Work Text:
A countess of ill repute.
September 1912 -
Cora lowered her book as Robert entered their bedroom, he wore a concerned expression on his face.
“Something wrong, darling?” Cora asked in her soft American drawl.
“It’s Matthew. Two dinners in two nights and both as awkward as the last. You heard him, talking of nothing but his new “job” and no interest in the estate.”
“I don’t suppose you’ve thought any more about challenging the entail?”
Robert heaved a weary sigh as he climbed into bed. “You know as well as I do my darling, that I can not remove the entail without bankrupting the estate.” He leans over and kisses his wife on the cheek. “And you can thank your dear papa for that. Now, let’s hear no more about it.” Robert rolled over onto his side and turned off the bedside lamp that sat next to his side of the bed.
Cora rolled her eyes and raised her book again. “Matthew’s coming for luncheon tomorrow, maybe he’ll prove to be less of a disappointment then.” Robert said nothing in reply.
************************
Matthew stopped for a moment in the gravel driveway and looked up at the grand building that stood before him.
Downton Abbey.
A place that he was now to become the owner and resident earl of. It seemed almost surreal. He knew almost nothing about it aside from the family that lived there. What was its history? Its future? What of the servants who kept it running? Looking at it now, in the bright September sunshine he felt a resolve to find out as much as he could about the place.
Now was the time to start. The family had invited him for luncheon to continue to get to know him better and he wanted to seize the opportunity to know them better too. He rang the bell that sat embedded in the stone wall, next to the grand oak doors. After a few moments Mr.Carson, the butler of Downton Abbey, appeared in the doorway.
“Hello, Carson.” Matthew greeted cheerily, “Lady Grantham is expecting me.”
“Very good, sir. Her Ladyship is waiting for you in the library. Please follow me.”
Carson led Matthew through the doorway, across the hall and into the grand library room where Cora was reading a newspaper on one of the opulent, large couches. Two of her daughters, Mary, sat opposite reading books. Edith was at the desk, writing a letter.
“Mr. Matthew Crawley.” Carson announced before retreating from the room.
Cora rose from the couch and smiled as Matthew entered the room.
“Cousin Matthew, so nice to see you.” She said warmly. “Won’t you sit down?”
“Thank you.” Matthew replied obligingly, taking a seat next to Cora on the couch.
“It’s so good of you to join us. I’m afraid it’s just the four of us for luncheon. Robert’s had to go to see Murray in London and Sybil is in Rippon.” Cora explained.
“Well I can’t think of a lovelier company!”
Mary rolled her eyes and rose to put her book back on the shelf, leaving a silence as awkward as the smile on Matthew’s face hanging in the air. Edith seized the opportunity and rose from the desk.
“Can we get you a drink before we go through? Some tea, perhaps?”
“Actually, I’d rather like a glass of water. It’s so dashed hot, today.”
“Yes it is, rather. I overheard the gardeners saying that this warm weather is wreaking havoc with the lawn. I’ll ring for Carson to pour you some.”
“Oh don’t bother.” Matthew said, rising to his feet and heading over to the water jug that sat on the table under the window. “I can do it myself.”
Edith, Mary and Cora all swapped disgruntled glances at each other.
“I expect you’re more used to doing things for yourself.” Mary piped up, “I’m afraid our sort gets Carson to do everything for us. Should we warn him that he’ll be out of a job when you become the Earl?”
“I..”
“Mary!” Cora snapped, “Be polite to cousin Matthew!”
“No, no. It’s quite alright.” Matthew soothed, “I appreciate I have a lot to learn. I just hope to retain a sense of independence with my new life.”
The three women gave a weak smile in response followed by another awkward silence.
“Well, shall I ring for Carson and tell him to let Mrs. Patmore know that we’re ready for luncheon?” Cora enquired.
“Actually,” Matthew replied with hesitance, “I was rather wondering, if you would mind if I went down and told her myself.”
“You want to go downstairs? To the servants hall?” Cora’s eyes grew wide.
“Yes, I feel that if I’m to be the heir, I should know more about the property and the people in it.”
“But, I don’t understand.” Edith said weakly, “Why? They’re only servants.”
Cora shot a disapproving glance at her middle child. “Of course, if you want to but, I’m afraid it might put the servants on edge to have one of the family just show up down there..”
“Oh, don’t worry. I’ll make sure I’m not in the way. Across the hall and down the stairs, yes?”
“Y-yes. We’ll meet you in the dining room then.”
Matthew nodded and strode out of the room.
“And there goes Downton’s future.” Mary said wryly.
“Mary, will you please just be nice!” Cora scolded, “Sometimes I think I should have sent you off to your grandmama’s in New York and let her show you the real world!”
“Downton’s real enough for me, thank you mama.”
