Author's Note:Hey I'm baaaack! Sorry for the delay I was busy with essays and stuff. But I'm back and rewarding you all for your patience with a looong chapter!
Anyway I just wanted to mention that I (along with many other people I'm sure) haven't forgiven Rosamund for interfering in Mary and Matthew's relationship in series 1 - as Mary rightly said it was her meddling that cost her broken heart! :( So now, on behalf of all us Mary/Matthew shippers out there, their daughter is gonna give it to her good! And at the end, our story gets more interesting...;)
Also, in this story Edith married a rich American Rockefeller because the thought of her marrying Anthony Strallan is just...well...eeurgh!
Enjoy and please tell me what you think!
Chapter 10 – Tea With Rosamund
December 19th 1939
Georgina slumped back in her seat and gazed out of the window to watch the stripped trees dancing past her amongst this dank and dismal December day.
Eventually Matthew consented to his mother-in-law's nagging to let Georgina travel up to London by herself as long as she promised to be on the doorstep of Downton Abbey by four o' clock sharp, no later, no less. Cora was keen to shift some of Rosamund's responsibility onto Georgina who was reluctant to go. She never really thought much of Great-aunt Rosamund and couldn't possibly understand her reasons for summoning her up to London in the beginning of a war but her Granny had warned her to never try and fathom the way Aunt Rosamund's mind actually worked.
Georgina unwillingly stepped off the train and mulled around St. Pancras station for about twenty minutes before she finally spotted Aunt Rosamund's chauffeur, Jerome, hurrying towards her, an apologetic look etched all over his face.
"Ah, Jerome I thought you had forgotten me!" Georgina teased with a forced smiled.
"I am so sorry to keep you waiting Lady Georgina!" Jerome said breathlessly, tipping his hat to her. "You wouldn't believe the traffic. I -I hope you haven't been waiting long?" He asked anxiously, leading her through the bustling station towards the exit.
"No, no not long at all!" Georgina lied airily, following him to the car.
Jerome skilfully opened her door. "I trust you had a pleasant journey?" He asked absently.
"Yes it was fine. Thank you." Jerome closed the door on her and quickly slid into the driver's seat.
"So I heard your brother's gone off to fight for our country," Jerome commented, pulling away from the station.
"Oh yes – Joseph left a few months ago." Georgina replied, her heart clenching at the mention of her brother, still gone. "What about your son? Timmy?"
"He's being called up in February," Jerome answered proudly.
Georgina nodded, "Good." It was all she could say. She turned and focused her attention to the city which lingered outside her window but what she saw made her gasp in shock. It wasn't the London she was used to. Of course she had read about what was going on in the Capital but she had never actually seen it with her own eyes.
Building after building was boarded up with protective sandbags and each house looked completely devoid of any emotion, there was no sign that anyone lived there at all. Clumps of colourful posters were plastered on shop doors and postboxes all over the city, advertising men and women, old and young, to contribute and do their part for the war.
They trundled down Oxford street, a place which held nothing but fond childhood memories for Georgina at Christmas time. She pressed a gloved hand to the window and watched in anguish as all her favourite boutiques stood empty and lonely save for the Christmas decorations that had been strung up to mask the solitude. They turned a corner into Regent's Street and trailed straight past The Hamilton's Toyshop. Georgina smiled thinly at the dolls, toys, games and teddy bears clustering the shop window amongst the reams of tinsel, ready for the Christmas season - just begging to distract the children of war and make them happy one more time. Georgina cast her eye curiously inside the window to see if Dominic was wandering about. No sign of him. She laughed bitterly to herself. Why would he be there?
Cars crawled along the roads with caution, even the crimson buses drove with desolation. Women scuttled along the streets, gas masks slung around their necks, pulling their children by the hand, not even bothering to stop and chat, while old men paraded the pavements with pamphlets, thrusting them upon anyone who would care to listen. Not even the promise of Christmas could plaster a smile on their faces, why should it when their husbands, or brothers, or sons, or nephews, or cousins wouldn't even be there to celebrate with them?
