An: This will be my second time writing this first chapter. I lost the first one when my computer restarted which devastated me to be quite honest. I've been mulling over this piece for a while and I have found it all very fascinating. This will be a multiple character/ multiple ship stories though it will center mostly on C/E. I find that their love is so strong and when put in a detrimental situation they react more passionately. I will also have Cora/Robert, Anna/Bates, Patrick/Mary, and many OC pairings. I do realize that Bates arrived after the sinking of the Titanic but this is an AU. This story is loosely based off the Titanic miniseries that JF wrote in 2012, and the '97 movie. I've studied quite a lot on the Titanic and if the historical information is incorrect, please tell me. I would hate to disrespect any of it. Review if you have the time if motivates me to write more. Thanks!
Disclaimer: All rights belong to Julian Fellowes and Steven Spielberg for their portrayal of all the characters and the event that was Titanic. Any names belong to them, me, or are actual people that died.
"Titanic was called the ship of dreams, and it was. It really was." Titanic (1997)
April 10, 1912 6:17 a.m.
"It's all very excitin' isn't it?" Daisy muttered as she rummaged through the cabinets setting out the breakfast essentials for that morning. Today was the day that the seven selected members of the staff would accompany the family on a month long journey to America.
"An' what so excitin' about a ship overrun with foreigners? It's probably infested with diseases and rats! I tell you what Daisy," Mrs. Patmore stated with a huff of her breath accompanied by several hand gestures to emphasize her point, "I'd much rather spend a month in an empty house then have to embark on a perilous journey that involved an ocean with foreigners!" Her plump fingers nimbly poured a cup of tea for her and the young kitchen maid. Beryl Patmore didn't mean to sound as harsh as she did. If anything she envied the staff and was quite jealous of them. Seven members of a large staff gone, two footmen, two ladies maids, a valet, and of course the reigning royalty of the downstairs; the butler and the housekeeper were to accompany them.
What utter rubbish, Beryl thought to herself as she sat down at the small table in the corner of the room. Half of the staff had no need to be up at this hour in the first place, her Ladyship insisted on a short breakfast that consisted of toast and eggs. Nothing more, nothing less, and who needs five kitchen maids bustling around for just a few eggs.
She sighed and stared down into her ever growing cold tea. What was she going to do for a month? She was the one in charge of the damned house now that the butler and housekeeper have both gone! She couldn't bloody well take care of twenty or so children, ridiculous. Why did they need the damned housekeeper in the first place? They got the ruddy butler but what did they need a housekeeper for?
A knock on the door awoke her from her reverie. Speak of the devil.
Even though they were due to leave within four hours' time she still continued to pace up and down the halls trying to find some reason to have her stay. It's not that she didn't want to go! By god she yearned for something like this, an adventure of some type. Her blood was pumping and her heart was yet to settle down. With less than three hours of sleep she was still the functional housekeeper she'd always been. Would Beryl be alright with the younger staff by herself? If anything Elsie was more nervous about leaving her alone then climbing aboard the Titanic.
A smile graced her lips at the very thought of the blasted ship.
It was said to be the ship of dreams. It would darn fresh linens and the aroma of paint would run through the corridors. She would be only a few steps away from a great journey with the ocean surrounding her every sense. Her body gave a chill and she placed a hand over her heart to calm herself.
Elsie Hughes was never one to be nervous. She was composed and as professional as any woman should be at her stature. But as she walked down the hall towards her sitting room she felt of a wave of emotion crashed upon her. A sense of foreboding was creeping up her spine and she stopped abruptly within the middle of the hall. Her eyes went glassy as she studded the scuffed floor below her.
What if something happened?
Fate was a set forth event, she never knew what would happen or what was not. It was a ship made of iron on its maiden voyage across the Atlantic Ocean, something could happen. Her brows furrowed together as she thought. It was one of the most advanced pieces of machinery that would ever float on water; it was built to be unsinkable.
"Mrs. Hughes." His booming voice floated into her brain.
It startled her and she looked up at the butler, "Yes, Mr. Carson?"
He placed a heavy hand on her upper arm, squeezing it slightly in an offering of comfort.
"Are you alright?"
Her breath began to come in short gulps. A simple touch could send her over the edge. He never noticed though.
