15th April 1912

00:15

He opened the wardrobe and with shaking hands took out two life jackets. He helped Edith on with hers before he put his on. He felt sick and Edith looked confused. He couldn't meet her eyes knowing that when she asked if everything would be okay he would have to lie to her. She stopped him fiddling with her life jacket making sure it was on right, taking his hands in hers. The room felt colder then it did before and she felt scared.

'Patrick.'

'We have to go the lifeboats now. Your have to go on first and I'll get on another one.'

'I'm not leaving you.'

'I will get the next one I promise.'

He disappeared into his room and Edith stood there feeling a bit shell shocked. She couldn't leave him. She had gone long enough without him firmly in her life she wasn't going to let go now. She paced slightly. If he wanted her to go then he was wrong. She couldn't leave him. She wouldn't. She realised he had been gone for some time she went over to his bedroom door but he came out putting an envelope in his coat pocket. She was about to speak to him when the door opened. They both turned and saw James standing there swaying. Patrick stood up and straightened his back taking Ediths hand and he led her out of the room and into the corridor. He turned to his father when he called out.

'What do you think your doing?'

'It doesn't matter any more this boat is going down.'

'You silly boy do you have any idea what you've done. You have ruined this family. '

As he raised his voice the lights flicked and the boat rocked. Edith stood behind Patrick and took his hand feeling scared. Looking at his father it all made sense. It was like a puzzle all fitting into place. His father was a gambler and had been struggling lately with money. He needed to inherit Downton and quickly to stop the family from going into bankruptcy. He needed the estate to keep the family status. He didn't know what his father had taken out of his pocket until he pointed it at him. Edith gasped and covered her mouth unsure as to why he was pointing a gun at them. Patrick suddenly had a rush of confidence. He didn't care about what hes cheating, lying father thought.

'What are you going to do? Shoot your own son?'

'I cant have them finding out. Not now you know.'

Staring down at the gun he suddenly felt very vulnerable. That's when the missing piece became clear. He had a gun. To inherit Downton he would need Robert to hand over Downton. They both knew he would never do that. He had worked hard and put all he had into the estate. Robert would rather be killed than to hand the estate over. It was a stupid idea but it still made Patricks blood run cold. Looking at the gun in front of him he knew his father would try anything to save his name and get what he had been promised before he was no longer entitled.

'What does this have to do with who I marry?'

'Mary has more control over the family then this weak stupid girl. No one would ever suspect me with your help.'

'I would never be a part of this.'

His father laughed loudly and Edith had no idea what they had just said or why he had a gun. She knew he was a horrible man but a man with a gun. Never. The ship rocked slightly and Edith felt her stomach drop as she saw James reach in his pocket and put what he had taken out into his gun. Patrick had whispered to her and they left quietly. They weren't running at first but they needed to get away.

'Down there quick!'

He took Ediths hand and they stood against the wall in the stairwell. Edith hadn't realised how far down they were in the ship till she felt the cold metal against her back. They were in steerage class. They heard heavy footsteps thudding on the floor above. He closed his eyes for a moment and took Ediths hand praying to every god he had ever believed in that they would be okay. He felt Edith stiffen next to him and opened hes eyes as the footsteps grew closer. The shadow crossed the stairs and Edith couldn't help but hold her breath and clutch tightly onto patricks hand. The shadow came back to the stairs and grew larger as the person came closer. The footsteps rattling the stairs as they neared.