Shadows of Deceit (31 page)

Eileen was not a beneficiary in Dermot’s ‘Will’ but she had already agreed to remain with Wemyss; after all he was now providing the security and comfort that she desired. Wemyss had replaced Dermot’s advocacy.

Later that day her son came to visit her at her new surroundings in Wemyss’s house,

“Hello Darlath” she said bursting into tears.

“I’ll leave you two alone. I need to go to the Dugout, I’ll see you later.” Wemyss said.

“Does he know?”

“Yes Darlath, I thought I’d best tell him this morning, knowing that you were going to see Mr Auldgirth. Dermot had told me years ago that his ‘Will’ would reveal all.”

“I never knew until it was read out. Dad’s codicil disclosed that I had been adopted by him and his wife.”

He then asked the inevitable question,

“Tell me what happened all those years ago?”

Eileen sat back in her chair then reached forward to hold Darlath’s hand.

“I’ve been dreading this day, yet over the years was somehow looking forward to telling you as well. If that makes any sense?”

“I’m listening Eileen, just relax and take your time.”

She dried her eyes and sat forward in the chair.

“Here goes Darlath. I lived with my Mum and Dad in a little village near Mullingar, west of Dublin. This particular year, it was in the late summer, as I walked home from school I called in to collect eggs from the farm for my Mother. I met a boy there, a nephew of the Farmer who was on holiday.”

“What was he like…if you don’t mind telling me?”

Eileen squeezed his hand and continued,

“Well over the days that followed I looked forward to calling in and seeing him. He was about sixteen perhaps a bit older, fairly tall, dark haired and yes he was good looking. I never told my Mum. Well as the weeks went on we became good friends and I was always pleased to see him. Not every day but perhaps two or three times a week we’d meet. Then we heard that there was going to be a ‘social’ in our village hall, harvest or something, and he said he was going. Mum and Dad took me along, they always went every year. There of course I met him again that evening.”

“What was his name?”

“Eamonn, Eamonn was his name - It was during that evening we slipped away outside, no one missed us. We had time together and he was tender and loving and seemed to know what to do. It happened then.”

Eileen’s eyes welled up with tears again. Darlath gently squeezed her hand.

“It’s OK you can tell me. You don’t have to carry any secrets any more.”

She nodded and wiped her tears away,

“But soon…too soon after, he had to return home to the north. He promised to write but I didn’t receive any letters, I think my mother burnt them. She didn’t know what had happened, but she felt I was too young to get involved with anyone just yet.”

“And then?”

“Well I realised I felt somehow different, It was strange at first and then within a month or so my mother became suspicious. One night I blurted the whole story out, much to her disgust. She took me to the Doctor and he confirmed…”

“That must have been awful for you…”

“It gets worse, much worse.”

Darlath gave her a handkerchief to wipe her tears.

“You see at that time single girls with children were presumed to be prostitutes by the Church and authorities and they arranged for such girls to be sent away.”

“Your parents did nothing to assist you?”

“They couldn’t really, you see my mother was accused by the Church of being negligent in her supervision of me. As I said they were also appalled at my behaviour and concerned about what the neighbours would think. So our local Priest came up with a proposal to send me away. Apparently this sort of thing had happened to other girls in the parish before. The Priest insisted I should go to the Magdalene Home near Wexford to be cared for. The Priest and the Nuns put our family under tremendous pressure. My Mum just packed a small suitcase for me and the Priest took me away in his car within days of the Doctor’s confirmation. I didn’t see my parents again ever.”

“I’ve heard of the Magdalene Laundries, but is that the same institution that you went to?”

“That’s them, they’re all over Ireland. They’re run by the so called Sisters of Mercy but that title doesn’t begin to describe the isolation and mistreatment inflicted there. My memories are still etched with that depressing and squalid period in my life.”

“I had no idea. I’m so sorry. What happened when I was born?”

“Well you were taken away immediately by the Nuns or Mothers and given up for adoption.”

“So you lost touch with me?”

“Yes, to start with.”

“And Mothers?”

Each inmate is allocated to one of the Nuns. It didn’t matter whether your ‘Mother’ was still a young Novice or one of the many aged custodians. They were the ‘Mothers’ while I or any of the inmates, regardless of their age, were always the ‘Child’.

“When did you get away?”

“I was sixteen and decided I must escape and start a proper life outside. I didn’t discuss my plan with any of the other girls, although I knew a few had similar thoughts. I realised that there were one or two sneaks amongst us girls that relayed such information back to the Nuns for some temporary privileges. Anyway, one day I managed to slip away on my own and never went back. I headed up to Dublin and found work washing up in a hotel.”

“What a story, it’s so sad.”

“It was there, in Dublin, that I met Dermot for the first time, your adoptive ‘Father’ he was to bring you up and send you to school.”

“Please go on.”

“He was a lot older than me and single, he had great charm. He was a popular man who was always fun to be with. Even then he had money; he was in business over there. To cut a long story short we became just very good friends, we never talked about marriage or anything like that. We never got together if you understand my meaning. It was a friendly open relationship that became steadfast. Within two years Dermot had gone to England to work, that’s when he met and started working with Andrew’s Father.”

“I know I’m interrupting but there’s a gap that needs filling in, where did I go to at first?”

“When you arrived I knew that I couldn’t keep you; I was only thirteen. It wasn’t allowed and so you were adopted by a lady whose husband had been killed in 1918. There were no formal arrangements then, the Nuns simply passed you on to what they felt was a suitable person. Anyway this lady kept you and without the Nuns knowing I managed to trace her and she allowed me to visit you as her ‘friend.’ But she suddenly died about two years later. By then Dermot had married but his wife couldn’t have children so on hearing from me about the situation he offered to take care of you. The Nuns arranged it and that’s what happened; he paid for your education and everything.”

