Hello everyone! This is a simple, fun one shot that was inspired by my story Elsie Hughes and the Three that Stole Her Heart. You do not need to read that to read this. This story revolves around the three Bates children and Lady Mary. I know that their son is named Johnny, however, when I wrote this story (and others in this same universe) he had not been named yet. So in this story, his name is Jack. Enjoy!
An Outing with (Lady) Mary
Late April-1936
It was a gorgeous afternoon. Mary decided to take the rest of the day to go and visit Mr. Carson. It was something she did often. She enjoyed this time they got to spend together not at the Abbey. Sometimes the two of them would go for walks, others they would stay in and chat, and there were times they would have a picnic outside.
Usually, these were planned visits, but not today. She had missed him particularly today and she couldn't put her finger on why that was the case. Instead of dwelling on it, she decided to just go and visit him. Charlie, her seven year old son who was named for Mr. Carson, had begged to go along with her. But Mary decided it was best he stayed behind today. She promised him and her other two children that they would all visit him together next week.
When she knocked on the front door, Charles opened it. A bright smile quickly filled his face, reaching all the way up to his eyes.
"Lady Mary," he happily said, widening the door to allow her to walk in. She accepted the invitation and came inside his quaint cottage. Mary was glad that he and Mrs. Carson had decided to remain in this cottage even though the two had retired. She would miss them, especially Mr. Carson, if they were to move away.
"Good afternoon, I do hope I am not interrupting," Mary was quick to say. Mr. Carson shook his head.
"Never," he replied. He motioned over at the settee for her to take a seat. Mary did so and Mr. Carson sat on the chair to the right.
"How are you?"
"Oh we're fine, just fine Lady Mary. Elsie, er Mrs. Hughes, is in a bit of a tizzy this afternoon, but otherwise we're doing well."
Mary's brows furrowed. "What is the matter with Mrs. Hughes?"
Charles head shook. "It's that blasted teacher who had taken over while Mr. Molesley has been away for his honeymoon this week."
"Whatever does that have to do with Mrs. Hughes?"
"It doesn't. It has to do with Madeline," Charles explained. At that, Mary's interest peeked.
"My Madeline?" Mr. Carson nodded. Madeline Elsie Bates was Anna and John's second child. She, like her brother before her, had been born in Mary's bed. Madeline's birth, however, had been traumatic to not only Anna and the baby, but Mary, as well. Madeline had come a month early and been very small. Mary had to help with the delivery and to keep the baby warm, as Anna had faded right next to her. Since that day, Mary had a special connection with Madeline Bates. Saving her life had bonded the two of them.
"What happened?"
Charles' brows rose and fell as he sighed heavily. His cheeks slightly reddened and Mary could tell he was also upset about the events with the teacher.
"She called Madeline a liar," Charles began. "Apparently in class, Madeline mentioned that you and she were friends."
"We are friends," Mary countered.
"Yes, well, Mrs. Brown did not believe her. Said she was lying and sent her outside. Elsie found her out there crying."
Mary's back straightened and her lips fell into a straight line. "Madeline is a sweet child."
Mr. Carson bent his head down in agreement. She was a sweet, shy girl.
A loud sigh passed through Mary's lips and she stood up. "Is Mrs. Hughes around?"
"Yes, she is right out back in the garden."
"Great, I'd love to speak with her."
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When Mary got back to the Abbey. She entered through the downstairs door, causing one of the newer maids to nearly drop what was in her hands. Mary ignored her and went searching for Thomas Barrow, head butler of Downton Abbey.
"Mr. Barrow," she quickly said, finding him down the hallway and about to walk into his office.
"Yes, Lady Mary?"
"I want you to find out all that you can on a Mrs. Brown," she told him. Thomas cocked his head curiously to one side. It wasn't the first time he had been asked to find out more details about a person, but this appeared to come out of nowhere.
"Mrs. Brown, m'lady? That is a common name. Do you have any more details?"
"She is teaching at the school while Mr. Molesley is away. I want to know whatever you can find out about her, please. Thank you, ."
