by Millie Gray
The wigged and red-robed judge, bringing the court into session, put an end to Kitty’s meanderings and her attention was now focused on the prosecuting advocate, Felix Martin, who really sounded quite unemotional in his opening statement which outlined the reasons why Eric had been charged with murder. It was then the turn of defence counsel, Bill Gracie, whom Laura thought was young but Kitty knew that between getting his degree from Edinburgh University and doing his two years’ training, and four years actual practicing experience she reckoned he must be at least thirty. Kitty could see that Bill Gracie, dressed in his black flowing robes and white wig, looked the part but would he be an able adversary to the distinguished Felix Martin? After all, Felix Martin was not only at least five years his senior but was also a candidate for King’s Counsel. This coveted title was only awarded to those who met the stringent qualifications.
By lunchtime all that had really happened was that both advocates had laid out their cases and what evidence they proposed in future to lay before the jury. Lunch for Kitty was a sandwich and a cup of tea in a small café in the High Street because the witnesses had other arrangements made for them. As soon as the afternoon proceedings were concluded Kitty met up with Laura and her mum. However, it was not until they were in the safety of Nessie’s home, where they would not be overheard, that they started to discuss how they thought things had gone.
Nessie was the first to comment with, ‘It’s all so above my heid, so it is. And that court, it’s so big and them all wearing they robes and wigs puts the frighteners on you, so it does. I mean what would the like of them know about folks like us? . . . Bet they never have slaved just to provide their crusts.’ Nessie was now near to tears.
‘I know what you mean, Mrs Stewart. And thankfully you weren’t there to listen to that Felix Martin announce that he would prove beyond all reasonable doubt that Eric had, in a wicked and reckless way, murdered Edna. I just wanted to scream down to him that he didn’t have the right to say that because he didn’t know Eric . . . didn’t know the provocation he had suffered. As for Eric being truly wicked, if he was guilty of that why did he not put an end to . . .?’
Laura quickly interjected. ‘Calm it. This is just the first day and it looks to me that this trial is going to run for at least two weeks so we have to keep positive. Don’t see it all . . .’
‘Sorry for sounding off, Laura. It was not helpful. And did I hear right when you said that you thought the trial will last two weeks?’
‘Yeah. Or so I was told.’
‘In that case I think it would be better for me to get down on my hands and knees and beg Sister Doyle to let me come back to work this week and allow me to take next week off.’
Laura nodded. ‘Yes, I would like you to be with me then because Mum will have given her evidence and we will all be able to sit in the public gallery together when the verdict is read out.’
Like Connie had been, Kate was just so uptight about her meeting with Miss Cameron. As she walked up Lochend Road towards the school she thought just how lucky they had been, firstly by getting both Amos and Ben into Heriot’s. Mind you, after they had sat the entrance exam she and Hans had been surprised when the assistant head teacher had said that one of the boys was exceptionally gifted and his IQ was quite high. Hans and Kate, of course, assumed he was talking about Amos but when the tutor went on to say that even although Ben’s English needed quite a bit of polishing this would in no way, because of his fortunate ability, handicap him. He had then gone on to say that Amos would probably struggle a bit at first but that he too would make the grade necessary for admission to George Heriot’s School.
Kate was nearing the school gates when she admitted to herself that she and Hans had not expected the results that the tutor had given them. In Ben’s case she wondered if he, to a much lesser degree, was suffering from the same post-traumatic stress that afflicted Aliza. If he was then, in time, she hoped he would recover and take advantage of the opportunities that were being afforded him.
Breathing in five deep breaths she then climbed the five steps into the school. ‘Dear God,’ she silently prayed, ‘please let her tell me something positive about Aliza.’ Kate, as any natural mother would, required that because in the short time she had assumed the role of mother to Amos, Ben and Aliza she had grown to love them. And now like any mother she wished the very best for them.
When Dougal, bleary eyed and yawning, answered the three o’clock call from the duty staff nurse in the men’s medical ward, he was surprised when he ushered himself behind the screens to find the assisting nurse there was Kitty.
After attending to, and advising on, the treatment that he thought the very sick man should have he followed Kitty into the sluice where she had gone to empty a sick bowl.
‘Here am I,’ he laughed as he grabbed her around the waist and danced her about the room, ‘thinking that you, who I am engaged to, had deserted me so that you could prop up Laura in the court.’
Before he could continue, Kitty wrestled herself free. ‘The case is going to last at least a week, perhaps two, so I asked, and was granted permission, to take the rest of my annual leave next week when the verdict will come in.’
‘Talking of the verdict, how do you think it will go?’
‘The problem is that he insists he just intended to have a talk with Edna – to try and get things resolved for Billy, but he took his father’s gutting knife with him.’
‘Right enough he would have some job convincing a jury that he intended to go fishing, especially as he didn’t take a rod.’
‘You’ve got it in one. Which could result in him being sentenced to,’ she gulped, ‘hang . . . but I’m sure that on appeal . . . well you never know . . . but the Prosecution’s man is very able and sounds so convincing. To be truthful I think he is a person who has not known much happiness in his life and he is therefore . . . indifferent to the suffering and problems of others.’
