A/N: I know this story doesn't match everyone's standards or go the way they want but I'm writing it because I enjoy it and I'm trying my best. Any plot ideas that have based off what I have done, I welcome.
—
A lot had changed since the war had been declared. It was difficult listening to people discuss the war as if it would be over by Christmas but Emma knew that wasn't going to happen.
It was not only the war that caused things to change as Gwen left soon after for her new job. Emma insisted that they should try to keep in contact as much as possible.
Emma soon learns from O'Brien, who's been writing to Thomas, that joining the medical corps has not kept him from the front. Despite her anger with Thomas, her worry overcomes it as she imagines him having to be out there probably moving the injured off the battlefield or something similar. Emma writes to him about her wishing him well and how current circumstances overcome past grievances. Thomas welcomed her letter, though liked to remind her it's Corporal Barrow now, and they have set a correspondence ever since.
In the first half of 1916, The Military Service Act went into effect. It was the first time that legislation had been passed in British military history introducing conscription. The Act specified that men from 18 to 41 years old were liable to be called up for service in the army. Not long after Ireland declares independence though Emma knows that won't be formally recognised yet. She knew all about this due to Mr Branson, who felt very strongly about it all and she couldn't blame him.
—
The battle of the Somme has begun by now and every mention of it in the newspapers brings shivers down her spine.
The house is all go go go in preparing for the benefit concert to raise money for the Hospital as well as the return of Mr Crawley, now Lieutenant Crawley, after having been away at war for a couple of days. Though this is all for a good cause, Emma doesn't have a hand in the actual event, which has been making her feel a bit useless considering the national crisis.
Anna is giving the new maid Ethel, and her new roommate, the rundown about how they all work. Though Emma finds out that the new girl thinks quite highly of herself when Anna drops her off in the Library where Emma is so she can give her a run down in there.
Ethel fluffs a pillow by tossing it in the air.
"You drop the cushions on the floor as the force plumps them up." Emma tells her.
"I know." Comes the short response. Well alright.
Mrs Hughes comes through. "Ethel, are you settling in?"
Ethel drops a pillow on the floor. "I would be if Anna and Emma would stop teaching me how to suck eggs. I was Head Housemaid in my last position." Emma rolls her eyes.
"You were Senior Housemaid out of two in a much smaller house." Mrs Hughes reminds her.
"Is anyone coming in here tonight?" Emma asks.
"Only at the interval, and keep them out of the Drawing room. I thought Mr Bates would've been back by now, or he could've stood guard." Mrs Hughes says before leaving.
"Who is this Mr Bates?" Ethel asks.
"He's His Lordship's Valet. He's been in London because his mother died." Emma answers. "Apparently they had the funeral last Monday."
"Well, everyone talks about him as if he were king," Ethel adds.
Emma snorts. "Well, I'm not sure about that but he's quite good at getting things done."
The Dowager Countess of Grantham then enters. "Emma." She curtsies. "Help me do battle with this... monstrosity." The Dowager stares at the hideous flower arrangement on the table as Ethel and Emma glance at each other in bewilderment. "Looks like a creature from the Lost World." She starts pulling out flowers. Well thank God, she said it.
Emma steps forward to assist her with sorting out the flowers while Ethel leaves shortly after and when Lord and Lady Grantham and Mrs Crawley enter, Emma is collecting the flowers the Dowager had removed and taking them away.
"Thank you." The Dowager says to her. Emma nods politely.
—
Emma is going back up the stairs in the servants' staircase to the door into the Great Hall when she collides with the back of Miss O'Brien.
"What?" Emma hisses at her. She simply puts a finger to her lips to continue listening to what Emma then sees to be Mrs Crawley and Lady Sybil.
"No, I d- I don't mean selling programs or finding prizes for the Tombola, I want to do a real job. Real work. Emma and I have been talking about it." Miss O'Brien raises a judgmental eyebrow at Emma but she shrugs cause what's wrong with that?
"Well, if you are serious, what about being an auxiliary nurse? There's a training college in York. I know I could get you two onto a course. It may be something of a rough awakening for you. Are you ready for that? I mean, have you ever made your own bed, for example, or scrubbed a floor. I know Emma has, but have you?" Mrs Crawley sees her and O'Brien eaves dropping though Emma is sure Miss O'Brien was the one with sinister intentions. "O'Brien, what is it?"
