Author's Note: Thank you for the kind, sweet and motivating reviews on my previous "Downton Abbey" works. Someone said that I wrote Bertie quite well. That thought kept going through my mind. This is the resulting fic... and it's longer than a one-shot!
It wasn't until Bertie had gotten on the plane to Tangiers that he finally let his mind stop and rework over the events of the last few days. He wished he could pull out his journal and write the thoughts down, but with the bumpy ride he knew it wouldn't be wise. He would have to work through his thoughts and write them down later. His thoughts, though, were about as unsettled and as bumpy as this plane ride.
Bertie wouldn't have believed his thoughts would have been so unsettled when he left Brancaster for Downton. Though his grief for his cousin was severe, there had been a light in the darkness: his engagement to Edith would hopefully soon be settled and official. His life and lifestyle had been thrown a huge curve, but his anchor, his Edith would keep him settled.
After arriving at his hotel, Bertie stretched out on his bed and tried to relax. According to the hotel owner it wouldn't take him long to settle his cousin's debts and he could be back on his way home by the end of the week. While he wasn't looking forward to the flight, he was ready to be home again. It was a weakness of his, he knew, but he was a homebody.
Once home, things would have to be done to cancel the funeral. As the new Marquess, Bertie had already made a official decision- there would be no public memorial for him. Peter had been more at home in Tangiers than Brancaster and his funeral had already taken place here. His mother wouldn't approve but he knew in his heart that the attendance would be poor and his cousin would be a spectacle even more now. If he wanted his cousin to be allowed to save some sense of his name, this would be the best decision.
Bertie picked up the small leather bound book on his bedside and opened it. He still hadn't written about the upheaval with Edith.. he still couldn't find the words. Instead, he found himself starting back at the beginning... back to that day when he had met her... He settled himself back and began to read the familair words and hoped by the time he finished his "sound moral compass" would point him in the right direction.
As of right now, the plan is to go through journal entries for the next couple of chapters. Reviews are this person's motivations and food for thought.
