A Scandalous Affair Dublin (9)
Downton Abbey
2nd of December 1919
It was early evening at Downton Abbey, in the small library the electric lights were on, and the curtains were drawn to protect from the winters chill. Cora sighed as she re-read parts of Mary's letter, she was going to be a grandmother at last.
Cora had withstood the comments of her society friends questions with faux sincerity; 'oh are your daughter's still single?' with grace. The countless renditions she had heard of; 'my child is having another baby. What a delight it was to have the next generation in the family,' followed by pitying looks and 'Oh! I am sure you are blessed to have all your daughters at home still, such a comfort in your twilight years.'
If Cora wasn't a lady, she would of slapped the smug sanctimonious looks off of their faces. Luckily for Cora both her mother and mother-in-law were past masters at the savage put down. She likes to think she got some devastating quips in, that would cut her peers to the wick.
But since the summer, after her visit to Mary and her new home, she now had ammunition to put those society Mama's in their place. Ever since Mary's wedding the family were peddling hard the story of Mary marrying an eccentric Irish writer. She had read the article in the Sketch with relish. My goodness Tom was a handsome fellow, who took a good photo.
She made sure her friends were aware when the article was published. Ha! Tom was much better looking than the chinless wonders their daughters had married. He was a self-made man too. Moreover, she made sure to subtly comment on Tom's article in the London Times, about the law reforms under debate.
Even Robert and Matthew had to admit, it was a well written article.
And now Mary's husband had a book published. One of her acquaintances had been in Ireland at the time of the book release. she actually read the report on the book launch in the Dublin papers. Cora was sure to say how exciting it was to have such a successful writer in the family.
And now a baby!
Cora was beside herself with excitement. She wondered if she would be able to persuade Mary to have her baby at Downton. She couldn't bear the thought of her daughter being away from her at such a momentous occasion.
If Mary insisted on having her baby in Dublin, maybe she could visit them for a few weeks. It did make her nervous, thinking of the political unrest in the country, though.
She will mention it when she arrives home in just a week. Cora clasped her hands together at the thought, she was overcome with emotion. Soon she would be reunited with her daughter.
Cora was so happy she could burst. Mary said she could tell people if she pleased, 'where was Robert?' she wondered. She wanted to tell him the good news.
Getting up from her seat in front of the fire, Cora went to the bell pull and called for a servant. Before sitting down and getting comfortable, in her favourite brocade chair.
She would have to inform Sybil too. It's been almost a year, surely Sybil was over Branson by now? Sybil had seemed genuinely happy, living with Rosamund and attending college. Sybil had written and spoken about the new friends she had been making. Though she had never mentioned any particular gentlemen she had met, Cora frowned at this thought, nervousness stirring in her breast.
No, all will be well, Sybil arrives home on the 5th of December. She will tell her right away, to ensure she doesn't hear Mary's news from someone else first. Mary said she had told Edith and Lavinia, so that just left the older members of the family to tell.
She would plan a family dinner. It would be the most efficient way of telling everyone.
Cora smiled brightly to herself, relishing with delight at the thought of telling Cousin Isobel. Who frankly was becoming tiresome with the number of times she mentioned Lavinia's pregnancy and the preparations she was making for her first grandchild.
"You rang my lady?" Carson the butler said, startling Cora out of her thoughts.
"Ah, Carson, could I get a pot of tea for two and tell Lord Grantham I would like to discuss something with him?" Cora instructed, unconsciously straightening the letter she had been reading.
"Yes, my lady" Carson replied. His sharp eyes caught the letter that Lady Grantham was holding. He had delivered the letter to her only an hour earlier. He had noticed the Dublin postmark and recognised Lady Mary's handwriting. He was burning with curiosity and dying to know what she had said.
"Carson, Lady Mary and Mr Branson will be arriving on the 3pm train from Liverpool on the 9th of December. She says she will have a lot of luggage, can you arrange for it to be collected from the station?" Cora said.
"With pleasure, my lady," Carson said with real joy in his voice. He left to conduct his orders, with a lighter step than when he entered the room. Lady Mary will be at Downton where she belonged.
With the fizzing excitement Cora was experiencing, she needed to move to dispel her pent up energy. She stood from her seat and started a circuit of the large room. She had lived at Downton for over thirty years now and had long ago stopped being in awe of her surroundings. She walked by one of the large windows and twitched back the heavy velvet curtains to peer out.
It was a cloudy night, so the barest sliver of light highlighted the grounds surrounding the great house. The trees in the distance were indistinct and cast spooky shadows on the expansive lawn. Shivering she pushed the curtains closed.
