The preparation for Mr Crawley's and Miss Swire's wedding is underway. Everyone is very excited, everyone except Emma and Lady Mary. The latter as the love of her life is marrying someone else and the former is because of the news of the spread of the Spanish flu.
Sybil had not been convinced by her sisters' arguments against marrying Billy, which leads to contentious arguments.
"But why announce it tonight all of a sudden?" Lady Mary asks Sybil, looking at her through the mirror on her vanity, where she sits. Anna is tidying her hair.
"He's got a job at the Shipyard in Southampton. He heard today it's a real chance." Sybil replies from where she stands in the middle of the room. Emma had tidied away and now only stands next to Sybil.
"Let him go to Southampton and then you can use the calm to consider." Lady Mary declares. Sybil scoffs.
"Mary doesn't want you to be trapped before you're completely sure." Lady Edith mediates from a chair in the room.
Sybil is frustrated by her sisters. "But I am sure! How many times do I have to say it? Anna, tell them."
"Lady Mary's right. It's a very big thing to give up your whole world." Anna says, having now finished Lady Mary's hair.
"Thank you. Listen to her if you won't listen to me." Lady Mary mutters as she puts on her gloves.
"Well, what about Emma! She's going to Dublin to marry Branson." Sybil retorts. Emma looks at her with wide eyes before looking at everyone's shocked faces.
"You're what?" Comes from Lady Edith.
"Emma?" Lady Mary asks.
"Um… y-yes that's the plan but not until Sybil is sorted." Is Emma's stumbled reply.
"You're marrying the chauffeur." Lady Edith says, still surprised.
"Actually, he's a journalist now." Emma retorts. Why had she said it like it's something wrong?
"And what will you be doing?" Lady Mary asks. It hurts Emma to hear the doubt and judgment in the woman's voice.
"Nursing."
"Anyway, I'm not giving up my world!" Sybil interrupts, looking at Emma apologetically. "They want to give me up. That's their affair. I'm perfectly happy to carry on being friends with everyone."
"Married to a shipbuilder?" Lady Mary comments.
"Yes. Though technically he's an engineer, which sounds better for Granny." Sybil sits down on the bed, frustrated. "We're going to tell Papa tonight." They all stare at her in shock except Emma who already knows this.
""We"?" Lady Edith echoes. "You mean, you and Mr Prior?"
"He's coming in after dinner."
"But what will Papa do?"
"I imagine he'll call the police." The eldest Crawley daughter remarks.
Sybil sniffs and shakes her head.
—
Emma leaves the room with Anna to go downstairs to prepare to help with dinner.
"You didn't tell me about this!" Anna hisses at Emma.
"Well, I'm telling you now!" Emma replies. She honestly feels bad that she never mentioned any of this to Anna or any of the others downstairs. She should probably get on with that.
"Have you even told Gemma?"
Emma winces. "No, Lady Sybil only knows because she was there when Mr Branson proposed and, well, Lady Mary was an accident."
"You don't have to defend yourself," Anna reassures her. "I just thought you'd tell me about things like this, like I tell you about Mr Bates." There's the disappointment hitting you.
"I know and I'm sorry, I never intended to hurt you," Emma replies.
"It's nice to hear. About time you found someone." Anna beams at her.
"Oh, shut up."
The two giggle with each other.
—
Thomas stands outside Mr Carson's Pantry looking distressed.
"Thomas?" Emma asks as she approaches him.
"I don't know what I'm going to do Emma. I don't know what I'm going to do." Thomas replies.
Emma places a comforting hand on his arm, frowning. "Mr Carson is telling you to leave."
"He's running out of patience. What I'm going to do?" Thomas wonders as they walk out of the back door and into the Courtyard.
"You show him how indispensable you are, show how helpful you are. Surely, they'll help you then." Emma urges him. She lets out a series of coughs.
Thomas gazes at her worriedly. "Are you all right?"
She waves him away. "It's just bit of a cold."
"If you're sure…"
Emma rolls her eyes. "I am. Nothing's been coughed up." She smirks and he shakes his head at her.
"Is this a bad time to mention my engagement?" She tries to say jokingly but also nervously, dreading a negative reaction.
Thomas looks at her in surprise. "Your engagement?"
