Authors: Linda Daly
“Who was that?” asked Felicity, watching the man slowly move toward
the other buildings at a slow pace, whistling.
“A very rude man, named Gilbert O’Flaherty. Who apparently loves to
annoy women almost as much as he hates America, judging by his sarcastic
comment of the land of opportunity.” Miranda tooted, then paused glancing
back in his direction, speaking her thoughts. “Hmm, I wonder if he’s any
relationship to Margaret–Ann O’Flaherty, the housekeeper at Michael’s old
home, the one that Elise and Joshua moved into?”
“I’m sure there must be countless O’Flaherty’s, with so many Irish
immigrants these days. Did you notice a resemblance?” Felicity asked,
while assembled the children in a single line.
“What I noticed is that he’s obnoxious, with hate in his green eyes.”
“So Miranda, Mr. O’Flaherty mustn’t have been too unappealing if you
noticed he had green eyes . . .” Felicity purposely let her voice trail off
while raising her brow. “How green were they? Like the meadows of the
moors?” she asked, teasing her friend.
“Oh pish-posh! Now don’t go trying to make something out of an
innocent comment in passing.” Miranda scolded, shaking her head as she
followed her friend into the schoolhouse.
Hearing the laughter of his wife, Benjamin smiled and entered his
newly-arranged office to start on the Sunday service. Just as he sat down in
front of the blank sheets of paper, there was a knock at the door and he
said, “Yes. Come in, Megan.”
Before him stood an older girl that would have been forced to leave the
orphanage if she hadn’t agreed to stay on as a maid to help with the
housework in exchange for room and board and a few dollars a month.
“Begging your pardon, Reverend, Mr. James Sterling is here to see
you.”
“Right. Well show him in.” As an afterthought, he quickly added. “Oh
Megan, I missed you at service this morning. Was there a problem?”
“No, sir. I was helping the cook after the morning meal, before I started
with my chores.”
“Hmm, that is most disturbing,” he mumbled more to himself then to
the young woman. “It would appear more help is needed around here.”
Making a mental note to address that problem with the bishop, he
absentmindedly said, “Please, show Mr. Sterling in.”
As James Sterling approached, Benjamin stood up and shook his hand.
“James, how good of you to come by this morning. To what do I owe this
honor?”
“Reverend Myles, good to see you too.” Shaking Benjamin’s hand,
hoping he didn’t look as desperate as he felt. “I dropped off some extra
meat and other canned goods that I thought you could use.”
“Are you serious? We can always use extra provisions. How good of
you to think of us. With the budget so meager, it’s becoming a challenge to
feed the children we already have, not to mention the extra ones that arrive
daily.” Realizing he was rambling and seeing the distressed look on
James’s face, he hastily said, “Forgive my rudeness, I’ve forgotten my
manners. Come in please, and sit down if you have a moment.”
“Yes, if you have some time.”
As James took a seat in the chair Benjamin was pointing to, he politely
asked, “How are you and Felicity settling in after returning from
Washington? I trust your trip went well?”
“Let’s just say the trip was disappointing. Congress seems to be
sympathetic, yet not willing to offer any more funding. No one seems to
have an answer, yet everyday more and more children are at our doorsteps.
Even though this was once a Negro orphanage, we have so many Irish
immigrants that we should just change the name. I cannot imagine what I
would do without Felicity. She is wonderful with the children. They take to
her beautifully, and of course, now with Miranda back helping out, I hope
that will help relieve some of Felicity’s burdens.”
“You are indeed a fortunate man to have such a loving and devoted
wife. How many children do you care for now?”
Benjamin rubbed his beard for a moment, in thought. “Well, when we
left at the latter of last month, there were just under two-hundred and
seventy, but that number is now nearly up to three-hundred, in less than a
month.”
“Three-hundred, where do you house them all?”
“In this building, we house the boys. Their dorms are on the second
floor, and the hall on this level is filled with tables to feed all of the
children, which we do in shifts with the numbers increasing daily. Then in
the other smaller building, next to our living quarters over there . . .”
Benjamin walked to the dingy windows and pointed to the red bricked
building. “All the girls are in that building right next to the church.”
“Well Reverend, it does appear you have your hands full. Who takes
care of the cooking and cleaning for all of these children?”
