by Rikki Dyson
Chapter 24
Friends
Stacey and Shane spent Saturday night alone, however, were invited to brunch at friends of his on Sunday. Annie and Hugh were invited also. They had all been friends for almost five years. Nigel is an anesthesiologist, he and his wife, Megan have two children. “That’s one main reason we meet at their house,” Shane said.
Nigel and Megan O’Conner were nice and friendly and Stacey liked them both. The other couple was Iain and Rachael Graham. Iain is an orthopedic surgeon. He was friendly, but his wife, Rachael, seemed a little cool and standoffish. Annie and Hugh arrived shortly after Stacey and Shane did. Annie had met everyone previously, but this was Stacey’s first time, plus she was much younger than the others. Stacey was glad Annie was there, she wasn’t sure how the others would accept her. She knew their age difference was open to comment, but she also knew she would only put up with just so much derision.
Nigel, Megan, Iain and Rachael had been talking earlier about Shane’s choice of fiancée. Rachael had made the remark, what could they, or Shane for that matter, have in common with a twenty-one year old college student. Nigel and Iain grinned at each other. “You two just stop that,” Rachael said. “I’m sure she’s pretty and sexy and all that, but Shane’s girl friends have always been beautiful, glamorous, sexy and grown; may I remind you.”
“Yes, Rachael, you have a point, but let’s give the girl a chance before we black ball her,” Iain said. “Also, I would like to remind you, Shane never brought any of his other girl friends into the fold. We always met them at a club or a restaurant. I think that in its self is significant.”
After the initial meeting and the meal was over, the guys wound up watching a Rugby game on TV and the women in the dining room talking. The children were at their grandparents for the day. “We didn’t want to scare you away the first time you came to visit,” Megan said, laughingly.
“I don’t scare that easily,” Stacey said. “I like kids.”
“You’re not much more than a kid yourself,” Rachael said as she gave Stacey a stony look. Stacey wanted to ask, why the attitude? But instead she asked the ages of their children? Megan said theirs were seven and five. “How many do you have Rachael?” Stacey asked, hoping to thaw out her frigid attitude.
“I have two, they are nine and six. I’m a teacher. What do you do?”
“Stacey is an archaeologist too,” Annie answered quickly.
“I understand you’re still in college,” Rachael said.
“Yes I am. I’ll graduate next spring.”
“How long have you and Shane been engaged?” Rachael inquired.
“Three months the twenty-fifth of this month.”
“I understand you’re an American,” Rachael said.
“Yes, as a matter of fact, I am,” Stacey said. “I’m from Texas to be exact.” This seemed to be going somewhere, but she wasn’t sure where. Stacey stood up and poured herself another cup of coffee and waited.
Sure enough, Rachael said, “You know, long distance romances seldom survive.”
Stacey gave her a frosty look and said, “This one will.”
About that time the guys came back into the dining room. They all sat and talked as a group for awhile. Around four the party broke up and Stacey and Shane left.
“Did you enjoy yourself?” Shane asked on the way home.
“It was okay, but I would rather have been with you,” Stacey said, as she wondered if men were blind to snippy women.
“Right you are, sweetheart. There’ll be plenty of time for friends after we get married, again.”
“Did the Grahams seem a little unfriendly to you?” Stacey asked.
“Iain and Rachael,” Shane said with a frown. “No, they seemed as usual.”
“Well, actually, it was Rachael not Iain. It’s probably because I’m new to the group,” Stacey said very seriously.
“Was Rachael rude to you? Shane asked.
Stacey smiled at him and said, “Nothing that I couldn’t handle, so don’t give it a second thought. She and I will get to know each other in time. I did like Megan though, she was very friendly.
Shane had a feeling there was more to this than Stacey was telling. He detected a slight sound of hurt in her voice, so in the car park garage, Shane surprised Stacey by picking her up and carrying her up in the lift. They met a few people and Shane said, “She’s not feeling well. I hope you’ll excuse us if we go first.” As they exited the lift, Stacey started laughing and telling him what a wonderful fool he was.
At the door of the flat Shane told Stacey, “Reach in my pocket and get the key.” She reached and he said, “You know perfectly well that is not the key.”
