Passage – Chapter 4
"It is quite exciting, isn't it, Father."
"That it is, George," Matthew replied as the train came to a full stop.
They all rose then and began filing out of the carriage car, joining the throng of people headed for the White Star terminal where they would meet the Bates.
Matthew paused for a moment to offer Mary his arm and Victoria his hand. However, his daughter politely refused it, accepting instead her grandfather's outstretched palm.
"I'm going to miss him, Father," she offered by way of apology for her rejection.
"That is completely understandable, Victoria. No hard feelings," he replied with a smile.
George then followed suit, offering his grandmother his arm, which she took quickly, beaming at her first grandson.
It was then that Matthew noticed a familiar face in the crowd. At first, he convinced himself that the tall, handsome man with the swarthy complexion, dark eyes and boarding passes in his hand just resembled the one who had wooed his wife while she believed him dead. That stopped his stomach from doing somersaults for a few seconds. However, once he got a good look at the woman standing beside him, there was no doubt of his identity.
Turning to Mary he said, "Darling, I'm not sure if you will consider this a bad omen or not but it appears Tony and Mabel Foyle will be crossing the Atlantic with us."
XX
May 11th – Ocean Dock, Southampton
Matthew couldn't remember the last time, if ever, he had seen his wife appear so utterly astonished by something he had said. She appeared gobsmacked by the news, her eyes wide and mouth hanging half open as her brain processed the unpleasant information that he had relayed to her.
"Darling, are you quite all right?" he whispered in her ear.
Mary blinked, then nodded slowly, "Yes, I'm fine, Matthew…It's just…What are the odds?"
"What are the odds of any of this?" he replied. "I feel as though we've gone through the looking glass."
The sight of the Foyles weaving their way through the moving crowd in their direction reminded him, however, of the reality of the situation and he cursed under his breath at the misfortunate turn of events.
His thoughts went then to the first time he laid eyes on Tony Foyle, a moment in time he would never forget as it took place on the same day that he regained his memory and returned to his life at Downton.
He and Mary were making their way to the nursery to visit George when they came upon him and another chap he didn't recognize huddled together near the stairs leading up to the gallery, the two speaking in hushed tones until they took notice of them and abruptly ended their conversation.
As if the chance encounter occurred yesterday, he recalled Mary's face flushing at the sight of the men as well as how each one reacted when she introduced him as her husband.
The shorter of the two was presented to him as Charles Blake, a government employee who had spent some time at Downton in preparing a report on the viability of the estates in the county. He smiled broadly at him, grasped his hand and expressed how happy he was to learn that he was alive.
Tony Foyle, introduced as Lord Gillingham, a childhood friend, had reacted much differently, however. Although his manners were impeccable, as one would expect of a gentleman, he exuded little warmth toward him and his welcoming words didn't ring true.
Matthew learned why that was the case later that evening when he and Mary lay in bed and she confessed that both men had sought a romantic relationship with her, but Gillingham had gone so far as to break his engagement to another woman in order to pursue it.
She reluctantly admitted, too, that she found it impossible to resist his romantic overtures and had succumbed to a kiss or two.
That stung.
The only balm to his wound was learning that Mary put an end to the budding romance when pressed for more because he still filled her head and heart.
Realizing he was fighting a losing battle, Lord Gillingham returned to the Honourable Mabel Lane Fox with his tail firmly planted between his legs, begging for a second chance.
She gave it to him and they were married soon thereafter. So soon, in fact, that when Mabel gave birth to a baby girl eighth month's later, there were many raised eyebrows in the county as well as in London.
Over the years, he and Mary had avoided the couple whenever possible, not only because it made for an uncomfortable situation for them but also for Anna's sake as he would always be a reminder of the horrific ordeal she suffered at the hands of his valet years earlier.
Now he could only hope that the extent of their interaction with the Foyles in the week ahead would be minimal.
"I told Tony it was you, Mary, but…he insisted…I must be… mistaken," Mabel managed to eek out, somewhat out of breath as a result of her recent sprint across the platform. "I'm afraid…his vision isn't …what it…used to be."
"Is there anyone amongst us whose is?" Mary smiled, extending her hands to the Viscountess and planting a kiss on her rouged cheek.
At that, the Earl began to chuckle, the sound drawing Mabel's attention to him and Cora.
Having recovered from her exertion, she flashed them a brilliant smile and exclaimed, "Lord and Lady Grantham, it is so lovely to see you again, especially looking so well." Then she fixed her gaze on Tom, eyed him over appreciatively from head to toe and gushed, "As do you, Mr. Branson…exceedingly well."
Mary had told him that in 1922, Mabel Lane Fox was the most sought after heiress of the season. Taking in her appearance now, Matthew found she would still be considered desirable by many a man. Her skin was flawless and pale blue eyes quite lovely, the color accentuated by her dark hair. Chin length, it fell in gentle waves around her face, enhancing her fine bone structure and full lips.
She knew how to make the most of her assets, too, as the cut of her stylish dress and wide belt enhanced her figure, drawing attention away from the few extra pounds she had gained since the last time he saw her.
