Wednesday, April 21, 1920

Downton

Parish Church

Matthew's train pulled into Downton station at 10:06 a.m. He had almost an hour before the funeral started. There were other mourners on the train and he followed them to the church. He signed the Book of Remembrance 'Matthew Crawley', he could not bring himself to sign "Grantham', not today; and he took a seat at the end of a pew near the back of the church.

As Matthew waited for the service to begin he thought of how he might dispose of the Earl's ring. He was not wearing it, it was in his pocket, and he thought he might be able to toss it into the Earl's open grave. Go back to London, burn the Letters Patent and tell Murray to keep the robes and the rest. Then he would be rid of the accursed title and he could get on with his life. But as he thought it through, thinking of the internments he had attended, there was not going to be a chance to throw a bright shiny object into the grave unnoticed.

The service was about to start. The family came in. First an ancient lady on the arm of a young lady, followed by a middle aged lady on the arm of another young lady. The obituary in the Times had said the Earl had been survived by his mother, a sister, two daughters and a granddaughter, this must be the older four. They were all heavily veiled. As they passed the end of the pew Matthew was in the first young lady turned her head and looked his way, he thought directly at him, seemed to give a slight nod, he was not sure, and then faced forward again. He felt that he had received a sign but signifying what he did not know.

At the graveside Matthew stood in the back of the mourners as the coffin was lowered into the grave. He saw Murray but he thought Murray had not seen him.

An invitation had been extended to the mourners to join the family for luncheon at the Abbey. Matthew did not go. His train did not leave for another hour and a half so he decided to hide in the church rather than sit at the station where he might get drawn into unwanted conversation.

In the church he noticed a tiny chapel off to the side. He walked over to the archway leading to it. There was a plaque: 'Grantham Chapel'. Inside there were two small pews facing a stained glass window depicting St. George slaying the dragon but on the saint's shield, instead of the red cross of England, was what he supposed was the Grantham coat of arms. He took the ring out of his pocket to make sure.

"Yes it is your sigil"

Matthew startled. He whirled around and there was an ancient lady leaning on a cane. She had on a veil and Matthew guessed she was the Earl's mother.

"I thought you had gone back to the Abbey..." he stammered out rather rudely.

"I told them I did not want get trampled in the rush; that I was tired and needed a little peace and quiet. They will send an auto for me in half an hour. Now do you mind if we sit down, I really am tired."

The Dowager Countess sat down and made Matthew sit on her left as 'she was getting to be a little deaf on her right'.

"We have not been introduced; I am the late Earl's mother and you are his heir. Even if I had not seen the ring I would have known it was you; there is a portrait of you in the Abbey. Oh officially it is the second earl, but it is you." She squinted at Matthew. "Although he is smiling. Smile for me" she commanded.

Matthew stared at her. Was she mad? He ventured a grimace.

"Smile I said. Do I have to tickle you?" and she raised her right hand towards his face.

Without thinking Matthew caught her hand with his left hand. And not being able to stop himself he smiled at her. He let go of her hand but before he could drop his own hand Violet took it in her left hand.

"That is better. Lately there has been entirely too much frowning here. Let me have the ring"

In automatic obedience Matthew handed her the ring. Violet slipped it onto the little finger of his left hand. "That is where it belongs. Never take it off"

Matthew thought she would let go of his hand then but she held onto it. He felt powerless to resist.

"I know that you promised my son that you would make sure my granddaughters got to America. You do not have to worry in that regard. My son was confused. My younger granddaughter is a wealthy widow and can take care of herself. The older one is the one saddled with the estate and its attendant debts Once she sells the estate and settles the death duties and other debts there will not be much left for her. I have some money put away and I will see that she makes it to America. Her other grandmother will take care of her there.

My son made her promise to offer the estate to you. I can tell you she will just ask for enough to settle the debts. She wants to sell and flee. You will be getting a very good deal. Put a little more money into the estate to modernize it and you will double your investment.

I am asking you to buy the estate. Like my son I am not asking you to promise that you will but please consider doing so.

The curse is real. It has destroyed my family and it has struck yours as well" she squeezed his hand "I know of the losses you have suffered. If you don't buy the estate the curse will go on until it has claimed the lives of my granddaughters and my great granddaughter and your life as well. Reunite the estate and the earldom and the curse will be ended. I will be able to bounce my great granddaughter on my knee; my granddaughters will both marry good, honourable men and you will marry a fine lady who will make you an excellent Countess. You all will be blessed with beautiful, intelligent children. And then I will be able to die happy."

She gazed at him but Matthew did not know what to say. Finally he stammered "I will think..."

Violet interrupted "Good, that is all I am asking for. Now help me up and walk me out to the automobile."

Matthew had handed her into the auto and was about to shut the door when she beckoned to him. He bent down to hear what she had to to say.

"When I am next in London we will dine together, now kiss me goodbye like a good grandson."

Befuddled all Matthew could do was kiss her on her cheek.

The scent of lavender stayed with Matthew as he rode the train back to London pondering his destiny. And he thought his mother was a witch.

-0-

On the ride back to the Abbey Violet considered her meeting with Matthew. She had read the dossier Murray had complied on Matthew and on paper he looked to be the perfect candidate to reunite the estate and the earldom. And her meeting with him had confirmed that assessment.

Murray had thought Matthew would attend the funeral and so she had had him keep watch for her. Murray had pointed Matthew out to her amongst the mourners. She had spotted him ducking into the church after the internment. She had wanted to see him but not necessarily speak to him. But having seen that he was the reincarnation of the second earl, the one who had established the family at Downton, had compelled her to speak to him. She might have been a tad melodramatic about the curse but still ...he had promised to think about buying the estate. Which had been her goal, but thinking of that portrait of the second earl, made her think of a loftier goal. He could reunite the family. That portrait of the second earl was of the earl and his countess, whom everyone said Mary resembled. Matthew and Mary were meant to be together. She was certain of it.

If she could get Matthew to the Abbey she was sure he would fall in love with it. And if she could get Mary and him together she was sure they would fall in love and marry. And the estate and the earldom and the family would all be reunited. The curse would be defeated. If only they could be thrown together. But Mary was so stubborn, simply inviting them to tea together would put her back up. She would push back against any obvious attempt at matchmaking. And waiting until the sale of the estate to Matthew might be too late, by then Mary may have already booked her passage to America.

How to get them together... Mary had not socialized since her unfortunate incident and according to Murray this Matthew was reluctant to take up his proper place in society. They might never meet unless forced to ... unless...she smiled, she wondered if the daughter of an old friend would do her a favour.

-0-

At the funeral luncheon Mary was the perfect hostess. She glided amongst the mourners, seeing they were all fed and watered, accepting expressions of sympathy, deflecting questions about her future, and never once stopping long enough to have a sustained conversation. And as she moved about she kept looking for ...someone. Someone was missing. A him. He has been there at the church, she had felt his presence, she had been comforted by it. She could not put a face..or name to him but she would know him when she saw him.

She did not find him.