Author's Note: Hey! This is new territory for me but this idea has been brewing for a while so I decided to give it a try. Enjoy!

Special thanks to unpredictablemary for correcting bad grammar and spelling as well as offering excellent suggestions and advice!

Chapter 1

It had been a year since the Titanic had sunk, yet Robert Crawley, Lord Grantham of Downton Abbey in Yorkshire, still hadn't found an heir for his estate.

In the first few months after Patrick's death, he hadn't even really thought about it. Between his daughter Mary's new engagement to Evelyn Napier and the grief of losing his two cousins, he hadn't quite gotten around to it, but when his lawyer Murray suggested that they start looking, he agreed.

When Murray told him that a middle class soliciter from Manchester was to be his heir, he could scarcely believe it. He had never met anybody further into the Crawley Family Tree than those of the upper circle, and he was surprised when he would meet someone out of the rich upper crust, it would be his heir.

'A middle class soliciter?' Robert looked at his lawyer.

'Yes sir. Your closest relative was him. You are fourth cousins. I looked further into the richer side of the family, but nobody was found.' Murray said, studying Lord Grantham intently.

'I guess so.' Robert said rather distractedly before continuing eagerly. 'Tell me more about him'

'His father was a doctor, Dr Reginald Crawley, who died when he was five years old. Since then he has been living in Manchester with his mother, Isobel Crawley, who is a nurse. He works at the Bingley Law Firm. Now if you'll excuse me, Lord Grantham, I really should be going.'

'Of course!' Robert said ringing the bell. 'Ah Carson, would you mind escorting Mr Murray outside?'

'Of course, my lord.' the butler said, bowing respectfully, before leading Murray outside where the car was waiting.

Life had treated Lady Mary Crawley unfairly, and she felt it strongly.

When she was merely ten years old, she found out that women couldn't inherit. She had been furious. She had walked straight into her father's study and declared that she would inherit Downton no matter what. Unfortunately, at that precise moment, Robert had happened to be writing to a certain James Crawley in order to inform him that his son Patrick was now the heir to his estate.

When Patrick had arrived, everybody had quickly grown fond of him. He was a sweet and gentle boy. Mary had thought of him as a brother– until she'd found out that her parents had arranged to bind them together in the most important way of all: marriage.

After Patrick had died, she had reluctantly mourned. And when etiquette finally allowed her to change out of her black attire, she was pushed at the Honorable Evelyn Napier.

Evelyn Napier was an ideal choice for Mary. He was a gentleman: courteous, well educated, decent looking and most importantly, the heir to a wealthy viscount. Despite all of this, however, he was extraordinarily dull. Mary hated dull people. And she couldn't stand Evelyn.

When he proposed to her, she told him that she would think about it. And think about it she did. But in the end, with wealth and a title on his side, she accepted him. Her parents were overjoyed. With all the trouble about finding a new heir, it was welcome news. And now that their eldest daughter was settled, they could focus on the matter that Mary liked to refer to as a lost cause: their second daughter, Edith.

April 2, 1913

'Why did Papa leave for London so suddenly?' Mary looked at her mother expectantly as she dabbed perfume onto her wrists.

'Well,' Cora began carefully, 'He's found a new heir.'

'What?' Mary exclaimed, surprised. 'It's about time! Who is he?'

'His name is Matthew Crawley. He's an upper-middle class solicitor from Manchester,' Cora said.

'Oh dear God, a middle class soliciter from Manchester. I can't imagine anything worse,' Mary groaned.

'Oh, Mary, don't be like that. He's the closest relation your father could find and I expect you to welcome and respect him.'

'Welcome and respect him? A man who is stealing what is rightfully mine? I'm afraid that I can't do that Mama.'

'Oh, for heaven's sake, Mary,' Cora said between clenched teeth. 'Are you still going on about that? I thought that had died long ago.'

'What?' Mary demanded. 'The fact that Papa didn't fight for the entail for his own daughter? Really Mama, surely you know me well enough to know that I shall carry that grudge against him to my deathbed.'

Cora sighed. Her daughter could be so exasperating. 'I know you only too well, but I thought you weren't so immature anymore. Anyway, I need to go dress for dinner.'

'Nobody's stopping you,' Mary said dismissively and Cora left, with a grim expression on her face.

'First post, ma'am.' The housemaid handed her mistress, Mrs Isobel Crawley, a stack of letters.

'Thank you, Ellen,' Isobel said. 'One for you,' she continued, handing a letter to her son, Matthew, who was sitting across from her.

'Thank you mother,' he said, taking it from her and opening it.

'It's from Lord Grantham,' he said in surprise.

'Oh? What does he want?' Isobel asked curiously.

Matthew read more of the letter and stopped when he read these words: ... You are now the heir to Lord Robert Grantham, thus the future 7th Earl of Grantham of Downton Abbey.

He couldn't believe what had just seen. He retread it to make sure that he wasn't dreaming. But he couldn't possibly be an Earl. For heaven's sakes he was just a simple Manchester soliciter. Surely there was some sort of mistake. Robert Crawley must have a closer relative than him. But he had lost his heir a year ago! Was that not enough time to find the right heir?

'Matthew?' His mother asked upon seeing his shocked expression.

'He-' Matthew began. 'He wants to change our lives.'

April 13, 1913

To: Mr Matthew Crawley

28, St Patrick Street

Manchester, England

Dear Mr Crawley,

As I am very eager to meet you as my new heir, it would be appreciated if you could meet me at my club on April 20th for luncheon. My club is The Brooks' Club on St James Street in London.

Sincerely,

Lord Grantham, 6th Earl of Grantham

Downton Abbey, Yorkshire.

Matthew sighed. When he had found out that he was to become the next Earl of Grantham, to say that he had been shocked would be an understatement. He, a simple middle-class solicitor from Manchester was to become the owner of a large estate in Yorkshire. What's more, he was to become an earl.

Robert had told him that his late heir, Patrick had perished on the Titanic, and all Matthew could think was, unsinkable, indeed.

Lord Grantham had mentioned something about giving Isobel and him a house for life. He knew he would have to find a job, as well. Matthew sighed again. It is amazing how fate can change your life so completely.

'Ah, Mr Crawley,' Robert said, rising from the table. 'It's a pleasure to meet you.'

'It is a pleasure to meet you too, Lord Grantham,' Matthew said, shaking his hand and sitting down as Robert bid him.

'It must have been quite a surprise when you found out that you were my heir,' Robert began.

'Yes, it was quite a shock,' Matthew replied. Robert smiled before continuing.

'Now, let me go over the basics with you. My lawyer, Murray, can discuss the details with you later. I will give you and your mother Crawley House, which is a house in our small village. It is quite big, although not compared to Downton, and should fit you and your mother quite comfortably. The Dower House is for the widow of the late Earl, if she is still alive, and my mother lives there currently...'

Robert continued telling Matthew about the housing arrangements before starting about his daughters. 'My eldest daughter, Mary, is engaged to Mr Evelyn Napier; however, my other two are still unattached. Upon my death, each of my daughters will get a dowry and my wife another sum of money. The rest, however, shall be yours, completely yours.'

TBC

Thanks for reading! I hope that you liked it! Your feedback is much appreciated :)I plan on making the other chapters longer so fear not :)