Getting a close look at her husband, Matthew wished he hadn't fared as well. He was acquainted with men Tony's age who were balding and others whose waistlines had expanded to the point of their needing suspenders to keep their trousers from dipping below their ever-expanding stomachs.
Lord Gillingham, however, fell into neither category. In fact, he appeared quite dapper in his double breasted, pin-striped suit, the only signs of his aging, some specks of grey intermingling with his nearly black locks and fine lines in the corners of his eyes that were only visible when he smiled, which he was doing now.
"It is wonderful to see you again, Mary," he said with exuberance. "As it is you, Matthew," he added in a much more sedate tone before taking hold of the hand that had been extended to him. "When Mabel caught sight of you two in the crowd and informed me, I could hardly believe my ears. After all, what are the odds?"
"Mary and I have asked ourselves the same question," Matthew said, giving his wife a subtle wink before breaking free of Tony's grasp.
He was happy to do so, too, as he found the man's palm warm and damp; so much so, that he was hard pressed not to wipe his own on his trousers.
Watching the effect that Mary had on her former suitor provided Matthew with his answer as to the cause of it. He was a bundle of nerves in her presence, stumbling over his words and unable to look at her directly for more than a few seconds without shifting his gaze. He almost felt sorry for him.
Almost.
The knowledge that the man standing before him had held Mary in his arms and kissed her was unnerving, even after all these years. In all fairness, he couldn't and didn't blame either of them for what had transpired as they both had believed him dead. Yet the sight of Tony Foyle standing in close proximity to his wife still rattled him.
"Lord Grantham tells me you, Mary and your children are off to see her grandmother in Newport and that the rest of your family is here to see you off. Is your dear mother and her husband here as well?" Tony asked, breaking him out of his musings.
Matthew relayed that Isobel and Dr. Clarkson were in Stockholm attending a medical convention. He wished it weren't so as his mother had an uncanny knack of easing tense situations, and this perchance meeting definitely fell into that category.
Tony nodded and then touched upon the reason their paths had crossed, disclosing that the lavish trip they were about to embark on was an anniversary gift from his wife, a second honeymoon of sorts.
Lavish indeed, Matthew thought, familiar with the cost of first class accommodations. Though her husband may have married her on the rebound, she values that marriage very much.
"We both have made the crossing several times on our own, of course," he added matter-of-factly. "However, this will be the first time that we will be doing so together…and on the Olympic. I'm sure it will be a memorable experience for us both."
"No doubt it will be for all of us," Matthew replied, and searched for another topic to keep the conversation flowing.
None came quickly to mind, however, and he was grateful when he heard Tony addressing his son.
"And this fine looking young chap must be George," he exclaimed, reaching over and patting him on the head. "My word, you have grown in leaps and bounds. You barely reached your father's waist the last time I came upon the two of you at the county fair…although, if memory serves me, your stature didn't prevent you from sinking a ball through a hoop that had eluded men twice your size, garnering you a prize."
Recalling the memory, George bowed his head and smiled, "It is a pleasure to see you, again, Lord Gillingham."
Matthew recalled that night, too, and broke into a grin as a mental image of his son's face the moment the ball swooshed through the open rim came to mind. The lad had attempted the shot several times before he finally hit his mark, and George's perseverance had filled him with pride.
"He does that routinely, now," he proclaimed. "It pains me to say that he puts me to shame every year."
Lady Gillingham joined the conversation then, having finished flattering Tom to the point of making him blush.
After politely addressing him and George, she turned her sights on the youngest Crawley present and smiled, "And you must be Victoria. Our daughter has spoken of you quite often."
Victoria nodded and curtsied, "I am happy to meet you Lord and Lady Gillingham. Gertrude and I sit next to one another in class and have become great friends."
Mary cut in then, suggesting that the child come to Downton soon, as a visit would no doubt please both girls.
"That's very kind of you, Mary," Mabel said. "I'm sure Gertrude would love to…and since it seems we will be traveling together this week, there will be plenty of time to work out the details."
Having exhausted the small pleasantries one makes when running into old friends that no longer play a significant role in your life, an awkward silence ensued until Tom broke it by volunteering to secure a porter to navigate the luggage.
"That isn't necessary, Tom," Matthew balked. "I will take care of it."
His brother-in-law would not be dissuaded, however, and insisted, "I am happy to do it. Enjoy your remaining time with Robert and Cora." Then he came closer and whispered, "I'll be back before your appointed time to join the Bates"
At that an alarm went off in Matthew's head. He was so taken aback by discovering that the Foyles would be traveling with them that he hadn't thought about how the news would affect Anna and John Bates.
Their lives had been turned upside down after Gillingham's valet, Mr. Green, was killed and each of them in turn indicted and incarcerated as the culprit. In fact, if it hadn't been for his friend at Scotland Yard, Detective Cosgrove, uncovering the true murderer, either one of them may have been sent to the gallows for a crime they hadn't committed.
"Speaking of luggage," Mabel chimed in, placing her hand on her husband's arm, "I think we had better check to see that ours isn't being misdirected." Her gaze fixed then on the Earl and Countess, and she lamented, "Tony's new valet isn't always up to par. It is so difficult to get good help these days."
