XX
March 1920
"The fire inspector said it was an arc that ignited the fire. It was one of the relay boxes installed when Anthony had the house first wired for electricity. He removed the old bell pulls and replaced them with electric push buttons and a display boards in hallways, the butler's pantry, and the servant hall."
Edith led Mary down the main hallway towards a side door. Mary could smell the smoke that still lingered in the air.
"A spark in the copper wiring started it and then the flame fed along the wire inside the wall until it took out a wall and touched some curtains stacked in a storage room. That set an old oak table on fire and then it was just a matter of time before it reached the Green Drawing Room. By the time Laidlaw noticed and called the fire brigade in St. Alban's he had to spend the rest of the time making sure everyone was out of the house quickly."
The hammering of the builders interrupted their conversation. "Let's go this way," Edith guided Mary outside to a small garden patio.
"The ceiling collapsed in that drawing room?" Mary asked, taking a seat on metal chair shaded by a large larch tree. The baby had started kicking quite enthusiastically and she was glad of the rest.
"Yes." Edith rubbed her brow in consternation. "It's got the most damage along with the Red Room's oak paneling." She sighed and tried to make the best of it. "At least the Constable was on loan to the National Gallery so that treasure was safe." She had been reluctant to part with the painting as it was one of her husband's favourites, but now she was glad she had assented to the loan. "It's been a long couple of months but now we're on the other side. Brancaster had a fire of a similar nature a few years ago and so Bertie gave me some invaluable aid with the insurance and finding builders who could insulate all the wiring and help restore the drawing room to a semblance of what it was before."
Mary smiled. Bertie invaluable, eh? "I'm glad he could help. Once it made the papers, I guess everyone knew. Papa was quite put out when he read the accounts. We knew it wasn't as bad as the Telegraph made out because we had just been over to see for ourselves."
"Oh…that…" Edith gave her sister an eye roll. "They made more than it warranted. I know I'm in the journalism business, but the sensationalism and circulations wars are getting quite out of hand. The article did allow the news to reach up to Northumberland. That's how Bertie found out and telephoned our estate agent to see how he could help."
Mary let any curiosity regarding her sister's relationship with the future Marquess of Hexham go unsatisfied. It wasn't the time to make those kinds of inquiries but she was hopeful that Edith had found someone to love again.
"Quite an eventual few days for sure and I'm glad its all over. Sybil's back at Downton on more bed rest and Sybbie is pink and cherubic. Tom can't stop looking at her with the biggest smile on his face."
"I've not thanked you properly for looking after little Anthony. I felt so bad I had to rush off that night as I knew Sybil was in such distress. But Laidlaw sounded quite frantic and then the telephone cut out and I had no idea what was happening."
"All's well that ends well. I'm glad you and the baby weren't at home at the time. A fire is dreadful at any time, but at least everyone got out safely." Mary willed away the thought that crept into a corner of her brain. What would happen if Matthew got caught in a fire?
"We've moved temporarily into the east wing to get away from the construction…" Edith could see the butler moving towards her. "What is it Laidlaw?"
"Mr. Parker is here, Lady Strallan. He wishes to go over the figures for the new electrics."
"I see." Edith stood up.
Mary did as well. "I'll let you get on with things. I promised Matthew I'd be back in time for dinner. He'd have come with me but there's a tricky will or thingamajig on at his law office and he couldn't get away. He has to work twice as hard as the other clerks to keep up." Mary shook her head at his tenacity. "I wouldn't put up with it at all, but he just plows on."
Edith understood. "It must be difficult. We all admire him so. And he's so good with George. When all this is done, I'll get over to see him walking."
"He's got everyone eating out of his hands. We brought him down for tea last week and he ran straight for Granny who was seated on the red sofa in the library. He made his demands clear and so she scooped him up into her lap. He giggled delightfully."
The two kissed cheeks. "Little Anthony will be like that soon enough. Then George will have a proper playmate."
"I can't wait," Edith said. "He brings me more such joy."
