As always, thank you so much for your support!
Chapter 70
1940s- London
Mary's lips couldn't help but curl up into a smile as she felt Anna's lips caress the nook between her neck and shoulder. Anna drew Mary closer towards her, her stomach pressed against her back.
"Well, this is a good morning, darling," Mary said. She closed her eyes, reveling in being with her lover in their hotel room alone.
The two of them had remained in this room together by themselves for nearly twenty-four hours, only opening the door for room service. All week, they'd traveled around London, making a show of it. They did dinners and shows. But for their last couple of days, they decided to just enjoy being with one another. This was something they couldn't do at Downton- just lay in bed with one another without having to worry about being found out.
"We should do this again, soon," Mary then added. She turned around so their noses could touch. Anna nuzzled her nose lovingly against Mary's cheek before pressing a kiss to the corner of her mouth.
"That does sound nice," Anna agreed.
"I don't want to go back to Downton," Mary groaned. "I want our lives to be like this, like it was this week."
Anna ran her hand through Mary's hair, twisting a strand over her finger.
"But we had this week," she reminded her. "You and I have built this beautiful life for one another. One day, maybe people in the world will understand."
Mary smiled at Anna's ever optimism.
"Maybe," Mary agreed.
"And I don't regret it. We get these special moments where it's just us or us and our children. The people who need to know, do. It can only grow from there."
Mary took the opportunity to turn Anna onto her back before swinging her leg up and over so she could straddle her. She bent down to kiss the tip of Anna's nose.
"There was a time I worried this would become less appealing for us as we aged, but darling, I still can never get enough of you."
"Even with my gray hairs that have begun to show?" Anna asked. Mary's lips kissed along the edge of Anna's jawline.
"Darling, don't you know I love every inch of you? Why don't I show you right now? We still have a few hours before we have to head to the station."
Downton Abbey
Even though a war was still raging on, time continued to move forward. Anna had a hard time connecting the two worlds. It had been very different with the first war when there had been soldiers kept at the Abbey who needed tending. Here, in their little oasis, it was quiet and still. Sure, there were signs of the war around them, but they were still quite protected here.
If it weren't for George, whom they loved so much, off at war, they may have been relatively unaffected. But that fear etched within their bones. That was felt along the Abbey. Everyone wanted him to come home soon.
"Mrs. Bates?" Mary asked across the hallway. Anna paused her steps. Her lips quirked slightly, still finding it silly when Mary called her that.
"Yes, Lady Mary?"
"Could you please find my new black shoes?" Mary quickened her steps to get closer to Anna. Anna tried to recall the shoes Mary was speaking of. Most of Mary's shoes were black.
"I'm not sure which shoes you're referring to, m'lady."
"I just needed an excuse to speak with you," Mary then said under her breath. She glanced around, worried someone may be nearby and could overhear.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing is wrong. It's just…." Again, her eyes moved around the long hallway. "Maybe we should speak in the bedroom."
Anna followed Mary down the hallway and into her room. Mary waited until the door was closed to let out a long sigh.
"My parents are coming too."
"What?"
"To Pippa's graduation next week."
"Well, of course they are," Anna chuckled. Mary seemed to be making this a much bigger deal than Anna deemed it necessary. "They've played the role of Pippa's grandparents her entire life. Why wouldn't they come to her graduation from the university?"
"Oh, I don't know." Again, Mary sighed. "I guess I should have known they would want to come. I'd just hoped…." Mary chewed down on the corner of her lip. "You only get to see your daughter graduate from a university once in your life, Anna. She's the first girl in a long line of Crawleys."
"What about Sybbie?" Anna asked, slightly amused. Mary brushed her hand in the way.
"Alright, yes, Sybbie was our first girl. She paved the way and all that. But Pippa is our first child to graduate. And with Mama and Papa there, I worry you won't get to experience it in the way you'd like to. We'll have to ride separately on the train. And when it comes time to take pictures and…."
Anna placed her hands over Mary's.
"Years ago, you and I decided that you would take in Pippa and raise her as your own. With that comes situations like these. I am thrilled your parents love our Pippa so much that they want to be there to celebrate with her on her achievements."
Mary relaxed a little.
"Now, don't worry about me. Pippa will know I am there to see her. She'll know you are there. Her grandparents. Her brother." They grew quiet for a moment, knowing that George would not be able to come.
"How are you so wonderful, darling?" Mary asked, making the blush begin on Anna's cheeks.
"I ought to get downstairs." Anna gave Mary a wink before pulling her hands to bring her closer to her. Her lips met Mary's. "I love you."
"And I love you."
The University
"You'd think with all the money we've sent to this university that we could have better seats than these," Robert grumbled under his breath. Mary rolled her eyes, just shaking her head.
"Keep going, Papa. We have plenty of people who need to sit down. This is Pippa's special day."
"I know, and isn't it wonderful?" Cora asked. Mary had to smile at that. It was hard to remember how Cora had been when she'd first brought Pippa home. Because now her Mama and Papa only beamed when they thought of Pippa, often telling all of their friends about her when they spoke of all the accomplishments of all their grandchildren. They did, however, skirt around the parentage of Pippa.
They sat down. Mary sat opposite of Anna in the row. Her hand ached to hold Anna's. This was the moment the two of them should be sharing together. But with her parents here, they kept further apart. Johnny and Molly sat next to Anna. Mary met her lover's eyes. The woman smiled, waving and giving her a knowing wink. They'd done this. They'd raised an independent, strong woman.
When the ceremony began announcing names, Mary quickly noted how few women there were being named. Sybbie had gone to an all-women's school and so it wasn't until this moment that Mary realized what all Pippa had been against at this school. Not that Pippa ever cared. She loved the challenge.
