Chapter 18
A funeral was held on Friday for James Ashton Sr. It was poorly attended, as Judith had presumed it would be.
There were a handful of suit-clad strangers, men who she figured had done business with her grandfather or felt obligated enough to pay their respects.
Otherwise, the household staff was on hand and, to her great surprise, the entire Turner family.
Reverend Knickerbacker gave the eulogy, admitting he didn’t know James Ashton all that well but believed that every man was deserving of decent burial.
The service was quite short, relating the usual information about Grandfather’s birth and marriage.
Judith had shared what information she could, relying on Winchell to fill in many of the details she wouldn’t have otherwise known.
For herself, she could offer very little.
The man had simply not allowed himself to be intimately known by family or foe, and the things she had learned through his business records were not the kind one would want shared.
When the services were over, the reverend and his wife came and gave their consolation. “We’re here for you in any way you need,” he assured her.
“Yes, Judith. Please don’t hesitate to let us know if we can do anything,” Sarah added.
“I do hope you’ll give my excuses tonight at the party.” Judith had only just now remembered the fundraiser. “I do intend to give you a large donation for the hospital, Reverend. As soon as I know for sure how the financial situation stands with my grandfather’s estate.”
“You are very kind, and I will look forward to discussing this another time. For now, please don’t worry about a thing. We will of course explain your absence,” the reverend said, patting her gloved hand.
Judith took up her black fan and began to wave it. The warmth of the day was growing, and she didn’t want another fainting incident. Thankfully a breeze blew across the open cemetery, giving immediate relief.
Winchell came to her side as if uncertain as to what should be done next.
She had asked him to ride with her in the Ashton carriage and was grateful for his company.
Dressed in black livery with a mourning band on his arm, he looked quite properly outfitted for the funeral.
It was his expression that suggested he was completely displaced.
“I’m so glad you’re with me, Winchell.” She was just about to suggest they head to the carriage when Bert approached, hat in hand.
“I am very sorry for your loss. Mr. Ashton was a great man.”
She looked at Bert for a moment, then nodded and continued to fan herself.
She knew Bert would see her grandfather’s demise as the perfect opportunity to continue pursuing her.
She had thought a great deal about the future, and while she wanted very much to continue in her new relationship with Roman, she had no desire to keep time with Bert.
Not even as her attorney. Of course, she wasn’t going to say as much at the funeral, but in the days to come, she would have to call him to the house and dismiss him. That was going to be difficult at best.
“Judith, I believe you should make your way home.” She turned to find Roman looking at her with great concern. “The heat may become too much, especially given you’re wearing all black.”
“I had thought about that,” she admitted. “Winchell has been good enough to assist me.”
Roman looked to the valet and nodded. “Mrs. Stanford has difficulty in the heat. You should take her home immediately.”
“Yes, sir. I will do that.” Winchell extended his arm for Judith to take.
“And if I might add, when she gets home you may need to remind her to put on cooler clothing and drink plenty of water or tea. Iced if possible. The heat tends to cloud her thinking, and she might forget.”
“I will see to it, sir.”
“Thank you, Winchell,” Judith said. “And thank you, Dr. Turner. I appreciate your concern. I’m also very sorry that I cannot attend the fundraiser with you this evening. I do hope it’s a success.”
“As do I. I know the reverend has worked hard for this hospital.”
“As I told him, I will be making a large donation once I have my grandfather’s affairs in order.” Judith noted that Bert looked quite put out. “Good day, Bert. Thank you for coming to Grandfather’s funeral.”
“I’ll be coming by this afternoon to go over things with you.”
Grief, but the man was positively officious. “No, please don’t. I won’t feel up to it, I’m sure. This has all been much too much.”
“Would you like me to check on you later?” Roman asked. “I could easily come by on my way to the fundraiser.”
Judith smiled. “That would be nice. Given your medical knowledge, you can advise me if I need to do something more to improve my situation.”
With that, she let Winchell guide her to the carriage. She noted the look of dismay on Bert’s face. He was clearly put out that she had dismissed him. A sigh escaped her lips.
“Are you all right, ma’am?” Winchell asked.
