Mary woke first the following morning, she was never one to sleep through the morning. Once the sun was up, she was ready to start the day. She turned to the body lying beside her, still fast asleep. She touched his lip gently, longing to kiss his subtle lips as he slept. Her actions stopped, admiring her husband lovingly. She rolled out of bed and slipped on her slippers. She went to grab her own dressing gown from the door when upon unhooking it, Matthew's became dislodged and fell upon the floor. As it fell, a small box rolled from a pocket. She picked it up to admire it, reading the tag attached to the bow, 'to the mother of my child.' She gasped. Matthew wasn't to know of her trips to London and the procedure.
Mary began to feel guilty for how she had neglected Matthew the night before. She began to wonder whether he had indented to hand her a gift in a romantic moment, that she had perhaps spoiled for the two of them. She quickly scooped up the garment and popped the gift back in the pocket. She would happily wait for whatever Matthew had planned than ruin the surprise.
She met Anna in the hallway, her face glowing with excitement. "I was just coming to check up on you M'Lady." Anna greeted.
"No need, Matthew is still sleeping. I don't think he slept well last night, it's best to let him rest." Mary began.
"You look awfully happy this morning." Anna smiled, feeding on her friend's energy.
"Very happy. If you wouldn't mind running me a bath, I'd like to wash up before breakfast." Mary would hope that her husband would be awake by the time she had gotten out, so the two of them could get dressed together before heading down.
"Not a problem." Anna ran Lady Mary a bath and laid out a fresh towel and bathrobe. When the water had stopped she called out and Lady Mary got in. Anna took this time to begin the search for her husband who she had been missing dearly.
On the stairwell down to the service corridor, she conveniently almost bumped into Mr Bates looking to come up the opposite way. "There you are, I've been meaning to ask how last night went." Anna jumped the gun, eager to find out whether their sacrifice was worth the effort.
"Good morning to you as well." He stole a kiss from his wife's busy lips.
She blushed, "I'm sorry, just anxious is all."
"That's okay, I've just missed us waking up together." Even though they'd only had this practice for a few days, not having the touch of another person in the bed beside him, was a lonely experience. One he didn't particularly want to keep up with.
"I feel the same." Anna took her husband's hand, "how did it go last night?"
"Somebody tried to gain access to our corridor. The door was securely locked, so whoever it was left shortly after." Bates would have hated to think about what could have happened had he not checked the lock and the door had been open. "Something tells me that this will not be the last attempt."
"What are you two doves squawking about?" Thomas interpreted.
"Mind your own, you." Anna joked.
"How are you today Thomas, sleep well?" Bates asked, "you didn't hear anything odd down the hall, did you?"
"Like a ghost, you mad?" He hardly slept knowing that Matthew had returned home from London. He had been expecting a visit. Thomas had given up on his efforts to sleep and sat on the edge of his bed, his anxiety irritating the baby, he couldn't help but circle his stomach to calm the kicks. He wasn't entirely sure when he'd fallen asleep, but all he remembered was waking up this morning at the bottom of the bed, curled up.
"A ghost?" Daisy chimed in.
"No, there is no ghost. Pay no attention, Daisy." Bates dispelled. For Daisy was far too impressionable for him to not protect her. The young girl would be afraid of her own shadow by the end of the day if Thomas were to continue.
"Oh, I don't know about that Bates, this is an old house, the walls talk, haven't you heard, that Mr. Pamuk fella has come back from the dead." Daisy gasped. That name brought back sobering memories. Thomas smiled cheekily, Daisy was gullible, and the fright on her face was rewarding enough.
"That's enough, Thomas." Bates put a stop to the joke, considering its disrespectful roots.
"Thomas, what are the other signs? Flickering lights, cold chills?" Daisy queried in a panicked voice.
"Why? Have you seen somethin'?" Thomas questioned, displaying an exuberated fake interest. When Daisy became flustered, he couldn't help but laugh.
"Please, let's talk no more of these womanly fears. Breakfast is ready." Bates glared up at Thomas as the younger man wondered towards the dining room.
