The Many Lives of Monica MacDonald MM02
The Awakening
By Denise Arnault
Copyright © 2024 Denise Arnault All rights reserved
The Many Lives of Monica MacDonald continues with the tale of a young girl wandering dazed in a park in the center of Edinburgh Scotland.
Mary Woolsey was enjoying her day at the park with her new beau, Theodore, who was presently lounging on their blanket beside her. The weather was unseasonably warm in Edinburgh, Scotland for May being just over 13 degrees centigrade. She decided that 1809 was turning out to be a warm year. Unfortunately, the perfection of her outing was dispelled by a most unusual event.
She watched aghast as a young girl in her late teens or early twenties, stumbled from behind a large hedge not five feet from her and Theodore. The girl’s obvious disorientation was not the thing that first caught Mary’s attention. It was the fact that the girl was clad only in a thin cotton nightgown with a rope or string of some kind tied about her waist.
“Theo! That girl needs our help!” she cried.
Leaping up from his rest, Theodore moved quickly towards the strange girl. She seemed to pay him no heed as she continued to stumble forward, hands outstretched as if feeling her way.
Grasping one of the girl’s hands, he asked, “Are you in need, Miss?” The question was certainly redundant, but he could not think of anything more to the point.
The girl stopped and just stared at him with blank eyes. Mary came up and took the girl’s other hand and added her concerned voice.
“We must get you somewhere safe. Where is your home?”
The girl did not answer but merely turned her head slowly looking blankly at both of her saviors.
“What is your name?” Theodore persisted.
Finally the girl croaked out an answer, “I… I don’t … know...”
She did not answer any more of their questions. Theodore and Mary started leading the girl towards the exit from the park. She allowed herself to be pulled along.
Once the group exited the park, Theodore was able to flag down a hackney carriage. They helped the girl in, and Theodore directed the driver to take them to the new police station, which had recently been built as a result of the Police Act of 1805. Theodore noticed that the driver did so without a single comment, as if half-clad girls rode in his cab every day. He decided not to dwell on the possibilities of that.
* * *
Inspector Daniel McDermott sat at his rather large desk thinking that it just may not have enough space for the growing pile of papers upon it. There was little of the top of the plain brown oak desk visible underneath the clutter. His musings were interrupted by a loud group of people approaching his office from down the hallway.
The noise reached a crescendo as Sargent McClellan escorted two women and one man into the office. Every one of them except one was talking in a growing volume, trying to make themselves heard.
It was the one not uttering a sound that drew McDermott’s attention. A young girl most inappropriately dressed in a torn nightgown, her feet bare on the cold oak plank floor, stood at the center of the cacophony ignoring it all, looking about the spare office without comprehension.
Although the nightgown did little to conceal her femininity, he could not take his eyes off her tussled auburn curls falling across those striking blue eyes. He knew that this was totally unprofessional, but he could not break the spell.
Sargent McClellan took the initiative to command loudly, “QUI-ET!”
Pleased with the result of his command, he turned to the Inspector and continued, “These two people have discovered this young lady wandering about the King’s Park in a disoriented state.” As he spoke, he indicated unnecessarily which of the visitors fitted which part of his description, after which he touched the bill of his cap in a salute and exited the office, closing the door behind him.
The Sargent’s comments broke through Inspector McDermott’s haze, and he regarded the other two people who had been escorted into his office critically for a few moments. They appeared to be a normal upper-class couple and thus a little uncomfortable in their present surroundings.
He broke the silence, as he pointed at the dazed girl, “Do either of you know this young lady?”
Theodore stepped forward and replied, “Neither of us knows this woman, nor have we seen her before today.” Mary shook her head in silent agreement.
“How did she come to be in your company, then?” McDermott asked.
“We were enjoying a morning at the park, The King’s Park, and she approached us from behind a nearby hedge,” Theodore supplied and then continued, “She claims to not know her name and has not answered any other questions, so we decided that we had better bring her here for the police to sort out.”
“Right. You did the proper thing,” the Inspector agreed.