O'Brien steps forward, "Mr Platte is taking Her Ladyship and Lady Grantham down to the Village, she wondered if you'd like to go with them."
"That's very kind. Thank you."
O'Brien leaves and Emma takes her chance to come over to them. "You'd be able to get us places Mrs Crawley?"
The woman nods. "Perhaps."
"Go on. What else would we need?" Lady Sybil urges.
"Well, if you're serious, what about cooking? Why don't you ask Mrs Patmore if she could give you one or two basic tips. When you get to York, it might be useful to know a little more than nothing. I don't suppose Emma has had a chance to cook."
"No ma'am." Not for a while anyway or with this time period's appliances.
Mrs Crawley smiles and strokes Lady Sybil's chin affectionately. Lady Sybil and Emma smile back.
—
In the Servants' Hall, Daisy is shelling peas, Anna and Emma polish, William mends a shirt, Mr Branson reads the newspaper, and Gemma and Miss O'Brien sew.
Emma sits by Mr Branson and Gemma telling them both quietly all about what Mrs Crawley had suggested to her and Lady Sybil.
"It'll give me a chance to spread my skills," Emma speaks. "Who knows what'll happen after that."
"That sounds great Emma," Gemma says encouragingly and Mr Branson smiles warmly at Emma and she hopes he doesn't notice her reddening cheeks.
Mrs Patmore comes in, "Where's the butter for the pancakes?"
"It's in the cold larder," Daisy says.
"Are we having pancakes tonight?" Ethel questions as she sits there filing her nails and Emma can't help but roll her eyes at her.
"Are we 'eck as like." Miss O'Brien remarks.
"Upstairs dinner, Crepes Suzette." Mrs Patmore explains.
Ethel gasps, "I've always wanted to try those. Could you save me some? If they don't finish them all."
Mrs Patmore looks at her in some sort of disbelief. "Er, save you some Crepe Suzette?"
Mr Branson regards Mrs Patmore. Anna, Gemma and Emma share smiles at the strange request.
"If you don't mind." Ethel files her nails. "What are we having?"
"Lamb stew and semolina." Whoop.
"Do you eat a lot of stews?" Ethel asks.
"Don't you fancy that, dear?" Mrs Patmore questions sarcastically.
"Not all the time." It's going to be a problem if she keeps thinking so highly of herself.
"Oh, I see. And would you like to sleep in Her Ladyship's bedroom while you're at it?"
Ethel looks up. "Wouldn't mind. I hate sharing a room. I didn't in my last place." God, why does she keep bringing that up?
"There were only two maids and a cook." Anne points out, probably for the millionth time.
"Well, I'm just saying."
"And I'll just say if you don't lookout." Mrs Patmore snaps. Ethel smiles in amusement as Mrs Patmore leaves.
"You've got a cheek on your first day." Miss O'Brien says.
"Tell me about it," Emma mutters, literally the first day and she's already finding her annoying. Mr Branson snorts.
"I don't see why," Ethel replies, clearly not having heard Emma. "I want the best and I'm not ashamed to admit it."
"And you think we don't?"
"I think it's hard to change at your age." Emma's jaw drops at that. "I don't blame you. But I suppose, in the end, I want to be more than just a servant." Well, she's in trouble now.
—
Lady Sybil and Emma go to Mrs Patmore for more assistance for extra tips on cooking. To be honest Emma is there to re-familiarise herself with the rules of cooking though mostly as moral support.
"Well, it would be our secret. A surprise. You don't mind, do you?" Lady Sybil finished.
Mrs Patmore is flustered, "Oh, it's not that I mind, milady."
"And I only need the basics. How to boil an egg. How to make tea." Lady Sybil explains.
"Don't you know how to make tea?" Mrs Patmore asks surprised.
Lady Sybil fidgets embarrassed. "Not really."
The other Kitchen servant girls giggle.
Emma jumps to her defence. "Well in her defence she's not exactly been in a situation where she needs to."
"Exactly. I know you see it as a joke. But when I start my course, I don't want to be a joke. Will you help me?" Lady Sybil pleads.
Daisy pipes up then. "Of course, we will, won't we?"
Mrs Patmore sighs. "If you say so. Emma, you know how to make tea though don't you?" Emma nods. "Well let's get started milady. Do you know how to fill a kettle?"
"Everyone knows that." Lady Sybil takes the kettle from Mrs Patmore and goes to the tap. She opens the valve and water sprays all over. The servants laugh.