Mary was not surprised when Thomas came to her within a few days with more information than she would ever need on the woman. The best information he supplied her with was that the Browns owned an ice cream parlor and that on the weekends, Mrs. Brown worked at the front counter. With that information, Mary knew just what she wanted to do.
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When Lady Mary showed up at the hotel asking to take the children for ice cream, Anna had been more than surprised. While Mary had always come to the children's birthday parties and had them over to the Abbey for many events, she had never taken them out on an outing on her own.
"Are you sure about this, Lady Mary?" Anna questioned her. Mary hadn't explained why she wanted to take the children for ice cream, she just insisted the children deserved a treat for all their hard work at the hotel. It was true, for that, Anna could not argue. Her children did help her and John with many of the tasks at their small little hotel.
"Yes, the children and I will have fun," Mary replied. She watched as Anna's brows furrowed and her lips twisted to the side. "Don't worry. I have three children of my own, you know."
Anna nodded, but Mary knew what she was thinking. She did have nannies and governesses. It was different. However, Mary could handle the Bates' children for a couple of hours.
"Just keep a watch on Charlotte, she can be difficult," Anna warned. Little Charlotte, the youngest of the children, was a spitfire. She kept John and Anna on their toes.
"We'll be fine," Mary flippantly replied.
Anna took two steps to be closer to the stairs and called up, "Jack, Madeline, Charlotte, get on your shoes and come downstairs for a treat."
The promise of a treat had the three Bates children down in a matter of minutes. Upon seeing Lady Mary, all three children's faces brightened, and Madeline rushed over to her giving her a big hug. Mary bent down to Madeline's level and ran her fingers through her dark hair.
"I thought I would take the three of you for ice cream."
At that, all three children smiled. Charlotte jumped up and down and Jack did a little jig.
"Thank you, Lady Mary," Jack said.
"Yes, thank you, Lady Mary," Charlotte and Madeline added. Mary stood.
"Right, from here on out, I want you to call me Mary," she told the three of them. Their eyes widened.
"Lady Mary, I'm not sure…." Anna started.
"Pa, says we should always be respectful of a person's title," Madeline quietly said.
"But we're friends, and my friends call me Mary."
"Okay, Mary!" Charlotte happily stated with a giggle. Madeline, who was still right next to Mary, glanced up at her and pursed her lips together thoughtfully.
"Mummy is your friend, too, right, La…I mean, Mary?" Madeline sweetly asked. At that, Mary smiled.
"She is, so Anna, please call me Mary from now on," Mary said with a tight nod.
"I don't know…."
But before Anna could finish, Mary told the children, "Come on now. We have a bit of a walk to the ice cream parlor. Goodbye, Anna. I'll have the children back before three."
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As they reached the parlor, all three children were hyped up and excited for their special treat with Mary. Charlotte and Jack had called her Mary about ten times each during the walk, enjoying the feel of it on their tongue. Their entire lives they had been taught to respect her title and now she was telling them to do the opposite. Madeline, on the other hand, just held Mary's hand tightly.
Opening the door, Madeline paused. Her eyes fell on Mrs. Brown who was standing right behind the counter. Mary tugged her hand gently and led her into the small shop.
Upon closing the door behind them, Mrs. Brown looked up and saw that Lady Mary was in the building. She quickly straightened her back and offered her a large smile. At that moment, Mary bent down and lifted Madeline into her arms.
"Hello, my friends and I would like some ice cream, please," Mary sourly stated. Mrs. Brown's face faltered and her eyes landed on Madeline.
"May I have chocolate?" Charlotte asked, perching up on her toes and looking into the glass.
"Say please," Jack reminded his little sister. The smallest Bates gave a large grin and said please.
"H…how many scoops?" Mrs. Brown stumbled over her words. Mary glanced down at Charlotte, who looked at her with a questioning stare.
"However many you'd like, Charlotte," Mary informed her. "This is your treat." Charlotte's grin grew.
