by Lynn Wolfe
“Do you think my mother kept silent because we were too young at the time of her death to understand? I have trouble believing my mother would have kept such a secret.”
“Thomas, please listen, your mother died when you were a young lad. No doubt, she was trying to protect you. She had no idea I was still alive. If either your mother or I had known the truth back then, no one could have kept us apart. Our love was deeper than you could possibly imagine. Or maybe you can understand now you’ve taken a wife. Your mother gave up everything to be my wife, knowing I’d never be able to give her the things she’d been accustomed to.””
Thomas nodded as he continued to think things over. “But not once did mother mention she’d been raised in a family of wealth. But what you say does make sense. When I reflect back, I know how much it meant to mother that Mary and I behaved well and used our manners at all times. She dressed us far better than other children. Mary and I always thought it was because she was a seamstress, but now, I believe she hoped we’d have a better life.
“I don’t know what to say, Edward. I can’t tell you how relieved I am to know Henry’s not my father after everything he’s done. I never did understand why he changed so after mother passed. Like the way he treated Mary and me, as if we were a bother or why he began to drink so much. I always felt there was something off. Oh, how I wish mother had not taken her secret to the grave.”
“I know I’m asking a lot, Thomas, but I’d like you to forgive me, if possible. If I’d known Jane and you were alive, and that I had a daughter, no one could have kept us apart. I’d have killed Ball for what he’d done. I’m sorry I missed out on your life, and Mary’s. But I’d like you to consider accepting me as your father, if that’s possible. If not, maybe we could remain friends. I can’t tell you how much it means to know I have children and a grandchild. I’m proud to have you for my son.
“I’ll give you time to think this over. I’ll also need your advice on how I should approach Mary. She resides in America according to Miss Baker. I’m not sure if you were aware she came over.
“If I can find her, do you think I should tell her she’s my daughter, or should I have you break this news? Or, would it be better if she never finds out? I believe she’s had enough heartbreak and betrayal already, I hate to add to her misery with any more untruths than she’s already had to deal with.”
“Edward, Mary’s living in the city of Washington. But you need to know, it’s not just Henry and James who’s betrayed her. I betrayed her, too. How can I find fault with you for believing the lies that bastard told you, when James and I did also. My first reaction to all of this is anger. But I’ll be honest; I know only too well how evil and clever that pot licker is. To think, after all these years, my name’s not even Ball.”
“I’d be honored to have you change your name to Pierce, Thomas, but only if you’d be willing. If and when the time comes you wish to change your name, I’d proudly stand before the judge with you.”
That brought tears to Thomas. This man, who’s not only wealthy and well respected by all who know him, was kind and honest, too. Who wouldn’t want Edward as a father? Thomas held his hand out to Edward. “I’m not sure how easy this will be, but I’m glad to be your son. In fact, once I speak with Anna, I think a name change would be something we’d both like. It might take some getting used to though!”
As Edward shook the hand extended to him, he pulled Thomas close for a long overdue hug. “Thomas, you’ve made me very happy. There are many things I want to share with you when there’s time, so many stories about your mother and me.” Edward said, with a breaking voice and tears.
“Should I be the one to tell Mary, Thomas? If so, please tell me where to find her. I also need to know the best way to handle this very delicate situation?”
Edward saw Thomas smirk. “Mary, she has a mind of her own. She may not be so easy to accept or forgive you. But the best thing to do is tell her everything from the beginning. Mary’s a fair person. She’ll come around in time.” Thomas offered, wondering how Mary will handle this news. “When are you planning on telling Mary?”
“I wish to leave tomorrow. It might help my cause that Miss Minnie wrote a letter to Mary.”
“I’ll send a note, too. Hopefully, Mary will understand, but to be honest, she’s spent a good part of the last few years forgiving others. I feel this may have a negative impact on her. I don’t know how much forgiveness she has left to offer. You may find yourself in a battle to gain Mary’s trust.”
