In the latest Downton book I read that Anna and Mary might have known each other since they were little. This inspired me to write about these two young girls. In this story they are both 6 years old.
A young blonde girl walks over the estate holding her fathers hand. The contours of Downton Abbey come in view.
"Papa, who lives in that big house?" Little Anna asks.
"In that house lives a girl Mary, who is 6 years old, just like you. She lives with her father, mother and 2 younger sisters." Her father replies.
"So big only for them?! Is she a princess?" Anna's eyes are wide open in shock.
"No not a princess, but it comes close. Their servants live there as well. The cook, butler, housekeeper, and lots of others."
They walk into a walled rose garden.
"Look I've planted these roses last year. Would you like to have one?"
"May I papa? I especially like those red ones."
"Of course sweetheart. I'm the gardener so I can do with them what I like."
He smiled, cut off one of the roses, made sure it didn't have any thorns and put it in her hair. "Now you look just like a princess of the house." He kissed her forehead.
She happily looked around the beautiful garden her papa had created. Suddenly she saw some movement behind a tree. She walked up to it and then a girl of her height with brown hair appeared.
"Ah Lady Mary, meet my daughter Anna."
"How do you do." Mary said to Anna and Anna did a little curtsey.
"Mr. Smith may I have a rose too?" Mary asked. "Of course you can. Which colour would you like?" He replied.
"I quite like a red one, just like Anna has." Mary smiled at Anna.
"Naturally" he cut another rose and wanted to give it as Anna interrupted: "let me put it in your hair, if you like."
Mary bent down a little so Anna could put the flower in Mary's hair.
"You two look lovely." Mr. Smith smiled at the girls. "Now Mary where is your governess? She must be wondering where you are."
"Oh Edith has tripped on the gravel so they went inside to clean her up."
"In that case let me bring you inside, you can't walk around here unattended. Come on you little ladies."
They walked through the garden to the servants' entrance. On the way Mary and Anna chatted away. In the courtyard they met Mr. Carson.
"Mr. Smith what are you doing here on your day off?" He asked surprisingly.
"I came to show my little Anna the house and gardens, and on the way I found this other little lady." Mr. Smith gestured at the two girls who were still deeply in conversation.
"Lady Mary! We were wondering where you were. Come inside at once and take that flower out your hair." Carson said stern.
"I keep the flower, I like it and Anna has one too."
Carson grumped and let Mary in. He turned to Mr. Smith "Are you staying for tea Mr. Smith?"
"Please papa, can we?" Anna looked at her father.
"Very well, but you won't be getting your tea with Lady Mary. She'll go upstairs and we stay down in the servants' hall."
As they got inside Mary was just ushered up the stairs "Bye Anna, nice to meet you." She waved at her new friend before disappearing through the door.
Please review. I have another chapter coming up.