Hello everyone! Thank you for your continued support! I do hope you continue to enjoy this story. There is one scene where the lines are directly taken from the show, I believe you'll know it when you see it. Thanks again! - AlexisRose
Chapter 15
1920s- Downton Abbey
There was nothing quite so pure as the time Mary and Anna had with their boys when they were outside away from everything else. In these moments, they could eat and chat and enjoy Johnny and George without input from anyone.
This particular afternoon, George was sleeping peacefully in his pram as they munched on their bread and cheese. Johnny was gathering the flowers that had popped up around them and bunching them in his hands. These really were the moments.
"Here, Mary," Johnny said with his little lisp, pushing the bunch of flowers out to Mary. Mary smiled gathering them from him and then lifting Johnny into her lap.
"Oh Johnny, how sweet!" Mary gushed.
"But Johnny, you should call her Lady Mary," Anna corrected. Even though out here they were merely Anna and Mary, not Lady and maid, Anna felt Johnny was too young for the distinction. For now, it was best he was taught how to say it properly. Back in the house and out in public, there were certain expectations.
"I've been thinking about that," Mary said, brushing her hand over Johnny's blonde locks. "And he shouldn't call me Lady Mary. I think he should call me Aunt Mary."
Anna furrowed her brows. "But Mary, I'm not sure that's proper." Mary only shrugged her shoulders, as she continued to dote on Johnny.
"Johnny and I are close, Anna. Sybbie calls me Aunt Mary, why shouldn't he? It's a term of endearment. It's what I want."
Anna pursed her lips in thought before she nodded, "Alright. If that's your wish."
"It is. George will call you Aunt Anna. We are more than what this house sees of us, Anna. You and I are friends, we're closer than I am to either of my sisters."
That was true. Mary and Edith never did get along. And while Anna knew that Mary adored Sybil, they weren't the type of sisters who could sit around and talk about anything on their minds. Plus, Sybil had already begun her own life outside of the home. Sure she visited daily, but her life was with Tom and Sybbie. Life was changing all around them each day.
George began to fuss, so Anna stood and lifted him from the pram. He immediately settled against her, cooing.
"See, George adores his Aunt Anna," Mary said, glancing up at her.
Anna's lips pressed against the top of George's head. She did love George. Over the past several months she had spent many hours a day with him. In many ways, he and Johnny were being raised as brothers and not Master and the maid's boy. As she had promised, Johnny was treated and raised as one of her own. He was given more than Anna could have imagined in life.
"Let's walk around the pond before heading back," Anna suggested. Mary nodded. She placed Johnny beside her and had him help her load up the picnic basket.
The picnic basket was placed in the pram and they left it in its spot, while the four of them went around the path around the pond. Johnny enjoyed pausing to point out the fish he saw and the ducks.
"I see them, darling," Mary said, bending down to his level. Anna watched on and smiled. She was so grateful that her son was loved so much by others.
Mary stood back up and was now next to Anna with Johnny in front of them. They glanced at one another and before either could explain it, they were both leaning in and their lips met. Neither jerked away, but their eyes did open and they slowly stepped back.
"You once told me that heartbreak makes one do strange things," Mary then said, bringing her fingers up to touch her lips.
"That's right," Anna quietly agreed. "You and I have suffered enough heartbreak for two lifetimes." Mary nodded.
"It's comfort," Mary added.
"Yes, it is."
The two remained there a moment more, before they continued back to the Abbey. When they reached the front door, Robert was standing there waiting. Anna only gathered the children and walked them upstairs, leaving Mary alone with her father.
-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-
"Yes, Papa?" Mary questioned, as he led her into the empty library. Her father sighed. Mary braced herself for some comment about spending too much time with Anna, but she was not prepared for what came out of her father's lips.
"There is a letter for you, from Matthew."
Her entire body tensed and she inhaled sharply.
"Where was it?" She could feel the tears forming behind her eyes. A final letter from Matthew. There were words she hadn't read from the man she loved most in the word that were for her.
