Mama was not happy with Edith or Sybil for the library incident. Edith was confined to her room when not in lessons while Sybil was forced to sit through several lectures on ladylike etiquette. Meanwhile, Mary was officially designated Patrick's companion for the rest of the cousins' stay. It seemed to please both of them for different reasons.
Mary was her usual superior self. She took all the opportunities she could find to apologize for her younger sisters' immature behavior, all the while acting as the perfect aristocratic lady and hostess. Mama was quite proud of her for her poise, and Mary, like any child, loved the maternal affection and praise focused on her.
Patrick was just as happy to behave as the perfect young gentleman for Mary, and enjoyed every moment in her company. He didn't quite understand why his stomach did concerning things when seeing her, but he somewhat enjoyed the warm feeling.
He was less thrilled with the disappearance of the two younger sisters that he had developed a truce, or perhaps even a friendship, with. But whenever he could he would try to join Ed and Bil in the library for a while. He couldn't stay for too long though. It tended to make Mary upset if he stayed away too long.
Edith watched the two with a sense of amusement and deja vu. She couldn't decide if their childish actions and attitudes reminded her of the toxic relationships she remembered from her college days or if it was the other way around. Regardless, it made her glad Pat seemed so young to her.
Despite being physically younger than Patrick, Edith felt like a much older friend or sister to the boy. It frustrated him at first, but eventually Pat got used to asking her for help with the books he stole from her pile or needing directions around Downton when Mary wasn't available. It was the foundation of a comfortable friendship with no hint of romantic tension. Mary and Patrick were already messy enough without adding a third dramatic element. Just the thought of how messy that would be for the children, not even teenagers yet, made Edith shudder and reach for a book. Just because she was stuck in a historical soap opera did not mean she had to fall prey to its tropes.
One benefit of being punished and outside of the young couple's drama was the chatter she could overhear from the servants. It surprised her in the beginning how little of the downstairs drama the upstairs overheard, especially as children since the nursery workers were rather separated from the rest of the staff. Occasionally, an issue downstairs would bubble over into discussion upstairs, but more often than not the social classes kept to themselves. There were only three ways to cross that gap and learn the gossip.
The first was to be directly involved. Edith was obviously aware of Carson's favoritism and the resulting quarrels with Ms. Hughes whenever Mary tried to get Edith in trouble for her actions. It was a rare occurrence now, too many people were afraid of the destabilization caused by the lord and lady of the downstairs quarreling and so it was avoided at all cost. Other than that however, Edith largely stayed out of all drama she could and wanted it to remain that way.
The second was to have a close friend on the staff. Mama had an ear to the downstairs through O'Brien and one day Mary would have Anna. It wasn't looking likely that Edith would be as fortunate though, unless Ms. Hughes developed a sudden, insatiable need to gossip with a seven year old.
That left Edith with the third option, sneaking and eavesdropping. As a little girl expected to be in her room and the rest of the family gone about their business in other parts of the house, the staff happily chatted as they went about their tasks and so she spied and heard all the talk.
Some was fun speculation that did nothing but entertain her. Giggles from the maids about which footman was cutest. It was Tim they agreed although Edith personally preferred Dan. Other talk was more serious, hushed whispers of a plague breaking out in London or a rare mugging outside the village tavern last night.
Still more of the gossip Edith overheard was about the family themselves. Carson rarely allowed this, but when out of his presence the young staff, particularly the maids, freely discussed how darling Sybil's latest antics were, how wonderful the love between the lord and lady of the house was, how terrifying the dowager countess seemed, or how unfortunate the rift between Edith and Mary was. With this topic came various opinions on who was to blame and how it could be improved. Upon hearing the third maid spout the theory that "poor Lady Edith is just so jealous she can't help but start trouble", she stopped listening when her name was brought up. But one family topic was brought up even more than her relationship with her sister, the potential future Earl of Grantham.
"Is it true?" one of the many maids asked another. "Is James Crawley really his lordship's heir?"
