December 23, 1918

Downton

Mary chewed her thumbnail. She looked around the bedroom. It was the bedroom next to the nursery into which she and her sisters had moved when they had in succession graduated from the nursery. Was it right? Was it ready for Marie Claire?

Cora and Mrs. Hughes stood behind her waiting for her approval. The room had been scrubbed top to bottom; the furniture rearranged three times; four sets of linens considered before a fifth set was accepted. A carefully considered selection of books and toys had been distributed throughout. She scanned the room. Had she forgotten anything? Was it ready for Marie Claire?

Mary smiled at her mother and Mrs. Hughes. "Excellent" They smiled with relief. Mary had been driving the staff and her family hard. And herself harder. All to get the house, and this room in particular, ready for Marie Claire.

Marie Clare. A five year old French girl. Mary knew that Marie Claire was her judge and jury. Win the daughter and the father was sure to follow. Lose the little empress and be fed to the lions, or Sir Richard Carlisle, as the case may be. Mary chewed her lip. Was she ready for Marie Claire?

"Mary you must have some lunch and then take a little rest " Cora said. "You have plenty of time before the train comes"

Lunch? Mary looked at Mrs. Hughes. "You have the tea arranged? The sandwiches and the little cakes?" Matthew and Marie Claire would be famished after their trip.

"Yes your ladyship" Mrs, Hughes. The menu had been gone over, revised, amended and changed until Mrs. Patmore was close to rebellion. It was ready for Marie Claire..

Mary wrung her hands, What did Marie Claire like to eat? Should she change the menu?

Her mother took hold of her elbow and lead her from the bedroom.

-0-

Mary could hear the train coming. She looked at her reflection in the station window. She was pleased with what she saw. She was ready. If Matthew wanted to walk back to the Great House she was dressed for it. If he wanted to ride she had the auto. If he wanted to pick her up and twirl her around she was ready for that. She was ready.

The train slowed to a screeching stop. The steam hissed and swirled in the cold. Mary was trying to watch the exits from every car. She did not want to miss them.

"Mary! Have you come to meet us?"

Mary turned to the sound. Her Aunt Rosamund was alighting from the first class car, Sir Richard right behind her.

"Aunt Rosamund, Sir Richard" he nodded at her "We did not expect you until later this afternoon..."

"Sir Richard got away early, but then he is the boss after all" He gave her a self satisfied smile. Rosamund started to tell a long convoluted story about the trip.

Mary started to fidget. "Actually I was here to pick up ..." She tried to peer around them.

Rosamund noticed. "We will not keep you. Sir Richard has his auto waiting for us. We will see you at dinner." Sir Richard tipped his hat at her and they left.

Mary looked around the platform. People were milling around, leaving the platform, getting on the train. The conductor blew his whistle, the doors slammed shut and the train pulled out of the station. There was no one left on the platform. She ducked her head inside the station. There was no one there other than the station agent.

"Excuse me, did you see a soldier and a small girl get off the train?"

"Yes your Ladyship, they left with your chauffeur."

"Thank you"

Mary knew it would be most unladylike to run but she moved as fast as she dared. Branson was standing beside the back door of the auto. He saw her coming and he opened the door for her. She ducked her head in. They were not inside. She stood up.

"Where are they?"

"They left their luggage with me and then they walked into the village"

Mary looked down the street. She could not see them. "Drive slowly through the village. Stop if you see them." She got in the auto.

They made it all the way to the mill pond at the other end of the village without seeing Matthew or Marie Claire. They must be in one of the shops.

"Wait here" Mary got out of the auto and started walking back into the village.

She saw them come out of the bakery, Matthew in his uniform and a beautiful little dark haired girl in a blue outfit. The little girl was nibbling on a gingerbread man.

Matthew saw Mary. She stopped. They stared at each other. Neither smiled. The little girl started to edge behind Matthew.

Matthew bent down and said something to the girl. She gave him the gingerbread man She brushed the crumbs off the front of her coat. They walked towards Mary and stopped about five feet away.

"Lady Mary Crawley may I present Marie Claire Crawley."

Mary smiled at her. "I am pleased to meet you Marie Claire"

Marie Claire curtsied to Mary "How do you your Ladyship"

"I am fine thank you. Welcome to Downton"

Mary bent down and held out her hand. Marie Claire looked at Matthew. He nodded. She reached out for Mary's hand but then she held out both arms. Mary hugged her.

Mary smiled at Matthew and he smiled and nodded at her..

Mary stood up and took one of Marie Claire's hands. Matthew took her other hand and the three of them walked to the auto.

Matthew looked at Mary. "How are you Mary?"

"I am glad to see you"

"Can you see all you wanted to see? "

"There is still one small thing I have to see before I can..."

"Small?" Matthew gave her a hurt look. "I've always thought of it as rather a big thing"

It took Mary three beats to react to his lecherous grin. "Do you think of nothing else.?"

"I have been thinking of you for the last three months" Matthew gave her a concerned look. "I ask again, how are you?"

