Eva and the Irishman

by Janne E Toivonen

  Early one morning, Dolly and Annie rose to their regular routine. While Dolly helped with breakfast preparation, Annie informed her of the Christmas planning they would be doing at nine o’clock with Mrs. Dady.

  “I’m having you be in charge of note takin’, Dolly. Pay particular attention to the foods she mentions. Have a couple extra sheets for the decorations. If a foreign word comes up, just spell it like it sounds and we can rewrite it later. I have a good memory. Put the pages into categories such as fruit, meat, vegetables, breads, desserts, beverages, and the like. I’ve done this before, so we can reorganize it after the meeting. I want her to see that you are capable of much more than she believes ye are.”

  “Do ye think I am?”

  “Of course, ye are. Have faith in yerself. I’ve seen ye grow a great deal since ye came here. I’m proud o’ ye.”

  Dolly smiled. “I’ll write Liam, telling him what all I’m in charge of.”

  “He’ll be proud, too.”

  ~~~

  It was nine o’clock when Mrs. Dady walked into the dining room to do her soiree planning with Annie and Dolly. She seemed animated and energized. She actually made meaningful eye contact with both Dolly and Annie.

  “Good morning, Mrs. Dady,” Annie said politely. Dolly parroted her. She usually called her “Mum.”

  “Do you have last year’s menu, Annie? I don’t want to have the same foods and

  hors d'oeuvres as last year.”

  “Yes, mum, and I also have a new recipe book you may like to look at for new ideas.”

  For the next hour, Mrs. Dady picked out foods, made decisions on décor, and decided when the tree would be delivered. “There are boxes up in the attic, Dolly, marked Christmas. The church will send us a fir tree and set it up in the corner of the parlor. Annie will tell you where the decorations go around the house. The decorating can start next week, about five days before the soiree. I like to get in the spirit before the guests come.”

  “Yes, mum.”

  Dolly felt her cheeks heat with excitement as she tended to her notes. She had never in her life decorated for, let alone celebrated, Christmas.

  With the meeting concluded, Mrs. Dady stood up. Completely out of character, she shared her plans other than the soiree.

  “Since Liam has decided on becoming a doctor,” she said, “I have been thinking about matching him up with this very pretty girl by the name of Mary Tisdale. She’s from a very well-to-do family. Lots of money there. She’s not yet been courted, so I’m going to get to know her mother. I think I’d like to have her for tea one of these afternoons …”

  Mrs. Dady prattled on, much to the dismay of Dolly, who pretended to be writing on her notes, not wanting to make eye contact.

  “I think they are a perfect match,” Mrs. Dady said. “What a wedding extravaganza it will be. It’s what’s making me so happy this morning.”

  “Yes, mum,” Annie replied in deference.

  The two stunned servants remained frozen in their spots as Mrs. Dady got up from the table and stepped lively out of the dining room and out of sight.

  Dolly, forthwith, ran into the servants’ quarters and buried her face in her pillow, balling her eyes out until they shed no more tears.

  Annie tried to console her. “You know very well it’s not goin’ to happen that way. The only match she’s interested in is the money match, and how she looks to the ranks in society.”

  “What if she forces Liam? She’s fairly forceful,” Dolly cried. She felt completely powerless.

  “Liam is not goin’ to stand for it, ye know that, surely.” Annie rubbed her back. “That’s all ye’re goin’ to cry about now. Enough.” Annie pulled Dolly by the arm to help her sit up. Dolly leaned into Annie for a hug. As they sat together on the edge of Dolly’s bed, Dolly was sure they were both already planning an addition to their weekly letter that would go to the post office before dinner.

  Soon after, at the kitchen table, Dolly and Annie quickly finished the addendum to their letter and sealed the envelope.

  “Ye’re goin’ to have to go alone to post these,” Annie said. “I know you're not used to going out alone, but I have to get dinner in the oven. Dress warmly. It’s quite cold and windy.”

  ~~~

  It was cold and gray and smelled like snow while Dolly walked to the post to mail their letter so Liam would receive it next Friday. It would get to him just in time before he left to come home on Christmas Eve. God, she prayed, let him be home soon. At least let the time go fast.

