Authors: Gwen Kirkwood
‘Well, sir, I would have liked to judge the widow for myself but
you all speak highly of her, and you present a good case for her innocence. Perhaps the magistrates will understand the reason why I have not returned with the prisoner if you, as minister of the parish, will write a letter vouching for Mrs Saunders’s character and detailing the events. Also if Mr Glenlydon will confirm the contents of the will, and his belief in Mrs Saunders’s innocence, when he has met her? He and his brother are well respected in the town.’
‘Thank you.’ Fingal gave a sigh of relief.
‘If you don’t mind, gentlemen, I think I shall get on my way,’ the constable said. ‘My ten years as a constable will end in three months but Mrs Ross is one of the most formidable women I have encountered. As for her son, he did not inspire my respect, even before I heard of his dastardly conduct.’
‘I think you are wise, young man,’ the minister said. ‘I will write the letter now.’
It was almost midday when Eliza came down. When she discovered Janet had not been found and the constable had returned to town alone she flew into a rage. Her fury increased when she found the Reverend Drummond and Fingal McLauchlan in Josiah’s office.
‘How dare you make yourselves so familiar in here?’ she demanded haughtily.
‘We are awaiting the arrival of Doctor Carr with Mr Saunders’s lawyer from Dumfries,’ the Reverend Drummond informed her calmly. ‘You may not recognize Fingal McLauchlan these days. Josiah had a high opinion of his abilities. He is a lawyer in Edinburgh now and he is prepared to act in defence of Mrs Saunders should you make any more scurrilous accusations.’
Eliza’s face paled a little but she gave a scornful snort. ‘Who is this lawyer from Dumfries? How do you know he is coming here? What has it to do with either of you?’
‘Mr Glenlydon will read Mr Saunders’s Last Will and Testament. I am one of the executors but that will not interest you.’
‘An executor? There is no will … I am his sister and expect….’
‘You are welcome to stay and hear the reading if you wish,’ the
Reverend Drummond went on blandly. ‘As Josiah’s wife, Janet will be the main beneficiary but as she is absent….’
‘Wife! She was not a proper wife. She married him for what she could get and I mean to see she gets what she deserves and that will be prison, if not the gallows.’
‘It is a pity you have driven her from her home with your malicious gossip but Mr Glenlydon will be sure to convey her husband’s wishes to her when we find her.’
‘She is guilty or she would not have run away! And there is no will.’ She went out and slammed the door behind her.
‘I don’t think the will can have anything to do with me,’ Fingal said, ‘unless it concerns my mother. I pray to God we shall find Janet soon. If only I knew where to look.’
‘I can help you there, Fingal. Janet is safe and well, though still grieving for Josiah and the way he died.’
‘You know where Janet is? Did you…?’
‘No, her departure had nothing to do with me but on reflection perhaps it was better that she was not here. The constable might have taken her to prison before we had a chance to convince him she could not reach the dagger to attack Henry Ross. It would not have been easy to get her out of prison immediately once she was there, even though we know she has probably never committed a crime in her life.’
‘Then how do you know where she is hiding?’
‘It was dawn when Donald came to tell me of your arrival. No one would expect to see me abroad so early. I met Janet waiting to catch the mail coach into England.’
‘England? Dear heaven, I shall never find her there.’ Fingal’s face was white.
‘She was with Joe Foster. He and his mother were at the funeral yesterday. He overheard Mrs Ross telling her husband she had sent for the constable to take Janet to prison. He couldn’t bear the thought of her being locked up. He and his mother persuaded Janet to meet them later. They all spent the night with Hannah Foster’s mother.’
‘Thank God for that!’ Fingal said fervently.
‘Yes, we all need friends. Janet was to travel to England to stay
with Hannah’s cousin. I persuaded her to return to Mrs Fortescue’s for one more night. I promised to send word if it was safe for her to return to Crillion Keep, or if she should go to England until we had proved her innocence. She gave me her bank book in case she needed money but she has great faith in you, Fingal. She seemed comforted when she knew you had come.’
‘I thank God she is safe,’ Fingal repeated. ‘I must tell my mother and Peggy. They are very worried. We could not think where she could go.’ Fingal stood up and took one of the minister’s hands in both of his. ‘Thank you, sir, for keeping Janet’s secret and for being such a good friend to her.’