"Hidden in a book in the office, so it was overlooked." Her father handed her the folded up letter.
"Who opened it?" These were words for her.
"It wasn't sealed," her father explained. Mary glanced up.
"But you've read it before me?" Mary wanted to say more. There was some anger at her father for reading something that was sacred and for her. But she was too anxious to know what words were held within her hand. Her final message from Matthew.
"Yes," her father simply answered. "And I would have sent it to Murray to have it looked into, but your grandmother insisted you should see it first."
"Granny's read it, too?" Was nothing hers to have alone? "And what do you mean 'have it looked into'?"
"Read it and then you'll understand," her father said. He gave her a solemn smile. "He really did love you, Mary."
It was then that one of the tears fell. She could only nod to her father.
"I'll leave you alone with your letter."
He walked out of the room and left Mary by herself, as promised. She kept the letter in her hands and slowly took a seat in one of the chairs. Her heart clinched within her chest and she found that she was terrified to open it, because once the words were read that would be it. They could no longer be new again.
But she finally brought herself to read the words that Matthew so lovingly wrote down and his wishes for her to be his heiress. It only magnified how much he had loved her and a sob passed through her lips.
-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-
"Mary?" Anna worried, finding Mary clutching the small dog and letter in her hands. She was sitting on the edge of her bed with dried tear tracks on her cheeks. "What's happened?"
But Mary couldn't reply. She handed the letter to Anna, who gingerly took it. She read over the words and gasped.
"Oh, Mary," she whispered, sitting beside her. "This is wonderful. I should have known that Matthew would have done such a thing for you. He loved you so much and he would want to make sure you were taken care of and that he would want you to do your part for this place."
Mary met Anna's eyes and she took in a shaky breath.
"Papa wants to run this place on his own. What do you think?"
"I think you should be a part of it, much like Matthew did." Mary nodded, holding the stuffed dog tighter.
"I think I'll set this on my vanity to remind me that Matthew is on my side."
"He is," Anna agreed. "And your family is too. They love you, Mary. They will learn over time that you can hold your own when it comes to making decisions for Downton. I know your father will give you a hard time, but that in the end, he'll realize you were right."
That made Mary smile. Before she knew it, she was leaning forward and pressing her lips against Anna's. It came so naturally to her.
"I…" Mary shuddered, leaning back slightly. But Anna only gathered her hand into hers and gave it a quick squeeze.
"We can all use some comfort now and then," Anna simply replied. She then stood from the bed and turned to the window. Her thoughts went to Mr. Molesley, who she had seen working hard on the road earlier that morning.
"Anna? Where have you gone just now?"
"Nothing to bother you with. You have plenty on your plate and I need to go and rock Johnny for his nap."
But Mary stopped her, standing and meeting her gaze. "Please tell me."
"It's only about poor Mr., Molesley." And so Anna told Mary about how the man had debts he couldn't pay and how the loss of his position with Matthew had also turned his world upside down.
"Don't worry about a thing," Mary said. "I will make sure this is taken care of in the most discrete of ways. He won't even know the money has come from us."
-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-
Anna seemed to be right. Many of her family were on her side, Granny had her over to her house and spoke with her about taking care of Downton. It was Granny's idea to have Tom to assist her with this task. It did make sense, Tom knew some of Matthew's ideas for Downton that she did not. He could show her things that Matthew knew needed to be tended to. He could give her a Matthew's eye of the estate.
Ever since getting Matthew's letter, Mary found that she was often near tears. The letter had spurred something within her. She had begun to move forward in life, but this made her just ache for Matthew. She wanted him by her side and she wanted to be doing this with him. Tom was a great man, a great brother-in-law, but he would never be Matthew.
After Tom took her around the property and told her the things he and Matthew had spoken about, Mary felt more prepared to do what she must. It was something she was passionate about. This was her home and most importantly, it would be George's one day. She wanted to ensure that she kept Downton Abbey moving with the times, but that it still held what made it Downton. She knew that would be a difficult balance, but Tom could be helpful in that way.
