The Downton Ladies
Disclaimer:
Julian Fellowes created the Downton Abbey TV series and I have no ownership over any official characters, places, names, or plots that were originally from the Downton Abbey show.
Authors Note:
This is a brand new Downton Abbey fan fiction I am writing about several ladies from Downton Abbey. I have never written a fan fiction for Downton Abbey so I hope you enjoy! Each chapter will be about one lady from this show. After there has been a chapter for each lady I plan to write about, I may do another chapter of certain already-written-about downton ladies unless the previous chapters prove to be sufficient. This isn't a straight to follow-up to the last Downton Abbey episode but it might connect in some ways to other episodes.
PLEASE DO NOT READ IF YOU DON'T WANT THE SHOW SPOILED FOR YOU
Enjoy!
...
LADY MARY CRAWLEY
A pair of black high-heels took turns going in front of the other as Lady Mary Crawley made her way to Downton's majestic library.
When she reached it, she found the Dowager Countess of Grantham sitting on one of the couches.
"Granny, what are you doing here? Papa told me that you'd be arriving after luncheon," Lady Mary said.
"My dear girl, there are a great deal of things your father can do but predicting when or where I will be going is not one of them," Violet said.
Mary nodded, "I'm sure. So why have you come then?"
"Robert told me that Cora has taken ill and I wanted to to check on her," Violet said in her usual high-pitched, shrill, quivery voice.
Mary raised her brows, "Yes, Mama is slightly ill but it isn't at all your style to come all the way to Downton because of a slight fever."
"You know me better than I thought. I brought someone, a young gentleman actually. His name is Mr Blake," Violet said.
"Mr Blake? Why on earth did you bring him?"
"We happened to have met in town and he asked if I could arrange for him to come over for luncheon and I agreed. I've already told Robert"
"Where is he?"
"He's talking with Robert in the drawing room. I came here to find you, Robert told me you'd be here"
"That's right, I wanted to sit down for a bit. Well I think I'll go see Mr Blake now and see what he wants," Mary said with a small sigh and with that, she strode out of the library.
...
Teacups clinked and Lord Grantham, Lady Cora, Lady Edith, Tom Branson, Lady Mary, the Dowager Countess of Grantham and Mr Blake engaged in a small conversation.
"I came to discuss the death of a Mr Bricker, I heard of it from Tony Gillingham when I last met up with him. He says he heard from one of his friends about the death and he had said that your family knew him," Mr Blake explained. "I also came to visit and wondered if you were interested in going for a quick ride."
Cora wore a stricken expression on her face in addition to the reddish tint that she had from her fever after hearing Mr Bricker's name and Mary couldn't quite figure out why. Her papa slightly disappointed.
Mary brushed her worry and curiosity away and focused on Mr Blake.
"Yes in fact we did know him. He came over and had admired the paintings we have," Mary said reluctantly.
"Yes we knew him but that doesn't mean we should care that he has passed," Lord Grantham said sternly ", I'm sorry I don't know what I'm saying," he added after realizing what he had said.
"How did he die?" the Dowager Countess of Grantham, Violet, asked moving on in the conversation.
Mr Blake ate a few mouthfuls of food (unlike everyone else who had barely touched anything but their tea) and replied, "Tony said that he died in a car accident."
"How unfortunate, he seemed nice enough," Edith said, taking a sip of tea.
"I didn't see much of him but I must agree with Lady Edith. What do you think Mary?" Branson asked.
Mary shrugged to make it seem that she couldn't care less. "I don't know, he was a visitor and nothing else."
Cora still hadn't said a word and Mary was starting to get anxious. Was her fever bothering her? Or was there something about Mr Bricker that bothered her?
"What did you think of him, Mama?" Mary asked Cora.
Cora seemed to wake up from her thoughts and looked at her eldest daughter. "He was alright," was all she said.
"He was not alright! He was a disgrace and behaved in an ungentlemanly manner!" Lord Grantham, Robert, protested.
Cora looked disapprovingly at her husband, "Robert!"
Mary glanced at her parents and decided to get back to this subject later. "A ride sounds delightful, Mr Blake," she said smiling at Mr Blake.
...
"What's with Lord Grantham's sudden burst of anger?" Mr Blake asked Lady Mary.
Mary steered her horse to the left and then glanced over to Mr Blake, "I'm not sure but I think it may have something to do with Mr Bricker. He seemed nice enough to me but maybe Papa doesn't think so. Mama didn't seem too happy either."
"I'd say," he halted his horse at the stables and got off before helping Mary off as well.
"I came to get another taste of Downton commotion and I'm glad I did."
Mary smiled at her friend, "Our family sure knows how to create a commotion."
"I'm afraid I must be going now," he said.
Mary nodded, "Make sure to send Tony and Mabel my warmest regards."
"I will," Mr Blake said and he strode away from Mary to say goodbye to the others.
...
Anna undid Mary's hairdo and tied it into a loose braid instead, it was nighttime already. "How was luncheon with Mr Blake?" she asked Lady Mary.
Mary patted her hair approvingly, "The luncheon was fine though I wish I could say the same for Mama and Papa."
"Why's that milady?" Anna asked, removing a the pearly necklace Mary had been wearing.
"They seemed upset about something," Mary shook her head quickly, "I'm sure it's nothing. Thank you Anna, that will be all."
Anna nodded and left Mary's room, closing the door behind her.
...
A shadow wavered in the hallways right in front of Cora and Robert's bedroom. It was Lady Mary.
She took a deep breath and thought her plan through.
She was going to ask her parents about Mr Bricker and find out if that was what all the fuss was about.
Then she'd find out more about this Mr Bricker and... she didn't know what to do after that.
With a sigh, Mary knocked on her parents' bedroom door.
Cora opened the door, weary eyed, "Mary, what are you doing here?"
Mary frantically thought of what to say, "I-I, wanted to...," Mary sighed, "May I come in?"