Thank you all for your continued support. Chapter 39! Wow. Your support helps keep it going. It does have an end, but that end is still a fair bit away. Enjoy!

Chapter 39

Spring 1971

"Mother?" Mary turned her head and was pleased to see George entering the small beach house. The boys had come to visit a few times over the week. She thought it showed great care that they had taken the time to make the long drive to visit with them when they would be back at Downton soon enough. But all of the children knew how important the beach was. Pippa and her girls stayed with them. Even though the house was cramped with them all in it, Mary wouldn't change it for the world. Every moment with her family was precious.

"Yes, darling," Mary greeted. George stepped in and kissed her cheek. In his hands he held a pastry box. Mary's brows rose happily. "And what have you got there?"

"A cake," he simply answered. "I know you travel to the beach each summer to celebrate your and Aunt Anna's anniversary. I thought since you came early, perhaps we should do it earlier, just in case you don't make it out to the beach again."

Tears flooded Mary's eyes. She quickly wiped the edge of her eyelid with her thumb and smiled up at her son. Her fingertips touched George's jawline and she sighed. He was such a sweet man. She knew he got that from Matthew and Anna.

"That's a good idea," she whispered. "Though I do plan to make it to the beach this summer too."

George winked. "I know you do. But two celebrations never hurt anyone, did it?" Mary grinned.

"No, it didn't."

1920s Downton Abbey

Mrs. Hughes was quiet. Anna noticed that there seemed to be a bit of tension between her and Mr. Carson, though Anna couldn't quite put her finger on what was causing it. Their wedding date was coming up and she knew they were both thrilled. She also knew that Pippa being in the wedding wasn't it either. Mr. Carson adored Pippa, as though she was an extension to Mary. Much like he did with Mary, he let Pippa have whatever she wanted.

But something was going on.

After lunch, Anna followed Mrs. Hughes back to her parlor. The woman hadn't even noticed; she was so caught up in her own thoughts. Anna knocked on the edge of the parlor door and Mrs. Hughes quickly swerved around, shocked by the sound. When she saw it was Anna, her lips curled up into a warm smile.

"Oh Anna, come on in. Is everything alright?" Anna closed the door and nodded.

"Yes, I am doing just fine. I…well, actually, I've come to check on you. You seem a bit down in the mouth."

Mrs. Hughes touched the corners of her lips, as though what Anna was saying was more than just an expression. Then she sighed.

"It's nothing to bother anyone with," Mrs. Hughes shook her head.

"Has Mr. Carson said something to upset you?" Anna treaded carefully.

"Not said, really…." Mrs. Hughes took a pregnant pause. It seemed Mrs. Hughes was trying to be delicate with her words, as though what she might say could be told to the wrong person.

"I don't gossip with Lady Mary," Anna quickly told her. "The Downstairs remains downstairs." And that was true, to an extent. When Anna heard anything of a delicate manner, she didn't run upstairs to tell Mary. She would share things that directly impacted her, but otherwise it was kept to herself. She knew the importance of people having their space to say what they needed to say. Anna would never compromise that.

Mrs. Hughes gathered her hands in her lap.

"Lady Mary has kindly offered that we hold our reception in any of the rooms upstairs and Mr. Carson does not want to go against her wishes."

"Oh," Anna's lips curled into an O, before a chuckle left her lips and she shook her head. "Lady Mary was only offering. I assure you that she only wants you to have a wonderful day. Is that not what you want?"

"Well, no, I would like a day where we are not the servants. It is our wedding day."

"Of course. Lady Mary adores you both," Anna then said. Mrs. Hughes made a face implying that Mary did not adore her, but Anna pushed on. "She does. I know she would want you both to do whatever makes your day special to you. Let me speak with her."

Mrs. Hughes face blanched and she shook her head. "No, this is why I didn't want to tell you. I don't want to seem as though I'm using your…situation in my favor."

"She won't even know it's come from you. I can have her speak about it and then question if she's sure it's what you want."

Mrs. Hughes let out a long breath. "Oh, alright."

-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-

"I wish I could have come along with you and the children to see the pigs," Anna said, walking up to Mary and helping her unbutton her tan jacket. As she tugged it over Mary's arms, she placed the jacket on the edge of the bed. Mary studied her face in the mirror and sighed.

"It was a lovely visit. George and Johnny counted the pigs and started naming them. I believe the top contender was Stinky," Mary rolled her eyes and then laughed. "Pippa, well, I had to try and keep her from climbing in with them. Marigold was more timid, watching from afar. But then….." Mary paused. "We saw Mrs. Drewe. She was so thrilled to see Marigold. It was quite heartbreaking, really. Mama kept pressuring that we should leave for luncheon, when Mrs. Drewe just wanted to see her."

Anna began to slip her necklace up and over Mary's neck. Mary's hand caught Anna's and she met her eyes.

"I'm finding it hard to forgive Edith and I'm not even the one that she's hurt," Mary admitted. Her eyes had darkened with sadness. "It's just as I watched the two of them interact, I saw how Marigold adored Mrs. Drewe. It reminded me of how Pippa is with me. I couldn't imagine…."

"You won't lose Pippa," Anna assured her.

"I know that," Mary strongly answered, as she started to unbutton her own top and slide it off. "I just don't understand how Edith can't see it. Marigold is her daughter, but doesn't she see how Marigold also loves Mrs. Drewe? Couldn't there be a way for Marigold to have them both in her life?"