The Reverend Drummond eyed him quizzically and held on to his hands to detain him. ‘Just a minute, Fingal. You love Janet. That’s it isn’t it? You love the girl.’
‘I think I’ve always loved her,’ Fingal admitted quietly, ‘but I would never have betrayed Mr Saunders as Henry Ross tried to do. It was better for me to move away.’
‘Josiah was wiser than I realized,’ the minister mused. ‘Yes, he was indeed. As you will see when you read the letter he left for you with his lawyer. I thank God he was shrewd enough to send a copy of his wishes to Dumfries. Ah, I believe that will be Mr Glenlydon now, and Doctor Carr.’
‘I will tell my mother that Janet is safe, and ask her to send in some refreshments.’
‘Very well. Perhaps we should move to the library where there is more room. I think curiosity will bring the Rosses to hear what the lawyer has to say.’
The Reverend Drummond smiled reassuringly at Maggie McLauchlan when she came in with a tea tray piled high with refreshments. She looked as though a weight had been lifted from her. Mrs Ross followed her in, looking haughty and making no effort to welcome the new arrivals. Henry followed, looking sullen and heavy-eyed. He had partaken freely of the wine and brandy available at the funeral and afterwards. His mother had assured him she had destroyed Josiah’s will; now nothing seemed to be going to plan.
Mr Glenlydon took his time but eventually he stood up behind
the table and began to read the will. Eliza gasped. She had known Josiah would have to leave something to his stupid wife but she had been too eager to destroy the will to study details.
He had left Janet sole ownership of a small house which she had often admired as she and Josiah rode to Home Farm in the pony and trap. In addition, she would have a yearly allowance to be paid from the estate income. There was also a letter addressed to her. The Bairds and Maggie McLauchlan were guaranteed occupancy of their respective cottages for the remainder of their lives. The lawyer looked over the top of his papers and held Eliza’s gaze.
‘To Mrs Eliza Ross he leaves one hundred sovereigns.’
‘And Crillion Keep?’
‘No. It is as I have stated, Mrs Ross. One hundred sovereigns is a considerable sum.’
‘That will not pay my debts!’ Henry hissed. ‘Has he left me the Keep and estate?’
‘You, young sir? What is your name?’
‘You must know I am his nephew, Henry William Ross. I should be his sole heir.’
‘Mr Saunders did not mention he had a nephew and he makes no mention of you in his will.’ He looked enquiringly at the Reverend Drummond, who explained in a low voice that there was no blood relationship.
‘I see. Then everything is in order. Apart from several bequests to his workers, Mr Saunders leaves the remainder of his estate, including Crillion Keep and Home Farm, plus the rented farms and cottages equally to his wife Janet, and to Mr Fingal McLauchlan.’
Fingal gasped aloud. ‘Surely there is some mistake!’
‘There is no mistake, young man. Here is a letter for you. The other one I shall give to Mrs Saunders when we can locate her. The letters detail the plans Mr Saunders hoped you would carry out between you, I believe, though I am not privy to the exact contents. You cannot be compelled to carry out the deceased’s wishes but he trusted both of you to do what you considered best and were able to do. The Reverend Drummond tells me you are making a good career for yourself in Edinburgh, Mr McLauchlan, so I am sure Mr
Saunders would understand if you choose your own path.’
‘This can’t be true! You have got it all wrong!’ Eliza Ross shrieked, standing up, almost hysterical with rage.
‘Everything is as my client instructed, madam,’ Mr Glenlydon said stiffly. ‘I believe he left a copy of his will, presumably so that anyone who had any questions could read it for themselves. However, I understand someone had access to his private papers and destroyed the copy,’ he added smoothly, giving Eliza a level look from beneath his dark eyebrows. He watched guilty colour rise to her cheeks before she gave a haughty sniff, turned on her heel and headed for the door, calling, ‘Come, Henry. We leave for home today. Please tell Riley to have the coach ready.’
On the Reverend Drummond’s advice, Fingal waited until the following morning before he took the pony and trap to bring Janet home to Crillion Keep. His only thoughts were to see she was safe and well. He had barely considered the terms of Josiah’s will or the changes it might mean to his own destiny. His mother and Doctor Carr had warned him Janet blamed herself for the manner of Josiah’s death and that she was taking it badly and scarcely eating.