"It's all changed Lady Georgina," Jerome muttered softly, noticing the look of anxiety which rode upon Georgina's face. "It's worse in the evenings of course – blackouts nearly every night, air raids going off! You can't go anywhere without a damn identity card or a gas mask! This is worse than the last war. I should know – I was there!"
Georgina swallowed and licked her dry lips. She'd heard her father mention briefly about his time in the war and what had happened to him, he had nearly been crippled for life! If this was worse…
"Ah here we are!" Jerome announced cheerfully, jilting Georgina back to focus. Jerome pulled into the driveway of 145 Eaton Square. He exited his door hastily and opened Georgina's, bowing her out. She smiled wanly at him and stepped delicately out of the car, peering miserably at the great house which towered above them in the harsh light of day. The windows like many of the other homes looked as though they had been ripped out.
Adjusting her hat and smoothing out her skirt, she climbed the stone steps with tentative ease and gently pressed her finger to the doorbell, listening to the tinkling ring. Scurried footsteps were heard on the other side of the jet-black door contrasting to the eerie quietness of the London roads.
The door creaked open. A round, fatigued and rather stubby face peeked through the crack of the door.
"Yes?" The man asked suspiciously.
"Um, Mr Fulton is that you?" Georgina asked hesitantly, "I'm Lady Georgina Crawley, I'm Lady Rosamund's niece? I believe she is expecting me?"
Fulton's eyes rounded in surprise. "You're Lord and Lady Grantham's eldest daughter?"
Georgina nodded with a small smile. Mr Fulton beamed and opened the door wider. "Of course, come in Lady Georgina!"
"Thank you." Georgina stepped inside the house and took of her hat, all the while, gazing at the familiar house which now seemed like a stranger to her. The domed ceiling curved above them, emitting small streams of light but not much, thus casting a peculiar glow upon the hallway. The crystal chandelier still hung majestically above their heads along with the high polished marble floors and stone benches. To her left was the grand and winding staircase carrying delicate, Persian silk rugs which stretched right to the entryway. It remained the same design, yet the house felt different, colder somehow. Georgina felt as though she had stepped right into a Dickensian realm.
"Lady Rosamund is waiting for you in the drawing room Lady Georgina," Fulton said formally, proceeding to lead her to her Aunt.
"And how is she feeling? I know she was ill?" Georgina asked anxiously, observing the bleak, darkened rooms with their discarded furniture under the thick white sheets which had been draped mournfully over them.
"Oh – I'm sure she'll feel much better now that you're here." Fulton said in a tight voice.
"Good." Georgina replied uncertainly, not quite sure how to read into Fulton's bitter tone of voice.
"Lady Georgina Crawley your Ladyship!" Fulton announced loudly as they reached the lip of the drawing room door. The drawing room was completely drab and dark except for a small crack of light which streamed from behind the blackout curtain and of course the amber glow from the fire.
Rosamund sat in her grand rocking chair by the fireplace, staring into the dancing flames, just rocking back and forth, her claw like hand resting on the handle of her ornately carved cane. She smiled thinly as Georgina entered the room and held out her shrivelled hand in welcome.
"Mary my darling!" She croaked, "How are you?"
Georgina stopped in the middle of the room, her eyes growing wide. She glanced at Fulton in amusement, thinking this was some sort of joke. Fulton just nodded in confirmation. Georgina turned back to her aunt, "Aunt - Aunt Rosamund it's not Mary it's her daughter Georgina. Remember?"
Rosamund peered at her in confusion, "Georgina? Oh yes." She said slowly. "My goodness, you look so much like your mother I- I was confused!"Rosamund coughed a throaty laugh. Georgina returned the smile rather unenthusiastically. "Well don't just stand there child, come over here and give your aunt a kiss! How are you my dear?"
Georgina dashed towards her, "I'm very well Aunt Rosamund." She gave her Aunt a quick peck on her wrinkled cheek.
Rosamund handled her niece's long dark curls with disaproval. "Why don't you trim your hair?"
