Passage Chapter 21, a downton abbey fanfic

As a young couple in front of him veered to the right, he caught sight of a man wearing a chauffer's uniform standing beneath the clock.

And he froze in his tracks.

"Darling, either my vision is getting worse or the man the Drake has sent to pick us up is the spitting image of….."

Her eyes as wide as saucers, Mary cut him off mid-sentence. "Your vision is fine, Matthew. Hurry, I want to get a closer look."

The two picked up their pace, then, and Victoria had to break into a trot in order to keep up with them.

"What is it?" Anna called out from behind. "Are we late?"

Matthew slowed down long enough to turn his head to respond, but by the look on Anna's face, a reply was no longer necessary.

"Tom," she cried out, and clasped over her hand over her gaping mouth.

Passage - Chapter 21

Hearing Anna's exclamation, Victoria followed her line of vision and a huge smile spread across her face before she broke free from her mother and took off at full speed.

"Victoria, stop!" Mary demanded.

She didn't, though, until she came to an abrupt halt in front of the man in uniform, nearly colliding with him.

"Whoa, little lady," the driver said, his hands outstretched to protect himself. "Slow down before you hurt yourself...or someone else."

Matthew reached Victoria first, his wife having been forestalled by an elderly woman who needed assistance in reading a direction sign.

"You're not my uncle," she said, her smile quickly morphing into a frown.

The man blinked and looked down at Victoria with a bemused expression on his face.

This close, Matthew saw the differences between this man and his brother-in-law. Some were subtle like the cleft in the driver's chin, but the disparity in their age was glaring, with the man standing before him appearing at least 10 years younger.

"No, sweetheart, he isn't, but he does look a great deal like him," Matthew said.

At that, the driver turned his attention from Victoria to him, and asked, "Are you Mr. Crawley?"

"Yes, I am…and I hope you will forgive me and my daughter for gaping at you. We are not customarily rude. It is just that you bear an uncanny resemblance to….,"

"Her uncle?" he quipped and grinned.

Matthew chuckled and replied, "Yes, Mr...?"

"Forgive me, Mr. Cawley, for not introducing myself sooner. My name is Robert McGuire, Sir, and I have been sent by the Drake Hotel to transport you and your party."

At that moment, a near breathless Mary arrived with Anna and the boys on her heels, and after giving her daughter a disapproving look, turned to Matthew, her head cocked to the side and her expression urging him to bring her up to speed.

Not yet being able to answer the questions in his wife's eyes, Matthew settled on introductions for the moment.

"Mr. McGuire, allow me to present my wife, Lady Mary Crawley...and standing beside her is Mrs. Anna Bates, who is travelling with us. You have already been addressed by, although not properly introduced to, our daughter, Victoria, and this is our son George and Mrs. Bates' boy, JR."

The driver smiled and tipped his head in their direction.

Taking note that the group was still eyeing Mr. McGuire and that their scrutiny was making him uncomfortable, Matthew attempted to put an end to it.

"Yes, he does look a great deal like Tom…but, clearly, he isn't. I have offered Mr. McGuire an apology for our gaping at him and he has graciously accepted it."

"The resemblance is uncanny," Mary said, shaking her head with wonder. "As you can see, Mr. McGuire, we all are quite astounded by it… but my husband is correct in apologizing for our behavior. I hope you will forgive us."

Anna nodded her head in agreement and smiled at the chauffeur before redirecting her eyes.

Further conversation was interrupted then by a loud crackling sound emitting from a loudspeaker a few feet away, followed by, "The New York-Chicago-St. Louis line train bound for St. Louis will be departing the station from Track 12 in ten minutes."

"That is our train, Loretta," a young man with red hair and freckles on his face called out in an anxious tone. "We had better get a move on, dear, or we will miss it."

Matthew followed the direction of the man's gaze and found a woman, who he assumed to be his wife, stooped over a small boy tying his boot lace. She pulled hard on the two ends of the bow she had made, then planted a quick kiss on the child's forehead, lifted him into her arms and scurried off toward the man who had cautioned her to hurry.

The sight reminded him how often George's laces had come undone when he was this little chap's size. It had happened so often, in fact, that he and Mary came to the conclusion that their son was purposely undoing them. Even at that young age, George had a curious mind that would not be satisfied until he learned all that he could about anything of interest to him, which at that time included the workings of his shoes.

Mary, exhibiting great patience, had directed George on how to tie his laces, and once he had mastered it, heaped high praise on him.

I knew she would be a wonderful mother and she has proven me right time and time again, he thought.

The sound of her asking Mr. McGuire if he had any relatives by the name of Branson broke through his musings, and he turned his attention, once more, to the driver.

