Chapter 8

The next morning Edith woke early. Truthfully, she hadn't really slept the night before. She kept thinking about the girl in the guest room. Her great-granddaughter. Yesterday had been filled with many revelations and yet, she didn't really learn anything much about the girl. She only learned a few facts: she was born in New York, she lived in California, she was sixteen, she was named after Edith, and her mother might be dead. Each fact left her with more questions. How does my family end up in the United States? What happens to my granddaughter? It was a weak start. Then she thought about the photograph. Who were all of those people? They can't possibly be all of my children? Who was her future husband? Edith intended to learn as much about the Elizabeth as she could. She didn't know how or why God had blessed her with this opportunity, but she had no intention of wasting it.

When she sat down at the breakfast table, her father was already there, staring at the newspaper. However, Edith noticed that his eyes weren't moving and he seemed to be lost in thought.

"Father, are you alright?"

"Hmm," Robert turned to his middle child. While Ellie had already affected everyone, she clearly would affect Edith the most. "Yes, I apologize. I didn't hear you come in. I seemed to have been lost in thought."

"Indeed."

"Now, Edith, despite what that girl claims, I want you to not become to attached."

"Father, she does have a name. I promise. I just want to learn more about her. I think I shall bring her a plate of food myself."

Carson frowned disapprovingly as he stood next to the buffet table. It was beneath a Lady's position to do such menial jobs.

"I can do it, milady, if you wish. Or perhaps I shall send up one of the maids," he offered.

"No thank you, Carson. There are a few things I wish to talk to Elizabeth about."

"What's this I hear about Elizabeth? Is that her name?" interrupted Matthew.

"Yes, would you like to join me?" asked Edith.

"Perhaps I will after I have had something to eat. I do need to apologize to her."

"Of course," replied Edith as she got up to prepare a plate of food to take with her. She didn't know what Elizabeth would like so she put a couple pieces of buttered toast on the plate and a couple pieces of bacon. She grabbed a glass of juice and headed out of the room.

When she reached the room where Elizabeth was staying she knocked on the door before entering. Elizabeth was still sleeping so Edith moved to quietly place the tray upon the dresser where she noticed a tray filled with foods from last night. Evidently, Elizabeth had not eaten last night. Edith grabbed the old tray and placed it outside in the hall next to the door, where she knew one of the maids would pick it up, before returning to the chair, which she had occupied yesterday before Elizabeth first had the chance to shake up her life, next to the bed.

She regarded the girl. She was quite pretty with long curly blonde hair that was slightly matted with dried blood. She would have to talk to Doctor Clarkson about the easiest way to get Elizabeth washed. She then moved on to the girl's strange attire. They hadn't taken it off yesterday for fear of hurting her even further and they weren't exactly sure they could remove the articles of clothing without ruining them.

"You know, it's not nice to stare," came Elizabeth's voice as she turned over to peer at her great grandmother.

"Good morning Elizabeth. How are you feeling?"

"Wow, nobody really calls me that expect for my family. It's weird coming from a new person."

"Well, I am your great-grandmother, am I not?"

"You believe me?"

"Yes, I do. Now how are you feeling?"

"Like I got ran over by a car." Ellie smirked.

Edith's eyebrows rose. "You have quite the sense of humor, don't you my dear?"

"You have no idea. You are lucky that you are my elder. I try to be as polite as possible, though it tends to slip out."

"I have a lot of questions for you. But first things first, are you hungry? I didn't know what you would like so I just brought a couple pieces of toast and some bacon."

"Famished," replied Ellie. "That smells divine. Hopefully I won't puke it up later. But to honestly answer your earlier question, my head still hurts but not quite as badly as before." She reached over to grab the orange bottle of pills from where she had put them on the nightstand the night before. She took the glass of orange juice from Edith and swallowed back the little white pill.

"That's not the medicine Clarkson gave you," remarked Edith.

"No, it's something from my own time. I tend to get a lot of migraines so I always keep it on me."

"Hmm, so does my mother," commented Edith. "Well, anyway, I have come to get to know you."

"Really? What would you like to know?"

"Anything, everything. How did you come to live in the United States? How do you know all about me? I can't possibly be around in your time. Who were all of the people in the photograph? -"

"Edith! Breathe woman!" That snapped Edith out of her babbling.

"Is it alright that I call you Edith? I mean great-grandmother is kind of long don't you think? And you are still a bit too young."

"Yes, of course," accepted Edith.

"Well, I don't want to reveal too much. I fear that I will change history. But I will tell you what I hope will not alter the timeline. I know a lot about you because my grandma tells me stories about you; stories about your life at Downton and growing up with you as a mother." Ellie began to tell Edith all about her own life and what it's like growing up in the 21st century, never referencing anyone by name for fear revealing to much. She told Edith all about her hobbies, her love of music and technology.

Currently, she was telling Edith about how she had followed in the older woman's footsteps by working on her school's newspaper.

"This semester, I became the assistant to the graphics editor. This means that next year, I will be the graphics editor. I can't wait -" Suddenly a knock came at the door and a blonde head of hair peeked in.

"If I may come in," asked Matthew.

Edith beckoned him in. "Elizabeth, this is my brother-in-law Matthew. He was the one who injured you."

"I am so so very sorry," apologized Matthew. "I could have killed you. Please, please forgive me."

Elizabeth looked at his pleading face and sighed. "I am pissed, but I forgive you. I don't think it was your fault, at least not completely. I should have been paying attention to where I was going, and frankly, I am kind of grateful it happened."

Matthew and Edith stared at her in surprise. "Why ever would you be grateful?" demanded Matthew.

"I know you probably don't believe me, but you gave me a chance to meet my relatives. At the very least, you connected me to Edith, who does believe me."

All three Crawleys contemplated what Elizabeth had just said. Despite his skepticism, Matthew had always been a good judge of character and he could see that Elizabeth's gratitude was real.

"Would you like to stay and join us?" invited Elizabeth.

Matthew responded that he could only stay for a little bit as he had to get to the hospital to see Mary and inform of the latest news. He had told her yesterday when he had visited about nearly killing the young girl, but that was the only news he could give. Mary had comforted him through his guilt and seeing his wife and son eased the pain, but he still felt bound to do what he could to make sure Elizabeth got better.

The three talked for three quarters of an hour before Matthew stood up to leave.

"It was nice to finally meet you. Thank you so much for absolving me."

Elizabeth turned to look at Edith, "If it's alright I have a few questions."

"Of course. Ask whatever you would like, though I am sure you know more about me then I could tell you."

"No, it's not so much about that. I was wondering if there would be any way for me to get cleaned up? I feel incredibly gross!"

"I was thinking about that earlier. Dr. Clarkson will be back this afternoon and I shall ask him then. For now, you look a bit tired again. Perhaps you should take a nap?"

"A nap sounds awesome." Edith grabbed the empty tray of food and got up to leave. "Thanks, Edith."

Edith turned to look at the girl. "For what?"

"For believing me."