12th April 1912
Violet Crawley, Dowager Countess of Grantham had turned 70. They had hosted a big party and a shooting party. Twenty guests for almost a week. Elsie was glad about the guests being back home and they were finally able to start a bit of Spring cleaning.
In the meanwhile Robert's valet had left, leaving his room like a pig sty with no notice. So, Thomas, the first footman was serving also Robert as his valet, it was really the worst time of the year since they were leaving in a month time for the season in London.
Beryl arrived in Elsie's sitting room with a tray. "You've been working hard, and I thought some tea and biscuits would have been nice."
"Thank you, Beryl. Is Mr. Carson back?" asked Elsie looking from the door.
"Not yet, where did he go?" asked Beryl sitting on the sofa and getting her cup of tea.
"He went to the dentist with William. There will be blood and tears."
Both Elsie and Beryl started laughing, Mr. Carson was terrified by doctors and dentists and usually always took a footman with him when he was due for an appointment. The dentist wasn't great at all, he was a short man with big hands.
"Mr. Patrick and Mr. Crawley left for America on the 10th, they won't be back until the end of the month, so we won't entertain for a while. And then the family is going to London" said Elsie looking at the calendar.
"Are there any birthdays coming up?" asked Beryl, thinking about baking birthday cakes or favourite foods.
"From the 27th of March, so the Dowager Countess, we skipped to Lady Grantham's birthday in June. So no birthday for a while" said Elsie smiling to Beryl.
15th April 1912
It was a sunny morning and the papers were late. Not a great combination. Papers not on time meant bad news. Elsie knew it, actually, she had woken up with a bad sensation in the pit of her stomach, she put it down to a bit of tiredness and to the copious amount of tea and coffee she'd been drinking.
The Titanic, the biggest ship on the oceans, had sunk in her maiden voyage. Over a thousand people died and Patrick and James Crawley were between them. Patrick should have been Downton Abbey's heir and he would have married Mary Crawley, the eldest daughter of Lord and Lady Grantham.
Elsie and Beryl discussed a bit about it in the kitchen: "I can't make myself believe it" said Elsie looking at the footmen who were collecting breakfast to bring it upstairs.
Full mourning was the answer to the news. Elsie, Anna, and Miss O'Brien went to the attic to refresh the old black dresses. The Crawleys were quite lucky, they didn't have many deads in the family since the death of Robert's father almost 15 years before.
Sarah O'Brien was Cora's Lady's maid, she had been with the family since 1905, she was from Belfast and she wasn't the best person in the world, but she was a good worker. Mrs. Hughes wasn't too happy when she was hired, but they didn't have any choice.
On that completely crazy day, a new person arrived at the house, John Bates, the new valet to Lord Grantham. They had served together during the Boer War.
Elsie and Beryl needed their time to gossip before bed, Beryl arrived in Elsie's room with some tea and two slices of cake.
"I need some gossip to get over this day" said Beryl sitting on the chair next to Elsie's bed, while Elsie was still undressing, she still had on her slip and her corset.
"Give me five minutes and I'll be back to you." said Elsie braiding her hair and pouring some water into the basin and looking into the mirror "I look so old."
"You don't look old, Elsie, you don't look old at all." said Beryl smiling at her friend.
"You are a very good liar. So according to Anna, the only person really sorry for Mr. Patrick is Lady Edith, Lady Mary isn't so happy about being in full mourning." said Elsie
"We all know that Lady Mary has never liked Mr. Patrick. He was a good young man, but not very handsome. What about the Dowager Countess?"
"She arrived here at 10, she left only before dinner. And she was already in full mourning." said Elsie "The old Lady knows what she is doing, while Lord and Lady Grantham are trying to understand who will be the heir. Mr. Murray will be here tomorrow. Then they'll go to London. And they are planning some services for when they are back."
"What Mr. Carson said?" asked Beryl knowing that he used to confess with Mrs. Hughes.
"He is very sorry about the loss, he was almost in tears." said Elsie
"He has known them for ages." said Beryl
"I smell trouble for them, big troubles. They need a new heir, as soon as possible." said Elsie