"Yes, I'm fine." She shook her head and gazed back down at the floor, not daring to make eye contact with him. "Really, I am. Just a bit nervous is all." He squeezed her one last time before he removed his palm from her.
"Why don't we talk about it?" He tried to catch her eye by dipping his head down. He towered over her like a great giant. Kindness only swept over him on occasion, Charles Carson was not a cruel man but it only seemed that Mrs. Hughes could put him in such a state. "Hmm?" A small tugged as her lips and she couldn't contain her fit of giggles.
He treated her like a porcelain doll at times. Other times he didn't, more often than the latter. She sighed and was put back in a mood of distaste; Elsie knew he was only doing this to not leave on a bad foot. Ridiculous he was.
"I've got plenty to do before we depart, Mr. Carson. And before you protest," She gave him a pointed glare that sent him back into his butler stance. All emotions and sentiment was pushed behind his heart. "I'm sure you have plenty to do as well. We have three hours, and with the younger staff members dawdling it will sure to be a hectic day." Mrs. Hughes passed him to continue her journey towards her sitting room. Making a short detour to discuss the running of the house to Mrs. Patmore she looked back at the burly man to see his shoulders slumped with his hands shoved deep within his pockets.
Propriety was the key to running such a grand house and times like this when he forgot; it was her job to shove him back into the world of rules and status.
If he was going to be honest with himself he would say that he had loved her since the moment she walked into Downton. Now, if he decided to lie to himself like every day since, then he would say that she was nothing more than a colleague, a confident if you will. He stalked the halls after the rejection of a chat towards his cold sitting room. He shoved his hands into his pockets and allowed him to slump his shoulders. It was going to be a long day and already he knew he was trying to mend something that was already too far unraveled. She knew he was up to something, he could see it in her eyes.
Her eyes spoke wonders to him. A clear blue on good days and musty grey on days like today. He would divulge himself in the looks that she gave him whether they are harsh or loving. Charles would fool himself into dreaming of world not like this one. He would begin to get caught up in sentimental emotions and it would increase the friction between them. Of course he knew it was wrong. Elsie was always there to put him back in his place when he needed it. It seemed that over the years he'd needed that push more often.
'Sentimental old fool,' he had remembered her muttering as she left his pantry one evening. The words stung him more than it should have but it was not uncalled for. They remained etched in my memory never to be erased. He was an old fool and he did not deserve any more affection then what was given to him.
He clasped the pocket watch within his pants and glanced at the time.
7:12! He'd better hurry; the train left at 10 and still had to go over multiple items with every servant in the house.
She was right. It was already one of the longest days of his life.
Thomas Barrow sat at the head of the servant's hall, a fag held between his yellow fingers and a smirk permanently etched on his solemn face. Not even bothering to put pomade in his hair he let his dark locks flow freely. His only ally within the house sat to his right as they both took a hearty drag from their cigarettes. They were both silent when they did this making the empty room be filled with no sounds beside the occasional sigh.
"I don' understand wha' they need you for." O'Brien said as she exhaled a deep breath of smoke.
"I'm the under butler. They need me as much as any one of ya" Grimacing at the sound of her stupid remark he continued to dwell in the silence. He wasn't going to deny the fact that Sarah O'Brien was nothing more than an uppity bitch. No one to love her and no one she loved in return. She was pent up with horrid emotions that made her highly unlikeable to any species on the great earth.
Maybe that's why they were friends. They had a lot in common.
Titanic was going to be a fresh start for Thomas, maybe even for O'Brien herself. He would not partake in such frivolities as love, he swore to himself. How could he love? Against law and against God's good will he would burn in hell for the rest of his days the way he had been feeling. It wasn't short of obvious the way he saw his fellow men, a glance here and there would set his teeth on edge.
It was unfair.
So, as Thomas lifted the last drag of his wilting cigarette he contemplated what this trip would mean to him. He would purge his feelings in the water of the Atlantic and leave behind anything that stood in his way. He would try his best to impress one of the countesses in hoped of a finding a new place to start in America. It was a stupid dream, he knew that; but anything was better than stiff collars and taking orders for his young life.
He watched the last of the ash fall from the tobacco, relaxing as he watched the black substance fall to the table.
Titanic was his only hope for a better life.
