Hello everyone. I wasn't too sure on this fic but I thought I'd test it out and see how it goes. Let me know if you would like me to keep posting.
Reviews are welcome good or bad. I really did appreciate them on the last fic I posted. This first chapter is long but please stick with it I'm setting the scene and the next chapter will be shorter but will reveal more of the story. This is set around June time of 1912. Rated T to be safe.
Thank you for reading.
She was staring into her tea that had long gone cold feeling mildly depressed. She could not understand how no one cared that Patrick died. Of course they cared on the surface and of course they would worry about the entail that was their right but was it not their right to grieve as family? Was it not her right to grieve for him without being told she was being silly? She thought it definitely seemed like she should act like he was nothing. Glancing up at Mary she noticed how happy she looked talking with Sybil. She couldn't understand her either, if she really was the person she so often wanted to be wouldn't she want to grieve for him?
She stirred some more sugar into her tea which almost went thick. How many spoonfuls she wondered had she poured in without realising. Turning her head slowly she looked out of the window the rain was heavy. Apart from the quiet chatter opposite her she could hear every turn of the newspaper, the creak of the chairs and the tapping rain. She almost felt suffocated. She could not be happy without feeling her guilt and she could not be sad without feeling their guilt.
Robert cleared his throat loudly hoping it would at least make Edith aware she was scraping her spoon on her tea cup. When it had no affect he peered over his newspaper. He rolled his eyes seeing that she looked unhappy he went back to his article trying not to think about the late heir. She was such a reminder of it all.
Cora opened the door to find her family sitting at breakfast. They looked surprised to see her but happy that she would not be having breakfast in bed. She glanced over at Edith who looked depressed. Shaking her head she wondered how long it would be before she could forget Patrick.
"Hello dear. Are you well?"
Robert said folding his newspaper and greeting his wife with a smile as she sat next to him. He could sense something wasn't right as his eyes caught the letter in her hands. It didn't look like an invitation. He was about to ask what it was when she spoke.
"I'm afraid I've received a letter from your great aunt."
"Aunt Ada?"
Edith said suddenly looking up, taken from her daydreaming, hoping that she would be visiting at least then she wouldn't be alone all the time. Being met by disapproving stares she dropped her head wondering what she had done to be annoying. Her mother continued looking at her husband a worried edge to her features as she pulled her chair to the table.
"No and don't be rude what have I told you about waiting for your turn to speak? Aunt Francis."
Mary and Sybil both gave a groan. Edith looked up remembering her aunt well. Granted she could very much be like grandmother Violet at times but she liked her. Maybe it was just that she could sympathise with not being well liked. She could definitely understand that.
"She doesn't want us to visit does she?"
Robert said rubbing his forehead. Cora was slow to answer not wanting to add to the miserable mood in the dinning room. Mary looked up at her mother who had turned over the letter in her hands.
"No she wants to visit here. She says."
Cora took the letter and turned it over again to have a closer look at it. Robert leant forward in his seat feeling agitated not only would it now be impossible to see the cottages in the rain with Matthew he would have to open his home to a visitor. It had seemed so easy to shut the house off after Patricks death. He tired to clear his head of the heavy thoughts and looked back at his wife.
"That she has some important news and it would better to relay it in person."
Robert muttered quietly to himself as the shock set down on the table. Sybil couldn't remember much of the last visit it had been ten years or more. She had heard stories of the aunt and uncle that were unbearable. A flash of lighting filled the dark room and Edith felt upset about the upcoming visit she had always been uncle Herberts favorite. Now they were older she was sure she would no longer be. She tried to get rid of the thought she told her self she wouldn't be selfish anymore.
"Did she mention uncle Herbert is he coming too?"
"Why? So you two can spend hours and hours reading together again?"
Mary said with a tint of annoyance in her voice as she rolled her eyes and stirred her porridge though she had no intention of finishing it. Edith didn't even bother to reply as she looked hopefully at her mother. It would be one good thing to come that year to have some one to talk to even for a little while. Cora picked up the letter and looked closely at it. She had not read it fully. She had just seen the words aunt Francis and visit and panicked. That woman put her more on edge then her mother in law.
