by Rikki Dyson
As the old lady turned her chair to leave, Shane came up behind her and asked, “May I assist you Miss Leona?”
“Yes, Doctor McLeod,” she said. “As far as the hall. Flora will take me from there. Thank you.”
Chapter-31
Connecting all the dots
The dining room, was quite lovely. All the furniture was old and from a by gone era, but beautiful just the same. Stacey noticed at the table, that Miss Leona would give her a look ever so often. She was dying to ask the elderly lady more questions. Shane and Ethan were both the essences of diplomacy. Stacey knew she had a lot to learn about sophistication from her husband. She also knew she sometimes threw social graces to the wind. You might say she fit the old adage about, ‘Fools rush in, where angels fear to tread.’ After the meal, they all went back to the sitting room. Flora served after dinner tea in elegant thin china cups. Flora served each a cup. Shane and Ethan both were sipping the dark aromatic tea as they talked about the family search and their shared information.
Miss Leona noticed, Stacey had not touched hers. She asked, “Would you rather have coffee? I know you Americans love your coffee.”
“No, no,” Stacey said. “Your china cups are so beautiful and delicate, I’m afraid I might break it if I touch it. When I was little things just seemed to break around me.”
Miss Leona laughed, for the very first time. She asked Shane, “What are you going to do with this young woman, Doctor McLeod? You can take the girl out of Texas, however, you can’t take Texas out of the girl.”
Shane chortled and said, “I wouldn’t fancy to try. I love the lass the way she is.”
“Yes, I thought you might say that,” she said smiling.
Stacey, took a sip of her tea and asked, “Will you tell us about the Hampton family now? We have a close friend, well actually, he is my uncle now he married my aunt this summer. He’s from the female line of his family all the way back to Rodric Hampton’s great-granddaughter, Katherine, who married Guy Spencer.”
Miss Leona’s, sharp eyes drilled in on Stacey and asked, “Are you referring to Sir Richard Heath?”
Stacey almost dropped her cup. She did spill her tea. “How did you know?”
“His sister Carla and I were friends,” she said. “I met the children through Rowena and Agnes, their grandmother and great-aunt. Do you know of them?”
“No, I don’t,” Stacey replied, “But I have heard of his sister Carla. She died a few years ago.”
“Come,” Miss Leona said. “I have something to show you.”
Stacey, Shane and Ethan followed Flora pushing the wheelchair. They entered a large room, much like a winter parlor. There were paintings on the walls. Miss Leona told them, “These paintings have been handed down through the years. This one is of my father, Edgar Fitz-William. He was an officer in the king’s regiment. He died in the great war.” She showed them a few more photos of her family. Sadly, she said, “They are all gone. I am the only one left.”
Stacey was looking at a photograph of three young women of the early twentieth century. She asked, “Miss Leona, is this you with your sisters or friends?”
“Yes,” she said. “They were my cousins, Rowena and Agnes Hargrove.”
“How were you connected?” Shane asked.
In an instant, Stacey knew. She was not surprised when Miss Leona said, “Our fathers were cousins.”
Stacey said, “You wanted to show us something before we leave. Could we see it now?”
Flora pushed Miss Leona’ chair to the other side of the room, then turned a light on over a painting. There was no mistaking it. It was a Portrait of the earl and countess of Dun-Raven in their early years.
Ethan came closer, to look at the painting and said, “The semblance is quite accurate to Shane and Stacey. Who are these people?”
“The Fitz-Morgans,” Stacey said. “The earl and countess of Dun-Raven.”
“To have one painting from that era is miraculous,” Shane said. “To have two is uncanny.”
“Do you have any idea, how these paintings survived through the years, and how did they come to you and your cousins?” Stacey asked.
“I can’t answer that,” Miss Leona said. “Our families have always had them.”
Stacey had a feeling, if she could look through all of Miss Leona’s journals and records, she would find answers many questions.
“It’s getting late ma’am, I’m sure you’re getting tired. May we come back and visit you again sometime soon?” Stacey asked.
“Of course you may,” she said. “Come anytime you’re free.”