The man's eyes widened, and an odd look came over his face before he replied, "There is a possibility that I have relatives that are descendants from someone that bore that name in Ireland, Lady Mary, but I cannot be sure. I know how odd that sounds, but there is a reason I don't have a pat answer, and if it agreeable to you, I'd be happy to explain why on our way to the Drake.

Matthew was intrigued by the man's response and judging by the look on Mary and Anna's face, they were, as well.

Mary replied, "I'm sure it is quite agreeable, Mr. McGuire. We have kept you from your duties long enough."

The doppelganger nodded his head, placed his cap on it, and led the way to the nearest exit.

The hotel was so close to the station that it took only ten minutes to get there, but thanks to Mr. McGuire's rapid speech and his sticking to just the material facts, he was able to clarify his answer to Mary's question with time to spare.

"My great-grandfather, Seamus McGuire, took over as head of the family when his father was lost at sea in a bad storm. He was a fisherman by trade, you see, as were all the men in our family back then...that is until the second Boer War broke out and a good number of them left their livelihood behind to fight for king and country. Seamus's younger brother, my great-uncle, Patrick, was the first to do so, enlisting in the Royal Irish Rifles militia."

The sound of a honking horn interrupted the driver's narration for a few moments as he turned his head toward the sound in silence. Then, having found the source an impatient driver urging on a taxicab, he returned his attention to the road and his tale.

"Where was I... Oh, yes, my great-uncle's service...As the story goes, Uncle Patrick was wounded pretty badly in battle and brought to the nearest field hospital, where he was treated by a young nurse by the name of Colleen Branson. While under her care, the two of them fell in love and he asked for her hand in marriage."

At that, Matthew heard Mary let out a sigh and saw Anna reaching for her handkerchief in his peripheral vision.

He saw, too, as Mr. McGuire no doubt did, that the hotel was coming up fast, and the driver brought his story to a quick close.

"Unfortunately, the two did not share the same faith, the McGuire family being staunch Protestants for many generations and she a Catholic. That hadn't mattered to my uncle, but it did his older brother. He forbade him from marrying a "heathen"...Sorry, his words, not mine...and threatened that he would be banished from the family if he did not break with her immediately. In defiance, Patrick married her before he was released from the hospital and the family was split in two."

"How awful," Anna blurted and then excused herself.

"Yes. Well, I think that answers your question, Lady Mary. If my uncle and Colleen Branson had children together, their offspring would be my cousins...distant, but still they would share my blood...and perhaps some, my likeness," he said and smiled broadly.

Mary nodded and thanked him as the car pulled to a stop in front of the Drake.

She turned to Matthew then and whispered, "I couldn't help but think of Lilian and what could have happened if..."

Visions of the London Hospital and the nurse who fell in love with him there when he had no memory filled Matthew's head. He had not thought about the time he spent as Patient #9 for quite a long while, and it appeared another lifetime to him.

"You must know by now that we were destined to be together," he replied in as hushed a tone as hers and a gush of wind washed over his face as the car door opened.

The view of Lake Michigan from their room on the 10th floor of the Drake Hotel was magnificent and Matthew, Mary and Anna stood side by side enjoying it while the children acclimated themselves to their rooms.

"I dare say it might feel a bit odd looking out of a window and not seeing a body of water once we are back home. It has been the case so often in the last two weeks, that I have become accustomed to it."

Mary chuckled, "I have no doubt we will adjust quickly to the view outside our bedroom window at Downton, Matthew, but I do know what you mean. Here we are taking in yet another lovely seascape."

"Wouldn't it be wonderful if someone invented a portable camera that ordinary people, like me could operate to capture moments like this," Anna said, smiling as she gazed at the beauty that lay before her eyes.

"That is a fabulous idea, Anna," Mary exclaimed. "I know I would purchase one of those cameras, not only to have a remembrance of beautiful sights like this one, but to commemorate special family occasions." She paused a moment before adding, "It would be lovely to have candid photographs of the children at their birthday parties or other special occasions to show them when they became adults…especially of Victoria, as she inevitably winds up with whipped cream over much of her face on her birthday."

Remembering how comical she had appeared after devouring a second piece of cake on her last birthday, Matthew snorted a laugh, and then cautioned Mary that their daughter might not appreciate such a photograph when she was older.

"What wouldn't I like?" Victoria asked, hearing her name mentioned as she entered the room.

Matthew shared Anna's idea and Mary's wish with her, as well as his thinking she might balk at such an unflattering image of herself when she was an adult.

"Don't be silly, Father. It would make me laugh just as it did when George showed me my reflection in Mother's hand mirror that day."

Matthew smiled and asked if she were there to see the view of the lake.