"Yes, I'm marrying Mr Branson, we're going to Dublin," Emma explains.
"When did this happen? Why didn't you tell me?" Thomas interrogates.
Emma rolls her eyes again. "Oh, not you too. I've already had a telling off from Anna. I'm dreading telling Gemma."
Thomas snorts before he sobers up. "I think I'll miss you, Emma."
"You better Thomas. And you also better write to me cause you're not getting rid of me that easily." Emma behests.
"Of course not." Thomas chuckles.
—
Emma slips Billy into the servants' quarters through the back door after the family had eaten and guides him up the stairs to the Drawing room door. During dinner, there had been talk of Mrs Crawley's charity she's part of settling in refugees that had been displaced by the war.
"This is where I leave you," Emma says.
"Thank you, Emma. Thank you for everything." Billy clasps her shoulder briefly.
"Of course. Good luck."
Billy opens the door and enters purposefully. He leaves the door open but Emma doesn't want to be seen so she lingers just around the corner, to be there for whatever happens.
"Yes?" Lord Grantham asks.
"I'm here." Billy declares to, likely, Sybil.
"So I can see." His Lordship replies.
Emma hears movement and then Sybil starts talking quietly, she sounds as if she's right next to Billy. "I don't think this is such a good idea. We mustn't worry Granny."
Emma is beginning to agree with her. Was this really going to go as well as they hoped?
"You've asked me to come, and I've come," Billy replies.
"Would someone please tell me what is going on, or have we all stepped through the looking glass?" The Dowager questions.
"Your grandmother has as much right to know as anybody else."
"Why don't I find that reassuring?" In any other situation, Emma would have found that response funny.
Sybil and Billy begin to explain their plans to marry. Soon Lady Mary is facing her father's ire when she explains that she knew that there is a relationship between his youngest daughter and a man that convalescenced at Downton.
"What do you mean, "you knew"?" His Lordship inquires in shock.
"I hoped it would blow over. I didn't want to split the family when Sybil might still wake up." His eldest defends.
"And all that time you were in my home, convalescencing and acting as if you need our help when you've been seducing my daughter behind my back?" Lord Grantham harshly accuses.
"I have not been pretending!" Billy snaps back. "And I've not seduced anyone! Give your daughter some credit for knowing her own mind!"
"How dare you speak to me in that tone. You will leave at once." His Lordship orders.
"Oh, Papa!" Sybil sighs, exasperated.
"This is a folly! A ridiculous, juvenile madness!" Lord Grantham exclaims.
"Sybil, what do you have in mind?" The Dowager suddenly asks, filling Emma with hope.
"Mama, this is hardly—"
"No. She must have something in mind. Otherwise, she wouldn't have summoned him here tonight." His mother interrupts.
"Thank you, Granny." Sybil goes on to explain. "Yes, we do have a plan. Billy has got a job as an engineer at the Shipyard. I'll stay until after the wedding; I don't want to steal their thunder. But after that, I'll go to Southampton."
"To live with him? Unmarried?" Lady Grantham asks scandalised.
"I'll live with his mother while the bans are read." Sybil corrects. "And then we'll be married... And I'll get a job as a nurse."
"What does your mother make of this?" Emma can only assume the Dowager is asking Billy.
"If you must know, she thinks we're very foolish." Billy reluctantly answers.
The Dowager chuckles. "So at least we have something in common."
"I won't allow it! I will not allow my daughter to throw away her life!" Lord Grantham bellows. Emma can hear him storming across the room.
"You can posture it all you like, Papa, it won't make any difference!" Sybil loudly argues.
"Oh, yes, it will."
"How? I don't want any money and you can hardly lock me up until I die! I'll say goodnight. But I can promise you one thing, tomorrow morning nothing will have changed. Billy." Sybil then steps out of the room with Billy following a second later.
The three of them move to the Outer Hall to avoid being heard.
"Golly, that was something," Sybil mutters, rubbing her forehead.
Her fiancé places his hand on her back. "At least they know now, we're not hiding."
"I suppose."
Emma blinks feeling dizzy but shakes it off. "He's right, now you can plan in the open."
Sybil nods though still looks upset from the poor response from her family.
