Chapter 4:
So I decided not to write a too dramatic fic I guess Mary, Edith and Anna on the road could be some fun :p
London-Cenral Station:
„Hurry on!", Mary shouted backwards… they had had only 20 minutes to change trains and spent almost 15 to ask fort he right plattform.
„Sister my shoes. I had not planned on running after Sybill when we found her let alone running for a train. I am in no got shape either…", Edith gasped.
„Don't be a baby we are nearly there. Look Anna is already waiting…"
„Anna how come you are so fast over such a long way….", Edith asked, when she got her breath again.
„Milady, Downton Abbey is big and working there means hurrying around the corridors. I think that's where I got my shape from.", Anna smiled. Finally the ice between the three women had broken. Anna thought the two ladies were here age and when they were on the road together it did not matter if she was just an employee of their father. They had to help each other to get to Liverpool.
„Well maybe I will join you sometimes. I promis i will try not to get in your way!", Edith smiled.
„you are very welcome milady, but what would your parents say?"
„Please tell me when you do that, i want to see the faces of Mama and Papa when you are running behind Anna, trying to catch up", Mary laughed.
Then they boarded the train to Liverpool.
„So what is our plan in Liverpool, any ideas?", Mary asked.
„You are older…. I thought you had a plan", Edith answered surprised.
„Honey just because I am the oldest…", Mary started her preache but Anna interrupted her.
„If i may say so, maybe it is the best to ask taxi drivers if they know a Branson garage …. Maybe we are lucky."
„Taxi drivers but I guess they would say anything to make some money, especially when they realize whe have no idea of Liverpool. They could take us wherever they want and tell us it is right around the corner.", Edith said
„True, that is a very good point. See you can think if you want.", Mary mocked but squeezed her sister's hand while saying this.
„We need a hotel anyway. We cannot get back to Downton in one day. So we could ask the receptionist to ask around for us. I don't know how you are feeling I am really tired.", Mary explained.
„I thinkt that is a really good idea. It will 8 pm when we arrive in Liverpool, so I think we should find something to rest.", Anna agreed.
„You know Mary when I think about our parent's, especially Papa's , reaction when weg et back and when we bring Sybill…. I am not sure if I want to get back.", Edith frowned
„It ist he same with me Lady Edith, I am quite afraid of Mr. Carson and Mrs Hughes."
„Oh don't be! We have to find Sybill. I guess then she will be in most trouble. Papa and Mama may be just glad that we brought our youngest sister back . Anna I won't worry as we said we won't let you get into trouble. Carson and Mrs. Hughes cannot really do anything without one of my parent's approving.", Mary sounded quite sure so the other two tried to believe her.
Their first impression of Liverpool was dirty. When they got out of the station, Mary saw a taxi on the other side of the street. Without looking she stepped onto the street. „Watch out", Edith cried and pulled her sister back. Just seconds later a car passed them. However Edith as well as Mary landed on the sidwalk which was wet and dirty. Despite the dangerous situation Mary just had escaped, she starte laughing.
„O god,, if Mama could see us now. I think she would faint."
„And imagine us entering a hotel like this…what an embarassement for Papa", Edith could not stop gigling.
Anna helped them back on their feet again and they told the taxi to get them to a nice hotel.
Indeen the looks the three of them got when they entered the door were something from angry, to confused. However, the receptionis asked them nicel what he could do for them. Mary told him they wanted a suite with three double bedrooms. Anna and Edith wanted to protest but they soon realized why Mary had said this.
„I am sorry women are not allowed to stay at a hotel on their own. Are your husbands arriving later?", the receptionist asked.
„Yes in fact they are gone for a meeting and since my sister and I had bad luck on the street as you can see", she pointed down their dirty dresses , „my husband suggested we might got tot he room to change. He also gave me the money to pay in advance, since the meeting might take longer than expected.", Edith realized thta Mary was a really good lier and had to try hard not to give them away.
„Very well as you wish.", the receptionist gave in with a suspicious look on his eyes.
„I wonder if you could find out where Branson garage is…", Edith said now. „My husband wanted to meet me there tomorrow lunchtime. He said it was a surprise. As he is on business trip he will get up early again….Maybe you can find out if you don't mind", now Mary looked a bit surprised of her sister's lying.
„of course milady, I will ask the chauffeur. Iam sure he can find out. Should I reserve the hotel's car for you tomorrow lucntime?"
„That would be very nice. Thank you", Mary said and waited for the stewart to show them to their rooms.
When they finally were alone Anna said: „ Well that's a nice suite. Not even the house I grew up was that big. May i ask you a question? Where did you learn to lie like this? If I had not known better I would have toltally bellieved your story's about your husbands."
„I have no idea… I thought i am the only one of us sisters capable but Edith really surprised me", Mary grinned.
„I guess that is the American part of us. We should ask mother about it but I don't think she will ever admit a lie at any point of her life.", Edith expressed.
Anna for her part went to bed early. She wanted to leave the sisters alone since she had a feelint especially Mary and Edith needed it. MOrevover she was looking foward to this huge bed.
They continued talking for a while and Edith realized that her sister was not at all inapproachable but that he was very good in covering her real feelings. Since she was the eldest Mary said she got often falsly accused when Edith and Sybill cried or broke a vase or something. Despite this Mary felt deeply responsible for her younger sisters, both sisters and was so determined to get „little" Sybill back.
Now Edith felt even worse for writing this letter and could not really sleep.
The next day they got up early to plan their next step.
„Lady Mary I am sorry but i know Sybill a bit too… I am sure she won't go with us if there is not a really really good reason.", Anna pointed out.
„I know I thought about that all night but I simply cannot find one reason good ennought to bring her bback."
„Well maybe we should invent a sudden illnes of granny…", Edith suggested.
„Edith, as soon as she found out granny is fine she will return to Liverpool again."
„Maybe we should confront her with the big scandal that would arise. This cannot be good for either you Lady mary nore Lady Edith. If she loves you, she will come home.", Anna said.
„Well you have definetly a point. I think there will be some gossip and newspaper articles if the youngest daughter of the Earl and Lady of Grantham ran away with a chauffeur… We could tell her that she put not only tha good reputation oft he family to an edge, because she would not really care of that. No we must convince her that with her running away our chances for marriage are gone. Since nobody wants to be related to a chauffeur.", Edith said
„Well I would change the last part. Sybill is in love and she does not care of wheter people like tob e related to a chauffeur or not. Let's tell her that people are afraid both of us will also run away at the first chance.", Mary suggested.
„Anna what do you say?", Edith ask
„I think we should stick with your part and change the end."
„Good so let's go….I really hope she will believe us…", mary frowned. Then they went to fullfill their mission.
Ok i don't know… I think my pieces and chapters are getting worse. Though I still hope somebody is reading this and actually likes it. I think I will jsut finish this fic and then will stick to reading again….