"No, Father, I was hoping the luggage had been delivered with our board games, but I see it hasn't yet."

He let her know it would be there soon, and Victoria rushed off to tell her brother and JR.

The adults then began conversing about the information Mr. McGuire had provided them during their ride to the Drake.

"So, it is quite possible that Tom is a distant cousin of Mr. McGuire. That would account for the resemblance, although one wouldn't think it would be so striking," Mary said, opening the conversation.

"What I find unsettling is the reason Mr. McGuire is not certain if he is related to Tom," Matthew piped in.

Anna shook her head in dismay. "How sad that the entire family has remained estranged all these years."

"Mr. McGuire's great grandfather certainly governed his family with an iron fist. Imagine the pain his poor brother endured, being injured in a war thousands of miles from home and then ostracized by his family when he returned to it because he would not give up the woman he loved," Matthew exclaimed.

Mary put in her two cents worth then, stating that she had believed no one more pigheaded than her Granny, but even she had accepted her son marrying a woman that was not Anglican.

"Violet is a pragmatist, Mary, just as you are," Matthew said. "When faced with a situation that she finds less than desirable, she takes an honest look at whether or not she can do anything to get her way, and if not, makes the best of it, especially when a family member's happiness is involved. Unfortunately, Mr. McGuire's grandfather did not share her philosophy,"

A loud knock on the entrance door to their suite put an end to their conversation, and Matthew moved away from the window to answer it, assuming it the bellhop.

"I'm coming," he cried out as he made his way to the door.

Finding his assumption was correct, he looked on as a stocky man in a burgundy uniform and brimless cap with a chin strap unloaded the luggage from a brass trolley.

It did not take the bellhop long, and Matthew was handing him a tip when he heard Anna exclaim, "I can't wait to hear what Tom will say when you tell him,"

Taking in the Drake's sumptuous interior design and elegant furnishings as he headed to the Cape Cod room, touted as Chicago's first choice for fish and seafood, it became clear to Matthew that the Crash of '29 and Great Depression that followed had not touched this hotel. Like every other place he had laid his head since leaving Downton, his surroundings could only be described as regal, and it was clear the business was prospering.

His eyes were drawn immediately to the French fresco paintings on the ceilings and walls as he and Mary made their way through the lobby to the restaurant, and he stopped for a moment to appreciate the details of the fine art before continuing.

They were greeted at the entrance with a warm smile by the maître d of the establishment, a tall man with dark hair that was graying at the temples.

"Good evening and welcome to the Cape Cod Room. Shall I have a waiter seat you at a table for two, Sir?"

Matthew responded affirmatively and he and Mary were quickly ushered to their seats and provided with menus.

Eyeing the list of sumptuous cuisine that was available to him, Matthew's stomach began to rumble, and he looked about the room to see if anyone beside Mary, who, by the look on her face, had heard it. Seeing no-one glaring at him, he concluded that that the chatter in the room had been loud enough to mask the sound, and he returned his attention to his menu.

"Hmmm…I am not sure whether or not I should order the Onion Soup Au Gratin or the Fresh Crabmeat Cocktail," Matthew said.

"It will be the fresh crabmeat cocktail for me…" Mary said. "…followed by the Grilled Lobster Paprika with butter. Let's see if the Cape Cod room lives up to its reputation."

"You're right, seafood it is. Now…would you like baked potato or Au Gratin?" Matthew asked.

"Baked." Mary replied without reservation.

"I'm not sure whether I'd like the string beans or spinach, though."

"It will be string beans for me," Matthew replied. "Spinach makes me gassy."

Mary chuckled, "Then by all means, stay clear of it."

"And what do you say to Frozen Macaroon Mousse for dessert?"

"I say it sounds delicious," Mary replied and flashed him a bright smile.

He returned it, then took her menu from her hands and placed it over his own on the table.

As he waited for their orders to be taken, Matthew's eyes perused the room.

"If not for our living at the Abbey and the grandeur of our accommodations up to this point in our journey, I think I would be even more beguiled by the Drake than I find I am now."

Mary nodded her head in agreement and then looked over her shoulder toward the entrance to the room.

"I was hoping Anna would change her mind and join us, but after spending the night chaperoning three children on a moving train, I can easily understand why she would want to have food sent to the room and retire early.

"Had it been me, I would have forgone the food and went straight to bed," Matthew replied.

Mary fixed her eyes on him with an incredulous look on her face.

A sheepish grin spread across Matthew's, and he amended his pronouncement.

"Well, perhaps I would have had a small snack first."

Finding his about-face amusing, Mary began to laugh.

Matthew followed suit, and his and Mary's laughter brought a smile to their waiter's face when he arrived to take their order.