Georgina resisited the strong urge to roll her eyes. "I like my hair long Aunt Rosamund. How have you been?"
Rosamund chortled sourly, "I've had better days. Do sit yourself down my dear." She pointed to a pliable armchair right opposite her. Georgina hastily obliged her. "Would you like some tea? You've had a long journey." She surveyed her niece's long dark curls with disapproval.
"Thank you, yes that would be lovely." Georgina replied lightly, sinking into the armchair with unease.
"Tea Fulton!" Rosamund barked. Georgina gaped at her in shock, she tried to cast an apologetic glance to Fulton but he had already scampered away. "Now," Rosamund said sweetly, turning her attentions back to her grand-niece, "How is the rest of my family doing?"
"Oh, they're all right." Georgina responded nonchalantly.
Rosamund raised her eyebrow, "Just all right? Are you sure?"
Georgina shrugged, "Why wouldn't they be?"
"Well, my dear, Joseph has been gone for quite some time. Your parents and grandmothers must be beside themselves with worry." Rosamund said indifferently.
"Yes they are very worried, naturally so, but they aren't flitting around the grounds in a state of hysteria. I assure you." Georgina replied coolly. "They are trying to help out any way they can and are remaining strong."
"Still," Rosamund pressed in a voice dripping with pity, "It must be terribly awful for your father, to have to live through one war and then re-live it all over again with his sons."
Georgina sighed. She had promised her mother that she wouldn't let Aunt Rosamund disparage them. "Yes it is horrible Aunt Rosamund but we're helping each other through it."
"I can imagine what it must be like for your father, to feel so helpless when young men like your brother are -" Rosamund broke off in a fit of coughs, she pressed her handkerchief to her mouth in pain.
"Oh Aunt Rosamund!" Georgina leaped out of her seat and tried to help her aunt but she just waved her aside.
"No – no I'm fine Mary!" Rosamund wheezed, adjusting herself in her chair and not realizing she had just confused Georgina with her mother again. "Just a little episode that's all. Nothing I can't handle."
"Have you been to the doctor?" Georgina asked in concern, noticing her aunt's pallid complexion and ignoring her confusion.
Rosamund gave a tinkling laugh, "Don't be ridiculous dear, a doctor, really, what do they know?"
"Quite a lot actually," Georgina answered slowly, narrowing her eyes. "I suppose you didn't know that Edward is training to be a medic. He still wants to be a doctor."
Rosamund snorted, "No I didn't know that! I thought he'd grow out of that silly notion and pursue a more useful career such as politics like Joseph. A medic? Where did he get that silly idea?"
"He's always had it. He talked to my Granny about it while we were getting ready to announce war." Georgina replied sharply.
"Oh yes and just what brilliant answer did Cousin Isobel say?" Rosamund asked sceptically.
"She thought it was a marvellous idea." Georgina responded proudly, "She's helping out in various hospitals around the city. In fact, I felt so inspired, I was thinking about becoming an ambulance woman over here."
"Oh don't be so ridiculous Georgina!" Rosamund reprimanded, banging her cane on the floor in edginess. "You're a young lady not a nurse! You shouldn't be wasting your time bandaging wounded unfortunates when you could be spending it by attending the finest finishing schools and becoming a wonderful debutante!" Her eyes gleamed into a mad, dreamy look.
"I'm not wasting my time bandaging …! And Aunt Sybil was a nurse in the first war!" Georgina retorted tensely, "When Downton was converted into a convescelent home; Mama said that Aunt Sybil was there with my Granny day and night looking after the recuperating soldiers!"
Rosamund pulled her lips in. "Yes and I'm sure you don't need me or your Mama to tell you what happened next." She replied in a tone of finality.
Their conversation was interrupted with the arrival of the tea. Georgina, thankful for the disruption, started to busy herself with pouring the tea but Rosamund slapped her hand away.
"Let the maid do that!" She snapped impatiently, "That's why we pay them!"
The maid curtseyed quickly and took the teapot from a stunned Georgina, "Let me m'lady," She said quietly and began preparing the tea.
