Chapter 20
“Whoa, Black. There’s no need for this. I didn’t realize you loved her so much,” Roman said, raising his hands to draw Black’s attention.
“But I do. I love her. It’s not just about the money, but the money should be mine.
Ashton promised me a fortune. He told me if I gave up my life in Boston and aided him here, he would make it well worth my troubles.
I gave that old man ten years of my life.
Years that I might have used to cultivate my own practice, to marry.
I could have had my own family, but that old man would not allow for it. He said I had to give him my all.”
“I’m sorry to hear that, Mr. Black. That seems rather harsh.” Roman tried desperately to calm the man. “I doubt that Judith realized how you, too, had been ruined by James Ashton.”
Judith seemed to recognize what Roman was doing and nodded. “I’m so sorry, Bert. I didn’t know.”
Roman might have smiled at her thinking to use his first name, but didn’t want to give away the fact that they were trying to use his imbalance to calm the situation. Playing into his feelings and beliefs of what was due him seemed a simple solution.
“He kept me serving him and him alone.” Black lowered the gun but kept it pointed at Judith. “When I met Judith, I knew she was for me. It was the reward that I was always meant to have.”
Roman nodded. “I can understand how you feel.”
“But she won’t marry me and so I must kill her.”
“No! You don’t need to do that,” Roman protested. He could see the fear in Judith’s eyes and wished with all his heart he could put an end to this entire situation. “As she said, she didn’t know how you really felt.”
“It doesn’t matter now. I can inherit the money if she’s dead.
The original will stated as much. Ashton made no provision in the new will, but I will go to the men who created the second will and pay them to add on the provision.
I will offer them as much money as I need to, and I know they’ll accept.
They must be devious in their practices or James Ashton would not have used them. ”
“Why not simply save yourself the trouble and just marry Judith? Now that she knows how you feel, I’m sure she’ll agree to marry you. She didn’t realize her grandfather had wronged you, and you know that she is determined to right the wrongs he did.”
Black’s expression changed to one of momentary confusion. He shook his head as if struggling to make sense of any of it.
Judith took the opportunity to press the matter. “He’s right, Bert,” she began. “I want to do what is right by all of the people Grandfather wronged. He clearly wronged you. I had no idea, and if my marrying you will make things better, then let us do what must be done.”
“See there.” Roman tried to inch forward while Black’s attention was on Judith. “You don’t need to kill her. If you two marry, then as her husband you will have the legal right to control everything. The money will be yours.”
“That’s right,” Black agreed. “It will all be mine. The law states as much. The house, the money, the investments. All of it.” He looked at Judith. “And you will be mine. We’ll be together.”
“That’s right, Bert.” She smiled. “Why don’t we get married right away?”
“Marry her today,” Roman suggested. “Mary can go fetch the Reverend Knickerbacker. He would be delighted to do the job.”
“Today?” Black looked at each person as if needing reassurance. Each one nodded like the plan was quite reasonable.
“I know exactly where to find the reverend,” Mary said, awaiting Black’s approval.
“Yes, yes,” he finally replied. “Go bring the reverend.” Mary nodded and backed out of the room.
Roman was relieved to have her go. It was one less person to worry about, and Mary would know to go straight to the police. Roman glanced at Winchell, who remained stoically silent.
Bert turned to Judith. “You must wear something more fitting. I won’t have my bride in black.”
Judith looked at her gown and nodded. “I will. I will go to my room and change.”
“No. You can’t leave me.”
“How do you expect her to dress for her wedding day?” Roman asked. He wanted to find any way possible to clear the room of people, especially Judith. Black wouldn’t be so inclined to kill the rest of them with his focus on the wedding.
“Perhaps Winchell can bring me a gown from my room. My maids will know where to find a gown appropriate for a wedding. Winchell?”
The man stepped forward and gave a bow. “As you wish, ma’am.” He looked up, then looked to Black.
“All right. Go and find a dress.” Black nodded and waved the gun. “Go quickly.”
With only Black and Judith left, Roman tried to figure out his next move. Black still had the gun. In fact, he once again pointed it at Judith’s side.
“Perhaps we should sit to wait for everyone,” Roman suggested. There were only single chairs here in the office. If Black approved, he would have to allow Judith to sit on her own. It might be enough separation that Roman could get the drop on Black and rid him of the revolver.
“I’d very much like to sit,” Judith said, looking to Black. “I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed by the heat. You know that I don’t bear it well.”
Roman didn’t know if she was making this up or if the growing warmth along with the tension of the moment was causing her distress. Black seemed to consider the matter and finally nodded.
“Sit here,” he said, motioning to the chair beside him.
“So what are your plans for the fortune, once you and Judith are married?” Roman asked. “Will you take a wedding trip abroad?”
“A trip? I, uh, I don’t know.” Black shook his head, then rubbed his temple, all while keeping the gun leveled at Judith.
“It’s the perfect time for an ocean crossing. You could visit London and Paris. Perhaps even Italy. Wouldn’t that be enjoyable, Judith?”