“Yes. I’m completely exhausted, however. I didn’t sleep well last night.”
“Nor did I,” he replied, then immediately apologized. “That was uncalled for. Speaking of my personal well-being is completely out of line.”
“Not at all, Winchell,” Judith said as he helped her into the Ashton carriage. Once she was seated, she waited for him to join her in the open conveyance. “I want to know that you are doing well. Or that you aren’t, for that matter.”
“The times are not without difficulties, to be sure.”
“Yes, but I want to reiterate that your position is secure.” The driver started the carriage for home and hit a rather large dip in the road. Judith bounced hard across the seat, barely righting herself.
Winchell reached out to steady her, then quickly pulled away once she was upright again.
“Goodness, but that was quite the hole we fell into.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Winchell actually gave a hint of a smile. “The newspaper just carried a story on the poor conditions of some roads. There are plans for improvements.”
Judith leaned back against the fine leather upholstery. “That’s good to hear.” She smiled and shook her head. “But back to what I was saying, Winchell, you are secure in my household.”
“Then you have decided to remain in Minneapolis?”
She considered this for a moment. “I have. It seems the right decision. Like it was always meant to be. My assistant back in Philadelphia can manage my affairs there. I also have a businessman who handles the steamboat services my father created. There’s really nothing in Philadelphia that beckons me to return.
Here, however, there are people I’ve come to care about. You’re one of those.
“I know my grandfather was not easy to work for, and yet you remained with him from the time you were hardly more than a boy. I admire your loyalty and hope you will be frank with me in the days to come, Winchell. I don’t need servants; I need friends.
I need that same loyalty you gave my grandfather. ”
“Madam, I am happy to attend you in whatever capacity you request. However, I only have skills and training to perform as a valet. There is also my age to consider.”
Judith smiled. “I know. I believe having you around to oversee the men who work in the house will be most beneficial. Also I’ll have you close by to offer me advice when needed. I have long missed the advice my father offered, and there’s something about you that reminds me of him.”
Winchell’s left brow raised. He was not one to show emotion, but this clearly betrayed his surprise. Judith shrugged. “I’ve a feeling we will have a great many difficult days ahead of us. I intend to right the wrongs my grandfather committed. At least, I hope to do as much as possible.”
“You should know that Mr. Ashton changed the handling of his will. I’m sure within a few days you’ll be notified by the gentlemen who now manage it.”
“Gentlemen? There is more than one?”
“Yes. Mr. Ashton feared Mr. Black’s attachment to his money and removed the will from his care. Mr. Ashton instead turned the matter over to another law firm. In fact, two law firms. He wanted no opportunity for either to try anything underhanded. He trusted no one.”
“Somehow that doesn’t surprise me. I suppose when you are given to underhanded business dealings, you come to expect that from everyone around you.”
“Perhaps, ma’am. I do know that he rewrote the will leaving most everything to you. He told me that he had made provision for me, and I believe there was to be a small amount settled on Mr. Black for his faithful service.”
“Well, as you know, I’ve familiarized myself with all of his business records. I know the current projects he has going on, as well as his earliest dealings here in Minnesota. I didn’t attempt to go back further than that, but I do intend to try and help those he damaged so badly.”
“Like the Turners?”
“Yes, especially them. I feel terrible for what happened.”
“As do I. That was a most difficult situation, and not one that was managed well at all.”
Judith considered this as they drove. It troubled her more than she could say to know her grandfather had caused the death of Roman’s father. How could their love grow with such a horrendous thing between them?
Love?
She knew her thoughts were going toward that possibility more and more. She found Roman quite attractive, and not only that, but his heart was fixed on the same things as her own. She had never expected to fall in love again, much less to do it so quickly, but there was no denying her heart.
But whether or not Roman and his family could completely forgive her was an entirely different matter. While it was true that she had nothing to do with what happened, no doubt she brought them memories of her grandfather’s betrayal of trust.
How she wished there’d been more time with the old man. More than just a couple of summer months to be with him and speak to him about God and the Bible. She had no idea if his heart had changed or if he’d even considered the things she’d told him.