Dearest Lavinia Letter Twenty-one
29th November 1919
Dearest Mama and Papa,
I hope this letter finds you and Papa in good spirits amidst the bustling excitement of Downton preparing for Christmas. I can't tell you how excited I am to return home to you all.
I will start with the practicalities. Tom and I will arrive into Downton train station on the 9th of December on the 3pm train from Liverpool Station. I am afraid that I may have gone overboard on the gifts for everyone, after being absent for almost a year. So, Tom and I will have at least two trunks, plus hat boxes, suit cases, etc. The larger motor might be needed to transport us back to the house.
I have painted a watercolour of St Stephen's Green as Granny's Christmas gift, and I am having it shipped to Downton. Can you please have Carson store it away until I return?
Tom's book launch went very well, and we are both hopeful that we will have some good news to share with the family when we return home. Mrs Branson is beside herself with pride. I was able to find a book stand for her as an early Christmas gift so she can display Tom's latest book in pride of place in her little sitting room.
Tom arranged a special surprise for his mother. It was so sweet, I was almost overcome with emotion. Mrs Branson is an avid reader, and a group of her friends are members of their local library. Tom donated two copies of his book to the library.
We took her to the library this morning. Well, when she saw her son's book on display in public for all the other members to see. I don't think I can describe the look of motherly pride on her face. I think it is the closest I have ever seen someone 'bursting with pride'. She happily stood by the shelf and pointed out her son's book to any patron who neared her.
She was directly responsible for the books being rented out on that very day. It made Tom so happy to see his mother full of such love and emotion. Mrs Branson is a very practical woman, very much like Cousin Isobel.
She had a very hard life after Tom's father was killed in a work accident and she had to work to take care of her three children. As you can imagine, a woman who had to earn a living for her children, well she wasn't as soft and didn't have the leisure to care for her children as she might have wanted.
It is why Tom and his siblings clubbed together to buy Mrs Branson her little house. Coleen, Tom's younger sister, assures me, that Mrs Branson takes the greatest of pleasure from shameless bragging about her children. She is firm in her belief that her three children are superior to everyone else's.
It is only from the fact that Mrs Branson is such a generous soul and was willing to help any of her neighbours in need, that her friends are willing to overlook the occasional boast.
Truthfully, she has a lot to boast about. Kieran, Tom's older brother owns his own business in Liverpool. Coleen is a pretty woman of 25, who has the chubbiest of babies you have ever seen and is married to a bookkeeper.
Needless to say, we had a delightful morning. Mrs Murphy made a Pineapple upside down cake for me to bring with me on our visit. I am pleased to announce that Mrs Branson has now expanded her boasts to include me, her daughter-in-law, the artist.
I am glad that our relationship has developed to be much warmer than from the formal stiffness of when we first met. I feel that I have been fully welcomed into the Branson family now.
Speaking of families, Mama, I have the most wonderful news: I am pregnant! Tom and I are absolutely thrilled to be expecting a baby of our own. Given the time it took for even one of your daughters to get married, you probably despaired that this day would never come.
I have written this news to Lavinia and Edith. But I will admit Mama, I did not tell Sybil my news. I was worried how she would take it. I know it is probably very cowardly of me, but could you inform her? Please inform the rest of the family as you see fit.
Now Mama, I have heard from my informants that you are inviting the Grey's to Downton over Christmas. Dickie is a darling of course. But really Mama, Larry is an ass and Sybil detests the man. I wouldn't hold out hope that Sybil will change her mind about him. Why don't you invite my old friend Evelyn Napier, he would be a much better match then Larry.
Evelyn always had oodles of friends I am sure if Papa invited him for the shooting, he could be relied upon to bring a friend with him.
Anyway, Mama I must sign-off now. We have been invited to a party being held by Lady Gregory and I must prepare for the evening.
I will see you all soon. Sometimes I get so excited about thinking of returning to Downton I can barely sleep.
All my love.
Mary