"Not everyone, apparently." Mrs Patmore remarks.
—
Emma finishes Lady Mary's hair as she sits at her dresser while Lady Sybil sits on the bed; Lady Grantham and Lady Edith sit in chairs. Anna is putting away some dresses in the wardrobe.
"Glad to be back?" Lady Sybil asks.
"I'm never sure. When I'm in London, I long for Yorkshire, and when I'm here, I ache to hear my heels clicking on the pavement. I'd forgotten about this nightmare concert. Why didn't you warn me? I'd have come back tomorrow." Lady Mary complains as she dabs some perfume on herself.
Lady Edith takes the opportunity to gloat, "But you'd have missed Matthew." Lady Mary pauses in surprise. Emma frowns at Lady Edith internally as all of this is partly her fault.
"I was going to tell you. Matthew's on leave and he's in the Village, so Papa and I thought it would be a good time to mend our fences. He's coming tonight with Isobel." Her Ladyship carefully says.
Lady Edith is still gloating, "And his fiancée."
"What?"
"Edith. I don't know how helpful you're being." Her Ladyship admonishes.
"Matthew's engaged. He's brought her to Downton to meet his mother." Lady Sybil explains.
She listens in continued surprise before quickly covering up how she really feels, "Well, how marvellous." Emma finishes her hair and she stands up and walks over to her full length mirror in the corner, taking her gloves with her.
"You don't mind?"
"Why should I? We're not going to marry, but I don't want him to spend the rest of his life in a cave." Lady Mary cheerfully says, pulling on her gloves. Emma pauses in her further fiddling with her dress to watch her carefully, could the others not see through this façade?
"Exactly what Papa and I feel. Please try to be happy for him." Lady Grantham says.
"Of course, I'm happy! Good luck to him." Lady Edith smirks at her sister's brave face. "Anyway, there's someone I want you all to meet. Have you ever come across Richard Carlisle?" Emma stands and does the buttons on her gloves at her inner wrist.
"Sir Richard Carlisle? The one with all those horrid newspapers?" Ohh great the media.
"We met at Cliveden."
Lady Edith scoffs, "But how old is he?"
"Old enough not to ask stupid questions." Her sister snaps. "Anyway, I can't wait for you to know him. If only Papa hadn't closed down the shoot." She sits down again and I place her long necklace on her.
"Most people have stopped shooting now that the war's on. But I'm sure Papa would be happy to have Sir Richard come and stay." Lady Grantham and Lady Sybil rise to leave.
"Are you?" Lady Edith continues doubtfully. "I shouldn't have thought he was Papa's type at all."
Her mother ignores her and turns to her eldest, "You coming?"
"I'll be down in a minute." Lady Mary says with a tight smile.
Her mother and sisters leave. Emma and Anna linger, giving each other a concerned look. They turn to Lady Mary.
"Are you all right, milady?" Anna asks.
"Oh, Anna, Emma." She breaks down crying. Anna and Emma each put a comforting hand on her shoulders.
"You'll get through this milady," Emma tells her.
—
Everyone is gathering in the Hall for the concert, including Mr Bates who had returned at the same time as Lady Mary, when Emma notices a few stares from the family towards the door. She looks to see Lieutenant Crawley standing with Lord Grantham and a younger woman who's more of a strawberry blonde with it up in a modern, for this lot, updo and similar taste in dress. This must be Miss Lavinia Swire.
As Emma watches Lady Mary meet Miss Swire, she feels almost proud of her for how pleasant she is towards her instead of being horrible. The reunion between Lady Mary and Lieutenant Crawley seems a bit awkward but ends well so that's good.
The concert begins and shortly after, two women stand up and start handing out white feathers. One hands a feather to William, who Emma is sitting next to. Oh god, she knows what this means.
"What is it?" William asks.
"A white feather, of course, Coward."
Lord Grantham turns around and stands up. "Stop this at once!" The music stops and William stands.
Lord Grantham continues yelling, "This is neither the time nor the place!"
The other girl speaks then, "These people should be aware that there are cowards among them."
"Will you please leave? You are the cowards here, not they!" Mr Bates stands, also angry, and the women leave. Lord Grantham nods to William. William nods back and sits down. Emma puts her hand on his arm in an attempt to comfort him. The man already desperately wants to join the army but it's his father stopping him, not cowardice!
"Leader, will you continue?"
—
After the family has had their meal and are in the Drawing room, the servants are setting the table for their meal.