Robert nodded and commiserated, "So much has changed since the war ended. I sometimes long for the days gone by."
Matthew wished his father-in-law had not touched upon the days before the war as it usually led to a lengthy conversation and he was eager to speak with his wife regarding the unfortunate news they would have to relay to the Bates.
Cora and Mary sighed but thankfully remained silent and Robert didn't extrapolate on his comment.
Three down and two to go, he thought.
The Foyles followed suit, their concern for their luggage apparently outweighing their desire to take a walk down memory lane, and after bidding the Crawley's 'adieu', they left as quickly as they came.
Once they were out of hearing range, he turned to Mary and found her rolling her eyes in dismay as she echoed his thoughts out loud.
"The Bates will be so distressed by this turn of events. I can't imagine what Anna will do now"
XX
In the hubbub, no-one had thought to advise Tom where to meet them once he his mission was accomplished. Therefore, they all agreed it was best to stay put until he returned.
I'm sure he won't be long, darling," Matthew declared upon finding his wife tapping her foot with impatience.
Noting his assurance did nothing to soothe her, he was grateful when Cora, likely picking up on her daughter's agitation, moved to Mary's side and drew her into some idle conversation that effectively put an end to her fidgeting.
Matthew turned to Robert then, who stood with the children a few yards away, and found they were all happily discussing some points of interest in Southampton.
That left him to his own devices, and he decided he would put the time that remained to good use by getting a closer look at the ship that would carry him and his family to America.
The RMS Olympic had held the title of the largest British liner ever built during three periods of time since it was launched in 1910. That didn't surprise Matthew as he stood on the dock where she was moored, taking in her massive size. At 882 ½ feet long, 92 feet broad and 175 feet high from its keel to the top of its funnels, it seemed impossible that such a colossal vessel had been built by mere mortals.
Focusing his eyes on the port side of the ship, Matthew's gaze moved slowly upward from the black hull to the red boot that topped the waterline and then on to the white superstructure that spread across three quarters of the ship, topped off by four buff colored funnels with a broad black band, each equally proportioned and spaced.
His gaze fixed then on the tall masts that were stepped fore and aft. Craning his neck back as far as he could, he saw that the American ensign, sometimes referred to as the destination flag, was flying at foremast and the cruise liner's house flag at the main mast, its signature tapered swallowtail and white star flapping in the breeze.
Matthew was aware that the American ensign would change to the French once the Olympic reached Cherbourg, a short distance across the Channel, where the ship would drop anchor in order to pick up passengers that would be ferried out along with any cargo and baggage. The same procedure would take place on the southern coast of Ireland at Queenstown, where the final passengers would be brought aboard along with a hefty amount of mail.
The American flag would be raised again once the ship reached New York harbor and flown daily from 8am to sunset during her entire time in port.
An aggravating ache at the back of his neck prompted him to return his head, which had rested between his shoulders for some time, to its normal position and he began kneading the knot that had formed there.
Engrossed as he was in his observations and ministrations to relieve his pain, Matthew hadn't heard his wife come up behind him and nearly jumped out of his skin when she placed her hand over his.
"Is something wrong, Matthew? You look like you've seen a ghost."
He shook his head, "I'm fine, darling. I didn't know you were behind me and….you just startled me. That's all."
"And you were massaging your neck because….?"
"It became stiff from my misuse," he smiled. "I've been giving the Olympic a once over from top to bottom."
Mary nodded, "I see. That is all well and good, but Tom is back and we are set to meet the Bates inside the terminal in five minutes, so I hope that your observations are complete. You know how prompt they are and I don't want to be late, even though I'm dreading the conversation that awaits us."
Matthew dreaded it, too, but there was no escaping it. He nodded his head and looped his arm through hers, guiding her through the crowd toward the large white structure that loomed before them.
XX
The White Star terminal at berth #46 was teeming with activity as passengers waited in line to present their boarding passes to the appropriate White Star personnel, those who came to see them off mulled about and porters weaved through the crowd with baggage piled high on dollies en route to the ship.
Matthew's eyes scanned through the crowd for the Bates and after a few moments found the couple waving their hands excitedly at him and Mary with bright smiles on their faces. The sight made his heart lurch as he knew their happiness wouldn't last for long.
While in service at Downton, Anna had avoided Tony Foyle like the plague whenever he visited. Mary had managed to keep those visits few and far between. But now, no-one could prevent their running into one another.
Coming straight to the point, Matthew informed the couple that Lord and Lady Gillingham would be making the journey with them. Then he sighed as their smiles evaporated before his eyes.
Anna's fair skin turn a shade paler as she processed the information and faced her predicament while John Bates' eyes narrowed and his jaw clenched with anger.
"I can't tell you how sorry I am about this, Anna," Mary offered, shaking her head with disgust over the matter. "This is clearly not something any of us ever imagined would happen when we made our plans."
Anna sighed, "I'm old enough to know that life is full of surprises.' Then looking pointedly at Matthew, she added, "Unfortunately, not all of them are good ones."