He thought for a moment more, then stepping to the door, he opened it and called down the hall, “Sargent McClellan, bring a cloak, if you please.”
He returned to his desk and continued, “Please, everyone be seated.”
There being only two chairs for visitors, Theodore helped the dazed girl into one of them, and stood behind the other as Mary sat in it.
Theodore and Mary watched the Inspector expectantly as he sat quietly once more and looked at the other girl. As he watched, the girl slowly turned her head and looked directly into his eyes without blinking.
Mary seemed to catch the movement out of the corner of her eye and looked over at the mystery girl, placing her hand over hers and said, “Don’t worry. The Inspector will sort this out.”
The words and touch finally seemed to affect the young girl. She blinked rapidly a few times and turned to look at Mary.
“It will be all right,” Mary continued.
Inspector McDermott rose from his chair, stepped quickly around his desk and kneeling in front of the girl took her free hand in both of his.
“Who are you.” He asked the girl.
“I… I don’t know,” the girl answered haltingly, but with more feeling than she had shone before. “I woke up outside and these people brought me here. Where am I? Who are you?”
“You are at police headquarters. I am Inspector McDermott,” he told her. “You seem to be becoming more lucid.”
“Yes, My head does seem to be more clear,” the girl said. “But why cannot I remember anything before this morning?”
“You must have struck your head or had some sort of shock. Possibly, your mind does not want to recall anything just now.”
The girl leaned forward and pulling her hands free buried her face in them for a moment.
Finally, looking up, she said, “I just do not understand.”
“I am going to send you to the Royal Infirmary for the night. They can make sure that you are in shape physically while I attempt to discover your past,” the Inspector said. Turning to the other couple he continued, “Thank you for your quick response and assistance in this matter. We will take it from here.”
Theodore leaned forward extending his right hand and said, “Thank you, Inspector. We were glad to be of some service.”
Helping Mary to rise, he continued, “We will take our leave now.”
Mary patted the girl’s hand as she stood up and told her, “You are in good hands now. Everything will be fine, I’m sure.”
At that moment, Sargent McClellan opened the door holding the requested cloak. Inspector McDermott informed him of the plan and directed him to arrange transport for the young girl to the Royal Infirmary.
As the Sargent began to lead his nervous charge away, McDermott assured her, “They will make you comfortable at the Infirmary and I will be over in the morning to check on you.”
The girl said nothing but cast a last look over her shoulder as the office door closed behind her.
As he watched them leave, McDermott dwelled on why he felt so concerned and protective for the strange young woman. In his line of work, he encountered many people of all ages and conditions, but there was something about this girl that he could not place a finger on. Something that pulled at more than just his professional instincts. That last haunted look in her eyes as she left, or possibly something else he almost glimpsed behind her blank stare. He shook his head and smiled to himself. Time would reveal what his thoughts could not quite ferret out.
* * *
McDermott waited in the small sitting room for visitors at the Royal Infirmary. The space was comfortably decorated with plush lounging chairs surrounded by small tables with skinny curved legs in the French style popular in the prior century. The tables supported a variety of lamps, bowls and figurines all resting on intricate white doilies. The walls were covered with a printed paper reminiscent of a pastoral woodland scene. The smell of cleaning compounds was in the air, but not so strongly as to be annoying.
He knew that he could have insisted on going into the ward to meet the woman he had come to see, but he did not want to impose on her privacy. He considered for a moment the oddity of a person in his official capacity being considerate of the privacy of the object of an investigation. For some reason it just seemed appropriate in this case.
In due course, a nurse escorted the girl from yesterday into the room. She appeared much improved over when he had last seen her being led away by Sargent McClellan. The staff had found old cast-off clothing for her to wear in place of her somewhat tattered nightgown. It was a combination of ill matched items but a least was more appropriate for greeting visitors.
The girl’s manner was much more alert. Her eyes were clear and inquisitive as she looked quickly about the small room before settling on McDermott.
"You are the man I met yesterday," she said in a voice that was steady but soft. Then she inquired, “Do you have news for me Inspector?”
