“I think you should talk with your solicitors first. Tell them what has happened and ask what they recommend. It has been five years, Mary Margaret, and she is in a different country. There are laws that have to be observed.” Max was making perfect sense. Jesse agreed. Mary Margaret was filled with anticipation. She wanted to go and pack right away.
“Max is right, my dear. Sit down and we will make a list of what must be done. When your solicitors have given their advice, I am sure Max will be happy to go with you.”
Mary Margaret sat down reluctantly. “Why can’t I just go and get my son? He is my flesh and blood. I want him home.” It took almost an hour for them to talk her into waiting.
An appointment was made and the three senior partners arrived at Birmingham Manor the next afternoon. Mary Margaret explained what had happened and they all exchanged some serious looks. “We must look into this Lady Birmingham. France has laws of its own that must be followed. Give us a day or two and we shall come back with an answer of how to proceed.”
She didn’t want to wait, but everyone convinced her it was the best thing to do. “Don’t rush off and make a mistake now, Mary Margaret. It has taken this long to find him, but we are getting closer and we must do this right.” Max reassured her.
Several days passed. They were the longest days of her life. Finally the solicitors arrived with their conclusions. She sat stiff and rigid listening to them. “It appears that the senior Lady Birmingham has acquired legal guardianship of young James. He is enrolled in private school and this too may be a problem. We cannot simply remove him without just cause. Because of this, we cannot tell you to go and take your son. The French police will stop you because she has rights.”
“She has rights! What about my rights? What about James’ rights?” Mary Margaret was beside herself; she was so close.
“Please, let Mr. Walker go to France and speak with Lady Birmingham’s solicitor. We will achieve much more by going through the proper channels. I know this is difficult, but please let us do this according to the law.” Finally she agreed, but she was not happy. She wanted her son home. Jesse and Max tried to reassure her that he would be home soon. Days dragged and nights were filled with nightmares. Impatience was her newest companion.
It was more than a month since the solicitors went to France. Mary Margaret waited for news of James. The days were never-ending and she became more and more frustrated. She even barked at Emily more than once and Susan had to console the child. Max took Emily aside and explained that her mother was not herself. Emily seemed to understand. Maude and Max were worried about Mary Margaret.
“She has gone through hell for five years and now she seems to be falling apart. I think this was the last straw, Max.” Maude was very worried. “Those barristers had better bring that young boy home or I don’t know what she’ll do.”
When the solicitors arrived at the manor, Max and Jesse were with Mary Margaret for support. The solicitors looked nervous when they found Lady Douglas present. She was also one of their best clients and they didn’t want to upset her. However, the news had to be told truthfully.
“We have discussed the situation with Lady Birmingham’s solicitors and I am afraid we have bad news. It appears that her legal guardian status applies to England, as well as France. The solicitors have given you a written order to vacate the manor within 30 days. As the property belongs to James Birmingham, and Lady Birmingham is his legal guardian, she will be taking possession, in his name.”
Mary Margaret, Jesse and Max stared at them in shocked silence. No one moved. Finally Mary Margaret found her voice. “Do I not have any rights to my own son?”
“I am afraid that in England, wives have no rights to property, children or land. Those rights remain with the husband. Since Lord Birmingham’s mother has managed to have the court assign guardianship to her, you are without rights. So no, you have no rights in this situation. You will have to vacate the premises. Of course, there is one good bit of news in this unfortunate scenario.”
She looked at him as if he had lost his mind. Good News?
“If she comes back to Birmingham Manor, she will have to bring James with her. You may get to see your son after all these years.” The solicitor, Mr. Walker, looked pleased with the news. The rest of them looked as if their world had just fallen apart.
“But there must be something I can do. What if I go to France and tell the court that I am James’ mother and I should be his legal guardian?”
“You could try, but the law is very firm on these matters. Lady Birmingham claims that her son assigned her guardianship upon his death. Apparently she has documentation. Perhaps you should have filed a motion when your husband died and James first went missing.”
