Chapter 7 #2
When her grandfather headed for the stairs, Judith followed suit and walked behind him.
She worried that he might have overdone it and feared he could fall.
However, they reached the second floor without another word or issue.
The old man turned toward his suite of rooms, and Judith went to hers.
She still had so many questions about this man.
Harriet awaited Judith in her sitting room. The room was more than a little chilly, but the redheaded maid had thoughtfully made a fire.
Judith handed Harriet her hat and gloves and moved to warm herself by the fire. “My grandfather plans to take a tray in his room for lunch. Would you ask the cook to arrange one for me as well, please?”
“Mrs. Markle already planned on it. When Mr. Ashton takes his food in his room, she never orders the table set.”
“Well, I suppose that makes sense, being as he’s the only one who has been around all these years. You might let her know that it’s fine with me to continue that way. No sense being formal when it’s only me.”
Harriet nodded. “Do you need help to change your clothes?”
“No, I’m fine. Thank you.”
“I’ll go arrange for your lunch, then.” She gave a curtsy and left before Judith could reply.
Judith moved to the dressing room, released the buttons on her skirt, and let it drop to the floor.
She then unfastened her jacket and slipped out of it before placing both garments across the back of a chair.
The dressing room was quite well furnished, and Judith found that even though she’d brought a rather sparing wardrobe, Mrs. Deeters had arranged for other items to be purchased and added to her closet.
Apparently, her grandfather didn’t want her to find herself in need.
The thought crossed her mind that she should probably ask Helen to send an additional trunk of items. She would add the request to the letter she’d started on Friday.
She located a warm blue woolen skirt. After shedding her bustle and pad for a little more comfort, Judith pulled the skirt on over her head and dropped it in place.
The white blouse she’d worn to church was a bit nicer than she usually wore to just sit around the house, but she didn’t feel like asking Harriet to return and help with the row of back buttons. It would suffice.
Doing up the buttons on her skirt, Judith remembered the face of the strange man. He had dark brown eyes and a straight nose. His brown hair had a bit of wave, much like her own.
She moved to the window and looked out at the rain. Who was he? And why was he so angry? Was it as her grandfather had suggested? Had he been wronged by James Ashton Sr. in a business dealing? Was he plotting to take his revenge?
Judith smiled and shook her head. She was letting her imagination take charge. If she was to ponder anything, it would be more beneficial to think about how she might play her role as a good Samaritan in Minneapolis.
As the family sat down to lunch after Sunday services, Roman was still stunned at the realization that Judith Stanford had been sitting next to James Ashton in church.
What was she doing in Minneapolis? No doubt she had been the woman he’d seen earlier in Ashton’s carriage, but how could she possibly keep company with such a man?
“Roman?”
He glanced up. His mother, sister, and aunt were all staring at him. He forced a smile. “Sorry. I’ve got my mind on a dozen things.” It was a bit of a lie. He was only thinking about Judith.
“Would you offer grace?” his mother asked.
“Of course.” He bowed his head. “Father, we thank You for this meal, and for the hands that prepared it. Bless us in Your will. Amen.”
“Amen,” the trio of women said in unison.
Roman’s mother held out her hand. “Give me your plate, Roman, and I’ll dish you up some roast and vegetables.”
He did as she instructed and waited until she’d filled everyone’s plate before picking up his fork. He stabbed a piece of the roasted beef and then glanced up. He could see that everyone was looking at him.
“I’m sorry. I’ve just been a bit preoccupied.”
“With the young woman you were watching at church?” his mother asked.
“I didn’t see that he was watching a young woman,” Aunt Mary said, nudging Claudette. “Did you?”
Claudette giggled. “No. Have you finally been pierced with cupid’s arrow? Wouldn’t it be glorious if Roman fell in love after all these years?”
“My attention was on James Ashton. How that man has the audacity to show up in church is beyond me.”
“It is the place for sinners,” his mother chided. “Roman, you’re going to have to forgive Mr. Ashton one day. There’s no sense in carrying around your anger toward him. I’ve had to give mine over to God in order to keep it from eating me alive. You must do the same.”
“Ashton is responsible for killing Father,” Roman replied, looking again at his plate. “I’ve given it to the Lord to deal with, but forgiveness is slow in coming.”
“It’s been nine years,” Aunt Mary joined in. “I understand how Roman feels, even though Andrew wasn’t related to me. He was like a brother. So kind and considerate when my own Eustus died. No brother could have been dearer.”
“That’s just how Andrew was,” Roman’s mother said, smiling. “He loved you as a sister.”
“Papa was kind to everyone,” Claudette said, sounding a little sad. “I miss him so much.”