"I am a little tired, but I am happier than I was yesterday" she smiled at him.

Matthew considered her as they walked, Marie Claire swinging their arms as they walked. Mary did look pale and there were faint bags under her eyes. But on the other hand she looked like she had gained a few pounds, He knew better than to ask if she had. "And how is Patricia?"

"You can ask her yourself, she is eagerly awaiting your arrival at the house"

Once they were in the auto Mary asked Marie Claire about her trip and the little girl talked non stop for the whole ride to the Great House. Five different train rides, a boat ride, staying at a hotel in London. Eating Fish and Chips. Shopping. A toy for Patrica. A pretty dress for her. All the beautiful rings. Mary looked at Matthew. He smiled at her. She would not tell Mary what they had bought for her. Sometimes she would ask Matthew a question in a rapid French completely incomprehensible to Mary who only had school girl French. Her English was excellent, although Mary had to smile to herself, she spoke it with a Canadian accent.

There was a welcoming committee in the hall to meet them, or as Mary thought of it, the heir and the rest. Matthew introduced Marie Claire to Robert and Cora and then Mary took her to meet the rest.. Marie Claire curtsied to everyone, or would have had not Mary stopped her before she curtsied to each of the servants.

"Crawley?" Robert asked.

Matthew tilted his head at him.

"Marie Claire Crawley?"

"Yes I adopted her as soon as the war ended, when I knew we had a future together"

"In six weeks?"

"The mills of the French legal system grind exceedingly fast if they are well greased "

Matthew looked for Patricia. Neither she nor her nurse were present. He caught Mary's eye. He mouthed "Patricia?" at her.

Mary came to him, Marie Claire in tow. "She must be up in the nursery. I will go get her"

"We'll go with you"

The three of them ascended the great staircase watched by her parents, Carson and Mrs. Hughes.

"Two little girls running around the house – it's going to be like the old days, eh Mr. Carson" smiled Mrs. Hughes.

Carson did not reply. He was lost in a reverie of twenty years ago. Except for her eye colour Marie Claire was Lady Mary. The same curiosity, the same alertness, the same intelligence, before that layer of reserve built up. He smiled back at Mrs. Hughes. "I certainly hope so"

As they were walking up the stairs Matthew asked "Was that Sir Richard you were speaking to at the train station?"

"Yes, he came up from London with my Aunt Rosamund"

"That was the lady he was with?"

"Yes. Why didn't you come speak to us"

"I didn't want want to interrupt anything"

She narrowed her eyes at him. "There was nothing to interrupt I was just greeting them"

"I didn't see her downstairs"

"They must have gone to Sir Richard's first, you will meet her at dinner tonight"

"And Sir Richard?"

"He is invited"

"I see"

She glared at him "He is a close neighbour"

"Quite right" Matthew did not say anything further, he could see Marie Claire was starting to feel the tension.

Patricia was facing away from the nursery door as Beth was dressing her.

Matthew knocked on the door. "Anyone home?"

Patricia whipped her head around. She saw Matthew and gave a squeal "Papa!". She held out her arms and Matthew picked her and swung her around. He looked at Mary. She shrugged.

"Beth, why don't you take a break for a few minutes"

"Yes your Ladyship" and Beth left them.

Matthew sat on a chair and sat Patricia on his lap. "Sweetie there is someone I would like you to meet."Patricia this is Marie Claire"

Marie Claire hugged Patricia and kissed her on both cheeks. The children grinned at each other. Marie Clair picked up a rattle and gave it to Patricia to play with.

Matthew let his breath out.

"What?" Mary asked.

"There's always a danger when you introduce a new critter to the herd" He grinned at her.
"Papa?"

"I think my sisters have some explaining to do"

"Speaking of your sisters, how are they?"

"Fine. Edith has high expectations for Christmas, in the ring department, if you know what I mean." Mary gave Matthew a shy smile. "Speaking of rings, on the ride here Marie Claire mentioned seeing all the beautiful rings."

Matthew grinned at her. "I thought she maybe said she heard a lot of beautiful rings. There's a lot of bells in London you know... How's Sybil?"

"She is still nursing although father wants her to quit now that the hospital is not receiving any new casualties..." she reached out and touched his arm "How is your wound"

"All healed thank you. I'm all fit and ready for duty" he leered at her and she blushed. "How have Sybil's feelings towards the Irish Question progressed?"

"Not well I fear"

"Fear?"

"They are more and more blatant. Father is going to find out one of these days."

"And what will he do?"

"Fire Branson for sure."

"And what about Sybil?"

"It depends what she does. If she stays and acts contrite he will forgive her. If she goes with Branson..."

"What?"

"He will cut her off, she will no longer be part of the family."

"He'll cast her out?"

"Yes"

"I hope he doesn't, I will not tolerate it"

"What do you mean?" Mary did not like what he was implying.

"Later" he nodded his head at the little girls.

Mary showed Marie Claire her new room. The four of them played in the room until it was time for the girls' dinner.