Chapter Ten
Cora watched as a few of the stronger downstairs staff lifted up her beloved husband, one by the shoulders and one by the legs and carried him carefully towards the grand staircase. Her hand was over her heart in shock and she barely noticed Barrow standing beside her with his arm supporting her. She started to follow the crew up the stairs and suddenly she was grateful for the support as her legs felt terribly unsure.
"The Doctor is on his way." Barrow's voice sounded strange, like it was on the cusp of breaking. "He said to have him settled in his own bed before he arrived."
"Oh pray he's alright. I've been so worried about him with the stress of the war and now George..." Her voice trailed off as she realized that whatever had been told to Robert about their grandson had caused his collapse. It can't have been good news.
"We'll find out soon enough my Lady. Branson is on his way up." Barrow had been informed of the worst of the news before Robert had taken the telephone but he could not form the words to tell the Lady of the great house he had tended for decades. He could not be the one to break her heart.
They both followed Robert and his transporters up the stairs and down the hall and watched as he was placed gently on the bed. Cora stood beside the bed and willed him to open his eyes. He did not, but he continued to breathe. That was a good sign.
Anna arrived at the door and Barrow looked relieved that someone could stay with Lady Grantham. He would go outside and wait for Tom to arrive. It would only be a few minutes. Tom had told him he was already on his way.
Once he had reached the bottom of the stairs he was met by the entire downstairs staff all looking incredibly worried. They had all been keeping vigil for the heir to the estate as well and waited for any word of his well-being, word was travelling fast about the collapse of their Earl.
Barrow stopped at the bottom of the stairs but again could not find the words to tell everyone what he had heard. He simply shook his head and took a deep breath. One of the maids let out a cry but he could not tell specifically which one it had been. It was so silent that everyone heard the tires screech on the gravel outside and the foot steps running into the Abbey.
Tom rushed in and took his hat off as he slowed down when he saw the group of people gathered. He scanned the faces quickly and realized that every one of them had a look of anticipation about them.
He met Barrow's eyes and took the hint that he and Barrow needed a moment to discuss the news. The two of them walked down the hallway a bit until they were out of earshot and Barrow filled in the estate manager on everything that he had heard and everything that had transpired since the telephone call.
Tom composed himself with a deep breath and walked back towards the crowd. He raised his hand for the murmuring to stop and prayed that his voice would not crack.
"We have received news on the condition of the two young men from this house who had been declared missing not a few days ago." He took another deep breath. "James O'Malley has been found in the north of France and though he is wounded, they expect he will make a full recovery. He is in transport at this moment back to his home."
There was an awed hush after the crowd gasped. Tom reached inwardly for a courage that he was unsure that he possessed.
"I am terribly upset to report that they believe Master George Crawley did not survive the parachute jump from his plane. A body matching his description was recovered from near the crash site and is also in transport back to his home. Upon hearing the news, it seems Lord Grantham has collapsed and is awaiting of the arrival of his personal doctor. This is a dark day for our household and we wish you all would attend to your normal duties as you are able. Lady Grantham will need our support at this time."
Tom did not wait to analyze the reaction of his words, he turned and went up the stairs to see how Robert was doing. Barrow would bring the doctor up as soon as he arrived. Barrow had mentioned to him that Cora was unaware of the news and she needed to be told. Tom agreed he would be the one, though he dreaded it with every fibre of his existence.
He knocked gently on the door of the bedroom and Anna opened the door for him. She looked pale, but also grateful that he was there.
"Oh Tom, I am so glad you are here." Cora was sitting on the edge of the bed and looked extremely worried. "Tell me please what was said to my husband."
Tom steeled himself, he was still trying to discover a way in his head how best to tell her. She was not a stranger to heartbreak by any means. Her own daughter had passed away in this very house what seemed like only yesterday and a hundred years at the same time. He glanced at Anna and she nodded slightly, as though she already sensed what had happened but she needed to hear it.
"I'm afraid it's not good news. They have found a body that greatly resembles George. It was discovered not far from the crash site and we have been told to prepare for the fact that it might be him."
Lady Grantham brought her hand over her eyes for a time and Anna sat down on the bed next to her and wrapped her arm around the older woman's shoulders. Tom was unsure of what he could do so he walked around to the other side of the bed to get a closer look at Robert.
The old man looked as though he was sleeping, though a little pale, and Tom wondered if he was simply felled by the shock. It could not have been an easy thing to hear, the heir to his life work was gone. He surely must have felt grief beyond words before he collapsed and Tom just stood and stared at him, willing him to open his eyes. The estate needed him now more than ever. There would be much to do in the following days and Tom was not sure he could handle it all by himself. And with Lily so close to her time, he had promised her he would not go far from her side.
"Have they found James?" Cora asked quietly, turning around to look at Tom where he stood.
"Yes. He is injured but able to travel. They are sending him home as we speak." Tom's eyes were full of the slightest bit of relief. At least his daughter would not have to go through the pain of losing a beloved spouse so early in her life. But to lose her cousin, that would upset her enough. A lot of pain was about to befall Downton Abbey again and Tom wondered if they would all survive it this time.
