The Philanthropist's Danse (29 page)

W
illiam emerged from his office at eight forty-five to check on Mrs. Tremethick. He understood that, of everyone in the mansion, Johnston Thurwell would have wanted William to pay her most attention. He would see to her needs personally if he had to.

He passed the Elliots on his way up the grand staircase. They gave him a cheery greeting, and he saw Janice’s arm enfolded in her husband’s. William wondered what had changed between them since Janice had appeared in his office to seduce him into cheating Dennis.

He knocked on the old lady’s door and was pleased to see she looked rested when she opened it. She invited him in, but he explained he had only a few moments and was just checking in. “Did they finish voting last night Mr. Bird? Will I be heading home soon?”

He shook his head. “The business is not settled, Mrs. Tremethick, so I’m afraid not. If it’s any consolation, the bad weather has closed the local airport anyway, so no matter how the others did, you’d still be our guest.” She smiled, but felt a tug of regret that she would not be returning home yet. She had spent a large portion of the night admiring Charlie’s ring and reading and re-reading his letter.

Winnie wanted to visit the cliff walk where he had dropped to his knee and asked her to marry him. She wanted to look at his ring and apologize to his memory for her cowardice. “Perhaps they will reach an agreement today, and we can all go home tomorrow then?”

“Let’s hope so, Mrs. Tremethick, there is nothing I would rather do than see you successfully returned home.” He gave her his best smile, the one he had often used as a defense attorney when he needed charm, in addition to a clever argument, to get his scumbag of the week acquitted.

She sighed. “I suppose you want me to stay in my room?”

“Yes, you can’t see the others until they are finished. Jeremy can provide anything you need.” William promised to look in on her when he could and excused himself. It was time to begin another tough day.

$

Bethany and Camille entered the conference room together, each holding onto one of Jeremy’s arms. A stunned silence fell when the others saw them. Jeremy sat them next to each other. He had unilaterally decided to change the seating arrangements to ensure the sisters could offer each other mutual support.

The Judge entered the room and walked quickly over to the sisters as Jeremy seated them. Freeman spoke with them quietly to assure himself that they were well enough to continue. When he saw they were determined to proceed, he gently patted each on the back of their hand and told them not to worry. He would ensure Junior posed no threat.

He moved to take his seat but was stopped by Dennis, who wore a dangerous expression. “Junior did that to her, didn’t he.”

Freeman noted the manservant was not asking a question, but stating a fact. “I can’t say, Dennis. Mr. Bird will explain when he gets here.” Dennis made a move to press the matter but saw the lawyer enter and backed off. William looked around the room. Everyone was present except Junior, who would be escorted down when he called for him.

“Please, everyone, be seated. I have a statement that should address your immediate questions.” He took his place at the table but remained standing while he waited for others to settle. They looked from Camille Jolivet’s ruined face to the lawyer and to Junior’s empty chair. William cleared his throat and read from his prepared note. “Last night, after your meeting broke up, an unfortunate series of events led to an attack on Miss Jolivet in which Bethany was also injured, though less seriously.

The attacker was Junior Thurwell, who will join us shortly.” As he expected, there was immediate uproar and William raised his hands in an appeal for calm, but was forced to wait until it was granted. “I understand how you feel, believe me, I do. No matter what happened last night, or how we feel about it, Mr. Thurwell is still a legitimate member of this group and votes will not be valid without his attendance.”

A voice growled. “Then we have an easy bit of business for our first motion.” Everyone looked at Dennis, who sat, white-faced with fury. “Bring him down here, Mr. Bird. Bring him down here so we can throw his sorry ass out of here and not have to look at his face again.” There were murmurs of approval and a smattering of applause.

William had expected their anger, and there was nothing he could do to influence their votes. But he needed to ensure Junior’s physical well being. “I will call for Junior as soon as I am satisfied that no one here presents a threat to his safety. I will not tolerate physical attacks. If I could have prevented last night, I would have. The consequence of any physical violence will be an immediate twenty-four hour suspension of proceedings, do I make myself clear?”

“Bill, how can you stand to defend him? He deserves a beating, just look at her.” Freddie pointed at Camille, who turned away, ashamed.

