Now My Life Begins

by Shirley Roe

  Gordon just smiled. “Now how about that tea, Miss Abigail?” Amy rubbed his arm, checking his hand for bruises. He relished the attention. Abigail went to the kitchen for tea.

  “My dress, he ripped my beautiful dress.” Jenny was recovering, but upset to see the dress ripped at the shoulder.

  “Don't worry about the dress, Miss Hartford's staff will repair it, and the Lord Provost can pay for it! His nephew did the damage, and he caused this entire episode, so he can pay.” Amy's voice was raised. “That beast, how dare he do that to you?”

  It was an hour later that Harry arrived and everyone started talking at once.

  “Please just one of you, what happened here?” He could see that everyone was upset. Murphy came to his mind. Ian Murphy does it again. What now? “Jenny?”

  “Mr. Murphy attacked me in the carriage.” Harry's face grew red with anger. His fists clenched at his sides.

  “Gordon saved her Harry. He was such a hero.” Amy was gushing and Gordon turned away embarrassed.

  “Gordon, thank you my friend. I hope you gave Murphy a good pounding.” Harry grabbed his hand and shook it thankfully.

  “He will be sore in the morning; you can count on that.” Gordon returned to his seat followed closely by Amy. The others returned to the parlor. Jenny, safely in the fold of Harry's arm was still shaking. He wanted to kill Murphy, but right now his focus was Jenny.

  Zachariah filled in the details for Harry, while the others drank their tea and finished a plate of Abigail's oatmeal cookies. “Cùis-éigin, that's what the bugger had in mind. If I was younger I would have killed him myself.” Harry nodded, thinking he still might.

  Jenny was feeling better now that Harry was with her, but her mind was spinning. Now what will happen to my job? What will Harry do to Mr. Murphy? How will I face him again?

  On Monday morning, Jenny had reached her decision with Harry's help. They talked for hours the night before, and she knew there was only one thing to do. Filled with dread, she walked into Mr. Johnson's office. “Mr. Johnson, may I speak with you on a matter of importance?”

  “Of course, Miss Barstow, come in. I was just about to send Miss Carter to find you. The Lord Provost has requested that you see him in his office. He is expecting you.”

  “The Lord Provost? I don't think I can see him right now, Mr. Johnson.” Jenny was growing more anxious. She twisted her skirt in her hands. “I must speak to you.”

  “Go and see the Lord Provost now, and we will chat later.” He calmly walked to the door, opened it and gestured for her to leave. Slowly and hesitantly, Jenny walked out of his office.

  The door closed. Miss Carter directed in her usual sarcastic manner, “The Lord Provost is waiting for you. I suggest you hurry, Miss.” Jenny looked at the woman unable to speak. Dumbfounded, she headed for the offices on the top floor. Her body moved her involuntarily; it was as if she were in a trance. Before she knew it, she was standing in John Murphy's office.

  “Miss Barstow, please sit down.” Tension filled every pore of her body. “Miss Barstow?”

  Jenny panicked. She blurted out, “Mr. Murphy, I really do not wish to be here. Something has happened and I think it is best that I resign.”

  “Resign? Don't be silly girl. I called you here to give you this.” He held his hand outstretched. In it was a white envelope. Jenny just stared at it. “Take it.”

  Slowly, she reached for the envelope. Her stomach was sickened with bile. Why won’t he just let me resign and be done with him and his nephew? She opened the envelope, finding it full of money. Jenny looked up at Murphy curiously. She did not say a word. They stared at each other for several minutes.

  “What is this?”

  “Just a little bonus for a job well done, Miss Barstow. Take it please, with my thanks.”

  “A bonus for a job well done?” This was the last straw, “ It is more like a payoff for my silence.” Jenny lost all of her nervousness. Now she was angry, very angry. “You think you can buy my silence. Your nephew attacked me and if it wasn't for Mr. McDonald's arrival on the scene, I don't know what the outcome would have been. You just take your money back. I don't want it!” She threw the envelope on his desk.

  “Miss Barstow! How dare you speak to me in such a manner?” John Murphy was shocked at her tone and her rage. “I don't think you realize who you are speaking to.” He was not used to having his offers rejected. He had misjudged her.