—
The next day in the Servants' Hall, Mr Bates reading a book with Jane a couple of seats down knitting. Miss O'Brien and Emma sit on either side of Thomas. Gemma sits on Emma's left sewing. Emma had eventually told Gemma about Tom, who thankfully took it well and was not upset with Emma not saying anything.
"Can't have expected to live here free forever." Miss O'Brien says to Thomas as he lights a cigarette. Emma tries to keep how she feels about the cigarette from her face.
"I didn't expect to get booted out." Thomas retorts.
"You'll have to find some work."
Thomas breathes out the cigarette smoke. "It's not that easy. Every Tom, Dick, and Harry's looking for work these days and they don't all have a hand like a Jules Verne experiment."
"I told him that he needs to show this lot what they're missing, try and get a job here if all else fails," Emma says. She feels tired and lets out a couple of coughs, which she blames on the cigarette smoke.
She hears someone walking into the Servants' Hall and turns to see Billy enter. She goes over to him. "Billy, what are you…"
"I came to see Sybil," Billy tells her.
"I don't think you'll be able to do that right now," Emma replies softly.
"Mr Prior, I know it wasn't easy last night," Anna says walking over to them.
"We should've spoken out long ago," Billy says.
Daisy places a teacup down at the head of the table. "Spoken out about what? Who are you?"
"My name is Billy Prior and Lady Sybil and I are getting married," Billy announces to the room. Mr Carson enters and those sitting stand.
"Have you no shame?" Mr Carson practically hisses.
"I'm sorry you feel like that, Mr Carson. You're a good man." Billy says to him as the rest of them sit back down. "But no, I have no shame. In fact, I have great pride in the love of that young woman and I will strive to be worthy of it."
Mr Carson can't seem to deal with this and walks over to his chair to sit as he dismisses Billy. "I will not disgrace myself by discussing the topic, and nor will anyone else. Now, if you will go, Mr Prior, we will continue with our day."
"I'll be at the Grantham Arms in the Village until Lady Sybil is ready to make her departure. I bid you all a good day." And with that Billy leaves.
"Is it really true—" Jane tries to ask but Mr Carson puts up his hand to silence her.
"Please. I have asked for silence and silence I will have."
—
"Your threats are hollow, don't you see? "I won't be received in London. I won't be welcome at court." How do I make you understand? I couldn't care less." Sybil argues after Lord Grantham had relentlessly attempted to convince her to leave Billy as he, his youngest daughter and Emma stand in Sybil's room. Sybil had asked Emma to be here as moral support against her father but Emma feels she can't get a word in edgewise in the battle of wills between father and daughter.
Lord Grantham is about to reply when the Dowager knocks and enters.
"I do hope I'm interrupting something." His mother utters as she closes the door and walks over to them.
"I only wish you were, but I seem to be getting nowhere." His Lordship mutters in irritation. Emma gives him an irritated look that he doesn't seem to see. "Have you seen Cora?"
"Ah-ha. She's lying down, and can we blame her?" The Dowager replies before turning to her youngest grandchild. "Now, Sybil, dear, this sort of thing is all very well in novels, but in reality, it can prove very uncomfortable. And while I am sure Prior has many virtues…" her son is about to protest, "well, no, no. He served his country and apparently is a good enough engineer."
"I will not give him up!" Sybil yells. Emma winces at the noise and rubs her head. Maybe she should lie down herself.
"Don't be rude to your grandmother." Her father snaps.
"No, she's not being rude, just wrong." The Dowager retorts.
Sybil sighs then turns to her father. "This is my offer: I will stay one week to avoid the impression I've run away, and because I don't want to spoil Matthew's wedding. And then we will marry in Southampton and whoever wishes to visit will be very welcome."
"Out of the question."
"Will you forbid Mary and Edith?" Sybil challenges.
Her father opens his mouth to reply but his mother cuts him off. "No, don't, don't. Don't say anything you may have to retract."
Lord Grantham acknowledges and goes for a calmer approach. "Know this: there will be no more money. From here on in, your life will be very different."
"Well, bully for that," Sybil replies resolutely.
Emma lets a loud sigh causing the others to look at her. She had increasingly become tired and her head is hurting.
"Emma are you all right?" Sybil asks concerned.
Emma shakes herself out of it. "Yes of course."