"I don't know where you pick up these bad habits from Georgina," Rosamund grumbled, accepting her cup. "You don't have a ladies maid, not a proper one anyway, you rarely travel up to London during the Summer to meet young suitors, you don't even have a private tutor. I don't know how your mother permits it. Your father's influence no doubt."
"I suppose the world is changing Aunt Rosamund, what with us being on the brink of war for a couple of years." Georgina said pointedly, sipping her tea. "And personally I see nothing wrong with the way we are. We're nearly in the forties. We can dress ourselves fine, life is much more than finding a husband and we don't want or need a private tutor. The Grammar school education is excellent and Papa sends us there because he wants us to appreciate the other standards of living. "
"Humph!" Rosamund scoffed, "By mixing with the local children?"
"They're wonderful!" Georgina replied defensively, "I have so many friends and their families are delightful too! We socialize well."
"I'm sure you do but that still doesn't change the obvious fact that they work in the village!" Rosamund exclaimed, her nose wrinkling in disgust. "They may be delightful but there is a time and a place to meet such people Georgina. You should be socializing with your own elite class!"
"There's nothing wrong with -"
"Which reminds me, have you any plans about what you're going to do after the war?" Rosamund interrupted keenly.
Georgina glared at her in disbelief. "No I don't have any plans!" She replied as emphatically as she could, "I really can't think that far ahead, no one can!"
"Well you'd better start thinking about it because once this war is over, which shouldn't be too long now, we need to launch you as quickly as possible." Rosamund stated excitedly. "Your exceptionally beautiful and I'm sure some Duke or Viscount will snap you right up during your very first season!"
"Oh Aunt Rosamund who knows if that whole season rubbish will even continue after the war, is there really any point for all that ridiculous feminine indolence now?" Georgina asked incredulously.
Rosamund narrowed her eyes, "Yes. Despite your father's conventional upbringing, you are still the Earl of Grantham's daughter and I take it upon my responsibility – also an Earl's daughter - to transform you into a proper lady, one that will be lavished with praise in society!"
What society was she going on about? Certainly not one in this world. "But that's not what I want to do!" Georgina protested, desperate to hammer through her aunt's mad delusions.
"Wants are for spoiled men my dear," Rosamund replied dismissively, "Let the working-class women go off to help with the war, it's what they're naturally brought up to do. They can handle it, you can't. Would you ever see a princess or a duchess climbing down a mineshaft, working in some factory or mopping up blood and sick every day? Well? Will you?"
Georgina blanched by the dryness of her tone. "Well – no I suppose not regularly but in wartime -"
"In wartime we must carry on with our lives and show everyone that nothing's changed in Britain." Rosamund declared firmly. "If you really wanted to help do your part Georgina you'll do as I say."
Georgina's jaw dropped. Could she hear herself? "Everything's changed Aunt Rosamund," She said slowly.
"Nonsense! You are a beautiful, intelligent and a very sophisticated girl - when you want to be, therefore I simply cannot – no, will not allow my great-niece's fine potential go to waste. Especially now we are at a shortage of young men." Rosamund added with distaste.
"Yes because there's a war on!" Georgina said angrily, slamming her cup down. "Who cares about what I will look like to society if I become an ambulance woman? We don't have a society not anymore! I really don't understand you Aunt Rosamund. From what I know of you, I thought you would sail along with the times, but you seem so stuck in the past. Why?"
Rosamund flinched but brushed it off with a shrug, "I don't know what you mean."
"How can you talk so casually of - of society and -and debutante balls when half the young men in this country including your nephews are out at war, risking their lives for their king and country - your king and country?" Georgina asked disbelievingly.
Rosamund glimmered at her, "Is it wrong of me to just want what's best for you in this scheme of the world when your own parents don't bother if you sink or swim?" She asked in a dangerously sugary voice.
Georgina glowered at her, "That's not fair. My parents have raised each and every one of us to be very fine noble people! It may not hold to your standards but this is a new era! Honestly, the way you talk about our family it's as if we were one step away from sleeping in the gutter!"
