Chapter 6:

First of all…. Thank you vor the guest review ;)

It was spring at Downton Abbey. Birds were whistling their happy tunes, the trees were shining in white and pink, it could have been a perfect day for Cora if only Robert were at here side. They used to walk on the green grass enjoying the sun and privacy, talking about the girls ans sometimes even joking about their mothers. Now Cora was wandering alone in the park feeling a bit lost, when she saw Carson heading up to here, balancing a plate with the mail.

When she saw Robert's handwriting on the first letter herart jumped with joy and her hand wanted to grab the letter but she decided she wanted to read the letter when nobody was around. She knew she would start crying. Though the girls were already grown up young women she wanted to be the brave mother. Furthermore she had to be the elegant, calm Countess of Grantham who represented the house. However inside she was a worried, frightened wreck.

So she took the second letter and started reading.

Carson's view:

I happended to see the adresser when I took the mail and I immediatly knew bad news were in the letter. It was from the British Army adressed to Lady Cora Crawley, Countess of Grantham. Normally they only sent letters if a husband or son was killed or missing in action.

When I looked on the other letter I recognized his Lordship's handwriting. Knowing the drama and sadness that would struck Downton Abbey in a short time I put his Lordship's letter on top, when I brought the mail to her Ladyship. Anyway she took the letter from the army first as I assume to read her husband's letter in privacy.

Then everything went very fast. Her ladyship gasped and gripped the paper hard as if the bad news would vanish if she destroyed the letter. Then she fell. I thought somehting like this would happen if she read the letter and so I caught her, while both letters landed on the grass. I lifted her up and carried her towards the house. Lady Edith came already running out oft he front door screaming for her mother. This alerted Lady Mary, Lady Sybill and Mrs. Hughes. Alle four oft hem headed towards me, her Ladyship still unconcious in my arms.

I told them that I think there are bad news in one oft he letters that were lying on the grass and Edith immediatly ran to get them. When I was nearly at the house I could hear fainted screams and hard sobbing and I assumed the girls must have read the letter too.

Then I went up, Mrs Hughes and Miss O Brien guiding me on either side. It was a strange feeling since all the staff was standing in the hall, most oft them pale with their mouths open as I passed them carrying the limp body oft he Countess of Grantham.

I put her on the bed in the main bedroom and went out, wanting to help the girls but when I came downstairs I saw the prettiest sight I have seen in more than 5 years. All three sisters were standing on the grass and hugging each other. In this dark hour oft he day I could not help but smile at this sight.

Then Edith broke the embrace and reread the last few lines of the letter: „.We sadly have to inform you that Collonel Robert Crawly, Earl of Grantham went missing in action on...", then she broke off and started shaking. Mary embraced her which would have caused the corners of my mouth to pull up again if I had not just heard the most dreadful news since her Ladyship's accident in the bathroom.

Sybill grabbed like her mother moments before. It seemed she simply could not bellieve what her sister just read and since always being the optimist oft he three sisters she said: „Missing in action is not dead. Let us keep our thoughts positive for Mama's sake."

When they embraced again I decided to bring the bad news to the staff. I told everyone to come downstairsl

Before I went downstairs I glanced one last time out oft he window. What a beautiful day I thought , almost perfect if only the second letter had never arrived.