“I have reviewed all of the listings for the last week and there has been no one matching your description reported missing either in or near Edinburgh,” the Inspector responded. “The staff here at the Infirmary report that the nightgown that you were found wearing had no manufacturer markings, and the only other item on your person was an intricate amulet. We may yet track down some information related to one of those.”
He continued, “As you have probably already been informed, the physicians can find nothing amiss regarding your health and are anxious to release you to make room for more acute patients.”
“What am I to do then?” The girl asked.
McDermott was ready with an answer to this question. “I have considered that problem and think that you may be fortunate, if that can be said about your current circumstances. It seems that the housekeeper at my lodging is searching for a suitable assistant. The position would pay little but would include room and board. Would you be amenable to such a position?”
The girl thought for just a moment before responding, “It would seem that I have little choice in the matter. I must find a placement of some kind until my memory returns.”
“Your hands are not those of someone used to labor,” McDermott noted. “But I don’t believe that Mrs. Witherstone has anything too strenuous in mind as a part of the position.”
“That does seem too fortuitous to ignore!” She continued smiling.
“Excellent!” McDermott said. “I have a coach outside waiting. We will get you released from your confinement,” he smiled to indicate the humorous use of the word and continued, “Mrs. Witherstone is expecting you.”
“Cheeky!” the girl exclaimed. “You think that you have me at your mercy!” Her voice indicated that her statement was in jest as well.
The nurse departed for a few minutes, returning with the doctor and a small bundle presumably containing the girl’s belongings. A brief discussion with the doctor resulted in the agreement that the patient could be discharged.
* * *
When the coach dropped Inspector McDermott and the girl off at his lodgings, he showed her around through the garden to the back kitchen door, which led into Mrs. Witherstone’s domain. He reached up and lightly tapped on the door.
It did not take long for the door to open in answer to his summons. A portly woman of advanced years appeared. She was neatly dressed with a light coating of flour on her apron. Her mostly gray hair was pulled back into a modest bun, held in place by a white cotton cap secured by a thin ribbon. Her friendly face was obviously accustomed to the broad smile she wore as she beamed out at her callers.
“You must be the girl that Daniel was telling me about. I’m Mrs. Witherstone,” she introduced herself, holding forth both hands to clasp one hand each of those she greeted.
Not in the least surprised that the housekeeper had used his given name, McDermott reached out and took her proffered hand and said, “Yes, I’ve brought, uh…uh… We can’t keep just saying ’the girl’. You have to have a name!”
He thought for just a few seconds, then pronounced, “Angelique! We will call you Angelique, until we discover your name, since you appeared as ifan angel out of nowhere.”
“I like it,” the girl who was now Angelique said.
“Well, Angelique,” Mrs. Witherstone said. “Daniel tells me that you probably do not have any experience in this kind of work. Do you think that you can fill in where needed and work diligently?”
“I do,” Angelique agreed.
“Then I think you will do just fine here,” the housekeeper announced. “It doesn’t pay much, but room and board is provided. When can you start?”
“Now would be great!” Angelique responded enthusiastically.
“Agreed!” Mrs. Witherstone said just as enthusiastically. “Come on in and we will get you started. Daniel, we will see you at dinner.”
* * *
Angelique was paying very close attention to what Mrs. Witherstone was saying. The cook/housekeeper was explaining to Angelique how to blend vegetables together with chunks of beef in a pot to create a delicious Scottish stew. She loved soaking up all the knowledge.
The process made so much sense to Angelique that she started to think that just maybe she had experience with cooking in her unknown past.
She learned the details about how the flour was used to coat the meat, which was then browned to create a crusty glaze. Then she was told how the interaction between the vegetables starches and glaze thickened the stew and eventually provided the signature flavor. The interconnection of it all felt so logical and tugged at her soul for some reason. It was very fulfilling and was almost as if it was a part of her.
Later, at the evening meal, she was helping to serve. Inspector McDermott was in attendance, as usual.
As Angelique was ladling some stew into his bowl he said, “Could I have a word afterwards. I wanted to let you know the latest news regarding our efforts.”
