Chapter 2

February 26th 1915

Aisne, NW France

Lord Grantham,

I write to you somewhat reluctantly, because I know it is unfair to ask this of you, but there is no other alternative. Whilst fighting in the trenches, General Thomas Merrick has sustained an injury which requires an undetermined period of home leave. Unfortunately, he has no family to go to and friends are unable to take him. His last home was in your service, at Downton Abbey. I am writing to ask if you could take him in and give him somewhere to stay. I apologise if you are inconvenienced by this request, but I do not know who else to write to. Will you take in a soldier who was injured fighting for his country?

Yours sincerely,

Second-Lieutenant Hurley

3rd Regiment. F.A. via Aisne.

'Ridiculous,' muttered Lord Grantham, 'ridiculous.'

'What's ridiculous?' Cora swept into the room. Cold afternoon sunlight shone in through the window, 'Did you know the Germans are using liquid fire now? It was in the newspaper this morning.'

'Mm.'

'They started two days ago, on the 26th. Sounds dreadful, doesn't it, Robert?' She saw him frowning thoughtfully, and came closer. 'Sorry, I went off-topic. What were you saying was ridiculous?'

'This.' He handed her the slightly crumpled letter, and waited a minute for her to read it. When she finished she handed it back to him and bit her lip. He looked expectantly.

'Well?'

'I…it's…'

'What do you think?'

'I think… Robert, I think we should take him in.'

'Cora!'

She looked at him. 'You don't think we should?'

'No… I don't know…. I don't know. I have no idea what to do.'

'I do.'

'Listen, I was about to sack him when he handed in his resignation. He was trouble. I didn't think I'd ever have to see him again, I barely worried about it. He was just a footman. Now they want me to let him live here.'

'Well, he can't work.'

He sighed and looked out of the window. 'What does it say his injury is?'

She scanned the letter. 'It doesn't.'

'Then for all we know he could be half-mad! He could have lost his arms, I don't know.'

Cora joined him by the window and for a second they merely stood side by side and looked at the garden. The first flowers were beginning to show. She put a hand on his shoulder.

'I'm not saying we should take him in because I like him, I'm saying it because I think it's the right thing to do,' she stated.

He swerved and began pacing around the room like a caged animal. 'It would be the right thing to do if we were a hospital! If we were related to him! Not if we used to employ him! I just don't know why he has to come here.'

'Where do you want him to go?' For the first time a touch of steel entered the Countess of Grantham's voice.

'I don't know, Cora! But I shouldn't have to worry! He could find somewhere – in London, I don't know. Is that all we are now? A hostel for injured soldiers?'

'So we'll refuse him a home? He can hardly survive on his army wage.'

'Then he can find family or friends!'

'He has no family.' She read slightly sadly, 'I never knew that.'

'I… why is he in the trenches anyway? I thought he was going to be a doctor.'

'Obviously something didn't work out.'

'Yes. Well…'

'Why are you so against this?'

'I'm not- or, well, I just never expected this.'

'Robert-'

'No, I'm sorry, you're… you're right. We'll take him in. He can stay in the staff corridor – plenty of spare rooms there.'

'The servants won't like this.'

'I thought you just said- '

'I did, sorry, you are doing the right thing.'

'This is insane.'

'Yes, but what's life without a little insanity? And anyway, Mary will be happy,' she added, smiling, 'Thomas might bring news of Matthew.'

He looked at her, and finally smiled back, letting some stress out. 'How are things between those two?' he asked.

'Well, I know that Mary was very upset when Matthew left. Something definitely happened at that garden party last year.'

'Oh really? I thought he left when… when you became pregnant.'

'No, I think there's been a proposal somewhere.'

'Well, let's see, Mary can be quite…'

'I know, but they definitely like each other.'

'Well, here's to hoping he doesn't get killed.'

'Robert!'

'Sorry, but it's a nasty war. You can see the death toll in the newspapers. No family will leave this war unscathed.'

XXX

'Anna, Gwen, Her Ladyship asks that you make up one of the empty rooms in the staff corridor,' announced Bates as he entered the room where most of the servants had gathered in the cold weather.

Anna looked at him in surprise. 'In the staff corridor? Why?'

The valet took a deep, resigned breath and finally said 'Thomas is coming back.'

Everyone turned round at this and looked at each other, their faces portraying various degrees of outrage, shock and irritation. Immediately the questions began to pile up.

'What do you mean he-'

'He can't come –'

'Why is he –'

'I don't believe –'

'I thought he went –'

'All I know is,' began Bates, '…Listen, all I know is that something happened in the trenches, he was injured and he is coming back here.'

'What was he doing in the trenches?' pondered O'Brien, 'I thought he was going to work at a hospital.'