Cora turned and let out a startled cry, as Robert stood silently at the door.
"Robert, you scared me," Cora said, her heart beat faster than normal, as she brought a hand up to her chest. She willed her breaths to slow to a calmer rate.
"Whatever is the matter with you?" Robert asked, frown lines clear on his forehead as he entered in to the room fully. He was handsomely dressed, in a dark suit.
Even to this day, Cora thought Robert was the handsomest of men. She smiled warmly at her husband. "Sorry Robert dear, I was letting my imagination run wild and thinking the grounds looked spooky in the moonlight," Cora said, walking back towards the fire, her seat and Mary's letter.
Robert had long been outnumbered by women in his family and had resolved to ignore, those female foibles he didn't understand. As Cora settled back in to her seat he walked to the fireplace. His home was beautiful, but it was the very devil to heat, even though he had added more modern heating when they got a boiler for the estate.
"Do you remember dear, when the servants had to carry buckets of water to our rooms whenever we wanted a bath?" Robert reminisced, looking lost in thoughts of the past. "The modern convenience of electric lights and hot water are marvellous," Robert turned back to his wife. "Don't you think?" He asked with an expectant look on his face.
Cora frowned delicately, really Robert could come out with the strangest conversation starters at times. She had long ago decided to ignore her husband's foibles. "Yes dear, it is much easier now to just have Baxter draw a bath for me," She smiled at her husband indulgently. "I have asked Carson to bring us a pot of tea," Cora informed Robert.
Cora turned her attention to Mary's letter and picked it up from where it was resting on a beautiful table with French inlay in a design of roses. Before turning back to Robert, excitement shining on her face.
"Mary writes, she and Tom will arrive at 3pm at Downton station on the 9th of December," Cora brings the letter to her chest, as if to hug it.
At that moment Carson enters the room with a tea tray. He walks to a convenient sideboard, ready to prepare tea for Lord and Lady Grantham.
"But that is not the most exciting thing she mentions in her letter," Cora says, drawing out the silence, not beyond being dramatic. "Mary is going to have a baby!" Cora announces to the room.
Carson's hand stills at the shocking news. His heart sinks to his stomach, he feels physically ill to think of, of Branson laying hands on such a highborn lady. Carson composes himself and finishes preparing the tea.
"A child?" Robert says glumly as he paces before the roaring fire. "It has finally happened, she has crossed the Rubicon and cannot return to us," Robert states before briefly leaning against the fireplace.
"Tea, my lady," Carson intones as he passes the cup to Lady Grantham, ensuring his face betrays no emotions.
Robert strides back to the settee and slumps heavily into its plump cushions, sighing dramatically.
"Robert, I've been telling you since the summer that Mary is quite content in Dublin," Cora reproached, casting her husband a pointed glance. "Her letters overflow with descriptions of the vibrant social scene in Dublin's artistic circles," Cora emphasised, hoping to make it clear that Mary had no desire to return to the confines of life that Downton now represented to her.
While Mary initially expressed longing for Downton and Yorkshire upon her move to Dublin, her letters now evoked a sense of fond reminiscence rather than a yearning to return home.
"Tea, my lord," Carson offered Lord Grantham. He couldn't help but feel that Lady Mary must be putting on a brave face over her living circumstances.
Robert harrumphed, before taking a sip of his tea. "How can our Mary possibly be happy living in a flat in Dublin, married to the chauffeur," Robert said crossly, scowling into his tea, unconsciously giving voice to Carson's thoughts.
Carson busied himself at the tea tray, hoping to gain more intelligence on Lady Mary. Even Mr Carson will admit, that as a servant, the family often considered them as part of the furniture and if he didn't call attention to himself, there was a good chance that he wouldn't be dismissed from the room.
"Tom is a successful writer Robert, you must stop referring to him as the chauffeur," Cora scolded crossly.
"You even said the article Tom wrote in the Times was well executed with a clear representation of the issue at hand," Cora pointed out reasonably.
Robert hated it when the women in his family were reasonable. He didn't like his son-in-law, the dirty snake. No matter what, Cora, Edith or Mama, said about the matter. Robert took a grumpy sip of is tea. "Are there any biscuits Carson?" he questioned.
"Yes, my lord," Carson hurried to Lord Grantham and offered him the plate of biscuits to choose from. Carson leaned forward, one gloved hand behind his back and remained still, while Lord Grantham took his time making his choice.