"Perhaps you should lie down," Sybil tells her.
"Fine but I'll be well enough to serve dinner. Don't you worry."
"I do not believe dinner is one of our highest priorities right now." The Dowager remarks sarcastically.
—
Emma knows she needs to inform Mrs Hughes about her impending resignation and goes in search of the woman. She can't find her in her Sitting room so tries Mr Carson's Pantry. She walks in to find Mrs Hughes helping an obviously unwell Mr Carson to stand.
"Oh, very well, I'll ask him, but only on condition you go to bed." Mrs Hughes is saying to him as Emma knocks and opens the door.
"Oh, is this a bad time?" Emma asks. "I was hoping to speak with Mrs Hughes."
Mrs Hughes shakes her head. "It's fine, Emma. I'll speak to you in a moment." She leaves to help Mr Carson to his room. Emma frowns, hoping this is not the Spanish flu.
Mrs Hughes returns to her Sitting room and Emma informs her of her plans.
Mrs Hughes stares at her in surprise before recovering. "Well, congratulations though it sounds like a big step."
"It is a big step Mrs Hughes but I believe it to be the right one," Emma replies strongly.
"Well as you are sure, I am happy for you." Mrs Hughes says, smiling.
"Thank you, Mrs Hughes." Emma then lets out an exhausted sigh and rubs her forehead. The stress of everything seems to be getting to her.
"Is everything all right, Emma?" Mrs Hughes asks concerned.
Emma shakes her head. "Sorry yes, I've just been feeling tired. What with the whole Lady Sybil business. But I'll be fine to serve dinner."
"If you're sure."
"I am."
Mrs Hughes looks reluctant to agree with her.
—
Mr Molesley is brought in to serve dinner as Mr Carson is unwell. Emma watches Anna give Mr Molesley the rundown of the wines.
"Mr Carson likes to serve two white wines, which you should open and decant just before they eat," Anna explains. "A light one for the hors d'oeuvres, then a heavy one with the soup. Keep that going for the fish, and then change to Claret, which you should really decant now. There's a pudding wine, and after that whatever they want in the Drawing room with their coffee."
"Blimey, it's a wonder they make it up the stairs." Mr Molesley remarks. Emma laughs quietly to herself as she leans heavily on the door frame.
"They don't drink much of any of it. Now, let me show you the decanters. These four..."
—
Anna and Emma carry the trays to go upstairs and find a nervous Mr Molesley in the Server room fiddling with the wines.
"You quite right, Mr Molesley?" Anna asks.
"Yes, I just want to be absolutely sure that this is the lighter wine." Mr Molesley pours himself a glass.
"Why does it matter as long as it's white?" Emma asks confused. She didn't really get the big deal about it.
Mr Molesley disagrees. "No. I believe in starting the way you mean to go on. Don't want to get off on the wrong foot." He grabs a couple of bottles and barges past the two maids, who dive out the way.
—
"I'm glad you're here, Sybil, dear. I was afraid you'd have a tray in your room." The Dowager says to her youngest grandchild. Emma and Anna stand on different sides of the Dining room. Emma stands by the door while Anne lingers in the corner behind the Dowager and Miss Swire. Mr Molesley goes around pouring wine into their drinks.
"Maybe you should have done." Lord Grantham says snidely. Emma winces, she has the worst headache.
"Why?" Sybil counters. "I'm not eloping like a thief in the night. I might have once, but Mary and Edith talked me out of it." Her sisters stare at her in alarm for outing them.
"Oh? The plot thickens." The Dowager quips.
Emma sighs, the room spinning ever so slightly as she glances at Mrs Crawley as she speaks.
"After all, Sybil's had enough time to think about it—" Mrs Crawley tries to contribute.
"Mother, it is not for us to have an opinion." Her son tells her. Mr Molesley then falters in pouring Mr Crawley's wine, Emma notes that he seems paler than usual and looks sickly; she has to admit that she feels the same, she'll lie down once the meal is over. "Mr Molesley, are you quite well?"
"I-I'm all right, thank you, sir."
"I don't believe you are."
"The awful truth is, I'm not quite all right and I'm afraid I'm going to ask you to excuse me." Lady Grantham interrupts. Emma sees how pale she is.