  As soon as the letter was posted, Dolly felt great relief. She walked a little lighter as she made her way back to the mansion, about a ten-minute walk.

  Dolly rounded the corner to make her way to the front gate of the mansion. There was a man standing in front of the gate, hands in his pockets, cap pulled down, hunched in the cold. She could see his breath in the cold air as he stood watching her make her way toward him. She had no choice but to continue towards the gate. At first, she thought it might be Shaughnessy coming back for her, which filled her with dread. As she got closer, she realized it was Edward Leary, from the market. Her dread did not lessen.

  He straightened himself as though he wanted to present himself to her properly.

  As Dolly got closer, she noticed desperation in his eyes. “What in God’s name are ye doin’ here, Edward? I thought ye’d be at the market. How did ye know where I worked?” She stopped to open the gate.

  “I love you, Dolly. I know you love me, and I want us to be together.” Edward put his hand on her arm to prevent her from going through the gate. “I’ve come for ye.”

  “I don’t think I’ve ever given ye the idea that I like ye Edward, other than that of a friendly acquaintance. I’m promised to someone else. I’m sorry.” She tried to be gentle, yet make him understand.

  “Ye can’t be. I won’t let ye.” Edward's desperation seemed to escalate. He grabbed her arm tighter as though he was going to pull her away. She could see he did not like it when she tried to pull away from him. He gripped that much harder.

  She didn’t know whether to scream or start scratching at his eyes. She filled with terrible fright.

  Just then, seemingly out of nowhere, a group of four men with hoods over their heads came around the corner, headed determinedly for Dolly. She had no idea who they were or what they were doing, but they seemed intent on her and Edward.

  “What’s all this, then,” one of the hooded figures said quietly. He removed Edward’s hand from Dolly. As soon as she was freed, Dolly grabbed her arm to rub the pain away.

  “What the hell do ye think ye’re doin’ arsebite,” Edward said indignantly. He tried to unloose the man's hand from him, but was unsuccessful. “Let go of me—” Edward tried to struggle, but a gag was stuffed into his mouth.

  A carriage pulled up.

  “Get in,” one of the hooded men said to Edward, while the others shoved him in. The same man, the apparent leader of the group spoke to Dolly. “Go inside now and worry no more, love of Liam. We’ll take care o’ this. Go in now, with Annie.”

  Dumbfounded and feeling faint, Dolly watched as the carriage drove swiftly around the corner, carrying Edward to who knows where and to what ends.

  Annie had enough time before dinner to calm Dolly and explain what had happened. She gave her a cup of hot tea with a sweet biscuit, and sat her down at the kitchen table.

  “Before Liam left,” Annie said, “he had arranged with his friend Patrick and me, that if anything was amiss with ye, I was to go to Patrick and he would take care of it. As soon as we met Edward, I got word to Patrick to have him watched. They had noticed that Edward was skulkin’ for the last few weeks ’round the mansion. They even came to the market to watch him watch you. Unfortunately, sweetheart, the plan was to have you go out alone. Since the letter to Liam went out the same day every week, Patrick and his cohorts could grab him if you were in harm’s way. And today proved you were in harm’s way with Edward.” Annie poured herself a
cup of tea, sat down at the table, and heaved a sigh.

  Dolly took a sip of hot chamomile. “What’s goin’ to happen to Edward?” she asked meekly.

  “I don’t know and I don’t care,” Annie said. “And neither should you.”

  Dolly took a deep breath. She sipped her hot, fragrant, soothing tea and asked nothing more. She could only think of her beloved Liam and feel the warm gold heart pressing lovingly against her own.

  Chapter 20

  “Liisa,” Eva called from the edge of the road as she started for the Mattson’s and Liisa headed to their own barn to muck stalls, “I see a rider down the road, a handsome dark-haired rider.”

  “It's Yuri!” Liisa squealed with delight. He had been gone nearly a month. She ran to him.

  Eva followed and watched as Yuri dismounted, let his horse loose, and filled his arms with Liisa. Their lips locked, their bodies melting together.

  “I couldn’t wait to get here. I left at four this morning. I will stay indefinitely. I’ve decided to end my university courses.” Yuri looked at Eva and said hello.