Whether it was the satin sheets that he and his wife lay upon or her head fitting perfectly in the crook of his shoulder, Matthew felt blissfully happy.

He pulled Mary closer to him and planted a quick peck on the top of her head before returning his own to the plump pillow beneath it.

"It doesn't get any better than this, does it, darling?" he said.

"If it does, I am in too relaxed a state to consider it," Mary replied.

Matthew was silent then for a long moment before he began to speak of those less fortunate than they were.

"George read that the purpose of the fair was not just to entertain the masses that would come to see it but to give them hope for the future. Millions are still unemployed, and unlike those back home, without the benefit of unemployment insurance to fall back upon. They must depend on the charity of others to keep them and their families from starving."

"Those people live in a different world, Matthew, one much harsher than I have ever known," Mary said, and then raised her head and met his eyes. "I know how fortunate I have been to be born into this one, Matthew. I didn't always but have felt that way for quite a long time."

He was glad that she did as he shared the gratitude that she professed.

"Can you imagine what it is like to have to stand on a bread line or get your only meals from a soup kitchen to keep from starving? While we lay on satin sheets, it pains me to know that there are homeless people sleeping on park benches tonight," Matthew lamented.

Mary sighed. "It is absolutely dreadful, darling, but please do not dwell on their misfortune. As much as you may want to, you cannot save the world, Matthew. You are limited in what you can do to help those less fortunate than you and I... and I have seen how hard you work to improve their lot back home. Let that ease your mind."

Matthew knew what Mary said was the truth But it still was difficult to swallow, and he sighed.

"Let's hope, then, that this fair will lift the spirits of those who need it most," he said, reaching for the switch to turn off the lamp.

"Yes, let's hope," Mary replied and lay her head back down.

XX.

"Science finds"

"Ministry Applies"

"Man Conforms"

"That is the motto of the fair, Father," George announced, standing beside him on the ticket line.

Matthew nodded his head in acknowledgement while eyeing the bright red banners that lined the walkway on each side, each fluttering on a pole that towered above the ground.

Following his line of vision, George said, "It is called the Avenue of Flags for the obvious reason. Quite impressive, don't you think?"

"Oh, yes, " Matthew replied.

Mary and Anna stood off to the side with JR and Victoria, while he and George waited on a long line to buy the tickets that would give them access to the fairgrounds.

"Are they almost at the ticket booth, Mother?" Victoria asked for the third time.

"You must learn to have patience, Victoria," Mary replied. "Questioning your father's progress every minute will not make the line move any faster."

The little girl huffed, and then seeing her mother's eyes narrow, replied that she would do her best.

Mary turned to Anna and rolled her eyes with exasperation. 'I must remember to practice what I preach," she said.

Anna nodded her head, "It isn't always easy setting a good example, is it?"

"It appears easy enough for you, Anna. I dare say, you have the patience of a saint."

Anna snorted. "I think Mr. Bates would strongly disagree with that statement."

Their conversation was interrupted by the sound of a woman speaking loudly a few yards away, and they both turned their heads in her direction.

"Excuse me…. Excuse me, Officer," a young woman with blonde hair called out to a policeman walking in front of the entranceway, twirling his baton.

"Would you please direct me to the Sky Ride. I am to meet my husband there, but he has the directions to the exhibits."

At that, Victoria's squeal of delight made it clear that her father and brother were returning.

"George, did you remember the map provided by the hotel?" Mary asked.

He nodded and waved it over his head while his father did the same with their tickets.

"Excellent. I knew we could count on you", Matthew said, patting George on the back with his free hand.

"Now, are we all ready to see a hundred years of progress? he boomed before turning to his son and asking in a more sedate manner, "That is what the fair is billed as, isn't it George?"

He replied that it was, and Victoria cried out a resounding "Yes" in answer to their father's question.

Matthew then cautioned the children to stay close as there would be many people mulling about and they could be separated and lost in the crowd.

Focusing on Victoria, he said, "Do I have your promise, young lady?"

Victoria nodded, crossed her heart with her index finger and said, "Please let's hurry, Father. I don't think I have any patience left."

Having overhead his daughter's conversation with her mother, Matthew chuckled and took hold of her hand.

The Sears Roebuck Building stood at the end of the avenue next to a grandstand decorated with red, white, and blue bunting and a multitude of American flags.

The architectural design of the building was modern, all straight lines and angles, with a tall tower rising in the center, and like the train the night before, it was completely air conditioned.

It was the fair's hospitality center, a place where visitors could make a telephone call, send a wire, check parcels or wraps, get information about rooms, hotels, transportation or the exposition itself. It also housed an emergency hospital and a restaurant.