Matthew and Mary nodded in agreement. Then the four were silent, each appearing to be at a loss as to what to do next until John Bates cleared his throat and said, "Lady Mary, I know time is short, but Anna and I will need a few minutes alone to decide what to do about the quandary we find ourselves in."
"Of course, Mr. Bates," she nodded. "I understand completely."
At that, the two couples broke apart, the Bates moving to a relatively quiet spot about 20 feet away in order to discuss the problem at hand.
"What do you think they'll decide? Mathew asked, doing his best but failing to keep his eyes off John and Anna.
Mary shrugged her shoulders, "I can't say for sure. If I were in her shoes, I likely would be fantasizing about pushing Tony Foyle overboard right about now but Anna is a kind soul. She knows he had no knowledge of his valet raping her…and to his credit, he did dismiss the man immediately at my urging, even though I gave him no reason to do so as she did not want her attack made public."
"I think her decision to travel or not will depend on whether she has put the past far enough behind her to risk the chance of running into him and stirring up old memories."
"That and whether or not she could bear the disappointment on her son's face if she cancelled their trip," Mary opined.
Through veiled eyes, Matthew saw that Bates was scratching his head, a sure sign that he was confused as to what advice he should give his wife. Putting himself in the man's shoes, he decided there really was none he could give. All Bates could do was remind his wife of the risk she would be taking should she decide to go ahead with the trip. Anna alone would have to decide if that risk were worth taking.
The former maid rattled on for at least a minute without interruption while her husband listened intently with his arms crossed on his chest. Then Anna stopped speaking and Bates took the floor. He spoke in short spurts as one would when asking a question, moving on to the next once his wife nodded or shook her head.
That exchange went on for some time and Matthew worried that if Anna didn't make a decision soon, it would be made for her as the ship was set to sail.
He let out a sigh of relief when out of the corner of his eye, he saw John Bates drop his arms, take his wife's hands in his and kiss them before leading her their way.
Quickly, he averted his gaze to Mary, gesturing to her with a nod of his head that the couple was on their way.
"Though I am not thrilled with the prospect of seeing Lord Gillingham again, I am not going to allow his presence, which will likely be minimal since I'll be spending most of my time with the children, to deprive JR or me of what I am sure will be a wonderful experience for us both. There will be no change in plan on my part," Anna smiled. "However, I think it best that our son and I board the ship ahead of you. It will lessen the chance of my running into Lord Gillingham straight away or his recognizing me if we do cross paths as he likely will not remember me without Lady Mary at my side."
"You're probably right about that, Anna," Mary said. Then she pulled her into a quick embrace and whispered, "I'm thrilled that you have decided to come with us."
Matthew reached for Bates' hand and said, "We'll take good care of your wife and son. You have my word."
"I have no doubt of it, Mr. Crawley and I'm grateful to you both," he replied.
With little time to spare, the two couples parted then to make their final farewells.
XX
It was clear to Matthew that the Countess of Grantham was reluctant to let go of her eldest daughter and only did so at her husband's urging after Mary promised she would write as soon as she reached her cousin Rose and her husband, Atticus's residence in New York City, where they would stay for the night before heading to Newport.
"Please give them both my love, darling….and ask Rose to send me a recent photograph of her Victoria. I can't believe her daughter will be turning 10 soon. No doubt she will get along famously with ours," Cora gushed before moving aside so that Robert could bid Mary farewell.
"I am going to miss you all terribly…and if I'm being honest, which I always have been with you, my beautiful daughter, I will not rest easy until I know your feet are planted firmly on land, again."
The Earl sighed then before asking Mary to forgive him if he sounded like a ninny, adding that he couldn't help it as the thought of history repeating itself still weighed heavily on his mind.
"Oh, Papa…you must try not to worry. Remember what Tom said about the ship. The Olympic is perfectly sound…and in the highly unlikely event that an accident did occur, precautions have been put in place to ensure the safety of its passengers. We will all be fine…but if you don't stop fretting, you won't be as this anxiety surely must be aggravating your ulcer…Now, you must put an end to this nonsense, or I will begin worrying about you and have an abysmal time abroad. You don't want that, do you?"
"Of course, I don't," the Earl snapped. Then his face and tone relaxed and he smiled, "That is the last thing I want. In fact, my fervent wish is that you all will have what your American grandmother would refer to as, "a blast!"
Mary laughed at that, gave her father one last hug and moved on to Tom, who had been rolling his eyes behind Robert's head with impatience for the last minute.
"You take good care of him…him and Downton," Mary commanded. Her voice softened then as she continued, "I know it is a lot to ask, but I can't think of anyone who is more up to the task than you, Tom."
"Your confidence in me is duly noted and appreciated, Mary, and rest assured it is not misplaced. Both Downton and your father will be standing tall upon your return," he declared before planting a quick peck on her cheek.
Matthew brought up the rear behind his son and daughter as they bid their grandparents and uncle farewell.
George addressed the Earl first, advising him that Horus's favorite ball was on his bed should he be looking for it before extending his hand as a proper gentleman would when he parts with another. Robert grasped it and beamed at his future heir for a long moment, his eyes becoming misty. Then he released his grandson's hand and directed him to his grandmother, who was waiting with open arms.
