Downton Abbey 1930

Matthew had been pleasant, as always, on the drive from the railway station to the house. Their conversation was not on the purpose of Mr. Murray's visit but rather on Matthew's latest idea for improving crop production. Murray thought it was always interesting to hear Matthew's ideas for he had shown that he was a deep thinker and open to new methods of farming or for whatever would make Downton more profitable yet he also always seemed to consider the effects it would have on the tenants or other employees. While they exchanged pleasantries about the weather, inquiries as to Mr. Murray's train trip, and Matthew's new plans for the estate, it didn't escape Murray's notice that not one word was spoken about the deceased or the purpose of his visit here today.

After being shown into the library where the family was waiting him, Murray

accepted Robert's offer of tea as a way of bracing himself for this duty. Other than Robert mentioning that he hoped Mr. Murray's travels had been pleasant there was no small talk. Now that he was here and actually facing them, he wasn't so anxious to begin. He knew from experience that it is never a good thing to bring disappointment to those expecting something good.

The various Crawley family members seated themselves with Lady Mary and Cora sharing one of the red couches while Robert and Lady Edith sat on the couch opposite. Matthew Crawley sat on a chair that had been moved just behind the couch so that his hand could rest on his wife's shoulder. A chair and small table had been placed in front, well actually to the side, but in-between the two couches. Murray was to sit there with his paperwork spread on the table in front of him. Lady Mary and Lady Edith had positioned themselves so they were sitting closest to Mr. Murray.

He noted that Lady Mary and Lady Edith both seemed excited as if it was Christmas eve and they were awaiting Father Christmas to deliver their presents. Robert also had an air of cordial anticipation. Only Cora Crawley seemed somber. He also noted that she was the only member of the household dressed in black.

There was no polite chit chat, it was quite evident that they just wanted to get to the purpose of his visit. Mr. Murray looked hesitantly at those sitting eagerly before him and sighed deeply before stating "I did not write this last will and testament as I was not Mrs. Levinson's solicitor. Her New York solicitor contacted me as the Crawley family solicitor and gave me detailed instructions as to his client's wishes as well as sending me a copy of the will. He did not offer any explanations as to the contents of the will."

"Rather than read the entire will I'll just discuss the parts most relevant to all of you. I have copies that you can read later" Mr. Murray continued nervously as all eyes in the room were glued on him.

He then stood, picked up one of the boxes he had brought with him and walked over to Cora so he could hand her the box. "This contains personal belongings of Mrs. Levinson that she thought you would want. There are also two crates that were shipped directly to Downton and should arrive soon."

Cora dabbled a handkerchief at her eyes before taking the box from him and placing it beside her on the couch. Mr. Murray then continued "There is also this letter." He didn't know the contents of the letter but he assumed it would explain Mrs. Levinson's actions.

Walking back to his seat, he continued "You will continue to get your monthly personal allowance. The amount remains the same and it will continue until your death."

"These are for each of you" he said as he picked up the two remaining packages and handed them to Lady Mary and Lady Edith. Although he had not seen what was actually within the packages, he knew from the instructions that they contained some keepsake jewelry of unknown value but wasn't sure of what else.

"In addition there are these personal letters" he stated as he handed each woman the letter addressed to her. He had noted when he received the materials that the letters were addressed in Mrs. Levinson's handwriting.

Both women eagerly opened the packages. After glancing at the jewels and the other odds and ends enclosed, they each opened their letters. There was a gasp from Lady Mary followed quickly by one from Lady Edith.

"This can't be right Mr. Murray" Lady Mary was adamant. "Our grandmother was worth a fortune and this is all she left us."

Lady Edith nodded in agreement then offered hopefully "maybe it all goes to Mama."

"No, as I just stated your mother will continue to get her monthly allowance but that is all other than what is in that box and the crates that are in transition."

"But how can that be? Who gets the rest? Harrold?" Surprisingly it was Robert who asked the questions that were on everyone's mind.

"As you will see when you read the will, Mrs. Levinson wrote that during her lifetime she had given quite a bit to both Lady Grantham and her son Harrold. She felt it was enough for them to make their way in this world. In addition, both Lady Mary and Lady Edith have the trust funds that were set up by their grandfather, the late Mr. Levinson."

"Who?" Mary demanded cutting off Murray's explanations. "Who is getting the rest?"

"There are some small bequeaths of money and personal objects to Mrs. Levinson's household staff and a few charities which you can read later in the will itself." It was time for Mr. Murray to come to the part he had dreaded telling the family assembled before him.

"There is also a sizeable bequest of money to fund a Levinson Mother and Child Care Clinic" he anxiously looked around the room at those in front of him "the said clinic will be in Dublin and the funds will be administered by Mrs. Levinson's granddaughter Sybil Branson."

"What?" Edith cried out as at the same time Mary cried "Sybil?"