“But he still had a soft spot for you?”

“Well yes, as I said he was much older and married but he made sure I had accommodation. When I came to England he helped me with a flat and a job. So I’ve got a lot to be grateful for really.”

“But the ‘father’ I knew in his later years always seemed remote and cold.”

“He had great aspirations for you, some of which you fulfilled. But his illness coupled with your admission about Andrew deeply wounded him. His condition made him irritable and bad tempered. He was still very good to me, that is until…well you know the rest.”

“Why wasn’t I told about you being my mother?”

“Dermot wanted it kept a secret from his wife; as far as she knew he had arranged to adopt you and that I should remain silent. I promised I would, he told me that it would be revealed after he’d died. That’s why it was written into his ‘Will’.”

“But I can’t understand why he never left you anything?”

“I’m not bitter about it. Remember he cared for me when I was young and continued to support me with jobs and accommodation. I led my own life, you know had boyfriends and did my own things. I was never going to marry him and he never asked me to. But because I was your mother he kept an eye on me.”

“I see, I understand it all now I think.”

“All my life I’ve watched you grow up, I couldn’t have given you all those opportunities that he gave you. He encouraged you all the way, and I was so proud to stand aside and watch you.”

The tears returned.

Eileen hugged Darlath who was now unable to hold back his own tears. But the meaning of his tears was to him uncertain. Too much had happened too quickly. He was bewildered and pensive. Shortly afterwards he left saying that he would call again the following morning.

“Please make sure you do Darlath, I’d like you to meet up with Wemyss as well so that we can all discuss this new situation together.”

Wemyss returned to his home later in the day and was greeted by Eileen.

“I’ll tell you about my visitor earlier.” She said.

He followed her into the sitting room where they both relaxed on the sofa.

“I’m glad I told you first, you needed to know. As expected, the Solicitor informed Darlath about his past and I’ve told him everything else I know. Everything, that is, except about my recent trip to Shettleston.”

“That secrets safe with me Eileen, I won’t tell anyone.”

“You’re such a good man. I’m so fortunate in being able to stay here with you.”

“As I said before you’re very welcome. I rather enjoy the company. Now, time for a drink I think. Whisky and soda OK?”

“That’s fine. You know I’m so lucky I’ve got you and Darlath caring for me now.”

“It’s an honour Eileen, it just seems right to rekindle our old friendship again, especially with Dermot gone. I didn’t mind you seeing Harry; he was much younger than me anyway. But I’m pleased you’ve returned to an old friend for protection.”

“I’ve put his ring away you know?”

“It was your decision Eileen, no pressure from me. But I would be lying if I wasn’t pleased.”

“He’s written a few times but I haven’t replied. I think its best to let things drift apart. It was a pleasing few months but time to finish it now. Especially, with you offering me a home; and him being sent to prison. God knows where he’ll end up.”

Wemyss clinked their glasses together and Eileen leant across and kissed him.

March 12
th
1943.

Darlath was unable to sleep; his mind was frantically racing. Firstly Andrew’s death, Harry’s arrest, Dermot’s death, Eileen’s revelations – ‘God I need a drink.’

He sat alone in his hotel room and drank whisky and tried to think through what he should do next. He was unsure whether he should become closer to Eileen as she would wish him to. He’d help her financially of course, but Wemyss appeared to be taking control now, especially since Harry had gone off the scene. He became overwhelmed by the grief of losing Andrew again, a sorrow that was still raw and brutal within him. Later when he had calmed he dressed and walked across to Andrew’s flat. On the doormat he found a letter that had been mailed to him from Harry.

‘Darlath, I’ve taken the liberty of writing to you c/o Andrew’s flat as I guess you will go over there. I’ve tried unsuccessfully to contact Eileen, I don’t really understand what’s happening, perhaps you would take a little time out to write to me and explain?

I’m sorry to impose on you this way but you are the only person that will tell it as it is. Regards, Harry.’

Darlath pulled away the dust cover from Andrew’s desk and sat down to write a reply.

‘Dear Harry, I hope they’re treating you well at Catterick, I’m confident that you’ll soon get back to the action shortly. Whilst I think of it all of Ted’s bills were lost at the garage.’

Harry stopped and re-read the sentence and smiled to himself upon realising that the counterfeit money had been destroyed. ‘Just as well - that last project was all getting a bit too dangerous for comfort!’ He continued reading.

‘I’ve been tying up a lot of the loose ends regarding Andrew’s death. I miss him terribly.

You may not know that my stepdad (Dermot) also passed on around that time.

Now Harry, turning to your question, I’m afraid the news will not be pleasing to you. I regret telling you that Eileen is living at Wemyss’s home. With Dermot gone and you arrested she’s found refuge there.

Harry, I’ve also discovered that Eileen is my Mother – she was helped by Dermot in Ireland when she was expecting me. My real father is unknown. Dermot, as you know, helped her over the years but with his death and you gone she has turned to Wemyss for comfort and stability. I know you’ll be upset by this but she needs people around her to include her in their day to day activities. She had many of her younger years ruined by stress and loneliness. I’ve tried to assist her but at the moment I’m not best suited to that task. She is content now. Leave her alone Harry, you must also move on – I know you can and you have the courage and ability to succeed.

Thank you for all the work you did with me and Andrew – it was sometimes a bit risky but always was good fun!

Remember this episode in your life favourably Harry.