“Perhaps you should have advised her to do that.” Lady Douglas barked at him. He flinched. “It is starting to look like Lady Birmingham should have hired a different firm to handle this entire affair. This disaster story keeps building, growing worse.” The solicitors reassured both Mary Margaret and Lady Douglas that they had done all they could in this matter. Now it would be up to the court if she wished to proceed. They would be happy to represent her. Remembering that she was being ousted from the manor and would soon be without funds, they added, “We would have to be paid our usual fees.” Mary Margaret scowled at them.
The solicitors left the manor. Mary Margaret sat trancelike, staring into the flames of the fire. Jesse asked Maude to prepare a small supper for everyone. After they ate, Max, Maude, Jill, Betsy, Nanny Susan, Mary Margaret, Jesse and Emily gathered in the parlor; all serious and silent.
“We have to vacate the manor in 30 days.” Max informed everyone. They all gasped.
“Max, let me.” Mary Margaret turned to her staff. “I love all of you. I am very sorry, but our fight here is over. You will all be given references and a wage bonus. Please begin your search for other employment.” She looked exhausted and defeated. “I don’t know what else to say except, she won. After all these years, she has won. I have exhausted all of the choices and I am finished fighting.” They all felt so sorry for her, but they were losing their home and their jobs. Each sat lost in their own thoughts for several minutes and all knowing that the „she’ was Evelyn Birmingham. They were filled with hatred for her.
Maude came and throwing protocol to the wind, she hugged Mary Margaret and kissed her cheek. “I’ll just retire. I am seventy years old and I need to rest. Your ladyship, it has been a real pleasure working for you. I will be happy to visit you and Emily wherever you go.”
“I will hire you, Jill. You have been very loyal all these years.” Lady Douglas interjected and Jill thanked her profusely.
“I think I will retire, like Maude. I am sixty-five and I need a rest. I will be happy to help you move whatever you need, your Ladyship.” Max too gave Mary Margaret a hug.
Susan and Betsy, thanking her for the bonus and the reference, left the room. Mary Margaret sank into the chair. She looked totally defeated. “Where will we live, Mommy?” Emily looked at her mother sadly.
“Don’t you worry, Emily. We will go and live in the cottage that mommy and aunt Elana grew up in.” She put on a brave face for Emily’s sake. “It was good enough for us and it will be good enough for you, too.” She pulled her daughter into her arms. “Thank you, Max. Jesse, I don’t know what I would have done without you all these years.”
“You will only be living down the hill, Mary Margaret. We will see each other often. I am not going to let our friendship die.” She kissed Mary Margaret’s cheek and left the manor. This entire episode had upset Jesse Douglas very much. Only Max, Mary Margaret and Emily remained in the parlor.
“The worst part is that she won, Max. She won.” He looked at her sadly and nodded.
“Who won Mommy? Were you playing a game?” she inquired with a child’s innocence.
“Yes love, a very dangerous game and Mommy has lost.” Max had tears in his eyes.
Before the end of the month, the
manor was completely uninhabited. Only a few pieces of furniture and her personal belongings were moved to the cottage. It was much too small for anything else. Maude cleaned the cottage and helped Max move all the clothing and Emily’s toys. The piano was too big and Emily was very upset when it was left behind.
Every day Mary Margaret walked up the moors and looked at the manor for any sign of Lady Birmingham or James, but no one came. The cold wind blew from the north. She knew that autumn was coming. It was not long before the manor took on the look of a deserted and forlorn fortress. The gardens were overgrown, the lawn uncut. The windows remained dark. It was sad to see Birmingham Manor reduced to such a desolate state. Mary Margaret was fighting it, but her mood was growing darker and more depressed.
Mary Margaret visited Elana. She focused on her sister instead of her own troubles. She commented that she was very pale. “Do you not get outside at all, Elana?”
