Cora watched as Lizzie walked between the trees, she hadn't been herself for the past week and something needed to be done about it.
" A letter, Milady," Carson said, entering the room. Cora took it and smiled at the American stamp. She opened it and sat down to read it.
Dear Cora,
It seems like years since we have seen each other, and it has been, it was 1902 wasn't it? I was thinking it was time for a visit. You see Howard is planning to expand the company to England and I was going to travel over with Andrew, because he will be in charge of the English branch, though I don't think he is too happy about that.
We were going to travel over in April and I hope I will get to see you when we arrive.
From your friend,
Abigail.
Cora smiled, and immediately got ready to write a reply that would hopefully reach her in time. The Stephens' could stay at Downton for a few weeks and they would be there for Edith's wedding. And if Cora remembered correctly Teddy had turned twenty three the past November. He had been a nice child, polite and kind from what Cora could remember. He was a typical American, something that Violet would hate.
Cora heard footsteps and looked up at Elizabeth came into the room.
" Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't realise you were in here," Elizabeth said, smiling at her mother before putting her book on the shelf, grabbing a new one and walking over to sign the ledger.
" I thought you only started that book yesterday?" Cora said.
" I'm afraid I have little else to do Mama. I think I may find out if there is a chance I could spend more time at the orphanage. It's a nice way to spend the day," Elizabeth said, writing the name of the book down.
" It'll be good for you to get out of the house, maybe you could go into London and meet some friends," Cora suggested and Elizabeth nodded, even though that was something she would never do.
" I'm going back outside. Will you send someone to tell me when it's time to change?" She asked, before walking out of the room.
Cora smiled at her youngest, Sybil and Lizzie were very alike, they had the same goodness and innocence and the fiery spirit but Lizzie was much more American. It sounded silly but Lizzie had picked up Cora's American ways at a young age and stubbornly refused to be taught otherwise. She was as stubborn as an old mule and it came from the being the youngest and wanting to be heard.
Cora sighed and looked back to the letter she was about to write. Elizabeth would never agree to any arrangement but maybe with just a push in the right direction something might be achieved.
The orphanage in Ripon housed thirty children under thirteen years old. It was an old building more than big enough for it's residents. There was a large garden and that is where the children could all be found. The elder children were playing football and taking turnings with the skipping ropes while the younger ones held on to grubby stuffed animals as they listened to Lady Elizabeth read Peter Rabbit. They were enthralled by the story, with the way that Elizabeth could do all of the voices. The youngest sat on Elizabeth's lap with her head resting on her shoulder. Elizabeth looked down to see the toddler asleep and carefully stood up. She put the finished book on the chair and carried her into the orphanage, up the stairs and into her bedroom. She took off her shoes and laid her on the bed. Before leaving her she kissed her head and smiled. Elizabeth returned downstairs to see Miss Canwick standing by the front door.
" I'm afraid that I have to go now," Elizabeth said, as she looked at the time. The old spinster nodded.
" Thank you for coming Lady Elizabeth," she said.
" Please, just Elizabeth will do," Lizzie said. " I'll be back on Tuesday." She then said a final goodbye and walked outside. She had five minutes to walk to the train station where she would meet her mother and they would get a train together down to London.
" Can you see them Mama?" Lizzie asked, sitting on a bench. Cora shook her head.
" It shouldn't be much longer," she said. Lizzie sighed, she had said that ten minutes ago. And honestly Lizzie did not understand why she had to come to London to meet a friend of her mother's and her son.
" There they are," Cora said, Elizabeth stood up and followed her mother across the busy station until the stopped in front of a woman and young man who were also looking around the station.
" Abigail. It's so nice to see you again," Cora said, smiling at her friend. Elizabeth looked at Abigail first, her hair was as dark as Cora's and she had it pinned up under a dark blue hat that matched her dress and jacket. She was quite tanned, because of the weather in America, Elizabeth presumed. She had brown eyes and seemed exactly the sort of person that her mother would pick as a friend. Elizabeth then turned her attention to the young man but quickly dropped her gaze to the floor as she noticed him looking at her.
" And this is Elizabeth. You probably don't remember meeting the Stephens?" Cora asked, and Elizabeth looked up.
" I'm afraid that I don't but I was only young then wasn't I?" She said quietly.
" Only three or four I think," Cora said. " We were thinking that tonight we could stay in London and then tomorrow we could travel back to Downton."
" That sounds good. All of the travelling has been exhausting," Mrs Stephens said.
" Lizzie, will you ring Grantham House and tell then that we will be staying tonight," Cora asked.
" Yes Mama," she said, as she slipped away from her party to the telephone booth. When she was a few metres away she looked back and couldn't help but wonder - were American men more handsome than English? Because she had never seen one that looked like Mr Stephens.