Cora, who had been looking down at the unopened envelope she gingerly held in her hands, raised her head to look directly at Mr. Murray with a look that he couldn't decipher. He paused, taking a deep breath as well as a sip of his now cold tea, before delivering the final bequest. He looked down at his copy of the last will and testament of Martha Levinson to read to those gathered before him exactly what she had written.

"All of my property not specifically provided for elsewhere in this will, including my house in New York and all its contents, my other land holdings, as well as any investments and financial instruments including all money, bonds and the like, are left to my granddaughter Sybil Branson.

At those words there were several loud gasps and then a shocked silence enveloped the room. No further sound or movement was made.

London 1922

Sybil decided she needed to take a break. After making tea, she took the steaming cup, along with a couple of biscuits, and returned to the sitting room. Much of the floor space was now taken up with packing crates but there was space to make her way to the sofa.

After sitting down on the comfortable sofa, she looked around the room as if she wanted to take in every nook and corner and commit it to memory. Tomorrow she would leave this flat for the final time.

But it was not with sadness that she looked around the room that had been her home for the past three years. No, she thought, there had been so much happiness in this place that it would be fond memories she would carry with her to their new home in Dublin.

In this flat a new phase of her life had begun for it was here that she and Tom had begun their marriage. In this flat she had made love to Tom for the first time. It was in this flat that the child now growing inside her was conceived.

She ran her hand over her small protruding belly. "It's actually because of you little one that we are leaving London" she spoke then chuckled as she continued speaking to the child growing within her "I think your father is afraid of you having an English accent."

Although she chuckled, Sybil knew that was somewhat true. They had always talked about eventually moving to Dublin but had never set any time limit as to when. Tom had worked his way up from proof reader and errand boy to full time journalist at the newspaper. It had been over a year ago, that he had stopped working as a mechanic to supplement his income as his salary increased at the newspaper. Sybil had become a floor supervisor at the hospital.

But now, with her pregnancy, it seemed like a good time to move. She had to stop working this past month. She had been lucky that she was able to keep her job as a married woman and even more so when she became pregnant. However, now in her sixth month and decidedly showing, she was let go. She probably would have left anyway within another month or so since the work was taking more of a physical toll on her for she tired easily now and even moving around was becoming a bit more difficult.

As soon as he had known about the pregnancy, Tom had begun contacting newspapers in Ireland to inquire about available positions. Finally, not quite two months ago he had been offered a position. Although the political situation in Ireland was still a bit dicey, Tom wanted to go home.

It would be nice for the baby to be surrounded by an extended loving family. Children should have a grandmother and aunts and uncles and cousins thought Sybil. Heaven knows her child wouldn't have that here in London.

Tears did well up in her eyes as she thought for the first time since she had known she was pregnant that her child would never know her side of the family. It had been so long that Sybil rarely thought about them. She had buried the hurt deep within her but she had been hurt there was no denying that.

She had thought that once they had gotten over the shock of her and Tom's announcement that night they would forgive her. She had sent them invitations to her wedding, along with personal notes, but only Isobel and Matthew had responded. While Matthew had sent his good wishes and a gift, only Isobel had attended the wedding held at the small Catholic chapel in London.

Just days before the wedding she received a small package that contained a pair of blue sapphire and diamond earrings and the delicate matching necklace. The package contained no letter just a note that said Something old … something blue

Yet Sybil knew they were from Granny. Since she was a young girl she had loved that earring and necklace set, drawn to the striking blue of the sapphires set among the sparkling diamonds, would always comment on it when Granny wore it, thinking it was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen. Granny had told her when Sybil was a young teen that it would be a gift to her on her wedding day and she had kept that promise now very much to Sybil's surprise.

The gift had brought forth the tears that up to that point Sybil had been able to hold in. Then those tears had dissolved in anger. If her Granny thought enough to send her the jewelry why hadn't she, at the very least, sent a letter. Did this mean in some small way that she approved of Sybil's wedding and gave her consent she wondered.

In the end Sybil didn't wear the earrings and necklace on her wedding day for she had come to consider them a representation of her past. Her wedding day was about the future, not the past. She wouldn't be reminded of those not in attendance; she'd only take joy in those who attended.

The earrings and necklace remained in their satin lined boxes, never worn by Sybil, yet carefully packed away.

Sybil had tried again to reconnect with her family that first Christmas. She sent them each cards with a handwritten letter describing her life and her desire to remain in contact. It was Christmas, her first away from the family, it had been almost a full year since she had left, surely they had had time to reconsider, surely they had missed her.

But there had been no response except for a package that came with no note. Yet Sybil once again knew the beautifully embroidered tablecloth and matching napkins and the set of twelve silver coffee spoons was from Granny. Like the jewelry that had come before her wedding, these things remained wrapped in the tissue paper they had come in and unused.

She didn't know why but she was hurt. They didn't know what a wonderful man Tom was and never would. They wouldn't accept that she was leading the life she wanted. After that Christmas, Sybil made no further attempt to contact her family, her hurt had turned to anger and then resignation. Only Isobel wrote her occasionally or sent a card and had visited her twice when she had come to London.

