Revelation of Hearts (Stacey and Shane Mcleod, #3) (16 page)

Shane leaned towards her and said in a whisper, “Just one of my many talents.” 

Stacey giggled and a man down the table from them gave them an aggravated look. 

Shane quietly told Stacey, “I think we may have rankled the old boy a bit.”

They took their books and papers and moved down the table a little farther away. 

Stacey took a paper with names and dates from her shoulder bag.  She started her search by looking for Henry Ashworth around fourteen-seventy-six.  That was when he wed Sarah Spencer. Shane was looking for Michael Woodstock around the year fourteen-ninety-six.  That was the recorded date he wed Rebecca, the daughter of Sarah and Henry Ashworth.

While Shane was looking for Woodstock’s, he found quite a few Ashworths, all the way back to fourteen-hundred.  When Shane found a Payton Ashworth, he asked Stacey, “Are you familiar with the name Payton Ashworth?” 

Stacey stopped what she was doing and came to him. “Show me,” she said.

Shane watched Stacey as she read the name. Finally, he asked, “Who was he?”

Stacey said with sorrow in her voice, “Payton Ashworth was the grandson of the seventh Earl and Countess of Dun-Raven.  He had two sons, Payton II and Ross.”

“Look at this name sweetheart,” Shane said as he pointed to the name, Ross Ashworth, born on are around fourteen-thirty-three. Father Payton Ashworth, mother Jane Wentworth-Ashworth.  Ross Eric Ashworth wed, Amy Lucille Rogers, fourteen-fifty-three, Henry Ashworth, born fourteen-fifty-three.

Shane gave Stacey one of his devilish grins and said, “They didn’t waste anytime, did they?” They read on, Henry Ashworth wed-fourteen-seventy-six, to Lady Sarah Spencer, born fourteen-sixty-two. “What does Sir Richard’s journal say?” Shane asked.

“About the same,” Stacey said, “But it’s just the female line.”

“Well, there’s certainly more names here than just the one Female,” Shane said. “There were four males born after Sarah.”

Stacey sat with her chin resting on her fist gazing into space.  She turned to Shane and said, “There was no way people knew about DNA back then, so why the emphasis on the female line?”

Shane asked, “Isn’t there an old belief or doctrine about the daughters of Eve and Adam’s first wife, Lilith?” 

Stacey looked at Shane with surprise and admiration in her eyes and said, “I’ve heard of the Lilith festival, but I didn’t know she was Adam’s first wife.”

Once again, Stacey was getting that irritated look from the man across the table from them.  Stacey, with her natural curiosity asked the man, “Did you know Adam had two wives and the first one was named Lilith?” 

The man smiled at Stacey and said, “Yes, young lady. I believe most educated people know that.”

Shane took umbrage to his remark and told him, “That was very rude. I think you owe my wife an apology.”

The man said, “Quite right young man. I’m not known for my diplomacy. I do apologize, Mrs.

McLeod,” Stacey said. “This is my husband, Doctor McLeod.”

The man stood up, then came down the table to where Shane and Stacey were seated. He said as he put his hand out, “I do apologize to you both.  My name is Ethan Howard. I’m a crusty old professor from Shrewsbury.” 

Shane stood up, shook hands and politely said, “I’m Shane McLeod and this is my wife, Stacey.”

Stacey in turn shook hands and said, “So nice to meet you, sir.”

Professor Ethan Howard squinted at Stacey and said, “I surmise you are an American, Mrs. McLeod, from the southern part of the United States?” 

“Yes I am,” Stacey said. “From Texas actually and please call me, Stacey.”

Professor Howard told them he was a college professor of history and genealogy. That he had never been interested in his own lineage until his niece and nephew became interested in their derivation. “Of course, my being the fossil of the family and with my vocation they assumed I should have all the one-hundred-fifty answers.” He said. “But to my chagrin, I had none.  Now you find me in my endeavor to investigate the past in order to appease their need to know who their bloody ancestors were.”

“If you dislike genealogy so much, why did you choose it as your profession?”  

“Oh, I assure you young woman, I’m interested in genealogy, however, not of ordinary folk. I trace the lineage of kings, queens, pharaohs and such.”

Stacey said, “Those people were despots and authoritarian. It was the common people that made the world go round.  How many totalitarians ever visualized or invented something beneficial to man kind?” 