“It might be the key to something,” Stacey said. “Let’s go see if it fits.”
“You’re a crafty minx,” Shane said chortling. “Have I told you how much I love you?”
“No, but if you tell me, I promise I’ll keep searching for the key.” Stacey said, as she kicked off her shoes and Shane carried her upstairs.
Monday morning the alarm went off at five a.m. Shane had to be at the hospital at seven a.m. While he was showering and getting dressed, Stacey made coffee and heated scones. As he grabbed a bite, he told Stacey, “Meet me at the hospital around twelve thirty so we can have lunch together.”
“As you wish,” Stacey said smiling. She knew when she came, Shane would have to work and she would have to find things to do to keep herself busy. Stacey remembered an address she’d copied down from the TV. It was a program on ‘medieval times,’ where they were telling about, ‘Coats of arms.’ There was a huge book of them and Stacey wanted to go to this place and look at the book. It quite possibly might help to find some of the answers she was still pursuing. Stacey decided to meet Shane first, then go to the coat of arms place. She didn’t know how long it might take her.
Chapter 25
Mrs. Wyatt
Stacey was in the shower when Shane’s housekeeper, Mrs. Wyatt, arrived. Stacey stepped into the bedroom with a towel around her and had a surprise encounter. They both stood looking at each other. “Hello, I’m Stacey Scott, Doctor McLeod’s fiancée.”
“Doctor McLeod didn’t say a word about you being here.”
“Well, as you can see, I’m here,” Stacey said. The woman said nothing more, but just stood there. “Well, if you’ll excuse me, I’ll get dressed and get out of your way,” Stacey said.
On her way out, Stacey heard the woman grumbling something about, young women and decency today. Stacey took a taxi to the hospital, then up the stairs to the third floor. She remember where Shane’s office was, but did receive a considerable amount of attention as she walked through the hospital. Stacey was wearing a black soft leather skirt and jacket, with a pink turtle neck sweater, black high heeled boots and shoulder bag to match. When Stacey arrived on the third floor, just past the nurses station, her cell phone rang. It was Shane telling her, to meet him in the cafeteria. As Stacey went back the same way she came, a nurse stopped her and asked, “Aren’t you Miss Scott?”
“Yes I am,” Stacey said.
“You may not remember me. I was your nurse, Rhonda, last summer, when you were in hospital.”
“Yes, of course, I remember you. Thank you so much for your good care.”
“You’re very welcome,” Rhonda said. “May I be of some assistance?”
“Yes, absolutely, you can direct me to the cafeteria. I’m meeting Doctor McLeod there and I’m running a little late.”
“Oh my goodness, you’re his fiancée?” Rhonda said, full of astonishment.
“Yes, I am,” Stacey assured her.
“Oh, my goodness,” Rhonda said again. “We heard she was an American, however, I never dreamed it was you.”
“Yes,” Stacey said. “I’m the lucky girl. Now, the way to the cafeteria please?”
“I’m so sorry,” Rhonda said. Then gave Stacey the directions to the cafeteria.
When Stacey found the cafeteria, Sh
ane wasn’t there yet, so she got herself a cup of tea and sat down. Stacey, thought to herself; you’d think I was the main attraction. They didn’t gawk this much when I wore my boots and jeans. Finally, Shane arrived. He kissed her and said, “Sorry sweetheart. I was called back in for a minute or two.”
“That’s fine,” Stacey said.
“Are you hungry?” Shane asked.
“No, you eat. I need to talk to you about something.”
“Right,” Shane said. He served his tray and came back and asked, “What is it you need to talk about, sweetheart?”
“Did you tell Mrs. Wyatt I would be staying with you?”
Stacey knew from the look on Shane’s face, he had not.
“What happened?” He asked.
“I stepped out of the shower into the bedroom and there she stood.” Shane started chortling. “Well,” Stacey said. “Mrs. Wyatt didn’t think it was funny.”
“I’ll talk with her sweetheart, she’ll understand.”
“I’m not so sure about that, maybe we should show her a certain piece of paper.”