William shrugged. “Freddie, I’ve defended worse people in my time. I mean what I say. Any assault will cost you another twenty percent penalty.” William looked at Dennis, who quietly glowered. “Dennis, we’re clear on the consequences if you make a move, right?”

The manservant nodded, but William was nervous. He didn’t like the mood in the room. It was worse than he’d expected. But he needed to bring Junior in, and there was little point waiting any longer. He indicated to Jeremy to fetch Junior and the major-domo was gone instantly. “I recommend you try to remain calm and focused on the goal, not on what you feel about Junior or his actions. Please, do not add to the trouble already caused by this.”

He spoke to fill the silence and had no idea if anyone paid attention. Everyone waited and looked alternately from Camille to the door. Tension heightened when footsteps approached and then Junior was in the doorway, flanked by Jeremy and the guard who had spent the night outside his room. Both men were taller than Junior, and he felt small as he walked into the room. His stomach fluttered when he saw Dennis Elliot glaring at him, but his butterflies settled once he saw the defeated look in his French half-sister’s eye.

She looked awful. He’d done a real job on her. He was not displeased. He took his seat and waved away his guards, who did not move until the lawyer dismissed them. Junior tried to appear relaxed even as he worried Dennis might launch himself across the table and choke the life from him. No one moved. It seemed that no one was even breathing as they stared at Junior.

William broke the silence. “I declare the meeting in session. Judge Freeman, you have the Chair.” The Judge nodded and looked around the room. “Ladies and Gentlemen, it’s time to see if we can bring an end to these proceedings and make our—”

Dennis interrupted. He stood and talked over Freeman. “I propose a motion that we remove Junior Thurwell immediately, without a penny of his father’s money. Let’s get rid of this beast, right now.”

Janice immediately seconded the motion. Freeman looked at William, who shrugged. He had expected this and had no inclination or ability to stop it.

Junior turned pale as his worst fears were realized. He had to stop their revolt. “Now wait. Just wait a minute. You can’t throw me out, I’m family. You have no idea what happened last night because you weren’t there. I was provoked. None of you have the right to judge me.” His defense had sounded more dignified when he practiced it, now he saw only disapproval as he pleaded his case.

Freddie Hagood pointed a bony finger at him, his voice thick with rage. “You don’t beat a woman, Junior. I don’t care how much you were provoked. You don’t lay your hands on a woman. Right, Larry?”

MacLean looked at Junior. He was repelled by him, but also saw a glimmer of opportunity. He looked at Freddie and agreed, but his mind raced. Freeman called the room to order. “We have a motion, properly seconded. The question is whether or not we remove Mr. Johnston Thurwell III from this group. We require eight votes to carry the motion. I will vote first, and we’ll go around the room. I vote Aye. How say you, Betty Freah?”

“Yes.”

“Betty Freah votes Aye. Dennis Elliot?”

“Oh yes.”

“Dennis Elliot votes Aye. Freddie Hagood?”

“Yes.”

“Freddie Hagood votes Aye. Bethany Thurwell?”

Bethany looked at her feet. She couldn’t betray her brother again, no matter what he had done. She thought much of what happened last night was her fault. If she had been loyal, her brother would not have been so angry. “No. What happened was as much my fault as his. Please, don’t do this.”

Camille looked at her sister in mute horror. She tried to speak, but it hurt too much and she turned away, unable to face her as the Judge registered Bethany’s vote.

“Bethany Thurwell votes Nay. Camille Jolivet?”

The French girl raised her head and turned so Junior would have to look her in her good eye. “Oui.”

“Miss Jolivet votes Aye. Janice Elliot?”

“Yes.”

“Janice Elliot votes Aye. Johnston Thurwell III?”

Junior bristled with rage. “No, this is a travesty. It’s vindictive. You’ve never liked me, any of you. You’re a bunch of losers and crooks.”

“Mr. Thurwell votes Nay. Larry MacLean?”

Larry didn’t answer, but looked at Junior.

The Judge called again. “Larry? I need your vote, please.”

Larry waved his hand to silence Freeman. “I can save your miserable ass, Junior. You’re one vote away from oblivion. You understand that, right?” Junior nodded, he was furious but knew he was doomed.

Dennis stood. “What the hell are you doing, MacLean? Vote the prick out. Kick his sorry ass out, right now.”

Freddie growled. “Larry, if you vote for him, our deal is off.”

