by Carolyn Bond
He thought for a minute, “Of course, I have plenty of land. I see no reason why not.”
“And I am using my money to finance it. It will have the best facilities and finest construction. I want it to be very safe and accessible. Bethann, if she wants to, can be the director. With her expertise, we can have a state of the art facility. I was hoping she might know of others that were taught under Dr. Downs that might be willing to come and work there.”
“Everleigh, this is a big responsibility. We would be responsible for the health and welfare of the residents.”
“Yes. I understand. I think we can do this. I have a great deal of knowledge in this area and the financial means. If we can hire people like Bethann, we can make a difference to some individuals that live there. More importantly, we can change the way society sees Mongoloids and maybe affect change in politics. Will you help me?”
“He laughed, “You know I will. Where will you find residents?”
“I am thinking we can adopt children from the Asylum for Children and then in time, maybe instead of people dropping off infants at an orphanage, they would send them to our school.”
“I see.”
“Malcolm, do you think we could get custody or guardianship of the boy at the Lunatic Asylum? I don’t even know his name, but he doesn’t belong there.”
“I’m not sure. Maybe the lawyer would know.”
She could see it in her mind, the building, the children, and laughter from the windows. She looked at Malcolm and knew that together they could do anything. They could make a difference to Percy and so many more. She thought about how her life before in 2016 was useful, but now she could do so much more.
“Everleigh, You amaze me. Never in a million years would I dream of finding a woman like you.”
He enveloped her with his arms and gently held her, minding her injury. She felt like her heart was soaring. Her life was no longer the hollow, feeble movements of a lost heart. Her love for him eclipsed all of her insecurities and her future as an advocate gave her an unshakable confidence.
***
The seamstress pinned and turned her as she stood on the small wood stool. She had on a long corset that had cinched her waist to a size that she could actually get her finger tips to overlap. She worried about her internal organs. Over that, the seamstress had tied on the metal bustle forms, one hung over her back side and one hung low in an arc behind her like half a hoop skirt but pinched on the sides. Next she hung a cotton corset cover to protect the dress. Finally she tied on layers of petticoats that hung straight but had lace at the bottom. The bodice was finished and the seamstress held it up, open in the back for her to slip her arms into the tight lace sleeves with a small ruffle of lace at the wrist. The silk bodice was perfectly tailored to lay flat around her sides and had vertical gathered silk across her bust. Delicate lace then covered her all the way to her neck where a standing collar rose another inch with a soft lace ruffle that tickled her chin when she looked down.
She felt slightly stifled in the bodice with the corset and hoped she wouldn’t pass out from not being able to take a deep breath. Once the seamstress buttoned the hundred or so buttons up the back, she began pinning panels of fabric to her bodice for the skirt. It seemed to Everleigh that the woman had unrolled bolts and bolts of glowing white silk, sown them together side by side and was now pinning about fifty yards of draped silk around her. It was like she had on hundreds of layered aprons from her waist to the black pointy toes of her shoes.
The seamstress looked it over darting from side to side and then pulled out two large triangular pieces of fabric where she had sown rows and rows of lace ruffles from the point at the top to the wide base at the bottom. Tiny pearls had been sown to it that caught the light like little candles. Cords of clusters of pearls hung over the top of the layers of lace. A large lace ruffle edged it all the way around. She pinned these to the sides of the skirt so that the aprons of silk disappeared underneath it.
“This gown is amazing! I feel like a royal princess!”
The seamstress smiled and kept working her magic, obviously pleased with the acknowledgement.
“It must have taken you hours, day and night, to sew on the pearls.”
She nodded and her fingers flew. She finally stood and appraised the skirt so far. Then she pulled out of another bag a long swath of what had to be another twenty yards of silk. Gathering it into folds, she pinned it over the bustle in the back and along the edge of the lace ruffle she had just finished. It had wide scallops of lace and silk with seeds of pearls in the lace along the edge that would drag on the floor as her train.
Pleased with the result, the seamstress then pulled out a roll of sheer silk gauze with a lace and pearl gather at the top. She shook it out and pinned it to the crown of Everleigh’s head. It nearly fell all the way to the floor.
Standing back appraising her work, the seamstress finally asked, “What do you think?”
Everleigh gushed, “It’s the most beautiful gown I have ever seen. Thank you!”
Her mother stood with her mouth parted in a gawking stare, taking in the sight from head to toe, “Everleigh, you look like an angel from heaven. I am not sure which glows more, you or the gown.”
“The silk, it does catch the light nicely, no?” The seamstress had a slight French accent which made her seem so authentic for fashion design to Everleigh. “Of course, it is the nicest quality you can find. I don’t work with cheap fabric.” She sniffed and wrinkled her nose as thought the thought of cheap fabric made her ill.
“I absolutely love it! I couldn’t be more perfect.”
“Alright then. Let me put in some stitches to hold it in place and then I will take it home to finish it. It will take another, let me see,” she tapped her finger to her mouth, “three or four days, I think, to piece it together and get it back.”
After the seamstress finished, packed it carefully away and left, Everleigh put her day dress back on with her mother’s help and they had lunch outside under a tall oak tree. A table was set with a tablecloth and china as though they were in the dining room. Malcolm arrived while they were outside and the butler led him out to their picnic in the shade.
