She couldn’t let him down. Or herself. The line between the two had become blurred.
“I have always appreciated your assistance, Declan, but the time has come for you to begin trusting me as Fletcher did.”
“Fletcher saw to it that you have a substantial income with plenty of money in the bank,” he pointed out. “And I’ve done the same. Even in times like these, hard as they are.”
Since she did all the accounting for her personal and household finances, Prim knew that was true. She had more money than most these days and she was thankful for it.
But that wasn’t the point.
She was neither greedy nor grasping, but she didn’t think she needed to be either to demand control of her own life.
“I appreciate your help since Fletcher’s passing. I truly do.” Prim drew a deep, bolstering breath. “However, I want—no, Iplanto take over the administration of all of the investments he left to me, beginning immediately.”
Declan’s jaw dropped, astonishment over the demand written all over his face, but Prim held firm.
“I want everything, Declan. All of it.”
“Primrose, you’re a fine girl,” he began. “I always thought Fletcher made a good choice in you, but what you’re doing…it’s rash. Can’t you see that? You’re not prepared to handle the responsibility of overseeing millions of dollars.”
“I can be. I will be.”
Declan shot a look at James, full of skepticism. “I’d feel better about leaving it to you if you’d reconsider Mossman’s suit. I trust him. I think you can, too.”
But Prim wasn’t brimming with confidence for her father-in-law at that moment. “I will handle it myself, but I appreciate your concern.”
Something flared in his eyes but was quickly squashed. Prim wondered at it. Hurt? Betrayal?
“It is my right by law,” she reminded softly, saddened that she’d been reduced to making a threat of it. “As I told Shane, I’ll send someone to pick up all the files tomorrow. If I don’t have them, I will have to consider contacting the proper authorities.”
Declan shook his head.
“You’re making a mistake, Primrose.”
“No, Declan, I don’t believe I am.”
With a nod, he left and Prim turned back to James without any of the triumph she’d expected. “I hated to do that.”
“I know.” James patted his thigh in invitation. “Come here.”
She rounded the desk and curled against him without hesitation. How long had it been since she’d had someone to comfort her so? She’d never considered how much she’d missed having someone to lean on.
It went against every doctrine of the suffrage credo, but it was awfully good to have someone to rely on.
Lord have mercy, but she would miss him when he was gone.
CHAPTER 27
You do not need scores of suitors. You only need one… if he’s the right one.
~ Louisa May Alcottfrom Little Women
Christmas Eve
“Silent night,Holy night.Shepherds quake,at the sight…”
Prim slid a sidelong gaze at him and James cleared his throat, joining his tenor to her sweet contralto for the final verse.
“Glories stream from heaven above.Heavenly hostssing Hallelujah.Christ the Savior is born.Christ the Savior is born.”