  “How dare I? How dare I?” She repeated her response. Her entire body was shaking.

  “Your nephew needs to be locked up. You can keep your money. I am resigning.” With that, she turned on her heel and marched from the room. John Murphy stared after her. He knew he would have to do something. She would not be silenced easily.

  Jenny ran to the women's toilet. Arriving just in time, she vomited in the bowl. Her bravado had worn off; she collapsed in tears. Now what do I do?

  Unfortunately, this gave John Murphy time to have his secretary send Mr. Johnson on an errand. By the time Jenny arrived at the office on the lower floor, Mr. Johnson was not in. Frustrated, she returned to her own office. The office was empty.

  Mechanically she went through the invoices on her desk. She recorded the figures on the ledger page one after the other, not letting her mind wander. Four hours later, she finished her work. Slowly, she lifted her coat and hat from the rack, but before leaving, she returned to her desk removing the few personal items that she kept there.

  Jenny looked around the room. The portraits on the wall seemed to be staring at her. She let her fingers trace the edge of the large oak desk, the desk that should have been hers. Gulping in a breath of air, she said goodbye to this dream. Jenny walked out of the building without looking back. She was finished with the city offices of Edinburgh. She wandered aimlessly down the Royal Mile, finally stopping at a bakery for a cup of tea. She had to think. Mr. Johnson deserved an explanation and Jenny wanted to do everything in a professional manner. She would have to resign in writing. But what excuse do I give? How did this happen? All I wanted was to start a new life in this beautiful city and now I have to resign because of Ian Murphy. She drank her tea, but she didn't taste it.

  That night she composed a letter of resignation giving her reason as ‘personal.’ Zachariah delivered it to Mr. Johnson the next morning. Mr. Johnson was very upset. He had hoped Jenny would be employed by the city for many years, because he was very pleased with her work. Zachariah gave no explanation. He simply handed Mr. Johnson the letter, waited for him to read it and left.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Tim and Elizabeth were married in the small county church in Watsworth. It was a small affair. Sammy was Tim's best man and Megan stood beside Elizabeth as maid of honor. Bertha and the girls were seated in the front pew. The Drurys filled the front pew on the other side of the aisle. Several miners and people from the village packed the rest of the small church. Elizabeth was a very beautiful bride. She wore a simple white gown with a bouquet of wildflowers. Tim McKitterek was a happy man.

  Mr. Drury offered Tim a partnership in his retail business after the wedding. Tim was taken aback. He had no experience in business, but Mr. Drury assured him that he would start at the bottom and work his way up in the company. He would be well trained by Mr. Drury's excellent staff and the pay was more than Tim earned at the mill.

  At first Tim's pride was hurt. He wanted no charity, but Elizabeth assured him that her father was sincere and wanted Tim to learn the business. The Drury's had two daughters and no sons; he needed an heir. Elizabeth's older sister, Jane was married to a banker in London. Tim was the obvious choice. After thinking it over, with Elizabeth's help, he accepted nervously.

  Tim arrived on his first day, dressed uncomfortably in a suit. He pulled at his tie, loosening it around his neck. He stared up at the sign reading, ‘Drury Mercantile, Arthur Drury proprietor.’ One day that will say Tim McKitterek proprietor. Tim my boy, you have come a long way since the pit. He opened the door, but before
he entered he heard a familiar voice.

  “Tim, lad, how are you? It has been a long time since I last saw you.” Tim turned to see Jenny's uncle walking down the street.

  “Mr. Barstow, how are you?”

  “I'm getting old, lad. What are you doing here dressed in your Sunday best?”

  “I'm starting work today. This is my father-in-law's store. You did know that I married Elizabeth Drury?”

  “I heard rumors, but I wasn't sure. Allow me to offer my congratulations.” He shook Tim's hand and with his other hand and he held tight to the letter from Jenny. “Good luck with the new job.” He moved off down the road. As he passed the garbage bin, he dropped the letter, addressed to Tim, into the bin. It had arrived in his office months before, Time for both of you to move on, he thought.

  Tim watched him go and just for a moment he thought of Jenny. Seeing her uncle had surprised him and he had to put Jenny in the past. Shaking his head, he opened the door and began his new life as a businessman.