"I'm so sorry." Her husband says. The men stand as Her Ladyship gets up from the table. Emma snaps to attention and pulls the Dining room door open. "Would you like us to call Dr Clarkson?"
"No, no, darling, it's too late."
"He's coming anyway, Your Lordship, for Mr Carson," Anna informs them.
"I-I'll bring him up when he arrives." Lady Edith adds.
"I can sleep in my Dressing room." His Lordship says as his wife leaves.
—
Everyone seems to be dropping like flies. Emma finds Mr Molesley groaning into a handkerchief, not looking well so they get Jane to take him to the Servants' Hall so Dr Clarkson can have a look at him and Emma and Anna quickly return to the Dining room to continue serving the family.
"The Spanish flu has found its way to Yorkshire." Lord Grantham says as they walk in, Emma to the side of the room while Anna carries the wine to pour.
"And to Downton. Dr Clarkson says he's got ten cases already." Mrs Crawley says. Emma hopes that that isn't what she has.
Anna pours the Dowager's drink and Lord Grantham takes notice. "Ah, I thought Molesley had joined the temperance league."
"I'm afraid he's been taken ill, milord. I am sorry." Anna replies.
"Molesley, too? Good heavens, everyone's falling like ninepins."
"Lavinia?" Lady Mary utters. Emma blearily looks over to see Miss Swire looking pale and swooning in her chair.
"Do you know, I'm not at all well either. I wonder if I could lay down for a minute?" Miss Swire replies.
"Of course. Come to my room. They'll have lit the fire by now." Lady Mary and Miss Swire get up from the table. The men stand as they exit and Emma holds the door open.
"Excuse me." Miss Swire mutters.
"Do you think we should take her home?" Mrs Crawley wonders just after the two women have left.
"No, let her rest for a moment." Her son shakily replies.
"Well, I-I think I should go and help." Mrs Crawley gets up and exits. This leaves Emma, the Dowager, Lord Grantham, Anna, Mr Crawley and Sybil the last ones in the room.
"Wasn't there a masked ball in Paris when cholera broke out? Half the guests were dead before they left the ballroom." The Dowager comments.
"Thank you, Mama. That's cheered us up no end." His Lordship remarks irritably.
Emma feels herself begin to swoon and tries shaking her head and blinking to wake herself up but it seems to make how she's feeling worse.
"Emma? Are you all right?" Sybil asks.
"Yes of course," Emma says but then begins to feel herself tip towards the floor.
The last thing she hears is Sybil crying, "Emma!" before everything goes black.
—
"Mmm…" Emma grumbles as she wakes up.
"Emma?" A voice calls.
"Mmm… what?" Emma opens her eyes to see that she's in a room upstairs, from what she can tell in her exhausted state, with Gemma and Sybil looking down at her. She realises it was Sybil she had heard.
"Oh, good you're awake." Gemma sighs in relief.
"I feel like crap." Emma groans.
"Now no need for language." Sybil chastises with a smile while dabbing Emma's forehead with a cloth. Emma realises then how sweaty and hot she feels.
"Whatever." Emma dismisses. "What happened?"
"You fainted," Gemma explains.
"I did?" She honestly doesn't remember doing that.
"Yes, it seems you have the Spanish flu," Sybil adds.
"What?!" Emma exclaims, trying to sit but gets too exhausted and has to lie down again. She's really an idiot for not noticing sooner.
"It's all right, lie down," Sybil reassures as she helps her. "Dr Clarkson says you're not too bad and will need nursing for a day or two."
"Wait didn't Miss Swire and Lady Grantham fall ill?" Emma recalls through her foggy mind.
"Yes, but they are doing fine for now," Sybil answers her.
"Would you like me to bring Mr Branson to you tomorrow?" Gemma asks.
Emma nods. "If you could please." She would like to see him just in case this kills her.
—
"Well, aren't you a sight for sore eyes?" Emma wakes as Tom speaks. She sees him by the door along with Gemma, who's letting him in.
"I'll leave you two," Gemma says and closes the door after her.
"I can't help but feel how scandalous this is, being in a bedroom upstairs with you and unmarried." Emma wiggles her eyebrows.
Tom chuckles and walks over to a seat next to the bed she lies in. "Well, you must be getting better if you're making jokes.