Once Lord Grantham had made his choice he offered the plate to Lady Grantham.
"Oh, Carson, Lady Mary is shipping a painting to Downton," Cora informed him, as she took a sugared shortcake biscuit, delicately flavoured with lemon. "It's a gift for the Dowager Countess, can you store it somewhere when it arrives?" Cora asks.
"Yes, my lady," Carson says politely. He walks back to where the tea service is placed.
"Mary hints that they may have good news when they arrive," Cora said, she had flicked open Mary's letter and skimmed it for any particular news she wanted to impart to her husband.
"I don't know what good news she could possibly have," Robert said gloomily.
Cora sighed and rubbed her forehead. Robert sure had gotten a good dose of the Crawley stubbornness. "It is probably something about Tom's career," Cora guesses. "His book launch went very well, Mary reports."
Robert snorts.
This earned him a warning look from his wife.
Carson walks back over with the tea pot, offering to refill cups. He had certainly gained more information on Lady Mary's life this evening, than in the preceding weeks.
"It's not like he can support Mary on his own income," Robert says frostily as he shifts in his seat.
"That money was Mary's settlement and would have been hers regardless of whom she married," Cora pointed out. She glanced briefly at Carson, choosing not to dwell on the fact that Robert had married her for her wealth. Perhaps she could broach the subject later that night, in the privacy of her bedchamber, when he was in a more receptive mood.
Cora couldn't ignore Robert's hypocrisy in complaining that Branson had married Mary for her money, when that accusation was untrue. After all, Robert himself had openly admitted that he married her for the wealth her father had settled on her at the time of their marriage.
It was lucky for Cora and Robert, that they had found their way to love and had a very happy marriage and life together. It seemed to Cora that Mary and Tom had been able to do the same. If only Robert could see the similarities in their marriages.
Truthfully Cora had no idea how much writers could make, Edith didn't seem to earn that much, though she proudly told her mother, that she had made £100 that year. Mary told her that she would make just over £200 per year and that as a woman, she made less than a man. So maybe Tom could make £400 per year.
Cora sighed, Robert was at least correct in this instance that £400 would not be enough to support a wife, without Mary's settlement and Robert paying for their flat.
Cora sighed again and decided to keep these thoughts to herself. In her privileged position, she had completely overestimated how much a middle-class family would need to be comfortable. She was lucky she didn't raise these thoughts in the presence of Carson the butler, whose annual salary was £350.
Deciding to move on from this contentious topic, Cora started a new strand of the conversation. "Mary suggests that you invite Evelyn Napier for the New Year's shoot," Cora suggested, imbuing her voice with a lighter happier note, hoping to persuade Robert from his doldrums.
"What's the point, Mary is married now and having a baby," Robert said, continuing glumly.
Cora was starting to become cross with her husband. She tried not to grit her teeth as she answered. Taking a calming breath before speaking. "Not for Mary, Robert, for Sybil or Edith," Cora explained. She was becoming exasperated with her husband. They still had two single daughters they needed to find husbands for.
Evelyn Napier was always a very well behaved gentleman and a good friend to Mary. He was rather nice looking too. He was also in line to inherit an estate from an elderly uncle. Perfect for Edith or Sybil.
Robert sighed, "Yes very well I will write the chap, the more the merrier I suppose," Robert agreed without much enthusiasm.
Cora finished with her tea and set the cup and saucer down beside her and signalled Carson that he could take it away. Cora banished Robert's negative energy and thought more happily on Mary's impending visit.
She was confident that once Robert saw Mary's genuine happiness, he would come to accept Tom more readily. Though Robert's disappointment over not having a son was clear, he was a devoted father who cherished all three of his daughters. Each held a special place in his heart for unique reasons. Maybe Tom could become the son he never had, Cora thought wishfully.
She knew he loved Mary dearly and that he, well the whole family expected her to make an excellent match. It was such a pity that the damned war had derailed her hopes. Though she had finally gotten over her disappointment over Matthew and Mary not being married in 1914.
Matthew was a fine young man and Lavinia a devoted wife. But secretly in Cora's opinion Matthew was not a very good husband. She had noticed he was very inattentive towards Lavinia. Cora had caught the undertone of unhappiness that lingered around Lavinia and had noticed Cousin Isobel's frowns of unhappiness with her son.
No, Tom appeared to be a much better husband than Robert's heir. Mary's letters practically burst with happiness and pride in her husband. She was at a loss at how Robert could miss it, she shook her head sadly.