"She doesn't mention him. No. She says its just her visiting."
"Well that's one good thing."
Robert said with a tight smile as Cora slowly put the letter down and looked at him trying to think of the right words to say.
"Robert dear?"
He nodded taking his paper back in his hands. Trying to put the visit out of his mind. He picked up the article he hadn't finished and buried his head in the paper hoping he would at least get out of talking about it for a while. Out of mind out of sight he thought quietly to himself.
"We will have to tell your mother."
Robert slammed down his paper catching a spoon that landed with a clatter on the floor making his family jump. Unspoken looks were exchanged round the table. He shook his head and folded his paper getting up. He could never get a moments peace.
"Robert."
"I'm going to the library to write some letters. You can invite her for tea later."
With that he closed the door and they were left in silence. Cora folded the letter and stood making her way to the door. She had hoped he would tell his mother and she would not have to. She didn't want to tell her everything that went on in the house. If she didn't she would find out and that would be worse. Mary left soon after and then Sybil. Edith sat in the quiet room the sound of rain and not much else. She looked at the other end of the long room even Carson had left. Why did her aunt want to visit and what was the news? She shook her head knowing that what ever it was it wouldn't matter to her.
Edith sat in shock. She had not expected the news to be what it was. How could she be so unhappy? She almost felt if someone was playing a cruel trick with her life. She looked up at her aunt. Now she saw how thin and harrowed her face was. Regret filled Coras heart. She was glad in the end she had agreed to invite her. The poor woman was now a widow and she truly hoped that they could be there for her.
"I didn't know uncle Herbert was sick."
"He wasn't. Not that we knew of."
She couldn't help but feel sad another life passing so quietly with them so unaware. Her thoughts jumped from uncle Herbert, to his estate, to his son. What would happen? She looked up at her aunt noticing she was trying not to cry. That's why she was here. For family. It made her slightly proud that of all the people she chose them. Carson entered the room quietly before speaking.
"Excuse me your lordship the Dowager Countess of Grantham has arrived."
"Thank you."
Robert rolled his eyes and exchanged an unpleasant look with his wife before getting up and leaving. Cora looked between her daughter and Francis. She was pleased that she agreed for Edith to sit in. It had not been as bad as she thought. Francis saw how on edge Cora was and hearing Violet talking loudly with Robert she spoke.
"I see Violet is still as sharp as ever."
"Yes I'm afraid so. If you excuse me I'll go and find them."
She rose from her seat and left to find her husband to offer some moral support at least and to warn Violet of Francis fragile mood. Edith was not surprised that her sisters went to visit Rosmud the same time Francis was due to visit. It almost made it more sad that they didn't know. Looking up at her aunt she saw almost a glimmer in her eye.
"My dear Edith come here."
Remembering her aunt was not as mobile as she used to be didn't seem like a shock anymore. She walked over to the chair next to her aunts chair and took the shaking hand she offered. She was good at comforting people. Sitting silently, saying the right things and nodding at the right times. She often thought she was so good at it because she could hide in the background watching everything unfold knowing then what to say.
"Edith do you know how dear you was to your uncle?"
Edith shook her head not wanting to be impolite. She was never dear to anyone. She had often wrote to him always looking forward to his letters of advice. Complaining about Mary and her life seemed so small now, what time she had wasted. Looking at her aunt she realised how deep in thought she looked as a small knowing smile crept to her face.
"He looked forward to your letters that's why it hasn't come as a shock to me that he has left something for you in his will."
She couldn't believe what she had just heard. She had not expected anything. She never expected her letters to be enjoyed to be looked forward to. Maybe he would have liked Marys letters if she had ever bothered to have written. She was about to say something when the door opened and Carson came in.
"Lady Francis, Lady Edith. Lady Grantham requests your presence in the blue drawing room."
When she turned back her aunt had stood up. Her thoughts were whirring round her head. She didn't understand.
"I don't understand."
"He left you something most precious. Something very dear to him. Edith don't worry all will become clear."
She patted Edith's hand before she left the room. Her lavender perfume lingering. Edith still felt in shock. She had no idea what to think. What had he left to her? She shook her head slightly, sure it was nothing that precious. Was it?