She blushed ever so slightly. He was handsome after all and his frequent attention was flattering even if he always indicated that it was strictly professional courtesy.
“Certainly Inspector,” she replied keeping her eyes on her stew pot.
“After the meal then,” he suggested.
“I have to clean up first, then there will be time,” Angelique said.
As it was six of the evening, he suggested, “I will wait for you in the garden outside the kitchen door then, around half past seven.”
She agreed then continued to serve the other tenants. Then she retired to the kitchen to eat her portion and wait for everyone to finish so she could clean away the dishes.
At the appointed time, Inspector McDermott was in the agreed upon garden, resting on one of two small iron chairs near a little table arranged under a curved wooden bower. He did not have long to wait, as Angelique pushed open the kitchen door exactly at 7:30 and stepped out. Seeing him at the table she made her way over to him and sat in the other chair.
“I’m glad that your duties allowed you time to talk with me,” McDermott started the conversation.
“Me as well, Inspector,” Angelique replied. “I enjoy our conversations.”
“As do I,” he said, then continued, “I believe that we know each other enough that we can move on from such formal titles. Won’t you just call me Daniel?”
“That would be better, I agree,” she said. “And you must call me Angelique, as well.”
“Agreed,” Daniel said with a smile.
“Have you found anything?”
“Nothing new, per se,” he replied, “But I do have news. I have a friend who I was discussing your matter with. He has a great interest in such things and hopes to join the ranks someday.”
“In any case, he has agreed to help look into the matter and would like to meet us for tea to discuss it on your free day, if you would allow.”
“That sounds wonderful,” Angelique said. “I can meet the day after next, if he is able.”
“I’m sure he will be available. I will check and get back to you.”
“Let me know the time that the two of you agree on. I really must return to my duties now,” she said rising from her chair and smoothing her apron.
* * *
The following evening, McDermott was watching Angelique dust some tables in the sitting room. He had just arrived back to his lodging from a tiring day at the police station.
His eyes had increasingly more trouble pulling themselves away from the enjoyable pastime of examining the fine bones of her hand as she wielded the feather duster. One of the few things that gave him the ability to look away from her quick movements was the way her auburn curls drifted down past her delicate neck.
Angelique, for her part had finished cleaning the room five minutes ago, but she had delayed leaving hoping the Inspector would arrive near his customary hour. She enjoyed glancing at him from out of the corner of her eye as she worked. He was very handsome and seemed to be interested in her too, although he did always keep a professional distance between them.
When it seemed as though the girl had nearly finished and would soon leave, McDermott said, “We have found nothing new in your matter, but my friend James McLevy has agreed to meet us for tea at 11:30 tomorrow.”
“You think that he may be able to help when your entire force could not?” Angelique asked.
“I think that he may,” McDermott replied. “He seems destined for greatness.”
“Then meet me in this room at 10 of the morning and we shall meet this friend of yours.”
With that statement, Angelique departed the room to be followed shortly thereafter by McDermott.
* * *
The café at Robertson’s Land near Parliament Square was modern by local standards. It featured both coffee and tea along with numerous baked items to have along with your beverage of choice. The many small iron tables with accompanying iron chairs wrought in floral designs were positioned strategically around the several public rooms as well as a few outside for the hardier patrons. It was easy to carry on semi-private conversations with the spacing chosen.
When Angelique and Daniel entered the shop, he immediately spotted his friend James sitting at a table in the far corner. The table was well located to provide privacy being set apart a short distance from the others, as well as providing a clear view of the front entrance. James rose quickly from his chair when he saw the pair enter, pulling out one of the seats for Angelique, and waited for them to approach.
Daniel made the introductions when they arrived at the table, which was followed by the kissing of one hand and the shaking of another, after which they all took a seat.
“Daniel tells me that you have an interest, possibly even a flare for investigating,” Angelique said, opening the conversation.
“It is true that puzzles intrigue me,” James responded. “I’m not a professional investigator yet, but I hope to be someday. James McLevy, at your service.”
“You should find Angelique’s problem to your liking then,” Daniel chimed in.