"We're just having a laugh." Thomas added, "right Daisy?" Thomas took a seat around the table. Carson kept his eye on Thomas but said nothing. It was clear that his 'punishment' was not quite over, but it seemed to be getting better – or rather Carson had begun to accept their current position as reality.
"Yeah…" She stuttered, "I know that ghosts aren't real." She bluffed.
He was up early, early enough not to be noticed by anybody. Matthew had devised a cunning plan, well thought out, and almost fail-proof. He waited for when the servants were having their breakfast to execute his first move. It would be too risky simply sneaking into Carson's office now, he would have to create a distraction. Which was the first step, to head off to the kennel and release the hound, Isis. Should Lord Grantham's precious companion run away, the whole house would launch a rescue party and hunt down the lost animal.
So here he was, lifting the lock on the dog's cage. Isis simply stood up and stretched, yawning. She sat at his feet expecting to be petted. Matthew sighed, "Go, shoo." He whispered, trying to waver her away. When she only tilted her head in confusion, he grew frustrated. His plan was not to be foiled by a stupid dog.
Matthew grabbed Isis by the collar and dragged her along with him, through a wooded patch and to a small tool-shed at the far edge of the land. He pushed the dog inside, "Now, don't look at me that way." Isis was indifferent to her situation and still looked at Matthew with happiness in her eyes. "You'll be fine. Somebody will find you soon." He promised, even if he had to 'go looking' himself. The door had an iron latch that locked as soon as the door was closed. It seemed purely like an accident, the dog was to get lost whilst exploring, happen to find the shed ajar, and as soon as she steps inside it locks closed behind her.
He returned to the house just in time, "You're an early bird." Branson commented, walking down the stairs. With nobody to fuss over him like the others, Branson was usually the first down in the morning.
"Yes, I took a walk, I have a lot on my mind is all." He mentioned, covering for his slightly muddied boots.
"Anything I can help with?" Branson asked.
"No, no. It's nothing important. Thank you regardless." Matthew smiled.
"Good morning, both of you. It would seem that we're waiting on the ladies once again." Lord Grantham jested. He was happy to admit that he no longer felt as lonely having other males to share his dinner table. Living in a house full of women had its challenges, and despite how they came to be his relatives he was grateful.
"Some things never change." Branson laughed, as did Lord Grantham. Matthew remained sober, neither two men questioned the third. Instead, they made their way into the breakfast room, each taking a newspaper from the center of the table.
A few hours had passed. Lord Grantham had been sitting in the library reading a new book on Russian Imperialism when it dawned on him that a part of his soul had been missing. Isis who usually basked in the sunlight that shone through the window was not there. He put his book down, wondering whether he could trace seeing her at all this morning. He rang the bell and Carson appeared with a moment's notice. "Carson, would you mind checking on Isis, I haven't seen her this morning."
"Of course, My Lord." Carson agreed. He made his way down to the servant's hall. He took a step outside and to the kennels, to check on Isis himself. To his surprise, the dog was not there. It was odd, but he assumed that the stable boys must have taken the dog for a walk. On his journey, he asked several staff whether they had seen the dog until he finally reached the stables. Both boys were shoveling hay into a newly mucked stable. "I don't suppose that either of you has seen Isis about?" He pushed.
"No Mr Carson, not yet today I haven't." One replied. The other nodded in corroboration to the story.
"Very well." He replied before heading back towards the house. "How strange." He hummed to himself.
"Are you alright?" Mrs Hughes questioned, having seen the discomfort on Carson's face.
"It's the dog, I'm afraid she might have gone missing." He answered he sighed long and hard. He wished for one calm day, just one. Running this house was a task and a half, each day creating new ways to test his patience.
"You don't say." Mrs Hughes rolled her eyes, she too fed up. "Well, I'll have the hall boys searching the house. I wouldn't worry, we can find her." She said half-heartedly.
"The sooner the better." He countered.
Time passed, each of the hall boys checked the rooms and the maids checked the bedrooms. Under each bed, behind each cabinet, in the linen closets, even as far as the boiler room. The dog could not be found. Carson became worried, if the dog was not in the house then it had to be on the grounds, or if today was to get any worse, perhaps the dog had run into town.
