Note: Good news, Tom and Mary have met at Last. The majority of chapters will focus on Mary, with a few drop-in's to see how Tom is getting on in New York.
Echoes of Destiny: Part 6
Downton Abbey
As the years rolled by, Mary's frustration with her prescribed path in life grew like a storm gathering intensity. With her mother's gentle persuasion and a hint of relenting from her father, the hiring of Miss Claire Radcliffe, a passionate naturalist, was a small victory. While it wasn't the full-fledged education she craved, it was better than the monotony she'd endured.
Miss Radcliffe's presence offered a glimmer of hope, a confidante who shared Mary's fervour for learning and provided an outlet for discussing the vast world of knowledge that lay beyond the estate's walls. It was a subtle reprieve, a connection that allowed Mary's spirit to breathe even in the confines of her circumstances.
But hopes were often met with heartaches. At 18, Mary's world crumbled as her parents revealed their intentions for her future – a marriage to her cousin Patrick, the heir to the earldom. It was a union steeped in tradition, a means of securing wealth and status for the family. Her dear companion, who had provided a sense of solace, was also leaving her side to embark on a different journey.
In the wake of these revelations, Mary underwent a transformation. She wasn't bitter, yet a sense of resignation enveloped her. Her once warm demeanour cooled, her interactions with others becoming more guarded. Her temper, once a rarity, now flared more frequently, and at times, her words could cut as sharply as a blade. This new facet of her personality was foreign, a stark contrast to the gentle and inquisitive girl she had been.
Mary's relationship with her sister, Edith, bore the brunt of these changes. Just a year apart, Edith's tender affection for Patrick couldn't escape Mary's notice. It fuelled a resentment that had begun as teenagers, as Edith had seemed happy on the traditional path her parents had laid out for her. While Mary strained at these very same traditions.
Mary knew she didn't love Patrick, but her duty as the eldest demanded she sacrifice her own desires for the betterment of the family. Edith, too, harboured a complex mix of emotions – envy for Mary's perceived favour, frustration at her own place being overlooked, always seemingly in the shadow of Mary's premier position in the family.
Amid this familial turmoil, a silver lining emerged in the form of Sybil, the youngest Crawley daughter. A beacon of light, Sybil possessed a genuine and kind spirit, longing for harmony and connection among her sisters. She championed unity, and understanding between her beloved older sisters, that echoed the young girl's true free-spirited nature.
As time pressed forward, the intricate dynamics of the Crawley household shifted, revealing the growing gaps between the sisters, bound by tradition and expectation.
Argument Between Sisters
Tensions within the Crawley household reached a boiling point one stormy evening, as a bitter argument erupted between Mary and Edith. The drawing room, usually a place of refined conversations, became the stage for a clash of opposing worlds.
Edith's fair hair caught the dim light, her blue eyes ablaze with a mixture of hurt and frustration. "Mary, you're impossible!" she burst out, her voice wavering with emotion. "You've always had everything – your looks, your intellect, and now even Patrick's attention."
Mary's pale complexion seemed to glow with an ethereal light as she shot back, her voice laced with a sharp edge. "Edith, don't be naïve. This isn't about me having everything. It's about responsibility, duty, and upholding our family's legacy."
Edith's gaze, filled with a mix of frustration, irritation and resentment, remained unyielding. "Oh, please, Mary. Spare me the dramatics. You act as though being the next Countess is a fate worse than death. I, for one, would gladly switch places with you."
Mary's voice wavered, laced with a sense of bitterness. "Edith, you see only the surface. You don't grasp the weight of the title. You have no idea the sacrifices, the expectations, that come with it."
Edith's voice dripped with disdain. "Oh, right, the sacrifices of wealth and status. How ever will you cope, Mary?"
Mary's dark eyes flashed with anger, "Stop acting like a wounded puppy, Edith. It's tiresome".
"Maybe I wouldn't be wounded if you weren't so intent on always belittling me," Edith snapped back.
"Oh, please Edith, don't flatter yourself. You're not as significant in my thoughts as you'd like to believe," Mary's retort was sharp and stinging.
Edith's voice quivered with frustration and a sense of injustice. "What about my own aspirations? I care for Patrick, but you, with your charm and allure, get to marry him and live the life I've always dreamt of."
"Edith, this isn't about living a dream. It's about fulfilling a responsibility, no matter how it might constrain our personal desires," Mary tried to explain to her sister.
The room seemed to vibrate with tension, the air thick with the clash of opposing viewpoints.
Sybil, the youngest Crawley daughter, hovered nearby, her presence a gentle plea for peace. "Sisters, please, let's not fight. There's no need for this."
Sybil's voice held a gentle yet firm resolve. "Edith, that's enough. Can't you see that Mary is struggling with her own doubts? And Mary, please try to understand that Edith may not fully grasp the depths of your predicament."
As the storm outside raged on, the storm within the hearts of the two sisters mirrored the tempest of their argument. Sybil's presence remained a beacon of calm, a reminder of the bonds that tied them together, and a silent plea for empathy and reconciliation.
Note: It's really hard to write a believable argument between Edith and Mary, I did paraphrase some of the shows actual dialogue to help me with it.
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