The smile that had been growing on Emma's face drops. "We'll see."
"Oh?" He raises an eyebrow. "Something you know from the future?"
"Well, for one it shouldn't be called the Spanish flu as it actually originated in Kansas, America…" Emma explains. She feels it's ironic that she had watched a documentary all about the flu in the last year on her own time. "…but also, how it targeted the young and healthy and that things can easily change with this."
"Well, maybe it won't happen to you," Tom suggests.
"I hope so otherwise you won't be able to fulfil all those promises you made me." She gives him a smirk.
Tom laughs before sobering up. "Don't worry we will." He takes her hand and holds it.
—
No one's POV
Emma doesn't get any better and begins sweating profusely.
Thomas enters as Sybil and Gemma nurse Emma. "What can I bring to help?"
"Ice, to bring her temperature down," Gemma instructs. Thomas nods and immediately leaves to do so.
Emma seems only to be getting worse. She begins wheezing and her sweating is worse. She feels like death.
"Dear god," Lady Mary exclaims as she walks into the room, "has anyone told Branson she's like this?"
"She took a turn for the worse about half an hour ago, we haven't had the chance to," Sybil informs her sister.
Gemma enters with a fresh bowl of water and places a cloth over Emma's forehead. "There we are, Emma. That's better, isn't it?"
Lady Sybil whispers to Lady Mary, "She's been with her all night."
"Gemma, you must have a rest." Lady Mary urges.
"Not just now, milady," Gemma argues. "If you don't mind, I want to see her through the worst if I can. Now, I'll just make this colder for you." Gemma dips the cloth in the water. Lady Mary takes Sybil aside.
"How is she, really? Tell me honestly."
"I can't yet," Sybil admits. "Dr Clarkson says we will know more in a few hours."
"Dear god."
—
Gemma continues to nurse Emma alone. She sits next to the bed, holding Emma's hand.
Emma turns her head towards Gemma, her sweat sticks her hair to her face. "Gemma? Is that you, Gemma?"
Gemma smiles. "Yes. It's me, Emma."
"You should see your family more you know. You never know when it's the last time…" Emma mutters hoarsely, sounding as if she's not all there.
"I'll see them soon, Emma. Don't you worry." Gemma responds tearfully.
Emma continues as if she had not heard her. "I miss mine. My mum, my dad, brother and sister. I miss them. You can't waste the time you have."
Gemma frowns. "But I thought you didn't know—"
"I miss them. I miss them so much." Emma is clearly still delirious.
Sybil enters. "How is she?"
"She slept and she seemed better, then suddenly the fever came back," Gemma replies distressed.
"You have been amazing for how you have looked after her, Gemma." Sybil comforts.
"But is it enough?"
"We do the best we can," Sybil says resolutely.
—
Dr Clarkson puts on his coat to leave. "I've given her the epinephrine."
"Doctor!" Gemma cries. Emma is gasping for air and her nose is bleeding. Sybil cleans her face with water from a bowl.
"Oh, no." Lady Mary gasps. "What does that mean?"
"It's a haemorrhage of the mucus membranes." Dr Clarkson explains. "It's, er, it's not unusual."
Sybil gets a bowl to Emma just in time as she vomits.
"It's all right, Emma. Don't worry. Don't worry a bit. Everything's going to be all right." Gemma tries to comfort her, stroking Emma's hair back.
Tom turns to Dr Clarkson. "Everything is not all right. How bad is it?"
"If she lasts through the night, she'll live." Dr Clarkson replies. Tom and Lady Mary absorb this shock. "What about the others?"
"Come with me." Lady Mary says.
"I'll be back shortly."
End of Outsider POV
—
It's the next day when Emma wakes up feeling better than she had been in days though she still feels weak.
"Emma, thank god." Tom cries happily. Emma sees that he and Gemma sit on either side of her in the bed.
"Tom? Gemma? What…?" Emma asks, her voice raspy. Gemma gives her a few sips of water.
"We feared the worst," Gemma says, "and when Miss Swire died—"
"Miss Swire died?" Emma interrupts. Oh no.
Gemma nods sadly. "Yes, last night." Poor Mr Crawley.
"And Her Ladyship?"
"On the mend."
"I'm thankful you're still here. With me." Tom says tearfully. He holds her hand.
