A/N: Thanks so much for the reviews of the last chapter. And now we get to the heart of the story.
In the bright morning sunshine Robert watched as the motor car slowly made its way down the long winding gravel drive. From the open doorway of the Abbey, Thomas stood curiously observing his lordship. There had been nothing amiss in either his or her ladyship's goodbyes yet lordship still stood there although the motor car was no longer visible.
Finally Robert turned and slowly headed towards the doorway. Passing by Thomas without any acknowledgement of the butler only further raised Thomas' curiosity and he followed his lordship into the library.
"Shall I bring you tea?" Thomas asked as Robert walked to his desk.
"I'm quite fine Barrow" Robert curtly replied before sitting down in his desk chair.
"Yes milord" Thomas responded and after a few seconds headed towards the far doorway. Yet he lingered there watching as Robert unlocked one of the desk drawers and lifted out what looked to be a couple of unframed photographs. As if he sensed Thomas was still there Robert looked around the room as Thomas hastily retreated. Something was definitely up thought Thomas.
Our oldest grandchild wasn't here Robert.
His right hand holding one of the photographs, Robert's left hand gently traced the outline of a young Sybil's face. It was not one of those rigidly posed photographs but rather a candid one with Sybil laughing as she looked at something not in the camera's view. He looked up and out the window to the green lawn and in his mind he could see her there running around chasing after Pharaoh, her hair in an untidy braid, her dress smudged from falling, her laughter filling the air.
Somewhere out there we have a granddaughter.
He picked up the other photograph. It was of a much older Sybil yet she still had that lovely smile that radiated warmth and happiness.
I want to find her Robert.
There had been no accusatory note in Cora's voice nor had her tone held any anger.
Although of course that hadn't always been the case. When it was still fresh, still raw, and an all-consuming grief, it had been the darkest chapter of their marriage and Robert didn't want to revisit it. Not that Cora had made any mention of any of that, of the things that Robert would admit were his mistakes, of the things that if he could he would so willingly change but the past is the past and one can't change it.
Entering the library Mary was surprised to see her father at his desk. "Papa!" she called. As she walked towards him he quickly put the photographs under some papers on the desk. "I can't believe you're back from the Anderson's already."
Still facing the window he didn't look at her. "I haven't gone yet."
"What?"
"I saw your mother off and-"
"Really" Mary shook her head in disgust "How many times does she have to meet with the solicitors?"
"I guess Harold's estate is rather complicated between his businesses and vast land holdings."
"How long is she going to be gone? I'm meeting with the tractor company on Thursday and I'll need the money-"
Robert turned to face her. "I thought you and Edith had gotten your money from Harold's estate."
"We did Papa but that money is for me not for Downton."
"Well I'm not quite sure that's how your mother sees it."
As the taxi cab turned onto Eaton Square Cora noticed the bushes inside the iron fence that separated the pavement from the park were so thick one couldn't see into the actual park. Here and there azaleas with their deep red and pink blossoms were a stark contrast to the greenery. The park had always been a favorite of her girls and whenever they had visited Rosamund and Marmaduke they had spent some time there. Marmaduke had always been so playful with the girls. It was, Cora sighed, a shame that he and Rosamund had never had children for he would have been a wonderful father.
Of course the butler Handley had the front door of the elegant townhouse open before Cora had stepped out of the taxi cab while a footman stood waiting to take her luggage.
"How nice to see you milady" Handley greeted her as she walked through the doorway. "Her ladyship is in the morning room." Cora's heels echoed as they walked across the marble floor of the entry hall. She had always thought the entry hall, a vast marble space with high columns and busts of ancient Romans atop pedestals high up on the walls, seemed cold and uninviting.
After exchanging warm greetings the two women settled into overstuffed lounge chairs covered in a small floral print fabric. Cora was glad they were in the morning room which was light and airy and not nearly as stuffy as the grand drawing room. With its view of the lovely garden this room had always been Cora's favorite in the house.
"I'm sorry to impose on you again and especially on such short notice" Cora said.
"Nonsense" Rosamund responded. "I'm happy for the company. I'm just sorry you have to keep making these trips to London certainly the solicitors could come to Downton."
Cora blushed as it wasn't natural for her to be deceptive but she wasn't about to tell Rosamund her real purpose in coming here. "I don't mind coming to town, in fact I rather enjoy the break. Sometimes I wish Robert would agree to our staying in London for a couple of months at a time. I rather like the thought of being in the city and taking advantage of all it has to offer."