Professor Howard pointed his finger at Stacey and said, “You, young lady, sound like some of my students, or I should say, some of my more, thought worthy, students. Most of them, I find are not remotely interested in what I have to teach them.  They are there to serve their time and then move on in other directions.” Professor Howard sat for a few seconds looking at the pencil in his hand, then said, “Some intellect once said, ‘Youth is wasted on the young.’ I concur, absolutely.”

Shane smiled at Stacey, then asked Professor Howard, “Is there a specific name or names for which you’re interested in finding?  We’re searching from A’s to W’s, therefore if we can assist you in any way, we’ll be happy to do so.  It appears we may be here for a couple of days.” 

“How kind of you,” Ethan Howard said, “But I’m sure you have enough of your own for which to search.” Then he said, “On second thought, perhaps you can be of help. Do you have any idea where Dun-Raven castle might have been located?  Everyone agrees it existed in Yorkshire, however, the location seems to be a mystery.”

Stacey took Shane’s hand and squeezed it. He looked at her and she nodded her head. Shane said, “Yes, Professor Howard, we know the location.  It’s about forty miles north of Leeds.  I must warn you it’s well nigh inaccessible. The only way up is by horse back.”

Stacey softly asked, “Did your ancestors live there?” 

Before he answered, he inquired, “How is it you know the location of Dun-Raven castle. Most people I have spoken with, never heard of it?”

“It just so happens that my wife is an archaeologist,” Shane said. “We rode up there and looked around last summer.  There’s very little left of it, I’m sorry to say.”

Chapter-27

Professor Ethan Howard

Professor Howard said, “You asked if I had relatives? I really could not say for sure. In my search, I have found obscure and cryptic reference to Dun-Raven castle. I understand it along with many others was destroyed during the, war of the roses.”

Shane looked at his watch and said, “It’s near tea time. I don’t know about you two, however, I’m famished. Do you fancy joining us, Professor Howard?” 

“Yes, please.” Stacey said. “I would love to hear more about your ancestor search. Perhaps you could give us some pointers.”

Professor Howard liked this young couple, therefore he agreed to eat with them.  He was feeling a bit peckish.  It had been some hours since breakfast.  They walked a few streets over to a pub & restaurant.  While they ate, they talk generalization, about the weather and the catastrophic heat wave that was engulfing Western Europe.

Professor Howard said to Stacey, “You being from Texas, I suppose this is just another summer to you.” 

Stacey smiled and said, “Not really sir, I’m used to a dry heat.  The heat here is, moist and sticky, there’s a difference.”

When they had finished eating and were relaxing with friendly conversation, Stacey asked, “Were you born and raised in Shrewsbury professor Howard?” 

“No,” he said. “I teach there. Our family is from Birmingham.”

“Will you tell us about your family?” Stacey asked.  When he gave her a strange look, Stacey said, “I know, I’m terribly nosey, but I would like to hear about them.  You said you’re doing this, ancestor search, at their insistence.”

“Yes,” he said. “That’s correct.  Damon and Deirdre are all I have left. Their father, my younger brother Jacob, was killed in Afghanistan eighteen months ago.  His wife Terry, is taking it rather hard. I’m trying to be there for the twins. Not that I know much about being a father.”

“I have a feeling you know a lot about being an uncle and a friend.” Shane said.

Ethan Howard smiled a grateful smile at Shane. 

Stacey asked, “How old are the twins?” 

“They reached eighteen last month,” he replied. Professor Howard took a swallow of his ale and said, “After their father died, they seem to have a great need to know their origins. I’m sure you understand.  Isn’t that what you two are doing here also?”

Stacey nodded her head, “Yes,” then asked, “What was it in your search that brought you to York?  Birmingham is quite a ways south of here.” 

“I don’t want to sound pompous,” he said, “But a few hundred years ago, the Howards were quite an affluent family. I have searched civil and county records, church documents and military records.  It would appear the Howard ancestor that my lineage appendage from was a knight named James Adam Howard.  The last known record of him was a ransom paid for him in the year fourteen-hundred, by the earl of Dun-Raven.” 

Shane didn’t know who James Howard was, but he knew from the way Stacey was looking at Ethan Howard that she knew. 

As Professor Howard stood up, he said, “I do apologize it seems I have monopolized the conversation.  See what happens when you young people patronize an old man.”

Stacey reached out and touched his hand and said, “Will we see you tomorrow at the historical society?”

He patted her hand and said, “Oh yes, my dear.  You two are the only ones I have met that know where Dun-Raven castle is located.  I must trouble you for the directions.”