Rosamund arched her brow and scrutinized her niece. "You misunderstand me my dear. After this war is over, I just want you to be able to claim your rightful position in society again that's all!"
Society, society, society! Georgina was getting so damn sick of hearing that word!
"But we're still highly respected as we are, despite who we socialize with! In fact, if anything it just makes us appear more respectable." She retorted in confusion. They hadn't deliberately changed their position in the social order; it just wasn't on their top list of priorities anymore, it hadn't been from the day Joseph left. Why was Aunt Rosamund so determined to ignore that? And what if something happened to her brothers or her cousin during the war? Was she supposed to slap on a smile and parade around the Chelsea Flower Show in some silly frock while deep inside she was grieving for all the lost boys?
Back at Downton, Matthew was starting to panic. He paced up and down in the library, throwing worried glances at the clock on the mantelpiece. Every now and then he would make an impatient tutting noise which was proving to be quite distracting to his son who was trying to work.
"Oh for God's sake Papa, if you want to call Georgina just call her!" Edward snapped irritably, crossing out his misplacement of the jugular vein for the fourth time.
"But I don't want her to think I'm checking up on her," Matthew replied nervously, throwing yet another peep at the clock.
Edward's eyes bored into his father's, "You are though."
"Yes but I don't want her to know that!" Matthew retorted impatiently, "I told her that she's old enough to take care of herself."
"And?" Edward asked absently.
"Clearly I was wrong!" Matthew answered in a voice to panic. He lapsed into thoughtful silence while Edward took advantage of the peace. "What was I thinking Ed?" Matthew groaned suddenly, "Letting her go all the way up to London at a time like this?"
Edward flung down his pen sighed with impatience. The busy street would prove to be less of a distraction than the library at this moment. "You can't protect us forever Papa." He said shortly.
Matthew implemented a fierce look of determination. "No. But I can damn well try."
Georgina sipped her fourth cup of tea, all the while, wishing that the floor would just open up and rescue her from this idle conversation. Three hours later and they were still on the topic of marriage and the damn society! Every now and then Rosamund would confuse herself again and start calling Georgina, Mary, but Georgina was too tired and too annoyed to bother correcting her.
"So I suppose your parents will be perfectly happy for you to marry the local stableman if that will suit you?" Rosamund asked carelessly.
"No," Georgina answered in a voice of very forced calm, "While I have been brought up to believe that money will suffice in a marriage I was also brought up to believe that marriage is based on love too. Aunt Sybil married Uncle Tom and she had a good marriage."
"You read too many romance novels, just like your mother. That all depends on what you mean by good marriage Georgina," Rosamund said with a small smile.
"From what I heard, Great-uncle Marmaduke's grandfather was a manufacturer." Georgina said smugly, "According to you that would place him within the social ranks of half the village of Downton!"
"Nevertheless Marmaduke himself had his own fortune," Rosamund responded cuttingly, "And he was able to offer me a great position in society. Can you say the same about your dear Aunt Sybil?"
Georgina shook her head but was determined not to let Aunt Rosamund win this one.
"And your Aunt Edith," Rosamund chuckled, "Marrying a Johnny-come-lately American who was well into his late thirties, enjoying his bachelor lifestyle in New York and wasn't even considering a wife until he clasped eyes on your Aunt. Then there was no getting rid of him. You should have seen him at your parents wedding Georgina! He hovered about her like a panting dog who had just found his meat -"
"Aunt Rosamund really!" Georgina interjected sternly, "From what I've seen, Uncle Pete is a good husband and father. Aunt Edith married into old American money that gave her a very welcoming position in New York society despite her being of English nobili -"
Rosamund interrupted with a shrill laugh. "Peter's not from old American money – far from it!"
Georgina frowned. "But I thought – he's a Rockefeller isn't he?"
