Elizabeth - April, 1912
The first thing I notice when I wake, is that something terrible has happened. Ignoring it and partly trying to understand it, I get out of bed and head over to my window. The light is peeking through the curtains, so it must be daylight, and I pull them open. I squint my eyes to adjust to the sudden change, and notice that the paperboy riding past. I ring the bell to tell the maids that I am awake.
A few minutes later, after I'd picked out a simple dress for the day, Gwen, the maid that helps me, since Anna helps Mary, walks in while I'm washing my face.
"Good morning, miss." Gwen greets me while I pat off the water with a towel.
I smile and hang up the towel. "Good morning, Gwen. How are you?" I always take note to ask the staff how they're doing.
"Very well, miss. Thank you." Gwen takes the dress of the hanger, which I've laid on the bed, and undoes the buttons at the back.
I step behind my changing screen and get into my crinoline, and walk back out so Gwen can lace up my corset.
My dress is a nice light gray color, which is my favorites, even though it's dull, and made of silky fabric and lace. A pair of shoes are picked to match, and Gwen helps me with my jewelry. I handle the pretty earrings, and Gwen the pearl necklace.
My hair is rolled back into a simple bun and some strands are pulled loose. After a few dabs of rose scent, and some make up, I head downstairs for breakfast. My cousin, Lord Grantham, is dishing up some breakfast already. Mary, Edith, and Sybil aren't down yet, but Sybil will be soon. It's always the same. Cousin Robert, me, Edith and Mary, and finally Sybil, all about five to ten minutes apart, some closer than others. Cousin Cora has her breakfast in bed.
"Good morning, Robert." I kiss my cousin's cheek while he reads the newspaper.
"Good morning, Elizabeth. How are you this morning?" Robert puts a piece of toast on his plate.
I grab a plate and dish up some food, just the way I like it. "Well, thank you. What about yourself?"
"Just the same. Did you hear the news?"
"What news?" I butter some toast.
"I am very sorry to say it, but the Titanic has sunk. Hit an iceberg. Over one thousand of the bodies have been found, and many more people are missing." Robert has has no doubt heard it from the servants, who read it from the newspaper. He turns to Mr. Carson, the butler. "Is it true what they're saying?"
"I'm believe so, my lord."
Robert sighs. "I'm afraid we'll know some people on it. I don't suppose there are any lists of survivors yet?"
"I understand most of the ladies were taken off in time."
I face Carson. "You mean the ladies in first class?"
Carson nods grimly. Those poor people.
"God help the poor devils below decks." Robert read my mind. He takes his breakfast to the table and puts the napkin in his lap as he sits down. "On their way to better life. What a tragedy."
Robert opens the newspaper to see a picture of the Titanic. Mary and Edith come in and read over his shoulder.
"When Anna told me, I thought she must've dreamt it." Edith starts to dish up some food.
Mary picks up a plate. "Do we know anyone on board?"
"Your mother knows the Asters. At least, she knows him. We dined with Lady Rothfuss last month. There are bound to be others." Robert answers.
I speak up. "I thought it was supposed to be unsinkable."
"Every mountain is unclimbable until someone climbs it, so every ship is unsinkable until it sinks." Robert says. Very true. Extremely true.
I hear Thomas outside the door. "My lady." He must be talking to Sybil.
Sybil enters the room. "Good morning, Papa."
"Morning." He notices the envelope in her hand. "What's that?"
"Just arrived. Telegram."
Robert opens the telegram and reads. We all stare at him, waiting for whatever news has come. But, Robert doesn't tell us. He simply gets up from the table and exits the room without a word.
It must be serious.
The three of us left look at each other. "What do you suppose happened?" I ask before taking a bite of toast.
Mary shovels some eggs onto her fork. "I don't know or really care. Something with money or a dead relative."
"That's very inconsiderate. If Papa cares so much that he leaves the breakfast table, you would probably care as
The rest of our breakfast is eaten in silence. Afterwards, when we are sitting in the drawing room, Robert walks in and pulls Mary into the library. When she returns with Robert, they sit down, Robert looking more stricken than Mary.
"My cousin James and his son, Patrick were on board the Titanic when it sunk. Their bodies have not been found, but they have not been claimed dead at the moment." Robert tells us.
My hand flies to my mouth. James and Patrick weren't supposed to go to America until May. What were they doing on the Titanic now? I look over to Edith. She had fallen in love with Patrick when they were here a few months ago.
Edith's eyes are glassy with fresh tears, and my own are the same. Patrick was a good friend of mine. James was always kind to me.
I am from America, and Americans aren't always that welcome here, because of the Revolutionary and the War of 1812. Cora basically raised me, because she felt close to me, because of my father, so I grew up speaking with an American accent. Robert's father's youngest sister, the baby of the family, had a daughter that married an American named Elijah Evans. Victoria and Elijah, my parents, stayed in America, until I was born.
Somewhere in the hospital, right after I was born, a room had caught fire. The fire spread and eventually came to our room. My father gave me to a nurse, who ran out of the hospital to safety. My parents didn't make it out. Their bodies weren't found.