A good deal of people gathered around it, making plans as they perused the map of the fair grounds that they were holding in their hands, with one woman's voice rising above the rest.

"Harry, look at what that sign says. Sears catalog orders can be made here. We can kill two birds with one stone…get a look at what's inside and order that mulcher you need," a thin woman wearing a wide straw hat said in a dialect that Matthew considered to be a Southern drawl.

The burly man beside her nodded his head in agreement and smiled, clearly happy to be able to order what he needed while he was here. Then the two hurried side by side into the building.

The couple's unique accent perplexed Victoria and she blurted, "How odd their voices sound. The man at the desk in the hotel doesn't sound like that."

Mary replied that a person's accent depended on what part of the country they lived in, adding that the same held true in all countries.

"Haven't you ever heard someone that has visited us at Downton sound differently than we do when they speak?

Victoria contemplated the question a few moments with her face scrunched up in concentration. Then she replied, "Yes…but none of them sounded that different."

Matthew gave her claim some thought and found he could not disagree with it. However, he did caution her not to make mention of any other peculiarities she found with anyone at the fair until they returned to their suite as not to offend anyone.

He then sat beside George, and with Mary, Anna, Victoria and JR's input, planned out what exhibits they would like to see that day, knowing they could not possibly take the entire fair in during their first outing.

They walked down avenues and boulevards that stretched for miles, passing buildings of every color, lavish gardens, and ethnic restaurants.

Matthew's senses felt as though they were under assault, albeit a pleasant one, as he took in the sights, sounds and scents of the exposition.

"It is like being in a city within a city," Matthew said, taking in his surroundings.

"A Rainbow City," Victoria said, and JR nodded his head in agreement.

"No doubt many thousands of gallons of paint were required to cover all this." George piped in. " I wonder if they bought it at Sears Roebuck. It would be convenient, after all."

Matthew smiled and shook his head while Mary chuckled and exclaimed, "Oh, George...only you."

One of the boulevards led to the Sky Ride, advertised as the "Sensation of the Fair", and at first glance, Matthew knew the pronouncement was justified.

The ride consisted of cable cars that were modeled after rocket ships like those in science fiction novels, and they moved across the marina between two towers that soared three times higher in the air.

"If you would like to go to the top before taking the ride, you can see four states from there," the ticket attendant said.

Matthew bent his head back as far as he could, contemplating the height of the tower.

"It is 628 feet tall," the attendant said, confirming Matthew's estimation. "If you folks would like to go to the top and then ride across to the other side on your way down, it costs 25 cents per person."

George, JR and Victoria nodded their heads with enthusiasm, and a quick glance at Mary and Anna told him they concurred with the youngsters.

"Yes, we would like that," Matthew said, handing the man a $5.00 bill. "Will we all fit in one cable car?"

The attendant said there was plenty of room for them to do so comfortably, and once he doled out the proper change, he opened the entry gate and directed them to the elevator.

The view from the top of the tower was magnificent, reminding him of the thrill he experienced atop the Empire State Building, though the skyscraper was twice as tall.

"It is quite lovely, isn't it?" Mary said.

Taking in the beauty of the panorama in every direction, Matthew smiled. "Yes, very. I am happy we have been able to get a glimpse of more than the east coast of America. In fact, I wish we had time to see more."

"Unfortunately, we are on a tight schedule, darling, and if we don't get moving, I fear we will never be able to visit all the exhibits we have planned on our first outing." Mary replied.

Matthew nodded his head, took one last look at the view, and led the way to the rocket ride.

The cable car they were assigned to was painted bright red and had "Andy" emblazoned in bold letters across the lower half of it.

"Please be careful stepping into the car, Ma'am," the operator said, as Mary reached the threshold of the door.

Anna received the same caution as she was stepping in, and once Matthew saw she and Mary seated, he guided Victoria their way.

The boys, sporting wide grins, hopped into the car and sat on the opposite bench beside one another.

Spotting the name ' emblazoned beneath the doorway, Matthew asked the Attendant its meaning.

"All the cars are named after characters on the Amos and Andy radio show. Haven't you ever heard of it?" he replied.

"I believe I may have read something about it in the papers but haven't been in America long enough to listen to it."

The attendant was eager to bring him up to speed, explaining that it was a comedy about two negroes, Amos Jones and Andy Brown, who had worked on a farm in Georgia and came to Chicago to find a better life."

"You should listen to the show while you are here. It's very funny…a real hoot."

Matthew thanked him for the information, although he did not think he would find much to amuse him in a program that found humor in the plight of two black men, who, in reality, would have suffered greatly due to the bigotry that still existed seven decades after the Civil War had ended slavery

Putting the unpleasant thought behind him, he poked his head in the doorway to the cable car and said, "Room for one more? in a playful tone.