Emma smiles at him lovingly and squeezes his hand. "Of course. You're not going to get rid of me that easily."
Tom laughs. "I wouldn't dream of it." He kisses her hand.
—
"Are you feeling more yourself?" Anna asks her when she visits. Emma is sitting up in bed. Anna had already told her about Jane leaving, which saddens Emma.
"A bit but I still feel weak," Emma replies.
"That's to be expected." Emma notices that Anna is a bit more fidgety than normal.
"What is it?"
"What?"
Emma raises an eyebrow. "You're fidgeting too much. What's going on?"
"You promise to keep this a secret?" Anna asks instead of answering.
Emma rolls her eyes. "I promise."
"Hmm." Anna looks hesitant but continues. "Well, Mr Bates and I are getting married in a registry in Ripon tomorrow morning."
Emma gasps. "Really?!"
Anna smiles. "Yes. We don't know what's going to happen but I want to stick by him, no matter what."
"As you should. I'm happy for you Anna." Emma slowly leans forward and the two share a hug.
"When's the funeral?" Emma asks once she's lying against the pillows again. She's probably not going to be able to lie in this bed again so she might as well take advantage.
"The funeral is on Monday," Anna tells her.
"Hopefully I can make it."
"Don't push yourself," Anna warns.
—
"Earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust." Reverend Travis says and throws dirt on Miss Swire's coffin. They all are gathered in the grounds surrounding the Church in Downton Village for the funeral. "In sure and certain hope of the resurrection to eternal life through our Lord Jesus Christ, who shall change our vile body that may be like unto his glorious body according to the mighty working whereby he is able to subdue all things to himself. Amen."
"Amen." Everyone echoes.
People slip off into groups or begin to head back to the house. Emma lingers and talks to Tom, her fiancé. She feels giddy even thinking of him as such.
"Should you be out so soon? You shouldn't overexert yourself." Tom frets.
Emma smiles at him indulgently. She isn't at her full strength but she feels well enough to come out for this. "I'm fine, Tom. I'll rest when we get back to the house."
"Will we go to Dublin soon?" Tom asks.
"Of course. As soon as possible."
Emma sees Lord Grantham speaking to Billy and Sybil, who seem to be about to leave when Lord Grantham stops them.
"Well, if I can't stop you, I see no profit in a quarrel." She hears him say as he approaches from behind him. His words fill her with hope. "You'll have a very different life from the one you might have lived, but if you're sure it's what you want."
Sybil looks at Billy with a smile. "I am."
"Then you may take my blessing with you, whatever that means."
Emma looks at Tom, who had followed and they beam at each other.
Sybil looks thrilled at his words. "Oh, Papa. It means more than anything!" She hugs him with delight. "More than anything!"
"If you mistreat her, I will personally have you torn to pieces by wild dogs." Her father says to Billy.
"I'd expect no less," Billy replies.
"Will you come for the wedding?" Sybil asks, clinging to Billy's hand.
"We'll see. We'll talk about that later." His Lordship replies. "And there'll be some money. But not much."
Sybil smiles and kisses him on the cheek. Sybil and Billy walk off hand in hand.
—
Emma and Tom walk through the back door and enter the servants' corridor.
"You are under arrest on the charge of wilful murder. You are not obliged to say anything unless you desire to do so. Whatever you say will be taken down in writing and may be given in evidence against you upon your trial." A man is saying. Emma sees all the servants loitering in the corridor, facing the Servants' Hall. She pulls her and Tom through to see Mr Bates and Anna talking to two unknown men.
"I understand." Mr Bates says and one man takes his wrist. Oh god, they're arresting him for murder.
"No. No—" Anna protests, trying to intervene.
Mr Bates pulls from her to let the police cuff him. "Please... do whatever is required.
Emma watches as the couple whisper to each other before sharing a kiss.
"Come along, sir." One of the officers says, pushing Anna out of the way and leading Mr Bates down the corridor, past them standing in the corridor. Emma clings to Tom's arm as she looks back at Anna after following the police and Mr Bates with her eyes to see her standing in the Servants' Hall watching after them, lip trembling.
—
A/N: The end of season 2! The plan is that I'll do a bit of a filler chapter before the beginning of season 3.