A/n: Chapters are becoming much slow for now. I finally got a good internet provider, so time to go at my chapters and edit them. I want to rewrite some as I'm not happy with how they turned out, and I know I can do much better.
Also, FINALLY saw the new Downton Movie. Been waiting to see it, but my only follow Downton fan moved, so no one wanted to see it, which sucks, but it was so worth the wait. It was full of suspires and sadness. I hope to write enough to end this story until the last movie. Only time will tell.
This probably had a few mistakes, but I'm too excited to get this chapter out and work on rewriting the next one. I know the spell check keeps flagging on the speech from the show, but I keep hitting ignore as I want those parts to stay true to the story…with me adding some bit in like I did with Robert in the library.
Chapter 6:
The sun shone brightly down on the massive grounds of Downton Abbey. Mary and Lilly sat on one of the enormous house's benches on the east side. A few beautiful trees surrounded them, casting shade on the sisters as they sat in peace. Mary was dressed in one of her most excellent dark blue coats with a white blouse and a mist gray skirt that complemented her coffee hair tucked under her cream hat. The hat had a large marron ribbon around the middle with a bow equal in color. The blue and maroon colors would be something you wouldn't think would go together, but they seemed to mesh well on Mary. Lilly looked down at her similar coat in Golden Dream. It was once Mary's, but she outgrew it some years back, and Edith was too tall for it, so it was given to Lilly. She was happy with a gold color, not yellow, for the color washed out her complexion. Her cream blouse almost matched Mary's, but Lilly wore a Victoria blue skirt, ever the fan of color. She left her hat on her bed as she loved the feeling of the wind blowing through her hair which was yet again left down. She loved the feeling of the stains dancing in the wind to a tune that they could only hear.
Mary was reading a letter from a man she met last year, Evelyn Napier. Lilly rested her head on Mary's shoulder while she read his letter. She knew it was very unladylike, but it didn't matter with Mary as they were alone at home.
"He seems to be keen on you. Have your eyes on him as a possible new suiter?" Lilly asked as she finished. Mary's chocolate eyes left the letter and looked to her left side, where her youngest sister sat.
"I don't know yet. He seems nice enough." She sighed as she looked back at the letter.
"But could you see yourself in love with him? Make a future together?" Lilly asked. She looked at her sister's face trying to read any expression that might pass across it. She was disappointed when she saw none pass over Mary's porcelain face.
"Does it matter," Mary stated flatly more than asked. Lilly knew that Mary said it didn't matter if love was involved, but Lilly had gotten to know Mary well since she awoke in this new world, so she could see through Mary's tuff act and knew she wanted someone to love and to love her in return. That is all anyone could ask for, but that was often too much in this period. They could only hope for the most was to like the person they were marrying, even if it was only a little bit; it was better than nothing.
"Anything interesting?" Cora asked as she walked up behind her daughters. She was dressed in one of her Vin Rouge colors dress with a snowy high neck collar with a beautiful cameo brooch pinned in the middle of the collar. Her coat matched her dress only with Matterhorn lapels, cuffs, trim, and matching hat, looking like the Edwardian lady she was.
"Not particularly. It's from Evelyn Napier. You met him at the Delta Fields last November at Doncaster races." Mary lowered the letter as she replied to Cora, causing Lilly to sit straight up again, already missing Mary's warmth. As Mary and Cora talked about Evelyn, the chilled fall wind caressed her cheeks even more. They made plans for him to come and stay at Downton before Cora took her to leave. Lilly stood up and brushed her skirt off before leaving Mary with a simple statement before leaving for Mary to take time to think about the situation. She knew Mary would listen to her words, but would she heed their warning; she didn't know. Lilly walked up to the front door as Edith was walking out.