"Yes, yes he may have the Rockefeller name fastened at the end, but I have it on good authority to speculate that he possesses nowhere near the amount of millions which is affiliated to that superior name." Rosamund said in amusement, "In fact he owns less property than the Vanderbilt's and that's saying something. I'm afraid that's what happens when you marry the youngest of a sinfully wealthy yet large family my dear. All you can inherit is the dregs of misused fortune. I did try to tell dear Edith that on her wedding day but she just wouldn't hear any of it. I don't think she even cared to tell you the truth. People can be so blind when it comes to love Georgina. Either that or she couldn't wait to escape to the new world; so much so, she was willing to marry any Tom, Dick or Harry."
Georgina swallowed, "But she doesn't care whether he owns ten houses in Newport or none. Aunt Edith loves Uncle Pete very, very much. I know that's true." She said haughtily. "And look at my parents marriage! Love and money. What are the odds?"
Rosamund's eyes twinkled mischievously, "Say what you like about your parents – personally I think that if your father wasn't heir to your grandfather's estate, your mother wouldn't have looked twice at him."
Georgina's head jerked upwards as if she had been slapped. An aching lump began to rise in her throat. How could Aunt Rosamund say such a thing about her parents? And to their own daughter?
"I don't believe you." Georgina said pathetically.
Rosamund smirked in a self-satisfied manner, "I remember it well. When your Grandmother became pregnant right before your mother was about to say yes to your father it cast a shadow of doubt upon the two of them. If the baby was a boy – which it would have been – your mother would have been stuck being a lawyer's wife and overruled from her position in society. It tangled her ever so much. Can you imagine, a Lady and a lawyer? Ha!"
Georgina's heat beat faster, she was sure it was going to rip out of her chest. Her eyes began to sting as Aunt Rosamund's venomous words began to impregnate themselves into her mind. She had to bite her lip to stop it from trembling.
"Your mother was confused, your father was paranoid," Rosamund continued, ignoring Georgina's agitated behaviour, "And it all ended in tears – literally. Then your grandmother miscarried and your father left your mother."
Your father left your mother. Those words sounded so harsh when it reverberated themselves around Georgina's memory.
"He – he did?" Georgina shook her head in denial, "No he couldn't – he wouldn't -"
"He didn't want to be married to a woman he couldn't trust." Rosamund said swiftly.
"Couldn't trust?" Georgina repeated inaudibly, her mind spinning with confusion. Her father couldn't trust her mother? What was Aunt Rosamund saying? That her parents marriage was a lie? Georgina could barely comprehend this news; there was a thankful knock at the door.
"Enter!" Rosamund called casually.
Fulton stepped inside gracefully. "Telephone call for Lady Georgina."
"Excuse me." Georgina said icily. She couldn't exit the room fast enough. She darted towards the telephone in the hallway and accepted the receiver gratefully. "Hello."
"It's your father." Matthew replied in a clipped voice. "I'm not sure if you realize but Winter nights are much longer and it's almost half-three. When are you planning on coming home?"
"I'm leaving now Papa." Georgina said briskly. She had to bite her tongue to stop herself from hammering out all her newfound anger and hurt on her father, desperately wanting to hear from his own voice if it was true or not.
"Good!" Matthew breathed in relief. "Make sure you catch the train straight back, no dawdling. When shall I get Travis to meet you at the station?"
"I don't know Papa maybe six." Georgina responded tersely.
"Six!" Matthew yelped. "You leave right now do you hear!"
"Papa."
"Yes."
"I need to hang up the phone if you wish me to leave." Georgina said forcefully.
"Oh – right, yes of course." Matthew sputtered. "Well – goodbye, I'll see you later." He hung up the phone.
Georgina cradled the receiver, wishing she had never come at all.
"Who was that?" Rosamund asked suddenly, appearing behind her.
Georgina whipped around. "Oh, just- just my father," She replied meekly, ignoring the conceited smirk that was currently plastered on Rosamund's face at the mention of Matthew, immediately after they'd been talking about him. "I think it's time I should be heading back. My father wants me out of London before nightfall."
"Oh, well in that case you should leave now. Fulton!" Rosamund yelled.
Fulton scurried into the hallway. "Yes Lady Painswick?"
"Tell Jerome to bring the car round and take Lady Georgina back to St. Pancras at once." Rosamund ordered.
