How in the world was he critical to this situation? Caleb nodded at Bridgestone. “How can I help?”
The young woman pushed back her veil and fixed Caleb with a frown. “You can tell me why I am not allowed access to my inheritance, and furthermore, why you think you have the right to be my guardian.”
Caleb stared at the young woman, hardly more than a girl. “Victoria Whitley, I presume.”
“Yes.”
“Please sit, Mr. Coulter,” Bridgestone instructed. “I believe this will take a bit of time to discuss.”
“I don’t know why,” Victoria said, her gaze never leaving Caleb. “Mr. Coulter doesn’t even know me. He has no right to tell me what I must do or how I can spend my money.”
“I’m afraid he does have that right, Miss Whitley. He is the trustee of your estate. You have yet to reach your majority, and until you are twenty-one, your cousin Judith Whitley is your guardian. She has appointed those responsibilities to her fiancé, Mr. Coulter.”
Victoria gave a harsh laugh. “I should have figured you would make such a move. Grandmother said you were probably nothing more than a money grubber. Now you’ve engaged yourself to my cousin—who I understand holds most of the fortune my dear family left behind.”
Caleb smiled despite her snide tone. “Miss Whitley, we presumed you were at school in Switzerland. Might I ask how you managed to return to San Francisco?”
Victoria gave an exasperated sigh. “I told the headmistress I wished to return home to mourn my family, and she arranged it. Now, what I want to know is when you intend to release my inheritance so I can make my own decisions. I do not intend to remain in this repugnant town.”
Caleb looked at Bridgestone, who wore a look of weary consternation. He returned his gaze to Victoria. She was clearly furious. No doubt she’d thought she merely had to show up and demand her own way, and when that hadn’t worked, she had taken it out on Bridgestone.
Knowing this would take some time, Caleb sat in the leather wingback chair beside her and turned it so that he faced her directly. Once seated, he addressed her in the professional manner he might use with any other client, rather than as a family member.
“Miss Whitley, you are nineteen years of age. The legal age that entitles you to access your inheritance is twenty-one. Therefore, until such time, your money will remain in trust for you. Your housing, clothing, and other needs will be provided for by an allowance paid directly to those providers. Should other needs arise, you have but to come to me with your requests, at which time I will judge whether they are acceptable expenditures. Judith wants you to be comfortable, but obviously you will not be returning to the family home, as it was destroyed by fire. You will instead be housed with your cousin.”
“This is utter nonsense.” Victoria slammed her gloved hands down on the arms of her chair. “I will not be treated like a child.”
Caleb smiled. “Then don’t act like one.”
This only served to infuriate her even more. Victoria jumped to her feet and shook her fist at Caleb. “I spent a lifetime under my grandmother’s thumb, and I will not allow some ridiculous, two-bit lawyer to tell me what to do.”
“Miss Whitley, please calm down and retake your seat,” Bridgestone begged. “I’m sure that your loss is making this harder than it needs to be.”
“My loss was a blessing. I wear black only because it serves my purpose,” Victoria declared, refusing to sit. She began to pace around the room, always watching Caleb as though he were a wild animal about to attack.
He thought her an interesting character, to be sure. Had he not known about Bill’s confession to Judith’s attempted murder, he would easily have assumed Victoria was the culprit. Her entire demeanor suggested she would rid herself of all obstacles no matter the cost.
“I have no money and no place to live,” Victoria stated, looking back and forth between the men. “What do you expect me to do?”
“Mr. Coulter and your cousin will arrange your lodging,” Mr. Bridgestone said in carefully chosen words. “You must give them a chance to do so.”
“I don’t want their arrangements. I have friends with whom I can stay in New York City, and that is where I wish to be. I want my money released to me so that I can arrange passage on the next ship.”
“I’m afraid that isn’t going to happen.” Caleb knew she would fly into another tirade, but he felt he had to speak firmly with her. “Whatisgoing to happen is that you will accompany me to where your cousin is, and we will discuss the matter like civilized adults.”
Victoria’s eyes narrowed. “I’m not going anywhere with you.”
“I’m afraid you must,” Bridgestone interjected. “He has a legal right to direct you.”
“He probably plans to take liberties with me,” Victoria said, turning to Bridgestone. “Will you allow him to take advantage of an innocent woman?”
Caleb picked a piece of lint off his trousers. There was no doubt about it—dealing with Victoria Whitley was not going to be a simple matter.
“Miss Whitley, I have no interest in a child such as yourself, except to see you safely protected.” Caleb got to his feet. “As you’ve no doubt noticed, a good portion of the city was destroyed by fire and earthquake. My own residence was damaged but has recently been repaired, and it is my intention that we will return to live there. However, for the time being, your cousin and the others who were residents of my house are living at a warehouse that we converted to offer shelter to some of the homeless. You will have plenty of female companionship. But if need be, I can hire a nurse to watch over you.”
She scowled.
He looked at Mr. Bridgestone. “If there’s nothing further to discuss with you, sir, then I will take Miss Whitley and return to the warehouse. You can reach me there if need be, but in a day or so, I’m sure we will be reinstated at my home.”