  “Hello, Yuri. We are all happy to see you, but not as happy as my sister. It’s getting busy. I’ll see you later.”

  “Before you go, I have word from Pastor Alve. He will be here in two weeks’ time for the funeral.”

  “That’s good news. Help Liisa finish in the barn, and then go tell my mother about Pastor Alve. She will like that.”

  ~~~

  Later that morning, Yuri sought out Victor.

  “I would like you to come with me to talk with Mrs. Maki. I have this idea …”

  At the Maki farm that afternoon, Liisa prepared coffee while Victor and Yuri paid a visit.

  Yuri spoke first. “I have come, Mrs. Maki, to stay on indefinitely. I’d like your permission to be of service to you and this farm, but only if I am welcome. I understand that you may not feel comfortable since I have developed strong feelings for Liisa.”

  “I see.” Mrs. Maki seemed willing to listen. “Go on.”

  Yuri looked at Victor who interjected on Yuri’s behalf to help his nervous friend, saying, “Yuri is suggesting he be here to help on the tenant’s farm as well as on the big farm, since there are just you women here now. He’s offering to stay on at the tenant’s farm, if you approve. Otherwise my mother will give him the spare bed again.”

  “It’s your decision, Mrs. Maki. I am here to be of complete service to you,” Yuri said with a glance at Liisa.

  “And, of course, to Liisa,” Mrs. Maki added with a smile. “Yuri, I am in deep gratitude that you would help us at this time. Perhaps we can move the girls’ beds in with me, and you can have that room for privacy.”

  Victor looked at Liisa. Her face was lit brilliantly with joy, no doubt at the prospect of her true love living under the same roof. Victor smiled at her. Yuri’s eyes were still on Liisa. He looked just as elated as she, but seemed to be keeping it hidden for decorum’s sake.

  “Then, it is settled?” Yuri asked.

  “I do believe it is, Yuri.”

  “That’s great, Mrs. Maki. I’ll come back later and help with bed moving.”

  Liisa walked them out of the house and kissed Yuri. “We eat at six, if you can make it. Otherwise, I’ll keep a plate warm for you.”

  “I’ll see you soon,” he said, smiling. He turned and walked back to the big farm with Victor.

  “I wanted to ask for Liisa’s hand as well, but I should wait a while for that,” he said as they walked.

  “At least until the funeral is done,” Victor suggested.

  ~~~

  Days later, as Victor and Yuri were working to clear brush with Victor’s father, Yuri asked the two other men how to get on the good side of Mrs. Maki so he could ask her for Liisa’s hand in marriage.

  “Don’t push, show her much respect, and defer to her,” Victor’s father said. “Always ask her opinion about things on her farm.”

  “I know this sounds a bit hypocritical coming from me,” Victor added. “But don’t get Liisa pregnant. They had a hard time with Eva’s out-of-wedlock pregnancy that I still feel guilty about.”

  “I wasn’t planning on getting her pregnant.” Yuri had his hands in a stop position. “But, when I do talk to Mrs. Maki, and all is well, I really want to have the wedding soon. I’m having a hard enough time as it is.”

  The men chuckled in response to Yuri’s impatience and eagerness.

  “God in Heaven, it’s almost all I think about,” Yuri said.

  Victor’s father cleared his throat. “Here's the only advice that ever worked for me,” he said. “You have to keep yourself very busy, and distract yourself. If that doesn’t work, throw yourself in a cold lake.”

  Yuri laughed and rolled his eyes in a gesture of “God, help me!”

  ~~~

  “Juhannus is just a week or so away,” Victor said amid talk of who was to be going to the festival in Rauma. This time of year brought to him thoughts of going to town and, more disturbing, thoughts of Olga and being with her had begun to resurface. He felt restless. It was a restiveness that couldn’t be fully suppressed by Eva’s otherwise hot sex, and love. Thank God, Eva let him have her when he couldn’t withstand that need in him.

  The discussion of juhannus was taking place one warm Saturday evening at the Mattsons, who had invited the Maki household for sauna. They were sitting in the kitchen after the customary small meal.

  “Yuri and I would like to go,” Liisa said. “We would be glad to take Aili and Hannes.”

  “Eva and I will have to pass this year, with the baby only three months,” Victor said. “I wish we could but … perhaps next year. Right, Eva?”

  “I want to go, too, but I agree with you, Victor,” Eva said. “We’ll stay home with Mamma.”

  Victor’s father turned to Hannes. “Well, if you go, Hannes, you and Aili will be under the supervision of Yuri. Remember, you cannot misbehave in front of Pastor Salmi. And you must forego the bonfire and be home by eleven o’clock.”