"What you reading?" Daisy asks Ethel, having noticed the magazine in her hands.
"Photo play about Mabel Normand. She was nothing when she started, you know. Her father was a carpenter and they'd no money, and now she's a shining film star." Ethel replies. Miss O'Brien walks in behind her as she talks.
"Ethel, I've a message for you from Her Ladyship. You're to go up and see her now." Miss O'Brien suddenly says. Wait what?
"What? Where?" Ethel asks in surprise.
"In the Drawing room, of course. They're all in the Drawing room." Emma then realises that O'Brien is doing this to make fun of her.
"What've I done wrong?"
"Nothing. Quite the reverse. She's very pleased with the way you've begun, and she wants to thank you." Emma covers her mouth to hide her laughter.
"Now?"
"Yes, now. She's asked for you."
Emma decides to pipe up then, "How much longer are you gonna keep her waiting? It won't look good, you know."
Ethel quickly puts away her magazine. The servants hold in their giggles in the corner. Ethel leaves in a hurry and most of them, including Emma, burst out laughing.
—
Afterwards, William rushes down to tell Emma that Mrs Crawley wants to speak with her. She knows that this wasn't a trick as it was with Ethel and she hurries up to the Great Hall to see Mrs Crawley in her coat by the servant door.
"Ah, Emma there you are!" Mrs Crawley says once she has spotted her. "I just want to let you know that the nursing course in York does have a couple of vacancies. It's short notice and you will have to start Friday."
Emma smiles. "Oh, that's brilliant Mrs Crawley thank you!"
"No problem, dear. It's good to see you wanting to do more for the war effort." She speaks. "Now I do need to leave. Don't want to keep them waiting." She leaves and Emma runs back downstairs excitedly.
—
They all sit down to breakfast in the Servants' Hall.
"I still don't understand why it was funny to make me look a fool. You weren't even there to enjoy it." Ethel grumbles.
"Oh, don't worry, we enjoyed it all right from down here." Miss O'Brien says. Emma lets out a snort and Gemma nudges her as if to tell her off but it doesn't work cause she's smiling.
"Miss O'Brien, Her Ladyship has asked me to take the incident no further. Don't tempt me to disobey." Mr Carson says. "Did I see Lady Sybil in the Kitchen yesterday?"
"She wants to learn some cooking." Mrs Patmore explains from where she stands next to him.
"She says that she's gonna train to be a nurse, so she needs to know how to cook and clean and everything," Daisy adds as she pours the contents of her jug into peoples' glasses.
"Has she told Her Ladyship about this?" Mr Carson demands.
"It's supposed to be a surprise."
"Mr Carson, it speaks well of Lady Sybil that she wants to help the wounded. Let's not give her away." Mrs Hughes says.
"Why shouldn't she learn how to cook and scrub? She may need it when the war's over. Things are changing. For her lot and us. And when they do, I mean to make the most of it." Ethel remarks. Oh, here she goes again.
Mrs Patmore laughs.
Ethel notices. "I take it they ate all the pancakes last night then?"
"They did." Bet they didn't.
—
Lady Sybil and Emma are once again in the Kitchen at the stove though Emma seems to be doing better than Lady Sybil is.
Mrs Patmore checks over their shoulders. "Well done, Emma." She says before noticing Lady Sybil's attempt. "What in Wonderland do you call that?" She sees Lady Sybil's horrified expression. "I mean, I do not fully understand what you're trying to do, milady."
Lady Sybil shakes her head. "Oh, I knew it wasn't supposed to look like this."
"No, milady, I would go so far as to say there is no food on the earth that is supposed to look like that." Mrs Patmore moves away.
"What do I do?" Lady Sybil asks Emma. "Why does everything go so lumpy?"
"Let's try again," Emma says as Daisy comes over.
"She's right. It's better to chuck it out and start again." Lady Sybil nods and takes the pot off the stove.
—
Emma notices Anna and Mr Bates being all cosy one evening and she pulls Anna to the side to demand answers.
"Has he proposed?" Emma asks gleefully. "Are you two making plans?"
"Yes, he has and maybe," Anna says shyly but she's beaming. Emma squeals and wraps her up into a hug.
—
The next day Lady Sybil and Emma are making their own cakes. While Emma is enjoying herself, she feels worried as she had spotted Mr Bates with, she can only assume to be, his estranged wife Vera. Emma worries about what that means.