Victoria patted the space to her left with an inviting smile, and he was happy to oblige her.

She shifted back and forth in her seat in anticipation of what was to come, bumping into him more than once. And a few moments later, the rocket took off.

Looking down at the exposition below, Matthew concluded that the ride was definitely worth the price of admission.

With his map in hand, George called out, "Look, there is the Planetarium we passed when we first came in."

Then he proceeded to point out other points of interest, eliciting many "oohs" and "aahs" from the occupants of the car.

As they passed the midway point on the cable, Matthew saw a tall, sleek granite structure on the other side of the marina and asked his son if he saw it on the map.

"Yes, Father, that is the Federal Building," George replied.

A familiar squeal caught everyone's attention and Matthew turned to the source.

"What is it, Victoria. You sound as though you've seen a mouse…and not Mickey." he said.

"There it is, Father... that is the Enchanted Island... and there is the Magic Mountain ride... and the dinosaurs that move…They make sounds, too, don't they George? And right there next to the windmill are the automobiles that George, JR and I can drive and... Oh, my...I didn't know there would be two giant water slides. I wish I had thought to bring my swimsuit... but, perhaps, I can come back tomorrow with it. We will be coming back tomorrow, won't we, Father? Mother? The weather is warm enough for me to get wet and I will be so happy if you say we will" Victoria spouted.

Mary turned to Anna and said, "I don't know how she manages to say so much in one breath," and they both chuckled.

Seeing his wife's nod of approval in is direction, Matthew replied, "I don't see why not, Victoria, but you will have to carry it and a towel with you for quite a long time. Are you sure you are up to that?"

"I will carry it for her when she gets tired, Father, along with my own."

JR then offered his assistance to Victoria and expressed his desire to join in the fun to his mother, who readily gave her approval.

The excitement continued as the cable car inched closer to the second tower, with George pointing out the largest thermometer in the world, created by the Halvoline Oil Company, and soaring 218 feet above the ground.

That exhibit was followed by the Hall of Science, where a replica of a pulsating heart would be on display, the actual ship that Admiral Bird sailed to the South Pole, and the General Motors, Ford and Firestone Building, in that order, all three giving presentations on how their products were made and what they had in store for the public in the future.

Then, just as Matthew thought there was nothing that could top what he had seen so far, a squadron of sea planes in a "V" formation soared overhead over the fair grounds.

"It is the Italian Armada, Italy's contribution to the fair," George cried out. "They are going to land on the lake."

He and JR stared at the sight in awe, and Matthew, too, followed the planes progress as they descended from the sky.

Yet, he was anxious to see what they had from the air with his feet planted on the ground, and when the ride came to a halt, he nearly jumped out of the car, eager to get to the first exhibit on the list.

Mary and Anna were eager to see the exhibit of the premature babies that were on display in incubators, as proceeds from the exhibit paid for the infant's medical care. However, it was situated directly next to the Paris pavilion, where a burlesque show ran day and night.

"Who is Sally Rand?" Victoria asked, spying the promotion for the attraction.

Mary and Matthew turned to one another with raised brows.

"I am going to let you handle this one, darling, since the painting of nude natives in Tahiti fell into my lap," Mary said.

Matthew grimaced, cleared his throat, and turning to their daughter, replied, "She is a…um...She is a dancer, who gives performances on stage. Yes…that is it."

"Like a ballerina?"

Matthew coughed, 'No, not quite, Sweetheart….I would not describe Miss Rand as a ballerina."

Victoria looked at the sign again and did her best to read it out loud. "Bur…Burles…,"

"Burlesque," George spat in a hushed tone, and I do not think Father will care to explain what that is."

Matthew stared at his son with a furrowed brow. "How do you know what a burlesque show entails?"

George blushed and replied, "I read about it in one of the flyers that someone had left discarded on a bench I sat on…and I dare say I found it quite shocking."

One look at JR's high color told Matthew that his son had shared what he had found with his friend and Matthew turned his head, his lips pressed together tightly to stifle the laughter he felt rising in his throat.

It took a moment for him to compose himself, and once he did, he said in as serious a tone as he could muster, "Yes…well…it definitely is not the type of entertainment that should be discussed in public, especially in front of your sister, but I am at your disposal should you wish to do so later when we are alone, George."

"That won't be necessary, Father. I have the general gist of what takes place during the …performance," George replied stiffly and suggested that they move on to the store that sold Disney merchandise, since the line to see the babies in the incubators was so long.

That caught Victoria's attention and she asked no further questions about Sally Rand, but instead whether or not her parents would purchase a Minnie Mouse doll for her at the Disney store.

