Oh right... the drama. Away we go.
Chapter Three
The young man sat on the bench in his room waiting for his jacket. His valet Molesley had run off with it a few minutes ago fretting terribly that the sleeves were too short and he couldn't possibly appear at dinner so terribly mis-dressed.
George didn't really see why it was such a huge concern, it wasn't as though his appearance would have been considered obscene with his sleeves too short. At least he didn't think so but Molesley had said he would be right back and so he waited. Secretly though, as impatient as he was about his valet's fussing, he was also alright just to have a few moments to himself. He had avoided his grandparents thus far, but it wouldn't be long now. He didn't even know why he dreaded them so much other than the reason that they were old. He was of a different generation and he didn't always see eye to eye with them about his responsibilities to Grantham.
He hated how his Granny Cora always looked at him with such sad eyes. She never spoke of the sadness to him but he assumed it had more than a little to do with being such a disappointment to her. He dreaded his lessons with his grandfather and wasn't always a willing participant and George knew his Grandparents discussed it in private. He knew they discussed everything.
As he waited he thought back to a few years earlier when the argument over his being sent away to boarding school had become heated. His mother had argued for days, she being the one who wanted him to go, and his Grandparents fighting harshly to make sure he stayed. His Granny had been the only one to ask his opinion and when he told her that he wanted to go, the sad look in her eyes when she looked at him had become permanent then. It was one of the few times that he had agreed with his mother about anything, though he knew she just wanted to send him away so she wouldn't have to look at him.
The relationship with his mother had been strained since he was a child. It was never bitter, but he sensed over the years that his mother was creating a distance between them. He suspected it had something to do with his resemblance to his father, as everyone made sure to mention to him at every available opportunity, but he hadn't ever really spoken to his mother about it. She did not like to speak of the departed, or so she told him on the few occasions that he had dared to ask.
Once she had married Lord Gillingham when he was 8, and had moved to her new estate, he rarely saw his mother much but he had wondered at that time about her insistence that he go away to school. It wasn't as though her parenting and guidance were doing him any good from her new home. Once his younger sisters had arrived, she was too busy with their care to have much to do with him anyway. He had decided that he would enjoy school just to spite her if he could. Her seeming dis-interest in his time there allowed him to avoid the conversation as it was.
His thoughts were interrupted b a gentle knocking on the door. It opened just a crack and one of the people who he had just been thinking about poked her head inside.
"Are you decent my darling?" Her sad eyes smiled gently at him.
He stood up to greet her properly. "Granny! Hello! And yes I am decent enough."
She came fully into his room and embraced him with a warm hug. It wasn't awkward as he suspected it might be. It also didn't end with a scolding for his rude lack of an appearance earlier in the day. It ended with her staring up at him while still holding him by the shoulders.
"My darling. How fine you are growing. You look very handsome. You look so much like..." She stopped speaking as tears entered her eyes and threatened to spill over.
"I know Granny. I look so much like my father." He smiled at her and tried to assure her that it was alright. "I do hear it a lot."
"You look wonderful my dear. And I am so very happy to see you. It's quiet around here these days, and we do miss you terribly. Come, now do you have time for a quick chat before dinner? I met Molesley in the hallway, he'll be a few minutes and he will let Barrow know that dinner will be delayed. Come sit with me." She gestured towards the bed. George started over to the bed. This was a strange incident.
"I'm sure Barrow will be thrilled to hear that." George snickered, and Cora turned back to him and smiled. They both knew how much the Butler liked to keep his ship running on schedule.
"What is it Granny? Is it my mother? Will she not be joining us this year?" George would not have been the least bit surprised if this was the conversation topic.
"No. Mary will be here tomorrow with Lord Gillingham and their daughters. She's very much looking forward to seeing you."
George snorted. "I'll bet. She hasn't even telephoned me this semester."
Cora reached over and placed her hand on his, which was resting on his knee. She squeezed it tenderly and smiled.
"She loves you George. Don't ever doubt that for one second. She's always had trouble expressing her emotion. We've all gotten used to it, but we've had more practice than you. But she does love you. We all do. Don't ever doubt it." He believed her.
They both sat quietly on the edge of the bed for a time. Their individual thoughts dominating the silent conversation.
"I actually wanted to discuss Cousin Isobel with you." She cleared her face of all expression to make sure he understood this was to be a serious discussion.
"Grand-mama? Is everything all right?" His blue eyes suddenly went wide with worry.
"For now she is perfectly healthy. Physically, she is very healthy. There have just been a few..." Cora struggled to say the words as suddenly her voice caught in her throat.
"A few what? What is the matter?" George's concern for his grandmother wasn't feigned.
"There have been lapses in her memory lately. Nothing too severe, just a few things that have been brought to my attention. Just slight instances."
George had to break eye contact. His mind was reeling.
"Like what? Tell me Granny. I need to know."