Mary hugged her sister. Such easy times as this between them she had never thought possible. But past grudges were long past and they had moved on into a more mature relationship.
"See you soon," Mary slipped behind the wheel of the AC, waved one more time, and drove off. The car responded to her pushing the gearshift and she made the turn out of Strallan Hall and down to the main road that would lead her back home.
XX
"I'm here, darling," He heard his wife's light rap on the door and call of his name.
Matthew's voice sounded muffled but she opened the door and poked her head inside the bathroom. "Lang said you were almost finished."
"Yes, yes. Come in."
When she did so she saw Matthew, his head buried beneath a large towel, rubbing his still wet hair.
No wonder he sounded distant. Mary stepped onto the tiled floor and made her way towards her husband.
Seated on a bench beside a large porcelain tub, he had on his dressing gown but his feet were bare. Lang had already pulled the plug and washed down the sturdy teak slab in the bathtub before leaving him to set out Matthew's dinner jacket. Mary knew Matthew had installed the wooden seat last year when he had gone blind again. Fitting over the top of the tub, it allowed him to complete his ablutions in a certain privacy. A shelf with cloths, soaps, and shampoo nearby to his right. He could call for assistance only when he needed. Mary had asked whether a shower would be more practical but Matthew responded he usually felt more balanced and aware of his surroundings with the bench. He had one as a young man in Manchester and it worked quite handily.
Thinking once again about the fire, Mary tried not to fret again about the potential of him slipping and falling. There were ever so many dangers as he made his way not only around the house, but outside walking to and from the train station, and making his way around Ripon. She had promised to trust his judgement on his ability to get around on his own and she intended to keep it.
Mary sat down and gave his cheek a kiss, feeling a couple of droplets of water run down her cheek.
"Careful, I'm still dripping a bit."
"Then I'll get wet."
Matthew chuckled at her inviting riposte. "Darling…" He moved his head so their lips met in a deep kiss.
Reluctantly parting, he continued to dry off. "How's Edith?" Matthew asked as he reached down to feel for his slippers.
Mary moved them towards his hand. "Quite a lot still to do with the renovations but they're well under way. You were right to be concerned with our electrics here at Downton as the inspectors said that was the cause of the fire at Strallan Hall."
Matthew scowled. "Terrible but these old houses that first got wiring in the early aughts are prime targets. We made sure we had the latest insulation at Downton Hall when they converted the cottages. I know Robert won't want to hear about it for the main house as it's yet another expense."
Mary had to grudgingly agree and then said, "Edith's had some good advice from Bertie Pelham on the best builders to get in."
Matthew was glad. "He's a good man."
"Very good."
"Do I detect something is up there for them both? Or is it too soon?" He reached out to feel the wall behind him for his cane.
Mary answered while handing him his stick. "It's been over a year since Anthony's death but grief is a tricky thing. I don't want to say anything but they would make a lovely couple."
"I hope they find their happiness." Matthew leaned the stick against the bench and reached out to take his wife's cheeks in both hands. "As we've found ours."
"Me too, Matthew. Me too." Mary extended this moment of total privacy by placing her husband's right hand over her belly. "He's really punching like Jack Johnson."
A beatific smile stretched across Matthew's face as he gently gripped her belly and felt each quick kick in succession.
"Are you as sure this time the baby's a he?"
"I'm not," Mary admitted. "'She' might just be as raring to get out of there as I am."
"You know I don't care." He bent his face down. "Daddy loves you," he said sotto-voiced to the baby inside Mary's womb then gave her stomach a kiss.
Mary closed her eyes and soaked in the love she felt overwhelm her body. She idly raked her hand through Matthew's damp hair. She needed this quiet time with her husband. They had been so busy since Sybil's birth they hardly had time together where one or the other wasn't exhausted.
He leaned comfortably against her shoulder. "I guess we should make a move."
"Anna might send out a search party. We do need to get dressed. Papa's got the some dreary neighbour or something in for dinner."
"What's it in aid of?"
"No idea. Papa has been walking around with a grin like the Cheshire cat. I hope he's not got some scheme or other."