Elana explained that three times a week they exercise in the prison yard. “We must keep a set distance apart and no talking is allowed. We can’t see over the wall, but at least we get some sunshine on our faces.” Elana talked about her life, resigned to it never changing. “Now that the new prison laws are in effect, we get mutton once a week and beef on Sunday. It sure beats suet pudding.” She laughed.
Mary Margaret did not know how Elana did it. She had problems of her own, but at least she had her freedom. Somehow it helped her get through.
“How are you and Emily doing in the cottage? It must be quite the adjustment for the poor child.”
Mary Margaret didn’t answer She seemed lost in thought. Suddenly she blurted out, “She just wanted us out, but she hasn’t even come to the manor. It is a travesty, Elana, such a beautiful house falling into a state of disrepair. That woman is pure evil.” Elana had to agree with her.
“She is not one of my favorite people. If it wasn’t for Evelyn Birmingham, I would not be in prison.” Mary Margaret looked at her sister with tears in her eyes.
“Will it never end, Elana? Must she haunt our every waking moment?” Elana felt sorry for her sister. The two of them looked at each other, each one feeling that the other was suffering more than she.
Chapter Sixteen
Max moved into a small cottage about a mile down the road from Mary Margaret and Emily. He walked past every day and often stopped in for a visit. Emily settled in with the resiliency of a child. “I miss my piano Max, but Lady Douglas was here yesterday and she said I could come and play her piano, whenever I wanted. Mommy said I must be polite and wait a few days. Why do grownups always want to be so polite? Why does Mommy call Lady Douglas, Jesse, but I have to call her Lady Douglas?” Max laughed at her as she rambled on. “It is much more fun to do things when I want to.” Max laughed and pulled her dark ringlet. She giggled. He gave her a piece of rock candy and the two played games for an hour before he left.
He walked down to the corner pub and ordered a pint of ale. As he sat enjoying the camaraderie of the pub, a commotion broke the silence. Over in the corner, Max noticed one of the patrons was drunk and becoming a nuisance and as was often the case, one of the young lads challenged him to a fight. Max didn’t know what it was about, but ducked when a stool flew past his head. He took up a post with several other men on the side of the pub opposite the fight. Several men cheered and shouted as the punches flew.
“What’s that about?” Max asked one of the men.
“Don’t know, but the young feller just told the older chap to come outside. Said he was going to beat him within an inch of his life. I think the other bloke insulted his girlfriend.” Max shrugged and took a long swallow of ale. He looked over and suddenly recognized the intoxicated man. It was Andy, the farm hand that had been fired for theft, years before.
Andy shouted at the challenger. “You don’t know who you are dealing with pal. I’ve killed better men than you.” Max leaned closer. What had he said? He killed someone?
The younger man shouted back. “Who did you kill, old man? I’m not afraid of you.” Lips loosened by liquor, Andy shouted, “I killed the blooming Lord, I did.” Several men in the pub heard him. Max stared at Andy in shocked silence.
The younger man grabbed Andy and pulled him to the floor. That’s when the ruckus started as several men joined in. Max shouted for someone to get the police. The man threw Andy against the bar. Glasses smashed to the floor and the innkeeper, who had had enough, sent someone for the police. The two fought it out until the constable arrived. At the sight of the police, the smaller squabbles quickly stopped and men began to fade into the background. Only Andy and the young challenger remained.
Max took the constable aside and told him what Andy said. Several others confirmed that they had heard him. The constable grabbed Andy and picked him off the floor. He was barely conscious but the second man was still standing. “You come with me, too.” He dragged Andy out of the pub, with the second man following. Max was right behind him, following the paddy wagon to the jail.
“I heard him and he said he killed Lord Birmingham. You had better call the judge tonight because there is an innocent, young woman serving life for that murder.” The constable looked at Max indifferently.
“Wait till morning. We will see what he has to say then.” Max wanted to punch him, anger was boiling up inside of him.
“Get the police chief in here. I demand that man be questioned now.” The constable went back to the chief’s office. He returned without him.