“Malcolm, come and join us. Have you eaten? Barnes, please have another place set for Mr. Steel.”
“Oh, don’t go to any bother. I had lunch before I left home, thank you. Perhaps just a glass of lemonade.”
Taking their hands one at a time, he kissed them in greeting. He joined them at a seat the butler brought out.
“I came to share some news. The lawyer I spoke with in Midway was very helpful. He thinks he can get to the bottom of it quickly. You were right, Everleigh. The restriction on the deed from the will was lifted after the first heir received it. After that, the estate passed as it would have. Now it will be placed in my name. Percy has a trust fund established to ensure his care no matter what happens to me. If Percy outlives us, the deed changes to a life estate for Percy so that he can stay there for his lifetime.”
“Oh, Malcolm, that is wonderful!” she said. “And that reminds me, I meant to ask you, has Percy been examined for his heart? He may need surgery. It’s very common for Mongoloids, to need a surgery to extend their life.”
“Oh, no. I didn’t know that. It’s very hard to get a doctor to agree to treat him. Oftentimes they refuse.”
She shook her head. “We will find a doctor if we have to go all the way to London.”
He smiled, “Now that I am confident that I can provide for you and Percy, we just need to set a date for our nuptials.”
Everleigh nearly squealed but caught herself.
Her mother smiled delighted, “I would think we could pull our plans together for next Saturday. A week from today.”
“The sooner, the better.” He took Everleigh’s hand and kissed it again watching her through smoldering eyes.
“You two! Heavens! You’ll be impossible to be around.” Then she sighed and added, “But I am so happy f
or both of you.”
Everleigh giggled.
“Are you going to take a honeymoon?” her mother asked.
Malcolm made a growling groan and kissed the rest of the way up Everliegh’s arm.
“Yes, I am planning to take my bride to a wonderful place called Cumberland Falls. It’s a massive waterfall and on some nights, a great moonbow glows over the falls. We can take the train to Williamsburg and stay in a section house for the railroad. Then travel by horseback to the water fall with a guide. I think it would be the perfect place to become acquainted as husband and wife.”
Everleigh blushed a deep glowing red as a zing of passion hit the visceral depth of her core.
“That sounds like such a romantic adventure, Malcolm!” said her mother.
***
The week passed quickly. Everleigh dreamed of her new life and had never been so content. She had a seamstress come to create a new wardrobe for her. Malcolm’s estate was preparing to receive its new occupant as the staff polished and scrubbed. The staff felt a tremendous joy for Malcolm. They’d loved him dearly and now he would have his own happiness. Percy rocked and swayed in his own little dance when he heard the news. Malcolm told him he would have a mother now to love him as much as he did. The little boy beamed a huge smile and hugged him.
“Can I call you da-dee? Bethann showed me a book with a picture and the boy called the man da-dee. Bethann told me what a da-dee is.”
Malcolm hugged the little boy tightly. “Yes, Percy. I would be proud if you called me daddy.”
“I love you, da-dee.”
***
Everleigh was reviewing her plans for the school at a desk in her mother’s home when Malcolm stopped by. The butler let him in and he rushed to embrace her, kissing her slowly and tenderly.
“Malcolm, what a pleasure to see you!” she breathed.
“My love, my thoughts of you as my wife have made me exceedingly impatient. I cannot wait to show you the depths of my emotion.”
She giggled and blushed slightly, “Malcolm! I’m glad I make you happy.”
She gave him a quick peck on the lips again. He smiled and his smoldering gaze made her blush deeper. She turned and pulled him to the couch.
“Now did you come here to just stare at me or is there something else?” she smiled coyly.
Regaining his composure, “Yes. I wanted to tell you, I spoke to my lawyer about your idea and the boy at the Lunatic Asylum. He said he could help us with both accounts. As for the boy, we could seek guardianship from the state. The problem, of course, is we don’t know who he is and it may be hard to find that out. We can’t just go there and walk the halls looking for him.”
Her brows furrowed with two wavy horizontal lines as she tried to figure out what to do.
He continued, “At this point it may look odd that we want to bring home a person we know nothing about.”
“I can see that,” she paused. “What if we told them we were opening the School and wanted to review a patient to see if they would benefit from the therapies.”
He scratched the back of his neck mulling it over, “That seems reasonable.”
“We can try, at least.”
“Alright then, lets go. I have time now if you do.”
“I do!”
Cook packed them a basket of food and they headed out in her carriage. After a little more than an hour, they were turning into the gates of the Lunatic Asylum. The serene lawn with shady oak and maple trees made it look more like a resort to her.
The three-story main building appeared quiet like a very large personal residence. They approached the door and knocked with the large brass knocker. An orderly opened the door and greeted them. He eyed them both up and down. She wondered if he was trying to figure out if one of them was being committed.
“Can I help you,” he asked.
“Yes,” Malcolm answered, “We would like to speak to someone about one of your patients.
“I see. Please come in.” He ushered them into a small parlor. “I will see if the Superintendent is available.”