But she also wanted help, more ideas. She had a plan.
When she reached the bedroom, Anna was already in there. She was sitting in one of the chairs reading a book. This was how she found Anna often now and then. It made Mary smile. Anna was no longer a worker when she entered this room. No, this was now Anna's room as well.
"Anna," Mary said, pulling her from her thoughts.
"Yes,Mary," Anna asked. She was always so good at changing between Mary and m'lady. Anna knew how to play the game well, better than she did. This life was growing harder and harder to follow. When Matthew had been alive, she had been able to fall back into it in many ways. But with him gone, she often wondered what the point of it all was.
"I want you to help me," Mary told her.
"Sure, what do you need? Mending of a dress?"
Mary smiled. "You'll be my ear, Anna. I want to discuss first with you my plans for Downton and I need you to tell me what you think of them. When we go out on picnics with the children, you and I must also think of the future this place will one day hold. You are also to inform me of any ideas you think of, Anna."
"Me?"
"Of course you. You are my dearest friend and confidant." Mary touched Anna's hand.
"Alright," Anna whispered. Mary leaned forward, nearly kissing Anna again. It was now almost something she felt she needed to do whenever they were near one another. But a door shut down the hallway and Mary jumped back.
"Oh, and I have spoken to Granny. We have plans for Mr. Molesley. His debts have been covered and she is going to try and find a new position for him," Mary explained.
Anna smiled brightly at that. "You really did all that?"
"Well, yes, of course I did. Mr. Molesley was Matthew's valet and he is a good man. Also, I have to admit that I didn't like to see you so upset," Mary added. She stepped closer to Anna. "You're my friend, Anna."
"I know," she replied, shyly.
Mary realized then that Anna's hand was still within hers. She squeezed it once more, before dropping her hand and took in a deep breath.
"You should probably help me get ready for dinner, apparently Isobel and Granny are coming by."
"Yes, m'lady," but Anna said this with a silly smile which only made Mary laugh. Yes, Anna truly was her best friend.
Fall 1970
The door of Downton Abbey opened to reveal her daughter. Mary smiled at the beautiful woman before her. Her daughter was her own person and had always been. The women was eccentric. Her dark curly locks were pulled into an untidy updo and she held a pen behind her ear. As she moved to the side, her three girls walked in, each kissing Mary on the cheek. The smallest, Violet, paused and gave Mary a hug around the waist.
"Hello, darling," Mary murmured, patting her granddaughter's plaited hair. Her daughter always made sure her girls were dressed nicely. They were well behaved children, all of her grandchildren were. But these girls were raised by her daughter and so they all held a bit of her in them.
"Mother," her daughter then said, hugging Mary. "I'm terribly sorry we have missed the last two family dinners. Dennis had us all on an adventure to Egypt. But how are you feeling?"
It was then that Mary noticed the smudge of dirt on her daughter's cheek. That only made her smile. It was Mary who had encouraged her daughter to be herself and that meant digging around in the dirt to discover the world. Both she and her husband were archeologists, who often took their children with them on their adventures.
"I'm fine. Did George's call bring you home early from your trip?"
"No," her daughter promised. "We were scheduled to arrive yesterday, anyway. I don't like being away long now…" her words faded, but Mary knew what she meant. All of the children and grandchildren seemed to be around more now that Anna was ill. And now Mary wondered if they'd be over even more with the new information about her own illness.
"I really am fine," Mary promised her daughter. "I know you worry about me, but the doctor is wrong. I don't plan on going anywhere anytime soon."
"Yes, George told me you said the same thing," her daughter chuckled.
Mary insisted they walk inside. They went into the living room where the girls were gathered around Anna, listening to a story. Upon them entering, Anna glanced up and a soft smile grew on her face.
"Pippa." Anna was elated. Pippa rushed to Anna's side and kissed her cheek, before wrapping her arm around her shoulders.
"Hello, Mama."
To be continued...
And here we have the end of Part 1. Part two will be up very soon, so you won't have to wait too long. Thanks for reading! :)