Matthew grunted, We'll know soon enough. Right o." Matthew halfheartedly stood up, leaning on his stick. "After you, my darling."
They exited the bathroom with Mary opening the door so Matthew could walk through.
They entered his dressing room.
"I've got everything laid out sir," Lang said as soon as he saw Matthew.
"Thank you, Lang."
"I'll see you later." Mary squeezed Matthew's hand and opened the door to their bedroom.
Anna had taken a deep blue high waisted loosely fitting maternity dress out of the wardrobe. At six month and half months Mary could no longer fit into any of her regular gowns. While in London with Matthew back in January she had ordered some new, forgiving drop waisted slip dresses she now would wear through the rest of the pregnancy. She also had asked that Anna retrieve the maternity corset as well. It wasn't that she relished returning to wearing the constraining garment, but that the corset designed for pregnancy actually helped support the baby and relieve her back from extra strain.
As she helped Mary into the blue dress and began to button up the back, Anna asked "My lady, my sister is poorly and my mother asks if I could visit for a few days to help out the family."
Mary stopped fidgeting with the loose belt. "Of course, Anna. It's not.." She blanched, afraid to say what was on her mind. Mr. Bates' death was still quite raw for her lady's maid.
Anna shook her head. "No not the flu. My sister has chronic bronchitis and has never been able to find work outside the house. She does some sewing and mending but now has taken to her bed and my mum's quite worried."
"Stay as long as you need." Mary said. "And if there's anything we can do to help, don't hesitate to ask."
"Thank you, m'lady." Anna finished her task and stood back.
Just then Matthew walked in from his dressing room. "Ready?" He held out his stick to walk towards their main bedroom door.
"Black tie?" Mary queried, raising an amused eyebrow. "Granny always thinks you and Papa are waiters in that get up."
Matthew laughed. "Lang says the dinner is informal. Your father's guest is an old boy from Robert's public school turns out. So, it will be as dreary as you feared as they pass stories back and forth of the horrors of the playing fields of England."
"Oh joy." Mary's voice mirrored her husband's resigned sarcasm.
They joined hands and Mary led them towards the door that Anna had already opened.
"Give me a minute, will you? I'll meet you on the landing."
"I'll be there." Matthew walked on ahead.
Mary peeked into to Sybil and Tom's bedroom. Her sister was resting while Nurse Todd rocked the baby to sleep near a small crib.
"Is that you Mary?" Sybil asked, turning to see the shaft of light at the door.
"Yes darling. Just checking to see if you need anything. I know Tom's busy."
"He's just gone. I have to admit I'm not that upset not to be going to dinner tonight. I don't think I could stand listening to old boys tell naughty school tales."
Mary laughed. "That's just what Matthew said. We'll endure it somehow. You rest."
Sybil snuggled under the blankets again. "Good night."
Mary closed the door and met Matthew on the landing and they walked into the dining room together.
XX
"Don't you see Robert?" The man's voice rose again in pitch as he struck the table with his fist.
Granny flinched beside him and threw her daughter in law a dim look. Cora knew Robert's mother hated breaches of protocol like this. Talking loudly and speaking of money.
She knew only one way to put an end to Violet's misery. "I think we'll leave you men to your talk." She stood up. "Shall we?"
Mary, really wanting to stay to calm down Matthew who was on the verge of saying something he'd regret later, gripped his shoulder and said, "I must go with Granny. I wish Tom was here."
Tom had to attend a function at Downton Hall now that he was managing director. He had popped in just long enough to see Sybil and their baby and then left again to meet Trevor. After being told of the evening's guest Mary knew Tom had left with a great deal of relief that he didn't have to stay though he said on his way out the door, "give my sympathy to Matthew."
Her husband gave a tight smile. "I understand." He started to reach for his wineglass but he withdrew as his hand was shaking. He'd never make a scene in front of this buffoon by dropping his drink in his lap. "I promise to be on my best behaviour."
Mary left.