The three proceeded to discuss all the details of her strange appearance in Edinburgh for over an hour. McLevy asked to see Angelique’s amulet and studied it carefully before returning it.
McLevy was very interested and swore to see what he could find concerning the matter.
All too soon the coffee and tea were consumed, the information exchanged, the questions asked and answered, and it was time to depart. McDermott escorted Angelique back to their lodging, where he dropped her off and continued to his office.
* * *
The following week, McDermott and Angelique once again met McLevy at the Robertson’s Land Café. McLevy seemed very excited as he waited for the group to settle themselves in their seats.
“I found an interesting case from some years ago that fit your situation in every aspect except the year,” McLevy began. “Because of your estimated age, it could not possibly be you. It occurred twenty years ago.”
Sliding a large brown envelope across the table to Angelique, he continued, “Here are my notes. It makes for interesting reading, even if it could not be you.”
“Thank you,” Angelique said, taking the envelope and sliding it unopened into her bag. “I appreciate the help that you have provided.”
“I’ve not given up yet,” McLevy replied. “I just thought that you would find this information interesting. I had hoped that your amulet would have resulted in some hints, seeing that it is so unique, but no information has been discovered regarding it.”
The group discussed several other topics of general interest around Edinburgh but not Angelique’s for the remainder of their time. After about an hour, it was time for McDermott to head to his office. They separated as before, McDermott walking Angelique back towards her work before continuing to his.
* * *
On the way to their shared lodging, Daniel was unnaturally quiet. Angelique knew that something must be on his mind, but she decided not to pry.
As they entered the gate to the lodging, Daniel took Angelique’s hand and pulled her to a stop beside him.
“This is hard for me to tell you,” he began. “There has been no new information regarding your situation.”
Angelique just nodded understandably and continued to wait.
“This news is not all bad,” he continued. “The decision has been made to place your case in the unsolved file.”
“So this is my life now?” She finally asked.
“True, but there is a silver lining to this change,” Inspector McDermott said. “Now that you are no longer the subject of an active case, I am free to admit that I have begun to think of you in ways that I could not act on before.”
Angelique’s heart began to flutter just a bit as she realized where his roundabout admission was going.
“I have enjoyed your company these past weeks and would like to see you more often, if that is agreeable to you?”
“Oh Daniel! I am so pleased to hear you say this. I too have become interested in increasing our time together.”
Daniel let a pent-up breath escape and taking Angelique’s hand, he brought it to his lips and placed a soft but lingering kiss upon her palm as his eyes locked with hers.
“You have no parents for me to ask permission of, so we must make the best of our situation. Perhaps on your next free day I might escort you to view Edinburgh Castle. It’s quite a sight.”
“I must go on to the office for now, but I will see you this evening and we can talk more of this.”
Angelique nodded, a smile breaking out on her face, then turned and opened the kitchen door leaving Daniel standing outside.
She had heard of the Edinburgh Castle. It was reputed to be most imposing and was only a short walk from the Robertson’s Land Café where they had been meeting James McLevy. She had heard other patrons of their lodging talking about the view of the city from the Half Moon Battery where the bronze cannons known as the Seven Sisters now defended the ramparts guarding the entrance. That battery had been built over the ruins of the medieval David’s Tower which had been destroyed by a siege hundreds of years before in 1573.
She blushed a little as she considered the possibility of what the handsome Inspector would suggest when they found themselves in secluded parts of the property, of which there would likely be many.
* * *
Inspector McDermott sent word that he was detained and would be very late getting back to his rooms. Angelique performed her normal duties then prepared for her evening. She had been looking forward to continuing their earlier conversation.
She took the envelope given to her by Daniel’s friend from her bag and extracted several sheets of paper from it. The papers included a pencil drawing, and three sheets covered with neat, blocky writing.
Examining the picture first she was amazed to see a picture of herself looking back at her. The picture was almost a duplicate of what she saw in her mirror.
She slowly placed the picture on the side of the vanity and took up the papers starting to read James McLevy’s notes. He explained, as he had told them at the café, that a young girl who lived alone with her father in the County of Fife, not too distant from Edinburgh had mysteriously disappeared in 1789. Adding to the strange events surrounding the story, a kitchen maid also went missing the day before.
