Hello everyone! Sorry it has taken a while for me to update. I've been dabbling in writing some new, none fanfic stories and it has taken me away from my writing time for fanfic, as well as traveling to visit some family. I hope to stay consistent with updates for If Love, since I am getting close to the end. Thank you for reading! AR
Chapter 78
Fall 1971
"Lord Grantham," the butler announced, as George walked into the library. Mary stood to greet her son. He walked toward her, kissing her cheek.
"He doesn't have to do that every time," George said. They both took their seats on the settee.
"Why not? You are the Earl."
"I don't know. I've only come inside. I come over almost every day. This is my home."
"Of course, it is." Mary glanced around the room, a sigh passing through her lips. "Will you and Amelia move in here when Anna and I are gone?"
George's lips fell into a frown.
"I don't like speaking of such things, Mother."
"Well, you do have to think of the future, George. Your future. This family's future."
"I do, often."
"And you must remain close with Pippa and with Johnny when we're gone."
"Mother, we're family. We'll always be close. I can promise you that."
Mary grasped his hand into hers.
"You are a family. Perhaps a bit unconventional, but a family nonetheless. I just need to know you three will continue to be together without Anna and me here."
"We always will."
Mary patted his hand.
"You've always been a good boy."
"About the Abbey," George then said. "I have been approached by a film company."
"Film company?"
"Yes, they want to use the Abbey and the surrounding areas in the future for possible films."
Mary pursed her lips together, not so sure.
"But I told them not right now," George quickly said. "It would confuse Aunt Anna. Maybe in a few years when…"
"When we're gone," Mary completed. "Yes. Once we're gone, you can do anything with this place that you want. Though, I hope you won't change it too much."
"I never would, Mother. We'll always live in this area. It's our home."
1950s- Downton Abbey
"I've packed everything you could need while you're away," Anna said, closing up Mary's bag.
"Aren't you coming?" Mary said. She closed the bedroom door, walking over to Anna. She sat at the edge of the bed, taking Anna's hand to draw her closer to her and forcing her to sit next to her.
"There's so much to be done around here."
"Darling, the Queen's coronation is a huge event. You don't want to miss it."
"It will be busy. You'll be expected to be at places I shouldn't attend. With me there, won't it up our risk of being caught?"
"No, I want you to come. Johnny and Molly are coming and bringing Jack. George, Amelia, and the boys. And even Pippa is going with Dennis. I think you should be there."
Anna closed her eyes, resting her head on Mary's shoulder. Mary brought her hand up to run along Anna's back, knowing the week had been a long one for her. She turned her head to kiss the top of Anna's crown.
"You're working much too hard, darling. Come along, as a vacation. Stay with Johnny and Molly. Or we can get you your own room for the week."
"That does sound lovely," Anna agreed. She sat up, smiling at Mary. "How long do you think it'll take Pippa to admit to herself that she likes Dennis?"
"Oh years," Mary said with a laugh. "In that regard, she takes after me, I'm afraid."
Anna leaned forward to give Mary a quick, chaste kiss.
"I love all the things she's gotten from you, her mother."
Mary's hand came up to cup Anna's cheek.
"And I love all the things she's gotten from you, her mama. She's gotten your beauty, you know." Anna's cheeks flushed and she tempted to turn her head away, but Mary pulled her back to her. "So beautiful."
"If I'm going, I should pack." Anna said, standing now. "We leave in the morning."
"Right. Oh, it's going to be fun."
London
Anna tried to lift Jack so he could get a better viewing of the event, but Johnny swooped him up and sat him onto his shoulders.
"You shouldn't lift him," Johnny said to her. "You'll hurt yourself. He's getting too heavy for you."
"I can handle it," Anna said. She reached up to brush her hand against Jack's knee.
"He really is heavy," Molly said. "He's a growing boy. I think he's going to be taller than Johnny at the rate he's going."
Anna smiled at that.
"He looks like John. He's taking after him in so many ways. He'll be a tall boy, that's for sure."
"Johnny showed me that picture of his father on your wedding day. We're framing it and putting it in the main room. But you're right, Jack favors his grandfather," Molly said brightly. "I think it's wonderful. Amazing how genetics work."
Cheers in the crowd began.
"It's time."
From across the crowd, Anna spotted both Pippa and Dennis. They had decided to go stand in a different area. Pippa was saying something to Dennis, hardly paying attention to the crowd around them and the excitement within them. Anna knew in that very moment that they would marry. There was no doubt in her mind then.
She tried to spot Mary, George, and the others. But they were all further upfront. Too many people stood around them, making it difficult to find anyone. Mary promised her they would do a special dinner the next night, just the two of them. Though, Anna didn't know how Mary planned on pulling it off. Everything was booked from so many people in London for the coronation.
Once the coronation was over, it took a while to make it back to the hotel where they were staying. By the time Anna made it back to her room, she felt she could soak her feet for hours and they would still feel worn.
She pulled off her dress and grabbed the robe the hotel gave her to place over her shoulders, realizing this was the first time in a very long while that she was staying at a place by herself. While Johnny, Molly, and Jack were just a floor below, she still was all by herself. It was…quiet. What would she do this evening all alone?