Robert, enthralled by his friend's tales travels in Africa, waved a hand to his wife and the women left and then said, "I do Harry, I see your enthusiasm. But what use it all to me?"
"The mines in Bechuanaland are full of zinc and copper. You would make a serious mistake if you don't get a stake in on the ground level. I can promise profit yields…" Harry reached for the decanter as Carson approached with the humidor and matches. Robert took a cigar out and lit it, puffing until the embers burned as he wanted.
Matthew's spluttered cough interrupted Harry Stokes's monologue. "Profits made on the backs of, let's not put to fine a point on it shall we, on the back of slave labour… I don't think anyone should support that." His promise to Mary vanished in thin air as he just couldn't take any more of the man's insufferable arrogance.
"Young man I think I know what's best." Harry Stoke replied in just the kind of condescending simple sentences Matthew had grown to despise from those who believed blindness equaled mental incapacity.
"Matthew," Robert spoke tetchily, "I understand your concerns but let Harry finish before making judgments."
Harry began again. "If the government places a duty on all copper not destined for refining in Britain then any investor will make a righteous killing."
Matthew groaned then replied, "Don't you think you might want to wait for the geologist's final report. It might turn out to be bust?"
Harry refused to listen. "The preliminary findings will hold true. I'm telling you Robert you'd be a fool not to join me. Frankie Minor has already come aboard. And Pinkie…"
"Wheels within wheels…" Matthew muttered under his breath. He knew the silly names given to public school boys by their peers. He hated them. It assumed an intimacy that was usually laced with intimidation and demands to conformity. But it was just the kind of thing to influence his father in law to invest money in an exotic scheme. Money that was desperately needed at Downton.
"Matthew don't be so quick. These are the days of the bold investor. Before you and Mary came down Harry was talking to me about this man Ponzi who's promising 50% profits within 45 days."
Matthew's groan got even more vocal. And he knew it was time for him to take his leave. He pulled back his chair and, as that was his usual signal, Carson fetched the cane that Matthew always tucked beside the long sideboard when he sat down and touched him on his shoulder. "Mr. Crawley."
"Thank you, Carson."
Matthew gripped the stick and stood up. "I will leave you to the discussion gentleman. The evening's been most illuminating."
Carson followed behind Matthew who took the steps he had memorized towards the dining room door. He waited for Carson to open it, and then he stepped out into the hallway and turned left towards the music room to join his wife and her mother and grandmother. His own mother was expected to return finally in April and he looked forward to seeing her again.
Not that he thought anyone could calm him down after that encounter. He hoped he could talk some sense into Robert once his school friend had left.
Entering the music room, Mary saw him and walked over. "Survive did we?"
Matthew grunted. "Barely." He took her arm and she guided him over to the settee. Mary leaned over, "Tom's back. He joined us in here on my suggestion rather than interrupt the cigars and port."
That brightened Matthew a bit. "How did it go at the Hall?"
"The evening's awards banquet was a success. I handed out all the blue ribbons," Tom answered. "I heard I missed some excitement."
Matthew snorted. "Not really. Just a lot of hot air."
"Odious man," Violet said. "I remember him from school holidays. He's always had more influence over Robert than either his father or I could endure."
Cora added, "he was best man at our wedding. He took a job with the government in South Africa. But now he's back for good I think."
"Harry Stoke is a fool," Matthew spat out. "He talks dangerous nonsense. Robert must be made to understand or else he'll risk destroying the family."
Cora was taken aback at Matthew's dismissal. "Robert's been captain of this ship long enough to earn more of your respect."
Matthew wanted to bite back his words. He didn't mean to hurt Cora. "I'm sorry…"
"He didn't mean to be disrespectful," Mary said.
Robert entered at that moment, "Well he does a marvelous impression of it. Harry's left leaving it to me to say his good-byes."
Granny actually relaxed at that announcement.
Matthew wasn't too put out either but he was determined to be more diplomatic. "There are ways to meet the challenges of the modern world, Robert. Ways that don't include throwing good money after bad."