"As long as they don't have a son he is," the second maid nodded as she continued to fluff pillows. "That's why O'Brien says they're here. Looking over the place that could be theirs soon."
"But he's so old! He's older than his lordship."
"Age doesn't matter to the law," a third maid said. Lindsey was her name, Edith believed. "Though, I think everyone is thinking more of the son as the real heir. That's why the old lady has been up here so much, scaring the poor boy."
"Oooo, Lin don't let Mr. Carson here you call her that. He'd demote you to a scullery maid like that," the first maid teased with a snap of her fingers.
"It's not like it's really any of our business," the second dark hair maid sighed. "But all the same, I would hate for something to happen to the family. And with his lordship soon to leave for the war-"
Edith's train of thought screeched to a sudden halt. Everything about the inheritance she knew, but war? What war? Why was Papa going to leave for war? When was he leaving?
Don't panic, Edith, don't panic. She already knew he had to go to war at some point to meet Mr Bates, but for some reason she thought it had occurred before now or at least would occur with more warning. How could she have missed an entire war? How long had it been going on? What was it about? When would it end? Did Papa plan to leave after James and Patrick went home? They were only supposed to stay for another week or two so how-
"Edith!" Mary's voice snapped at her. "What are you doing out of your room?"
"I-I just-" Edith looked around, realizing her anxious movements had led to her walking to the stairway. "I just need some air."
"What's wrong with you?" Mary said, a strained note of concern in her voice as she followed Edith down the stairs.
"Nothing! Nothing's wrong, I just- I'm just tired." Goodness, she was starting to stutter like Pat. "Where is your constant shadow anyway?"
"Cousin Patrick? He went with Cousin James into the village. But don't change the subject! What is wrong with you?"
"I just found out something upsetting is all," Edith breathed, continuing to make her way towards the back of the house.
"About our cousins?" Mary was still following her.
"No! Well, I guess it could be related, but-"
"But isn't there any way we can make Mary the heir instead?" Mama's voice lilted from the drawing room.
Instantly, the two sisters froze and fell quiet. Mary and Edith locked eyes and for the first time seemed to agree on something. As quiet as possible, the two snuck up to the barely open door to the drawing room and began to listen.
"You know there isn't, Cora," Granny stated. "Sons will always inherit. If you had had one, perhaps you would understand."
"Mama," Papa said tiredly. "Enough of this. When Cora and I have a son-"
"If you have a son," Granny muttered not at all quietly.
"When we have a son, things will be different, but for now James is my heir. No matter how uncomfortable it is for us or him."
"Uncomfortable? For him? One would think he considered it a burden."
"He doesn't want the estate," Cora said softly.
"Not for himself," Granny conceded, "but no good father would turn down an Earldom for his child. Not that that isn't good for us. It means we have plenty of time to mold him to our point of view."
"Mama," Papa said with even more frustration.
"I don't think anything of the sort is necessary," Cora stated. "He is just a child, and nothing may come of any of this."
"I would rather be prepared for the worst outcomes than ignore them and be trounced."
"Mama, we have done all we can," Papa said. "Cora and the girls have met James and Patrick. James has promised to watch over you all while I am fighting in South Africa."
Mary gasped, throwing her hand to her mouth to hide the sudden sound.
"Should the worst happen, he has assured me he would let nothing happen to any of you or turn you away from Downton. Now, what else would you have us do in the few weeks before I leave? Get his promises sealed in blood?" Papa continued. Edith felt her world sway. So it was true, he was leaving when James and Patrick would.
"I would rather you think of the long term, Robert, not just the moment," Granny sighed. "I truly don't wish to doubt you both, but it's been nearly five years since Sybil was born and no child has come since. There is no guarantee there will ever be another child, and, even if another comes, there is no guarantee it will be a boy. We have to think of the worst case, whether that be that we lose you to this war or you come back and no son comes, Robert. In any case, we can't expect your family to live off a cousin's charity forever."
"Then what do you suggest?" Mama nearly snapped. "That we accept our losses now? That my daughters and I be prepared to leave Downton?"