"Of course m'lady." Fulton hurried away to fetch Jerome.
"Thank you Fulton!" Georgina called kindly after him.
Then very slowly, Rosamund craned her neck back to her niece, her eyes glazed over in suspicion and narrowed into dangerous slits.
"Aunt Rosamund?" Georgina asked tentatively to her sudden reaction, "Are you all right?"
"What are you doing here Mary?" Rosamund asked coldly.
Georgina sighed impatiently. Not again. "Aunt Rosamund it's not Mary it's Georgina. Remember?"
"Yes of course I remember, it was haunting me for years but honestly I don't think it's fair for you to blame me for your split with Matthew!" Rosamund hissed, pacing back and forth in agitation in front of a stunned Georgina. "I was only trying to protect your status Mary, I was only thinking of you! I told you that if you married a middle-class lawyer before your brother was born then you'd be tying yourself down to a sinking ship! How was I to know your mother would miscarry or Matthew would be so paranoid and then throw you over? If you ask me, you're well shot of him!"
Georgina couldn't move. She felt rooted to the spot. "It was you." She gasped, conscious of the fact that Rosamund only saw Mary in her now. "You were the reason why my mother hesitated to marry my father all those years ago! You were dripping poison into her ear, prodding her with the society stick, making my father seem little and pathetic in comparison to a stupid, useless noble title that's dying out now anyway! Oh, oh Aunt Rosamund how could you?"
Rosamund stopped pacing and glared at Georgina, "Don't look at me like that Mary! And since when did your eyes get so blue?" She shook her head as if she were clearing away the cobwebs, "It was a long time ago! What's past is past and you should learn to forget about Matthew Crawley and move on!"
"Answer the question!" Georgina snapped, on the verge of hysteria, tears threatening to spill, "How could you do that! You drove my parents apart! You made my father think that my mother was only after him for his money!" Georgina felt her heart accelerating with rage, anguish and betrayal. "You turned him against her and broke both their hearts because of your – meddling! Oh why couldn't you have just minded your own business!"
"Don't shout at me Mary!" Rosamund barked, her eyes gleaming with madness while her voice reverberated around the deserted hall, "You have no right!"
"I have every right!" Georgina shouted back, "And I'm not Mary, I'm her daughter, hers and Matthew's and I'm standing here because -"
"Because you're jealous, that's what you are!" Rosamund interrupted with a gloat of smugness.
Georgina released a ringing laugh, "Jealous of you? Look at you, look at what you've become. My mother is now worth ten of you!"
Rosamund nodded, ignoring her, "Yes, Mary you're jealous of me, jealous of my wealth and my position in society which I managed to keep, after you soiled your good name by bedding that Turk and ruined the whole family."
Georgina was sure her heart had stopped now. "What did you say?" She asked thinly, her voice a mere ghost of a whisper.
"I suppose you feel I should've hushed the rumours," Rosamund said lazily, "But I must say I did enjoy the gossip. I made it clear to everyone that I had nothing to do with this family and I meant it. You always were a spoiled, pampered little princess who got everything she wanted! I TOLD YOU!" She suddenly screamed, Georgina jumped. "ONCE YOU SPOIL YOUR REPUTATION YOU BECOME DAMAGE GOODS!"
"YOU LIAR!" Georgina screamed back, tears streaming down her cheeks, she didn't want to hear anymore. "I don't believe a single word of what you say! You're just trying to turn me against my mother, just like you did to my father! Well I won't listen to it do you hear? It'll take more than these lies to break me! My mother would never do something like that, never!"
"Lady Georgina?" Jerome interjected cautiously, appearing at the door looking clearly embarrassed at interrupting the heated argument. "The car's ready."
"Yes I'm coming Jerome!" Georgina replied quickly, anxious just to get out of the house. She wiped her tears away and turned back to her aunt, saying in a deadly quiet voice, "Goodnight Aunt Rosamund. I don't know if we shall meet for Christmas Aunt Rosamund but please don't invite me back up to London if you plan to insult me or my family."