A while before luncheon, Robert leaves to go on a walk with Cora down the lane. The other girls leave to go help Anna sort out their black, and partly just to do as they wish. I probably should go help Gwen sort out my black, as she is most likely doing. But, I decide to stay in the drawing room to read one of the books Robert has given me two years ago. Robert bought a whole set of books that would appeal to young adults, just to please me. He didn't want to bore me with all the history and political books. But I really don't mind. I think they're sort of fascinating.
The Scarlett Letter, by Nathaniel Hawthorne, which is what I'm reading at the moment, is one of my favorites. I was told once, that I had a distant relation to him through my father's side. His family comes from England, but moved to America long ago.
Suddenly, the door opens. Carson comes in. "The Dowager Countess." He announces.
My great aunt Violet enters the room, wearing black, as I should be right now. She turns toward Carson. "Could you get Her Ladyship for me?"
"Of course, my lady." Carson leaves.
I lay my book open on my lap. "Hello, aunt Violet. Is there a reason you have come?"
"Of course there is a reason."
I raise my eyebrows in questioning.
"Oh, I'm not going to tell you."
I sigh. "If it's about James and Patrick, then we already know."
Cora enters the room, greeting aunt Violet. "Have you heard about James and Patrick?"
Violet speaks as I begin to read my book again. "Of course I've heard. Why else would I be here?"
"Robert didn't want you to read about it in a newspaper and be upset." Cora stands closer to me now.
"He flatters me. I'm tougher than I look." Violet says.
I sit up. This might be a bit uncomfortable, with me being here. "I feel like I'm being a third wheel. Should I leave?"
Cora places her hand on my shoulder. "No, you're fine, dear. No doubt you'll hear it later."
I read again.
Cora removes her hand from my shoulder as Violet speaks again. "I'm very sorry about poor Patrick, of course. He was a nice boy."
"We were all so fond of him." Cora says.
It's nice that Violet doesn't have a rude comment to say. And very uncommon.
"But I never cared for James. He was too like his mother and a nastier woman never drew breath." Ah, there it is. Good, old aunt Violet.
Cora smiles. "Will you stay for some luncheon?"
"Thank you."
Cora heads for the door. "I'll let Carson know."
"I've already told him. Shall we sit down?" Violet motions toward the couch, as I am on the chair.
The two of them sit on the couch. "Do you know the new heir?" Violet asks.
"Only that there is one." Cora answers.
My ears have perked up when the word 'heir' was spoken. "New heir?" I ask, placing my book open on my lap.
"Yes. He's Robert's third cousin, once removed. I have never, well, to my knowledge, set eyes on him." Violet answers my question, then adds more about him.
"Of course, if your late husband hadn't forced me to sign that absurd act of legal theft-" Cora starts to bring up her inheritance money.
Violet interrupts her. "My dear, I didn't come here to fight. Lord Grantham wanted to protect the estate. It never occurred to him that you wouldn't have a son."
"Well, I didn't." Cora snaps back.
"No...you did not. But when Patrick had married Mary, and your grandson been hailed as master, honor would have been satisfied. Unfortunately, now..." Violet just trails off.
Cora seems annoyed. "Now a complete unknown has the right to pocket my money, along with the rest of the swag." The wheels in my head spin.
I speak up. "If I may, the problem is, saving your dowry would break up the estate. It would be the ruin of everything Robert's given his life to."
Cora looks at me. "And he knows this?"
Violet huffs. "Well, if he doesn't, he will."
"Then there's no answer." Cora sighs.
I close my book and set it on my lap. "Yes, there is, and it's a simple one. The entail must be smashed in its entirety." I say.
I prepare to continue on, but Violet speaks instead. "And Mary recognized as heiress of all."
"There's nothing we can do about the title." Cora says.
"No. She can't have the title. But she can have your money. And the estate. I didn't run Downton for thirty years to see it go lock, stock, and barrel to a stranger from God knows where." Violet shifts in her seat.
Cora smiles faintly. "Are we to be friends, then?"
"We are allies, my dear, which can be a good deal more effective." Violet stands, and walks toward the door.
Cora and I stand as well, follow her out the door. Cora walks next to me and places a hand on my arm. "Where did you get so smart, coming up with those ideas?"
I smile. "I read."
"With that, we all should read more. The world would probably be smarter than it is today." Cora removes her hand.
I smile. "Yes, probably." I move my book from one hand to another. "I'm going to go put this in my room. I'll be down in a few minutes."
"Alright, dear." Cora kisses my cheek before hurrying to walk next to Violet.
I head up the stairs, and walk to my room, which is by Mary's. The book goes on my bookshelf, which consists of about a hundred books. Robert and some of the servants have given them to me as birthday and Christmas presents over the years.
Instead of heading straight back down the stairs for luncheon, I sit at my vanity and stare at myself in the mirror. All this talk about titles, money, estates, and heirs makes me feel like I don't belong. I am partly English, but my soul is American. If only I could go back to the place I don't remember.