“Yes. Yes, it would. We could put aside the work here and spend the rest of the summer and fall in Europe.”
Bert didn’t seem to register what was being said. “I certainly won’t be building that old man’s block of marble memorials.” Bert looked down at Judith. “She doesn’t want that either. It’s a complete waste of money.”
“I agree.” Roman nodded. “That would be a terrible waste. But what about the trip? Don’t you think that would be an interesting prospect? If not Europe, you two could go to California or perhaps the Orient.”
“I’d never considered the possibility,” Black admitted. “It would be terribly expensive.”
“Yes, but you’d have Ashton’s millions to spend.”
Roman silently prayed he could keep Black talking and get him to lower his guard. No matter what, he had to keep him from shooting Judith, even by accident. In Black’s state of mind, who knew what he might be capable of?
Finally, everything was coming around right for Norbert Black. All his life he had known he was destined for greatness and wealth. He had been beyond excited when James Ashton spoke of making him his heir. He had come up with this as he shared his plans for the Ashton Block in downtown Minneapolis.
“I will have you in a position that will allow you to honor my wishes and benefit from them at the same time,” Ashton had assured him long before deciding to bring Judith into his life.
It wasn’t Bert’s fault that the old man changed his mind.
Everything that had led up to this moment was a hodgepodge of good and promising, as well as frustrating and intolerable.
In the early days, Bert had felt confident that he could become invaluable to the man and win his absolute trust and confidence, but that wasn’t the way James Ashton did business. He trusted no one. Ever.
Judith was another story. She was a beautiful woman with great compassion and trust. He could have a good life with her.
He just knew he could train her to be what he needed.
She was smart and capable. They could accomplish a great deal together.
Maybe they’d move back to Philadelphia. He really had no desire to remain in Minneapolis, and in Boston, his father and brothers would only make his life miserable.
Once they knew how wealthy he was, they’d be after him for money.
They’d believe that Bert owed them. But he owed no one.
“You really don’t need the gun anymore,” Judith said from where she sat watching him.
He stood at her left side, gun in his right hand, the barrel still fixed on her.
Of course he wouldn’t shoot her now. Turner had relinquished his claim on her.
If only Bert had known that Turner was causing such problems. It was no wonder that she wouldn’t agree to courtship with Turner confusing her.
Where was that valet? He’d gone to get a bridal gown for Judith. They couldn’t be expected to marry if she was still clad in black.
“Where is Winchell? Why is he taking so long?” Bert felt a growing sense of discomfort.
What if Winchell had run off to bring the police?
It hadn’t occurred to him before now that the man might do something underhanded like that.
Bert had been so happy about Judith agreeing to marry him that he hadn’t thought of the servant being deceptive.
“Where is he!” Bert’s raised voice brought Judith back to her feet. Her action took him off guard, and he nearly fired the gun. “Sit!”
“Please stop waving that gun around,” Judith said, shaking her head. “You’re making me positively sick to my stomach with worry.” She put a hand to her abdomen.
Bert considered her a moment, then calmed. “I’m sorry. I just don’t want to be made a fool of. Winchell should have returned by now. There’s no call for him to take so long.”
Judith smiled. It was such a pretty smile, and one intended only for him, not for Dr. Turner.
“Bert, there’s a lot to be done. They’ll have to sort through my things to find the proper dress, and then there are the undergarments and shoes. It will take a little time to gather everything together, and if the gown needs to be pressed, then that will also take time.”
He hadn’t thought of that. Of course, it all made sense. Confusion muddled his mind, and that never made for good reasoning. He needed a drink.
“Pour me a drink,” he said, looking at the doctor. “Ashton keeps the liquor in that cabinet over there.” He pointed to the cabinet near the entry to the billiards room.
Roman nodded. “What would you prefer?”
“Whiskey. Just whiskey.”
Turner crossed the room with a backward glance at Judith. Bert felt his ire rise. “Don’t look at her. She belongs to me. She’s going to marry me. You heard her say as much.”
“I did, indeed.” Roman went to the cabinet and opened the door. “You’re a lucky man, Mr. Black. Mrs. Stanford is a kind and gentle soul. You really shouldn’t frighten her so. It could cause her to suffer apoplexy or something much worse. Fear takes a terrible toll on our bodies.”
Bert frowned and cast a glance at Judith, who was still standing. “Please rest, my dear. Perhaps a sherry would help?”
“I don’t imbibe in alcohol, Bert. I just don’t like being frightened, and guns have always upset me. They’re very dangerous and can go off without warning. I would feel so much better if you would at least uncock your revolver.”
He really could hear the fear in her voice. “Very well.” He raised the pistol to point upward and eased back the hammer while gently pulling the trigger. But his thumb slipped, and the gun went off, sending a bullet into the ceiling overhead.
Judith screamed, and Bert dropped the gun.
Complete confusion washed over him. What should he do?
He could take Judith in hand or reclaim the gun, but he could hardly do both.
Already she was running toward the far door.
Bert tried to move, but he couldn’t. He didn’t know what to do. Nothing made sense.