It was many months before he remembered it. A promise he had given too his friend Frederick Grigori who at his death bed amongst the mud and chaos of the trenches had pressed a letter, a peach coloured hair ribbon and a photograph of a very pretty blonde girl with slanting eyes and a mischievous smile into Crawley's hand and begged him too write to his sweetheart Hanna and to deliver the letter in person. But when the next weeks brought along his injury and the months the death of his own fiancée and finally with the year the kiss of a new one he had somehow forgotten. Feeling the silky ribbon now between his finger tips as he sat and began to write an impossible letter he could only hope that Hanna would forgive him for his tardiness.

Dear miss Bennett,

I do hope this letter finds you well, my name is Matthew Crawley and I was so to speak a comrade in arms to your late fiancé Fredrick Grigori. A fine man I can assure you who did every bit of his duty for his country and whose death was a terrible tragedy. He talked a lot about you during the war and it was his dying request for me to write to you and to make it my business to deliver to you a package in person. I thoroughly apologize for my far too late response in this matter and I hope you will forgive me for this delay. I am afraid that the war did not leave me untouched and tragic matters have been invading my thinking and breathing moments for many months. I would be incredibly grateful if you could visit Downton abbey (my place of residence.) So I might deliver this letter too you as Frederick asked and we may talk more about him. I enclose money here for your fares and hope too hear your reply shortly..

Kind regards,

M. Crawley.

'Oh my goodness.' Hanna Bennett exclaimed. 'I know.' Her sister Jessica replied with a meaningful look. Hanna just scowled at her 'you called me all the way home for this.' She sighed with exasperation placing her hands on her hips. Her anger was really mock she couldn't be gladder to be in her elder sister's kitchen, her three nieces and one nephew running around. Jessica shook her head 'well I couldn't have sent it on could I? It had money in it!' Hanna sighed 'well I suppose not.' She unbuttoned her gloves and coat before sitting down on a chair her face etched with concentration as she reread the letter. Jessica began to take out her frustration at her sister's lack of interest on the bread dough a few moments later unable to resist she looked up again. 'so this Matthew Crawley?' she wheedled ' who is he then darling?'

Hanna's frown deepened and then a smile tugged at her lips. 'The heir presumptive of an earl, apparently just my luck, he and Frederick were closer than brothers he was going to be best man and… well. ' Jessica looked sympathetic 'Oh dear I hope it won't be too painful then, I take it your not very keen on going.' Hanna just rolled her eyes. 'Of course not. I mean seriously look at me! Do you think I could go to an abbey? To stay for dinner? Not too mention to talk about er what dose it says? Ah here it is "duty for his country" in a pointless violent war that didn't spare a soul it seems and other rubbish.' Jessica spun around and waved her rolling pin at her sister. 'Please you know that I know that you would go and meet this 'earl' even if he was a white slave trader and a cannibal in his spare time. If he has anything of Frederick's you'll go.' Hanna smiled slightly sadly. 'of course I will it's the curse of loving a dead man you think that their most be something on this earth that can call him back any minute reminder if undiscovered, could bring him back. And you know it's a foolish hope but you keep on torturing yourself with it.'

Dear Mr Crawley,

Thank you for your letter. I do hope that despite the dark experiences the war brought upon you that have prevented your contact, it is a newly found happy situation that prompted your last letter.

Frederick often spoke of you and of you highly, while he was alive I was most anxious too meet you. Especially after the news that you once saved his life in a shell blast! Which of course I am most grateful for, although the action was only delaying the dreadful inevitable. The extents of my gratitude I hope too explain when we meet. I am very thankful for your invitation though I had a difficult time accepting it, perhaps I can explain at Downton abbey. Though it is very kind of you too supply the fare there is no way I can accept it as anything but a loan. If it is convenient I will be on the 4:00 pm train from London this Friday. I am looking forward too seeing you.

Yours Sincerely

Miss Hanna Bennett

Sealing the envelope, before she could reread it and running too the post office before she could change her mind Hanna took the chilly February walk back too her sister's house slowly. It wasn't right too bring her life down onto this poor man's head but he had asked. From her he would only receive.