"Listen here, all of you." Carson announced. "Anybody who isn't doing something fundamentally important, gather round." He began. Concerned faced crowded round him. "As some of you may have heard already, Isis has gone missing."
"We need you all to pitch in and help." Mrs Hughes contributed.
"A second search of the house will be conducted and the rest of you will be spread across the grounds. I will inform His Lordship of our efforts thus far, so everybody should start the search before I get back." Carson ordered.
"You heard the man!" She clapped her hands and suddenly everybody moved with purpose.
Anna turned to Thomas, "you stay here, there's plenty for you to do while we search." She put rationally.
"I'm no dewdropper, I've got to help," Thomas replied defensively. "After all His Lordship has done for me." He protested. Should he be the one to find the dog, it would be a great accomplishment one which would be recognised, and part of his debt paid off.
"I wouldn't feel comfortable, perhaps you should stay, where I know you're safe." Anna pleaded. "It won't be long before she's home safe." She attempted to reassure him.
Thomas said nothing, he was not going to be grounded and stuck at the house while others ran around meaningfully. He wasn't an invalid, he was perfectly able to walk, and run if he had to. Whether he had Anna's permission or not, he was going to help.
Carson approached the library, he hated delivering bad news. He approached sullenly, with a small cough he caught Lord Grantham's attention. "Ah, Carson, have you any news?" He asked, there was little hope in his voice.
"News?" Matthew asked. For he had been at work this morning and only just walked in. "Is there anything I should know about?" He reiterated.
"Nothing yet, My Lord. We are extending the search to cover the rest of the grounds. Rest assured; she will be found." He noted.
"That simply won't do. Carson, bring me my coat and walking boots, I will be joining the others." He said confidently.
"My Lord?" Carson became flustered. It was tough to mask a smile but for Matthew, from the sounds of things, his plan was working nicely. "You do not have to, My Lord-" His Lordship interrupted.
"Don't be ridiculous, please, she is my responsibility." Carson simply nodded his head, and immediately acted upon his orders. The two, suited and botted were headed out when they ran into Branson who strikingly seemed alarmed.
"What's going on?" He requested. Having only just returned from the town's tavern, he was not privy to the common worry.
"It's Isis. It would seem she's gone missing." Lord Grantham answered.
"That's awful, count me in as well," Branson said without a second thought. "Where have we checked already?"
"So far, just the house." Lord Grantham responded.
"I'll begin my search behind the house," He announced. "Let's reconvene in an hour." He suggested. After a mutual agreement, they went their separate ways. Each person took to the grounds in search of the beloved pet.
Thomas grabbed his coat and set out on his own path, shortly after the other service staff had made their departures. 'Isis' rang in the air, with everybody shouting her name. From the backdoor, he walked as far as he possibly could towards the far end of the land boundary. Truth be told, the journey had felt twice as long being so pregnant. With a human pressing on his organs and weighing him down, it turned into quite the effort.
"Isis!" He called out, panting slightly. "Isis," he called out again. Thomas stopped and listened, behind his own rapid breathing and the birds chirping, he could hear the faint sounds of ten small claws scratching against something in the distance.
He continued to call her name as he moved towards the sound, soon it became louder and soon crying was apparent. It was unmistakable, in a eureka moment he exhaled cheerfully, and a smile crept upon his lips. Surely enough he had found the dog. Thomas approached a small shed, at its side a window, a quick glance through and he spotted Isis, "there you are, you silly mutt." Isis became ecstatic, she jumped up to the window and barked. Finally, somebody had come to free her.
Thomas unhooked the latch and opened the door; Isis had somehow become trapped behind some equipment that had fallen in front of the door. He assumed that Isis must have knocked something over attempting to escape. As he opened the door, an unopened bucket of paint rolled forward, he nudged it out of the way. One hand tucked under his stomach he gracefully stepped over the remaining buckets on the floor. Some wooden slats had fallen and barricaded Isis in, whilst trying to pull one away the door closed behind him.
He stood straight, nose flared, "we're locked in, aren't we?" He asked, stepping back over the paint. He jiggled the door, "now you've gone and done it." He huffed sarcastically.