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Grace opened the door to the family's first floor, entering the great hall. She had only been there a few times, and with her da every time. She was sure she would find the books somewhere around here. She walked on her toes around the columns. The squeak beneath her shoes echoing through the hall. She saw so many doors, but didn't know which one to start with.
She heard a door on the far side open and she stood frozen beside a column. Lord Grantham walked out followed by his dog. He walked purposefully to the stairs and up without seeing the little girl clinging to the column. Grace looked back to the door he came out of. When they were gone, she tip-toed over to the door and opened it. It took almost all her strength to push it open, but what was behind it was well worth the energy.
Sybil and her da were right when describing the elegance of the room. She had never seen anything like it. She marveled at the books climbing their way up to the gold patterned ceiling. She had never seen so many books before. She looked out the tall windows to the green grass that covered the meadows for miles. The furniture was neatly placed and the rich colors enhanced the handsome room. The soft carpets bounced under her feet as she stepped in. When her eyes captured the entire room, she let out a delighted giggle.
She didn't notice Lady Mary peek around from her position on the sofa. "Grace? What a surprise."
Grace turned to the voice and froze. She suddenly became very nervous and wished she never went to find the books. Her da would be very angry if he knew she was caught in a room where she was not allowed. And caught by a member of the family. Grace stood with her feet glued to the floor. She looked down.
"What on earth are you doing up here?" Lady Mary received no answer.
Grace stayed as still as she could.
"Do your parents know where you are?" Lady Mary leaned on the arm rest as she questioned the silent girl.
Grace shook her head back and forth.
"They must be worried about you. Don't you think?"
Grace thought for a minute. Mummy was busy with William and da was busy with work. She shook her head again. They had probably not noticed she was gone.
"Grace can I tell you a story?" Grace nodded her head, not knowing how else to answer. Lady Mary beaconed her closer. Grace took a few steps until she was only a few feet away from where Lady Mary sat.
"When I was little, my mama had a little baby girl. She was a lovely little baby, but she took up all of my mama's time. My papa was busy with all his work and I felt like they had no time to spend with me. I felt sad, like nobody cared about me. So, I decided to run away."
Grace looked up through her eyelashes.
"I went to your da for help. I asked him for some money, so he gave me sixpence to spend in the village." She paused, smiling at the memory. "And in that moment, I realized that I would always have someone on my side, looking out for me."
Grace was not sure how this story was important, but she listened patiently anyway.
Lady Mary saw that she lost the girl. "I guess what I am trying to say is that your mummy and da love you very much. You can always be sure of that. And I am sure you have them worried about where you've gone off to."
Grace nodded her head again. She knew she was naughty and should have stayed with her mummy and da. Her lip pouted.
"Come with me," Lady Mary stood up and reached for Grace's hand. "Lets get you back downstairs." Grace took her hand and they exited the library. Lady Mary lead her to the door that separated the upstairs and down. "Go on, Grace. And we don't have to tell your da about this. It will be our secret."
Grace nodded and trotted down the stairs.
Lady Mary smiled as she closed the door. She was happy for Carson and for Grace. He finally had a girl of his own to support while Grace had the greatest champion Lady Mary could think of.
Grace made it to the downstairs and to the flurry of activity. She weaved between footmen and house maids to reach her mummy's room. She went through the cracked door and found her mummy and William right where she left them. William finished eating and promptly fell asleep again. Her mummy looked up when she entered.
"Hello, love. Did your da find anything for you to do?" She drew her hand up beaconing her daughter closer.
Grace moved closer to her mummy and shook her head. "He said later."
Elsie took Grace in her free arm and placed a kiss on her head. "Well, you can spend some time in here with us until then." Elsie looked into her eyes and smiled bright. Grace gave her a big smile back.
Their attention was redirected when William let out a contented coo. It made Grace giggle.
Elsie looked back to Grace. "I think he wants his big sister to hold him."
Grace looked back to her mummy with her big blue eyes. "Can I, mummy?"
"Of course, darling." Elsie rose from her seat, slowly and carefully. She gestured for Grace to take her place. Grace climbed into the chair, thrilled to be holding him just like mummy. Elsie showed her how to hold her arms. When Grace was ready, Elsie laid him in her lap. Grace tensed her arms when she felt his weight. She concentrated on not dropping him.
Elsie pulled over her desk chair and sat down. She kept one hand by William's head for support. She saw Grace's concentration and smiled.
"What do you think, love?"
Grace stared at his face, not registering her mummy's question. She spoke to her little brother. "Hi, Will-am. You're my brother. We are going to play together. But you're not wearing my dresses. And you're going to be a sportsman. And I will show you all the books." She leaned over and kissed his head, just like she saw mummy do. "Love you."
Elsie was beaming at her two precious children. Grace's arms softened as she spoke. She brought one arm out from under him and patted his head. Then she removed her other arm.
"Mummy, I'm done." She held her hands away from the body, wanting the thing off her.
Elsie laughed. "Alright, love." She scooped William back up. Grace was still her spirited, lively girl.
Charles came through a moment later. "Ready Els?"
Elsie nodded her head, ready for a nap.
"Come on, my Gracie girl. Lets help mummy and William upstairs for their nap." He lifted Grace to the ceiling and bounced her a little before setting her back down. Grace gave him a belly laugh and jumped around at his feet. Charles took William from Elsie in one arm and helped her up with the other.
They made it up the stairs, very slowly. They sent Grace ahead of them running up and down, counting as high as she could and using up some energy. Once in their room, Charles held William while Elsie made her way to the bathroom. Charles hummed for William while Grace danced for him. Charles rocked him gently as William stared up at his da. Charles felt something change.
"Uh oh, Grace. I think you and I have our first wet nappy to change." Being that he was only around baby Grace for a week and always with Elsie after that, he had never changed a nappy solo. He watched Elsie do it numerous times and decided it couldn't be that hard.
Grace stopped dancing. And walked over to William and da. "What do we do?" she asked.
Charles thought. "Do you know where mummy keeps the clean nappies?"
"No," she answered.
"Well lets find them." He was confident in the two of them.
It took some time, but they found them under the crib. Grace helped da fold one and handed it to him. Being the way he was, it took Charles a few tries before he deemed his pinning job satisfactory.
Grace also approved. She helped wrap William back in his blanket right before Elsie returned. Grace relied their success to her and she was pleased with both of them.
Elsie was dressed in another nightgown Grace pulled the covers down before Elsie climbed in. Charles settled William down in his crib, giving him a kiss, and met his two girls at the bed.
"Night, mummy." Charles lifted Grace up so she could give her mummy a kiss on the cheek.
"Night, mummy." Charles copied Grace's phrase and action, only kissing her on the lips.
Elsie waved at them as they left.
Charles carried Grace down the steps and to his pantry. "Now, my girl, I know we said we would go on a house adventure, but I have another idea." He sounded excited and that had Grace intrigued. "How about you and I take a trip into the village? We need to stop at the post office, the Dower house, and then we can buy some sweets for mummy."
Grace was excited to be going on a trip with her da, but the promise of sweets gave her even more joy. "Can I have sweets too, da?"
"Of course, my girl. In fact, here." He pulled a sixpence out of his wallet, bent to her level, and placed it in her palm. "This is for being such a wonderful big sister. You may spend it on whatever you want." Charles's eyes beamed.
Grace squeezed her sixpence in her hand and smiled back at him. "Thank you, da." She lunged toward him and gave him a kiss.