Then she reminded her father that he had promised her they would ride the roller coaster.

Sweetheart, I want you to hold onto the metal bar tightly and do not let go until the ride comes to a complete stop. Do you understand?"

The little girl, her eyes sparkling with delight, nodded her head and tightened her grip on the bar so hard that the whites of her knuckles showed.

He smiled and patted her hand. "You don't have to hold on that tight, Victoria. I don't want you to hurt yourself. Here, let me show you," he said and proceeded to demonstrate the amount of pressure needed The bar on your lap will prevent you from being hurled out of your seat.

Satisfied that she was secure, he grabbed hold of it with his free hand and settled back into his seat, eager for the ride to begin. Then he turned his head to the car behind him that held Mary and Anna.

"Ready?" he said, hoping that his wife didn't regret her decision to ride the coaster, since he knew that she only was doing so to spare Anna from having to share a car with a stranger.

"As ready as I'll ever be," she replied and adjusted the hairpins that held her hat in place.

He was about to say that it might be a good idea to remove the hat as he knew from experience that many were lost to the wind but didn't have a chance to as the cars began to move.

There was a buzz of excitement in the air as the conjoined cars began the first climb, and the sound of the gears clicking made the hair on the back of his neck rise up in anticipation of the upcoming drop. Then, reaching the top, the ride stopped dead, along with all sound.

it was so quiet that he thought he could hear his heart pounding, but the silence was quickly replaced by the sound of ear-piercing screams as the cars spilled over the precipice and plunged down the steep slope at a rapid speed.

Matthew had a sinking feeling as his body was pulled upward with such force that his knees hit the safety bar and he gripped the handrail tighter, even though he knew with certainty he was not in any danger. The skin on his face rippled under the onslaught of the ferocious wind and his internal organs felt as though they had shifted from their rightful place, his stomach landing somewhere in his chest.

Yet, in spite of his being jostled about and wind-swept, he found the ride thrilling and was thoroughly enjoying it.

But did Victoria?

His gaze settled on her hands first and he saw that she, too, had tightened her grip on the bar, her knuckles white, again. This time, however, he would make no comment as his were the same color. Her eyes were shut tight and mouth wide open, emitting a prolonged scream, and he wondered if he had made a mistake in giving in to her pleas.

"Are you quite alright, Victoria?" he hollered as loudly as he could, but to no avail.

For a split second, he wondered if she were terrified, but then her eyes opened long enough for him to see there was no fear in them.

Her screams turned to laughter the next moment as the car navigated twists and turns that made her slide sideways, her body colliding with his before shifting to the opposite end of their car. Next came another incline and subsequent drop, at which point she screamed again, though not as loudly or as long as she did the first.

They sped along then on a straight track that came to a jolting halt, snapping his head forward and back so quickly that he feared whiplash and he joined in a collective sigh with his fellow riders as the ride ended

It had only lasted a couple of minutes, but Matthew assumed that long enough to aggravate his already compromised spine.

No doubt I will require a massage from Mary tonight.

The thought made him smile as did the look on Victoria's face.

"Did you have fun, sweetheart?" he said, although he knew the answer.

She nodded her head and gushed, "Great fun…even more than riding the double Ferris Wheel."

As he waited for the ride attendant to raise the bar to release them, he turned his head to see how Anna, Mary and the boys had faired.

George and JR appeared ecstatic, the two rehashing their favorite parts of the ride.

Then he caught sight of Anna and Mary.

Anna's hat had been pulled down so far that he could barely see her eyes and Mary's beret was no longer on her head.

His eyes widened as he took in the state of her hair, her chignon having come undone and her dark locks sticking out in every direction.

An image of Medusa came to mind, and he felt laughter bubbling up but managed to contain it, fearing there would be no back massage if he did not.

Quickly, he averted his gaze and shifted his attention to the attendant approaching him and his daughter.

A young man with a tattoo of a red heart with "Matilda" emblazoned on it in black ink reached his hand out to Victoria.

"I will help you out of the car, Missy," he said and smiled.

Victoria stared at his tattoo for a moment but made no comment. Neither did she accept his offer of help.

Instead, she smiled sweetly and said, "My Father has more tickets, Sir. May we ride again?"

Mathew blinked, looked into the attendant's eyes, and with a pleading look in his own, shook his head back and forth like a weathervane in a hurricane

They didn't arrive back at the hotel until nearly 9 that night and it took great effort for Matthew to make casual conversation with the doorman as his mind was as tired as the rest of his body.

That did not surprise him, considering all it had recorded that day.