"I'm going down the village. Do you need any from the shops, or would you like to come with?" Edith stopped to ask Lilly as she put on her dark navy gloves that perfectly matched her long skirt, blouse, and hat with a cream-colored coat to add some contrast to her outfit. In the show, everyone seemed to put Edith to the side in favor of Mary and Sybil, which Lilly always found a bit sad. After arriving here and getting to know everyone, who were just characters on a tv show a few short years ago, Lilly found Edith to be an intelligent and independent young lady, especially in this time period, which led her to believe that everyone just misunderstood Edith and her ways. She was a lady ahead of her time as she yearned for something to do something but couldn't name the feeling; she had so often let the frustrations out on Mary. More likely because Mary always had a sarcastic remarks for her and, in doing so, made herself an easy target. Lilly shook her head.
"No, thank you for the offer. I do appreciate it, but maybe next time. We can have a sisterly time together, just the two of us, and have tea at Baker's tea shop." Lilly spoke with a soft smile towards Edith. Edith returned the smile with her eyes lit up at the idea.
"That would be lovely. We hardly ever get to spend time together, just us." She stated as she finished putting on her last glove.
"Yes, it has been a while, but that happens when one has too many sisters. Spending time with everyone and having time for oneself becomes hard." Lilly expressed with a light laugh.
Occasionally, she would talk like this in her world. Everyone would look at her strangely like they didn't know what she said. Mostly everyone would tell her to get her nose out of the books and old tv shows and live in the here and now of the real world, but she found that to be so dull at times and thought spicing up her everyday speech just a little bit would from time to time added some much-needed fun. Still, sadly it was always wasted on people who didn't get it.
Her grandmother always told her she was an old soul trapped in this new technological age, even from a very young age. Maybe she was right, and being here in Downton Abbey was the world's way of fixing that little hiccup.
"That's true. Well, I shall be on my way." She said as she straightened her hat before taking her leave as Lilly began making her way to the staircase to finish the book she had started some days ago.
Meanwhile, in the library, Cora, Robert, and Violet began to make plans that could change the whole future of Downton.
"It's not of my doing. It's all Mary's own work, but I think we should encourage it." Core simply said as she, Violet, and Robert made their way into the library.
"Branksome's a dull dog, but I don't suppose that matters." Robert piped up from behind his darling wife and his mother. He knew his input would have little merit in the conversation as it was about marriage, which was the lady's territory, but as he saw it, it didn't hurt to add it. They began to part way to their respective places, the ladies to the couches and he to his writing desk.
"Did you know his wife had died?" Cora asked as she turned to him, as he fell into step beside her.
"He only ever talks about racing. Maybe that's what did the poor woman in." Robert stated as he stopped at his desk. It was meant as a joke to lighten the mood, but sometimes he did wonder if that man could bore someone to death. The light from the large windows catching his suit made it look a shade of light gray instead of the darker gray it was initially, and the same could be said about his red tie.
Cora looked back at her husband. "Robert, that is such an unkind thing to say." She scolded him in a kindly tone.
"Properly some truth in it. Robert's right. The man is dull, and one can only pretend to be interested in what he has to say for so long, and being his wife, the poor woman would have no escape from his conversations when he would talk to her," Violet chimed in. "But Cora is right. Mary won't take Matthew Crawley, so we'd better get her settled before the bloom is quite gone off the rose. Don't count him out just yet with the girls. I believe that he may be suited for Lilly." She finished as Cora and herself sat together on one of the couches. Cora would have the look of shock crossed her face if she hadn't entertained the idea herself after seeing how they interacted with each other. He was a bit older than her youngest, more than Cora would have liked, but Matthew was very kind and thoughtful, so if they married in the end, she would be all right with that.
Her only hope for her girls was that they each ended up with men that would love and treasure them as she and Robert had; even if it wasn't love on his part at the beginning, that was his biggest shame. He got there after they had been married for a year, to which she was very grateful as she saw many of the friends she made with other Dollar Princess during her first London season married men with no interest whatsoever other than saving a struggling titled family.
Sure, they found a sense of purpose in raising their children, but now that most of their children have grown, gotten married, and started their own families, the wives now find themselves lonely with husbands who didn't care to spend time in their presents. Cora was sure some men had affairs and most likely children with those women they probably loved but couldn't have as they family duty over love. That was something she never wanted her girls to feel.
