Rescue or Recovery
PT.7
As she was standing outside the door, appalled at what she just overheard, she now realized they were moving towards the doors. Quickly moving out of sight, she watched Louis leave. Watching the front door close, she now proceeded to go back upstairs only to run into William.
"Ah, Kitty, my dear. Couldn't sleep?"
"Oh, I guess all the travel and this has just been such a long day."
"Yes, but…" William hadn't known she was there long enough to hear Louis and he arguing.
Starting for the stairs, inhaling and turning back. "William…" looking at him now with real concern, "I think we need to talk."
The man she was now looking at just wasn't the man she'd met just a little over a year ago. William, as was his father, John, was a very astute, smart businessman. She searched her thoughts as the two headed into the library.
"Drink, my dear?"
Nodding, "Yes, brandy would be nice. William, about this wedding…"
"Oh, Kitty, this will be the event of the times."
Now gasping, "No! William, you don't understand. This is soooo wrong. Hilda doesn't want to marry this Mr. Shaw and it's just wrong in so many ways." She was now looking at him with a furrowed brow and head tilted.
"Now, Kitty, Hilda understands and will do whatever I ask of her for the family. Louis is…"
Before he could finish, she was shaking her head in disbelief. "William, no! Can't you see how wrong this is? Your daughter is so unhappy. And this Louis Shaw..." She continued with deep concern. "He's… he's just… ugh! I'm sorry, maybe this is not my business but maybe again, it is. What's really going on here, William? Hilda is not a business transaction."
"Kitty, please don't ask. Just know that everything I'm doing is good for business."
Frustrated, "How? How is forcing Hilda to marry a man that could be her father, good for business? William, there's things you're not telling me. Why do I have the feeling this Mr. Shaw has something big he's holding over you?"
William didn't answer and it was more what he didn't say that spoke volumes. Just then, Hilda entered, staring at them both.
"Miss Kitty, Father? Did I interrupt something? Something important?"
Smiling slightly, "No, Sweetheart, I was just talking to your father about… well, about your wedding and why it shouldn't happen."
Hilda's eyes widened. "Father," she stepped closer. "Miss Kitty is right." Hilda was now shaking. She had never gone against her father's wishes, but this, this was different. "Father, I don't think my marrying Louis Shaw is... is…" Now she lowered her eyes.
"Hilda, I'm your father and we talked about this. It will be good for the family and the business."
Now stepping between the two. "William? What about her?" Placing her hand on the young girls shoulder. "Hilda is your daughter. About business, how is Shaw involved?"
"Kitty, I can't… I can't discuss…" Leaning back.
Kitty expressed surprise. "William? Please. Whatever affects you, your family, and this business most of all, affects me as well."
"Kitty, Hilda, it's late. We can finish this… um, in the morning perhaps."
Nodding, 'Alright, we are going to the brewery tomorrow so we can talk more then. Good night, William." Then smiling at Hilda. "See you in the morning."
Early the following morning, Kitty was up and dressed and met with William in the dining room.
"Kitty? Good morning. Hope you slept well. Cook has breakfast ready."
"Oh, coffee's just fine." She waved her hand.
Suddenly, Hilda showed in the doorway, ready to join them. "Morning, Father, Miss Kitty."
"Hilda, dear, you up so early?"
"Yes, I thought I'd go with you both."
Kitty smiled, "Wonderful idea!" She was not giving William the chance to exclude her.
His eyes shifted between Kitty and Hilda. "Hilda, you know after the wedding, your husband will expect you to be at home. Not at the brewery."
"See, Father, that's another reason for not wanting to marry Louis. This is a family business and I am whether you want to admit it or not, your heir and I am very invested in working and keeping in the family business."
Kitty silently sat, proud of the way Hilda was making her point and standing up for herself.
The three made their way to the brewery. William was feeling outnumbered.
Hilda made her way to the offices. She was anxious to get into the books. Kitty and William walked through the plant. She planned on continuing their conversation from the night before.
"William, please. I know there is something you need to fill me in on. If you're in trouble, any trouble at all, please tell me." Standing shoulders squared and brow raised.
Looking around, "Kitty, ok, I was in trouble. I made a few bad decisions and the company was suffering."
"And Shaw?" She questioned.
Exhaling, nodding, "Louis Shaw bailed me out, otherwise we may have gone belly up."
"Oh, I see and his stake in this is Hilda?"
William lowered his gaze, now not meeting her eyes.
"Oh, William! Why didn't you just tell me. This just isn't the way!"
"Kitty, no one knew and I couldn't afford to have anyone find out. Especially now with Mother and Father's accident. The stockholders are already anxious with Father's passing. If they found out about this, we'd be ruined."
Hilda headed for the plant floor. "Father, I've gone over some of these ledgers."
"Kitty, will you excuse me for just a moment?"
William headed back to the office to join Hilda. When he arrived, the secretary stopped him. "Mr. Lemp, you have a visitor."
"Yes, Miss Jennings."
Before she could answer, Hilda spoke up. "Father, please let me show you something."
Miss Jennings, walking away, called over her shoulder. "Oh, when you're finished, Sir, you can meet him on the plant floor."
William paid no attention , wondering what Hilda may have found.
Kitty slowly walked around, still amazed at the size of the place. She was thinking about the first time she was there, all those massive barrels." Thinking to herself, "This was a wonderful investment. It's been great for the Long Branch, me, my future." Then her expression changed. "William ,what have you done?"
Suddenly, as she heard the footsteps behind her. "Well, your back? I'm sure the two of you handled that perfectly together." As she turned, she felt a shape blow, and slowly the room went black."
TBC
