Chapter 4 #2
Just beyond a rather comfortable-looking sofa, a door opened and two young ladies dressed in black with white aprons appeared. In their arms they carried Judith’s best dresses. They curtsied in front of Judith.
Mrs. Deeters made the introductions. “This is Harriet and Beth. They will be available to help you dress and arrange your hair. They will also make certain that your room is to your liking. Should you need anything at all, just let them know.”
“Thank you. I’m pleased to meet you both.”
The girls bobbed again but said nothing. Mrs. Deeters quickly took over. “Girls, go get those dresses pressed. Miss Ashton will need something to wear for dinner this evening.” The girls hurried from the room. It was clear they were well trained and used to working fast.
“I have arranged a bath for you,” Mrs. Deeters continued. “Through this door you have your bathing and dressing room. Beyond that is your bedroom. I had the girls lay out your nightgown and robe.”
A hot bath sounded wonderful. The long days of travel, even in a beautiful private train car, were beginning to catch up with her. She suppressed a yawn.
“I shall be quite blessed to have a hot bath,” Judith said, smiling. “Thank you for such thoughtfulness.”
Mrs. Deeters looked at her for a moment with a hint of a frown. “We are here to serve. You have only to let your needs be known.”
Judith wasn’t sure what had caused the older woman displeasure, but she decided to say nothing. Her only focus for the moment was a bath. After that, she could give more thought to her grandfather and his household. No doubt there would be plenty to consider.
“Will you require help bathing?”
“Goodness no.” Judith shook her head. “I can manage just fine on my own.” After all, she’d been doing exactly that most of her life.
“I’ve heard that Mr. Ashton has company coming to stay,” Claudette told her brother as he finished doing up the buttons of a clean shirt.
Roman had come home to change after a feverish child threw up on him. Such were the risks involved in treating children, and he took it in stride.
“Poor Aunt Mary will no doubt have her hands full and get little time away from the house.” Roman remembered other times when Ashton had business associates come to stay.
His aunt had spoken of the disruption and problems such visits caused.
It seemed Mr. Ashton was not a man who desired to play host to anyone, yet found himself obligated at times.
Claudette brought Roman a clean black tie and helped him knot it in the front and tuck the ends under his shirt’s collar.
He quickly pulled on his suit coat, which thankfully he’d not been wearing when the child became ill.
Through the years he’d learned to discard his jacket as soon as he started looking at patients in the orphanage.
It had saved his coat on more than one occasion.
“Did Daniel mention how the men are doing after that accident at the sawmill?” Roman asked.
“Only that they’re already back at work. They can’t afford to miss more. The money is too important to their families.”
“They’ll heal faster if they give themselves time. I understand the need for financial support, but those were some seriously deep cuts I stitched.”
Claudette brushed the back of his coat, then came around to the front to touch up the lapels. She smiled. “There. You’re perfect. Where are you off to now?”
“I have a meeting with Reverend Knickerbacker.” He kissed the top of her head.
“I should be home early. Maybe I’ll have time to fix the roof.
” The last thunderstorm had lifted some of the shingles and caused damage that needed to be repaired.
Roman had been waiting for a free moment to get to the task.
Heading off down the street, Roman tried to focus on the positive.
The neighborhood was a decent one where he didn’t worry about his mother and sister being by themselves on nights when he was delayed in getting home.
Their house, although small, was paid for in full thanks to a bonus Roman had received after the war.
They did what they could to get by, and for all purposes, their lives were good.
So why did he feel so overwhelmed and frustrated?
It seemed impossible to rid himself of the heaviness that seemed to weigh him down each day.
His father had once been so successful. They’d lived well and enjoyed plenty.
Roman knew this wasn’t the life his father had desired for his family, and yet when his fortunes had changed due to the corruption of James Ashton, rather than fight . . . he’d given up.
Sometimes remembering that his father had willed himself to die was more than Roman could consider.
His father’s death was still talked about in hushed whispers.
The Turner family had been well received in Minnesota.