Victoria advanced slowly and grinned up at her grandfather before pulling her yo-yo out of the pocket of her favorite red jacket and handing it to him. She then reminded him that he must practice with Uncle Tom before rising on her toes and planting a kiss on his cheek, leaving him with a broad grin on his face.
Then it was Matthew's turn to bid his father-in-law adieu.
Firmly clasping the Earl's hand, he did his best to reassure him that all would be fine both at Downton and on their voyage. "You mustn't worry, Robert. I certainly will not as I have no doubt we will arrive in America safe and sound and that Downton is being left in very capable hands."
"I will do my best on all counts, Matthew. You have my word, Son. Now, you had better get going or Mary will think I have hijacked you," he jested.
Matthew smiled, released his hand and urged Victoria and George forward toward Mary, standing near the entrance to the gangway.
To his surprise, no sooner had he planted his first step on the planking than his son blurted "Excuse me, Father" and took off at a fast clip back to Robert, who appeared as surprised by George's about face as he was.
Reaching his grandfather, he slowed down long enough to wrap his arms around him and squeeze tightly before pivoting on his heels and racing back to his father's side.
He is going to miss you, too, George..," Matthew said as he straightened his cap. "…But just think of how wonderful it is going to be when we return. You will have so much to share with him about our trip."
At that, George perked up and agreed, "No doubt I'll have many exciting tales to tell. It is going to be quite an adventure, isn't it, Father?"
"That it will be, George," Matthew grinned and then led his children to join their mother.
XX
Mary and Victoria took the lead with Matthew and George in tow, the four of them moving quickly across the divide that separated the dock from the ship. The gangway would take them to B Deck, which housed the first class reception room as well as the suite they would occupy in the days ahead.
Reaching the end of the gangplank, they moved to an empty spot at the railing, their eyes searching for their family amidst the horde of well-wishers waving their handkerchiefs and shouting "Bon Voyage."
"There they are," Mary cried out, loud enough to be heard above the commotion. "Papa managed to get a spot right in front on the second level."
"He must have paid someone dearly for it," Matthew shouted above the noise of the crowd as he pointed out where Robert, Cora and Tom were huddled together calling out their names to the children.
Mary pulled a white handkerchief with a lace border from her sleeve and passed it to Victoria, who began waving it with gusto in the air, a wide grin plastered on her face.
Taking note of the other passengers doing the same, George took his own out of his pant pocket and passed it to his mother.
Then he turned to his father and smiled sheepishly, "I didn't want Mother to be empty handed. Women do seem to like this sort of thing."
She did, too, and grinned like a Cheshire cat as she kept pace with her daughter, waving the crisp white linen square overhead until the line of passengers coming up the gangplank petered out and it was detached from the ship.
The crowd on the dock roared at the sight of it, their cheers making it impossible for Matthew to hear what George was saying as he pointed to a seaman who was casting one of the thick hawsers into the water, creating a splash.
Then the ship's horn blasted two long bursts, prompting Victoria to jump before covering her ears with her hands. Catching Mary's eye, he grinned before placing his own over George's ears as he knew what was coming next. As the Olympic moved slowly in reverse, three long blasts filled the air, the familiar sound echoing throughout Southampton.
Five tugs gently edged the massive liner into the main channel and turned her bow downstream. Once their mission was complete, the boats cast off their lines and moved clear of the ship before its propellers began turning.
As the small crafts raced back to the dock, the sun burst through a mass of clouds, continuing its game of hide and seek. Matthew felt the warmth of its rays penetrate through his suit jacket just as a cool breeze washed over his face, and he reveled in both.
It was a fine day to set sail. A good omen, he told himself. No umbrellas or buckets needed.
He turned to Mary then, and not for the first time marveled at how lovely she was. Anna had been right about her being a timeless beauty.
She was smiling broadly at him now, which further enhanced her appeal as she pushed a few tendrils of hair that had escaped their bounds out of her eyes.
"It is going to be wonderful, Matthew," she exclaimed.
Returning her smile, he nodded his head, and for the first time since Martha Levinson's letters arrived, he felt optimistic that it would be.
XX
Matthew found himself in awe of his surroundings, which did not happen often as he was accustomed to opulence, having lived at Downton Abbey for over a decade and not easily impressed.
Yet who wouldn't be when confronted with what could only be described as the grandest staircase he had every seen, its marble steps, fine timbers and statuettes sheer perfection.
It was nearly 20 feet wide at its base with elegant carved wall panels running around it and banisters containing elaborate wrought iron grilles and ormolu swags in the Louis XIV style; the panels of the newel posts etched with relief garlands, each in a unique design and topped by a pineapple filial.
The stairwell was bathed in golden sunlight which filtered through a massive lead and glass dome that capped it, one level up from where he stood. It was fringed with a delicately molded entablature and at its center hung a spectacular crystal and gild chandelier that sparkled like diamonds.
George had told him the staircase rose 60 feet, encompassing six levels of the ship from decks A to E in descending order from the water line and each stair landing forked fore and aft to the Olympic's cabins, suites, public rooms and facilities.