"Well, a recent example, the other day was she was preparing for tea with Matthew. She was insistent he would be there shortly and for an hour refused to budge from the sitting room waiting for him. Her maid told me of it, and there have been a few other instances that I've noticed and one that your Grandfather told me about. She walked into your father's old law office a few weeks to give him a message." Cora watched her grandson's face as she told him.
"Has she been to see the Doctor? Is there anything we can do? A pill she could take or something." He looked at her pleading. He had read stories at school of elders who had started to lose their memories as they got older. He couldn't really imagine his proud, strong Grand-mama losing her facilities.
"I was hoping you would accompany me tomorrow and we can discuss it with him. If you don't have any plans that is. I just wanted to let you know before we go down to dinner, just in case she says something. So you may be prepared if she thinks you are Matthew. I didn't want you to be startled."
They sat silently for bit until the door burst open in a flurry and Molesley came running in with the repaired jacket.
"Just let me know what time Granny. I would be happy to accompany you."
She stood up, bent over to kiss him on the cheek and turned to go down to dinner.
While Molesley helped him into his dinner jacket, George was completely lost in thought again.
By the time he made it down to greet his family, he was visibly upset but he told no one as to why. When his Grand-mama greeted him she seemed perfectly normal. Perhaps it was nothing, but he knew his Granny Cora wouldn't have spoken to him unless she knew something was amiss. He did his best to seem merry as they chatted before dinner. When they entered the dining room and found their places he found himself sitting between his Uncle Tom and his cousin Sybbie.
Sybbie sensed something but didn't pressure him. Tom also sensed something and tried to distract the younger man with talk about his school's cricket squad and how they were doing. It was actually a topic that George was very enthusiastic about and the rest of dinner and the evening he tried his best not to think about his Grandma-ma and the possible issues applying to her.
As he lay down in his bed to fall asleep that night, his mind ran with all the plans that had been decided for him the next day. His Grandfather wanted to show him some new things about the estate, Tom had asked him to go shoot some rabbits in the afternoon. His Granny wanted him to accompany her to see the Doctor. Sybbie wanted to see him... His mother would be arriving...
He had trouble falling asleep though he was quite exhausted.
The morning came too fast and he dragged himself through breakfast, pretending to listen to his Grandfather ramble on about a new sheep project. Tom and Sybbie did their best to save him from Robert's speeches.
After breakfast Sybbie caught him by the arm and steered him outside and eventually to the back of the house. He followed her silently at first.
"What are we doing?" George was confused by their actions.
"You're going to tell me what has you looking like such a wet mop today." She went into the garage and spoke to O'Malley to bring the car out and start it up.
O'Malley argued with her for a bit and Sybbie shot back with equally valid counterpoints.
George watched them silently for a bit, but when he realized what Sybbie had planned, he stepped forward.
"I can't go for a drive, I've got to go somewhere with Granny today."
Sybbie just brushed him off.
"I've told her that you will meet her in town for lunch. I get your attention for awhile. Now, if O'Malley here will only let me drive the car, we could have some privacy, and don't worry. I will have you to your Granny in time for your appointment so you're not in any trouble." Sybbie winked at him.
It would be nice to have a chat with his cousin.
"Miss Branson, I cannot let you have the car, but I would be happy to drive you where you need to go." The chauffeur was digging in his heels about accommodating her demand.
"You are impossible. But I don't really have time to argue, so fine. You may come with us, but I'm driving. I'm quite good at it you know."
He attempted to argue again, but Sybbie jumped in the car behind the wheel and shot him a charming smile that told him she was getting her way about something.
"I'm not sure about this..." O'Malley looked at George for some backup but George knew the chauffeur would not win. His cousin was very stubborn when she wanted to be.
George hopped in the front seat beside her and O'Malley grudgingly climbed in behind them.
"Don't worry O'Malley. If anything happens I have your back. You were helpless to resist her." George noticed the man blush deeply and wondered what that was all about.
Sybbie hit the gas pedal and they flew out of the grounds and soon were on the road flying away at a great speed. George laughed at the antics of his cousin and was again happy to spend some time with her.
"Barrow? Have you seen Master George? I wanted to discuss a few things with him about the estate before his Grandmother steals him away for the afternoon." Lord Grantham walked through the great hall towards his butler as he made his query.
"No, Sir. I haven't seen him since Breakfast. But when I see him I will send him to you." The handsomely aged butler waited for his lord to see if there was anything else he needed.
The telephone rang from the other end of the hall and Robert strode down to answer it. He spoke for a minute to the person on the other end and eventually Barrow watched him as he dropped the receiver to the floor.
Robert turned towards his butler, white faced and clearly in shock.
"What is it Sir?"
"There's been an accident involving one of our cars..."
"Was anyone hurt?" Barrow was legitimately concerned.
"It appears it is quite serious..."
deja-vu? To be continued...