Having invested in the area with a confidence that he intended to make his mark, Andrew Turner had been highly regarded.
He owned numerous pieces of property, as well as investments in several businesses.
Roman had known his father to be a risk taker of the very best kind.
He put great thought into any project, weighing the good and bad, the possible with the improbable.
He had been prudent, but willing to see beyond the immediate to what the future could hold.
Then James Ashton came into the picture and changed everything.
Roman clenched his fists just thinking about the man.
How could God have allowed his father to be so clearly duped?
It wasn’t in Andrew Turner’s nature to act the fool, but he’d somehow been convinced to sign over his holdings to a ruthless land baron like James Ashton.
Roman had never had a chance to speak to his father on the matter, and his mother had never fully understood what happened except that Ashton stole everything in a manner that was just this side of legal.
God, I pray for deliverance every day. How can that man be allowed to continue as he does—hurting others and robbing people blind? When will You give us justice? My mother and sister deserve more. My meager salary keeps food on the table, but there’s never anything left for more.
He heaved a sigh and paused to cross one of the busier streets. How could God remain silent on the matter for so long? Was God even listening?
Judith had dressed in her freshly pressed gown of salmon-colored silk with cream braid trim.
She’d taken extra care with her hair and spent nearly half an hour before dinner in prayer.
She didn’t know what to think of this man who had greeted her with but a few words, then left her on her own until dinner. She hadn’t even spoken to him.
Even now as she sat at one end of his dining table while he sat at the other, Judith was completely uncertain of her decision to come to Minneapolis. Perhaps it had all been a big mistake. Maybe she was wrong to take his money, even if it had already benefited so many.
The servants came and placed course after course in front of them.
It was some of the most delicious food Judith had ever consumed.
Still, she remained silent. She was determined to say nothing until her grandfather initiated the conversation.
Guarding her mouth was something she had learned at an early age.
Mama had always told her that it was a wise person who had self-control over their tongue.
Judith had learned to listen first and speak later, and it had served her well.
After almond torte for dessert, Judith dabbed her napkin to her lips. Her grandfather got to his feet and rang for one of the servants.
“We’ll take coffee in the sitting room,” he told the young man who appeared. The servant gave a curt nod and left the room without a word.
Judith got to her feet and was surprised to find another man at the ready to assist her with her chair.
“The sitting room is just through the archway and across the hall,” her grandfather instructed. He headed that way, not even bothering to wait for her to catch up.
She followed at a leisurely pace, glancing around at the dining room she’d already studied throughout the meal.
She didn’t want to seem too eager. Her grandfather was something of a puzzle to her.
Aside from what Bert had told her, she knew only what little her father had shared.
The man was very nearly a complete mystery to her.
“Have a seat. I’m sure you have questions, and I have some of my own.” The old man motioned her into the room. Judith chose the throne chair nearest to the fireplace. She had been chilled all evening and relished the warmth that spread over her body.
James Ashton seemed surprised by her choice.
He watched her a moment and then snapped his fingers.
Just like that, the same young man who’d helped her earlier was there to draw up a matching chair, placing it surprisingly close to her own.
She thought it strange that this man who had kept them at a distance throughout the meal would now seek more intimate seating.
She glanced upward and caught sight of the painting. Judith gasped. It might have been a portrait of herself.
“Yes, you look just like her,” her grandfather said, lifting his gaze to the picture. “I was quite startled by it myself, despite Mr. Black having warned me.”
“He mentioned it to me as well, but I had no idea of it being such a close match.” Judith was surprised by the joy in her grandmother’s expression. “She seems so happy.”
“She had just given birth to your father some months prior. She was happy.”
“She loved him a great deal.”
Her grandfather said nothing. Perhaps the memories of such things caused him discomfort and even pain. Judith wasn’t completely without sympathy.
“I’ve done my research on you, Judith. I know quite a bit about you.”
“I’m afraid I know very little about you.” She watched to see how he might take that news.
