“No, sir.”
“You were an innocent girl before you met the accused?”
“Yes, sir, I was. He has been living at my mother’s boarding house.” Mercy watched in utter shock as the girl’s large blue eyes lifted to Ian’s in a silent apology, then she turned back to the lawyer and stated, “But it’s my fault too. I allowed him to seduce me. I fell in love with him. I thought we were getting married soon.”
Soon. That hideous word again. A sharp pain lashed at Mercy from the inside out. She placed her hand on her forehead in an attempt to make the pounding go away. Her head felt heavy. This was too much. She couldn’t hear anymore. Leaning over to her mother, she whispered, “I have to go outside to get some air.”
Somehow her feet managed to move and she made her way outside past a roomful of staring eyes. Her weak legs gave way and she sank onto a bench and put her head in her hands. Within seconds a strong hand rested on her back and she looked up to see Able’s worried face staring down at her. “Mercy, are you unwell? You look as white as a ghost.”
With a quivering voice she managed to say, “This is all a little overwhelming.”
“I can imagine. Especially that last part. I’m sure someone as innocent as you could not understand how a girl could allow herself to be seduced by someone like Ian Magregor, or whatever his name is. She seems like a nice girl too.”
Mercy let out a soft moan and murmured, “He is truly evil, isn’t he?”
“I hate to think anyone is truly evil, but it certainly seems to be the case with him. I don’t believe anyone is past redemption, but I hope he calls out to God to have mercy on his soul. He will probably hang.”
In despondency, she whispered, “Able, I’m too upset to speak right now. Could we just sit here together and not talk.”
“Certainly, Mercy. Whatever you want.” She wished he would just go away, but she knew he only wanted to help.
She put her head in her hands and tried her best to hold back her corrosive emotions. Soon people streamed outside and milled about and her father came and sat beside her, his face lined in weariness. “The jury is deliberating. It shouldn’t be long. I’m sure there isn’t much to deliberate. Shall we wait for the verdict?”
Nodding slowly, she replied, “I would like to wait, but it’s up to you.”
“Why don’t we head over to the Bunch of Grapes Tavern. I could use a bite to eat.”
Able quickly stood. “Good idea. I’m famished. My treat.”
Soon Mercy found herself at the tavern, pushing food around her plate hoping no one noticed she wasn’t eating. How could she eat? It surprised her she could even breathe. Her eyes flew to her mother’s face when she asked, “Do you think he will hang?”
Her father wore a frown. “I’m sure he will. Statutory rape alone carries the death penalty, and the mother of his child was only fifteen at the time of conception. Counterfeiting, embezzling, and horse theft all carry the death penalty, and desertion often does, especially in a case like his—trying to escape punishment for his bad behavior. But what clinches it is the guard he killed the last time he escaped jail. The man had a wife and children.” Her father glanced at her and Able. “You missed that part when you went outside during the closing arguments.”
Mercy wondered aloud, “Hanging seems so harsh. Couldn’t he just stay in the jail?”
“No sweetheart,” he answered. “I’ve heard talk of creating a permanent place to incarcerate people after their sentencing, but nothing has come of it yet.
“His crimes are bad, but are they worthy of death?”
“I’m sure the court thinks they are.”
“The British used to send their criminals to Georgia before the Revolution. Isn’t there a place he could be sent? Like a penal colony.”
Able nodded. “I’ve heard the Brits discovered a continent on the other side of the world, and they are planning on turning that into a penal colony. But as of yet, nothing has come of it.”
Mercy asked, “Couldn’t he be sold as a galley slave?”
Her father gave a dejected sigh. “I’m afraid not since slavery is illegal in Massachusetts, the law cannot exactly sell him as a slave.”
Able cut in, “I would rather be hung than be a galley slave anyway.”
Her mother added, “I almost feel bad for the wretched soul. Perhaps he had a difficult childhood.”
Leaning forward, her father said intently, “Perhaps he did. But that isn’t an excuse. He had a mother. Look at Addison Berkeley with no mother or father. An orphan alone in a difficult world at only nine years old. And he is without a doubt one of the most honorable men I’ve ever met.”
Able quickly agreed, “He is a good man, no doubt.”
Her mother shook her head in amazement. “It’s hard to believe a man like Mr. Berkeley had the beginnings he did. Just think James, if you hadn’t asked Mr. Berkeley to use his brilliant mind to help you figure out what was causing your business to fail, we would be moving out of our house right now, completely destitute. How can we ever thank him for his kindness to our family?”
“I don’t know. I wish I knew.”
“Where has Mr. Berkeley been?” Her mother added, “I haven’t seen him for awhile.”
“He’s in Philadelphia,” Able replied.
Her mother asked, “Is he coming back to Boston?”
Able nodded. “I believe he’s coming back to Boston for a short time before returning to France. At least that’s what he told me.”