There came a knock at the door.
She went to it, only opening it slightly so that her head popped out. There was a bell hop standing on the other side with a tray.
"Anna Bates?"
"Yes."
"This is for you." He pushed it inside. "Enjoy." Then he walked away.
Anna glanced at the tray. There was a book on one edge, food in the middle, and a bottle of wine on the other side. There was also a note.
Darling,
Enjoy your evening. Prop your feet up, read a book, and just relax.
Love,
Your Love
Her lips curled up. Leave it to Mary to take such great care of her. She took the food off the tray, as well as the book, and went to sit on the bed. She would enjoy her evening to herself and look forward to her night coming up tomorrow with Mary.
-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-
Mary checked the time on the clock on the wall. She sighed. It was only nine, but it felt so much later. She hoped Anna enjoyed her surprise and was back at the hotel having a low-key evening. She wished she could be doing the same. But everyone was here, and as mother to the future earl, she was expected to be here as well. She had to smile and speak to important people.
"Isn't this wonderful," Edith asked, taking a glass of champagne from one of the servers.
"It's fine I guess," Mary said. Next to her, Sybil frowned.
"It is a bit tiresome."
"Yes," Mary agreed.
"But it's a date in history that we get to be a part of," Edith reminded both of her sisters. Mary forced herself to smile. She had made it a point to try and not huff at everything her sister said lately. Anna told her she should be nicer, so she was trying. Over the past couple of decades, they had gotten a long much better than they did when they were younger. She felt her sister moving away helped.
"It is," Sybil said. "But I think Tom and I are going to head back to where we're staying for the night. Then back to Ireland in the morning."
"So soon?" Mary asked.
"Work," Sybil said.
"Right." Mary sighed. She would miss Sybil, and even Edith. They didn't see one another that much, only a couple times in a year. And it seemed the older they got, the less they found reasons to see each other. Their children were grown. Life kept changing. "How about the three of us meet up next month for a weekend somewhere?"
"All of us?" Edith asked, surprised.
"Why not? We should try to plan a weekend for just us once a year. We are sisters, are we not?"
"Oh, that sounds lovely," Sybil said. "I'm in."
"Yes, me too."
"Great."
"Ah, there are my daughters," Robert said, walking up to them. "We're having a picture made. No complaining. It's what your mama wants. Just the five of us. Come on."
They walked around to the front of the building where their mother had found a photographer from the event to take their picture. Little did they know that it would be their last time of the five of them together and that they would cherish that they got that photo together.
-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-
"You haven't told me where we are going," Anna said, as they walked down the alleyway. Anna kept looking behind her, afraid someone might be following them. It was dark where they walked. The only light came from dim lights over backway doors.
"Trust me, darling," Mary said. She wrapped her arm around Anna's, before tapping on a door. A small slot opened. "Bristles." The slot closed and then the door was opened. Mary pulled Anna inside.
At first, there was nothing to see. It was just a small room. The man, who had let them in, showed them where to go. Anna felt her stomach flip. Where had Mary taken her?
But as they entered through the next door, music surrounded them. Anna saw couples dancing. It was warm and inviting. It took her a moment to process that all the couples were same sex couples. She'd never been somewhere like this before. Of course, she had heard of them and knew that sometimes Thomas went to them. But she nor Mary had ever dared.
"We can't be here," Anna whispered. "What if the police show up?"
"They won't," Mary promised. She tugged her further into the room and over to a booth. "I had them set us up a special place. This place moves every couple of nights. It has a very strict entrance policy."
"But what if…."
Mary placed her finger over Anna's lips to hush her.
"We won't be found out. I made sure it was safe. Just for one night, I wanted us to be a regular couple. In here, we can be. Now come on, darling, dance with me."
Anna took Mary's hand and allowed her to take her to the dance floor. At first, Anna was nervous. They didn't take risks like these. The most they did was dinner out together, but never in Downton. And even then, they looked only like two friends eating together, not lovers. Mary brought her closer to her, breaking her thoughts.
"Just enjoy, darling."
By the second song, Anna relaxed. For the evening, they didn't worry about anyone around them, because everyone around them was doing the same. They danced, laughed, and ate together. Then Mary joined Anna back at her room for the evening.
"Won't your family wonder where you are?" Anna asked, as they climbed into bed.
"I told them I had plans with Pippa," Mary said. "Pippa knows to cover for me."
"Naughty."
Mary gave a wicked grin.
"I'd like to show you just how naughty I really am." She bent down, tugging on Anna's gown. "Darling, let me show you just how much I love you."
When they awoke the next morning, Anna felt Mary cuddle into her. She let out a pleased sigh.
"I really did enjoy last night."
"Me too, darling."
Downton Abbey
Soon after they returned to Downton, tragedy struck and they lost Robert Crawley to a heart attack. Sadness fell over the town. But with sadness came the celebration of the new Earl: George Crawley, the new Lord Grantham.
To be continued...
As always, thanks for reading.