"Now, steady. Even the most experienced cook can burn themself if they're not careful." Mrs Patmore warns as they are about to take them out of the oven. Emma is a bit nervous as she had not only spent the past 7 years in the past having never baked but she had also not done it much even before then.
"But do you think it's ready?" Lady Sybil questions. The two of them are wearing cooking aprons over their usual clothes and kitchen towels in their hands.
"I know it's ready."
"Go on, you don't want to spoil it." Daisy insists.
"Right, let's do it then," Emma says as the two of them take turns pulling their cakes out of the oven successfully.
"Ta-da." Lady Sybil says, clapping her hands together. Emma laughs. She feels someone's eyes on her. She turns to see Mr Branson grinning at her. She beams back.
Daisy and Mrs Patmore then help them finish the cakes.
—
Emma soon learns that she was right to be concerned when she saw Mr Bates' estranged wife as he handed in his notice and is leaving in the morning. Emma rushes to find Anna, who she finds in the Courtyard sobbing with Mr Bates walking away from her.
Emma grabs and pulls her into her arms and Anna sobs into her shoulder, likely soaking it. When everything is going well, it gets torn away.
Emma knows that anything she says won't have any effect so she simply takes Anna's arms and pulls her upstairs to her room. When she informs Mrs Hughes that Anna had fallen ill, while neither of them says it, Emma can see she knows what she's secretly saying.
—
Emma has packed her own bags ready and she's now in Lady Sybil's room with her sisters, mother and grandmother helping her pack. All of them are coming up with their own suggestions. Lady Sybil had previously offered Emma to wear some of her clothes once they are there as she doesn't have much.
"Where's Anna? Surely she should be helping considering you're leaving yourself." The Dowager asks.
"She's not feeling very well today, Your Ladyship," Emma replies though she knows this isn't true. "I've taken over for the time being. It's not too much trouble."
"Oh, that's so kind of you. Just make sure Lady Sybil packs things she can get in and out of without a maid. Though I suppose she'll have your help if she needs it." The Dowager says.
Lady Edith starts to pack an evening gown but Lady Sybil pulls it from her. "Oh, I don't need that. I'd never wear it." She hooks it onto the wardrobe door.
"But you must have something decent. Suppose you're invited to dinner." Her sister replies.
"I know this is hard for you to grasp, but I'm not there to go out to dinner. I'm there to learn." Lady Sybil replies.
"Take one, just in case." Lady Mary hands Lady Sybil a gown, who places it on the bed. Emma folds it for her.
"We'll miss you." Lady Edith says.
"Don't be silly. It's only two months. And I'll come home if I can, both of us." Lady Sybil says, sending a smile to Emma and she returns it.
"Why don't I drive the two of you?" Lady Edith asks. Emma remembers Mr Branson had been teaching her.
Her grandmother isn't pleased with the idea. "She's taking enough chance with her life as it is."
"Oh, Granny." Lady Edith sighs. Lady Sybil takes some clothes from Emma and puts them into her case.
"What is this driving mania?"
"It'll be useful. They won't let a healthy man drive us around for much longer. And if Sybil and Emma can be nurses, why can't I be a chauffeur?" Lady Edith remarks. Emma frowns at the idea of Mr Branson having to go off to war despite knowing how selfish that is considering.
"Well, I shall leave you. I have been summoned by Cousin Isobel for tea. Goodbye Sybil." The Dowager stands and holds out her arms for a hug, Lady Sybil embraces her with a smile. "And good luck with it all."
"Thank you for being such a sport." Her youngest granddaughter says.
"It's a big step you're taking, dear. But war deals out strange tasks. Remember your Great Aunt Roberta."
The woman goes to leave but her eldest granddaughter's voice stops her, "What about her?"
"She loaded the guns at Lucknow." Ladies Mary and Sybil raise their eyebrows at each other.
"I'll come with you. I'll tell William to fetch the bags for both of them." Lady Grantham pauses at the door on her way out. "First of you to leave the nest. And good luck Emma." Emma gives a grateful nod and she exits.
"Poor Mama. She always feels these things so dreadfully." Lady Edith remarks.
"That's her American blood." Her elder sister quips.
Lady Sybil continues packing, "I'm so glad we've settled everything with Cousin Matthew. Aren't you, Mary?"
Said woman sighs irritably, "Oh, please stop treading on eggshells. I've other fish to fry." Lady Edith scoffs.