Thumbing her ticket she stared out their bedroom window. They had plenty of time to rest before the train left for Southampton. It all seemed so surreal to her, going back to America. She hadn't been since the marriage to Robert and it would all seem so foreign to her once she had arrived. Cora knew she would hardly recognize it once it came to view.
She heard him snuggle deeper into the covers, immersing himself in the warmth. Even though it was early April it still seemed that the chill of winter was here to stay. She dreaded the thought of the sea at this time of year and had packed more winter clothes than necessary.
Cora hated the cold. She hated the sharp bite that would strike her face and the numbness that spread through her fingers and toes. It was all unappealing to her. This was one of the reason she hated to travel this time of year, she would much rather stay in bed with her husband nestling together to keep warm. He had insisted though, saying that this would be a 'Once in a lifetime opportunity'. Robert would gush about the Titanic daily for the past few months, he would completely ignore all aspects of daily life and continue to rant about the first class luxuries that they would be privileged.
If she was going to freeze to death by the bitter winter then she could care less about the privileges of first class.
A knock came from the door as O'Brien stepped through to start their day.
Sybil had been dressed and readied by half past eight and could hardly keep her feet still. She out of her two other sisters was far more excited about the journey they were yet to take. Mary had been in low spirits about the whole endeavor. Sybil could not blame her to say the least, mama and papa had been told that Mary and Patrick were to be wed. She could tell her sister had become increasingly saddened by the thought and tried her best to comfort her in any way she could.
Edith was far more acceptable on the subject. Even though her nose crinkled in disgust just at the mention of the name Titanic, Sybil knew that Edith could not wait to arrive in America. Ever since they were children Edith had said she had dreamt of a journey to America.
Sybil sat at the table, scarfing down the piece of toast and egg that was placed on her plate. Carson stood in the far corner dressed in his livery staring straight ahead towards a plain painting. At the moment these were the only two beings occupying the room, and the silence was killing Sybil.
"Carson," She stated as she walked towards the counter to heap another helping of toast on her plate. The look upon the butlers face sent her into a fit of giggles, "Are you quite excited for the journey we are about to embark on?" She settled back down on the ornamental chair.
"Yes, m'lady. I'm very grateful." His stature never broke as he continued to stare ahead.
"Did you know that Titanic is the first ship to have a swimming pool?" She smiled at him and continued her conversation, "Although, I never learned to swim I do find it interesting. Don't you Carson?" Her bright blue eyes shone with curiosity and the butler merely glanced at the young Crawley, no emotion present.
"Yes, m'lady, very interesting."
She began to give up hope on the older gentleman. He never seemed to have any fun, and this drove Sybil mad. She could remember when she was younger as a child the way he would laugh with her and sit with her at her pretend tea parties. He treated each one of the Crawley sisters much differently than he had in the past. But what had changed so much? Surely the fact that they got older affected him in such a way.
When Sybil turned age eleven she remembered a conversation her and Mrs. Hughes had in the woman's sitting room. Carson had started to refer to her as 'm'lady' which had made Sybil's mood turn quite sour. In the past it had always been Ms. Sybil or even the occasional Sybbie, but that was ages ago.
That day in the pantry she could remember Mrs. Hughes saying to her "Mr. Carson is like a chocolate," holding up a bitter piece of dark chocolate to show the lass; she gave one to the young one as well. "He's got a hard bitter shell on the outside, masking his true feelings. But on the inside…" Elsie bit into the sweet substance, "he will surprise you with tender sweetness."
Sybil remembered that event as if it was yesterday. Ever since then she kept a keen eye on Mrs. Hughes and Mr. Carson when they were together. It seemed that Mrs. Hughes could completely melt away his hard exterior and reveal his sweet heart with the blink of her eye. Sybil was not naïve; she knew what love looked like. For once in her life she would like to experience a love like what brewed between the older couple. True love comes in many ways, shapes, and forms but the love between the two of them was something that Sybil could not describe.
Hiding a sly smile she continued to finish her breakfast.
April 10, 1912 8:53
"Wine rota, polish silver, what the bloody hell am I missing? "He ran through the mental list he had been preparing and he paced through his pantry searching for anything that would give him a clue.
"I believe you are missing these." Her voice had startled him making him jump. Charles turned his body towards the doorway where she stood saucily with her frame leaning against the doorway. In her hands she held two tickets.
