Chapter 1- Before it all started
All the downstairs staff were sat in the servants hall, letting their dinners digest. It was 10 o'clock and everyone from upstairs were in the library, playing Cards. Rosamund Painswick was there that night so there was a lot of entertainment going on. Old Lady Grantham didn't seem too pleased to see her daughter however, and rung the bell for a Motor to be sent round to the front. Mr. Carson stood up and left the servants hall to go upstairs. Mr Branson went through the back entrance and got in the Motor to drive it round, assuming it would be the Dowager wanting to leave because her daughter was staying at Downton.
"You rung, milady?" Mr. Carson asked Old Lady Grantham. "Yes, thank you Carson" she replied as she stood up, relying on her stick to help her stand. "Please can I have the Motor sent round" she asked. Mr. Carson nodded, "I have already had it brought to the front, milady." Old Lady Grantham smiled and walked over to Robert who was stood by the window with a small glass of Whiskey in his hand. "Robert. Robert dear, I'm leaving now. Please don't tell anyone until I have left, I don't want Rosamund to make a fuss… She is so loud and alert tonight." Robert looked up at his Mother as he gulped down the last drop of Whiskey from his cup and placed it down on the windowsill, "Of course. Thank you for coming, Mama" he said and kissed her on the cheek. She then walked towards the door where Mr. Carson was waiting for her and went outside and climbed in the Motor. "Thank you, Carson, Branson" she smiled and off she went.
"Everybody, my Mother has left so I think it is time we all retire now" said Robert who was now standing beside his beloved wife, holding her hand tightly. Lady Mary smiled, "I'm getting rather tired so I will leave right away." She walked over to Rosamund and said, "It is lovely to see you again, Aunt Rosamund" before leaving the library to go upstairs and call for Anna Bates. Mr Carson came back inside after seeing Old Lady Grantham off and went into the library to see if anyone wanted a drink. "We are all going to bed now, Carson but thank you" said the Countess of Grantham. Mr. Carson nodded and went back downstairs into the servants hall. Mrs. Patmore, Daisy and Ivy had already gone to bed and Anna had gone to see to Lady Mary. The bell then rung for her ladyships room and Sarah O'Brien went upstairs. Thomas sighed, still feeling annoyed that he was no longer his Lordships Valet. How he hated Mr. Bates for taking his job away from him. He sat at the table, alone, sighing to himself whilst everyone else was busy or had retired for the night.
"Milady?" Sarah O'Brien asked as she knocked on her Ladyships door. "Come in" came a polite voice. She entered, with her Ladyships nightgown hanging over her arm. She placed it neatly on the end of the double bed and went over to the dressing table to attend to her Ladyships hair. "Have you had a good evening, milady?" she asked politely. Cora nodded, "I have rather. It was lovely to have so many guests over again. Did Mrs. Patmore survive, cooking so much?" she giggled silently. Miss. O'Brien smiled, "She did, milady." She finished platting her Ladyships hair and helped her out of her dress once she had stood up. "Thank you, O'Brien" she said as she climbed out of her dress and took her undergarments off herself as Miss. O'Brien's body had turned. Miss. O'Brien then helped her into her nightgown, "Would you like your robe tonight, milady?" she asked. Cora shook her head, "No thank you. That will be all for tonight." Miss. O'Brien nodded, "Very well, milady" and she went downstairs. Meanwhile, in Lady Mary's room, Anna was trying to curl Lady Mary's hair with her new curling irons. "How's that for you, my lady?" she asked. "Not bad. Try to fit in some more practice but you can leave them in here for tonight, ready for you to use again tomorrow morning." Anna smiled and picked up Lady Mary's dress that she was no longer wearing. "I'll have this washed and ready for you by tomorrow evening, my lady." "Thank you, Anna. You may go now" said Mary as she got up off her stool and walked over to her bed. "Good night, my lady" said Anna just before she opened the door. "Good night, Anna" said Lady Mary and she climbed into bed and settled down to sleep. Anna then went downstairs to see that everybody had gone to bed. She turned off the kitchen lights and went to bed herself.