“I hope she has forgiveness to offer, Thomas. But I’ll accept any decision she makes. No matter what, I’ll love her unconditionally, as I do you.”
Chapter Seventy
Edward confronts Mary
“Agnes, Taylor has finished fixing the railings and the stairs to the widow’s walk. I think that was the last on the list to do inside the house. Can you think of anything else needed done?” Mary asked, knowing Taylor was needed to do some things for Lizzie.
“Mary, if we missed something, I can’t think of what it might be. This house has been scrubbed from top to bottom. The new curtains you made are lovely. You’re very generous to give the orphanage the extra blankets and clothing we found, and then to offer one day a week to do the alterations is very kind of you. You have such a giving heart. I know Nettie is looking down and smiling.
“If Nettie had gotten to a place where she could have sorted through her things herself, she’d have done what you’ve done, except for the alterations. Knitting was one thing she could do, but sewing was never on her list of accomplishments. I know she should have gone through the rooms upstairs, but I think she was afraid to feel the pain it would have caused her, too many regrets for her to handle.”
“Regrets, Agnes, can certainly be a burden. It was my mother who told me to live my life with the knowledge that not everything will end as you’d planned.”
The knock on the door startled both Mary and Agnes. They hadn’t heard a guest arriving. Normally, if they hadn’t been so tired, they’d have been alert to anyone coming to the house.
Agnes answered the door and was surprised to see an older gentleman standing in front of her, one who appeared nervous. He was very good looking for a man his age, Agnes thought.
“Good morning, may I help you?” Agnes asked, without entirely opening the door.
“I hope so; I’m trying to locate, Miss Mary Ball. I understood she could be found here.”
“May I ask the nature of your business with Miss Ball?”
“Ah, it’s personal. But it might help my cause if you tell her I’ve a letter from Miss Minnie Baker of London. Miss Baker requested me to deliver the letter if I happened to find her. My name is Edward Pierce, and my business with Miss Ball is of the upmost importance.”
Agnes felt much better hearing the man speak of Miss Minnie. Mary had talked so much about her friend from London that Agnes felt she knew her. “Please, come in and take a seat in the parlor. Miss Ball will join you shortly.”
Edward did as requested. He was pleased at how protective the gray-haired housekeeper was of Mary. It was evident she wasn’t about to put Mary at risk. As he waited, he walked around the parlor looking at the beautiful paintings and lovely pieces of walnut and mahogany furniture that decorated the room.
Edward couldn’t help but wonder if Mary was a housekeeper or maybe she worked in the kitchen. When he’d stopped at Miss Hope’s Dress Shop, in Washington, he’d been surprised to find that Mary no longer was the owner.
When he inquired where she could be located, he was told she could be found at the old Powell Plantation. She gave no further explanation. If she knew anything else about Mary, she wasn’t sharing. Edward hoped Mary hadn’t been forced to sell her business for money reasons, if so, he hoped to find her work where she wasn’t obligated to do manual labor, if she’d allow him.
Edward looked to the doorway and was taken back at the beautiful woman standing before him. She was dressed in a crisp blue dr
ess that had pearl buttons down the front. The short sleeves were puffed at the shoulder and the skirt flowed out from her waist. Her hair was pulled up and showed her lovely face that held a rosy complexion. She was the exact image of Jane. Edward smiled and prayed his emotions would not get the better of him. Not now, not in front of his daughter.
“I understand you’ve a letter for me, from Miss Minnie Baker. I can’t thank you enough for delivering it. I understand you have a need to speak to me about something important.”
Edward sensed her hesitation. “Miss Ball, my name is Edward Pierce. I know your brother, Thomas, and the Parker family. Your brother, Thomas, also sent along a note. Before I give them to you, I was wondering if you could give me a moment of your time. What I have to say is very personal. It’s a story I think you’ll find worth hearing.”
Mary was intrigued by the mention of a story to be told, and her guard was up immediately. Who was this man and why wouldn’t he hand over the letter and note now?
