Chapter 1
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Comfortably seated in her home office, Judith perused the list her secretary Helen had just given her. “There are just so many needy souls in the world.”
In the four years that had passed since Harriet Silverman had begged her to come on board a committee to help poor widows, Judith had immersed herself in concerns for the destitute.
With Harriet’s help, she had mastered the ability to influence those around her, and she was known for her fund-raising parties and speeches.
Most every women’s group in the Philadelphia area had hosted her to speak on more than one occasion.
Church ladies’ groups were especially fond of bringing Judith to their special events, where she could offer them insight and encouragement, as well as suggestions for how best to benefit the less fortunate in Philadelphia.
“As you can see by the names put together from the area churches, the number of widows and orphans continues to grow. The churches that offer food goods tell me that they are nearly depleted. Their donations have been quite minimal.”
Judith nodded. “Oh, Helen, it is a sorrowful sight to see. I visited one of the orphanages yesterday, as you know. There must have been at least twenty infants at that location alone. The staff are overworked, and the funds to support those precious lives are at a minimum. I must find a way to send more money.”
The nearly forty-year-old assistant nodded. Helen was a plain-looking woman with brown hair and eyes. She was short and of petite frame, but to Judith there was nothing small about Helen Jessop. The woman worked just as tirelessly as Judith and shared her employer’s deepest concerns.
Judith put the list aside. “I’ll simply have to host a party to get more donations.”
Helen reached into her pocket for the leather-bound journal she kept ever at the ready. “What type of party would you like to give?”
“Well, the weather has been quite nice, and the garden is starting to bloom in full. I suppose we could plan a garden party with the provision to host indoors if the weather turns bad. Or even a riverboat excursion. You know how the well-to-do seem to enjoy that diversion.”
“There are benefits to both,” Helen assured.
“Well, we can decide that later today.”
Helen jotted notes in a furious fashion. Without looking up, she posed additional questions. “Shall we invite from the red list or the blue? Or shall we include both?”
“Both, I think. I haven’t been pressing any one of them since the Christmas season. It’s time for them to step up and do their part.”
Judith got to her feet and went to the large window that looked out on the upper-class neighborhood.
The house she lived in was not overly grand, but the area surrounding her was, and her neighbors were affluent and more than capable of donating to the cause.
Elsewhere in the city, the very rich were more than aware of the growing problems in their community.
But, while knowledgeable about the situation, they were rather slow at times in coming to the aid of their poorer brothers and sisters.
Like a church minister, Judith would simply have to bring to light the fact that they had been blessed and needed to bless others.
A carriage pulled up to the curb of her property, immediately capturing her attention.
Judith tried to place the rather handsome man who stepped down.
For a moment, her thoughts went back to the dashing young man who’d caught her after she’d fainted years earlier at a fund raiser.
Dr. Roman Turner had drifted around in her dreams and thoughts ever since.
She’d never had the opportunity to visit Minneapolis, but she had considered it several times, especially when she thought of once again meeting the distinguished doctor.
The man at the carriage conversed with the driver for a moment and then proceeded up her walkway. It wasn’t Dr. Turner.
“I believe I have company,” she said, turning away from the window.
Helen looked up. “I shall see who it is. Are you receiving?”
“Of course.” She smoothed down the overskirt of her bustled blue gown. “Show him in. He may come bearing gifts.” Judith came to stand at the edge of her desk. She had no idea who the well-dressed man was, but perhaps he represented a new donor. She could only hope.
She listened as Helen greeted the man. Helen had been such an asset to her work.
They’d first met at church shortly after Judith’s parents had died.
The requirements of dealing with her parents’ business had been almost too much in the wake of her grief, and Helen had volunteered to help Judith put things in order. She had been a godsend.
“Mr. Norbert Black is calling,” Helen announced, pausing at the door. She gave Judith the man’s card.
Judith read that he was an attorney from Minneapolis, Minnesota. There were only two things she knew for sure about Minneapolis. First, it was where the elusive Dr. Turner lived. Second, it was the home of her estranged grandfather, someone she’d never met.