He left them alone briefly and returned motioning for them to follow.
“Mr. Morgan will see you in his office.”
“Thank you,” Malcolm said.
They entered a plain office with a desk and windows filling the room with the afternoon light. Mr. Morgan rose and shook Malcolm’s hand and nodded to Everleigh.
“How can I help you today?” he asked.
Malcolm looked at Everleigh and she nodded. He began, “Mr. Morgan, thank you for seeing us. My soon-to-be bride and I are planning to open a school for Mongoloids in Versailles. We have access to trained staff that learned under Dr. Down’s in England.”
“I see. That sounds like quite an undertaking. Do you have experience with these patients?”
“Yes,” he looked at Everleigh again before answering, “I have cared for my young nephew for a few years who is a Mongoloid.”
Mr. Morgan eyed Malcolm, no doubt wondering why the child had not been surrendered to the Children’s Asylum.
“Well then, you understand the challenges of caring for the insane.”
Malcolm nearly choked on his answer, “Yes.”
“What can I do for you, then?”
“Mr. Morgan, I work for the railroad and on a recent delivery, we saw a young man who was a Mongoloid. He was probably in his teens. We were hoping to be able to evaluate him to see if our school’s therapies would benefit him.”
Mr. Morgan looked from Malcolm to Everleigh before answering. “Mr.—uh, Steel, is that right?”
Malcolm nodded.
“Mr. Steel, we take the care of our residents very seriously. I cannot allow them to become the objects of experiments which have no basis in fact.”
Everleigh’s mind was busting to speak, “Mr. Morgan, Dr. Downs has proven therapies that have helped Mongoloids achieve a level of ability to be useful and fulfilled. They are not just experiments. Malcolm’s nephew is only four, yet he does not act insane in any way.”
“Be that as it may,” he started to say.
“Does the young man of whom we speak have family we could consult?”
Mr. Morgan shifted in his chair, “No. He was orphaned. I am responsible for his well-being.”
“What if we brought Mrs. Monroe to speak to you?”
“I don’t think that—,” he started to say.
Everleigh was becoming irritated but kept her cool. The thought occurred to her, Money talks.
“Mr. Morgan, I am certain you have a great deal of expenses providing this wonderful serene home for your residents. It’s really beautiful here. You have done such a great job.”
He smiled waiting.
“Would it be possible for me to make a contribution to the Asylum to help you further your work? Perhaps you are facing a crowding issue and new dormitory would help.”
She let her proposal float in the air. Mr. Morgan looked at her with new interest.
“Am I to assume you would have the means to make such a contribution?”
“Yes, sir. I am quite capable of funding a new building project for the Asylum.”
“I see. That would be exceedingly generous. Yes, we are experiencing rapid growth.” He sighed. “I’m certain that something could be arranged.” Then he quickly added, “Of course, we would need to monitor young Matthew’s health and progress at your school to be certain he was getting the best care possible.”
“Of course. In fact we would love to work together to share ideas for the best care for all Mongoloids. I’m certain you have other residents like Matthew.”
He paused before speaking as though weighing the risks and benefits, “Alright then. I think we have an agreement. Wait here while I ask the orderly to bring Nicholas to meet you.”
He left the room and Everleigh smiled at Malcolm.
“Money talks.”
“What?”
“It’s a saying where I come from.”
“That�
�s quite a donation!”
“It’s alright. In fact, it’s great. It gives us leverage to open the communication with the Asylum. It starts a partnership that gives us a way to influence their care of Mongoloids.”
His pleased smirk told her he was impressed with her negotiation skills. Mr. Morgan returned with a file in his hand.
“Alright, while we are waiting, I have some documents you will need to sign. Then we will need to be certain your contribution to the Asylum is wired. If all goes well, Matthew should be ready to accompany you by tomorrow afternoon.”
Everleigh was delighted. They gave Mr. Morgan the information he needed and before long there was a knock at the door.
“Come in,” said Mr. Morgan.
The door opened and the young man stepped through. His mouth was turned down and his eyes were wide. Everleigh realized he was afraid and must think he is in trouble.
Then he looked at her and the frown of fear melted slowly as recognition hit him.
“Pretty lady,” he said.
“Hello Matthew.”
“I go with you?” His wide eyes questioned her as his mouth fell slack.
“Yes, Matthew. Would you like to live with us? We are starting a school that will help you and you can live there.”
His grin now stretched from ear to ear. He looked at Mr. Morgan and the frown dropped in anticipation of his answer.
“Yes, Matthew. It’s alright. Mr. Steel and his new wife will be taking care of you.”
The beaming expression returned and he raised his arms for a hug waiting to see if she was alright with it. She strode toward him and embraced him. He breathed a great sigh of relief.
Pulling back he took her hand in his as he said, “Thank you, pretty lady. Thank you.” He kissed the back of her hand and his face lit with joy.
After talking to Matthew about his life, they left to send the telegram to wire the money to the Asylum so that it would be available first thing in the morning. The sun was low on the horizon when they started the trip back to Versailles.
The next morning, Malcolm came to pick her up and they returned to the Asylum.
“Are you ready?” he asked as she stepped toward his carriage.