Tea and Honesty

Before Lady Cora and her flotilla of maids left for Downton, Tom had written to his mother asking her to find a girl in Ireland to send down to help with the baby and the house. No matter how much he didn't want to admit it, the tiny life that was his son's was taking enough energy to keep an army of maids busy.

By late spring 1919 sixteen year old Lauren arrived from Ireland and took up residence in the servant's quarters. Tom and Sybil's life was getting back to a routine. A letter arrived from Rory to say he had interviews with two of the medical schools in London and wondered if he could stay with them for the week of the interviews. Sybil was on the telephone as soon as she read the letter and was quite pleased with herself by the time Tom got home that evening.

"We're going to have some company," Sybil informed Tom.

"Oh, like who?" he inquired.

"It's a surprise. They'll be here in two days."

"Am I to make time for this company?"

"Yes, please as much as you can for the week."

"I'm here to do your bidding, milady," Tom quipped.

"Just see that you do," Sybil replied.

Rory Lester pulled the lorry into one of the out buildings and began unloading sacks when Mrs. Drake came into the shed waving a small envelope at him.

"Lord Grantham's driver was by and left this for you." She was clearly excited. The Drake's had never received a personal note from anyone of Lord Grantham's status and it was an event.

Rory wiped his hands before he took the envelope. It was a heavy paper that was obviously expensive. The envelope was embossed with the Earl's coat of arms and was addressed to Rory Lester, Esquire.

"What does he want with me?" Rory asked.

"Open it and find out," Mrs. Drake said. Her eyes were dancing in excitement.

Rory staggered back a bit before he found a crate to sit on.

"I've been invited to tea, tomorrow with Lord and Lady Grantham," he said handing the note to Mrs. Drake.

"Goodness gracious," she said. "This is quite an honor. I wonder what brought this on."

"I can't go. I saw Sybil's mother once and I almost threw up."

"You'll go and you'll be on your best behavior," Mrs. Drake informed him. She had learned with Rory to treat him as she would one of her own. For all his frequent displays of cockiness and trying to be what he thought a man was, underneath it all he was a frightened boy. "I'll wash your good shirt today and you'll take a bath tomorrow before you go."

"All right," he said sulkily.

"All right, what?"

"Yes, Mrs. Drake. I'll go," he corrected himself.

"That's better," she said. "You just mind your manners and you'll do fine."

There was a great deal of excitement at the Drake farm about Rory's invitation. Two of the children groomed the horse, and another polished Rory's shoes while he got cleaned up. Before he left for his appointment with Lord and Lady Grantham he stood in the kitchen for inspection.

"You look grand," John Drake told him. "Good enough for those toffs. You'll do fine."

"Now mind you don't eat like there's a pack of wolves at the door," Mrs. Drake told him. "We don't want them to think we're starving you." She gave him a quick hug. "We're right proud of you," she said quietly so no one else could hear.

Rory blushed at the praise and hurried off for his appointment.

"If anyone had told me a year ago, a wild Irish boy would be working here and be like our own son I would have thought they were daft," Mrs. Drake said.

"It's providence," John Drake replied.

"That it is."

When Rory arrived at the Abbey a stable boy a little younger than himself approached to take his horse.

"I'll see to your horse, Sir," he said.

Rory was so flabbergasted he didn't know what to reply. He was shown into the drawing room where Lord Grantham, the middle aged woman he had met before who he assumed was Sybil's mother and a very old lady with a fancy walking stick were waiting for him.

"Do come in," Lord Grantham said. "I believe you have met my wife before, the Countess Grantham. This is my mother Lady Grantham."

"How do you do you?" Rory was able to squeak out.

Lady Grantham's eyes narrowed at Rory's appearance. The boy was scrubbed clean and his blonde hair was neatly combed. He was a nice looking boy with blue eyes but had obviously grown and filled out since his last trip to the shops to buy clothing.

"This will never do, Robert," Lady Grantham stated. "He can't go to an interview in London looking like that."

"Now mother," Lord Grantham scolded her. "They are interested in his mind, not in how he dresses."

Lady Cora ignored her mother-in-law and smiled kindly at Rory. She rose and approached him.

"It's nice to see you again, Rory," she said. "Won't you have a seat?" She sat on a chair closer to him.

Rory swallowed and nodded and sat on the edge of the chair she indicated. He was so nervous his legs were shaking.

"Lady Sybil has telephoned to tell us you will be interviewing next week for medical school," Lord Grantham said.

"Yes, Sir," Rory squeaked. His naturally fair complexion had gone stark white and he looked like he was going to faint.

"Carson, do give him a cup of tea. He looks like he is going to be ill," Lady Grantham demanded.

"I've been told you were in some trouble before you left Ireland and involved with a less than favorable crowd," Lord Grantham said.

Rory's eyes went wild. He shifted his eyes left and right to see if the police were about to pounce from a corner of the room.

"I have also been told that you have left that all behind you. Have you?"

"Yes, Sir. I haven't been in any trouble in the last year. I swear."

"Settle down," Lord Grantham said. "We haven't asked you here for any nefarious purposes. I am prepared to offer you a personal letter of recommendation for your interview as long as you can swear to us that you will never be involved in criminal activity again."

"I'll never be involved with that crowd again. I'll work hard and make you proud. I give you my word. Thank you, Sir."

"Now, do try to settle down," Lady Cora said. "You look as though you expect to have the dogs set upon you at any second."

"I'm sorry, I don't mean to be rude," he blurted. "it's just that..." he trailed off.

"We're not quite what you expected?" Lord Grantham asked.

"No Sir."

"I can assure you, my family is not interested in persecuting anyone," Lord Grantham said. "Now we can have some tea and you can tell us which universities you will be interviewing for."

Rory nodded. The color was starting to come back into his face. During the meal he watched how Lord Grantham held his cup and used his utensils. Rory's movements were a perfect imitation of the Earl's.

"I'm traveling to London tomorrow to see my grandson. I'd like you to accompany me," Lord Grantham told Rory before he left. "I'll send a note around to the Drake's to arrange it."

"Yes, Sir. Thank you, Sir." Rory said.

Rory had the letter of recommendation inside his jacket pocket and his heart was beating almost out of his chest. He was in total shock from the afternoon's events. When he got back to the Drake's he dismounted and went in to find Mrs. Drake.

"Well, what happened?" Mrs. Drake inquired. Her husband came in from the yard as well. All of the children gathered around the table to hear the tale.

"Lord Grantham has given me his personal recommendation," Rory said handing the letter to Mrs. Drake. "He wants me to go to London with him tomorrow." Rory was sitting at the table staring straight ahead.

"Gracious," Mrs. Drake said after she had read the letter and handed it to her husband.

"What did you do to get him to offer you that," Mr. Drake asked.

"Not much," Rory replied. "I just told the truth."