Georgina practically ran out of that cursed house, she just wanted to get home. On the way to the station she watched the breaking city whir past her window without paying them much attention. A teardrop meandered down her cheek and lingered near the corner of her lips. She licked it surreptitiously and tried to pull herself together.
Jerome peered at her forlorn face through the rear view mirror, "Lady Georgina you really shouldn't listen to what your Aunt says," He sighed, "She hasn't been right for some time."
"How long has she been like that?" Georgina asked quietly.
"About six months," Jerome answered truthfully. "Sometimes she'd talk to us like we were members of your family or her late husband."
Georgina's stomach plummeted but she didn't say anything, just continued to stare out of the window.
The train rattled to a stop in front of her platform. Georgina eagerly made her way towards the first class compartment when a familiar face caught her eye. She retreated away from the car quickly and scurried down the platform towards the dark haired figure in green, loitering near the end of the platform. She caught up with him and placed a hand on his shoulder, he turned around in a hurry, his eyes widened in shock.
"Tommy!" Georgina exclaimed in surprise and welcome, "I thought it was you! Oh!" She threw her arms around her cousin and hugged him tightly which he returned half-heartedly.
"Georgina," Tommy said in uneasiness, "I - I didn't expect to see you here in London."
"I was here for the day visiting Aunt Rosamund," Georgina replied finely.
"Rosamund - of course! How is she?" Tommy asked absently.
Georgina fumbled with the truth. "She's not - she's not feeling -well."
Tommy nodded but didn't press it further. He fidgeted with his kit bag and glanced at the platform clock. "And,uh - and the rest of the family, Grandmama, Aunt Mary, Uncle Matthew...?"
"They're all well as can be expected." Georgina answered lightly. "I suppose you know about Joseph."
Tommy nodded with an unreadable expression. "I do." They stood awkwardly for a few seconds amongst the rush hour traffic.
"So how are you Tommy?" Georgina finally asked in a hushed voice, "How are you coping?"
"Fine." Tommy answered curtly. "I'm coping - fine."
"What are you doing here in London Tommy?" Georgina asked curiously, noticing her cousin's strange behaviour. "I'd have thought you'd spend your leave in Ireland with your parents."
Tommy glanced at the floor before replying in fustration, "Actually Georgie - me and Mama - we're not really on good terms at the moment. And my father threw me out of the house."
Georgina gasped, "What? Uncle Tom threw you out of the house? Now, at a time like this, why? I know Ireland's claiming to be neutral but to shaft your son because he's trying to -"
"No, no Georgina it's nothing like that!" Tommy interrupted impatiently. He peeked at the clock again, "It's just... a minor disagreement that's all."
"Why don't you come back to Downton with me, you can stay there?" Georgina suggested enthusiastically.
"No!" Tommy retorted quickly, much too quickly. "I - I mean no thanks Georgina."
Georgina blanched by the shortness of his tone. "Why? Don't you like us anymore?" She joked.
"I do but... I have some business - war business that I have to do here." Tommy said blandly. He shot another look at the clock. "I really have to go."
"Well, I know the family will be glad to know you're okay -"
"No!" Tommy grabbed Georgina's wrist in desperation then released it immediately. "Sorry, I uh - I..." He rubbed his temple in agitation, "I'd appreciate it if you didn't tell anyone that you saw me here."
Georgina was about to argue but the determined look on his face forced her to relent. She nodded, "All right Tommy. I won't tell anyone I saw you here."
Tommy nodded thankfully. "Thank you. I promise I'll write to you."
"Yes, do! Bye Tommy." Georgina said slowly. The whistle blew shrilly, signalling their departure.
"That's your train." Tommy said with a forced smile.
Georgina hugged him again. "Keep in touch. Bye Tommy."
Tommy smiled warily and stalked away from her. Georgina watched him walk away with a strange expression on her face. She may be a woman but she wasn't stupid. Growing up with three brothers had taught her how to spot a liar all right. War business? She shook her head, oh Tommy, what are you hiding?
To Be Continued...