A Thousand English Summers.
CHAPTER 1
She looked around her surroundings, as she made her way down the short flight of steps from the Downton train station. There were coaches following each other both in and out of the drive way and the ones that arrived with passengers inside, left without. Some were stopped half way, to allow their new passengers to get on and transport them to their respective destinations. Dignified and orderly. Back at home it was a common sight at the 'Privileged entrance'' for the gentry of the land, yet if you went through the 'common entrance', you would be greeted with loud shouts and hollering at every turn; rickshaw drivers spitting at each other to move away, men bargaining with carriage drivers for the next ride and the workers carrying heavy loads of items and tossing them into huge lorries. She had come out through both of those entrances. The second serving as a good distraction from her otherwise orderly life. If she traveled with her grandfather, then she would come through the first. It wouldn't do for a lady on her stature to do otherwise. Not that she was a lady. Not in the real sense.
She stood there pondering her options. She could either take a carriage all the way or she could walk. Tired as she was, the chance to explore the new land and take in all the splendor Downton had to offer was too tempting to resist. So walk it was. She felt through her pockets looking for the letter Mr. Murray had sent her. She couldn't quite remember if it was the right or the left- ah yes, it was the left pocket. She had read it almost a hundred times that the lines where she had folded the letter were stating to tear.
"…the dowager will have a carriage sent for you, and you will be transported directly to Downton Abbey. I myself will be present when you meet the rest of the Earls family…"
Except, there was no carriage waiting for her. The station master was a kind man and offered to send word to the dower house immediately. But she declined the offer and said she would be happy to go herself. She didn't want to bother the man again, so she thought she'll ask for direction on the way. After all, Lord Grantham was the Earl of Downton and surely everyone knew where he lived. "It's getting there that'll be the trick" she muttered to herself. She lifted up her suitcase and went on.
AN- All will be revealed in time. Reviews are much appreciated.