Scanning his surroundings, he took in the rich furnishings, potted trees and an array of floral arrangements so tastefully done, that he felt certain the Dowager Countess would leave them in tact if she were here. Each sat on a table that shone like glass, bolted securely to the floor, as all the furniture on the ship would be in the event the sea turned rough.
Victoria tugged at his sleeve, breaking his attention away from the grandeur around him.
"What is it, sweetheart?" he asked, taking note of her wide eyes.
"It is like a floating palace, Father," she replied.
"Or perhaps a five-star hotel," Mary interjected, giving Victoria's braid a playful tug, which caused her to giggle.
"It takes your breath away, no matter what you call it," Matthew declared.
George chimed in, "Wait until you see the rest of the ship, Father. There is a heated swimming pool, Turkish baths, a gymnasium with rowing machines, stationary bicycles and an electric horse. I think Mother may like that. They also have a squash court, two libraries, reading and writing rooms and many luxurious places to eat, one that has French waiters and another, live palm trees."
Appearing astounded by the plethora of information her son had just rattled off, Mary looked at her husband and smiled, "Perhaps we don't need a steward, after all. Our son seems to have memorized all the information we need to know about the Olympic."
She turned to him then, her eyes twinkling, and asked in as serious a tone as she could muster, "The White Star Line didn't happen to send you any floor plans, did they, George? It would make finding our suite much easier."
He frowned, "I'm sorry, Mother. I can't help you there. No such diagram was provided to me."
Matthew suppressed his grin and cleared his throat before thanking George for the details he had provided, stating they would prove helpful in the days ahead when planning their activities.
Taking note of the multitude of passengers that were swarming like bees in the B-Deck reception area, he assumed they, too, would be taking advantage of the many recreational facilities available to them. Recalling how fit Tony was, he surmised he would frequent the gymnasium quite often and made a mental note to avoid it as much as possible.
Then seeing Mary gesture to an open spot, he corralled the children and followed her there, happy to get out of the way of the thrall of newcomers passing through the doorway.
Still, there was a general buzz of activity all around them as passengers sought out their cabins within the unfamiliar confines of the ship, baggage that was littering the lobby was moved out and stewards did what they could to restore some form of order.
Chatter filled the air, bits and pieces of conversations melding into one another as the new arrivals settled in and one in particular caught Matthew's attention.
Excuse me, young man.," a gentleman, who appeared about 10 year's older than he was with either a much younger wife or perhaps his daughter on his arm said, tapping a young man in uniform with wavy red hair that was held in place with pomade on the shoulder. "…I'm hoping you can help me in locating the lifts as I'm not feeling up to navigating two floors of stairs to reach our cabin, as lovely as they may be."
"I'm happy to help, Sir," the steward replied, "There are three just around that bend that traverse all decks. Once you reach the one you seek, there will be someone on hand to give you further direction."
At that, the man patted his companion's hand and smiled, "Don't worry, my dear. I am quite capable of descending the stairs, so your new gowns will not go unnoticed."
Matthew chuckled softly, still uncertain as to the relationship between the man and woman, but not her vanity.
His attention was drawn then to an elderly man who was making use of his cane to part the crowd. Reminiscent of someone who was blind, though he clearly was not, the crotchety old gent weaved it back and forth a few feet ahead of him, rudely nudging anyone in his path out of his way and shouting, "Coming through…coming through."
Taking in the ruckus, Mary lamented, "Apparently he thinks old age entitles him to be discourteous. Someone should tell him it does not."
"Don't be too hard on him," Matthew interjected. "I overheard him asking for directions to the loo a few moments ago. At his advanced age, he may have had no option but to forego his manners in order to spare him and those around him grave embarrassment."
She nodded, taking his meaning, and sighed, "I hope Mama and Papa never find themselves in that predicament…or heaven forbid, either of us."
He nodded in agreement, shuddering as a mental image of himself with white hair and a bursting bladder filled his head.
"Sir, may I be of service," a man who appeared to be the head steward by his dress with olive colored skin and dark hair asked, thankfully breaking him out of his musings.
Letting out a huge sigh of relief, Matthew replied, "You most certainly can."
XX
"Anna, what are you doing?" Mary exclaimed, entering the wardrobe room in the parlour suite they had been directed to and finding her erstwhile lady's maid hanging up one of her dresses.
Tugging gently on the bottom of the dress to smooth out a fine wrinkle, she replied, "No stewards dess has come yet and I thought it would be best to get these clothes out of the trunk before you had to have them pressed."
Mary rolled her eyes, "That is very kind of you, but I didn't invite you on this trip to be my maid. You must know that."
Anna nodded, "Of course, I do…but this is such a generous gift and I want to do something to repay you, even though I know there is nothing I can do that would. Please believe that I don't feel at all like a servant and haven't for many years. I just…Well, I'd like to be of help. Can we leave it at that?"
Strolling into the room with Victoria in tow, Matthew asked, "Leave what at that?" Then looking from Mary to Anna and noting their blank expressions, he added, "I'd be happy to spend some time with George and JR if I've walked into a conversation only meant for female ears."