"Accept our losses? Never. We must make every attempt to ensure our victory, and ensure that one of your daughters has a future in this house as its future lady."
"Mama, Mary can't be-" Papa growled.
"You mean to say one of my daughters should marry Patrick?" Mama cut in, sounding generally displeased but thoughtful. For a moment, Mary turned to glance at Edith, eyes wide with shock.
"Absolutely not," Papa said. The sound of his heavy pacing on the carpet came through the cracked door. "I will not have my daughters marry just to keep a roof over their heads!"
"Why? You did, and you seem perfectly happy," Granny retorted. "It's not as if we could force it, no matter how much simpler that would be. All parties involved would have to be willing."
"It's not a bad idea, Robert," Mama said.
"Cora!"
"I know. I don't want it either, but as long as I haven't given you an heir, the girls will be in danger. If they could have a promised place here… it would mean the world to me."
"It's not your fault, Cora," Papa said softly. "And James has promised me you would be taken care of. He wouldn't do any harm to you or the girls."
"Charity, no matter how genuine, is a temporary and dangerously fickle thing," Granny stated. "Besides, you can't tell me it wouldn't please you to see Mary as mistress of Downton?" Mary barely held in another gasp with her small hand still clasped to her mouth.
"Mary? Why not Edith?" Papa asked confusedly. Oh, Papa, Edith thought.
"Edith? Why Edith?"
"Well," Papa continued. "She's the most interested in the estate."
"And Edith does have fewer prospects than Mary," Mama murmured. "It might be best if she marries Patrick."
"Perhaps, but you both are forgetting that the boy must choose her."
"So?" Papa asked. "He is just as likely to choose Edith as Mary."
"Robert, my dear, foolish boy. Other than the fact he has already made his choice, it is also a simple fact that I doubt any boy, when presented with both sisters, wouldn't choose Mary."
Edith felt a small piece of her heart break when the silence lingered in the drawing room after Granny's statement. She expected it from Granny. Even Mama's words were hurtful but not malicious. But for Papa to not defend her at that statement? It cemented how true the words were.
Papa sighed and spoke. "So that is your plan then? Mary should marry Patrick?"
"Yes," Granny nodded.
"It's for the best, darling," Mama agreed.
"Then I'll speak to James about it tonight."
As silently as possible, Edith and Mary hurried away from the door at those words and skittered back up the stairs. By the time they made it to the nursery, Mary was furious.
"How could they!" She shrieked, throwing her pillow to the floor.
"They are just trying to do what they think will protect us," Edith reasoned, sliding to the floor by her bed.
"Of course you'd say that! It's not you they're giving away!"
"I thought you liked Patrick?"
"He's a stupid little boy," Mary hissed. "I don't want to marry him. I want to marry a Duke or a Marquis or a Prince or- or anyone better than HIM!"
"You don't have to, you know," Edith said. She hugged her knees and stared out the window at the January gloom. "You could say no."
"And then what! Mama and Papa would lose Downton!" Mary cried, continuing to decimate her pillows. Her blue eyes were a haze of anger, frustration, and tears.
"I mean, Papa wouldn't," Edith muttered. "But if… if you really don't want to do it, I would do it for you."
"You?" Mary scoffed, turning away from her destroyed bed. She stormed over to stand over Edith."You think YOU could do it if I couldn't? I might disagree with everything else, but we both know Patrick would never choose you over me. No one would! It's up to me, because we might as well pack up and leave already if it wasn't!"
Mary's criticisms made Edith finch and curl tighter to her knees. Glaring down at her sister eventually grew too frustrating and Mary stormed out of the room in search of something else to take her angry. Edith stayed on the floor for quite some time after.
When James and Patrick returned to Downton Abbey, James and Robert retreated to the study. Patrick found Mary more hostile and snappish than he had ever seen his usually ladylike guide. And when he tried to find better companions in the two younger sisters, he found a worried little Sybil and a silent Edie. She didn't look up from her book once.