“Gone home and I suggest you do the same, before I throw you in a cell.” Frustrated, Max left reluctantly, but he ran all the way to the cottage.
“Mary Margaret, let me in! It’s Max.” She came to the door looking sleepy. He had forgotten how late it was. “I need to come in. I’ve just come from the pub and I have news.”
She let him in and made him some tea. When she heard his story she could not believe it.
“Andy killed Charles? But how? Why would he tell anyone?”
“He was drunk. The liquor loosened his lips and he spit it out before he realized. He might deny it in the morning, but we have four other witnesses besides me. She is going to be free, Mary Margaret! Elana is going to be free!” Max was so happy that he grabbed her and spun her around. Emily walked into the room rubbing the sleep from her eyes.
“Can I play too, Max?” They both laughed.
Mary Margaret went to the solicitors. She might be out of the manor, but she was still Lady Birmingham and she had some money put aside. She told them Max’ story and asked one of them to go to the police station. She wanted her sister out of jail, no matter what the cost.
Mr. Hanson, the original solicitor on Elana’s case, agreed to see what could be done.
In the jail, Elana remained ignorant of what had happened. No one told Elana, not wanting to get her hopes up. She lay in her cell at night shivering. Winter was the worst time in prison. Her fingers ached night after night. The cells were damp and cold. She huddled under her one thin blanket in the fetal position trying to stay warm. She would think of Daniel on a hot tropical island with the hot sun on his face. Even the warm thoughts failed to keep her warm. Her whole body shivered violently.
Andy’s court date was set and Mary Margaret insisted that Max take her to the courthouse in spite of the cold, snowy weather. “I want to see that monster get what’s coming to him. He killed Charles and walked free while my sister paid the price.” They traveled through the settling snow and arrived at the courthouse early.
In a small room off the main hallway, Max and Mary Margaret observed a woman in a thick-bordered cap, with her arms muffled in a large red shawl. It was a few moments before they realized that it was Hazel. She was busy whispering some instructions to the thin man opposite her. Andy was dressed in gray prison garb and his thinning hair was combed flatly on his head. He listened attentively to his mother, but neither hope, regret, nor affection was expressed on either side. Max and Mary Margaret were mesmerized as they watched through the partially op
en door. They strained to hear what Hazel was saying, but could only observe. The mother whispered her instructions, and the man received them with his pinched-up features twisted into an expression of deceitful cunning. It was perhaps some scheme for Andy’s defense that she was disclosing, and a sullen smile came over her face for an instant, as if she was pleased: not so much at the probability of her son’s innocence, as at the chance of his ’getting off’. The conversation was soon concluded, and with the same careless indifference with which they had watched each other, the mother turned towards the outer hallway and left him alone. They were an evil pair. Max and Mary Margaret moved on toward the courtroom unseen, both feeling as if they had just witnessed the devil and his advisor deciding Elana’s fate. Mary Margaret pulled her shawl tightly around her shoulders as a cold shiver ran down her spine. Max opened the large wooden door and soon they were seated in the small courtroom.
Hours went by with solicitors arguing back and forth and witnesses for the defense, one after the other, giving glowing references for the defendant. Mary Margaret was beginning to feel ill as she listened to their lies. Who paid them this time, I wonder? She wanted to scream Elana’s innocence to the heavens, but remained silent. She sat quietly waiting for her husband’s murderer to be sentenced. Hazel sat behind her son in a show of solidarity.
Finally, the court was adjourned until later in the week. Mary Margaret stared at Max in disgust. Max knew that the wait would be very trying for Mary Margaret as he ushered her from the building.
“Why is it taking so long?” she asked as they rode back to the cottage. “I want my sister home with me.”
“I understand Mary Margaret, but we have to be patient. No one wants to see Elana out of that horrible place more than I do. Andy will be convicted and then we can get Elana out.”
“But I can’t even tell her that she might be free. I don’t want to create any false hope until we are sure she will be released. This is torture, Max.”
When Fate Steps In Page 17