"So says the middle class…"
Matthew gave up and threw himself against the settees's back, gripping his cane's handle so hard Mary could see blood vessels popping on his wrists.
She needed to calm things down.
"We need to build something that will last, Papa. We can't carry on as if nothing's changed."
Robert grumbled. "You're on his side of course."
"I'm on all our sides. I believe Matthew is right, but I also know you have the best of intentions regarding Downton's traditions and it's tenants."
An actual smile crept over Matthew's face. Mary was a natural at this kind of thing.
"Maybe I should just take a back seat then…"
"No one's saying that," Tom interjected. "Just listen to what Matthew's saying. I've looked over the accounts with Mary. There's room for improvements on every page."
Robert took over. "Shall I tell you how I look at it? Every man or woman who marries into this house, every child born into it, has to put their gifts at the family's disposal."
Matthew heard that challenge. "And you think I've not come up to the mark? Because I won't give my legacy to the family?"
"You've been reluctant" was Robert's terse reply.
"I've not seen it as mine to give," Matthew explained in as measured a tone as he could muster. "It's mine to preserve and if possible, to enhance in the best ways I know how. Downton's farms must be made to be profitable."
He couldn't finish because Robert interrupted. "There you go again…profit, profit. You want to do it at the expense of Downton's tenants but won't consider engaging in one of these schemes to double or triple our initial outlay."
"And what if it fails Papa?" Mary inquired. "It would be for nothing."
"Risk is part of it. But the rewards could give us financial security."
"Or ruin…" Granny added with perfect timing.
Tom tried to reason with Robert. "We cannot go forward with no income it's true, but we can't risk what we have now."
Robert threw up his hands. "Then so be it on your heads."
All seemed at an impasse.
Matthew, tapping his cane against the floor, knew what he had to do.
He stood up. "Robert," he said, holding out his hand. "If my investment will help maintain Downton as a source of employment while we engage in measures to retrench unnecessary expenditures and run the estate as much as I know you hate it but it must be done, to run it like a business, I will do my share towards that end."
Robert took his hand. "Are you sure? I know we don't see eye to eye." He paused, realizing his faux pas. "Erm... I mean."
Matthew gave his father in law's hand a firm grip. "It's fine Robert. I know it's only a figure of speech. And I am sure. My future is here with my wife, my children. I want Downton to be my family's home for generations to come. I know you want that as well. In that we are the same."
Robert accepted Matthew's terms. "We'll get started right away."
Matthew returned to his seat beside his wife. "Thank you, Matthew," she said.
"I don't want any more squabbling or tension in these last months of your pregnancy. I will do my best to work with him rather than against him."
"I know that was quite the concession."
Matthew finally smiled. "you know, in the end I realized it's what you've been telling me all along. It's about family. So, thinking of it that way, it turned out to be not that hard at all."
"I'm so very glad." Mary brushed her lips against his cheek. "And that you think of Downton as your home now."
He turned towards Mary's voice, avowing with a heated passion, "You know I don't care for titles or estates. You are my home. You are my heart. I am happy wherever you and our children live. I want nothing more than to make you happy."
A tear threatened to fall against her cheek. Mary hated public displays but didn't try to wipe it away. "I've never been happier in my whole life."
"Then it's all I ask for." Matthew let the moment sink in then couldn't help adding cheekily, "Are you ready to take over after the baby's born? You are quite up to the task you know. Tom and I will help, but you're the natural choice."
Mary gave her husband a side eye she knew he couldn't see. "A method to your sweet talk. Take over? Isn't that the job of the estate agent?"
"Jarvis won't last long under this new regime. He'll quit once the new broom sweeps clean. At minimum I expect you'll want to supervise whomever we choose to replace him."
Mary surprised herself at just how readily she took to this idea. Who was she to tell Matthew Downton was their future if she herself wasn't willing to participate in its renaissance?
Several ideas already immediately came to mind.
XX
I've always wanted to do "Harry Stoke is a fool…" haha… Hope you like what you read. Reviews are like guilt free indulgence. No calories. Just love. Thank you