‘Anyway back to us. Please tell me that you are about to make me the happiest man in Leith today.’
‘And how could I do that?’
‘By agreeing to marry me now and then we can both get on the ship bound for Canada and kid on we are honeymooning on a slooooow boat to China.’
‘No. As I have said over and over again, if you love me you will allow me to finish my training. You know how much work I have put in so far and before my top dream was to be married to you, it was to become a state registered nurse.’ Dougal huffed and puffed. Kitty slid her arm through his. ‘But I will compromise and get to you just as soon as I have passed my final exams.’
Gently licking her cheek, Dougal whispered, ‘Since you are in the mood to compromise I don’t suppose you would consider spending one night of raging passion with me . . .’
Pulling herself free from him Kitty spluttered, ‘I trust you are joking.’
Dougal shook his head. ‘I would even bankrupt myself and pay for a night in the bridal suite of the Caledonian Hotel.’
Kitty had advanced to the door. ‘Think you should spend your money on having a psychiatric assessment.’
The dulcet tones of Sister calling, ‘Nurse Anderson,’ had Kitty open the door and she fled back into the ward.
Amos and Ben, although settling down with Hans and Kate, still felt the need to escape upstairs after supper. Time just to be with each other seemed so necessary. What they discussed Kate never knew but she did hope that in time they would feel so comfortable with Hans, Aliza and her that they would start to think they were part of a family again.
The meeting with Miss Cameron brought the necessity for Amos and Ben to start to freely mix with other people right to the forefront of Kate’s mind. ‘Hans,’ she tentatively began, ‘the meeting I had with Miss Cameron . . .’
‘A problem?’
‘No dear, far from it. She was saying that Aliza, despite her lack of fluency in English, is coping quite well with her schoolwork.’ Kate then tittered. ‘Said you and I are doing a good job with her.
But in class Aliza never answers without referring to Rosebud first so to help both children to develop as individuals, Rosebud is being put up into the April-intake class.’
Hans nodded to acknowledge he thought that would be a wise move.
‘So we will see how things go with Aliza. But after talking to Miss Cameron I started to think that Amos and Ben, although to a much lesser degree, have a similar problem.’ Hans nodded. ‘So I was wondering what it is that we could do to have the boys do something individually.’
‘You mean something that the other is not involved in?’
‘Yes.’
‘Well Amos likes to play the piano . . . trouble is we could get him lessons but he would really need an instrument here at home so he could practise.’
Kate looked about the lounge. It had been built for family living but not for housing large pianos. ‘Don’t suppose an accordion would suffice?’
Hans chuckled. ‘Hardly . . . but as we own this house we could sell it . . .’
‘Sell it,’ exclaimed Kate. ‘Oh no, that would be like insulting my parents. They worked so hard to buy this home. ’
‘Yes that’s all true. But knowing your mum I think she would be so pleased to know that she had left us enough equity in this house so that we could move on.’
‘But where would we go?’
‘We will have to look about. At this present time we can’t move out of the district because Aliza is settling in so well at Hermitage Park School. But we have to have a bigger house for us all to live comfortably together. And we could also pay Johnny from the proceeds we get from the sale of this house.’
‘Just a minute, Hans, what kind of house do you think we could buy with what will be left?’
‘Kate, I know that your parents did not think a mortgage was a good idea but that was in their day. Times are moving on.’
‘Are you saying that debt is not something that is shameful? All my life I have avoided it. I have never even taken out a Leith Provident mutuality loan.’
‘I am well aware of how thrifty you are. However nowadays it is quite acceptable for people to take on a loan to buy a house.’
‘That may be true but I know that the banks only give you a loan provided you don’t require one. And what collateral could we offer them?’
‘We would not require any because the security is in my ability to make money. Kate, my dear, when they look at my shop’s accounts they will give me a mortgage.’ He hesitated. She could see he wished to say something that was proving difficult for him. Taking her right hand in his he then placed his left hand under her chin so that her face was lifted up and they were looking into each other’s eyes. ‘When we buy the house there will be the added bonus that I will be living in a house that I have helped to buy . . . Can’t you see I need to provide for you and our . . .’ he gulped before uttering, ‘children. Kate, I have pride again and I accept that you restored me to being a man who wishes to be responsible for his family . . . Besides, I don’t need to be a lodger any more.’
Time ticked by. Kate was in deep contemplation. Eventually Hans could see that even although she did not utter a word she was accepting that she would have to bow to what he wished. He knew that her compliance was not through weakness – indeed he felt there was no woman in Leith as strong as she was. However, his ace with her was that she loved him so much that, even if it was against her better judgement, she would always put his happiness and well-being first.
Kate agreeing to his plans to move house had Hans become quite animated and he chortled and rubbed his hands together as he said, ‘So back to where we were, dear . . . what do we have Ben get involved with that Amos would not wish to do?’
