She fully meant that she and Micah could marry, but she let Arthur presume what he would.
“Wonderful. My darling, you won’t regret it. You can even ask your friends to bear witness to our marriage.” He glanced over at Camri and Judith and gave a nod.
Kenzie started to get to her feet, and Arthur jumped up to assist her. “I’ll get word to you first thing in the morning,” he promised. “Oh, my darling, you’ve no idea how happy you’ve made me.”
She looked up, forcing herself not to cringe at his arrogant expression. “Thank you, Arthur. It has made me quite happy, as well. This shall be very satisfying.”
He lifted her hand to his lips. “The satisfaction shall be all mine.”
Camri was still laughing as they entered Caleb’s house. “You really should perform on the stage, Kenzie. I never knew what a great actress you could be.”
“I wanted to slap him,” Judith added. “He just puts me out of sorts.”
“Well, that’d be two of us feelin’ that way,” Patrick said, coming from the dining room. “Where in the world have the three of ye been? Victoria had no idea where ye’d gone.”
“We are grown women, fully capable of going out without you needing to raise an alarm,” Camri said, stretching up on tiptoe to kiss his cheek. “There’s absolutely no reason for you to fret.”
She stepped back, and Patrick eyed them all with great suspicion. “Right. So who was it ye wanted to slap, Judith?”
All eyes went to Judith, who immediately paled. “I ... well...”
Patrick sighed and pointed to the front room. “Why don’t the three of ye sit down and tell me what ye’ve gotten yerselves into?”
The girls hesitated only a moment before parading into the front room to sit side by side on the sofa. Patrick towered over them for a moment, then finally took a seat in Caleb’s chair.
“Now—who’s gonna be tellin’ me about this?”
“It’s my fault,” Kenzie piped up. “I don’t want you to blame Camri or Judith. They went with me because they were worried about my safety.”
“Well, that makes me feel so much better.” Patrick glared at his wife-to-be. “I thought ye had more sense than to put yerselves in danger.”
“It was important that we do this.” Camri softened her voice. “I’m sorry you were worried.”
“I’ll get back to ye later,” he said, shaking his head.
“Micah’s in danger,” Kenzie continued before anything else could be said. “Arthur has him but won’t tell me where. I went to see Arthur at his hotel. In the lobby,” she added quickly. “Camri and Judith went with me in case he tried to do anything untoward.”
Patrick nodded. “Tell me the rest.”
“Caleb sent a telegram telling us that Arthur was up to no good,” Camri offered. “He came here earlier, telling Kenzie that Micah had agreed to give her up and never see her again in exchange for a hospital that Arthur would build him. You know Micah has been missing and that he’d never worry his parents like that.”
“And he would never take a hospital if it meant giving up Kenzie,” Judith added.
“Indeed, he would not.” Patrick let out a long sigh. “So what did ye do?”
“I told him that I would marry him, but not until after I saw Micah and let him know exactly what I thought of him. Arthur is a prideful and vindictive man. I appealed to his sense of revenge. This way, Arthur will have to produce Micah from wherever he’s holding him.”
“So ye’re certain he’s holdin’ Micah against his will.”
“Of course he is,” Camri interjected. “You know as well as I do that wild horses couldn’t keep him from Kenzie.”
“But to tell the man ye’d marry him.” Patrick shook his head. “I don’t mind sayin’ that’s not so wise.”
Kenzie leaned forward. “Patrick, will you help me?”
His brows knit together as he frowned. “How would I be doin’ that?”
“I’m not sure. Arthur said he’d arrange a meeting tomorrow. I don’t want to go alone. If he has taken Micah, as I believe he has, then he no doubt had help. He’ll probably have someone there to make certain Micah can’t get away or cause Arthur harm. If you could follow us to wherever Arthur takes me to meet Micah, then maybe you could help me set him free.”