Airplanes, balloons and high-speed trains that had come to the fair to set new records were etched vividly in his memory as were the exhibitions that showcased the newest products, processes and technical innovations. There were parades, too, and dancing in the streets, replicas of villages from Italy and France that were recreated so well, that he could imagine he was there. And he would never forget the look on Mary and Anna's face when they spotted the young men in short pants pulling rickshaws in the streets, much to the delight of the women they were transporting.

"Matthew, you must massage my feet. I am in agony," Mary moaned.

"I was just going to ask you if you would work your magic on my back," Matthew croaked, his voice still hoarse from screaming on on the roller coaster.

Mary nodded her head and replied, "Yes…yes…but after my feet, if you can manage it. Every step I take is torture."

"I am going to soak my feet," Anna declared. I am pretty certain a hotel of this caliber will have no difficulty in providing their guests with a basin.

The clerk at the front desk hailed Matthew with a message in his hand and he broke away from the rest to retrieve it.

"There is a message here for Lady Mary Crawley, Sir. I believe that is your wife?"

Matthew nodded and held out his hand for the message, which he was surprised to see was from Mary's Uncle Harold.

Perhaps we forgot something at the house? I hope that is all it is.

"Is something wrong, Matthew?" Mary asked, looking at the note in his hands.

Matthew let her know that Harold had telephoned and would like her to call him back.

Mary's pained expression changed to one of anxiousness, and she took the message from his hand and looked it over, lingering a second on the time the call came in.

"He called three hours ago. That is the time dinner is served in Newport. Why would he call then?"

Matthew shrugged his shoulders, knowing anything he offered as a reason for the call would be conjecture.

"I have a bad feeling about this, Matthew. Something is wrong."

"Darling, don't let your mind run away with you. There is no use speculating what the call is about. We will be in our room in a few moments, and you will know with certainty.

Anna looked on with a quizzical look in her eye but asked no questions.

Then they all made their way to the elevator.

Mary rushed to the phone on the nightstand next to their bed and dialed the switchboard operator with Harold's phone number. Too anxious to sit, she stood in place tapping her foot while she waited for someone to pick up on the other end of the line.

"Hello…Claire, is that you? Ahh...good, it is. This is Lady Mary...No, I am not calling to speak with my grandmother. I just got a phone message from my uncle and am returning his call. Would he be available?"

The children asked if they could go to their rooms and Anna and Matthew reminded their respective offspring that it was late, and they should get ready for bed.

"I wish I had half their energy," Anna said as she watched the three of them bound down the hallway.

"I would settle for a quarter," Matthew replied and sighed. "I cannot recall when I've felt this exhausted."

Anna concurred and said once the children were settled in their beds, she would be heading for her own.

His attention was drawn to Mary, then, as he heard her addressing Harold, and he quickly thanked Anna and moved closer to his wife.

"Is anything wrong, Harold. We just returned to the hotel and found that you called. I am sorry for getting back to you so late."

She was silent then for a long moment, her facial expression changing as the seconds passed until her eyes grew wide. Then her face paled and she lowered herself onto the bed.

"When? How?" she croaked, visibly shaken by whatever Harold had told her.

He sat down beside her, wondering if her grandmother's health had deteriorated further, and worse case scenarios raced through his mind, the most prominent being she suffered a heart attack or a stroke.

"I see...Yes, if you could make the arrangements, it would be greatly appreciated. Please call me with the details as soon as you have them. Yes...I am anxious to...and don't worry about waking us. Thank you, Harold. Good night."

She stared into space as she laid the receiver back on the hook and swallowed hard.

He took her hand in his and squeezed it gently. Darling, what is it?"

She turned to him and blinked as if she had seen him for the first time but remained silent.

"Mary, please tell me what is wrong," he pleaded.

"Oh, Mathew. I never thought…I mean I knew it was inevitable…but not so soon…Not now."

"Is it Martha? Has her illness worsened?"

She shook her head back and forth, her eyes brimming with tears.

"No, she is holding her own. Harold said she went to bed early with a headache. It is Granny he called about."

"Granny! he cried out, finding the turn of events hard to believe.

Mary nodded her head slowly and then pressed herself up against him.

"She is gone, Matthew," she sobbed. "Granny died in her sleep last night."

AN: If you have read "Patient #9", which was written many years ago, you will see that I had written Violet's passing while Mary and Matthew were attending the World's Fair in 1934. My having her pass on at this time has nothing to do with Downton Abbey's canon storyline on t.v. or in the movies. I have not watched the show since early Season 5 or the subsequent movies as the series without Matthew depresses me.

Thanks for your patience. I hope you enjoyed the fair. There was a lot to pack into this chapter. Hence the size. I hope you liked it and will leave a review.

There are roughly three left and they all will take place back at Downton, so I won't need to do so much research.

I hope you will stick with the story till the end.