But in a week Mary would be home with her husband. She was sure Robert wouldn't be able to deny his own eyes.
An exciting thought struck Cora, maybe she should talk to Mrs Hughes about having the nursery cleaned. She wouldn't have time to have it redecorated, but maybe new baby blankets could be purchased in a week. Her heart beat with excitement at the prospect. Maybe if she could show Mary how lovely the nursery was, she would want to have her baby here.
Once she was here, well Tom was a writer, he could work anywhere. How lovely to have a baby in the house again. Cora drifted off in to happy daydreams about having Mary's little family here at Downton.
The flames flickered and cast warm shadows in the room as Cora and Robert were lost in very different thoughts.
Carson efficiently tidied the tea set up, ready to return below stairs. Eager to tell Mrs Hughes the news. He was delighted Lady Mary was returning home to them. Though not so happy that the Irish lout had sullied such a highborn lady, like Lady Mary.
Crawley House
3rd of December 1919
Crawley House was covered in the darkness of the night. They had returned from dinner up at the house an hour ago. His mother and wife had retired to bed almost at once upon returning home. He told Lavinia, his wife, that he wanted a night cap before turning in.
Matthew Crawley leant his head against the ice-cold windowpane. One hand spread against the glass. His right hand holding the whisky tumbler. It was almost midnight, and he should go to bed, but his mind was spinning out of control. His stomach clenched as if he was going to vomit.
'She's having a baby!' reverberated incessantly through his muddled mind, each repetition a dagger to his wounded heart. With a grip as tight as death itself, he clutched his whisky tumbler, the cool glass offering little solace for the storm raging within him.
'She's having a baby!' he almost wept.
He had known he had made a ghastly error in judgement, almost from the very start. He thought he was doing the honourable thing when he continued with his engagement after he had recovered from his wound obtained in that blasted war.
He had liked Lavinia, she was nice, she was pleasant company and young and attractive. Most importantly, she loved him ardently. There was no second guessing her emotions or motives, unlike with Mary. He thought he would reward her for her steadfastness.
It was the biggest mistake of his life.
It was during the honeymoon, when he was making love to his wife, he realised what a paltry exchange honour was for passionate love.
He should have broken it off with Lavinia last Christmas. When he realised, he was still in love with Mary as he was the day he had asked her to marry him, in 1914. Even Robert, honourable soul that he was, had hinted he would understand if he called off the wedding to Lavinia.
Arrogant fool that he was, he made a whole speech about honour. He could cry thinking back on it. Oh, the hubris of that moment. Acting so self-sacrificing. As if he was rewarding Lavinia like a faithful dog.
He had danced clandestinely with Mary, where they had practically whispered their love for one another. Yet they had both been engaged to other people. If he could go back in time, he would tell Mary he loved her above all others. That he wouldn't marry Lavinia and she should break it off with Sir Richard.
But he wasn't brave enough, they weren't brave enough. Though now he knew in hindsight, that Sir Richard was extorting Mary into marrying him.
He knew that they could have been happy, if only they were married to each other.
And then the scandal had happened.
DAMN BRANSON TO HELL! Matthew thumped the wall beside the window.
And Sir Richard showed his true colours and turned his back on Mary.
It had been his last chance. He could have said 'I will marry Mary and damn the scandal of a broken engagement'. But he hadn't.
Matthew knocked his head against the windowpane, repeatedly.
'She's having a baby!'
But how? As far as he knew Mary hadn't said one word to Branson the wholetime he had worked at Downton, except to give the man directions.
He knew Mary. Apart from Anna and Carson, she didn't really see servants as real autonomous people with their own thoughts or dreams. They were background characters to her own life.
How did she go from barely knowing what the man looked like, to having his baby.
Did Branson force her or trick her? Was she lonely and Branson was the only person she knew from home. Matthew didn't understand.
In six short days she would be home. He didn't know what he wanted more, for her to be happy or her to be as miserable as he was.
'She's having a baby!'
It was a lie of course. He needed her to be as desperately unhappy as he was.
As unhappy as he had made Lavinia. Lavinia, his sweet innocent wife who didn't deserve a husband like him.
To his utter shame it had only occurred to him recently that he had done Lavinia a grievous injury. If he hadn't married her, she might have been able to find a husband, who loved her for all that she was. Not the shallow regard Matthew had for her.
He kept promising he would do better and love her as she deserved. But time and again he would fail in his resolve. Every time the family received another letter from Mary, a dagger would be sent to his heart.
'She's having a baby!'