  Elizabeth and Tim moved into a lovely cottage on the edge of town. Built in the woodland, oak, ash, sycamore, pine and yew surrounded the house and lawn. Rhododendron and hydrangea grew, not formally planted, but in harmony with the landscape. Elizabeth made new curtains, tablecloths and bedspreads. Megan was very impressed when she visited. “Lizzy, you have done a wonderful job of making this a home. It is so comfortable. I just know you and Tim will be happy here.” Elizabeth showed her the rest of the cottage. The second bedroom was filled with baby furniture. Megan looked at her strangely. The couple had only been married a few months.

  “Not yet, Meg, but soon. I want lots of children and so does Tim.”

  “Sammy and I hope to get married next summer. I love him so much. Then maybe I can leave the laundry at the Blackmore's and be a wife and mother, too.”

  Elizabeth and Tim settled down, and Tim excelled in the mercantile. He actually liked the work and offered many suggestions on how to improve the business. Mr. Drury was very pleased.

  “Tim, I am giving you a raise and a promotion. I am surprised and overjoyed at the speed with which you have settled in. That last suggestion about trade with India was brilliant. We have increased sales 15% because of our new lines.” Elizabeth beamed with pride as the family sat down to dinner in the Drury's dining room.

  “Thank you, Arthur. I am actually surprised at how interesting the work is. I never saw myself as a businessman and I never imagined being more than mill foreman in this lifetime.” He looked over and smiled at his wife. He could see the pride in her eyes.

  “Let's go to the parlor and leave the ladies to discuss babies, shall we?” Tim walked over and pecked Elizabeth on the cheek. She smiled up at him. The men moved toward the parlor.

  Elizabeth and her mother started to clear the table. “Your father is very fond of Tim. He is an excellent worker.”

  “Tim enjoys working at the mercantile. I think he has found his real calling.” Elizabeth picked up the last plate. “Mother, do you think I should start sewing a quilt for the baby's room?” Mrs. Drury looked at her daughter hopefully.

  “How soon will you need it, dear?”

  “In about eight months, I should say.” Her mother hugged her tightly.

  “Does Tim know?” Judith Drury was very happy for her daughter.

  “Not yet, I am going to tell him later this evening.” Elizabeth put the dishes away in the cupboard and poured two cups of tea.

  In the parlor, the men were deep in discussion. Arthur was very interested in politics and Tim was learning a great deal from him.

  “There are actually six real powers in Europe today, Tim. Great Britain, France, Germany, Austria, Italy and Russia are all jockeying for positions. Britain always had a good relationship with Germany, until Wilhelm reversed Bismark's policy of refraining from Imperial growth in Africa.” Arthur lit his pipe. The aroma of imported tobacco filled the small room.

  “He is not afraid of using military force to get what he wants,” Tim interjected. “The German fleet is growing. And don't forget the Russians have just lost to the Japanese. ”

  “True, at least France and Britain have mended some fences with the Entente Cordiale. Of course, the French are also allying with the Italians. What worries me is that France is now the country with the allies and Germany has only Austria. Things have made a turn in Europe and I am not sure how it will play out.”

  “Let's just pray there isn't a war. I plan to start a family and I don't want to leave them behind to go and fight for my country.”

  “Amen to that. Before I begin to divagate from politics, more whisky?” The men were forming a very close bond and Tim felt closer to Arthur than he ever had to his own father.

  Chapter Fifteen

  “I cannot believe the wedding is in two days.” Jenny and Amy shopped for hats at the milliner on Charles Street. The spring weather was dry and sunny, unlike the several weeks of rain they had just experienced.

  “At least the weather is cooperating. How do I look?” Amy pulled a brown small brimmed hat over her abundant red locks. She turned to Jenny.

  “Like a candle snuffer trying to extinguish a four alarm fire,” Jenny laughed. “I must say the new cable tram makes traveling in Edinburgh much easier. I don't know why the city council fought it for so long.”

  “Oh, please, let's not talk about politics. How are the wedding plans?”

  “Harry says that the caterer agreed to the chicken. I will never understand how the caterer got to be in charge in the first place. Imagine serving fish at a wedding!”

