Chapter 8:

Somewhere in France:

When he opened his eyes slowly light stung into them. He was not sure where he was. Still people were screaming for their mothers and the air smelled after dried blood and unwashed man.

First Robert thought he was still at the trenches but after looking down at him he realized he was lying in a bed, a hospital bed. He could hardly remember what happened , just that William fell behind him and a shell coming down towards him. Then there was Matthew and then nothing. „Matthew," Robert thought „did he survive?". He had to find out for Downton's sake, for Isobel's sake. He tried to get up but every inch in his body seemed to protest against his motion. He stirred and lay back again.

However his motion alerted a nurse, who looked like Sybill in her uniform, though it was not his daughter he saw with relief. He did not want any of his family, not even Cora to see him in this condition.

„What happened? Matthew!", he asked her when she stood beside his bedside.

„Sir, you must rest! You were seriously injured. I will get a doctor.", then she left without answereing his question. So he waited and tried to remember more details but everything was blurred.

Finally a doctor came up to him. He took a clipboard from the end of Robert's bed and read through it. „Well Collonel Crawley how are you feeling? Can you feel your leg?" Just as the doctor said this Robert could feel the pain in his leg. „Yes Doctor, I am afraid so. I wish I could not feel it right now.", Robert tried to smile.

„Sir, you are indeed lucky you can still feel it… we nearly had to amputate your leg. Anyway you are over the worst so we will send you home to England in a few days ."

Robert lay withh is mouth open, could not take in what he just heard. Did the doctor just inform him he was lucky to have still both legs.

„Doctor will there be any damage left or will I walk normal again some day?" From the expression the doctor gave him Robert could tell that he was going to limp for the rest of his life. However the doctor said: „We cannot tell in this stage. Time will tell us." „One last question Doctor. Did you hear anything from Matthew.. Matthew Crawley?"

Now the Doctor looked confused: „Sir but you are Matthew Crawly…."

„No I am Robert Crawley. Matthew is a relative. He rescued me from being killed by a shell."

„I am sorry there must have been a mix up. In this clipboard it says Matthew Crawley from Downton."

„Yes I am living there too….", Robert was getting more concerned every second that passed. „But maybe you could look for a Robert Crawley then in the hospital. If there has been a mix up it is obvious that they have given him my name if he survived the attack. One more question, does my family know I am alive?", Robert asked.

„I cannot tell you that. You were not found directly after the battle, so I think you are reported missing in action."

Robert inhaled and imagined how Cora reacted to the letter she got. Maybe she got both letters his own and the letter from the army on the same day! What horror it must have been for her.

The doctor excused himself and went off, leaving Robert alone again with his thoughts.

„If I am missing in Action and Matthew might be dead, and there was a mix up then Cora must think I am dead. I cannot write to her again, when I am transferred in a few days, the letter would not arrive in time…there is now possibility to let Cora know I survived at that…", thinking about that he dozed off again in a disturbed sleep.