“Let me ask Agnes to bring in some drinks and cookies. I’ll listen to your story, if you insist. But I can’t imagine what you need to tell me is so important that I must hear your story before I can receive my letters.”
Mary realized Agnes had been one step ahead and had already prepared drinks and cookies as she entered the parlor and met Mary at the door.
“Oh, thank you, Agnes. I was just coming to find you. Please stay close in case we need something else.”
Edward was amused. He sensed right away Mary didn’t trust him. Why should she? He was glad she wasn’t a fool. But she was giving orders to the housekeeper and that surprised him. Maybe Mary obtained the position as head housekeeper and she was running the household.
As Mary tried to listen to Mr. Pierce as he told his story, she found herself distracted as to why he came in person. She picked enough up from studying him that he was well educated and appeared to be a man of means. But appearances can be deceiving. Then she caught the name of the woman he’d met years ago in London, Jane. He went on to say he had a son named Thomas. The hair on the back of Mary’s neck stood up. She had an uneasy feeling. He now had her full attention.
Mary allowed Mr. Pierce to finish speaking before she stood. Slowly she walked to the window and peered out of the curtain as if she was looking for someone. She bit her lip as she tried to figure out what Mr. Pierce was after.
She knew a scam when she heard one. “Mr. Pierce, am I to surmise by this story you’ve told me, that you’re stating Henry Ball is not my father? You wish for me to think you and my mother had been married and Thomas is your son? Am I to believe I’m the daughter you never knew? Or do I belong to Henry Ball? Do you take me for a fool?”
Edward was shocked. It hadn’t occurred to him that Mary would not believe at least part of his story. He noticed she was very angry. He sensed it; yet, her words had been even and said in a very soft tone.
“If you would read the letter and note I have for you, Miss Ball, I think they’ll help make sense of what I’ve told you and help with some of your questions.” Edward handed Mary the letter and note. But to his surprise, she walked over to a small desk in the corner of the room and laid them down, unopened.
“Mr. Pierce, I shall read my correspondence in due time, but not while you’re in my home. I’ll read them when I’ve the time to devote all my attention to what they contain. For all I know, you could be someone trying to make claim on my recent good fortune.”
“I’m sorry; I don’t understand what you mean.”
“Don’t play dumb with me, Mr. Pierce. I may be young, but I’ve learned a lot about life, the hard way. I think you’re quite aware of what I’m speaking.” Mary walked about the room unable to grasp the implications of everything Mr. Pierce had told her. She was certain he was aware she had recently inherited Nettie’s plantation. How dare he play her for a fool!
“Miss Ball, I do apologize if you feel I’m trying to mislead you. I’m not from this area. I live in Baltimore. Please feel free to check on my credentials. I’m the President of the Baltimore Bank. I’ve a calling card with me.” Edward stated and quickly pulled out his wallet and fumbled around until he found his card. He handed it to Mary, but again, she didn’t seem impressed. She walked over to her desk and laid the card with the unopened letter and note. He saw she took a deep breath and turned to face him.
“Mr. Pierce, anyone could have a calling card made. I wish for you to leave. I need some time to sort through the story you’ve shared. My first reaction to this news you bring, is not to trust you. For all I know, you could be an actor who is trying to swindle my brother and me. This might surprise you, but I happen to have some contacts that will either confirm you’re who you claim to be, or at the very least, Mr. Pierce, I shall find out you’re nothing but a con-artist.”
“How long will you need to have my credibility checked, Miss Ball?” Edward asked, a bit amused and a little taken back. He knew his credentials would check out. This woman before him was no fool, but very cautious, and that pleased him immensely.
“I think a few days will suffice. Why don’t we agree to meet with my lawyer, Mr. Hudson, at his office in Washington? Let’s say in three days? If you tell me where you are staying, I’ll send a message regarding the time and location.”
“I’ll be staying at the Washington Inn. I’ll gladly wait to hear from you. Miss Ball. What I have told you has been the truth. I believe my story will be confirmed once you read what Miss Baker and Thomas has written. I’m not a con-artist, as you assume. But I appreciate your caution. Good day, until we meet again.”