  “Louis is all the rage in Edinburgh this year. He is one of Europe's top wedding caterers, I guess he is used to being in charge. He didn't count on Harry's persuasive nature.”

  “Harry persuasive nature landed him in trouble at the hospital a few months back.” Jenny tried on a wide brimmed white hat. Amy shook her head in a resounding ‘no.’

  “Well, the Lord Provost should not have tried to get revenge on Harry for what his nephew did. When the Lord Provost pulled the funding for the new wing, Harry was trying to explain the situation to his superior.” Jenny noted that Amy always defended Harry. It was a family trait. “The Lord Provost and Ian Murphy should be ashamed.” Amy pursed her lips, “Insisting that Harry was to blame for mismanaging the fund, the nerve of the man!”

  Amy was furious. “Harry tried his best to convince the hospital head that it was all a lie, but politics are very dirty in this city. Imagine getting Harry fired because you resigned! That nephew of his should be in prison.” Amy picked up a small evening bag, looked at it and then put it back.

  “Poor Harry, he was devastated at losing that job.” Jenny picked up a pair of long gloves admiring the material. Returning them to the shelf, she picked up a large blue hat.

  “The Murphys have no conscience, but at least Ian Murphy has been shipped off to Dublin. It was the only place his uncle could find him a job.”

  “Now that Harry is working at the Edinburgh Infirmary, he has an even better position than before, with higher pay, so it turned out for the best.” Jenny put her hat back on the rack.

  “It looks like the Mitchells have defeated the Murphys after all.” Amy laughed.

  “I am sure the Lord Provost didn't care what Ian did; he was protecting his own. Politics! I don't miss him or the politics of working at the city offices at all.” Jenny settled a red hat on her head, turning her head left and right admiring herself in the mirror.

  “I was very surprised when Mr. Johnson begged you to come back, even offering you the head of department position. I was more surprised when you turned him down. I thought you loved working there.”

  “I did, but Harry convinced me that once we are married I would not need a job. I will be busy enough running our household. There you go with Harry's persuasive manner again.” Jenny turned to look at her friend. Amy pulled a huge brimmed hat onto her flowing locks. It looked ridiculous and the women giggled girlishly. Customers turned to stare at
the commotion. Amy signaled to Jenny that it was time to leave the shop before they were asked to vacate the premises.

  “Come on, we have to meet the boys at two o'clock. By the way, did you get a reply from your Uncle Edgar?”

  “Yes, he is unable to come to the wedding. I guess Abigail and Zachariah will be my only family attending. Just as well, it would be a long trip for him and my uncle represents my old life in Watsworth. Abigail and Zachariah are my new family and I am happy and settled here.”

  Two days later, Edinburgh society turned out to see the wedding of Doctor Harold Mitchell to Miss Jennifer Barstow. Zachariah Taylor walked Jenny down the aisle. She wore a flowing gown of white organdy with a long train and her hair was piled high with white roses scattered throughout. A soft veil covered her face, and she carried a large bouquet of pink roses. Amy preceded the bride wearing a soft green bridesmaid's gown.

  Abigail sat teary eyed in the front pew smiling from ear to ear. The church was filled to capacity. Harold held his breath as Jenny approached. She had never looked lovelier.

  Jenny and Harry traveled to Paris for their honeymoon and Jenny Mitchell was a very happy woman.

  Several months later, Amy and Gordon were married. Jenny was Amy's bridesmaid and again all of Edinburgh society turned out. Gordon's father had passed away two months before and he and Amy were traveling to Aviemore, in the north of Scotland, to settle the estate and spend a week there for their honeymoon. At the back of the church stood Lord Provost John Murphy. After the ceremony he approached Jenny.

  “Miss Barstow, excuse me, Mrs. Mitchell, may I have a word with you?” Jenny hesitated, but thought better than to make a scene on Amy's special day.

  “I can spare a few minutes while the bride and groom meet their guests. What can I do for you, Lord Provost?”

  “I am here to offer you my deepest apologies. I have tried to protect my nephew and I am afraid you were caught in the crossfire. You are a very lovely young woman and I must apologize for everything that has happened.” Jenny stared at him, wondering how to respond.