"Speaking of what the city has to offer I managed to get tickets for Noel Coward's play Operette."
"That sounds lovely" Cora smiled. "I can't think of the last time I saw a play."
Sounding practically giddy Rosamund said "We'll make a grand evening of it. Maybe go for cocktails before and then a light super after the play."
Cora laughed "we'll be such modern women!"
Although George Murray had retired several years ago his firm still handled the Crawley's legal business and it was at their recommendation that Cora now entered the offices of Hutchinson and Sons, Inquiry Agents. Located in Knightsbridge, Hutchinson and Sons etched on a small brass plate to the left of the doorway was the only indication this was a business rather than someone's townhouse but discretely gave no clue as to what type of business. Indeed the room Cora had been ushered into with its marble fireplace, deep green flocked wallpaper covering the walls up to the decorative molding, two tall windows capped by a valance and flanked by silk drapery, well-polished tables and soft leather covered armchairs spoke of a drawing room rather than an office.
James Hutchinson, Cora wasn't sure if he was the Hutchinson or a son looked as if he'd be as comfortable sitting in the drawing room of Downton as he was here in this office. He was a handsome man of indeterminable age and with his dark hair and eyes and pleasant smile he quite reminded Cora of her son-in-law Henry.
After an exchange of pleasantries, Hutchinson got down to business. "Much of our business is finding long lost relatives and heirs" he assured Cora. "So if you'll tell me a bit about whom it is you want us to find."
"It's my granddaughter."
"And how old is she?"
"She'll be 18 next month."
"And how long has she been missing?"
Cora, feeling a bit nervous or maybe embarrassed would have been a better descriptor, absently twisted her hands in her lap. "Almost 18 years."
James' eyes widened at her unexpected reply. Not that he wasn't used to long lost relatives but they were usually siblings or cousins that had set out years before maybe to America or Australia or some other far off place and somehow had lost touch but a granddaughter was most unusual. The rare occasions of a missing granddaughter was likely to be one that had run off with a most unsuitable suitor or, more likely, a child that had lost contact with their parent years ago and the parent often only recently becoming aware they had a grandchild.
Cora shuffled uncomfortably in her seat before rising and walking towards the window. Fingering the soft drapery she stood looking out the window which looked over one of the garden squares so common in this part of London. The garden, while it wasn't nearly as big as the one in front of Rosamund's house, looked like a nice respite from the city streets. She watched as a young nanny pushed a pram across the gravel path.
"My youngest daughter Sybil was the most delightful child, so full of energy and curiosity, so quick to laugh, so kind and gentle and she grew into a wonderful young woman. She was so in demand during her season, so many invitations to balls and dinners and I thought she was destined to make the best marriage but she" Cora shrugged her shoulders. "Anyway just after her season the war started and …" James listened to Cora talk, never interrupting her as she told the story.
"Why now?" James asked after Cora, once again sitting in one of the soft leather armchairs, finished her story.
"Why" she murmured as if not quite understanding his question.
"It's been 18 years" James began "why have you now decided to seek out this granddaughter?"
"It's not that I haven't thought of her these past years" Cora defensively stated. Then looking down she quietly added "I don't think you ever truly get over the death of your child. When my daughter died I … it was very tough and I …" She noticed the swirling patterns deep reds, blues and greens of the Persian carpet. Finally shaking her head and sighing "it just seemed that suddenly Tom and the baby were gone and …" she looked off across the room.
Rather than interject anything James waited quietly for her to continue and she did so after a minute or so. "My brother died a few months ago … he was my only sibling and his death has made me think about my family … I'm now the only one left." She shrugged. "I just turned 70 and that made me think about life … my life … and … and now it just seems important to me to find her."
"And what do you want if we find her?"
"To see her of course." For the first time Cora sounded strong and sure of herself.
"Most of the people who seek are long lost heirs and generally they're quite happy to be found" James stated. "But-"
"I do intend to leave an inheritance to my granddaughter" Cora injected "and of course share some of my inheritance from my brother. He left money for my other two daughters and I feel my granddaughter should receive what would have been her mother's inheritance."
James nodded. "Be that as it may there have been times when the person we find does not want contact" James glanced to the bookshelves and a small framed photograph of a smiling young woman nestled among decorative vases and boxes. That photograph could never erase the later image of her lifeless body but he kept it there to remind himself that not everyone who sought to hire his firm had the purest of motives.
"If we find your granddaughter we will let you know of her general welfare and will share with her or deliver to her any correspondence you wish but it will be up to your granddaughter as to whether or not we let you know of her whereabouts."