"Lilly hasn't been presented yet and won't be for at least another year and a half. It's far too early to look for a husband for Lilly and Sybil. They are still girls." Robert replied as he held a piece of paper in his hand. Sybil and Lilly were only just seventeen years old. It doesn't matter if they can be presented to the Court now; the Crawley family always had a tradition of presenting ladies around eighteen or nineteen. He didn't like showing it, but Sybil and Lilly were his favorites. He loved all his girls, but maybe because they were the last of his babies, he wanted to hold on to them just a bit longer before they went off into the cold, cruel world under another man's proception.
"Is the family an old one?" Cora asked, changing the subject to the topic at hand before anything could get out of control. She knew how Robert felt about that subject and quite frankly felt the same. It's always had to let your babies grow up, let alone admit that they are growing up when you still see them as little girls smiling at you.
"Older than yours, I imagine," Violet said sarcastically as she looked at Cora. She never missed a chance to tell her daughter-in-law that she wasn't her first choice for a bride, even if her money was used to save the establishment of Downton, but there was a flood of what they called Dollar Princess to Europe looking for husbands. At first, she didn't think Robert made the best choice, but as their loved bloomed over the years, she could admit that he made the best choice, but she would never say it out loud. She wouldn't get anyone that satisfaction of hearing that confession.
"Old enough," Robert called from his desk as he read some of the afternoon post that had come earlier.
"And there's plenty of money." Cora chimed in, knowing that's what Violet was getting at, but wouldn't say so out loud as she feared being called an American over any straight-out money talk.
"Oh. Really?" Violet asked as she played dumb. Even Robert wasn't buying his mother's act.
"Mama, you've already looked him up in the stud books and made inquiries about the fortune, don't pretend otherwise. Are you afraid someone will think you're American if you speak openly?" Robert pointed out and played on the being called American card as he looked over to where the ladies were sitting. Violet huffed.
"I doubt it'll come to that." She countered. Robert excused himself, and Cora and Violet returned to discussing fighting for Mary's inheritance.
Mid-afternoon, Lilly finished reading her book and was on her way to the library to reshelve it and pick out another when she came across Thomas. She didn't know, but her face lit up at seeing him. He was making his way to cross the hall to the door that led downstairs to the servant's area.
"Afternoon, Mr. Barrow. Lovely day is it not?" Lilly asked with a smile. Thomas stopped walking and turned around at the sound of her voice. The sound of her voice sent a pleasant chill up his spine.
"Afternoon Lady Lilly and why yes, it is." He replied with a smile a mile wide as she walked over to meet him.
"What news from below the stairs?" She asked as she stopped in front of the taller man. She always asked him this when she hadn't been downstairs in a while. Because Violet disapproved of it, Lilly tried to find other things to occupy her time while she was around. Thomas is one of her dearest friends, and she loved spending time with him and enjoyed their intelligent banter.
"Well, Gwen has a typewriter and plans to leave service one day. That seems to be the biggest news as of right now." He said, looking downward at the petite woman in front of him. She smiled. Typically, her lot gets upset at the thought of someone leaving service, but Lilly was never the typical lady, and that's what he liked about her.
"That's wonderful." She smiled as she replied, genuinely happy for Gwen. She knew what the future held for her, and she couldn't wait for Gwen to be pleased and fulfilled with her life. She hoped her being in the story didn't change that for her or anyone else who had a happy ending. Maybe she was there to help those that didn't.
"Now, that is not something you hear from your lot." He smirked at her.
"Well, I believe those who can follow their dreams should. If that is what they want to do." The smile never left her face as she spoke those words. He wanted to believe them, but for his lot, those in service, it was almost impossible, but he felt as long as she was here, it would make his time bearable until he could move up into a better position.
"If only I could believe as you do. Good day, Lady Lilly." He stated formally as he turned to leave, going back to doing whatever he was doing before.
"Good day Mr. Barrow, and maybe one day you will." She called after him as she turned towards the library with a smile on her face and a pep in her step. She always felt like this after conversing with Thomas. She never understood why, but something about him always put her in a good mood no matter how long or short their conversion was, and little did she know that it was the same for him. The rest of the day went smoothly until the girls were getting dressed for dinner.