Mercy stared at them blankly. She heard their words, but they were too painful to register. Mr. Berkeley had told the truth. He was the hero and not the villain. But now it was too late. He’d never forgive her, and she didn’t blame him. He said once that he couldn’t love the countess because he didn’t respect her. If that was the case, then he could never love her. She long ago forfeited any respect she deserved. Then she’d made it one hundred times worse by screaming at him and calling him horrible names. She shuddered in embarrassment. He must think her repulsive. And he was right, she was.
Her father put his hand lovingly on her shoulder. “Are you all right, Mercy? You have been so quiet and you look terribly distressed.”
“The last few days have been difficult.”
“Yes, but now everything is over.” How right he was. Her hopes and dreams were over. Her life and Ian’s life was over. Her despair was so great, she wished she could end her life, but she could never do something like that to her parents. Losing one child was bad enough.
When they made their way back to the courthouse, people still mingled around outside, but within minutes an officer came out and announced the sentencing was about to be read. She didn’t want to go back in the courthouse, but she knew she had to force herself. Sometime later, when everyone got assembled, the judge turned to the jury foreman and asked, “How do you find the defendant?”
Without hesitation, the foreman boomed, “We the jury find the defendant guilty of counterfeiting, embezzlement, theft, horse theft, statutory rape, desertion from the Continental Army, and murder.”
Mercy could hear voices from the judge, the lawyers, the foreman, but they became nothing more than a clamoring noise to her ears until the pronouncement was made, “The sentence of the accused is death by hanging.” Her eyes fell upon Ian as he was led away. He never even turned around to look at her.
Able put out his hand to Mercy. “Let’s get you home. You look completely spent.”
She nodded and allowed him to lead her to his coach. “I can’t believe he has to die. It seems harsh.”
Able said with compassion, “Mercy, you have such a gentle heart, but this is the way of the world. Magregor knew each one of his crimes carried the death penalty. He knew horse thieves are hanged, yet he did it over and over again, thinking he was above the law. Apparently he thought he was so charming he would never get caught. For his own selfish gain, he took the life of an innocent guard which shows he does not value life. Not the man’s life and not hi
s own. Magregor might be smart and charming, but everyone’s sin must be accounted for eventually. But I believe in forgiveness. He can still repent and go to heaven. The thief on the cross did.”
She nodded in agreement. She wanted Ian to find God’s forgiveness. That night in bed, so many emotions swirled inside her head, she could not even think, but mercifully she fell asleep from sheer exhaustion. The next morning she knew she needed to see Ian one more time. She needed closure. There had been enough deception, so she found her mother in the parlor sewing and she asked, “I know this must sound like an odd request to you, but I want to go see Ian Magregor at the jail. I want to make sure he has an opportunity to repent.”
Her mother’s brow furrowed, but finally she nodded. “Let’s go. I don’t know how much longer he will be there.”
About an hour later Mercy found herself walking into the jail and she asked the guard, “I need a quick word with Ian Magregor.”
He stared at her in disbelief, but said, “I can’t let you in, but you can talk to him through the bars.”
“That’s fine. I just need a few minutes.” She followed him until she stood in front of Ian’s cell. He sat on his cot staring at the wall. When his dark eyes lifted to hers, he slowly stood and walked to her. “Miss Creed,” he said as he looked at the guard.
“Mr. Magregor.” She turned to the guard. “Can we have just a few minutes, please?” He nodded and stepped away, but didn’t leave the hallway. She leaned in and whispered, “All I can ask is why?”
“I did it all for you, Mercy, you must see that.”
She let out a harsh breath of disgust. “You stole my father’s money and gambled it all away for me?” Sarcastically, she asked, “Should I thank you?”
“Mercy, I saw no other way and I—”
“Are you trying to justify what you have done?”
“How else could I earn the money to win you? I borrowed the money from your father. I’m a good gambler. When I won, I was going to pay it all back.”
“You must not be a good gambler since you never won big. But your charming ways will not work on me anymore. I saw the paperwork. I know you began embezzling from my father months before you even met me, so don’t try to justify what you have done.” Over a choked sob, she asked, “And how can you possibly justify being with other women. I stayed faithful to you for two and half years.”
“You don’t understand men. Did you really expect me to do nothing more than kiss you each night and then leave and go to bed alone? These other women were just a distraction for me, until I could win you and have you for my own.”
Struggling to keep her voice down, she seethed, “You had a child with one of them! And she was just a child herself.”
“I didn’t mean for that to happen. I only wanted children with you. I wanted us to be a family.”
“I wanted that too, but now you have ruined it, and that day will never happen. Never. You have caused our family immeasurable pain, suffering and humiliation, and yet you don’t even feel remorse. I thought I knew you, but I didn’t know you at all. I know God will forgive you if you ask, and I must forgive you so I don’t allow bitterness to destroy me.”