The firelight reflected in his eyes as he gave a curt nod. “As I suspected. I’m sure that my son was probably severe in his opinions of me, but there’s nothing that I can do about that. He was always willful and opinionated.”
Judith had no desire to listen to this stranger disparage her father. “Why have you asked me here?”
Her grandfather chuckled. “I’ve been told you have no difficulty in speaking your mind. Well, good for you. I have asked you here because my health is failing me.”
The footman appeared with the coffee. He poured a cup for Judith’s grandfather and then asked her if she would care for any. She declined and waited for the old man to continue.
He seemed to be in no hurry. He sipped the steaming liquid, then placed the cup and saucer on the table beside him. It was clear he would set the pace for their conversation.
“I know that Mr. Black informed you about my health. The fact is simply that my heart is giving out. I have no heir, and as you can see and have probably heard, I have a great deal of wealth that I’ve accumulated over the years.
I’ve asked you here so that I might know you better and deem your worthiness to be my successor. ”
“I see. I suppose it would do me little good to reiterate what I said when Mr. Black first came to see me.”
“That you aren’t interested in my money?”
Judith met the man’s skeptical expression. “Exactly so.”
“I find, Judith, that everyone has their price. You gave in for a ten-thousand-dollar donation to help your charities.”
“I could hardly deprive the poor and suffering. This trip is an inconvenience, but the benefits to those in need mattered a great deal more than my comfort.”
“So you despise me?”
Judith couldn’t help the smile that touched her lips. “I neither despise you, nor care for you. You have no place in my life.”
The old man frowned. “You must be of some opinion toward me.”
She nodded. “As I mentioned to Mr. Black, I feel pity for you.”
“Pity!” He practically roared the word.
Judith had anticipated his reaction and sat unmoved. “Yes. Pity. It was the emotion my father associated with you as well. We felt sorry for you.”
“Sorry? So-sorry? You—you cannot—” The old man sputtered and cleared his throat. “I am not someone to be pitied. I have everything that a man could possibly want.”
“Except an heir, apparently.”
“You are as willful as your father.”
She laughed. “I am, after all, an Ashton.”
“No!” he declared, jumping to his feet. “You cannot call yourself that until you earn the right. It might be the name given you at birth, but as I told your father, that name holds with it much responsibility and esteem. You must prove yourself.”
“I’m afraid I am no one’s puppet or performer.” She stood. “I’m sorry, but it was a mistake for me to come. However, I’m certain your money has blessed a great many people in Philadelphia, and for that I am grateful.”
“I desire you to stay.”
She looked at him for a long moment. “I realize you are a man used to getting whatever you want; however, I see no reason to remain. I am a Christian woman, and you find no value in such things. I’m a worker of charities and desire to better the lives of the poor.
You apparently have no interest in that either.
There’s very little we have in common, and I can only suppose that this makes me a poor choice for your heir. ”
“I’ll give you another ten thousand for your charities if you’ll remain with me until I die. The doctor is convinced that it won’t be longer than a couple of months. Perhaps the end of summer.”
Judith was surprised by this but said nothing. She knew he was sick, but he seemed so strong and obstinate that it was easy to forget. Still, the last thing she wanted was to spend her summer in his company. The money was hardly worth it.
“Make it twenty thousand,” he said, seeming to read her mind.
She was nothing more than a business transaction to him. If that’s the way he wanted it, Judith could play the game. “Thirty thousand, and I will consider it prayerfully and give you an answer in the morning.”
He smiled as if knowing he’d won. It nearly caused her to take back her words, but if he agreed to it, then Judith could arrange to have homes built for quite a few families in Philadelphia.
“Very well. Thirty thousand dollars will be given to you at the end of the summer, whether or not I choose you to be my heir. I’ll have a contract drawn up tomorrow that you can sign if you agree to stay.”
Judith nodded. It would take a great deal of prayer to know if she was making the right choice.
It could benefit so many, but then again, the Bible admonished her to flee the devil.
At the moment, she wasn’t at all convinced that the man standing before her wasn’t the very incarnation of that entity.