"What churches will you show him?" Anne asked Edith as she finished fastening Mary's corset. Mary's off-white corset and chemise contrast Anna's black and white evening maid's outfit. It was a simple question that started a small fight between Mary and Edith about not seeming too obvious and scaring him away. A knock from Cora broke up the fight before she opened the door to peek inside.
"There was a letter from Mr. Napier in the evening post." She told everyone. Lilly and Sybil sat at the foot of Mary's bed in their matching silver simple gown as they quietly watched everything unfold before them as if it was all a play being performed in a theater. Very thrilling.
"Mm. Did he accept?" Mary asked, trying to keep her curiosity from her voice, but those who truly knew her could hear it as she slipped into her evening gown with the help of Anna.
"Not yet." Cora replied, a little crestfallen but still with a small amount of hope in her voice.
Edith rolled her eyes before looking at Mary. "Perhaps he thought it was too obvious." Using Mary's earlier words against her. Cora ignored Edith's comment.
"Apparently, he's bringing a friend with him, an attaché at the Turkish. A Mr," Cora pulled out the letter she brought up with her to make sure she got the name right. "Kemal Pamuk. He's a son of one of the sultan's ministers, and he's here for the Albanian talks." She finished.
"What's that?" Mary asked as she helped Anna straighten out her dress while only looking into her mirror.
"To create an independent Albania. Don't you read the papers?" Sneered Edith as she looked at Mary.
"I'm too busy living a life." Mary snapped back.
"That's a little unkind. Lilly and I live life, but we still manage to read what's happening in the world. It is always best if one stays informed of current events." Sybil stated, trying to help defend Edith and prove a point. Lilly nodded as Mary looked at her two youngest sisters but didn't say anything knowing she was beaten on the subject.
"Since Turkey's signature is vital, Mr. Napier's been given the job of keeping him happy until the conference begins, and he's eager to try an English hunt. I shall invite this Mr. Pamuk to stay here as well. Who knows? A little hospitality in an English house may make all the difference to the outcome. And Mary, you and Lilly will ride out with him." Cora stated as Mary being the oldest, needed to be there representing the family while Lilly would be able to smooth any tension that may arise. She felt Lilly just had this gift of calming people down and making people see sense just in case Mary ended up making a sarcastic remake or two too many. Mary wasn't very pleased with this.
"Oh, Mama, must I? My boots are at the menders, and I haven't ridden in weeks." Mary whined to her mother as Anna silently finished adjusting Mary's dress and took a step away, but Cora wasn't having any of it.
"Anna, please see that Lady Mary and Lady Lilly are fully equipped to go hunting," Cora said kindly to Anna, who agreed. "You don't mind, do you, Lilly dear doing this one small thing for your dear old Mama?" Cora asked in the sweetest way that Lilly couldn't refuse.
"Of course." Lilly spoke up with a sweet smile to hide the fact that she didn't want to, but Cora left no way out for either of the girls, and she knew it.
Finally, the big day of the hunt arrived. The hunting party was gathered in front of Downton. A sea of red and black riding habits sitting on top of every kind of horse in every color you could imagine, the dogs were running around the horses and humans, just happy to be outside, and the footmen were carrying trays of treats and drinks for the riders to have before the long hunt. Thomas found his way over to Lilly. She was fully dressed in her black riding habit, waiting for Evelyn and his friend to arrive so they could start.
"You look all happy to be up there," Thomas said as he presented his tray of what looked like brownies but was a thin chocolate-type cake to her. She took one and thanked him.
"I would much rather be inside doing something like being downstairs and helping out with something. I never look forward to hunting." She said as she took a tiny bit of the cake. Thomas chuckled.
"You must be the only person in England that would rather pet the fox instead of hunting it." He said with a knowing smile. She cared for the animals and never found the enjoyment everyone else felt when they hunted, even in her old life. He had seen her a handful of times with the game raised on the estate. Feeding and even petting them when no one was looking, he was always watching and smiling.