The handsome black-haired man stepped into the room, with a twinkle in his eyes and a smile on his lips. Judith sized him up, determined to guess why he’d come. It was something of a game to her. Seeing him take charge of the moment and extend his hand in greeting, she couldn’t help but like him.
“Mr. Black, I’m Judith Stanford. How may I be of service?”
He shook her hand. “It’s a pleasure to finally meet you. As you probably noted from my card, I am an attorney. I have but one client, by choice, I assure you,” he quickly added. “I work for your grandfather, James Ashton Sr.”
Judith wasn’t quite sure how to take the news, but she was quite certain that she would never have guessed these details on her own.
“Please sit down.” She motioned to the same leather chair Helen had recently vacated. Moving behind her desk, Judith reclaimed her seat and waited.
Mr. Black hesitated, as if studying the situation.
Judith had watched people all her life—a helpful habit in soliciting donations for her charities.
She could read people very well and always knew when they were ready to move forward.
Mr. Black was showing all the signs of a man trying to choose between two paths.
“Helen, would you please ask Mrs. Meachem to arrange tea?”
“Of course.” The secretary left the room to speak to the cook, leaving Judith alone with Mr. Black.
“Please sit, Mr. Black, and tell me why you’ve come today. You seem rather at a loss for words.”
He took a seat and gave her another broad smile. “I’m just rather taken aback. I had no idea you were so young and beautiful.”
“What a bold thing to say.” His words put Judith on guard. She’d had men attempt to speak words of admiration and love before.
“I know, and I apologize. You have taken me by surprise. I beg forgiveness.”
“Surprise hardly entitles you to be intimate where intimacy is not called for.” Judith knew she’d taken a degree of severity that perhaps wasn’t merited, so she smiled. “Let us start anew. Why don’t you tell me why you have journeyed here from Minnesota?”
Mr. Black leaned back in the chair and nodded. “Thank you for being so gracious. I am here at the direction of your grandfather.”
“Well, that’s quite a shock. I didn’t even know if the man was still alive. You see, he long ago cut us out of his family.”
“I am familiar with the circumstances.”
She frowned. “Then you know that my grandfather removed himself from the company and correspondence of his son many years ago. Cut him off without a dime and left him to his own survival. Therefore, I have very little interest in whatever my grandfather might want to say.”
“And Mr. Ashton told me that I might expect this type of reaction from you.” He smiled.
“But you seem like such a generous soul. I’ve heard about your good works here in Philadelphia.
I made it my task to investigate the things that you were involved with.
Your charity work speaks of the tenderness you hold for the less fortunate in your community. ”
“My mother had a heart for such ministries. I merely followed in her footsteps.”
“Still, it reveals a kindness and compassion that might surely allow you to consider what your grandfather is requesting of you.”
“He’s requesting something?” She chuckled. “And here I thought perhaps he was extending an apology. I should have known better.”
“He would like for you to come and visit him.”
Judith shifted her weight as her bustle bit into her skin. “I have no desire to visit him. He made it clear that we were nothing to him.”
“He’s old and approaching the end of his life,” Mr. Black countered. “The mistakes of his youth are no doubt haunting him.”
“So he admits he made a mistake in separating himself from his family?”
It was Mr. Black’s turn to shift. “He hasn’t said as much, but I do believe that is his thought on the matter.”
Helen gave a light knock and wheeled in the tea cart. She rolled it to a point near Judith and waited for instruction.
“You may go, Helen. I’ll pour.”
The woman exited the room without a word as Judith rose to prepare the tea. Mr. Black also stood. “Do you care for cream or sugar, Mr. Black?”
“Nothing, thank you.”
She handed him the cup and saucer, then extended a small plate of cookies. “Would you care for further refreshment?”
He chose one and balanced it on the side of the saucer.
Judith poured cream into her cup and then tea. She added sugar, then took up a spoon and gave the contents a delicate swirl as she took her seat. Mr. Black did likewise. It was all done with the greatest formality, and yet it seemed oddly casual.
“I know that my grandfather is old. However, I feel the time has passed for us. I’m thirty years old and have never known the man, nor his affections. I see no reason to strike up an acquaintance now.”