‘Mrs Ross and her evil aspersions would make matters worse,’ Fingal said grimly. ‘There is a different atmosphere already. Lizzy and her sister were creeping around like mice being stalked by a hungry cat.’
Fingal had not discussed Mr Saunders’s will with anyone until he could talk to Janet but the Reverend Drummond had assured Maggie, Donald and Peggy that their homes and work were secure for their lifetime. That proved a big relief after the veiled threats cast by Mrs Ross.
When Fingal saw Janet’s small, black-clad figure standing beside the elderly woman whom he remembered as Mrs Fortescue, he longed to seize her in his arms and promise to protect her for the rest of her life, but he knew he had to restrain himself while she was in mourning for her husband. Janet tried to pay Mrs Fortescue for giving her safe refuge but the old lady smiled and shook her head.
‘I know you were a good friend to Molly and I believe my poor
Hannah might have died having that last baby if you had not been there to cook and care for her. I am the one in debt to you, lassie.’
‘It was Mrs McClure, the midwife, who saved your daughter’s life,’ Janet said simply, but the old lady shook her grey head and hugged her.
‘Hannah told me she couldn’t have gone on without you, especially after Molly drowned herself. That brute Foster deserves to rot in hell. Now,’ she said briskly and straightened upright, ‘I’m glad everything will be all right for you at Crillion Keep, Janet. Will you come back to visit sometimes?’
‘Of course I will, and thank you with all my heart,’ Janet said sincerely.
‘Aye, things are different up at Braeheights too now. No more bullying and blustering and spending his money on drink and women. Himself is dependent on Hannah and young Joe now. He’ll be a cripple for life. Hannah has hired a cousin of Lily Bloddret to help in the house. She’s a widow in her fifties and as different from Lily as chalk from cheese. That was the first time Hannah has spent the night under my roof since she married Foster, but she’ll be back again now things have changed. She is sending the younger boys to stay with me so they can attend the school. They will all be coming to the kirk on Sundays too so you’ll see Hannah then.’
Janet was quiet on the drive home to Crillion Keep but as they approached the long drive up to the house, she turned to Fingal.
‘Are you sure it is safe for me to return?’ She shuddered. ‘I know Mrs Ross hates me but I never thought she would send for the constable to put me in prison. I thank God Joe overheard her plans and was able to warn me.’
‘I’m thankful he did too,’ Fingal said. ‘I still can’t believe what a convincing liar Mrs Ross is. It would not have been so easy to prove your innocence once you were in prison.’ He felt her shiver beside him and he squeezed her hand. ‘It’s all in the past now, Janet. The Ross family will never trouble you again. Tomorrow Donald is going to drive both of us to Dumfries in the coach so that you can hear Mr Glenlydon read Mr Saunders’s will. The Reverend Drummond asked him to come to Crillion Keep to read
it yesterday. He wanted Mrs Ross to hear it because she could not argue with the lawyer and Mr Saunders’s written word. They went home yesterday afternoon.’
‘Thank you, God, for that,’ Janet breathed fervently. ‘I could not live in the same house with them whatever Josiah’s last wishes.’
‘He was wise enough to know that, Janet. Tomorrow you will hear his plans for your future. I hope you will be happy with the generous provisions he has made.’
He didn’t tell her that Josiah Saunders had been equally generous to him. Was the Reverend Drummond right in thinking Josiah had believed Janet loved him, as he loved her? What if he was wrong? If they carried out the terms of his will they would be bound together for life, even if they were not man and wife. Fingal didn’t think he could bear that – to see Janet every day, to work together side by side, to share their problems and their triumphs, but never be able to take her in his arms and love her.
Janet was up early and neatly dressed in black ready for the journey to Dumfries.
‘I have never been as far from home as this,’ she said in a low voice. ‘Part of me feels excited, and that makes me feel guilty when Josiah is dead, but I am apprehensive too. You are sure the lawyer will not hand me over to the constable or the magistrate?’