‘No use in suggesting that he joins the school rugby club because he shies away from anything that involves rough and tumble.’ Kate looked earnestly at the wall before she added, ‘But he does like to exercise himself so how about we suggest to him that he joins the swimming club at the Victoria baths in Junction Place? That would also have him meet different children than those he goes to school with.’
‘Hmmm,’ replied Hans, ‘I was thinking more like him learning something like . . . chess.’
Kate rolled her eyes to the ceiling. She wished to retort that there were times that Hans seemed to forget that he was no longer living a privileged life in Warsaw. The truth was that he was now living in Leith, where most people had to manually earn their living. However, she accepted that Hans was wishing to do for Amos and Ben what he would have done for his own children so she softened the retort she wished to hurl at Hans to, ‘But would that not rather limit the number of children he would be mixing with?’
Hans shrugged his shoulders. ‘Fine, Kate, swimming it is for now.’ She looked directly at him and he knew from her gaze that if it came to what she thought was best for the children she would not back down. Quietly he added, ‘But if he ever states that he would like to join the chess club at school I am sure you will give him every encouragement to do so.’
The third day of the trial found Laura sitting in the public gallery. Her mother was due to give evidence today and as she could not accompany her into the witness box Laura felt that if her Mother knew she was close by that would be of some support to her.
They had heard that on the second day, the witnesses who were questioned in the morning were from the ambulance staff, Doctor Lawson and the theatre sister. The afternoon session was taken up with the questioning of the police and, in particular, Detective Sergeant Mark Bolan. Laura knew that giving his testimony would have been so very difficult for Mark. So much so that he held on until the end of the day’s proceedings so that he could shake Nessie by the hand and tell her that he was sorry about having to testify against Eric and that he was always thinking about her.
Laura at that time didn’t know why but her thoughts lingered on Mark and her mother. They just seemed to have such a lovely, caring relationship. Was it more than that, she wondered. Quickly she dismissed that thought as she reminded herself that she and Kitty had such a bond . . . a bond that had them stand by each other no matter what.
Her mother, taking the Bible in her right hand, and swearing to tell the truth and nothing but the truth, put an end to Laura’s reflections, and she flinched. She had to concede that what in fact was true and what her mother believed to be true could be and probably were two different things.
The prosecution’s Felix Martin, led by showing Nessie the gutting knife that had been used to end Edna’s life. Nessie nodded and confirmed that the knife was indeed that of her late husband’s and on the day in question it had been taken by her son, Eric Stewart, from her house.
Felix Martin was just going on to question her further when Nessie turned and, looking directly at the judge she said, ‘Yes, Eric did take the knife but it was for his own protection. You see he knew Edna would be with a man . . .’
The judge banged his gavel in six successive thuds. ‘Madam, you may only answer the questions put to you. Not ones you think counsel should be asking.’
Nessie nodded. Her gaze then searched the public gallery and when she saw Laura she shouted up to her, ‘Laura hen, they’re trying to stitch him up. They don’t understand that he was just going to . . .’
The gavel banged furiously again. ‘Madam, if you continue to disrupt this hearing I will have you removed from the court and charged with . . .’
A howl of dissent went up from the spectators and drowned out the judge’s words but Nessie had got the message and she nodded her head in acceptance of the judge’s warning.
Felix Martin then asked Nessie, ‘Were you aware that your son was going to confront his wife?’
Nessie paused before replying. ‘Don’t know about confront because I’m not sure what confront means. I just knew that he was going to meet up with her. Wanted to get things sorted out . . . try and make a go of things again for wee Billy’s sake. Wee Billy’s their son.’ More to herself she added, ‘If I’d known it would end up like it did
I would have stopped him.’
‘When did you become aware that the knife was missing from your home?’
Sniffing, Nessie replied, ‘When the police came and I searched the drawer and couldn’t find it. I think he only meant . . .’
‘The court is not interested in what you think. It only takes facts into consideration.’ Nessie squirmed. She looked pleadingly at Felix Martin. But by his detached stance she realised that he was not interested in what had driven Eric to do what he was accused of, he was only concerned with getting a conviction.
Felix Martin was aware that Nessie was uncomfortable with his questioning. Without speaking to her any further he looked up to the judge bowed his head and stated that his questioning of Nessie was over for now.
Immediately Bill Gracie rose to his feet and Nessie visibly relaxed. She was sure that Bill Gracie’s questioning would be easier for her to deal with. And only she knew that he had primed her well.
‘Now, Mrs Stewart,’ he began. ‘Could you perhaps give us an indication as to the mood your son was in on the day when his wife Edna Stewart met her death?’
Looking straight at Bill Gracie, Nessie began, ‘To be truthful, since he came back from the war, it is so difficult to know how he is feeling.’
‘Are you saying he was very different from the young man that left to serve his country?’
‘Yes. The laddie that left was just a big softie. He was never any bother. An easy bairn to rear, he was. And even when Edna said she was having wee Billy he just couldnae get married to her quick enough. Oh he loved her and wee Billy. See when he came to tell me that he had been born he was so happy . . . like a dog with two tails he was.’