  ~~~

  On the day of juhannus, Yuri, Liisa, Hannes, and Aili left at six the morning.

  Eva and Victor, after minimal morning chores, took Ellen to Mamma’s for the day. Mamma had three letters from relatives, unopened, and she thought it was a good time to have them read to her. Eva had felt disappointed she couldn’t go to the festival. It was the first time she could remember that she and her family hadn’t gone if the weather was good. She felt disappointed. I am a mother now. I cannot be a child forever, she rationalized.

  It was a beautiful sunny day after several days of drizzle. At Mamma's request, Victor put two rockers and a bench under the tree in the back yard.

  “I would like to have our own juhannus fire if you don’t mind, ladies,” Victor said. He took some of last year’s wood near the sauna and put it in the burn pit. He quickly started a hearty fire with old newspapers and kindling.

  One letter was from Mamma’s cousin in Helsinki, Ida Tamminen. She wrote of her twenty-three-year-old son Frank, who had immigrated to America two years ago. He had procured a prestigious butler’s position in a mansion in Chicago. He oversaw the household staff and was paid very well. He was able to send home a little money each month to help his immediate family. He had married the pretty Finnish cook, Lempi. He was fortunate, as most employers would not allow fraternizing between staff. They had small quarters to themselves, and one day off per week.

  As Eva read it aloud to her mother, it brought to mind Victor’s suppressed dreams of emigrating. She glanced at Victor. She knew it might never happen. She was too close to her family to do anything like that anymore. Those thoughts were interrupted by a fussy, hungry baby. Eva gave the letter to Victor to continue reading and picked up Ellen and put her to her breast.

  That night in bed, Victor again mentioned the prospects of someday going to America.

  “It’s possible it may never happen, Victor. I must admit, I am feeling quite good about living here. I love our cottage
at the lake, we have a good family. We will definitely have more children, and by the looks of it, Liisa and Yuri will be wed. Liisa and I have already talked of having children together. It’s not as though if we stay, we won’t be happy.”

  “I see that, too, Eva. Perhaps, say, ten years from now we can revisit the idea.”

  Eva let it be, but she would not let Victor have his way when it came to leaving home.

  Chapter 21

  On the night of December 23rd, Liam approached a steam freighter in Glasgow headed for Belfast. The weather was frigid, but fair for sailing. A vendor on the docks was selling beef pasties. Liam bought one wrapped in newspaper, and a bottle of ale.

  As the ship was getting ready to cast off, Liam walked up to the gangway and addressed the captain who was on the side deck. “Can ye give me passage to Belfast?” he asked. “I’ll pay ye for a bunk. I’m headin’ home to me girl for Christmas.”

  “That’s grand,” said the captain. “We can accommodate ye just fine. Come aboard.”

  “Thanks, Captain.”

  Liam handed him two pound notes.

  “Thank ye, sir. This’ll help for Christmas.” The captain smiled and tucked the notes into his trouser pocket. “I’ll have the deck hand show ye a small state room.”

  Liam would arrive at the mansion early the next morning before the elder Dadys were awake. He desired more than anything to make love to Dolly before the sunrise, perhaps in the laundry room, or if Annie was up, in the servants’ quarters. As Liam ate his pasty and drank the bottle of ale in the cramped quarters, his memory of Dolly was burning in his heart. Sitting in the lower bunk, feeling the roll of the sea, Liam could conjure up her natural sweet fragrance, her cooing in their coupling, and her warm lips on his. But most of all, he could see the love in her face as they lay together, talking of their plans for the future. He loved her gently and softly, for that was not her previous life. She was still healing from the emotional and physical brutality of the brothel. Her letters showed burgeoning inner strength and confidence, and he wanted her to stay growing in that direction—not for him, but for herself. Annie’s letters were corroborating Dolly’s with regard to her healing.