The drawing was apparently of the missing daughter. She was a perfect match for Angelique but of course could not be her since the disappearance had occurred twenty years earlier. Angelique could not be much over twenty herself and was likely a year or two younger than that, so it could not be her no matter how uncanny the resemblance.
She considered the notes for a while then put them back into the envelope and placed it in a drawer.
She sat at her little vanity slowly brushing her auburn curls as her thoughts drifted to the man with whom she was becoming increasingly enamored. As she wondered what it would be like to be wed her face flushed with heat. Her thoughts drifted to his strong hands, and she was embarrassed when she found herself thinking too much about how they would feel.
She did not remember ever being told anything about married life, but her body knew that it would be interesting. The heat extended to her chest and seemed to become focused in her cleavage.
Looking down, she was surprised to see her locket glowing under her nightgown. In awe she pulled up on the chain drawing it into view. It began to glow brighter as it rose above the gown, first light blue then shifting to a deep red.
Looking closely, she was sure that she could see a small flame moving within the amber stone at the amulet’s center. She could not take her gaze from it.
Angelique realized that her eyes were beginning to droop, and she was becoming increasingly sleepy.
Stumbling to her bed, she stretched out on top of the covers, her mind a jumble of confused thoughts brought on by McLevy’s notes. Suddenly, the realization hit her and startled the sleep from her mind, causing her to sit up.
Monica. My name IS Monica! I know that I cannot be this girl, but my name is Monica. I’m certain of it!
As this epiphany enveloped her, so did the increasingly warm glow that she had felt earlier. Her head began to spin, and she fell to her side, her eyes closing to stem the nausea beginning to take hold due to the spinning vertigo she was experiencing.
She had the feeling that she was falling even though she knew her bed to be very solid. The feeling was very strange but also seemed familiar in a way. An image of a very old woman hunched over, and cackling swam before her mind’s eye for a brief moment and was gone.
It was the delighted chirping of a bird that her attention fixed on, of all things. Opening her eyes, she could not believe the sights she took in around her. She was no longer sitting on a bed but rather in a small grassy spot between large shrubbery…
* * *
As McDermott ate his breakfast, he was somewhat surprised to see Mrs. Witherstone mumbling to herself as she sat out the plates of steaming sausages and biscuits.
“The ungrateful girl goes missing without so much as a By-your-Leave,” she said a bit testily under her breath.
Throwing an accusatory look at McDermott, she said, “Your young missy has made off with no warning, good Sir.”
“Whatever do you mean?”
“She's gone! Nowhere to be found. Left all of her new things and disappeared! It is as if she had never been here at all!”
McDermott stood up quickly from his seat. “Take me to her quarters!” He said heading for the entrance.
Mrs. Witherstone complied, walking ahead of him down the hall to the servants' rooms in the back. Stopping before a door at the end of the hall she said nothing, simply indicating that this was Angelique’s room with an inclination of the head.
McDermott knocked lightly but did not wait for a response. He pushed the door open and walked in.
Looking about he saw no disarray and nothing obviously amiss. He took note of the slightly careless placement of the hairbrush on the vanity, as well as the ruffled state of the bed. It would seem that someone slept on the top of the blankets without actually getting into the bed properly.
He could find nothing else of interest. After two days and no word was heard from or about Angelique, he brought his friend James McLevy to the lodging to let him determine if he could decipher any additional clues, but he was also unsuccessful.
Days turned to weeks. McDermott’s thoughts went down every possible dark alley. The fact that she had entered their lives as the result of an apparent disappearance from somewhere else, then disappeared from them was not lost on him, but also was of no help.
McDermott was devastated by her disappearance. He never married but devoted himself to his work.
McLevy eventually joined the force and quickly worked his way to Chief Inspector due to his astounding number of solved cases.
McLevy did not realize that he was lucky that he had tried to help with the case when he did. It occurred before he became the famous detective and crime author, so it did not impact his impressive percentage of solved cases.