‘I am absolutely sure you are safe, Janet, and your husband was one of the wisest and kindest men I have met,’ Fingal said sincerely. ‘He would have been pleased to give you a little excitement. After we have visited the lawyer, we shall walk down the main street of the town. You will like that. Donald will take the horses to the inn so they will be fed and rested for the return journey and we shall meet him there to eat some refreshment.’
‘Thank you, Fingal. You have thought of everything. I don’t know how I would have managed without you.’ Her expression grew sad. ‘If only you did not have to go so far away for your work,’ she added with a sigh. ‘The Reverend Drummond says you have done well since you moved north again. When must you return to Edinburgh?’
‘I shall be here for a few more days, then I must return and make plans for the future. Part of my success has been because
I am unmarried and free to travel to the more distant clients. Unfortunately, finding favour with the senior partner has caused jealousy with two of the clerks who are older than I am and who have been there longer.’ He sighed heavily. ‘Jealousy and greed cause so much unhappiness. I had no wish to usurp their places.’
‘I am sure you work hard, Fingal. The Reverend Drummond says you are a credit to the parish and to Josiah and my grandfather.’
Fingal frowned, puzzled by her words. ‘I hope I am a credit to your grandfather. He taught me so much about the world beyond our parish boundaries. Why does he think I am a credit to Josiah Saunders?’
‘I suppose it is because you have worked hard and done so well. Josiah had faith in you when he awarded the scholarship to enable you to attend the university.’
Fingal’s face went pale. He turned towards her. ‘Did your husband tell you that?’
‘Oh no! Josiah never mentioned any of his good deeds or the small kindnesses he did for those in need, but he often said he wished he had been a dominie like my grandfather. He believed knowledge was the route to many kinds of riches – and he didn’t mean money.’
‘Then how do you know it was Mr Saunders who paid for my time at university? I thought the scholarship was awarded by the elders, especially the laird. I thought it was probably due to the persuasion of your grandfather and the Reverend Drummond. I never knew. I could have thanked him so many times, and in so many ways.’
‘Josiah was proud of your achievements, Fingal, and he respected you as a man. I believe he considered that enough reward,’ Janet said softly. ‘He had no respect for Henry Ross, or he would have helped him too.’
Fingal was deep in thought for the rest of the journey, mulling over her words. He realized now that he was already indebted to Mr Saunders. Without his help he would have become a coachman like his father and Donald. He was beginning to understand why Josiah Saunders wanted to leave education as his legacy for all the
children of the parish, however poor they might be. How could he refuse to carry out his wishes? What would he do if Janet refused to share the duties which Josiah had delegated to both of them in the belief they loved each other? What if he had been wrong about Janet’s feelings, or if the Reverend Drummond had misunderstood Josiah’s meaning?
Janet was overwhelmed when she had listened to the lawyer reading Josiah’s will.
‘He has been so generous to me already,’ she said, ‘and now to leave me a house of my own. As for Crillion Keep,’ she cast Fingal a puzzled glance, ‘I do not understand why I should have a part of it as well.’
‘You will, my dear, when you read the letter which my client left for you. I suggest you retire to a quiet room in the inn and read it in peace. If there is anything you would like to discuss, or anything for which you need my help, then I shall be here until 3.30 this afternoon. Your husband was a good client and it will give me pleasure to assist you.’
When she had read the letter, Janet realized that Josiah had fully understood, and even shared, her desire to teach the younger children of the parish, but he had known the task of organizing a school where children could board would be too great for her on her own.
‘Did he write about setting up a school in the letter to you, Fingal?’ she asked in troubled tones, ‘even though he knows you are making a career for yourself as a lawyer?’
‘He did,’ Fingal admitted. ‘I must say it was a shock.’
‘Josiah knew how much I longed to teach. He encouraged me to help Evie Bell and Peggy’s two children. He taught me so many things, which you and Andrew learned from Grandfather. Josiah knew so much. He said it was because books had been his companions when he was a boy and unable to do many of the things other boys did on account of his health. He has taught me more Latin and I can speak French fairly well.’
‘My mother tells me he also instructed you in keeping the ledgers for running the household and Home Farm, as well as explaining about rents for all the cottages?’
‘Yes, he did. I enjoyed keeping the ledgers and understanding the figures.’