MacLean shot Hagood a bitter look. “Well, Freddie, you offered a particularly crappy deal as I recall. I think I might get a better offer from Junior about now.” Larry turned to Junior. “Junior, here’s my offer. You agree to equal shares for everyone, and I’ll keep you in. If you hold out for more, you’re gone. What’s it going to be?” He ignored the howls of protest from the others.

The Judge called for his vote again. “Larry MacLean, how do you vote?”

MacLean pushed Junior. “Let’s tell the man, shall we? How do I vote, Junior? Do you agree to my terms?”

Junior was furious, but knew he was defeated. If MacLean voted against him, he would lose all of his inheritance. If he agreed, he would get ten percent. When faced with nothing, suddenly it sounded like a great deal. He looked at MacLean and nodded. Larry shook his head. “Say it, Junior. I want to hear you say it. We all do. Then we can vote and go home.”

“Okay, I agree. Equal shares for everyone.” He said it through gritted teeth, aware there was a changing mood in the room.

Freddie interrupted. “Larry, forget it. Betty and I will forgo our agreement. You can keep your full share. We won’t take a penny, just don’t save this sadistic prick. Kick him out and you’ll get a fair share. It’ll be worth more too, with him gone. Don’t do this.”

A panicked look crossed Junior’s face as Larry considered the new offer. “So it’s different now Freddie? Now I have some power, you want to be fair? Well fuck you. You should have treated me with a bit more respect. I vote Nay.”

A hiss went around the room as the Judge called the vote. “Larry MacLean votes Nay. Caroline Smith?”

Smith was upset, she had been allied with Junior yesterday but after witnessing his cruelty last night she wanted nothing more to do with him. She avoided looking in his direction. “Yes.”

“Caroline Smith votes Aye.”

William read the result over a background of angry mumbling. “The tally is seven votes for and three against. The motion fails.”

Freddie fumed. “Goddamn you, Larry. We would all have benefited from him being gone, in more ways than one.” Larry heard the discontent around the table, but he didn’t care. He had saved himself.

Larry looked at the sisters and saw a rift had opened following Bethany’s support of her brother. Camille had turned in her seat to ignore Bethany. It was as perfect an illustration of a cold shoulder as Larry had ever seen.

Freeman called them back to order, and Larry saw his chance. He gave a significant look to Junior and interrupted. “I’d like to propose a motion.”

Freeman was surprised. “Larry, I was going to suggest a short break, so we could all calm down. Why don’t you wait a half hour?”

MacLean shook his head. “I don’t think so. Why would I give Freddie a chance to arrange it so I get screwed again? No. You all heard Junior agree to equal shares. We can end this now. I propose the money be divided equally among the ten of us.”

MacLean looked William. “Bill, I proposed a motion and that’s within the rules, right?”

Bird nodded. “It’s valid, if you have a seconder.”

Larry looked at Junior and raised an eyebrow, but it was Bethany who spoke. “I’ll second the motion. I just want this to be over. Please, everyone, let’s end this torture and get back to our lives.”

William looked at the Judge. “They’ve proposed and seconded a valid motion. You have to call the vote, Ron.”

Freeman pulled his chair in and sat upright. He could sense the tension in the room. “Before I call the roll, let me say I respect Miss Thurwell’s request. We should all think about our vote and whether it is likely we will have another opportunity to come to an agreement as we do now. I, Ron Freeman, vote Aye. How say you, Betty Freah?”

“Yes, let’s end this now.”

“Betty Freah votes Aye. Dennis Elliot?”

“I’ll agree, but only out of respect for Miss Bethany’s wishes. I vote yes.”

“Dennis Elliot votes Aye. Bethany Thurwell?”

“Thank you, Dennis. I vote yes.”

“Bethany Thurwell votes Aye. Camille Jolivet?”

The French girl looked at her sister, her swollen face streaked with tears. “Oui. Yes, I vote yes. Let this be over. I cannot fight any longer, not with you.” Bethany took Camille’s hand and smiled, her own eyes brimmed with tears.

“Miss Jolivet votes Aye. “Freddie Hagood?”

Freddie was upset. He did not like to be outfoxed, but he knew the time for maneuvering had run out. “Aye.”

“Freddie Hagood votes Aye. Janice Elliot?”