“We have a small staff, unfortunately. So, the children are responsible
for making up their own beds of course, and we’ve just hired Megan, that
nice young girl who showed you in, which brings us up to twelve,
including Felicity and myself. Unfortunately, Megan is very young and
needs direction, so she’s not much help as of yet. After the age of sixteen,
children are not allowed to stay on here any longer as a pupil. So instead,
Megan has elected to stay on in exchange for room and board. She’s our
housekeeper.”
“Ah so sixteen is the cutting-off, age is it? Then what do they do?”
“Well, that is a problem. Them being orphans, of course they have no
families, so we are supposed to help them get established elsewhere.”
“Right. And just how are you to do that?”
“Thank goodness, I’ve only got to worry about two young men for
now. Since the rest of the children are younger, but eventually of course,
I’ll have to make arrangements with local merchants to see if they can take
them on as apprentices.”
“Hmm . . .” James asked while rubbing his chin in thought. “You say
you have two lads now, that you must find positions for?”
“Yes. Jessup, and Christopher. Both will turn sixteen within a month.”
“Why not send them by the warehouse? Maybe I could get them
started in my shipping plant?”
“That’s mighty fine of you, James. I’ll do that first thing tomorrow,
right after services. I can even have you meet the young lads today if you
like.” Benjamin’s enthusiasm clearly showed in his tone.
“Right. Well then that’s settled. Now who feeds all of them? If you
don’t mind me asking of course?”
“No of course not. Molly is our cook, and Felicity comes in before the
noon meal to help while Miranda keeps the younger children occupied in
the courtyard. It works out, but the strain on Felicity is so great, she works
from sunup to sundown tending to the children.”
“Well then why not hire more help?”
“That’s another dilemma. There are simply no funds. The bishop
sympathizes with our needs, but the whole diocese is in need of financial
aide, so he’s stretched things as far as he can as well. As it is, Megan’s
meager monthly wage of three dollars comes directly out of our salary, but
we need her and there was no other way. As it is, I’ve already dipped into
Felicity’s inheritance for the children, and I will not see it dwindle to
nothing . . .”
“I had no idea things were that desperate.”
“How ungracious of me to ramble on about our problems. Especially
after you have so generously offered to help with Jessup and Christopher.
Not to mention you were kind enough to deliver some much-needed food.
I’m in your debt, James. Thank you! If there is ever anything I can do to
assist you, I hope you won’t hesitate to ask.”
James looked at Benjamin, sheepishly. “As it turns out, the donation of
food was no more then a ruse to come and speak to you today. Hell, I don’t
know if it’s for guidance, or because you are the only man in the world
who can appreciate how difficult it is at times being married to Lavinia. I
know I have no right to ask for your help, after all that has transpired
between us . . .” James fumbled over his words, apparently embarrassed by
bringing up the past and quickly added. “But I’m desperate.”
“I see. Don’t get me wrong, James, your kindness is most appreciated
for whatever the reason. However, you need not have felt it was necessary
to bring food as a bribe or for that matter, offering apprenticeship for our
two orphans, if you were in need of spiritual guidance. That’s assuming
that’s what you’ve come to see me about this morning?”
“Yes and no. You see I was told this morning by my wife that last
evening I did something shameful, unthinkable really, and I was hoping
you could offer me some advice.”
“I’m not sure I follow you, James. Maybe it would be better to start at
the beginning.”
“Right.” James looked at Benjamin with troubled eyes. “It’s regarding
Lavinia.”
“I guessed as much. But as you know our past relationship was strained
to say the least. Lavinia and I were like strangers living under the same
roof, I’m afraid. So regretfully, I won’t be much good to you on advice
where she is concerned. However, why not tell me what it is that has
troubled you enough to come to me of all people, this morning. Perhaps I
can be of some help after all. Certainly I will try, if at all possible.”
Without looking at the man before him, James began. “Marriage to
Lavinia, has been shall we say . . . difficult. As you know, the woman has
many moods, easily to be upset.”
“Yes. That I do recall. I always felt this was from her upbringing
though.”
Ignoring Benjamin’s opinion, James quickly added. “Since the death of
the Squire, and him leaving the lion share of his fortune to Annabelle, she
has been volatile. Consumed with anger and hate.”
