A/N: There are many versions of the chapter title song to be recommended: by Joan Baez, Eddie Vedder, The Band, Norah Jones, Bob Dylan ...
Forever Young
Tuesday, July 21, 1913
It had been agreed that there would be a simple graveside service.
Matthew was the first one to the cemetery.
That morning Anna had relieved him from his vigil at Mary's bedside. He was thankful Mary was still asleep when he left, he would not have wanted to explain where he was going. He had walked back to Crawley House; refused Mrs. Bird's offer of breakfast, taking only a strong cup of tea, black. He had bathed and shaved and Molesly, back from the Great House, had helped him dress in his black mourning suit. Then, not knowing what to do, he had wandered over to the church.
It was a beautiful summer day; the best England could offer. Blue skies, white fluffy clouds, verdant landscape. There was the faintest of breezes. This was a day to take a one year old out for his first walk barefoot on grass. This was a day for gambolling. A day for teaching a little boy how to fly a kite. A perfect day for going frog hunting in the marsh even though Mama said don't get wet! But this day would see none of that, not ever with their little boy.
He did not know where to wait. He found the so small open grave in the Crawley family plot. It was next to Mary's grandfather's grave. Violet had said her first great grandchild should rest there along side where she would rest someday.
There was no one else in the graveyard. He did not know if he should wait there, or at the church door, or just start walking south until he ran out of world. He decided to go to the entrance of the church and wait for the hearse.
People started to congregate. Mrs. Bird, Susan and Molesly; Carson, and other servants from the Great House; villagers; people he did not recognize. His mother arrived. She hugged him and whispered in his ear that she loved him The estate auto pulled up and Robert handed out Violet. Edith and Sybil followed, they were each carrying small wreaths of flowers.
Robert and Violet stopped by Matthew. "Cora is with Mary" Robert told him. Matthew nodded. They and his mother continued on to the graveside.
Edith and Sybil stood beside Matthew.
"The flowers are for the..." started Edith and then she choked up. Sybil was already crying.
"Thank you" Matthew did not know what else to say. The wreaths were arrangements of small white lilies and miniature white roses. He gave Sybil his handkerchief.
The hearse arrived. The attendant offered to help Matthew carry the coffin, which was larger than he had thought it would be for such a small body, but he refused and he carried it himself to the grave. He knelt down and, with some help from Robert and Carson, placed it on the slings.
Edith knelt and laid her wreath on the coffin and Sybil was about to do the same when Matthew waved her off.
"Please keep it, for Mary"
Travis surveyed the gathered Crawleys and hangers on. This was it; this week he would send his letter to the Bishop begging leave to retire. He would then move in with his widowed sister in Sussex, far away from this maddening crowd. He saw the Dowager Countess glaring at him. She made a small circular motion with her hand. Get on with it. He sighed to himself, he knew at whose funeral service he would rather be officiating.
Travis started the service. Amid the drone of the Vicar and the summer insects Matthew's attention wandered. He prayed that his father in heaven, Dr. Crawley that is, not The Other, would meet Matthew John, and guide him on his way as he had promised Mary. He was not sure how sound such a prayer was theologically but that was the prayer he prayed.
"...Man that is born of a woman hath but a short time to live, and is full of misery. He cometh up, and is cut down, like a flower; he fleeth as it were a shadow, and never continueth in one stay..."
Matthew dropped a clod of earth on the coffin. He watched as they filled in the grave. Sybil gave him her wreath and she and Edith walked Violet to the auto.
Robert squeezed Matthew's arm "Come up to the house for lunch."
"Thanks but I think I will go back to the hospital"
His mother walked with him as far as Crawley House. She did not say anything to him, just giving him a hug as they parted.
Cora and Anna were sitting on either side of Mary when he entered her room. All three stared at the wreath of flowers in his hand. Cora and Anna got up and left, not saying anything.
Matthew laid the flowers on Mary's lap. He took off his heavy black coat and laid it over a chair. He sat on the bed beside Mary and hugged her to him. She fingered the flowers.