“We all do,” Roman admitted. “And, had James Ashton not been the heartless deceiver that he is, Father might still be with us today.”
“But he’s not here, and we must accept that and allow God to heal our pain-filled hearts,” Mother declared. “Now let’s eat before our food gets cold. Better you should dwell on the beautiful young woman at his side. Or any other single young lady.”
Everyone dug in, save Mary. She surprised Roman with her next comment. “What of the woman you weren’t watching? The one seated beside Mr. Ashton. Did you notice her?”
Roman wished they’d all just forget the woman. “Of course I did. I believe I met her back east at a fundraiser. Judith Stanford.”
“Yes, that’s her. She’s James Ashton’s granddaughter.”
“What?” The thought of her being related to that wretch soured Roman’s stomach. “I didn’t think he had any family.”
“He has one granddaughter. He asked her to come here so that he might inspect her.”
“Inspect her?” Roman asked. He leaned back in his chair, leaving his meal uneaten. “For what purpose?”
“Becoming his heir. He has no one to inherit his vast fortune. He cut his son off years ago and had nothing to do with his family. Now he’s desperate to ensure that his riches won’t just go to the government or sit doing nothing for years while it’s decided where it should go.”
“And Judith, is she just like him? Does money guide her days?” Roman asked, allowing his distaste for anything associated with Ashton to creep into his tone.
“Surprisingly enough, no. She doesn’t appear to be anything like him.
In fact, she was the reason he was at church today.
Apparently, she isn’t afraid to stand up to him.
Mr. Ashton demanded she remain with him all summer.
His doctors have given him only that much time before they believe he’ll die. ”
“Good riddance.”
“I agree,” Aunt Mary replied. “However, when Mr. Ashton demanded she stay, she said she would pray about it. She’s a woman of faith, and I heard from Mr. Ashton’s lawyer that she’s been working for a variety of charities since the death of her parents.
Mr. Black was sent to Philadelphia to bring her to Minneapolis, but she refused to come.
She said she didn’t want the old man’s money. ”
Roman found himself liking Judith more and more. “So why is she here?”
“Mr. Ashton sent Mr. Black back with a check for ten thousand dollars. I’m told Judith arranged for it to go to her charities, and then she agreed to come for a visit.
When Mr. Ashton demanded she stay the summer, he offered her another ten thousand for her charities and then—” She stopped and looked around as if Ashton himself might overhear her.
“And then he upped it, at her demand, to thirty thousand. She said she was going to build houses for the war widows. After that, she said she would stay so long as he attended church with her on Sundays. I know I shouldn’t be repeating this.
God forgive me for my gossip. Still, I was so shocked that he agreed to go.
Judith asked me about a good church, and I couldn’t help but recommend ours. ”
“That is quite the tale,” Roman’s mother admitted. “However, I would just as soon we put it aside. You’re quite correct, it is gossip, and our sins are plenty enough.”
Roman said nothing, but his mind churned with thoughts of Judith standing up to her grandfather. He didn’t even know the old man had a granddaughter, much less that she should be the woman Roman had met in Philadelphia. The woman he couldn’t seem to get out of his head.
“I’m sorry that Daniel couldn’t join us today,” Mother said, drawing Roman out of his thoughts.
Claudette shrugged. “He promised his mother he would take her to the cemetery. It’s the first anniversary of his father’s death, and it’s been quite hard on her. She has his older brother and their family, of course, but Daniel knew it was important to her that he come with them to the grave.”
“But of course.” Mother reached out and squeezed Claudette’s hand. “I could have spared you.”
“I know, but I wanted them to have this time as a family. I’ll join them soon enough. I just hope they weren’t caught out in the rain.”
Roman smiled at his sister. She had grown up so fast in the last couple of years. Despite losing their father, she had managed to maintain a hopeful spirit of joy.
He finished eating and then excused himself, knowing his mother would never allow him to help with the dishes.
She knew he worked hard, and she always did her best to see that he had free time to himself on Sunday.
Once in a while, a patient would show up begging for help, but usually his Sundays were quiet, and he cherished the rest.
He made his way upstairs to his small bedroom. The house was inadequate in many ways, but it was theirs free and clear, and he was very grateful for how God continued to look after them.
Sitting on the edge of his bed, Roman removed his shoes, thinking a nap might well be in order.
He rid himself of his coat and tie and then stretched out on the bed with a sigh.
But when he closed his eyes, Judith’s image appeared once again.
He couldn’t shake the feeling that she was going to be more than a passing thought in his life.
But how could he ever have anything to do with an Ashton?