“I wasn’t aware of how he divvied up his holdings. Nor was it any of
my concern. So are you saying Lavinia resents the division of his holdings,
rather than her father’s passing?”
“I would like to have said his death, however to be frank, Lavinia
resents being left with the townhouse in London while Annabelle has
everything else.”
“I see . . . go on,” Benjamin said pensively.
“As I’ve said, her behavior has been radical, or possibly I’m seeing her
for what she really is for the first time, with my eyes opened. She enjoys
manipulating people. I hate to admit that, especially by manipulating me
and taunting me sexually.”
“James, Lavinia is a strikingly beautiful woman. There is no doubt
about it. But of these matters I’m not one who would be able to comment,
nor would I want to." Benjamin blushed, recalling how he had been
seduced by her charms the time he had been physically involved with
Lavinia, and quickly added, "Surely you can understand?"
Noting James hadn’t responded and sensing James needed reassurance
regarding his prior involvement with Lavinia, Benjamin asked, “Is this
what’s troubling you? Trust me, I know how sensitive it is with all of us
living so close to one another, knowing the same people as we do.
However, I can assure you, I love only Felicity.”
“No, no I understand that. And as awkward as it is, your prior
involvement with my wife is not the only thing that is troubling me where
you and Felicity are concerned. And although I had no intention of
bringing any of this up today, since we are on the subject may I speak
freely?”
“Of course.” Benjamin leaned forward, showing great concern as
James continued.
“From the day we returned from our honeymoon and discovered that
you and Felicity were here . . . Well, in truth, our relationship took a turn
for the worse. Of course, receiving a copy of Randolph’s will from his
solicitor only made matters worse, compounded by the fact that Annabelle
was traveling extensively through Europe with Rupert, which caused
Lavinia to become bitter and angry. Reliving the past daily, she recalled
those events that caused her to be excommunicated from the life she had
once known. I’m sure you have seen how agitated she is every time she
happens to run into you or Felicity. It’s as if she must face her past all over
again. As a result, I’ve been spending more and more time at the club to
avoid her tantrums.”
Leaning forward in his chair, James added. “In truth I’ve enjoyed the
drink far too much in excess, which seems only to add to our difficulties as
she constantly reminds me of your virtuous behavior. So much so that I
have grown to hate the sight of you. And have taken pleasure in Lavinia’s
demeaning you and Felicity at every opportunity.”
James’s words obviously caused him distress, and as he glanced down
at the floor, Benjamin, feeling the other man’s pain, putting his own
personal feelings aside, spoke as a man of the cloth.
“As I’m sure you have come to realize, alcohol is only an escape. It
serves no purpose other than to mask your burdens and can only create
more.”
Judging by Benjamin’s demeanor, James felt confident he had drawn
him into his confidence and said, “Reverend, I know that only too well.
Last night is proof of that.”
“What happened last night?” Benjamin asked with genuine concern.
“I think the more appropriate question would be, what didn’t happen
last night?” James said, looking up at the puzzled Benjamin.
“I don’t follow?”
“This morning I have been accused of attacking my wife last evening.
Forcing myself on her.” James’ voice was barely audible watching
Benjamin’s eyes closely paying particular attention to his reaction by
saying Lavinia had been attacked.
“Are you saying Lavinia has accused you of defiling her sexually?
Forgive me James, for asking such a question. But is there any truth to her
accusation?”
Compelled to exonerate himself of any wrongdoing to the man whom
he knew capable of such an act himself, having been told on countless
times by Lavinia how Benjamin had been a wild beast, James said, “No.
I’m certain of it. I’ll admit I was drinking. Quite heavily in fact, but I did
not
force myself on her. This may seem hard to believe, but the truth is
Lavinia seduced me, as only she can do being a master temptress.”
Suddenly realizing the irony of speaking such a topic with James,
Benjamin stirred in his chair as James continued.
“Don’t misunderstand, my manly needs were met all right, however
there was never any force on my part. This I’m certain of.”
“Just how can you be certain? You have just confessed that you were
filled with the drink, and possibly under this influence . . .”
James was not going to give the high and mighty hypocrite that sat
before him any opportunity of giving himself an excuse for the heinous
crime he had committed against his wife, so he responded loudly. “No! I
recall her drawing me to her, pulling me even to her . . .”