have much choice,” Kenzie muttered.
Victoria wanted to counter with something snide or hurtful, but that wouldn’t gain her much. She nodded and looked around the table. “I’m sorry about that too. I was cross with Kenzie. She didn’t want to leave me here, but I was rather childish. I’m trying to change my behavior though. Caleb, the things you told me about God really made me think about how I’m living my life. I want to do better. I am trying.”
Caleb gave her a smile, but the others looked surprised. “That’s all any of us can do. Now, let’s enjoy our meal and forget about Morgan and all that.”
A sense of satisfaction coursed through Victoria. These people weren’t anything like her family. She had accomplished what she wanted with her family through pouting and demands, but Caleb and his friends were cut from a different cloth. This obsession they had with pleasing God seemed to be the perfect venue for Victoria to exploit. Especially with Caleb. His weakness was God, and of course Judith. And likewise, Caleb was Judith’s weakness. That just left Kenzie and Dr. Fisher. The conflict with Arthur Morgan was no doubt Kenzie’s Achilles’ heel.
Later that evening, when the other women began to discuss wedding gowns and receptions, Victoria made her way to Caleb’s study, where he and Patrick were playing a game of chess. Victoria knew they wouldn’t want her there, but she felt it important to keep at Caleb regarding her future.
“Please excuse the intrusion, but I wonder if you had a chance to speak to Judith about my friends in New York.” She tried to make her voice as sweet and demure as possible.
Caleb looked up from the game. “No. It didn’t come up in our conversation. Did you write down their name and address for me?”
Victoria shook her head. “I can give you their name. I’m not sure of the address.”
“Given their social standing is equal to the Whitleys’, I’m certain it will be easy enough to locate them.” Caleb turned his attention back to Patrick’s move. “Aha! I’ve got you now.” He moved his bishop. “Check.”
Patrick frowned and bent closer to the board. “How could I be missin’ that?” He moved his queen to block the bishop.
“And now it’s mate.” Caleb took the queen with his rook and pushed back from the table. “I think I’ll build us a fire. It’s kind of chilly this evening.”
“Let me,” Patrick said, getting to his feet. “I’m the loser.”
Caleb laughed and headed for his chair by the fire.
Victoria followed like a puppy. When he sat down, she knelt at his feet. “I hope you know how much I appreciate you. Your help means so much to me. I think you’re the only one who really cares about me.”
Patrick got the fire going and took the other chair, chuckling. “Victoria, ye remind me of a china teapot full of spiders.”
She looked at him with a frown. “That hardly sounds very nice. Whatever do you mean?”
A smile edged Patrick’s lips. “Ye’re very pretty, but full of danger.”
She shrugged. “A little danger now and then is hardly a bad thing. I like adventure in my life.”
“Adventure has its advantages,” Caleb agreed. “But in moderation.”
Victoria got to her feet and looked down at him. “I’ve never met anyone quite like the two of you.”
She heard someone in the hall. “Caleb?” Judith called.
Victoria used the opportunity to her advantage. She whirled on her heel and fell into Caleb’s lap. “Oh my. I’m so sorry.” She put her arm around his neck. “I shouldn’t startle so easily.”
Judith came into the room and gaped at Victoria on Caleb’s lap.
Victoria gave her a smug smile. “I’ll just be going,” she said, getting up. “Thank you for ... a wonderful evening.”
She strolled past Judith, keeping her smile fixed. She could see the doubt and worry in Judith’s expression. Satisfaction gave Victoria the edge. She had planted seeds of discord ... something she was an expert at growing.
“I hope I didn’t ... ah...” Judith looked out the door after Victoria.
