The Countess of Erroll

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Contents

Chapter 1-Off to Edinburgh in a quick flash.... The Flying Scotsman..........................................1Chapter 2-Arriving back in Victoria Station..................................................................4Chapter 3-Arriving in Edinburgh..............................................................................14Chapter 4-Looking back at life's journey through the road signs of synchronicity.............................29Chapter 5-December 2006-A magnificent pulling force..........................................................42Chapter 6-Seeking guidance from my siblings..................................................................53Chapter 7-Arrival into Edinburgh, New Year's Eve, 2006.......................................................59Chapter 8-Day out in the highlands...........................................................................70Chapter 9-The luncheon with veiled clues.....................................................................75Chapter 10-You have a new calendar now!......................................................................86Chapter 11-In limbo-January 2007-June 2007...................................................................103Chapter 12-Discovery of the Gentleman's Architect............................................................114Chapter 13-Madam, are you alright?...........................................................................128Chapter 14-Lady Blanche Murphy Travels of William (Adam) and Mary (Hay)......................................149Chapter 15-Mary (Hay)........................................................................................171Chapter 16-December 2007-A reply from a priest and the gentleman with silver hair............................181Chapter 17-February 28-March 1, 2008, interlude..............................................................190Chapter 18-Arrival into Edinburgh again!.....................................................................203Chapter 19-The National Portrait Gallery.....................................................................210Chapter 20-Jamie Fleeman-The portrait at the National Gallery................................................224Chapter 21-The Grave of William Adam.........................................................................229Chapter 22-The last lunch at Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's, That was then and this is now!........................235Chapter 23-Traveling to Cruden Bay, Scotland.................................................................240Chapter 24-The recalling of memories, through the eyes of the Reverend.......................................260Chapter 25-Learning about Jamie Fleeman: The Life and Times of Jamie Fleeman.................................272Chapter 26-Learning about Countess Mary Hay: through the Life and Times of Jamie Fleeman.....................280Chapter 27-A portrait appears!...............................................................................286Chapter 28-Mary, Mary quite contrary!........................................................................292

Chapter One

So, off to Edinburgh we would go, and to this day, close to three years later, I am unsure as to why, except that my mind said, "Just go to Edinburgh, Elizabeth" and this was our plan. In fact, the only plan that seemed to pop into my mind from within me at this stressful time and it seemed a random thought to select Edinburgh, Scotland.

Or so I thought. In our lives, do we ever wonder about our many small mishaps along the way in our own lives, or what seems like a simple change of directions, or unplanned chance encounters that happen across our life's journey? How many of us in the hustle and mad rush of living in the 21st century with countless emails and text messaging across the globe, stop and contemplate about these times in our life that may transform the pathway of our existence and the destiny of our souls?

I believe now, in writing this, that if I had known that this journey would alter my life's direction and that there would be no turning back, perhaps, I would have asked the God's of fate to seek a stand-in for this actress starring in the life drama of Elizabeth Edwards! I believe that I would have been inclined to take the easy exit out of this chapter of my life, and just might have wanted to walk out off the stage! I would have asked for the exit door to any stage whatsoever, and anywhere in the world, other than Edinburgh, Scotland.

There is a beautiful song, written by the American country western singer, Garth Brooks, entitled, "The Dance." For those of you that have not heard this song, I caution you to have several hankies readily available when you turn the song on to listen, and by all means, be alone when you hear the song! I still can not listen to the song, without uncontrollable tears rolling down my cheeks. The song asks the question, if "I had known what was going to happen at the end of the story in this particular chapter of my life, would I have still wanted to dance," (or gone forward into the story of our lives?). Mr. Brooks' sagely ends his song, stating, that "if he had left the story, he would have missed the pain, but also the dance."

For Garth Brooks, the dance was so precious to remember for him as memories that the pain of the parting with the loved one at the end of their time together, was worth the price. In my life, I am still struggling with those words of this impressionable song, and with this intense and overwhelming journey which would begin in Edinburgh, Scotland in the fall of 2006.

When I was younger, I always wished that the guardians of fate or those who guide us from above which lead us through our lives, sometimes gently, and often times, quite abruptly; might not be benevolent, take pity on us, and say, "Well, of course, Elizabeth needs to know what will happen in this life chapter," and throw down the book from the heavens or beyond above! No, not The Book, or what is commonly called the Bible, but The Book of our Lives...... a series of plots, stage scenes, and set guidelines for each of the subplots of our lives. The Book would have the chapters neatly laid out, and would include the full cast of characters, stage sets, heroes, heroines, villains, and of course, the full line-up of our lost loves, and life experiences.

I often have asked my younger siblings if they had indeed received such a book from our late parents, as I would have enjoyed knowing the twists and turns of fate in my own life. There has been many a time, I have said, "If only I had known that this would have happened, I would have done this differently," as many others, oh so much wiser and sager, have said years and centuries before me, as they have reflected back upon their lives.

I am not the first woman to think this, and am not alone with these thoughts. It may help others reading this mystifying journey of mine, to understand that there are other people living on this planet that have experienced these same questions, same controversies, and same misgivings upon reflection of their lives.

My colleague eventually calmed down as we sat down upon the seats in our row, as we headed back to Victoria Station on the short Gatwick Express commuter train. She was hoping that I would have the answers for moving us forward through the next three days. For my...