A murmur, reflecting that everyone had believed the same.

'Never mind that,' snapped Anna, unusually annoyed, 'Why is he coming here? He resigned! And look at the trouble he caused last time – he can't want to come back!'

'Now, Anna,' interrupted Carson, 'I'm sure there's an explanation behind this. I don't like this either, but there's nothing we can do about it.'

The housemaid sighed before signalling to Gwen to come with her, who reluctantly moved away from the fire to follow.

Mrs Hughes looked down the table at Daisy, who had a decidedly irked expression on her face. 'Where's Mrs Patmore, Daisy?'

The girl jumped to attention and seemed distracted from what she had been thinking. 'Oh, I'm not sure. You know, Mrs Patmore says she's seen a ghost? Here, in Downton!'

'A ghost?'

'Yeah, in the back yard. She says she saw it walking and walking in the night and then left.'

'Humph,' said Carson, 'I don't care for ghosts. Nonsense and folklore.'

'Quite,' agreed the housekeeper.

'But it's important if she says someone was in the yard.'

'Oh, probably just her imagination. It was night-time. Nothing's been taken, anyway.'

'Um…' Daisy had a thoughtful expression again.

'Yes?'

'Oh, no, it's nothing, but… I was thinking, do you think Thomas might have news of William? Just… you know, I was wondering how he was.'

Everyone else in the room exchanged knowing expressions, smiling slightly.

'I don't know, Daisy, but I'm sure he can tell us about what William's been doing.'

She grinned and seemed mollified.

'I wonder what's wrong with him,' she wondered.

'Who?'

'Thomas. You said he was injured, Mr Bates?'

'Yes.'

'Perhaps he's lost a limb. Or maybe he's got shed lock.'

'Shell shock.'

'Yes.'

'Well, we'll see. Don't speculate so, Daisy, he's not a toy.'

'Sorry.' But she still looked fairly excited with the idea of an injured soldier.

Bates, on the other hand, looked vacant.

'It's a horrible war, this,' he said, 'Pointless.'

'Oh, well, it'll all be over by Christmas.' Mrs Hughes replied. 'We'll just let the Allies sort out the Germans; I don't imagine it'll take long to finish this war.'

He sighed. 'We'll see.'

XXX

Nearing nine in the evening, the Crawley family (apart from Matthew and his mother) were dining and discussing the new fashions.

'I think it's ridiculous, women doing men's work,' stated the Dowager Countess of Grantham, looking preened and nose permanently curled, 'What is the world coming to?'

'They're making dresses shorter to make it easier for them as well,' said Cora.

'Yes, I've seen them,' her mother-in-law replied, 'So far above the ankles, they're practically stripping.'

'Mother. I suppose it's fair enough, if all the young men are fighting.'

'But the dresses!'

'I think it's excellent,' interrupted Sybil, 'Women aren't being stopped from doing so many things. They get to work for themselves. And the dresses, they're just making it easier. Personally I think it would be better if they wore trousers.'

'Sybil,' laughed Mary, 'What a preposterous thought.'

'Well, our little activist has shown us as much,' said Lord Grantham.

There was a moment of silence.

'Well, anyway,' he carried on, 'Enough on that. Me and Cora have some news that should interest you all.'

He hesitated and shared a glance with his wife before continuing.

'Do you remember the footman named Thomas?'

'The black-haired one?'

'Yes.'

'Yes, he left didn't he?'

'He did, but… he's, he's coming back.'

The three girls nodded and looked politely interested.

'No, there's more. He went to fight on the Front Line, in the trenches. Well, he's injured and we've agreed to let him stay at Downton. In the staff corridor.'

'Why isn't he going to his family?' said Edith.

'He has none.'

'Oh.'

'You said he was injured? Why isn't he going to hospital?'

'I don't know, the letter wasn't very informative. But we'll have to worry about when he gets here. Anyway, that's not why I thought you'd be interested.'

'No?'

'Honestly, girls,' Cora said, 'He might have news of the others. Matthew, Branson, William.'

'Branson?' Sybil's head snapped up , 'I do hope so.'

Mary looked lost in thought. 'Matthew… he hasn't written to any of us, has he?'

'He wrote to his mother a few times.'

'Oh.' Her expression was unreadable.

'When is he coming? Thomas?'

'Monday. Carson, I believe we're ready for dessert.'

'Very good, sir.'

The Dowager Countess of Grantham sighed. 'We're a home for broken soldiers now.'

-A/N. Right, chapter two. I hope you like it. OK, so these two chapters are just to get this started. Soon this is all going to go haywire. Thanks to MissMattSmith for reviewing last chapter. I'd really appreciate reviews, and constructive criticism. Next chapter: Thomas arrives, and Sybil gets a surprise.