Revelation of Hearts (Stacey and Shane Mcleod, #3) (18 page)

“Do you get the feeling we were expected?  Maybe Daisy Edwards called ahead and told her we were coming.”

The trio were shown to an elegant, but old-fashioned sitting room.  They looked around with great curiosity. The cottage was much bigger than it appeared from the outside. The woman came back pushing an elderly lady in an old fashion wooden wheelchair.  Shane, Ethan and Stacey stood up as she was pushed into the sitting room.

Stacey went to her right away, put her hand out and said, “Thank you for seeing us ma’am.  Miss Daisy Edwards sent us to you.  I hope we’re not intruding.”

This very, very elderly woman with clear, sharp eyes said, “You’ve got manners girl. Why are you here and what do you want from me?”

Stacey smiled at her and asked, “Would you rather we went away and not bother you?  Are you not a little curious, as to why we’re here?” 

“Stacey, don’t be rude,” Shane said.

The old woman looked at Shane, then said, “Sit down, all three of you.”

Very nicely, she told the young woman, “Bring us wine, girl.” The old lady rolled her chair closer to Stacey, pointed her arthritic finger at her and asked, “Are you the one who dreams?” 

“Yes ma’am, I am,” Stacey said.

Very sternly, the old lady said, “You took your own good easy time getting here.”

“I’m sorry, I didn’t know where to look,” Stacey told her.

The old lady stared at Shane incongruously and asked, “Where did you find this one?”

Stacey smiled at her and said, “He was my doctor while I dreamed.”

The younger woman brought the wine and poured each a glass and waited.  The old lady told the young woman, to sit down and pay close attention. 

The old lady turned to Ethan and asked, “What is your relationship to these two?”

Ethan cleared his throat, and said, “Madam, it appears we may be distant relatives. That is the reason we are here. Miss Daisy Edwards seems to think you are the supreme expert on genealogy.

The old lady scrutinized Ethan, then asked, “Which ancestors are you in search of and what year?”

“I’m in search of a knight named James Adam Howard.  I found through military records that he was ransomed to Dun-Raven castle in the year, fourteen-hundred.  Mrs. McLeod has informed me, through their ancestor search, that a knight named James Adam Howard married one of the twin daughters of the earl of Dun-Raven. I have the name James Eric Howard. We know he is our direct ancestor.  Now I hope to find a connection of him to the knight James Adam Howard.”

The old lady looked at Stacey, then back to Ethan Howard. She asked, “When I tell you, James Eric Howard was the grandson to the knight James Adam Howard, will you believe me or will you require written proof?”

Professor Howard, in a very diplomatic voice said, “I believe I would require both, madam.” 

“Very well,” the old lady said.  She asked the young woman to bring her the journal marked, ‘Finwick castle.’ 

While the young woman was out of the room, the lady turned to Stacey and asked, “Are you an American?” 

“Yes ma’am, I am,” Stacey said. “I’m from Texas, actually.”

The young woman came back, and handed the journal to the old lady. She thumbed through it for a bit while Stacey, Shane and Ethan sat quietly waiting.  The old lady handed the journal to the young woman, and she in turn brought it to Ethan.

Ethan put his eyeglasses on to read the journal.  When he had finished reading, he asked, “Where and how did you acquire all of this information?” 

“Leona Fitz-William asked, “Does my name mean nothing to any of you?”

Stacey was baffled; she had never heard the name Leona Fitz-William until today. Shane turned to Stacey as she shook her head, ‘no.’

Leona asked Stacey, “Have you heard of Finwick castle?” When Stacey nodded her head, ‘yes.’ Leona said, “My ancestors came from there.” 

She most definitely had the attention of her guest now.  Stacey asked, “How so and who were they?”

Leona watched Stacey, as she said, “William Fitz-Morgan was my ancestor.”

“How can that be?” Stacey said. “The records stated, he died without issue.”

“Oh I can assure you he had issue,” Leona said. “Just not legitimate issue. My ancestors are in this journal.” She opened the journal to the year, fourteen-fifty.  Geoffrey Morris Fitz-William- born May-fourteen-fifty, Finwick castle. Mother- Drusilla Morris, Father-William Eric Fitz-Morgan. 

“May I see the journal, please?” Stacey asked.

There were other names, Ragen Morris Fitz-William, born- fourteen-fifty-two, Mother-Drusilla Morris, and Father-William E. Fitz-Morgan.  Richard Morris Fitz-William, born- fourteen-fifty-five, Mother Drusilla Morris. Father- William E. Fitz-Morgan. Finwick castle. 

“Which of the three was your ancestor?” Stacey asked.

“Geoffrey was.  As you can see we were recorded through the male line.  Both Matthew and William were killed at Towton, in Yorkshire, fourteen-sixty-one.