Stacey leaned over and gave her a hug and said, “I want you to know, you are no longer alone. You have family now. We, all of us in this room and more than you can imagine who are not here, we are all descended from the earl and countess of Dun-Raven. If not for them we would not be who we are. Thank you, for your tremendous help and hospitality. We will see you again soon.”
Shane took her hand and kissed her cheek. Professor Ethan Howard took her hand and kissed the back of it. Miss Leona seemed a little flustered with all this demonstrative attention. Very briskly she said, “Well, at least one of you have the manners of Englishman. Goodnight.”
Shane and Stacey thought this quite amusing. They left hand in hand, laughing.
In the car, Professor Howard asked Stacey, “If you don’t mind, I’d like to know what Miss Leona was referring to when she asked, “If you are the one who dreams?”
“Not only that,” Shane said. “How did she know you’re an archaeologist?”
“I don’t know,” Stacey said. “We’ll ask her next time we visit.”
Professor Howard asked, “Could you, perchance enlighten me on the dream part?”
As they rode along, Stacey related her dream after the fall at the archaeology site.
Ethan said, “Well, young lady, that clarifies quite a bit. Why had you not told me this?”
“I didn’t want you to think me a nut case,” Stacey said.
Professor Ethan Howard, chortled at her impudent honesty and said, “Young lady, you have such an artistic hold on terminology, never would I think of you as having a mental deficiency.”
Chapter-32
The green-eyed monster
When they reached Northampton, Shane suggested to Stacey, “Since we have more time than we expected, why not take the overnighter to Edinburgh? We can fly home Sunday afternoon.”
That was fine with Stacey, but before they said goodbye to Professor Howard, they went to a pub near the hotel to have a beaker of ale and say their good byes and agreed to meet in London with the twins in the near future.
While they were visiting in Edinburgh, Stacey used her cell phone to call the number in Ohio. A young woman answered, and Stacey told her who she was and why she was calling. The young woman said, her name is Chelisa St. John that her husband wasn’t home at present, but would love to speak with Stacey. She told Stacey, they had honeymooned in Europe and decided to look up her husband’s ancestors while they were in the part of the world where Marks ancestors originated. Stacey gave her, her cell number and told her they were welcome to call anytime. Stacey told Shane she was curious about this couple and hoped they would call.
Later that night, Mark St. John called and introduced himself, He said, “I was so curious about your call I just couldn’t wait to speak with you.”
“That’s perfectly okay, I was anxious to talk with you too. Do you have Family Search or an Ancestor Research of any kind?”
“Yes, I do, can you give me a couple seconds to go get it?” When he came back on the phone he said, “Okay, Stacey I have it, and it goes back to seventeen-forty, that was when my ancestor came to America. Of course, it was called the Colonies way back then.”
Stacey whooped, and asked, “Were your ancestor named Colin and Jessica St. John by any chance?”
“How did you know that, Stacey?”
“Because they are my ancestors, also.”
“Are you serious, where do you live, when can we meet?”
“My husband, Shane and I live in London, however, we will be in Texas around Christmas and New Years. We’ll make it a point to fly up to Cincinnati then, if that’s okay?”
On Monday, Stacey visited with Aunt Lora and Sir Richard to tell them about their trip to York and Northampton shire. Richard was quite surprised. He remembered Miss Leona Fitz-William. He was more than surprised to know she was still alive.
He told Stacey, “She must be near a hundred years old. Your aunt and I will arrange to visit her this week. It’s not something we want to put off.”
Stacey was so pleased. She told them, “Shane and I plan on going back as soon as we can too.”
On Friday, Annie and Stacey were at the dig, When Annie sat down on the ground. She told Stacey, “What I wouldn’t give for a big tub of water.”
Stacey said, “Well, let’s go to the athletic club. We can swim or just sit in the Jacuzzi. Either will be beneficial to relieve stress.”
While they were sitting in the Jacuzzi, one of the female employees, Annie knew came over to talk for a while. Annie introduced Stacey. The young woman looked at Stacey in an odd way. A little later, she came back and said, “Mrs. McLeod, I’m sorry, but I feel I must tell you something.”
