by Rikki Dyson
Shane kissed her forehead and said, “Am I to assume, you have found something that pleases you?”
Stacey smiled at him and said, “Other than you, my love, yes I have.” She showed him the record book. He followed her finger to, baron and baroness, Thomas and Eleanor Woodstock. Below was births and marriages of their offspring. Cassandra Leigh, born, fourteen-fifteen, Robert Wade, born, fourteen-seventeen, Richard Edmond, born, fourteen-nineteen. Thomas Eric, born, fourteen-twenty-four.
Stacey turned pages to marriages. Once again, she searched and found Thomas Eric Woodstock- married Mary Rose Seymour, fourteen-forty-five. Birth son, Arthur Eric Woodstock born, fourteen-forty-seven. Then the names of three daughters. As Stacey was reading them her eyes went to marriages again. Arthur E. Woodstock married Joanne Moore, fourteen-seventy. Next the names and birth dates of six children. The oldest was Michael Edward, born, fourteen-seventy-one. Stacey followed the dates down. There it was. Michael E. Woodstock married Rebecca Ashworth, fourteen-ninety-six.
Shane hugged Stacey and said, “Now my love, you have your connection between the houses of Hampton, Spencer, Ashworth and Woodstock. Shall we have a go in Northampton shire and see what mischief we can cause there?”
Professor Howard met them at the train station with his valise in hand. Shane had gone to the hotel to retrieve his and Stacey’s bags. On the train, they talked about how everything was coming together. Professor Howard was interested in hearing about Stacey’s life growing on a ranch in Texas and Shane’s life in Scotland and his growing up years.
By the time they reached Northampton, Ethan Howard knew this lovely couple much better. As he watched and listened to them, he was amazed how fate had thrown them together. Shane a respected neurosurgeon and she a student of archaeology, not to mention they came from worlds apart. More mysterious yet, to find they had twin ancestors in common that led all the way back to the fourteenth century. Now, if he was to believe what he was hearing and seeing, apparently his lineage had sprang from the same remote ancestors as theirs. It was almost inconceivable. Watching and listening to them, it was quite obvious Stacey and Shane were devoted to one another, but Ethan Howard had an inexplicable feeling there was more to them than met the eye.
They reached Northampton around teatime. The three took a taxi to the hotel, where they ate and talked together for sometime. Shane invited Ethan to join them for a tour of the countryside early the following day. He declined, but said he would meet them at the historical society records department around noon.
By seven a.m., the next morning Shane and Stacey took a rental car to look over the countryside. Stacey really didn’t expect to recognize any landmarks. After all it had been seven hundred years ago in her dream. Sometimes, it felt like she was seeing a movie in her head, then other times, it was like seeing it for the first time, which actually it was.
Shane and Stacey were driving aimlessly enjoying the beautiful countryside of Fotheringhay. The way the great trees surrounded the village and abbey was rather haunting. Shane watched Stacey for some reaction to the countryside.
“Do you feel as if you have ever before been here?”
“No,” Stacey said. “I feel no vibes whatsoever.”
Driving down the motorway, they saw a sign advertising the historical site of, Cainhoe castle. They turned off the main road to investigate. What they found was a motte where a castle had once stood, now nothing remained but a grassy mound with thistles. They read the historical plaque. Rather quietly, Shane said, “This place at one time in the past is where Mary queen of Scots was imprisoned and executed in fifteen-eighty-seven.”
Stacey took his hand and said, “They did her wrong, didn’t they Shane?”
He held her head against his shoulder and said, “Aye lass that they did.”
Chapter-29
Leona Fitz-William
When they reached, the car and were getting in, Stacey said, “We’re to far south Shane.”
With a puzzled look, he asked, “How do you know we are lass?”
“I don’t know,” Stacey said. “I just do.”
“Splendid,” Shane said. “How are we going to explain that to Professor Howard? After all we manipulated him into coming here.”
In her Lucy voice, Stacey said, “Don’t worry so much Ricky, I’ll think of something.”
Shane chortled and said, “You’ve got a wee bit of the devil in ye, lass.”
Stacey smiled at him and asked, “You think?”
When they returned and met Ethan at the historical society, he told them he had been diligently searching the records and had found very little on the Howards. With a gleam in his eye, he said, “However, do not despair, this fine lady has been a fountain of information”
He proudly introduced Shane and Stacey to the conservator, Miss Daisy Edwards.
“This wonderful lady has informed me that we are too far south that Hampton keep was in Lincolnshire.”
“Yes,” Miss Daisy Edwards, informed them, “Many of the counties have been surveyed and redefined from the old medieval maps. You may have noticed, Yorkshire is now in four different sections.”
“Then you’ve heard of Hampton keep,” Stacey said. “Can you give us directions to get there?”
“Yes, I can,” she said, “But it will do you no good. There is nothing there anymore. Even the village of Hampton-Thorpe is no longer there.”
“Do you have information, on Hampton keep we could copy for further use?”
“Yes, I do, miss,” she said. “Also I may be able to help in another way. About fifty miles from Fotheringhay is a place called Thornton hill. A very elderly woman lives there. Her name is Leona
Fitz-William. She worked here when I was a small child. She still comes here once in a while just to check our records. Investigating historical records has been her life work.”
“May we see what you have?” Stacey asked.
The lady smiled and said, “I have already given copies to Professor Howard. Do you fancy copies also?”
“No, that’s okay,” Stacey said. “I can make copies from the professor’s. Thank you, so much for your help.”
Daisy Edwards stood for a second or two with her bottom lip between her teeth. As the trio was turning to leave, she said several months ago there was another American couple here looking for much the same information as you are. There is something about you that reminds me of them.”
“Do you happen to have their name and address by any chance?”
“Yes, as a matter of fact I do, miss. I will get it for you.”
When Daisy handed Stacey the address, she looked at it but didn’t recognize the name or the address in Ohio. She made a note to check online when they returned to London.
When they reached the car, Stacey asked, “Professor, do you mind riding up front? I would like to ride in back and look at your papers, Miss Edwards gave you.”
“Of course,” he said. “I would be delighted.”
As Stacey was reading, the genealogy of the Hampton family, she recognized a few names. The earliest date was fourteen-fifteen. That seemed strange to Stacey that the Hampton family waited so late to record their family history. She laid the papers aside, as they passed through Fotheringhay. Once again, they talked about Cainhoe castle, and the drama with a unhappy ending of Mary queen of Scots being, imprisoned and the tragedy, of her being executed there. About half an hour later, they saw a road sign pointing northeast to Thornton hill. Shane stopped to ask for directions. He was informed, that Thornton hill cottage, was the place he was seeking. They drove a few miles farther, then saw a country lane where they turned and, then drove slow for about a mile until a well-kept cottage came into view.
A knock on the door, brought a young woman, maybe in her early thirty’s, answered the door. Stacey stepped up and said, “Hello, we are looking for Miss Leona Fitz-William. Does she live here?”
The woman said, “Yes, she does. May I ask whom is calling?”
“I’m
sorry,” Stacey said. “My name is Stacey McLeod and this is my husband Doctor McLeod and our friend Professor Ethan Howard.”
“Please come in, I will tell her you are here.”
“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.”