As Professor Howard left, Shane turned to Stacey.  Before he could say anything, Stacey said, “Not here, let’s get back to the hotel first.” They took a taxi and was there in no time. Shane ordered room service and asked them to bring a big pot of tea.  When the tea arrived, he poured both of them a steaming cup, then he sat down and took Stacey’s hand and said, “Okay lass, start talking.”

Stacey said, “Remember the portrait of the Dun-Raven family at Sir Richards?” 

“Of course,” he said. “What does that have to do with Ethan Howard?” 

“Remember the twin girls, Jessie and Jackie?  Well, Jessie married a knight named James Adam Howard.”

Shane stood up and said, “You’re not serious?” When Stacey pulled her feet up under her, picked up her teacup and gave Shane, a bet me, look, he said, “Bloody right you are serious!”  Shane sat back down and asked, “What are we going to do?  Are you going to tell him?” 

“I’m not sure,” Stacey said. “What if he asks, how I know?  I don’t wanna get involved in that dream scenario again.  Professor Ethan Howard seems to me to be a man with his feet firmly planted in reality. Therefore, if we tell him, we’ll need to improvise. Not lie, just twist the truth a little.”

“You have a plan?” Shane asked his wife with a smile of sheer admiration on his face.

“Not yet,” Stacey said. “Give me a minute or two.”

Shane chortled, took her in his arms and said, “I would like to give you more that that,” and kissed her. All else would have to wait.  Later as Shane held her in his arms, they devised a plan to impart the information to Ethan Howard without involving the dream part.  They had the truth in the papers from Wakefield manor, plus Grandmother McLeod’s and Stacey’s family histories along with Sir Richard’s journal, which they were investigating.

The next morning, Stacey was up early.  She was putting yellow post it notes on the pages of the three family history books to make it easier to show Professor Howard.  Stacey rang him up and asked him to meet them for breakfast at the hotel dining room. Stacey smiled at Shane.  He was still lying in bed with his arm propped behind his head in order to see her better.

Shane loved watching Stacey; it didn’t matter what she was doing.  He often wondered; how could a man love a woman as much as he loved Stacey?  He so admired her tenacity and enthusiastic love of life.  It seemed everyone’s life she touched became the better for it.  Now Professor Ethan Howard was going to be the recipient of her propinquity correlation.  Shane smiled as he thought of himself and Sir Richard Heath.  They too, had thought of themselves as having a small or no family.  Of course, Shane had three cousins, two of them lived on the other side of the world.  Sir Richard had no family.  Now look; they both had more family than they had ever expected to have. If he and Stacey have their way, there’ll be additions running around soon.

When Stacey finished her posting, she looked up and saw the smile on Shane’s face.  She asked, “What are you smiling about?”

“I was just thinking what a surprise the good professor is about to receive.” 

“Do you think, he may be disappointed?  His ancestor was a knight,” Stacey said.

“I rather doubt he’ll think that way, however, remember his ancestor married the daughter of an earl. I know that means little or nothing to most of you Americans, however, the English dote on that sort of thing.”

“I don’t think, he’ll be that shallow,” Stacey said. “Titles can be bought and sold very easily. I would think family was more important.”

“To us it is, my sweetheart,” Shane said. “Give me a few minutes to shower and we’ll confront the crusty professor with our good news and see how he takes it.”

“Howard Lineage”

Professor Howard had a table and was waiting for them when Shane and Stacey walked into the restaurant.  He noticed the books in her hands, however, he asked no questions. The hotel provided a small private sitting room which Stacey asked permission to use after breakfast. When they were situated with privacy and a pot of tea, Stacey told Ethan Howard, about her family search. 

She told him how she had met Shane, at the hospital, after she hurt her head, and about their visit to his aunt in Yorkshire, and finding Dun-Raven castle. And about finding lord Wakefield and the records, his ancestors had on the tenth Earl and Countess of Dun-Raven.  How Shane and Stacey’s common ancestors, were descendants of the seventh Earl and Countess of Dun-Raven.  She also told him, about the connection to Sir Richard Heath’s family and the portrait he has of the Fitz-Morgan family. Stacey could see Ethan Howard was wondering what all of this had to do with his ancestor, James Adam Howard, but was too polite to interrupt her.  Stacey knew this was where it was going to get sticky.  Last night she had made up a genealogy chart of lineage on the Fitz-Morgan children.  Hopefully, he wouldn’t ask to see the original document.