“Don’t say that my love, you must know—”
“Stop it! I can’t believe you have to hang. It makes me sad. You had so much potential.”
“Mercy, no matter what happens to me I want you to know that I love you.”
“Ian, your definition of love and mine are two different things. Listen, I haven’t been living like a good Christian, but I still believe in God and I believe in heaven. You can go there if you ask.”
He leaned forward, “Do you have any idea how many jails I’ve broken out of? Don’t worry about me.”
“If you break out, don’t come looking for me. I don’t ever want to see you again.”
“Seriously, Mercy, do you think I would stay in Boston. I’m not stupid.”
“No. You aren’t stupid. Just wicked. But you don’t have to stay that way. You can ask God to forgive you.” He merely rolled his eyes. She wanted to say more, but emotions overwhelmed her. “I need to go,” she managed. Wiping her eyes, she fled the room and tried to compose herself.
On the walk home with her mother, she held herself together, but the minute she walked into her room she fell on her bed and cried. Pounding her pillow, she ground out, “I’m so stupid, naive, gullible, and idealistic. I’m such a fool. I’ll never trust myself again. Love is a horrible thing if it makes you feel like this.” She sobbed for hours, unable to imagine how life could get any worse.
Understanding Mercy
Understanding Mercy
Chapter Fourteen
The next several days Mercy went through the motions of living, but inside she felt numb…dead. She stood gazing out the window at the first snow fall of the season, but the peaceful sight of the glimmering snowflakes floating to earth brought her no peace at all. A knock sounded at the door and her mother entered with a worried frown. “Mercy, what’s wrong with you? I’ve never known you to be so mopey. Things are going to be looking up for us now.”
“I’ll be fine.”
“Well, I would hope so. There is a whole big world out there. You need to leave your room once in a while.” She nodded, but said nothing. Her mother grabbed her arm, “Well, come along it’s time for dinner.”
She wanted to say she wasn’t hungry, but she knew her mother would only argue. Forcing herself to try to sound normal, she asked, “What is for dinner?”
“All sorts of good things. Come down and see. Gingerbread is for dessert.”
“It’s tradition for you to make gingerbread the day of the first snowfall.”
“Exactly.”
Mercy forced herself to eat and forced herself to listen and respond appropriately while her mother spoke. Her father was unusually quiet and when he didn’t eat his gingerbread she knew something was wrong. He loved gingerbread. She stared at him intently for a few moments and asked, “Do you feel poorly, Daddy?”
Weakly he replied, “I’ve felt better.”
Her mother suggested, “Well, shall we go to the parlor and sit by the fire and read?”
Her father stood and reached over to take Mercy’s hand. They took a few steps when he clutched his chest and let out a terrifying moan and crumpled onto the ground. Her mother rushed to his side and Mercy ran from the room screaming, “Barry, Barry!”
The man came dashing from the other side of the house in a panic. “What is it?”
“Get the doctor. My father has collapsed.”
“Collapsed?”
“Barry, hurry.” When he ran from the room, she rushed back to the dining room and fell to the floor by her father, as she looked at her mother with desperately pleading eyes. “Is he going to…Is Daddy..?” She couldn’t even make herself form a question.
Her mother couldn’t seem to find words either and she just stared at her in shock. Mercy put her hand over her father’s mouth and could feel a slight breath. He hadn’t died yet. She hadn’t prayed in so long and she was sure God could never forgive her for all she’d done, but in desperation, she prayed anyway, “Oh, Lord, please don’t let my father die. Please help him get better.”
Before long, Barry came back with their family’s doctor in tow. After a quick examination he turned to them and explained, “It seems Mr. Creed has what Hippocrates referred to as apoplexy also known as brain attack. We don’t know the exact cause, but it seems to have something to do with a blood vessel breaking in the brain.”
Her mother questioned, “What can we do?”
“Nothing really except make him comfortable and wait. If he recovers he will most likely have difficulty speaking and walking, but do not be alarmed, some patients recover fully.”
“Some?”
“Yes, but I will be honest with you Mrs. Creed, I have no way of giving a prognosis for your husband. He could recover fully, partially, or not at all. Only time will tell. Let’s make him as comfortable
as possible.”
Barry carried her father upstairs and together, with her mother, dressed him in his nightclothes and put him to bed. Mercy sat beside her father and wept as she took out a handkerchief and wiped away the drool careening down his cheek. She thought life could not get any worse. It just had.
****
Addison wrapped his cloak around him to block out the blindingly cold snow and walked toward his office. With a shiver, he made his way to the fireplace and tried to allow some of the heat to soak into his bones. Cecil entered and handed him a cup of hot tea. “One day back in Boston and already you are working yourself near to death.”
While watching the steam swirl up from his teacup, he murmured, “I would rather do business in nice weather, but this could not wait.”
Understanding Mercy Page 27