Revelation of Hearts (Stacey and Shane Mcleod, #3) (17 page)

Stacey showed Professor Howard the chart. The first child born to the Fitz-Morgan family was a son named Geoffrey Shane, born, August sixteen, thirteen-seventy-one. Second off springs were twin daughters, named Jessica and Jacquelyn, born, June twenty, thirteen-seventy-four,. Second son named Brandon Edward, born, October fourteen-thirteen-seventy-seven their last child was a daughter named Cassandra Ann, born, October eighteen, thirteen-seventy-nine..

Stacey explained to him, “Shane and I are descended from their youngest daughter, Cassandra.  One of the twin daughters named Jacquelyn, married a knight named Colin Ashworth.  We are here looking for their descendents.  The other twin, named Jessica, married a knight named James Adam Howard.  Both Colin and James were friends of the twin’s older brother, Geoffrey Shane Fitz-Morgan.  The three of them met while fighting in Ireland with, King Richard II in the year thirteen-ninety-one.”

Professor Howard’s, reactions were skeptical, “How do you know all this?” Ethan asked. “I have been searching for some months and found nothing this extraordinary.”

“We have the advantage of having a family history to guide us,” Shane said. “Other wise, I’m afraid we would be out of our depth also.”

Ethan Howard, sat back in his chair for a couple of minutes absorbing this new and fascinating information. Then he leaned forward and asked, “Why do I get the feeling, as if you know these people from the past personally?” he put his hand up and said, “I am aware of how preposterous that sounds, please forgive me.”

When he said nothing more, Stacey poured him a fresh cup of tea.  She looked to Shane for a sign. He shook his head and gave her a look, meaning for her to be patient and give Professor Howard time to adjust and assimilate this new information.

Professor Howard picked up his cup of tea, looked at Shane and Stacey and said, “If this is all true, and I assume it is, then in a very distant way we are related.”

Stacey smiled and said, “How about that!”

Professor Ethan Howard, eyed Stacey and then said, “Young lady, why do I get the feeling you are keen on this, as if you are gathering your chicks all in a row?”

Shane could not help himself, he tilted his head back and chortled a hearty laugh of relief. He knew there would be more questions, however, the difficult part was over. Stacey, Shane and Professor Howard sat and talked for sometime in the private sitting area. Professor Howard showed Shane and Stacey his paper work of information on the, ‘Howard family research.’

As soon as Stacey saw the name, James Eric Howard of the midlands, she knew he was Jessica and James’s grandson.  He was fourteen years of age and was in training at Hampton Keep when the old countess passed over.  His brother, Jeremy Alan Howard had married Amelia Harwood, the great granddaughter of Cilia Hampton-Burnsall, Rodric Hampton’s older half sister.

Stacey was torn as to what to say.  She wanted Ethan to know he was a direct ancestor of his, but she had not put him on the list. She now remembered James Adam Howard telling the earl and countess that his family lived in the midlands. He had said very little about his family.  Jessie had told her mother, there was a rift between James and his family.  That Dun-Raven, was now his family.  For Ethan to have James Eric’s name, he must have gone south to the Howard’s family domain, at sometime after the old countess died in fourteen-forty-seven.

Chapter-28

If at first you don’t succeed

“Have you been to North Hampton Shire in your search yet?” Stacey asked.

“No, I have not,” he replied. “I was hoping to gain more information from Dun-Raven. I know James Eric Howard is a direct ancestor of ours, but I need proof that he and the knight, James Adam Howard were related.”

To Shane’s surprise, Stacey told Professor Howard, “When we finish our search here today, Shane and I thought, we would go to North Hampton and see what we can find on the earl of Hampton’s family. As we told you, Sir Richard Heath, is descended from the female line of that family.”

Shane wasn’t sure where Stacey was headed with this, but he wanted to back her up, so he asked Ethan, “Would you fancy a trip south with us?”

Stacey gave Shane a look of gratitude, then said to Ethan Howard, “This may be a long shot, but aristocratic families fostered their male children to other noble houses.  It’s quite possible, if your ancestor James Eric Howard was a descendent of the knight James Adam Howard who was the son-in-law of the earl of Dun-Raven, that he may have been fostered to Hampton keep.”

Professor Ethan Howard studied Stacey’s face, then said, “Yes, I think a trip with you young people may be extremely enlightening.”

Shane’s admiration for Stacey just went up another notch.  Never had he witnessed someone being so smoothly maneuvered. What a stratagem this wife of his had turned out to be. 

Stacey asked Shane to make travel arrangements while she looked through the Woodstock lineage. After Shane and Professor Howard went to use the phones, Stacey took up the search again.  Her memories told her to look for Robert Ned Maxwell. Bingo, there it was, big as life.  Robert N. Maxwell, born, November, fifteenth-thirteen-seventy, to Nathan and Lily Maxwell.  Squire and lady Maxwell of Maxwell manor, Briar Hill, Yorkshire.  She searched a little farther. Two pages over, she found the marriage of Robert Maxwell to lady Cassandra Anne Fitz-Morgan of Dun-Raven castle, on September, sixteenth, thirteen-ninety-seven. 

Excitedly, Stacey turned the pages to the year fourteen-fourteen.  She turned page after page, but could not find Eleanor and Thomas Woodstock’s marriage. Stacey put the record book, away and took down one on Falcon Crest castle. Stacey remembered the earl of Dun-Raven, had given the title of baron to Thomas Humphrey Woodstock for a wedding gift when he married, the earl’s granddaughter, Eleanor Maxwell.  Once again, she turned to the year fourteen-fourteen. Shane came to her just as she found the date and names for which she had been searching.  Stacey turned around and threw her arms around him. 

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.”