Mary and Anna shook their heads and laughed, leaving him more perplexed than ever until his wife explained that she found Anna unpacking her trunk and just wanted to make it clear to her that was not invited to fill the role of her maid.
"Absolutely not," Matthew exclaimed. "We both want you to enjoy this trip, Anna. We greatly appreciate your kind offer to spend time with the children when we are out and expect no more from you."
"Will you at least allow me find a stewardess to get you unpacked? she replied. "I doubt my son will realize I'm missing since he is having so much fun with George."
Mary nodded and Matthew stepped off to the side, giving her clear access to the doorway.
Then Anna was off on her mission with Victoria on her heels, anxious to see what her brother was up to.
"Your grandmother must have spent a small fortune for this suite," Matthew declared. "The size alone astounds me, no less the amenities."
Taking in her surroundings, Mary wholeheartedly agreed that no expense was spared.
Their suite was large and elegantly furnished, boasting two bedrooms (the largest containing a double bed), a sitting room with a marble fireplace, wardrobe room and two adjoining cabins along with a private bath and toilet situated between them.
Each bedroom had thick wool carpeting and oak paneled walls decorated in the French style, fitted out with the most fashionable and modern décor.
They would also have access to a private veranda equipped with chairs, settees and tables.
Moving to the large open trunk in the center of the room, Mary said, "I think Anna was right about hanging up these clothes as soon as possible, Matthew. They are beginning to wrinkle already. Would you please bring me handful of hangars from that closet. I think I will get a head start on unpacking while I wait for the stewardess to arrive."
Matthew obliged her and then set off to unpack his own belongings, stopping briefly by George's room to check on him and JR.
The two boys were engaged in a game of chess under Victoria's watchful eyes. His focused on John Robert, as he hadn't seen the boy for a considerable amount of time.
He found the lad had grown since the he last saw him at Downton and judged he would surpass his mother's height before he reached George's age. No doubt, he owed his stature to his father and his fair complexion and blue eyes to Anna. The latter were focused intently at the game board in front of him, making it clear he had a competitive nature
Competition he would get, too, as George played chess often with his grandfather and had become quite adept at it, even dealing Robert a blow at times. Matthew soon discovered, however, that John Bates also had spent a considerable amount of time teaching his son to play. Eyeing the board, it appeared JR was holding his own in spite of his being nearly three years younger than his opponent
" May I join Mother, now?" Victoria asked, apparently tiring of the chess match.
"Yes, you may, sweetheart. I'm sure she would welcome the company…and perhaps a bit of help with the unpacking," Matthew said, hoping she would get his meaning.
"I would be happy to, Father," she replied, rising quickly and flouncing out of the room muttering something about finding Mickey Mouse.
He smiled, knowing she had insisted on taking Edith's gift with her on their trip and that Mary had relented and given her permission after securing Victoria's promise that she would not cry if it were lost.
Knowing how much Victoria valued the stuffed animal, he felt certain she would not let it out of her sight. In fact, he expected he would find it lying beside her in bed when he tucked her in later that night.
The mental image widened his grin and his spirits were high when he heard a knock on the door coming from the hallway. Thinking it must be Anna with the stewardess, he moved quickly to let them in.
George had told him that there were two parlor suites on B-Deck, one on each side of the ship, along with an array of first class cabins. As he opened the door and stood face to face the second time that day with Lord Gillingham, he held onto the hope that none of them housed him and his wife.
XX
Matthew had no choice but to invite the man in even though it was the last thing he wanted to do.
As soon as Tony stepped over the threshold into the sitting room, he let out a long whistle of appreciation and exclaimed, "A parlour suite! I had heard Downton was doing well and expected you would be traveling first class, but I have to admit I was shocked when the Purser informed me of your whereabouts."
Matthew remained silent, not knowing how he should respond to Gillingham's remark as he wasn't sure if Mary would want anyone outside of the family to know their luxurious accommodations were a gift from her American grandmother. Then after a few moments of awkward silence, he asked his wife's former suitor what he could do for him in as pleasant a tone as he could manage.
The Viscount smiled, "Actually, I'm hoping I can do something for you…and Mary, of course. Mabel has arranged for Captain Binks to join us for dinner tomorrow evening and she would like you both to join us. I know you are probably still settling in but she insisted I make the offer now before you made any other plans."
"I see," Matthew said, feeling his stomach do a somersault as his worst fear regarding the Foyles came to fruition.
There was only one thing he could do now.
"Mary," he called out in the direction of the wardrobe room. "Darling, would you please come in here."
He heard the door open and his wife instructing Victoria to stop tossing the clothes about before she turned the corner.
Then he saw the expression on Tony's face change, his jaw dropping and eyes growing wide.
Following his line of vision he found Mary standing in the threshold of the room with a surprised look on her face and her favorite French knickers draped over her shoulder, the grey silk with cream colored lace and embroidered huntsmen hunting hares on full display.
Her eyebrow's rose at the sight of the two men's shocked expressions, clearly unaware of what they were staring at and blurted, "What is it? You're both looking at me as though I've grown a second head."
Matthew didn't know how quickly it took Tony Foyle to compose himself as he couldn't take his eyes off his wife.
