The Rome Express

by The Irish Chauffeur

Nine years after the end of the Irish Civil War, Tom and Sybil Branson, Matthew and Mary Crawley now earl and countess of Grantham, along with all their children embark on an eventful trip to the Continent of Europe. Mayhem ensues. Do please read and review.

37. Chapter 37

I have received numerous requests to know if I intend carrying on with this story – to which the answer is a resounding "Yes!". I have been busy with "Reunion". So, since there is no other way I can do this, for all of you who need confirmation of the same, a soupçon of what is to come.

The Irish Chauffeur

Intermezzo

Finally, having been given the road, it was still dark as, within sight of the foothills of the distant, snow-covered Alps, wreathed in smoke and steam, the powerful 4-8-2 locomotive which had been backed onto the train at Dijon, pulled the gleaming blue and gold carriages of the Rome Express under the arching overall glass roof of the lamp lit station at Aix-les-Bains and came to a gentle stop next to the southbound platform.

While the locomotive took on water, the two men, who with increasing impatience had been pacing the platform, awaiting the arrival of the train, now clambered aboard and with the assistance of the Chef de Bord were, immediately, shown to their sleeping quarters.

In the carriage containing the compartments which had been allotted to the Bransons and the Crawleys all was now silent...