“Okay, I’m listening,” Stacey said.
The woman told Stacey about, the masseuse, Cindy. She has an eye on your husband. She has arranged with Hans twice to do massage therapy on Doctor McLeod. I’m not telling you this to start trouble, however, men can be so gullible when it comes to a pretty face and good figure. Believe me, she has both and she knows how to use both.
Stacey thanked her and said, “I’m sure Shane will know how to handle any advances she might make, diplomatically.”
The woman said, “Honey, you are young and naive, but I do hope you are right.”
Stacey thought no more about it. She and Annie were saying their goodbyes, when Stacey’s cell phone rang. It was Shane, he told her to stay at the athletic club, that they would have supper there.
Stacey was waiting in the lounge as Shane came in the door. They were on their way to the dining room, when this very pretty blonde woman came up to them. She was all gushy and friendly. Shane introduced her to Stacey. When he said her name was Cindy, Stacey took notice. Cindy was complaisant and said all the right things, but Stacey could tell she was looking right through her.
Cindy said with a husky seductive voice, “Shane, we’ve missed you around here. Who’s taking care of those mean old knots in your trapeziums muscles and those pesky calves?”
Shane said with a friendly smile, “My wife has been taking grand care of me.”
Cindy turned to Stacey and asked, “Are you a masseuse, Mrs. McLeod?”
“No,” Stacey said. “I’m a wife that gives me certain privileges.”
This time, Cindy looked straight at her and said, “Well, bon appetite,” then gave Shane a hurt look.
When they were seated at the table, Shane leaned forward and told Stacey, “That was uncalled for and rude. I’ve never before seen this attitude from you.”
“Well, maybe I never before met a conniver.”
“Rubbish, you’re a wee bit jealous,” Shane said. “I’m thrilled that you love me, but jealousy is unbecoming.”
Stacey a bit piqued said, “Well, we wouldn’t want your wife to be unbecoming, now would we?”
“Are we going to get into a silly argument over this?” Shane asked.
“Not if you drop it, we won’t,” Stacey informed him.
“Very well my love, consider it dropped. Now, what do you fancy from the menu?”
Two weeks later, something much bigger than this, came up between them. Stacey had warned Shane in the beginning, that she was not, ‘a turn the other cheek,’ person.
Hugh and Annie had invited Shane and Stacey to a celebration dinner. Annie now knew for certain she was pregnant. Shane called from the hospital to say that he would be a little late, but would meet them at the restaurant, so Stacey took a cab. They had been waiting about twenty minutes when they saw Shane enter. The Maitre’d was about to bring Shane to the table, when a man walked up to him and shook his hand. From where the table was sitting you could see everything. Within seconds of the man greeting Shane, a tall willowy blonde rushed up to Shane, threw her arms around his neck and kissed him. The trio at the table sat watching. Finally, Annie said, “Well, if Stacey isn’t going to ask who she is, I am.”
In all fairness to Shane, he did remove her arms from around his neck and looked toward the table. Hugh said, “Good god, what a bloody time for those two to be back in town.”
Stacey looked at Hugh, Shane and the other two people were now coming towards the table. Quickly he said, “Its Tiffany Blair and her brother Rodger. She’s an old girlfriend of Shane’s.”
As they came to the table, the Maitre’d set two more chairs at the table. Hugh stood up, to shake hands with Rodger, as Shane was introducing them to Annie and Stacey.
Tiffany said, “I hope you don’t mind us inviting ourselves, but we haven’t seen Shane and Hugh in ages. Rodger and I are simply shocked to hear this confirmed bachelor is married. I never dreamed we had been away that long to let him slip away like that.”
“How long have you two been married?” Rodger asked.
Simultaneously, Shane said, “Last August,” and Stacey said, “June.”
Tiffany put her arm around Shane’s shoulder and said, “Darling, you’ve been teasing me for neglecting you. You’re not married at all, are you?”