"Darling, nothing is wrong…it is just…" he began and then paused as he searched for a way to ease what he knew would be embarrassment on her part. "Tony came by to invite us to join him, Mabel and the Captain tomorrow evening for dinner and I thought it best to ask you…"
She nodded her head, appearing somewhat relieved by his response but her curiosity still clearly piqued by their behavior.
"I see…that is very thoughtful of you and Mabel, Tony. Matthew and I haven't made any plans. We aren't fully settled in yet, actually, and…," she began.
There was no help for it, he told himself before he blurted, "Darling, there is something on your left shoulder that I believe you are unaware of and will no doubt want to remove."
Appearing more confused than ever, Mary averted her eyes to the spot she was directed to and her cheeks grew crimson.
"What in the name of…," she muttered as she tore the knickers from her shoulder with her right hand and shoved it behind her back.
After taking a few moments to regain her composure, she cleared her throat and offered both men an apology along with what she perceived to be the logical explanation for her faux pas.
'Victoria was helping me unpack a few things. She absentmindedly must have tossed the…um…garment to me when searching for Mickey," she said, her eyes glued on Matthew.
At that moment, Tony, who had been startled into silence once Mary had entered the room, found his voice.
"Mickey? Is she your maid? If I recall correctly, Lady Brentford's maid was called Mickey…a shortened version of Michaelena… and I thought perhaps…but I digress…In any event, I knocked on the cabin door that adjoins your suite to ascertain if I was given the correct information regarding your accommodations and a woman, who I assumed to be in your employ, confirmed you were here. She looked familiar to me but I couldn't recall her name."
Mary rolled her eyes and looked to her husband for support.
Feeling once more as if he had gone through the looking glass, Matthew shook his head and sighed, "She is not our maid…and Mickey is not a person…He is a mouse." Then pinching the bridge of his nose between his thumb and forefinger, he clarified, "More precisely, a stuffed mouse."
The look on Lord Gillingham's face would have been humorous under different circumstances, but Matthew found none now.
"Surely having a daughter the same age as ours, you have heard of Walt Disney's Mickey Mouse?" he said curtly, his patience reaching its limit.
"Aha…you mean the cartoon character.'" Tony cried out as if he had discovered King Tut's tomb. "I understand now."
After seeing the way the man had been eyeing his wife, Matthew did, too. Twelve years after he had done his best to woo her, Lord Gillingham still desired Mary, his passion likely flamed by the bird's eye view he just had of her lingerie.
He suddenly felt quite tired and longed to lie down, weary from the drama that seemed unending.
Apparently, his wife felt the same way since she basically dismissed Tony by pointing to the phone next to the arm chair and stating she would call his wife later regarding the dinner invitation.
"Am I to assume we are neighbors, then?" Mary added as an afterthought. "Is your cabin nearby?"
"No, I'm on top of you," Tony replied, his face reddening instantly as he realized his poor choice of words and then adding, "That is to say, my and Mabel's cabin is situated above your and Matthew's suite. Our cabin number is A-36."
Matthew scowled. If ever there was a Freudian slip.
Whether their uninvited guest saw it or not, he finally came to realize he was persona non grata and put an end to their misery by advising Mary that he would relay her message to his wife, thanking them both for their time, and making a swift exit.
"I'm sorry, darling." Mary said, bringing her arm back around, her hand still clutching the knickers. "About this…," she said looking down at the grey silk balled in her palm, "…and his showing up. I was hoping we could avoid the Foyles altogether."
Matthew was surprised to find that he still could smile but it came effortlessly now, all down to Mary.
She loved him and they were on the same page. Nothing else mattered.
He crossed the room in three long strides, pulled her into his arms and kissed her.
XX
AN:
If you have written a Matthew/Mary story set in canon time period, I'd love to read it, so please IM me a link. I promise I will review it.
I havent't read a great deal of fan fiction lately because I've been so busy writing and find many Mary/Matthew stories are set in modern AU. I prefer as close to canon as possible.
I am very pleased with this chapter as I think it is my best work yet.
Hope to be hearing from you in review or PM
msmenna 😀
I always believed that Tony would carry a torch for Mary. It was clear by how ardently he pursued her in spite of his being engaged to "the most sought after heiress of the season." Let's not forget, too, that he did need Mabel's money and Mary was not an heiress when he broke his engagement to win her over.
As for the Olympic, a great deal of historic research has gone into my descriptions thus far and for future chapters. I'm hoping the vivid details of the ship will give you a clear picture of it and make the voyage realistic for you.
One more thing, I debated whether or not Mary and Matthew would call Anna and John by their Christian names, but after giving it a lot of thought, felt that it wouldn't ring true. After all, they had been their servants for a long time and they had become accustomed to calling them Anna and Bates. Also, the class system was still in place, no matter that John and Anna owned property of their own.
I know this chapter isn't as long as the last two, but it just felt right to end it here.
If you are enjoying the trip, please don't forget to leave a review. It truly does encourage me to dive back in!
(Sorry, I couldn't help the puns.)
SPOILER - Do not read if you don't like to be teased
In the next chapter, Tony Foyle's naval training will be put to goof use.