—
Their bags are strapped to the back of the car with Lady Sybil and Emma in the back. Lady Sybil waves to her mother and sisters from the car. It is when Mr Branson pulls the car away does she begin to cry.
Emma reaches over to grab her hand. "It'll be fine. You'll be home in no time." She gives her a watery smile in return.
They reach the Hospital and it's at this point that it dawns on Emma that this is happening. She hadn't thought of ever going into nursing or anything like that in her last life and now here she is.
Mr Branson carries Lady Sybil and Emma's bags as they walk into the Hospital Courtyard where the wounded men are exercising. Several are missing limbs. Mr Branson puts their bags down in a stone corridor.
"It'll be hard for us to let you go, our last link with home," Emma says to him.
He takes off his hat. "Not as hard as it is for me." Emma's eyes widen.
"I'll leave you two." Lady Sybil says, she walks a short distance away to give them some semblance of privacy.
"Mr Branson, I—" Emma starts but she doesn't know what else to say.
"I know I shouldn't say it, but I can't keep it in any longer." He confesses.
"I wish you would," Emma mumbles. She suspected he might like her but this, the reality, scares her.
"I've told myself and told that you don't want to ruin things but I couldn't keep quiet about it anymore, your leaving reminded me how life can change. When the war is over, the world won't be the same place as it was when it started. And I'll make something of myself, I promise. There will be opportunities." He continues.
"I know you will." Emma interrupts.
"Then bet on me. I know you can't leave now, not in the middle of a war and the world scares you, but until then, I promise to devote every waking minute to your happiness." Mr Branson finishes.
"I'm terribly flattered," Emma says, flickering her eyes to the floor. She doesn't know what else should be said in this kind of situation.
"Don't say that."
"Why can't I?" Emma asks.
"Because you sound like them when you say it." He replies.
She smiles, trying to lighten the mood, "That sounds more like you."
"Please don't make fun of me. It's cost me all I've got to say these things."
"But you don't know me," Emma argues.
"I do."
"No, you really don't." She insists. God if she says yes to this, she would have to tell him. Emma stares at the ground uncomfortably.
"Right." He puts his hat back on. "I'll go. I'll hand in my notice, and I won't be there when you get back."
Her head snaps up. "No, don't do that."
"I must. They won't let me stay when they've heard what I said." Mr Branson says.
"They won't hear. Not from me nor Lady Sybil." Emma pauses. "A-and I-I'll think about it."
His head perks up and he gives her a small smile. Lady Sybil takes the opportunity to walk back over. "Sorry to interrupt but we should report to the head matron and get to our dorm."
"Right, yes, thank you milady." He says before turning to Emma. "Goodbye, Emma."
"Goodbye." She whispers and then he turns and leaves.
—
They meet with the matron and are settled into their dorm with two other girls: Ruth Ades and Lilian Barrs. No one is to be known by their title on this course; Emma becomes known as Miss Byrne and Lady Sybil as Miss Crawley. To add to the equality, Lady Sybil insisted that Emma call her Sybil, which is going to be weird.
On this course they'll be learning first aid, home nursing and hygiene as well as cooking. They might be learning about duties that will be less technical but will no less be important, than trained nurses.
Once settled, Emma decides she should perhaps write to Mr Branson to explain what she means when she said he didn't know her. If he wants to propose to her, marry her, he needs to have all the facts.
Dear Mr Branson,
I am writing this letter to you as I feel that you deserve some answers. I meant what I said when you don't know me and that's correct. There's something about me that I haven't told anyone, something that seems insane but is true.
When I said I began working at Downton in 1909, that was the truth but what I didn't say was that I didn't exist before then. I was originally from the year 2021, the 21st century. I know you probably don't believe it but it is true. I knew the war was coming, I know when and how it ends. I have experienced the 100 year anniversaries linked with this war.
I know you probably don't believe that literally time travelled but it's true. I feel that you should know this if you want to be making any declarations like you did today.
Yours,
Emma Byrne
Short, simple and to the point; Emma doesn't know how to write letters anyway.
She quickly writes a little note to Gemma about how she is so far as well explaining that she needs to give this to Mr Branson before slipping it into the envelope where the letter is and putting her name on the front. Emma doesn't want everyone downstairs suspecting, not when she hasn't even answered him.
—
A/N: Going back through this chapter, I have realised I said shits instead of she sits. Oops. All fixed now.