Noting Cora's stricken look, obviously she had not considered that her granddaughter might have no interest in meeting her, James held up his hand. "Surely you must have considered that her father, your son-in-law, knows how to contact you and could have done so at any time these last eighteen years. Of course after what you've told me he might not feel comfortable doing so."
Cora stood and once again walked towards the windows. His words echoed her conversation with Robert when she told him of her plans.
Why hasn't he ever contacted us Cora? Surely in all these years he could have done so.
Robert why would he think we'd be receptive? You made clear to him he wasn't welcomed here. And she Robert, what must she think of grandparents that threw her and her father out?
We didn't throw them out Cora. I would have helped him. Given him some money.
After what you said why would he have thought that?
Looking at the lovely garden it seemed so peaceful … so opposite as to what she was feeling.
Cora turned and faced him. "I cannot erase these past years Mr. Hutchinson and I don't know that I can truly make amends to my granddaughter. I want to believe that she can forgive me and let me be a part of her life but if not-" Cora's voice trembled.
She sat back down in the chair and opened her purse. Taking out some photographs, she smiled as she looked at the first one, her hand gently rubbing across the photograph before handing it to James. "This is my daughter Sybil."
He stared intently at the photograph noting the daughter had the dark hair and bright blue eyes of her mother. "She was quite beautiful."
Cora smiled. "She was a real beauty inside and out."
Then handling the other photographs she said "This is Sybil and my son-in-law Tom and this is another one of Sybil and Tom."
As he looked at those photographs she said. "They were a quite nice looking couple I think. He might not have been what I had wanted for her but I have no doubt they loved each other and I think that was most important don't you?"
"Find my granddaughter Mr. Hutchinson and I'll accept whatever she decides."
For probably the tenth time Cora eyed the huge wall clock as those around her kept droning on and on. Having only arrived back at Downton the day before the meeting had completely slipped her mind until preparing for bed she had looked at her day planner sitting on her vanity table. As the chairman of the hospital board Cora was usually so attentive and interested in the board's work but today her mind was on other matters. The meeting was mercifully cut short when Dr. Abel, who had taken over for the recently retired Dr. Clarkson, was called to an emergency.
Looking once again at the clock Cora realized she had almost half an hour before the chauffeur would be back. She thought of spending that time touring the hospital but then suddenly it dawned on her that there was somewhere else she needed to visit.
"Mama Mary doesn't want to go to America to visit Grandmama" a clearly distressed ten year old Sybil looked at her mother. "But we'll still go won't we?" she pleaded.
"I've tried talking to Mary about all the fun we'll have. We'll play games on the lawn and sit in the shade and drink lemonade and eat ice cream and-" Sybil's eyes sparkled as she thought of all the activities they'd do at Grandmama's Newport house.
Cora looks at Mary but before she could say anything Sybil, jumping from foot to foot, now bubbling with excitement said "we can run barefoot and play in the sand and-"
Cora thought if only Mary or Edith would sometimes exhibit such excitement but Mary, her head held high in that stiff manner she had, appeared quite unmoved by her sister's enthusiasm.
"I don't have to go to America to play badminton or croquet Sybil" Mary interrupted her sister. "We have a perfectly good lawn here and it's far too hot there and the ice cream melts too quickly and-"
"But Mary" now it was Sybil's turn to interrupt "we don't have a beach here. We always have so much fun at the beach. And remember Uncle Harold said this year he'd take us out in his …" Sybil crinkled her nose in concentration as she tried to remember what he had called his boat. "Yacht!" she said practically yelling the word in her exuberance of finally remembering it.
"Do you really want to go out in the water in that little thing" Mary retorted. "You know how big the waves in the ocean are we'd be lucky to not get washed overboard."
"But Uncle Harold goes out in his-" there's a slight hesitation as Sybil looks up to the sky before saying "Yacht" while looking quite pleased with herself "all the time."
Mary still didn't appear swayed by Sybil's remarks. "Well Mary" Sybil looked directly at her sister. "If you're so afraid you could stay on shore but you'd miss all the fun." Cora had to stifle her chuckle.
"But I'm looking forward to the adventure!" Sybil stamped her foot and nodded her head.
Touching the cold stone that entombed her daughter Cora smiled. "Yes you were the adventurous one. My beauty my baby."
Then Cora's smile disappeared. "I'm going to find her Sybil. I'm going to make things right with her … and with Tom" she vowed.