****************************************
Matthew descended the stairs into Downton’s basement. It sounded busy. People chattering and footsteps pacing back and forth. Upon reaching the bottom of the stairs, Matthew scanned around, looking for the kitchen, where he assumed he would find this “Mrs.Patmore.”
“Can I help you, sir?” came a voice at his side. Matthew turned and saw a young,blonde chambermaid standing in the doorway to the servants hall.
“Oh, yes, I was looking for Mrs.Patmore….. Uhhh….?”
“Anna, Sir, head chambermaid.”
“Ah yes, you were part of the welcome party that greeted us upstairs, you’ll have to forgive me, I’m still learning everything.”
“That’s quite alright sir, Mrs. Patmore will just be down there in the kitchen.” Anna pointed down a corridor, “But be careful, it sounds as if she’s on the warpath.” she said with a wry smile.
Matthew returned the smile and with a nod set off down the corridor. As he got closer he could hear a voice rising up through the walls.
“DO Y’THINK MADAM COULD MANAGE TO SPEED UP TO HALF SPEED, OR DOES SHE WANT THIS LUNCHEON T’BE DINNER?!”
Matthew entered the kitchen as this tirade was being delivered. A short woman with fiery red hair protruding in wiry strands from her cap was bustling about with her back to him. At the large table in the middle of the room was a young girl with dark hair, mixing something in a bowl. She stopped when she saw Matthew enter.
“DAISY! WILL YOU KEEP BEATING THAT MAYONNAISE BEFORE IT TURNS BACK INTO EGGS!”
*ahem* Matthew cleared his throat. The woman with the red hair turned and saw him in the doorway.
“An who are you when he’s at ‘ome?” she snapped, her cheeks redder than her hair.
“I’m…”
“Mr. Crawley. What a surprise, can we help you?” Mrs.Hughes, the housekeeper had entered the kitchen from the other side and cleared the confusion.
“Oh my lord..” The red haired woman breathed quietly.
“I was looking for Mrs. Patmore?” Matthew explained.
“And you’ve found her.” Mrs. Hughes pointed to the red haired woman who was standing, mouth agape.
“Ah! Well, um, Cora, that is, Lady Grantham wanted me to tell you that we’re ready for luncheon.”
“And she sent you?” Daisy asked bluntly. Mrs.Hughes shot her a look.
“No, no I wanted to come down and get to know you all a bit better, since I’m going to be around more. Felt frightfully grand not to know where all the hard work comes from.”
“Isn’t that kind?” Mrs. Hughes gushed. “Isn’t that kind,Mrs. Patmore?” she prompted to Mrs. Patmore who still hadn’t recovered from the shock.
“Oh yes, very kind I’m sure.” she breathed.
“Not at all. It is very nice to meet you, Mrs. Patmore. And thank you for a delicious dinner last night.”
Mrs. Patmore recovered from the shock. “Not at all, sir. I’ll get the luncheon sent up right away.”
“Thank you. I look forward to it. Well, I shall leave you to your work, sorry to disturb you.”
And with that, Matthew left the room, somewhat awkwardly.
“My, my, my.” Mrs.Hughes exclaimed, “Wasn’t that a turn up for the books. He seems like a nice man.”
“ ‘E’s nice looking, I’ll give ‘im that.” Daisy said cheekily.
“I’LL GIVE YOU A THICK EAR IN A MINUTE IF YOU DON’T FINISH THAT MAYONNAISE!” Mrs.Patmore exclaimed, fully back to her senses.
“Yes Mrs. Patmore.”
Matthew smiled broadly as he climbed the stairs. There was something almost melodious to him about Mrs.Patmore’s voice.
*********
A few nights later, Matthew was back at the Abbey, this time with his mother, for another grand dinner party.
Matthew and Isobel assumed that this was just their new family being hospitable but little did they know that the dinner had an ulterior motive. The dowager countess, Lady Violet Grantham, mother to Robert and grandmother to the three Crawley sisters, had concocted a scheme with Cora to push Mary and Matthew together. In this way, Mary would benefit from the inheritance and keep her rightful place at Downton.
Mary wasn’t keen on the scheme when she had been told about it but there was little she could do to stop it.
They were all gathered in the sitting room, awaiting Carson to tell them dinner was ready.
“I hear you went down to the servants’ hall the other day.” Robert said, somewhat pointedly at Matthew.
“Oh, yes. I wanted to see the lower part of the house. And meet some of the staff, of course.”
“Why, for heaven’s sake!?” Violet asked suddenly.
“Why not?” Isobel countered. “Is it so terrible for the heir to see part of the house?”
“It is if it makes him seem peculiar. I lived here for 40 years and I only went down to the kitchen once! And that was an emergency!”
“What sort of emergency?” Sybil asked innocently.
