Chapter 19 #2
She thought of moving to the chairs situated in front of the cold fireplace, then changed her mind.
She didn’t want to give him the idea of intimacy.
This was a business meeting and nothing more.
She whispered a prayer for strength and insight as to how to break the news to Bert.
He wasn’t going to like being sent away permanently.
Bert came into the room, dressed in his gray suit. He looked as fashionable as always. Judith motioned to the chair opposite the large desk. “Please have a seat, Bert. We have much to discuss.”
“I am glad that you finally allowed me to come to you. I must say, I was rather troubled by your unwillingness to see me.”
“I’ve been in mourning for my grandfather, Bert.
As you know. I haven’t desired to receive company and am only getting back to a place of tending to business.
That is why I sent you the letter. I’ve met with Grandfather’s other attorneys.
” She pulled a document from the right-hand drawer and pushed it toward him. “This is a copy of Grandfather’s will.”
Bert immediately began searching through the few pages. Judith knew he wasn’t going to be happy.
“As you can see for yourself in the last will and testament of James Ashton Sr., you have been left the sum of five thousand dollars and the deed to your apartment.”
“He left his valet one hundred thousand.”
“That’s hardly your concern, Bert. My grandfather was well within his rights to leave whatever monies or properties he wanted to whomever he wanted. Mr. Winchell had served my grandfather since he was a very young man. I think it was greatly deserved.”
“He made certain promises to me. I expected them to be fulfilled.” Bert fixed her with a hard look. “I left the comforts of Boston and a good life there to live in this wretched frontier town. He owed me.”
“I’m sorry that he disappointed you. I believe you know how my grandfather could be about such things.” Judith reached for the will, but Bert snatched it up.
“I will pursue legal challenges, unless of course you and I might reach some agreement.” He studied her for a moment, his expression begging her to show compassion.
“Do what you feel you must, Mr. Black.” Judith put aside any appearance of friendship or intimacy. “You can see at the bottom of the last page the names of the attorneys who prepared this document. I would suggest you start with them.”
“It’s just not right. You must see it. You didn’t even care about the old man. You spent a lifetime ignoring him and leaving him to the care of others, and now he has left you millions.”
“My grandfather hardly required care. At least not until these last few months. Furthermore, it was his decision to make me his heiress. I was certainly not looking for that position. You might recall that I clearly told you from the moment you first appeared on my doorstep that I had no interest in his fortune. However, now that I have inherited it, I intend to see it used in a way that will right the wrongs my grandfather perpetuated.”
“But that’s madness. Every man, woman, and child will come knocking on your door once you open that can of worms. They will declare from dawn to dusk that they were wronged by your grandfather. They will demand restitution for things that never happened.”
“That’s where I’m blessed that my grandfather kept such meticulous records, Mr. Black. I have it all recorded in multiple ledgers and contracts. I feel confident of seeing this through.”
“If you don’t want his money, why not give it to me?
I earned it. I deserve it. I’ve spent the last ten years of my life with your grandfather.
I worked hard for him, even put aside taking a wife and having a family.
He was my only family. His fortune is worth millions and I could do great things with it. ”
“I am fully acquainted with my grandfather’s fortune and where it is.” She frowned and got to her feet. “The matter is settled, Mr. Black. My lawyers will issue you a check and the deed for your apartment within the week.”
She paused and drew a deep breath. “There is one more thing. I suppose this will further your distress, but I will no longer be using your services. Perhaps you can return to Boston, since you hate it here so much.”
He looked shocked and jumped to his feet. “You can’t dismiss me. I’ve come to love you. I don’t wish to be parted from you.”
“Unfortunately, I do not return your feelings, Mr. Black. I’ve made that clear since you first tried to pursue a courtship with me. As for your services as an attorney, I believe it will be best for me to seek other counsel. These feelings you have for me would serve only as an obstacle.”
“That’s not true. You do love me. You’ve merely pushed aside your feelings to care for your grandfather. Now that he’s gone, you can love me.”
Judith moved from behind the desk and walked toward the door. “I cannot return your feelings.” She made the mistake of putting her back to him.
Without warning, he grabbed her and whirled her around to face him. He pulled her into his embrace. “You cannot be serious. I know you feel the same. I can see it in your eyes.”
“Let me go.” She fought against him, but he only tightened his hold.
“I’ll prove it to you.” He attempted to kiss her, but Judith turned her head and screamed. She knew Roman would probably hear her, and if not him, then perhaps one of the servants. The house was full of people. Surely someone would hear her distress.
She struggled, doing her best to escape his grasp, but Black was quite strong. He tried again to kiss her, but Judith stomped her heel into the top of his foot. “Help me! Someone help!”
“You must listen to me, Judith. Stop fighting me. Stop fighting the love that I know you feel. I want you to marry me. We can be married immediately.”
“That would be rather impossible, Black. Judith is going to marry me,” Roman announced from the now open door.
Black was enough surprised by this that he let go of Judith and looked at her. “This can’t be true.”
Judith glanced at Roman as she took a sidestep. “But it is,” she said, nodding.
Roman started to move toward Judith, but Black grabbed her and pulled her back. “No! You will not touch her. She’s mine.”
Just then Winchell and Mary rushed into the office. Judith felt such a sense of relief to have them come to her aid that she tried to pull away from Bert. He wasn’t having any of that, however.
“You can’t leave me. I won’t allow it.”
Roman took a step forward. “Let her go. She doesn’t belong to you.”
“But she does. She loves me as I love her. I know she does. We’ve shared a great many days and evenings in each other’s company.” He turned Judith toward him. “Remember the train ride here? We shared the private car and many hours of discussion. I know you care for me.”
“I don’t,” Judith protested. “I was merely being polite. Each time you’ve approached me in this manner, I’ve rebuffed you. Now release me. I’ve tried to be nice about this, but you have given me no choice. You need to go now and never return.”
But instead of accepting defeat, Black shocked them all by stepping back several feet, dragging Judith with him. When he turned to face Roman and the others, he pulled a revolver from his coat pocket and waved it around before settling it on Judith.
“I didn’t want this to become violent, but I can’t seem to persuade you otherwise.”
Judith could see the fear in Mary’s eyes and the anger in Roman’s. Winchell stood in his usual stoic manner. It was almost like the setting for a play.
“Mr. Black, this will do you no good.” Judith finally spoke. “You need to stop this before you do something that will cause you imprisonment.” She looked at the others. She needed to get them to safety. “You should go. Mr. Black and I will discuss this and work through the problem.”
“No! They need to stay. I can’t have them going for the police.”
“This is ridiculous. You can stop it now, and there will be no need for the police.”
“I will kill you before I’ll let him have you,” he replied, fixing his gaze on her face. “You are mine. I won’t let him take you away.”
Roman took a step toward them, and Black raised the revolver to Judith’s head. “I’m quite serious, so you should step back before I feel the need to use this.” He cocked the hammer and looked again to Judith. “I love you and cannot live without you.”