"By God above, the tickets." He went to grasp his own when she pulled them back from his reach.
"Have you got everything? Warm clothes, your toothbrush, extra underpants?" She smiled at the last one teasing him as much as she could. His expressions were ones to live for. His counter remarks she could do without but, it was only a bit of fun.
"Yes. I'm a grown man I can remember to pack fresh underpants and a toothbrush, Mrs. Hughes." She placed the ticket in his hand and gave him a scoff.
"Yet you can't remember the one thing you would suffer without if I hadn't given it to you."
"You tricked me. You must have had it in your bag or coat or… something." He grabbed his coat that was slung over his chair. The woman was madly infuriating.
"Well maybe one should not carelessly use a ticket as a bookmark, Charles Edward Carson." With arm through one sleeve and the other carelessly flopped to one side he stared at her his mouth agape similar to one of a fish. She only used his given name when she was trying to reprimand him for something he's done wrong.
"I would have found it eventually." He muttered as he passed her to walk down the corridor.
"Right."
"I would have!"
"As soon as the ship left the port you would have!"
He slapped his hat down on his head in a charismatic demeanor in order to show that he would not back down from this silly fight. From the corner of his eye he could see Bates and Anna muttering to themselves.
"I don't wish to bicker, Mrs. Hughes. Now, if you'll excuse me I have to finish loading the rest of our luggage." And with a slight nod towards her and the two pests in the back he opened and closed the door with a loud slam that made Elsie jump.
She shook her head and turned to give a fierce look at the two.
They were packed and ready to leave by 9:45. This only gave them fifteen minutes to arrive at the train station, place their luggage on the train, and find their seats. They would make it. With three fully capable men and a wobbly valet they would have time to spare at that rate. They had said their quick goodbyes and farewells. A month would fly by Elsie had told Beryl as she slipped the store cupboard key within the cooks grasp.
"You'll hardly remember I'm gone. I'll be back before you know it!"
Carson had sternly told the rest of the staff that if he were to hear of any 'funny business' he would personally throw them out the front door on Downton Abbey without so much as a reference.
Anna and Gwen gave a short blubber session as she climbed into the car. They were dear friends and Gwen kept telling Anna how much she was going to miss her and how lonely the house would be without her. Charles had rolled his eyes at the scene, it was nonsense.
Other than Anna and Mrs. Hughes short conversations with their friends the departure of the Abbey went rather smoothly. His Lordship spent the most time saying goodbye to Isis, the dog. Cora and sat in the car watching the whole thing and could not help but laugh at her husband's affection for the animal. It was pure and she could not help but mimic the feeling for such a beloved creature.
Once they arrived at the train station Carson began to order the men the whereabouts as to the placement of the luggage. The train had been delayed ten minutes due to an inefficient fuel capacity. He didn't mind though it gave him plenty of time to mull over what was to come in the next hour. They would arrive at the port around 11:10-11-20. This would only give the five younger ones time to go through inspection for third class members. He and Mrs. Hughes would not have to go through the inspection due to the generosity of his Lord and Ladyship.
They had insisted that they both be treated respectively since they were the butler and the housekeeper of the estate. When purchasing the tickets he and Mrs. Hughes had both been given second class tickets, enabling them to so much more of the riches on Titanic. He had spoken kind words of gratitude and could simply not refuse such kind gifts. Mrs. Hughes on the other hand had profusely told her Ladyship that it was too much, aggravating his Lordship even more. In the end the conclusion was permanent and could not be changed at such a last moment.
He had been grateful, really he was. He couldn't remember the last time he was treated with such dignity and high standard. Charles felt the jolt of the train as he began to accelerate.
April 10, 1912 11:37
When they departed from the train they took an automobile towards the port of Southampton, one car trailing behind the other through the large crowds of the city. He continued to stare out the window in hopes to see the vessel before anyone else. His blood was pumping faster and faster and his gaze traveled to his fiddling fingers. That was when he heard a sharp gasp and looked once again out the window.
There she was.
Titanic; the ship of dreams.
An: That is all for this chapter! I really hope you enjoy it I had a lot of fun writing it. I'll update by this coming up weekend. I have another story in mind that I'm thinking about whipping up before the holidays are over. Please write a review for which character you would like to see more of.
Next Chapter: Settling in on Titanic and first night aboard
