AN: Thank you for your comments. I always love hearing from you. The chapter may be relatively short, but I hope you still enjoy it.
We're finally making a time jump again. We find ourselves in the middle to end of the chapter in October/November. We are now between Season three and four. Season four begins in February 1922. I have planned two or three chapters for the period between Season three and four.
There have been some requests for a playlist. First of all, I want to tell you that the song "Sparks" by Coldplay fits well. This was suggested to me by one of my diligent readers a few weeks ago. And by now, I've also created a Spotify playlist: DA Story -
The feet dangled gently from the old wooden crate, almost as if they were hesitantly wanting to touch the ground but not quite reaching down. She could have been sitting in the circus right now – next to her best friend – but instead, she sat alone in the backyard. At least the rain had stopped.
The door opened. Emma silently watched as her father entered the backyard, a cigarette between his fingers. The match scratched, smoke rose, and she could almost hear the hiss as he took the first drag. Thomas seemed lost in thought as he leaned against the rough wall, slowly exhaling the smoke.
Emma remained motionless as she observed her father. She was pretty sure he hadn't noticed her, although her heart was pounding with excitement. It was unlike her to be outside. Usually, she preferred to retreat under her duvet to sort out her thoughts and hide from the world.
When Thomas finally glanced in her direction, Emma felt exposed, even though she knew she wasn't really trying to hide. Emma tried to gauge what he was feeling from his thoughtful expression. Was he angry or just contemplative?
Thomas slowly raised his hand and beckoned her over. Emma hesitated for a moment before jumping off the crate and slowly approaching him. She noticed the furrows of worry on his forehead as she stood a few steps in front of him.
"At the front..." Thomas began hesitantly, "...a soldier once said that if your name is on a bullet, there's nothing you can do. That is fate, you know?"
"It's not a war anymore," said Emma, who didn't understand what Thomas was getting at and therefore looked at him with a furrowed brow.
Thomas sighed and dropped the half-smoked cigarette to the ground before crushing it with his shoe. "What I mean is, there are things that happen that we can't control." He gently placed a hand on Emma's shoulder, forcing her to look him in the eyes. "I understand your feelings, truly," Thomas continued, "but you have to understand that you're not to blame. You couldn't have done anything, Emma. Life is unpredictable."
Emma wanted to believe him, wanted to take the burden of guilt off her shoulders. But it was so hard to let go. "Lady Mary probably thinks I'm to blame too," she explained sadly, but Thomas shook his head.
"Lady Mary is grieving, just like you. She didn't mean it like that," he explained. At the funeral earlier that morning, Lady Mary seemed distant and closed off as the servants offered condolences. While Lady Mary accepted Thomas's hand, she refused Emma's condolences. Thomas didn't think much of it. Lady Mary probably hadn't even noticed Emma, but Emma seemed to interpret more into the gesture.
"No one blames you, and you shouldn't blame yourself either," he repeated once more. As Emma nodded weakly, Thomas pulled her into a comforting embrace. The weight of the moment hung heavy in the air, mingling with the scent of cigarettes. Despite the reassurances from her father, Emma still felt a gnawing sense of guilt clawing at her insides.
"Sometimes, things happen beyond our control, Emma," Thomas murmured, his voice filled with a mixture of sorrow and understanding. "But you have to find a way to move forward."
"I'll try," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.
Thomas squeezed her shoulder gently before releasing her from his embrace. "That's all I ask," he said, offering her a reassuring smile, "By the way, I've heard that the circus is in Ripon, and you originally planned to go there with Ruby today. We'll make up for the visit, alright? I'll talk to Mister Carson and see if I can get half a day off within the next weeks, and then we'll go to York, okay?" York was the next stop of the travelling circus, and Thomas doesn't want to deprive his child of this opportunity.
Two weeks later, Thomas eagerly led Emma and her best friend Ruby through the bustling streets of York towards the grand spectacle of the travelling circus. Their footsteps echoed against the cobblestones as they approached the vibrant tents adorned with colourful flags and banners, the tantalising scent of popcorn and candyfloss wafting through the air.
Excitement bubbled within Emma and Ruby as they clutched onto each other's hands, their eyes wide with anticipation. Thomas smiled, his heart swelling with joy at the sight of their eager faces.
"So, what are you most excited to see, Emma?" Thomas asked, glancing at the young girl beside him.
Emma's eyes sparkled with excitement as she replied, "I can't wait to see the animals! I heard they do all sorts of amazing tricks!"