“Let me talk with her first, then we’ll see,” Shane said.
“Okay,” Stacey reluctantly agreed.
After lunch, Stacey kissed Shane bye and caught a taxi to the ‘The royal college of arms.’ An elderly lady saw her as she walked in and asked, might she be of some assistance?
“I hope so,” Stacey said. “I understand you have a large book here that shows the, ‘Coat of arms,’ back to the middle ages.”
“Yes we do, come this way.” The woman took the book down and laid it on a table and handed Stacey a pair of white gloves. “Is there some family or particular year in which you’re interested?” she asked.
“Yes, I’m looking for the, Fitz-Morgan family crest in the year thirteen seventy. May I look through the book for their coat of arms?”
“Yes, of course,” the lady said, “however, please keep the gloves on at all times.”
Stacey turned the pages slowly, one by one. She was more than less half way through when she saw the, ‘Earl of Dun-Raven, coat of arms. A tower with a raven perched on it.’ Stacey became weak in the knees and could hardly catch her breath. She turned pages and looked for the coat of arms of the, ‘Hampton family.’ A few pages over, she found it also. Stacey took a tiny camera from her shoulder bag and photographed both pages.
“Where do you keep your information on the families?” Stacey asked
“Most of them we have transferred over to microfiche,” the lady said. “Eventually we hope to transfer them to CD’s.”
“May I look at the Earl of Dun-Raven, the Fitz-Morgan family?” Stacey asked.
It took Stacey some time to find them. She scrolled to the year thirteen seventy, but there was nothing. She scrolled back, then back farther to thirteen sixty, and there it was. The betrothal and wedlock of the seventh Earl of Dun-Raven, Geoffrey Eric Fitz-Morgan to lady Frances Louise Hampton, on October first, thirteen sixty. Stacey was nervous as she scrolled farther and found viscount Geoffrey Shane Fitz-Morgan-betrothal and wedlock to lady Anne Barr, on September sixteenth, thirteen ninety-three. Stacey scrolled farther, looking for Brandon’s name or the girls, but found nothing.
Stacey searched the records for Eric’s death, but found nothing. Once again, she scrolled farther, and then found the deaths of Geoffrey Thomas Fitz-Morgan- ninth earl of Dun-Raven but no date. Thomas Edward Fitz-Morgan- tenth earl of Dun-Raven and his son Thomas Eric Fitz-Morgan-viscount around fourteen sixty-nine or fourteen-seventy.
“Could there be more information some place else?” Stacey inquired, confused.
“Yes it’s possible. Do you know where the fiefdom of the family was located?”
“Yes, in Yorkshire,” Stacey said.
“You might try there,” she said. “I’m not familiar with that family. Of course, some families kept a very low profile in those days. For that reason, you understand information was sparse to non-existent during the years of, ‘the war of the roses.”
“Yes, so I’m finding out,” Stacey said. “May I print out a copy of this?”
“Yes, of course, but it will cost a few pennies.”
“That’s fine,” Stacey said.
Chapter 26
The Hospital
Stacey took a taxi to the flat. Her mind was on the information she had found. Suddenly she felt so cooped up in the cab, as if she couldn’t breathe deep. Stacey had never before lived in the city. She had grown up in the wide open spaces of Texas. Now she felt all hemmed in, like she couldn’t think straight.
She asked the taxi driver to let her out at the park. It was just a couple of blocks from Shane’s building. As she stepped from the taxi, she welcomed the touch of the crisp autumn air against her face. Her mind was so occupied with the information she had discovered that she didn’t notice that the wind had picked up and the gold and yellow leaves were swirling around her feet as she walked through the park.
Stacey looked at her watch and knew she was going to be late. She knew Shane was going to ask, where she’d been. She didn’t want to lie to him, but she didn’t want to upset him either. As luck would have it, Stacey beat him home. She took a fast shower and put on a robe, then headed down to the kitchen. Mrs. Wyatt had made a casserole and left it in the refrigerator along with a salad. Stacey put on a kettle of water for tea. She couldn’t get her mind off the information she’d found. There was no way she could go to York. She thought, about hiring a private detective to go investigate, however, this was something she really wanted to do herself. Deep inside, Stacey knew she wasn’t going to give up her time with Shane to follow an elusive dream. She couldn’t take a chance of her marriage turning into a nightmare. If the circumstances were reversed, she would be mad as hell if Shane went off chasing some dream woman.