Shane removed Tiffany’s arm while telling her, “I quite assure you, we are married. As a matter of fact, we married twice. Once in Scotland, then again in Texas in June.”
Tiffany, still had doubts about the validity of the marriage and said to Stacey, “Darling, how ever did you manage to capture this, elusive bridegroom? You are a pretty little thing, how old are you anyway, darling?”
Stacey sat her water glass down and said, “I’m twenty-two Tiffany. How old are you?”
Stacey was trying to hold it together. She could tell Shane was embarrassed and uncomfortable. She didn’t want to make matters worse. Tiffany was surprised by Stacey asking her age. She was used to other women being intimated by her tall willowy beauty.
With a surprised look on her face, she said, “Why I’m thirty, darling. The years seem to fly by when you’re past twenty five.”
As the meal progressed, Tiffany seemed to do most of the talking. She had been a model since she was seventeen. Her brother, Rodger was a photographer, three years her senior. In the beginning their parents had sent him with her to look out for her, but eventually he became a photographer for the shoots. Now he was a freelance photographer.
Stacey noticed, every time Tiffany had something to say about the things she and Shane use to do, she would reach over, touch his arm and say, “Remember darling.”
Stacey, was thinking to herself; if she touches my husband one more time, I’m gonna cut her fingers off with this steak knife. Stacey was holding the knife with the handle in her right hand and the point touching her index finger on the other hand.
Annie said, something about them all having gone to the amusement park for Stacey’s birthday. When Tiffany heard this she said, “That sounds fun,” then she turned to Shane and said, “You never took me anywhere except dining, dancing and to b... I mean home.” She quickly caught herself and said, “Shane is a wonderful dancer, don’t you think?” She looked at Stacey and said, “I’m sorry, darling, that was a slip.”
Stacey said, “Don’t give it a moments thought Tiffany. I was aware Shane had a life before we met.”
Shane couldn’t believe Stacey was taking this so well. A few days ago she had been jealous over Cindy who was nothing to him. Now, here was a woman he had been intimate with more times than one, and Stacey was acting as if it was of no importance.
Maybe she didn’t care, or was not jealous, because
she was so damn bloody busy, talking to Rodger. He had just returned, from a Texas trip, where he was going to be based for a job with Neiman Marcus. They were discussing quarter horses. Stacey was telling him all about her dad and the ranch. He knew Tiffany was talking to him, but he wasn’t paying attention. It seemed from somewhere far off he could hear Hugh and Annie talking with Tiffany.
Annie said, “No, I can’t drink champagne. We are expecting a baby in March.”
When Stacey declined also, Tiffany asked, “Are you pregnant too?”
“Not yet, but we’re working on it.” Stacey said.
Tiffany said to Shane, “I can’t believe this. You were always so bloody careful to make s...”
“Tiffany shut the bloody hell up,” Rodger said.
Stacey stood up and said, “Excuse me, I’m going to the ladies room.”
“Would you mind awfully, if I tag along, darling?” Tiffany asked.
Stacey smiled at her and said, “Come at your own peril.”
As they left the table, Shane said, “Bloody hell Rodger, can’t you do anything with Tiffany’s big mouth?”
“No, I can’t, you know how she is, what pops in her head, falls out her mouth.”
Hugh suggested to Annie, “Don’t you think perhaps you should join them in the loo?”
“No, I do not!” Annie told him in no uncertain terms.
Shane ran his fingers through his hair. They all kept glancing toward the door that led to the ladies room. Annie said, “Don’t worry Rodger, I’m sure she’s fine.”
“Now, I think I better worry,” Rodger said with a nervous laugh.
About that time, they saw Stacey and Tiffany emerge from the ladies room, laughing and talking like old friends. When they reached the table, Tiffany told Rodger, “Say goodbye, darling. We have an early meeting tomorrow.”
As they were a saying a cordial goodnight, Stacey said, “We’re having a dinner party Friday night. You both are invited. Come around eight p.m.”
The table became quiet, Tiffany said, “Thank you, Stacey darling, we would love to come.”
Chapter-33