Ruby nodded enthusiastically, her curls bouncing with every step. "And the acrobats!"
As they entered the bustling circus grounds, they were greeted by the lively sounds of laughter and music. Acrobats soared through the air with breathtaking grace, while clowns entertained the crowd with their antics. The aroma of freshly spun candyfloss filled the air, mingling with the earthy scent of sawdust.
Thomas led Emma and Ruby towards the grand tent, where the main event was about to begin. They found their seats amidst the throng of spectators, their hearts racing with anticipation.
As the lights dimmed and the music swelled, the ringmaster stepped into the spotlight, his booming voice echoing throughout the tent. The crowd erupted into cheers and applause as the show began in earnest.
Emma and Ruby watched in awe as performers dazzled them with their daring feats and mesmerising acts. Tightrope walkers balanced precariously high above the ground, while jugglers deftly tossed flaming torches into the air.
Emma's eyes sparkled with excitement as she turned to Thomas. "Dad, did you see the way that acrobat flipped through the air? It was incredible!"
Thomas chuckled, his eyes alight with pride. "Indeed, it was quite impressive, wasn't it?"
"This is the best day ever!" exclaimed Ruby, her cheeks flushed with excitement. Emma nodded in agreement, a wide grin spreading across her face.
Thomas smiled, his heart overflowing with love for his daughter and her best friend. "I'm glad you're enjoying yourselves, girls."
As the final act concluded and the crowd erupted into thunderous applause, Thomas turned to Emma and Ruby, his heart brimming with happiness. "Well, what did you think?"
Emma beamed, her eyes shining with delight. "It was absolutely amazing, Dad! Thank you for bringing us here."
Ruby nodded enthusiastically, her cheeks flushed with excitement. "Yes, thank you, Mr. Barrow!" Even though Ruby saw the show last week already, it's still different when you visit the circus with your best friend.
Thomas smiled, "You're both very welcome. I'm just happy to see you so full of joy." And as they made their way home, their hearts still filled with the magic of the circus, Thomas knew that this was a day they would cherish forever. What pleased him the most was seeing a smile on his daughter's face again after almost two weeks of mourning.
Mister Matthew is gone forever. Lady Rose arrived - a whole month after the funeral - Emma still felt surrounded by grief over Mister Matthew sometimes and wasn't sure if she was ready to open up to someone new. Besides, she didn't even know Lady Rose. She heard the name mentioned by individual servants here and there, but no one had paid much attention to Lady Rose so far. This changed when Mister Carson announced that Lady Rose would now be living in Downton Abbey.
"Who is Lady Rose?" Emma asked, her brow slightly furrowed in confusion. She sat in the kitchen on the countertop, holding a cup of tea in her hands. She watched Mrs. Patmore, Daisy, and Ivy preparing dinner.
"Lady Rose MacClare is the niece of the Dowager," explained Mrs. Patmore.
Daisy, standing next to Mrs. Patmore, nodded in agreement. "I've heard she's quite lively and adventurous," she added. Emma nodded as she tried to picture this mysterious Lady Rose.
The main topic of conversation at the servant dinner was, of course, Lady Rose. A young lively, impulsive lady who seemed to have no fear of breaking rules. That was the conclusion the servants came to, anyway. Emma couldn't really join in. She hadn't seen Lady Rose yet or ever spoken to her.
A few days after Rose's arrival at Downton Abbey, Emma took the dog for a walk around the estate. As she walked among the old trees, she suddenly heard the soft rustle of leaves and the faint hiss of a cigarette being lit.
Surprised, Emma stopped and peered behind one of the trees. There she spotted a young blonde woman hurriedly smoking, as if afraid of being caught.
Emma watched her for a moment before deciding to approach. "What are you doing there?" she asked, her voice sharper than intended.
Lady Rose flinched as she noticed Emma, but then smiled mischievously. "Oh, hello," she said, flicking away the cigarette before walking towards her. "I... uh... just needed a little break."
Emma frowned, unsure how to react to this unexpected encounter.
"You're Emma, aren't you?" Lady Rose concluded, "Tom told me about you. You live with the servants. I am Lady Rose."
Emma nodded hesitantly.
"I should go back inside," Lady Rose said curtly.
Emma was skeptical. She didn't particularly like Lady Rose, but she couldn't deny that the young lady fascinated her in some way. She was different from Lady Mary or Lady Edith. Yes, perhaps Lady Rose reminded her somewhat of Lady Sybil.