Again, thank you Gretchie for correcting my messy grammar. I was raised under 3 languages and until now I'm struggling with that.

Anyways... Gosh I've gotten into a big one, still I'll try to do my best.

Ready? Here we go:

CHAPTER X

It's not over!

O'Brien had to do something about it. She couldn't let this happen, well, not again. She would never forgive herself. Her mind was racing like crazy. Thomas... Thomas! He must deliver it, right? He's bringing food! She moved from that spot she was standing on, in hope to save her ladyship. She took fast steps upstairs. She knew she can't go there. Especially not when they had guests, but she didn't care. Sarah hoped that she'd find Thomas somewhere in the hallways, but no sign of him. Her steps became faster and more intensive. The time was running out. She started running forward, but the hallway was empty. She could hear laud talk coming from the dining room. I can't go there! Not now. Not like this.

And in that moment she heart the most familiar voice behind her. She turned around as fast as she could.

"What are you doing here? You're not allowed!" Thomas frowned at her.

"Oh thank goodness you're here!" She took a deep breath. "Where is that plate you brought from the kitchen?" She said it so fast that he could barely understand her.

"I brought what?... What?!" He looked at her ridiculously, having no idea about what she was talking about.

"The food! For them! The dinner that Mrs. Patmore made!" Sarah was had never before been nervous like this. She couldn't form a proper sentence.

"Huh? I guess it's on the table." He chuckled, still confused at her behavior.

"No! No! That's not funny!" She said and pushed him into the door of the dining room. "Go in there and bring it back! She can't eat that!"

"Are you crazy? I can't go in there and just take it back!"

"Believe me, I'm as crazy as Jane! You can and you will! Come on... GO!" She almost screamed at him.

"Jane? What is going on here?" He made a face.

"I will explain later! Just go and get it! I don't want Mr. Carson to see us here!" She pushed him harder into the door. He didn't have any other choice so he opened it and burst inside the room.

If I get fired, I'll definitely bring her with me! He thought and approached to the table. I'm going to take it and just disappear. He hoped that nobody would pay attention to him. He stood behind Lady Grantham and Evelyn Napier. Thomas slowly slipped his hand between their seats and reached the table, swiftly grabbing the plate.

"What are you doing Thomas?" Lady Grantham asked with a confused smile.

"Oh... Just..." His mind blanked. Thomas couldn't think of an excuse. "I was simply..." He continued. "Mrs. Patmore said... To bring it down..." Breaking into a cold sweat, Thomas nervously looked around the room, trying to come up with a good excuse while those two crystal blue eyes stared straight at him. "...because... because it's not good enough."

"It's perfect. There's no need." Cora shook her head in disagreement and placed a fork above it. She wanted to taste the food.

Oh my goodness! What now? "No, my lady!" Thomas put his palm beneath her fork. What am I doing?! I'm so fired! Thomas thought to himself. "She insists. You... You know Mrs. Patmore, I have to obey." Thomas smiled so Cora would concede. Out of the corner of his eye Thomas could see Mr. Carson glaring at him, embarrassed.

"If she really insists... take it." Cora gave him an approving nod.

"Thank you, my lady." Thomas took the plate as quickly as he could and he went out of the room unnoticed. When he opened the door he found O'Brien in the hallway. She was nibbling her nails.

"Thank Heavens!" She immediately took the plate from his hands. "I have to get rid of this."

"Now can you tell me why I almost lost my job?" He looked at her, frustrated.

"Jane! It's all because of Jane!" O'Brien raised her head to look at the young man.

"Jane?" He repeated after her.

"Yes, Jane! She poisoned all of this food. She wanted her ladyship to lose the baby. She's gone crazy. You know...The forgotten love between Jane and Lord Grantham."

"I can't believe that she's capable of doing something like this!" He looked at her in disbelief.

"She needs help!" O'Brien muttered. "But it's also our fault, we invited her here."

"But we didn't know that she'll go this far. She's only been here for a day!"

"Anyway. Thank you for saving Lady Grantham." Sarah smiled and went down the hallway.

"Of course."

Down in the kitchen, O'Brien threw all the food away. Sarah was feeling brave and proud because she had saved her ladyship, but she was feeling empty and sad at the same time. She was so sorry that she had invited Jane back here. She had to live with the devil for the rest of the week. What's next? O'Brien wondered. Her conscience didn't give her any peace. If it wasn't for me, she wouldn't have miscarried the first baby. It would've all turned out differently.

"So... You saved her, I see... How extraordinarily clever of you!" Jane's voice filled the empty kitchen. "I must say, I'm impressed."

"Leave her alone." Sarah turned around to face the young woman. "She's not responsible for anything that happened to you!" The room quickly filled with tension.

"She's the only one responsible for everything! I told you. I have some unfinished business here and you obviously are sabotaging it." Jane said with anger in her voice.

"That's not the wayto go! I already told you that!" O'Brien raised her voice, hoping that this time Jane would listen to her.

"Maybe you saved her this time, but you can't always be her guardian angel, can you?" Jane smiled wickedly and disappeared, leaving O'Brien in a mess.

While walking down the hall to her room Jane thought about Cora. How much luck can this woman have? It's so unfair! The poison didn't work, but something else will. I'll find a solution. Jane crossed her arms thinking deeply. Soon the idea hit her. Oh my goodness! Jane smiled from ear to ear. Why didn't I think about that before?! O'Brien did it before and they had no idea that she was responsible, so maybe this time it'll be the same. They will just think that history repeated itself... Oh, I'm a genius! Jane let out a chuckle.

On the other side of the house, Mary was walking upstairs. After the dinner she had showed Evelyn to his room and now she wanted to exchange a few words with her mother after the totally unexpected news. Mary felt somewhat guilty. She didn't want her mother to think that she's wasn't happy about the baby. She was just caught off guard.

Once she had climbed all the way up, Mary stood in front of her parent's room. Breathing heavily, she knocked softly on the wooden door. She opened the door once she heard a tiny voice telling her to come in.

She found her mother sitting on the armchair nearby, reading a book.

"Mary, come here." Cora patted the armchair right next to her.

"I wanted to talk with you." Mary sat next to her mother, leaving the door open.

"About what?" Cora questioned and closed her book and placed it in her lap.

"About today's news." Mary said looking at Cora.

"Huh... Go ahead." Cora didn't know if Mary was happy, sad, angry or frustrated. Mary's face didn't reveal any kind of feelings.

"You know... I am happy, really truly happy. I was just surprised so I didn't say anything about it and I didn't want you to feel like I'm upset or something..." Mary nervously rubbed her hands.

"I know. You have always been like that, showing no emotion, since you were a child." Cora smiled at her eldest daughter.

"I want you to know that I'm happy if we get a sister or..." Mary heard a voice behind her and stopped short.

"Sister?" Sybil's voice echoed through the house. "Who said it's a she?!"

Mary and Cora couldn't help but laugh at Sybil's excitement and expectations about getting a brother.

So... O'Brien saved Cora... this time *cough* okay... no spoilers for you..

Thanks for reading! Comments, reviews and complains are always welcome; in any size and any language.

Have a hopeless romantic day!