"Philippa Annette Lefebvre."
Mary clapped so hard that she was sure her hands would be red for days. Over the heads of the others, she and Anna met eyes again. She could tell Anna's eyes were filled with happy tears. Hers were as well. The pride bloomed in her chest for their daughter.
-X-X-X-X-X-X-
"Must we take so many pictures?" Pippa asked with a loud sigh.
"My dear girl, you have made us so proud!" Robert told her. "Also, I have you a gift."
Pippa looked expectantly, lifting her eyebrows. Robert was always spoiling the children. He held out a thick envelope.
"Papa, surely you aren't…." But before Mary could finish her statement, Pippa was gasping at the amount of pounds Robert had stuffed inside the envelope.
"Buy yourself loads of books," Robert told her. "Never stop learning."
"Thank you, Donk!" She quickly hugged him, kissing his cheek. She then turned to give Cora a hug. "And thank you too."
"So what comes next?" Cora asked of Pippa.
"Oh, yes!" Pippa said. "I haven't told any of you yet."
Mary's ears perked up. She looked around for Anna, but Anna, Johnny, and Molly had gone over to the reception area to allow Mary's family to have the first congratulations of the day.
"I'm going to Egypt!"
Mary's head spun around so quickly that she worried she'd feel it for weeks.
"What?!" she breathed.
"Yes, my professor has invited me along on an apprenticeship. It will help me continue my studies. I hope to one day become a doctor of archeology."
"More school? Egypt? But Pippa…" Mary tried to get in a word edge-wise. However, her parents took over. They doted on Pippa, telling her how all of that sounded absolutely wonderful. Mary's head spun. She was just supposed to be alright with sending her daughter and youngest child far away.
"We're in the middle of a war," Mary then broke in strongly. "Surely it isn't safe."
"Mother," Pippa shook her head. "We'll be out in the middle of nowhere. You don't have to worry about us." Pippa went back to speaking with her grandparents.
Mary turned on her heel, quickly making her way to Anna, who was speaking with Johnny and Molly. She wrapped her hand around Anna's upper arm and pulled her with her to a corner of the room.
"Lady Mary?"
"She's leaving for Egypt!" Mary said, exasperated.
"What are you talking about?"
"Pippa, she just announced it to Mama, Papa, and me. She is planning on going to Egypt with some professor."
Anna looked over Mary's shoulder at Pippa.
"She has always had big aspirations, Mary," Anna's voice was calm.
"How are you not worried?"
Anna's lips curled into a soft smile.
"I always worry about the children when they aren't with us, but this is Pippa's life now. She's an adult. She's a graduate. We don't get to make these decisions for any of them. We have to trust we did our job."
Mary took in a deep breath. It reminded her of how steady Anna had been when Johnny came home married.
"I guess you're right."
"Of course I am," Anna winked.
-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-
Anna had to admit that she was wary of sending her daughter so far away from them. But she and Mary had raised all three children to be strong and independent. As she told Mary, they had to let their children make their own choices now.
"Sorry, I didn't mean for you not to find out from me," Pippa said, kissing Anna's cheek.
"Don't worry about that. This professor…?"
"He and his wife have invited me along. Well, not just me, a few other students as well."
Anna relaxed some.
"Oh, that sounds nice."
"It'll be hard work. I'll live in a tent most of the time, but it'll be an adventure. I won't mind it."
"No, I'm sure you won't. I'm proud of you, Pippa."
"Thank you, Mama."
-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-
Mary had been able to finagle it for Anna and her to stay an extra night. They took Pippa out to dinner and spoke with her about her future plans. After hearing more about all the plans, Mary felt better about it all.
The next day, she and Anna rode back on the train together. They discussed Pippa's upcoming trip to Egypt, Johnny's recent studies, and their letters from George.
When they arrived at the Abbey, Thomas was standing right outside ready to greet them. Anna got out first from the front seat, but then waited for Mary. The moment Mary stepped out, she noted the worry on Thomas's face.
"Barrow?"
"You've received a telegram."
Mary took the telegram from Thomas. Her body shook.
"I'm so sorry, m'lady."
"Mary?" Anna whispered, holding onto her back.
"He's missing. George is missing in action."
Fall 1971
Sometimes as Anna slept, Mary would just lay there, watching her. She brought her hand out, brushing the hairs that had fallen out of her face. She missed their conversations they used to have in bed. They'd been able to talk about anything and laugh together.
Mary inched forward, pressing a soft kiss to the tip of Anna's nose. Tears stung her eyes. It was happening faster now. She didn't know how much longer she would get with Anna. And at the same time, every day she missed her. She missed being with Anna. Because Anna wasn't here, not really, not anymore.
A hot tear slid down her cheek.
"Aunt Mary?"
Mary sat up, wiping her cheek with the back of her hand. Maebh walked in with a tray.
"Here are your food and medicines. You have to take care of yourself, too."
Maebh placed the tray over Mary's lap. She lifted up the small cup with Mary's medicines she needed to take. Quickly, Mary lifted the cup and took her medicine. It had become much easier over time.
"What would happen if I stopped taking all these medicines, Maebh?"
Maebh shifted uncomfortably on her feet.
"Aunt Mary…"
Mary waved her hand.
"Forget I asked, Maebh. Thank you for bringing my food. When will you bring Anna's?"
"Whenever she wakes, just ring the bell."
Mary nodded. She took a sip of the tea. Her eyes turned back to Anna.
"I'll always be here, right by your side." She promised. "Always."
To be continued...
