Chapter 14 – Hard Decisions

The servants' hall was quiet in the early morning but O'Brien knew the lull would not last long. She settled herself at the dining table to plan out her day. Her mending in hand, she reflected on her discovery from the night before. It was valuable currency. She had not yet decided how to apply it. Her Ladyship was the obvious choice. O'Brien always relished an opportunity to curry favour with her mistress. Or O'Brien could tell Anna, put her on her guard, and keep her in her place. She shuddered. That poor soul had enough troubles and O'Brien would not add to them.

"You're up early, Miss O'Brien," Mrs. Patmore trumpeted as she entered the hall. She placed her tea on the table and sat down beside her with heft.

"I've some extra mending to do. You'd think Her Ladyship was a stonecutter with the wear in her clothing." O'Brien turned to her. "So you've not heard the news from upstairs?"

"What now? " Mrs. Patmore sighed. "Another dead body?" She sipped her tea.

"They've moved up the wedding," O'Brien told her. "It's to be in four short weeks."

"Four weeks!" Mrs. Patmore snorted. She looked at her colleague in disbelief. "Is this one of your stories? Because if it is, it really isn't funny."

"It's the truth," O'Brien said plainly as she sewed. "Mr. Matthew announced it at dinner."

"Did he give a reason? Is Lady Mary in the family way?" The cook dropped her spoon with a clatter against the table.

"Steady on there. They didn't give a reason," O'Brien replied, looking up from her task. "Since when does Lady Mary need a reason for anything she does?"

"Well, so much for a peaceful cup," Mrs. Patmore rose from her chair. "I'd better get a start on the wedding menus. Where is that Daisy?"

"Do take it easy on the poor girl," O'Brien chided the cook. "You wouldn't want to lose her now with the work to be done."

"That's not bloody likely," Mrs. Patmore answered. "She's assistant cook now. She's not goin' anywhere." She shot O'Brien a knowing glance and carried her dishes into the kitchen.

One by one the staff trickled in. Within the hour, the bells began ringing like Sunday morning. The real grind of her workday had begun. She readied the breakfast tray. Tea, scones, preserves, The Daily Sketch. O'Brien made her way up the narrow staircase. It was a familiar route but it could still be a challenge, especially if she met up with another traveller. She knocked at the door to Lady Grantham's bedroom, balanced the tray in one arm and opened the door.

Lady Cora sat up in her bed. Her hair was down and her face still carried the traces of sleep. "Good morning, O'Brien," she said and smiled. "Thank you," she added as O'Brien placed the tray over her lap. "Any news from downstairs?"

"I told Mrs. Patmore, m'Lady, of the new wedding date. She was none too pleased," replied O'Brien. O'Brien opened the drapes of the tall bedroom windows. Sunlight filled the room.

"And neither am I. O'Brien, I cannot imagine what led to this. I will speak with Mary later today. I will get to the bottom of it."

"It's a shame really, m'Lady. A June wedding would be so lovely," O'Brien turned to her mistress. "Speaking for the staff, we were all keen on it."

"That's still my wish, O'Brien. I will pursue it until Lady Mary concedes." Lady Grantham unfolded her paper.

"Just so you know, Mrs. Patmore is not wasting time. She's already started planning the menus. When should I return, m'Lady?"

"Thirty minutes should be fine, O'Brien. I will see you then." Lady Cora turned her attention to her paper. "Oh, and tell Mrs. Patmore that we'll meet later this morning to go over the wedding menus. I hope to change their course but if they do not, we must be ready."

O'Brien closed the door soundlessly as she left the room.

Eager to put matters to rest, Lady Grantham caught up with her eldest daughter shortly after breakfast. She found her in her bedroom where Anna was helping Mary prepare for a morning ride. "Good day, Mary." Lady Cora took a seat on the divan. She smoothed her skirt. "Anna, would you excuse us for a moment?"

"Thank you, Anna," Mary smiled warmly at her. "I will see you later." Mary waited until Anna closed the door, and then turned to her mother. "I know why you are here, Ma-ma. There is no point in discussing it. Our minds are quite made up." Mary took a last look in the mirror.

Lady Cora launched her campaign. "I must know why, Mary. Why the change in plans? Why must you wed so quickly?" Her words were laced with anxiety.

Mary sat down in the chair nearest her mother. She fiddled with her gloves. "I don't expect you to understand, Ma-ma."

"Please try me." Lady Cora's look to her daughter was direct and stern.

Mary looked down at the ring that Matthew gave her. Seconds passed before she finally spoke. "For so many years, every circumstance worked to keep us apart. Now, by some forgiving hand of fate, we are promised to each other." She looked up at her mother. "We have lost so much time. We simply wish to start our life together as soon as possible. Where is the harm in that?"