"Thank God for that. Poor Sybbie, has anyone told her yet?" Cora wiped a tear from her cheek. She seemed remarkably poised thus far.
"I believe she's been told, I've sent a driver to go pick her up and bring her back here. We all need to be together in this time." Tom felt his heart growing so heavy as the news finally sunk in completely.
"I am not sure about Mary though, I assume they would tell her in person. He was her son after all."
Cora finally lost some composure and let tears fall down her cheeks. Anna held her tighter.
"My poor Mary. This will devastate her. To lose both Matthew and their son in her lifetime, I fear she will fall into complete darkness this time. Oh Tom, what are we going to do?"
Tom had no immediate answers.
There was a knocking at the door and Tom went to open it while the women stayed sitting on the bed. The doctor was admitted and he insisted that Anna and Cora vacate the room so he could do a thorough examination of his patient.
Anna took her Lady back down to the drawing room to sit and wait there. A stern look from her to the maids that were hovering around the bottom of the stairs sent them all scurrying back to the downstairs and cleared the way for the two.
What seemed liked hours had passed before there was any disturbance in the house. The stillness and the quiet was eery in the abbey where there was usually so much activity. A group of children ran by the window, laughing and playing and it seemed out of place to those sitting inside. What could children know of the tragedy that just befallen the house.
Sybbie arrived before the doctor had reappeared and Cora and her just stood holding each other in the room. Anna did her best to comfort the two and rang down to maids to have some strong tea brought up. She wasn't sure what else she could do.
"I just can't believe it Granny. There has to be some mistake. I can't believe he's gone." Sybbie sobbed into her grandmother's shoulder.
"Your father says they are almost sure, but we will still have to make an identification of the body." She stumbled on the last word, unable to comprehend that her beloved grandson was now defined as no more than a body. "James will be home soon and we must be strong for him. He and George were as close as brothers."
"I feel so guilty. I am so relieved that James is alright, but how can I feel happy when George may be gone." Sybbie broke down into a fresh set of tears and Cora lead her to the sofa to sit down. "I don't know what I am supposed to feel."
"Nobody can know at a time like this my dear. We can only attempt to be as strong as we can. It's quite alright to let the pain out. There is no shame in that. We must do it to heal in time."
Their conversation was ended abruptly when the maids brought in a tray laden with a teapot and a number of small finger foods. Cora nodded a thank you to Anna and dismissed her with a look and a gesture of her chin. Anna understood that Cora wanted to be alone with her granddaughter. So many years of working for Lady Grantham, Anna could read her like a book and took the hint. She would go downstairs and comfort her staff in the very same way that Cora comforted Sybbie. Perhaps the two women could lean on each other for a time. At least until the doctor came down with any news and at least until Sybbie's husband was safe and home.
More time passed and Cora was starting to feel extremely anxious about Robert. She and Sybbie took turns pacing the room and trying to calm each other. Sybbie was encouraged to try to eat something, she had to think of more than just herself presently but the food tasted bitter in the young woman's mouth. She took a few more bites just to sate her grandmother but then set the small plate down, half of it untouched.
Tom came to the doorway and Sybbie rushed to him. He just held her for some time as a new set of sobs erupted from his daughter. Tom had dealt with the tragedy of loss in his life, but he had hoped his daughter would have been spared. It seemed she would not be spared as of now. He was grateful again that her husband was alive. James would support her, of that Tom was confident. He could not imagine having to deal with a double tragedy.
The three of them walked together towards the stairs, the doctor had sent Tom down finally to gather the family members who were there. The front door opened as they walked down the long hallway and a little boy smiled to see his father and ran to him. Tom picked up his son and held him so tightly. Even such a small presence had an impact on helping to balance his emotions. He just wanted to hold all of his children in his arms and tell them it was all going to be alright. He wanted to believe it himself. His wife toddled in not far behind, walking carefully in her extremely gravid state.
Lily held Sybbie as close as she could when the younger woman ran to her. Cora smiled slightly to see the evidence of the relationship that Lily had developed with Sybbie over the past few years. The mother she never had. The two of them were incredibly close and Cora knew that Sybbie would have many people to help her through the next few days that were going to be incredibly difficult.
Tom took Lily by the hand as the group of them now headed for the stairs. They all climbed them slowly while Jack ran ahead, excited to see his Donk, as Sybbie had convinced her little brother to call the Lord of the Grantham estate. Lady Grantham was much slower with stairs now as she grew old and stiff and Lily held the railing, her own centre of balance was greatly compromised at the present.
The group of them entered the room quietly as the doctor washed his hands in a bowl of steaming water that had been brought up for him. He looked at all the faces carefully as they entered. Cora stared only at the extremely pale face of the man lying on the bed. Jack ran to the edge of the bed and seemed confused that the old man did not stand up to scoop him up to play aeroplane with him. He looked up to his father, concerned by the situation.
When they had all gathered around the bed, the doctor cleared his throat and all others were silent.
"I am afraid it seems like the Earl has experienced a serious brain attack. What we refer to as a stroke. His condition has deteriorated rapidly, even in the time I have been here and I urge you to call in all family members who might like to say good bye. I fear he will not survive the night."
to be continued...
(aaahhhhh! It's good to be back. xo)