If Mary was happy… He didn't know what he would do, how he could handle it. It would be like the whole of their relationship was a lie. That she had never loved him.
'She's having a baby!'
What was he going to do?
'She's having a baby!'
'She's having a baby!'
'She's having a baby!'
Downton Below Stairs
9th of December 1919
It was all abuzz with excitement in the servants hall. The servants were having their mid-day meal of vegetable soup and fresh bread. Understandably the servants were bursting with curiosity at seeing their former colleague, Tom again.
Though it did add a certain amount of confusion to the occasion, as Mrs Hughes had, had to remind several of the servants it was 'Mr Branson now', and they were not to refer to Lady Mary's husband as Tom.
This particularly stuck in Thomas's craw as he was desperately jealous of the other man. He had made it clear he didn't want to function as the man's valet while he was in the keep the peace, Mr Carson had assigned young Albert, the new footman to be Mr Branson's temporary valet.
Mrs Hughes thought Tom, as she still secretly thought of him, would be more comfortable with a stranger, rather than a former colleague. She personally always like the young man, even if he had made regrettable decisions in the past.
Ever since the summer when Lady Grantham and Baxter had gone to Ireland, they had been repeating how happy Lady Mary was in her life. Mrs Hughes didn't think that Lady Mary would have changed that much to forgo a valet for her husband or lady's maid for herself, while residing at Downton Abbey.
"Are you ready for Lady Mary's arrival Anna?" Mrs Hughes asked the other woman. Anna had always been a favourite of Lady Mary's. If it wasn't for the fact that Anna was married, she would have persuaded Anna to go with her, to act as her Lady's maid in Dublin. Lady Mary had certainly mentioned how she missed Anna enough times in her letters.
Lady Mary had sent Anna a beautiful Irish linen handkerchief as a thank you for her help in ordering a gown for Tom's book release. She had even sent a clipping from a local Irish newspaper that had reported on the book release and mentioned the gown that Anna had commissioned on Lady Mary's behalf.
Unfortunately, they hadn't been able to see what Lady Mary had looked like in her new dress, as there was no photo. Anna who had supervised it's purchase had said it was beautiful.
"Yes Mrs Hughes," Anna said with a smile, before taking a bite of Mrs Patmore's delicious bread. "I took some of Lady Mary's favourite winter pieces out of storage as well as her evening gowns she didn't bring to Dublin with her," Anna further explained. "I just hope they still fit her."
Carson, at the head of the table frowned. "Why wouldn't they fit her?" Carson said in a disapproving voice, as if suggesting a change in Lady Mary's figure was the gravest of insults.
The women at the table looked in astonishment at the question. Anna flicked her eye's to Mrs Hughes. She was not about to explain the birds and the bees to the butler.
"Really Mr Carson, Lady Mary is having a babe, her shape will naturally change to accommodate a baby," Mrs Hughes plainly said, with a slight shake of her head.
Mr Carson flushed bright red at his faux pas, to have such delicate matter's discussed at the table.
Lady Grantham had spent much time in discussion on Lady Mary's visit. Mrs Hughes knew her ladyship was launching a campaign of persuading Lady Mary to have her baby at Downton. As part of this, she had changed Lady Mary's rooms to be more suitable for a married woman, with an adjoining dressing room for Mr Branson.
"Albert, is Mr Branson's dressing room prepared?" Mrs Hughes asked, the men were not strictly in her purview, but with how Carson felt about Mr Branson, she doubted he would check.
"Erm, yes Mrs Hughes," Albert answered, looking puzzled. He was confused about where Mr Branson was placed in the hierarchy of the house. Thomas had been whispering poison into his ear, about the former servant. Albert had been shocked when he found out that Lady Mary's husband was a former servant and apparently a complete bounder who was determined to compromise one of the Crawley daughters.
"Will he even have a gentleman's wardrobe?" Albert asked innocently.
Mrs Hughes narrowed her eyes and looked at Thomas, guessing he was the source of Albert's sudden questions.
"Knowing Lady Mary, I am sure she ensured her husband acquired the appropriate attire," Mr Bates interjected calmly. Heading off any argument that might occur from the innocent question. He would have to make sure to have a word with young Albert, that he best ignore Thomas's comments.
"Lady Mary and Mr Branson have had to go to many social events since being in Dublin," Anna pointed out to the table in general. "She had me purchase him dress shirts and sent a sketch of his evening dress, which was entirely appropriate," Anna gave Thomas a quelling look as she said this.