“I don’t mean to sound impertinent, but why didn’t William Fitz-Morgan marry the mother of your ancestor?”

The old lady looked Stacey in the eye and said, “For the age old reason girl; he was already married.”

Chapter-30

A window to the past

Stacey studied the journal, from William Fitz-Morgan through his three children. His oldest Geoffrey, and his four children, to Nathan his youngest and his children, so-on and so-fourth.  Right up through the years to Leona Fitz-William.  Stacey turned a few pages and saw the name Geoffrey Roland Fitz-Morgan. “How did you get information on the sixth earl of Dun Raven? Stacey asked.

The young woman interrupted to tell her mistress, “It is time for your medicine, Miss Leona.” 

“I’m sorry,” Stacey said. “Should we leave? I don’t want to tire you out.”

“No, of course not. I’m only going to take a few pills. I may be old and in a wheelchair, but I’ve got stamina girl.”

Stacey giggled, and to everyone’s surprise, she got up and hugged the old lady then sat down on the floor with her legs tucked beneath her at Miss Leona’s feet. The old lady reached out and touched Stacey’s hair and said, “I have something interesting to show you before you leave.”

Miss Leona looked toward Shane. He was sitting comfortably on the sofa with his eyes on Stacey and a smile on his face. Miss Leona knew, without a doubt, these two were meant for each other. After taking her medicine, she told Stacey, “You asked how I acquired information on the earl? It took a good amount of digging, I can tell you that. You should know about that, you being an archaeologist. Are you aware in the old days, Fitz was a prefix to a Christian name?  As illegitimate children, it was unwise to use the father’s sir name.  Even king Henry VIII, who was a law unto himself gave his illegitimate son the sir name, Fitzroy and gave him the title duke of Richmond. Also in the early eighteen hundreds king William IV gave his mistress and his children by her the sir name, FitzClarence. Before him, King George IV gave his mistress and children the name FitzHerbert. Forgive me, I know you have no interest in all this, but the Fitz-Morgans do hold an interest to you, do they not?”

“Yes, ma’am they do,” Stacey said. “Anything you can tell me will help.”

“I will tell you all I know, but I can’t verify the early years.  Rollo Fitz-Morgan came to England with William the conqueror.  There was more than one story about Rollo.  Some reckon he was William’s close relative, others say no, however, most agreed he was the illegitimate son of a duke. Just which duke is the question?”

Miss Leona had scattered dates and information on Finwick, Falcon Crest and Dun-Raven. Once again, she had the male line, but very little on the female line. She told her guest, “I have nothing on the countess of Dun-Raven and the children after the earl and his son were killed in fourteen-sixty-nine.  It seemed to me, the Lancastrians had a great fixation on the Fitz-Morgans, between fourteen-sixty-eight and fourteen-seventy.  Somewhere in that time, the countess and her three daughters disappeared, never to be seen or heard from again.  It is beyond me why the powers that be at that time were determined to destroy everything the families of the Fitz-Morgans held dear. Professor Howard, I think it was very wise of your ancestor to go south and make a life for himself.”

“Miss Leona, would you be interested to hear what happened to the tenth countess and her daughters?” Shane asked.

Miss Leona stopped stroking Stacey’s hair and said, “Yes, in deed I would, Doctor.”

Shane told her about the information he and Stacey received at Wakefield manor. And how he and Stacey were both descended from the twin daughters who were descended from the tenth earl of Dun-Raven.  He told how, one lived in Scotland and the other migrated to the colonies in America in seventeen-forty, and how their hereditary line through the female line, went back to the youngest daughter, Cassandra Anne of the seventh Earl and Countess of Dun-Raven.

Everyone, was quiet and reflective for a moment, and then Stacey asked, “In your search, Miss Leona, did you ever run across the Christian name of the countess of Dun-Raven?”

“No, I did not child,” she said, “But I did search for it.  There were records found in an old abbey about the birth of the young viscount to the earl and countess of Dun-Raven.  She was referred to, as the maid from across the sea. It had their wedding date as December-third, thirteen-seventy, at Hampton hall, by a priest from St. Clements. I searched and found where St. Clements had been located. It and Hampton hall was between London and Westminster. Both were destroyed in the great fire in sixteen-sixty-six.” 

“Why were you interested in the Hampton family?” Stacey asked.

Miss Leona in a gruff voice said, “Don’t ask stupid questions girl. I’m interested in all of the families of England, just some more than others.”

Miss Leona, turned her chair toward the young woman and told her, “Tell Thelma we have guest for supper.”  When Stacey stood up, Miss Leona said, “Go sit with your husband girl, we’ll talk more after we eat.”

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.”