"There will be talk, Mary. There always is when a wedding is forced on to an early date." Her mother's lips were set in a straight line.

"No one is forcing anything. We want to do this," argued Mary. "Besides, I have wasted the greater part of my life fretting over appearances and the opinions of others. I cannot let my happiness be determined by what others think. Matthew taught me that. If only I had known that long ago." Mary cast her eyes downward for several moments. Then she returned her mother's gaze. "Then I would have accepted him the first time he asked me." She smiled faintly.

Her mother leaned forward. She looked keenly into Mary's eyes. "I understand that you love each other, Mary. Believe me. I know what love is." She stood up and walked over to her. She kneeled by her side. "But you see each other every day. And we are but a few months from June. That is not long. Even those few months will give us the time we need to plan." She grabbed Mary's hand. "Then it can be a celebration worthy of your love."

Mary smiled. "I appreciate your intentions, Ma-ma. I agree that does sound lovely. But I wish you could know how I long to be with him."

Lady Cora sighed. "Please promise me that you will at least think about it, Mary. Talk to Matthew about it tonight."

Mary shook her head. "No, I cannot make that promise, Ma-ma. Matthew is my life. And I will live with him as his wife in one month." She stood up. "Now cheer up. All is well and couldn't possibly be any better."

"I'm afraid that you haven't heard the last of me on this topic, Mary," warned her mother as she rose.

"Then you are taking on a fool's errand, Ma-ma," Mary said as she exited the room with her. Mother and daughter walked down the staircase together. "I will be back in an hour. I will see you at luncheon."

"Yes, of course, Mary." She watched Mary as she left the hall. Lady Cora was sorely disappointed. She headed into the library to look for her husband. Not finding him, she rang the bell for Carson. She sat down to wait. She was anxious and enervated. She rose and walked to the window. Mary could be so short-sighted at the most inconvenient times. Lady Cora had no care about when the wedding took place if it would not affect her daughter's already sullied reputation. A wedding in haste always conjured up the ghost of a scandal.

"You rang for me, m'Lady?"

"Yes, Carson. Where is Lord Robert?"

"He has gone to the village, m'Lady. It was a short errand. He should be back shortly."

Cora thought quickly. She needed allies. "Carson, please send for O'Brien. I will meet her in my room." She rose and breezed past him.

"Right away, m'Lady."

Lady Cora climbed the stairs to her room with purpose. She would engage the Dowager Countess in her campaign. Her mother-in-law had more influence on Mary than she. Violet and Mary shared the same acuity of perception and wit. Lady Grantham felt sure that the elder Countess could convince Mary to alter the course. She met up with O'Brien who was waiting for her in her bedroom. "O'Brien, I will take tea with the Dowager Countess this morning."

"Of course, m'Lady."

Lady Cora sat at her vanity. She studied her reflection in a cursory fashion. "I'm afraid my overture to Mary did not meet with much success, O'Brien." She pivoted in her seat to face her. Her maid held out her coat. Her Ladyship rose and cloaked herself with her maid's assistance. "We may have an early wedding after all." Lady Cora's eyes betrayed her. She was crestfallen.

O'Brien handed Lady Grantham her gloves. "Don't despair, m'Lady. It was only your first volley."

"Thank you, O'Brien. You know that I always appreciate your support. Very much." Lady Cora gave her a sincere smile. Lady Cora adjusted her gloves.

O'Brien hesitated, and then uttered quickly, "M'Lady..." Lady Cora turned to her. O'Brien began again. "Last night, I was restless. It was just past midnight and I was up, thinking I had left things undone." O'Brien looked at Her Ladyship intently. She had her attention. O'Brien continued. "When I heard noises in the hall, I went to see what it could be. It was Mr. Matthew." She looked down. "He was leaving just then. He didn't see me." She returned to Lady Cora's gaze.

Lady Cora was silent. She remembered asking Carson about their whereabouts last night. His answer had been clear: Mr. Crawley had left and Lady Mary had retired. She took off her gloves and handed them to O'Brien. She unbuttoned her coat, prompting O'Brien to remove it from her. She walked to the nearest chair and sat down. She looked at her maid. "Are you sure?" Her voice was low.

"Yes, m'Lady," O'Brien answered, "Quite sure."

Lady Cora sat in silence. O'Brien returned her coat to the closet. Her mistress stood up. "Please fetch Lord Grantham. I need to speak with him at once."

"Yes, m'Lady." O'Brien turned to leave. Her mistress spoke again, causing her to pause.

"And please, O'Brien, tell no one else. No one."

"Of course, ma'am." She left Lady Cora alone with her thoughts.