Thomas just sniffed, "he didn't even know how to buy shirts for himself, that his wife had to do it for him," Thomas said condescendingly, while he ate his soup. It burned him that he would have to serve Tom for the next month. He knew Lady Mary and her cutting tongue, he couldn't imagine that she would let any insult to her husband slide.
"Lady Grantham is ever so excited to have Lady Mary home, she has been talking of nothing else for days," Miss Baxter gently inserted into the conversation. She thought it was lovely that a mother was so excited to have her daughter home. Phyllis's own mother had just seemed relieved to get her daughters out of her house.
"Lottie has the nursery been made up ready for inspection?" Mrs Hughes asked one of the housemaids.
"Yes, Mrs Hughes," Lottie said timidly. She was amazed at how the aristocracy lived and couldn't believe so much money had been spent on a baby that wasn't even here yet.
Mr Carson checked his pocket watch, it was 2.30 pm. "Mr Kent will be heading to the station shortly to collect Lady Mary," Mr Carson said. Looking down the table, frowning at his fellow servants. "Hurry up and finish your lunch, we must be ready for when Lady Mary arrives," Mr Carson gravely said.
There was a bustle in the servants hall as the servants quickly set about finishing their lunches. It will be a long time before supper.
Just then Lady Grantham's bell rang, showing she was ready to change. Miss Baxter had expected this, as she had already discussed Lady Grantham's wardrobe for the day. She took another quick spoon of soup and picked up the bread to eat on the stairs up to her Lady's room.
Mr Bates stood and went to the boot room. Lord Grantham had taken Isis for a walk after lunch. Know doubt trying to walk a better humour into himself. He wanted his daughter Mary home, but he detested Branson, her husband. He had confided in Bates, just how much he dreaded having to sit opposite to his son-in-law and act polite.
Lord Grantham was under strict instructions from his wife and mother to behave himself during Lady Mary's visit, including acting cordially to her husband.
Bates felt for his employer. He could understand the man's position. He didn't think he would be too happy if his daughter married a servant either. Though he was no longer sure it was such a punishment for Lady Mary, as Lord Grantham was making out.
From all the conversations at dinner, Lady Mary seemed to be enjoying living in Dublin and had no complaints about her husband. Seeing as she was now having a baby, there seemed to be truth in this statement. Bates was a wise man, he knew not to state such thoughts to his employer or Mr Carson.
He also knew that Anna, his wife was feeling much better about her former mistress's marriage. She knew Lady Mary best of all, so if Anna said that Mary was happy, he knew who he would believe.
Just then Lord Grantham's Dressing room bell rang. Mr Bates quickly grabbed his lordships freshly polished shoes and made his way upstairs.
The afternoon duties were soon in full swing.
Mrs Hughes went to the kitchen to let Mrs Patmore know that Lady Grantham would be wanting tea upstairs soon.
Anna went to Lady Mary's new room, to await her mistress, looking forward to taking up the duties of a Lady's maid. If Lady Mary returned to Downton, it would mean that Anna could be promoted permanently. With an increase in her own wages, it meant she and John would soon be able to start their own long awaited baby.
Hearing the distant hum of a motor, Anna went to the window and peered out. Yes, it was Mr Kent returning from the station. She could see Lady Mary's cases strapped to the roof of the car & trunks on the back. 'Goodness she wasn't exaggerating when she said she would have a lot of luggage," Anna thought.
Within two minutes the car disappeared around to the front of the house. Anna quickly went about the room straightening the curtains and cushions. Knowing Lady Mary would come straight upstairs to remove her outer wear and hat.
Anna straightened the spare hairbrush on the vanity, ready to help her mistress freshen up after her long journey. 'I wonder if she would like to change,' she thought. She went to her wardrobe and selected a loose green silk blouse, which should go well with most of the travel clothes Lady Mary favoured.
Just then Anna could here conversation in the hall way, it sounded like Lady Grantham's voice.
Anna quickly looked in the mirror and made sure her hair was tidy and her cap was on straight. She then positioned herself right of the roaring fire in the hearth. Hands loosely grasped in front of her.
She was ready.
The door swung open...
Note: Oh no, a cliff-hanger! I was hit by inspiration and was lucky to have a bank holiday in Ireland, so I was able to spend the whole day writing. Enjoy! Unfortunately it is the Christmas chapter and that is going to take a while for me to write, even though I have various scenes planned.
Cora is fully on board Team: Mary and Tom. It will take Robert a little longer. I am afraid I am going to do terrible things to Matthew. Reviews may encourage me to write faster. :-)