Mary said nothing further to Mr. Pierce. She walked him to the door and watched as he mounted his horse and rode away. She knew Agnes had come up behind her and was also watching this stranger ride off the property.
“Agnes, what do you make of that man?”
“He seemed right proper to me. What exactly did he want, Mary?”
“He claims to be my long lost father. I need to have some time alone with the correspondence he brought. If what he told me is true, he was married to my mother, before she married my father, well, the father I knew. He states Henry Ball took his family from him. Please tell Taylor, if he happens to stop by, that I’ll need to see him this evening.”
“Yes, Mary. The timing of this man to show up after all these years is odd. However, what if he’s telling the truth? I take it you’re going to have him investigated?”
“Right away. I’m very curious what Minnie and Thomas have to say. But I didn’t want him to see how eager I was to read what they’d written. I was not about to give him the satisfaction of trying to make a fool out of me without having proof of what he says is true, which I find highly unlikely.”
“Mary, go do your reading. I’ll be on the porch if you need me.”
*****
Mary sat at the desk holding the letter from Miss Minnie. She smiled as she ran her hand over the writing. She brought the letter to her nose to see if there was any scent of Minnie. But no, she found no trace, the letter had traveled too far, but she recognized the hand writing and knew her dear friend did indeed write her a letter.
As she opened the letter, she realized her hands were shaking. She took a deep breath and began to read:
Mary, I hope this letter finds you well and happy. I’ve missed you, terribly. For many years, I’ve kept a secret regarding your mother, from you and Thomas. Your mother had been married before. In fact, you were a wee baby when I hired her at my shop. I knew Henry Ball was not your true father. I know your mother had been planning to share her past with you when you and Thomas were older. But once she became ill, she thought it best if the past was left alone.
I’ve met Mr. Pierce, and he has filled me in with much of the missing information. You know your mother was like a sister to me. What ever happened in her past, prior to Henry Ball, she spoke little about. I think you need to listen to what Mr. Pierce has to say.
Please write and let me know how this tu
rns out. Mary, forgive me for not sharing what I knew sooner. But I had promised your mother to keep her secret. Give my best to Thomas, if you see him.
All my love, Minnie
Mary didn’t know when she had started crying. She knew she’d been wiping her tears for some time. Her mother had been married before! She tore open the note Thomas had written.
Mary, I’m writing to tell you that I’ve spoken with Mr. Edward Pierce, and he’s convinced me he’s not only my father, he’s yours, too. Please hear him out. I found him very credible. I’ve known him since my arrival in America. We’re lucky to have such a fine man for a father. Love, Thomas
Mary stood up and stomped out onto the porch. “My mother died without ever telling me Henry Ball was not my father. My whole life has been nothing but filled with people who lie and have no sense of loyalty–—people who––who betray me!” Mary burst into sobs that racked her body. Could she not trust anyone?
Agnes had gotten up the minute Mary came crying out onto the porch. She saw the pain on Mary’s face. She held her as she tried to stop her from rambling on about so many people who’d managed to cause her pain throughout her young life. She listened as she spoke about the people that had betrayed her, Henry Ball, James, Thomas, and now her mother and Miss Minnie.
“I’m sorry for all your troubles, Mary, so sorry that someone else has hurt you and hurt you badly. Once you’re done crying, we can talk about this. But know this Mary Ball, not Nettie, the Hawkins family, or I, have ever or will ever lie to you. You can count on that. You can always trust us.”
Mary nodded and sat on the swing. “I’m sorry I fell apart, Agnes. I never meant to include you, or anyone associated with this plantation, in my ramblings about loyalty and trust. The only people I feel I do trust is those I’ve met in Washington! Thank you for allowing me to speak my mind.
“I shall see Mr. Hudson first thing in the morning. I know he’ll make sure I don’t fall prey to some deceptive person.”