Lilly was not vegetarian or vegan. She loved her rare steaks and just about any meat in gravy; after all, she was Cajun, but she was never one for wild game. She would never eat the flesh, but the gravy the game would make would be out of this world, especially her grandmother's cow tongue, but that gravy was everything. Lilly thought her grandmother must have used magic on her food because nothing tasted as good as her cooking.
"I might be. Sometimes I wonder if being different is a good thing." She said as she looked at Thomas, feeling a little unsure of herself in this situation.
"Being different isn't always good or easy, but it's fantastic in your case. Now eat more of that cake. You barely touched anything at breakfast and need to keep your energy up for the hunt." He told her as he remembered she just pushed around the little amount of food she had put onto her plate.
She always lost her appetite on days when she was expected to participate in hunts, so the few tiny bites of food weren't going to sustain her. She needed as much energy as possible, as luncheon would be a long way off for the party. She nodded with a smile and ate her cake as he walked off to serve the rest of the party. She was surprised at his statement, but if he only knew why she was so different, it would blow his mind. After it was gone, Lilly trotted to Mary's side, next to Lynch, as it was his job to look after Mary and Lilly during the hunt. Lilly adjusted herself on her saddle, trying to find a more comfortable position while riding a side saddle that looked uncomfortable as it felt.
"Can you see them, milady?" Lynch asked as he finished inspecting his horse before mounting the creature. Mary looked around, trying to find any hint that their guests had arrived.
"Not yet," she started to say before she caught a glimpse of Evelyn as he came around a small group of hunters with his red coat, making him stand out. "Oh, wait a minute, here is Mr. Napier. I was beginning to give up on you. We're moving off." She told Evelyn as he came to a stop in front of her. Lilly tuned out their conversion as she prayed for this hunt to go smoothly and finish quickly.
"I wouldn't quite say that. Here he is now." Evelyn said, nodding in his friend's direction. His words pulled Lilly from her thoughts as she followed Mary's gaze as Kemal road up close to Mary with a smile on his face. Lilly had to admit he was handsome in person. Clear slight bronzed skin, chiseled jaw, deep copper eyes, straight white teeth, flowy light chestnut short hair, and if Lilly was mistaken, probably have a toned if not slightly muscular body. Mary quickly fell under his spell with how she looked lovestruck like a school girl as he tipped his hat to her.
"Lady Mary," he said as he looked at Mary and then over to Lilly. "Lady Lilly, I presume?" he asked, looking at each lady as he said their names. Mary smiled.
"You presume right." She told him. Her grin seemed to be getting wider, if that was possible, and if she didn't stop, her face might tear in two. All Lilly could think was that Mary had it bad for Kemal. She couldn't blame her if she met a man this looking and charming in her world; she would have fallen for him too.
"Sorry to be so disheveled. We've been on a train since dawn, and we had to change in a shed." He apologized to the ladies for his appearance as he replaced the hat on his head. Mary blushed slightly. Lilly didn't see how he was disheveled in any way, shape, or form of the word. To her, he looked as if he had stepped out of an equestrian magazine cover looking all perfect.
"You don't look disheveled to me." She stated just as the horn was blown somewhere behind them, signaling the start of the hunt. Mary turns to Lynch.
"Lynch, you don't have to stay with me." She told him before riding off with Kemal and Evelyn before the poor man could say anything.
"I wouldn't bother Mr. Lynch. She has decided, so it's just you and me. Let's go before we end up being left behind." Lily stated as she started her horse forward to follow the group with Lynch on her heels.
A/n: This is a call to anyone who knows older British wedding traditions. I want to write the perfect wedding scenes, but I only know what we do here in the US.
What are some traditions and vows did the church of England do back in the early part of the 20th century? I only have a little bit from the show and what I found on the web, but I want to ensure I get something more authentic. Any information would be fantastic, and I thank you.
Also, I finished the next chapter and just got to sit down and edit it. It gets really good in the next one. If you have seen the show, and I hope you have, you know what will happen next, but how will it go down with Lilly in the picture?