AN: Thank you so much for all the wonderful reviews, both on this story and on How far did you fall?!
June 1896
"May I come in?" he asks and she has to hide a smile. She had known he would come to see her because he comes to see her every Tuesday and Friday.
"Of course, Lord Downton."
She had been very wrong when she assumed that she would never talk to Robert again. He has suddenly become very interested in the school. Of course all his visits are charity visits, he shows great interest in the school and he and his family have supported the school with quite a bit of money.
But as soon as the door is closed, when they have very quickly talked about the school enough for Robert to report something back to his father, they talk about other things. Life. Art. Politics.
"We are leaving for London the day after tomorrow," Robert says. She expected this. And she longs for a season in London. Or anywhere. She wants to dance again.
"Enjoy your time there. And good luck."
"With what?" Robert asks.
"Finding a wife," she explains and he gives a chuckle.
"I am afraid that will be what I will have to do. I need a wife and Mary needs a mother."
"Good luck," she says again. "May you find love."
"Thank you," Robert says gets up turns around, walks a few steps, turns back to her and says "I will miss you while I am in London."
She nods and smiles and waves him off. And she keeps all thoughts of what that means at bay. She cannot and she will not begin to dream of him again.
.
A few days later
"Miss Levinson?" a small voice asks her and she turns around.
"Lady Mary," she says and smiles at the girl.
The girl looks a little forlorn so she asks "Where is your nanny?"
"At home."
"You came here all by yourself?" she asks.
"Yes."
"You are five."
"I know. Old enough to walk to the village by myself I think."
"I think not," Cora replies but Mary only shrugs.
"What are you doing here?"
"I came to ask you about America. Papa said you came here from America. I have never been there but I saw it on one of Grandpapa's maps. And now I want to know all about it."
"So you walked here all by yourself. Without telling anyone, I imagine."
"Yes," Mary says and she marvels at the girl's cheek.
"Lady Mary, we will walk back to the Abbey now. Your nanny will be worried about you. But on our way there you may ask me questions about America."
"Must we go back?" Mary asks and she gives a chuckle.
"Yes we must. If you don't return soon, your nanny will send a telegram to your Papa and you don't want to worry him, do you?"
Mary shakes her head and so they leave.
There is nothing she has to do anyway. The school year is over after all. She will tutor the son of a family in the next village over the summer. He is at Eton but struggling and she supposes that it will not be pleasant. But it will pass the time and she will be able to save a little bit of money. What for she does not know but having something to fall back on never hurts.
Mary peppers her with questions and when they arrive at the Abbey the nanny comes walking towards them.
The moment Cora sees the expression on the nanny's face she knows why Mary sought out someone else.
"Lady Mary. Where have you been? How dare you?"
"Lady Mary came to me to thank me again. She only meant well. And she asked me to take her back home right away. She understands that she should not have run away like that. But as I said, she meant well."
Luckily Mary nods enthusiastically and the nanny seems to believe them.
"Miss Levinson?" Mary asks again. "Could I come see you tomorrow?"
She doesn't know what to say but feels a little sorry for the girl.
"I will be at the school house at three tomorrow. If your nanny agrees you may visit me. But you may not walk to the village by yourself."
The nanny huffs. "I will send a footman with her then."
Cora is quite sure that the prospect of a Mary free afternoon resonates very well with this particular nanny.
.
The boy she tutors in the morning is what she expected. Years behind. She is not surprised he is struggling at Eton. He is also rather dull so she actually looks forward to seeing five year old Lady Mary in the afternoon. That girl is everything but dull.
I really hope you liked this chapter! Please let me know what you think!
Have a great day everyone,
Kat