By seven o’clock, Stacey was wondering where Shane was and why he hadn’t called. She checked her cell phone, but it was dead. Then she checked the answering machine in the bedroom. Shane had called at four, to let her know he would be very late. He was on his way to Queen’s hospital to perform emergency surgery on an adolescent. She put the casserole back in the refrigerator, ate a bowl of salad, and waited.
Stacey thought about the information she’d found. She wondered why this information wasn’t in the libraries she’d checked before she’d headed to Yorkshire. This whole thing was bizarre. First the fall, then the dream that was as vivid as real life. Stranger still, for Eric and Shane to resemble so much. Their height, hair and eye coloring the same, but their bodies weren’t the same. Eric had scars on his face and body, but Shane didn’t. Also, Stacey wondered why the earl’s first marriage was recorded, but not his second. She knew the children were from his second marriage. How do I remember the pain of child birth, when I’ve never had a child? I know there are answers out there somewhere. I just don’t know where to look yet.
Stacey called Annie and told her what she’d found. They talked for awhile, then she went to bed. Stacey dozed on and off, until about three a.m. when Shane came home. He was still in his scrubs. Stacey was laying on her tummy and watched as he undressed. She could see he was exhausted. As he got into bed he realized Stacey was awake. She raised up on her elbow and asked, “How did it go?”
“Better than I thought it would,” Shane said. “The little chap was only ten and the surgery took nine hours. I couldn’t leave him, so I stayed in recovery with him until I was sure. His parents were frightened half out of their wits.”
“They’re very lucky to have you, a very talented, caring doctor. More important than that, you’re a wonderful caring man.”
Shane reached over and took Stacey’s hand and kissed it. He was laying and explaining the operation and the enteric workings of the brain and nervous system.
“Do you have any idea of what I’m talking about?”
“Yes I do, I’ve been reading up on the brain, spinal cord and nervous structures. I read what medical books Dad had, then I went to the school
library and checked out medical books more advanced on the brain, spinal cord and nerves.”
“You’re amazing and I love you,” Shane said.
“Rest my love, you’ll have to be up soon,” Stacey said, and kissed him goodnight.
“I’ll rest much better with you in my arms,” he said.
Stacey felt cozy and safe all nestled in Shane’s arms. The alarm went off at five but Stacey turned it off and let Shane sleep until seven. She woke him with coffee, scones and fruit. “What’s this a continental breakfast?” Shane asked still groggy with sleep.
“You can call it that, or a jump start to get your blood sugar working.”
After Shane left, Stacey cleaned the kitchen and made the bed. She showered, dressed and left the flat before Mrs. Wyatt arrived. Stacey didn’t want to hear about, indecent young women again, but she did leave her a note saying, “Thank you for the casserole, we’ll have it tonight.”
Stacey had no place in particular to go, so she window shopped. She really didn’t need anything, but it was fun to look at the show windows. Shane called Stacey’s cell phone around eleven. “Come to the office at one,” he said. “We’ll have lunch together.”
“Okay, I’ll bring lunch,” Stacey said. She really didn’t want that cafeteria scene again. She took a taxi, stopped at a bistro and picked up sandwiches and coffee. It was ten ‘till one as she walked into the hospital.
Stacey had not planned on stopping by the hospital today, so she was dressed in jeans, boots, a sweater and a suede jacket. She wasn’t uncomfortable with admiring looks, she just wondered why? Did she have American written all over her? As she was going up the stairs, she met Rhonda coming downstairs.
“Well, hello miss Scott. You’re becoming a regular around here,” she said.
“Yes, I guess I will be until the end of the week.”
As Stacey reached Shane’s office an attractive older man was leaving. Shane introduced her. “Sir Richard Heath, my fiancée, Stacey Scott.”
“How do you do, sir,” Stacey said, as she shook his hand.