‘You are more like Andrew than I realized,’ Fingal said. ‘He could always beat me at mathematics and science.’
‘Yes, but Grandfather said you could beat him at Latin and French and everything to do with English writers.’
‘So the idea of setting up a school in Crillion Tower does not frighten you, Janet?’
‘No, it is what Josiah wanted more than anything else.’ She looked suddenly troubled. ‘But I know I cannot do it alone and I shall understand if you decide to return to Edinburgh and your career as a lawyer.’
‘I see. When your period of mourning is over I had planned to ask you to marry me. I had hoped to persuade you to come with me to Edinburgh.’ He watched her expressive face.
‘I couldn’t do that, Fingal! Josiah was a good man and he was kind to me when I had no home and no one to help me. I must respect his wishes now.’
‘I understand that, Janet.’
‘Oh, Fingal, you’ll never know how much I longed to hear you say you wanted to marry me when Josiah was waiting for my answer. But you went away.’
‘I went because I had nothing to offer you then, except my love. That would not have provided a roof for us, or for your mother when she was so badly in need of care. You’ll never know what it cost me to follow my mother’s advice and leave you to make your own decision. I was sure Josiah Saunders would never treat you badly, but I wanted to care for you. Now I can afford to keep a wife and you will be free again after a year.’
‘I do love you, Fingal. I think I have always loved you, but I cannot go to Edinburgh. I must try to carry out Josiah’s wishes and help other children as he helped me. He believed we should all have the opportunity to learn.’
‘Ah, Janet,’ Fingal’s eyes were shining and a wide smile lit his face. ‘All I ever wanted was to hear you say you love me. I don’t care where I live so long as we can be together. It is true I am enjoying my work and the progress I am making, but so long as
we can work together, side by side, knowing that you love me, I will wait for you for ever.’
‘Y-you mean you would come back to live at Crillion Keep? You would help me establish a school and you would teach the older boys, and the girls if they wanted to go on learning?’ Janet’s eyes were wide with hope.
‘Of course I will, so long as we are together,’ Fingal responded joyously. His expression sobered. ‘I shall have to give fair notice to my employers. But perhaps it is a good thing if I am away from you while you are in mourning. Each week without you will seem like an eternity. I long to hold you in my arms and make you truly mine, Janet.’
‘Oh, Fingal, that’s wonderful! I’m sure Josiah will be sending us his blessing.’
‘Now let us go and find Donald and eat. Then we will call again on Mr Glenlydon and tell him what we have decided to do.’
Fingal was in for another surprise when the lawyer had heard their plans.
‘The Reverend Drummond hoped you would carry out my client’s wishes together. He assured me that you are an intelligent and capable young woman, Mrs Saunders, and that you will organize the facilities for a school efficiently. He tells me there are many people in the parish who will be glad to work for you and assist you. However, it seems a pity to give up your career as a lawyer entirely, Mr McLauchlan. When you return from Edinburgh finally I suggest you contact me again. Perhaps we could come to some arrangement if you would like to work two days each week with me and my brother. We have already discussed this and he is agreeable. Your work would mainly be dealing with country clients on your side of the burgh. Many find it difficult to travel into town. I think you would find the work stimulating and the extra money would be useful no doubt, especially if you get a wife and family of your own.’ He smiled and looked from one to the other. ‘The Reverend Drummond told me it is no secret that Mr Saunders hoped the two of you would marry.’
A year later, Janet, and her childhood sweetheart were married in the village church. It was not a large wedding but Maggie McLauchlan and Peggy, with help from Mrs Bell and Evie, had made a feast at Crillion Keep for all those on the estate to wish them well. Also Mr Cole, who was now a widower, had insisted on making Janet a wedding dress in pale-blue silk as a gift. Hannah Foster and her brood of boys were there, along with Mrs Fortescue, as well as the Bell family and all their workers from Home Farm. Lizzy and Emma were beside themselves with excitement. They had cleaned the whole house under Mrs Mossy’s supervision and brought in a vase of fresh flowers for the bedroom which the bride and groom would use. Fingal’s niece, Beth, was Janet’s bridesmaid. She smiled shyly at everyone, while her brother Angus stood stiffly in his best suit and starched collar and Peggy beamed proudly at her offspring.