When her father had said that society would no longer accept her, Sybil hadn't really comprehended what he was talking about, maybe her invitations to social gatherings would be cut off but that would be the extent of it. However, she had discovered what he meant when unexpectedly she saw two old friends walking towards her on a London street.

The smile on Sybil's face as she walked towards her friends crumbled when the two, finally spying Sybil, stared at her blankly for a moment or two and then hurriedly crossed the street to avoid her. As Sybil stood there staring after them, she knew they had seen her for when safely on the other side of the street and down a few yards they had turned around for a quick look at Sybil and then turned their backs once again while talking animatedly.

The only friend from her pre-London days that still talked to her was sweet, silly, kind hearted Imogen. They would meet regularly for tea or lunch. Imogen had visited Sybil and Tom in this flat for dinner and attended a couple of the parties the couple had hosted. Although Imogen had invited Sybil to dinner parties at her house, Sybil knew enough to have the graciousness to never attend. She didn't want Imogen to become a pariah like herself.

Other than Isobel, who really was only distant family, the only family member to stay in contact with Sybil was her Grandmama in America. Although she was unable to attend the wedding on such short notice, she did send a lovely crystal vase (to be filled with beautiful flowers from a dutiful husband the accompanying note read) and a generous check.

Martha had also reminded Sybil that she was entitled to the trust fund set up by her late grandfather. Martha had even gone so far as to contact Mr. Murray to ensure that Sybil received access to the trust after reminding him that the trust fund was Levinson money and in no way controlled by Robert Crawley nor part of the Downton estate.

It was money from that trust fund that had enabled Sybil and Tom to buy the flat that Sybil was now sitting in drinking her tea. The flat that they had now sold in anticipation for their move to Ireland. In fact, with the money from the sale of the flat, they had bought an apartment building.

Sybil chuckled for while that sounded rather grand, the building was only two stories with two identical flats on each floor. The flats had a large sitting and dining room combination like her current London flat, a kitchen large enough to have a table to eat their meals at, a bath, and two large bedrooms.

She and Tom were moving into one of the first floor flats while his mother and two sisters had already moved into the other first floor flat. It had taken a lot of talk to get Tom's mother to agree to move, talk not only from Tom and Sybil but also her other children. Sybil wanted to eventually go back to nursing and Tom's mother had already committed to watching the baby. In exchange for living rent free, Mrs. Branson had insisted on that arrangement as well as being the building manager. The current tenants in the upstairs flats were remaining despite the change in ownership of the building and Mrs. Branson would ensure rents were paid on time and repairs were taken care of.

Since her wedding, Martha had always been generous with gifts to Sybil and Tom on birthdays, anniversaries and Christmas. She had visited with them on the two occasions she had come to England treating them to dinners and even the theatre once.

On her first visit, Sybil had taken time off to spend with her grandmother seeing some of the London sights. Of course Martha also insisted on taking her granddaughter shopping. To Martha's astonishment Sybil wasn't really that interested in buying new dresses or hats but if Martha insisted on buying something she was more interested in something for the flat.

"Since I wear a uniform to work Grandmama, and most of our social engagements are nights out at the pub with friends, I don't need a large wardrobe" Sybil had informed Martha.

"Well everyone needs something new every now and then" Martha had insisted.

"If you insist on buying me something I'd rather it be something for the flat" Sybil had replied. "We're still trying to furnish it."

While Sybil had in mind blankets or tablecloths or some such stuff, it was a beautiful mahogany dining table and chairs with a matching hutch that Martha insisted on buying. Sybil had to steer Martha to a much smaller set reminding her that she didn't have a dining room that could seat 20.

"I very much enjoyed the delicious dinner you cooked for me last night" Martha had said. And then added laughingly "but you must admit that old rickety table and chairs took away some of the ambiance."

"But Grandmama this is just too much. I don't expect you to buy such extravagances for me" Sybil replied.

While Martha thought Sybil and Tom's flat was charming, she was surprised that they hadn't bought something much larger. The one bedroom flat was roomy enough for two people but with the trust fund money they could have bought a house. Never known for her shyness Martha asked Sybil "Do you still have money in your trust fund?"

Sybil's eyes widen at her grandmother. "Surely Grandmama you don't think we've spent all that already?"

"We spent some on buying the flat and the furnishings but we still have over half of it left" Sybil continued.

"No holidays or expensive jewelry?" Martha replied teasingly.

"Well we did go away for a couple of days on our anniversary. It was lovely" Sybil sighed and she felt her face blushing as she recalled just how they had spent that anniversary.

"But we're trying to live on our wages" Sybil continued. "Knowing that money is there if one of us were to get sick or … there was an emergency. And one day we'll have children and we want them to be able to go to university."

Martha was impressed with Sybil's levelheadedness.

"My darling child" Martha began "I can't take my money with me so I may as well use it to make someone happy." While she didn't say it, Martha thought to herself "especially someone who doesn't expect it but does appreciate it."