"These are not questions for us to answer, Mary," Anna wisely said. It wasn't that she didn't agree with Mary, but only that she knew they had no control over the situation.

Anna walked over to the wardrobe and pulled Mary's dress out for dinner. Generally, Anna would have already had it set out for the day, but today she was running behind on getting things together.

She helped Mary place it on and then ran her fingers down the length of Mary's bare arms. Mary shivered and smiled.

"Has anything else come up today?"

"Like what, darling?"

"Oh, the wedding! Mr. Carson and Mrs. Hughes," Anna slid into the conversation.

"Ah, yes." This made Mary brighten. "Papa mentioned decorating the Servant's Hall, could you imagine? Mr. Carson and Mrs. Hughes have worked here for decades and Papa wants them to celebrate their reception downstairs. So I offered them any room upstairs."

"That was kind," Anna replied. Mary smiled. "But are we sure that is what Mrs. Hughes wants? You see, as a servant, sometimes it is quite nice to have that special day outside of the house, a day that is only yours."

"Hum, I hadn't quite thought of it like that," Mary stated. She tugged on her gloves. "Mr. Carson didn't mention that."

"Well, love, he would do anything that makes you happy. I doubt he would say anything he thought might upset you. Perhaps, you should tell him that you want Mrs. Hughes and him to decide what they want, or more specifically what Mrs. Hughes wants."

Mary chuckled, "You're right, darling. Her choice does matter the most here. I'll speak with him after supper"

Mary turned to face Anna and she moved forward, brushing her nose against Anna's cheek. Anna let out a shuddering breath, her heart starting to race. But then Mary pulled away, since she did need to get downstairs.

"I'll see you soon," Mary winked. Then she escaped out the door.

-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-

"It's a kind offer, m'lady," Carson told Mary.

"But is it what you want? Or what Mrs. Hughes wants?" Carson's cheeks went a bit red, as he cleared his throat. "You don't have to hold your reception here, Carson. It was only an offer. I want you both to have your dream day. When you love a woman, you want her happiness above all else." A smile crept on her lips as her mind went to Anna. Her fingers touched the spot right below her ear and she sighed contently.

"Of course, m'lady," Carson gruffly responded. "I do very much."

"Good, then it's settled. You and Mrs. Hughes will hold your reception wherever makes you happy. I look forward to attending it."

-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-

"And it went well?" Anna questioned, a yawn leaving her lips. She felt dead to her feet today. Mary curled around her and tugged her into her arms.

"It did," she whispered into Anna's ear. "You will be coming to the pig show tomorrow, right? Though if you're tired, darling, perhaps you should stay here and rest."

"I wouldn't miss it. The children are so excited."

Anna felt Mary's lips curl up against her skin.

"We get to spend the day with our children out in the open tomorrow," Mary gleamed. "Not that anyone else will know, but we will."

"We will," Anna agreed.

-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-

Mary scanned the show as she heard the commotion around them. It seemed that Marigold had gone missing. She gathered George into her arms and took Pippa's hand. The little girl protested, reaching out toward the pigs.

"Darling, come on. Nah-nah and Johnny have already walked around here." The girl's eyes widened and she jumped up, searching for Johnny and Anna. When she saw them, she unlatched her fingers from Mary's and rushed toward them. Her little hands grabbed at Johnny's and she beamed.

"They think she's with Mrs. Drewe," Anna quietly explained to Mary. Mary nodded. That had been her thought as well.

"Will you watch the children for me?" Mary placed George next to Anna and patted his head.

Mary sighed then and quickly turned in search of Edith. She needed to speak with her sister before she did something she regretted. Though she and Edith didn't always get along, she did love her sister. And in this case, she wanted to help her.

When she found her, Mary quickened her steps. She moved to where Edith couldn't walk away, causing her sister to loudly sigh in frustration.

"I need to go," Edith said.

"Not yet," Mary replied, stubbornly. "You are my sister, Edith, and so I would like to offer you some sisterly advice."

Edith's arms crossed firmly over her chest.

"Don't go to Mrs. Drewe and cause a scene. Be gentle and don't just snatch Marigold back. Mrs. Drewe loves Marigold and Marigold loves her. Think of them both. Do this carefully, maybe….think of a way to make this whole transition better for Marigold. Perhaps, she could even stay the night with the Drewes every so often."

Edith's brows knitted together and her lips curled into an unhappy frown. "Spend the night? Are you mad? Mrs. Drewe has kidnapped my dau…my ward. I will not…."

"Please, Edith, I ask that you think about what I say. Do it for Marigold. This all must be so traumatic for her. I can't imagine if someone took Pippa from me and I…"

"That's enough of your help, Mary. I have to go. Goodbye."

Mary watched helplessly as her sister rushed off to get in the car to head to the Drewes' farm. She twisted her lips and shook her head. Maybe if there wasn't so much animosity between the two of them she could have helped her listen.

Instead of dwelling on it, Mary walked back over to Anna and the children. They were peering back at the pigs and Pippa was in Anna's arms.

"Did she try to sneak in with the pigs again?" Mary asked, giggling.

"She did. She gets that adventurous spirit from you," Anna said, meeting Mary's eyes. They stared at one another for a long moment and then Mary gathered both the boys' hands in her own.

"Come on, why don't we take the long way back."

"Yes, that sounds lovely."

To be continued...