"Three scoops, please! Thank you, Mary!" Mrs. Brown's brows rose at the lack of a title in Mary's name, but she didn't comment. She made the ice cream for Charlotte and handed her the small cup. Then she took Jack's order. After the two of them had their ice creams, Mary told them to find a seat and that she and Madeline would join them soon.
"Are you Mrs. Brown?" Mary asked the server, though she knew that was the case.
"Y…yes, m'lady. I do hope our ice cream parlor is up to your standards."
"What do you think Madeline? Do you like this ice cream parlor?" Madeline nervously nodded her head. "Well, if it's good enough for Madeline, it's good enough for me. Did you know that I was the second person, right after the doctor, who held Madeline when she was born? The two of us have been friends ever since, haven't we Madeline?" Again, Madeline nodded.
"That…that is very nice," Mrs. Brown commented.
"Madeline, tell Mrs. Brown what you would like to eat." Madeline told her and soon Mrs. Brown was handing her the ice cream she asked for.
"Thank you, Mrs. Brown," Madeline quietly replied.
"Yes, thank you," Mary curtly said. She glared at the woman a moment longer and then carried Madeline over where Charlotte and Jack were eating their ice cream.
"Are you having fun?" Mary asked the three of them. All three children nodded.
"Yes, Mary," Jack happily replied.
"Thank you, Mary," Madeline said with a little chuckle.
"Of course, you three are some of my dearest friends," Mary made sure to say loudly.
As the three finished up, Mary helped them throw away their trash and then led them back home.
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"Did you have fun?" John asked the children, opening the door to let them all in.
"Yes! Mary let us get as much ice cream as we wanted!" Jack explained. John nearly corrected him for not calling her Lady Mary, but then recalled Anna informing him that Mary had asked them to call her that for now.
"That was kind of her," John replied. Then he gave Mary a kind nod, "Yes, thank you for treating the children, m'lady."
"It was just as fun for me," Mary answered. "And please, call me Mary." John twisted his lips, but didn't respond. Mary could tell that John was likely not going to drop the Lady when he spoke to her.
"Alright," she quickly said. "Thank you for a fun afternoon, children. I will see you next week at the Abbey. Goodbye."
As Mary walked away, Charlotte rushed up to John and reached up her hands, asking to be held. Not being able to tell his daughter no, he used his cane to help him bend down and lifted her with his other arm.
"What all did you do?"
"Pa…..Mrs. Brown was there!" Jack informed him. "I think she was surprised to see us with Mary…"
"Lady Mary," John was quick to correct.
"But Pa, she said….."
"I know what she said. When you are with her, if that is what she would prefer, you can call her Mary. Other times, you should still call her Lady Mary," John explained.
"What if we're just at home with you and Mum?" John smiled, leave it to Jack to find more loopholes.
"Fine, just with your mum and me," he agreed. "Now what were you saying about Mrs. Brown?"
"She works at the ice cream parlor! I think she was very surprised to see Mary and us, Pa. She was very nervous," Jack laughed. At that, John couldn't help but smile. Leave it to Mary Crawley to know just the right way to get under someone's skin.
"Sounds like you had a good time. Now, go see how you can help your Mum before dinner."
"Yes, sir," all three children responded. John put down Charlotte and allowed her to follow Jack into the kitchens. He placed his hand on Madeline's shoulder to tell her to wait a moment. The little girl glanced up at her father.
"Yes, Papa?"
"Did you have fun?" He questioned her. Madeline smiled.
"I did," she answered.
"Did you enjoy showing Mrs. Brown that Lady Mary was your friend?" At that Madeline giggled and strongly nodded.
"Yes. I really liked that." John chuckled.
"Good. Now go and help your mum," he said with a wink.
"Yes, Papa." Madeline headed down the hallway where her siblings had gone a few moments earlier.
After she was down the hall, John shook his head and smiled, once more. Over the years, Lady Mary had proven time and time again that Anna was more than just a Lady's Maid to her. He had always appreciated her kindness and help in times of need. And today, once again, he was grateful for her and her love toward his children, especially his tenderhearted Madeline.
The End
Thanks for reading!