“Of course.” She smoothed down the overskirt of her bustled blue gown. “Show him in. He may come bearing gifts.” Judith came to stand at the edge of her desk. She had no idea who the well-dressed man was, but perhaps he represented a new donor. She could only hope.
She listened as Helen greeted the man. Helen had been such an asset to her work. They’d first met at church shortly after Judith’s parents had died. The requirements of dealing with her parents’ business had been almost too much in the wake of her grief, and Helen had volunteered to help Judith put things in order. She had been a godsend.
“Mr. Norbert Black is calling,” Helen announced, pausing at the door. She gave Judith the man’s card.
Judith read that he was an attorney from Minneapolis, Minnesota. There were only two things she knew for sure about Minneapolis. First, it was where the elusive Dr. Turner lived. Second, it was the home of her estranged grandfather, someone she’d never met.
The handsome black-haired man stepped into the room, with a twinkle in his eyes and a smile on his lips. Judith sized him up, determined to guess why he’d come. It was something of a game to her. Seeing him take charge of the moment and extend his hand in greeting, she couldn’t help but like him.
“Mr. Black, I’m Judith Stanford. How may I be of service?”
He shook her hand. “It’s a pleasure to finally meet you. As you probably noted from my card, I am an attorney. I have but one client, by choice, I assure you,” he quickly added. “I work for your grandfather, James Ashton Sr.”
Judith wasn’t quite sure how to take the news, but she was quite certain that she would never have guessed these details on her own.
“Please sit down.” She motioned to the same leather chair Helen had recently vacated. Moving behind her desk, Judith reclaimed her seat and waited.
Mr. Black hesitated, as if studying the situation. Judith had watched people all her life—a helpful habit in soliciting donations for her charities. She could read people very well and always knew when they were ready to move forward. Mr. Black was showing all the signs of a man trying to choose between two paths.
“Helen, would you please ask Mrs. Meachem to arrange tea?”
“Of course.” The secretary left the room to speak to the cook, leaving Judith alone with Mr. Black.
“Please sit, Mr. Black, and tell me why you’ve come today. You seem rather at a loss for words.”
He took a seat and gave her another broad smile. “I’m justrather taken aback. I had no idea you were so young and beautiful.”
“What a bold thing to say.” His words put Judith on guard. She’d had men attempt to speak words of admiration and love before.
“I know, and I apologize. You have taken me by surprise. I beg forgiveness.”
“Surprise hardly entitles you to be intimate where intimacy is not called for.” Judith knew she’d taken a degree of severity that perhaps wasn’t merited, so she smiled. “Let us start anew. Why don’t you tell me why you have journeyed here from Minnesota?”
Mr. Black leaned back in the chair and nodded. “Thank you for being so gracious. I am here at the direction of your grandfather.”
“Well, that’s quite a shock. I didn’t even know if the man was still alive. You see, he long ago cut us out of his family.”
“I am familiar with the circumstances.”
She frowned. “Then you know that my grandfather removed himself from the company and correspondence of his son many years ago. Cut him off without a dime and left him to his own survival. Therefore, I have very little interest in whatever my grandfather might want to say.”
“And Mr. Ashton told me that I might expect this type of reaction from you.” He smiled. “But you seem like such a generous soul. I’ve heard about your good works here in Philadelphia. I made it my task to investigate the things that you were involved with. Your charity work speaks of the tenderness you hold for the less fortunate in your community.”
“My mother had a heart for such ministries. I merely followed in her footsteps.”
“Still, it reveals a kindness and compassion that might surely allow you to consider what your grandfather is requesting of you.”
“He’s requesting something?” She chuckled. “And here I thought perhaps he was extending an apology. I should have known better.”
“He would like for you to come and visit him.”
Judith shifted her weight as her bustle bit into her skin. “I have no desire to visit him. He made it clear that we were nothing to him.”
“He’s old and approaching the end of his life,” Mr. Black countered. “The mistakes of his youth are no doubt haunting him.”
“So he admits he made a mistake in separating himself from his family?”
It was Mr. Black’s turn to shift. “He hasn’t said as much, but I do believe that is his thought on the matter.”