“My cook was threatening to walk out! Normally I wouldn’t yield to blackmail but we were having the Duke of Marlborough for dinner that evening and one could scarcely serve him sandwiches. So, I went down to talk her round.”
“My my! I didn’t realise we had an explorer in the family.” Isobel said, glibly.
Everyone gave a light chuckle and then Robert’s face turned serious. “In any event, I wouldn’t make a habit of it, it unsettles the staff. We have our domain and they have theirs.”
“I don’t think I unsettled anyone… and besides we all live together, maybe we shouldn’t have such divisions..” Matthew countered.
“We can discuss this later, we mustn’t bore the ladies.” Robert replied, icily.
“Who’s bored?” Violet quipped. “I normally have to hear these sort of radical ideas in cheap novels.”
Just then the sitting room door opened and Carson entered. “Dinner is served m’lord.” he said with a deep bow.
“Ah, thank you, Carson.”
And they all filed through into the grand dining room.
The dinner was strained to put it mildly. Most of the guests were clearly on edge,still getting to know each other and Mary was particularly guarded, making jabs at Matthew to put him off any planted idea of them marrying. Not that it seemed to be working. He took all her jibes in dismissive good humour.
Eventually, Mary decided to take the bull by the horns and make a thinly veiled attack on the situation.
“I’ve been studying the story of Andromeda, do you know it?” She asked Matthew, leadingly.
“Oh.. I might… Gosh I’m not sure.” Matthew said with a cheery nature, between bites of food.
“She was a princess, the daughter of king Theseus…”
“Mmm, I say this beef wellington is excellent.” Matthew observed, clearly not paying much attention.
“Uh… she was to be sacrificed to a sea monster… to save the kingdom…” Mary pressed on, vaguely.
“And are these honey roasted parsnips? I say, you’re Mrs. Patmore really is a treasure isn’t she?”
“SHE WAS STRIPPED NAKED AND TIED TO A ROCK!” Mary burst out, infuriated at being ignored.
Everyone but Matthew turned to stare at her.
“What’s this?” Matthew piped up suddenly, “Who’s stripped Mrs. Patmore naked?”
“Ohhhh!” Mary cried with frustration, throwing her napkin down on her dinner and rising from the table. “Forgive me, mama. I’ve got rather a headache.” and she ran out of the room.
“Golly, what a shame.” Matthew said, resuming eating his dinner. “She’s going to miss all of this wonderful food.”
Violet and Cora exchanged an exasperated look.
******************
“That’ll be tuppence for the paper and another tuppence for the envelopes please, Mrs.Patmore.”
“Right…” Mrs. Patmore rummaged in her purse to find the necessary coins and then handed them to the kindly old lady who ran the corner shop in Downton village.
“Thank you.” She pressed a button on the large, iron cash register that sat on the counter and placed the coins inside. “Got some letter writing to do?”
“Oh, only to me sisters… we like t’keep in touch, ya know. Not getting to see each other very often. Not that I ever ‘ave ‘owt to write about!” Mrs.Patmore laughed as she put her items away in her shopping bag. “Dear, Kate. Made breakfast, then luncheon, then dinner for the family. Tomorrow, they ‘ave guests for dinner, so I will ‘ave even more work to do.”
The two women laughed together.
“Eeee you never know, Mrs.Patmore. Something exciting could be just around the corner for you!”
“If there is, I wish it’d ‘urry up! Ta-ra!” Mrs.Patmore called over her shoulder as she left.
Bright sunlight hit her face as she stepped out into the high street. It was still unseasonably warm, even though the leaves that hung from the large tree in the cemetery opposite had long since turned bright gold and red.
She walked along the street and turned the corner to head for home, when she suddenly collided with someone coming from the opposite direction and knocked to the floor.
“WATCH WHERE YOU’RE GOING Y’ DAFT ‘APETH!” she exclaimed, scrambling around on the ground to get back to her feet.
“Oh, I’m frightfully sorry, I wasn’t paying attention, please allow me…”
Mrs.Patmore felt a hand take hers and she was soon hoisted to her feet.
“I really do apologise. It was frightfully clumsy of me.”
“Aye! It was! Sending me flying like a…” Mrs.Patmore didn’t finish her sentence, as after she had adjusted her hat back on her head, she had turned to stare down the person who sent her flying and give them a piece of her mind, only to be halted when she realised it was the new heir to Downton, Matthew Crawley. “Oh my lord.” She gasped. “Mr.Crawly, I do beg your pardon, I didn’t know it were you.”
“You have nothing to apologise for, it was my fault entirely.”
“No no, I’m sure it were me. Always bustling about, I am!”
“Nonsense. Are you hurt?”
“Oh no, don’t worry about me. I’ve got plenty of padding!” Mrs.Patmore chuckled awkwardly before trailing off into an uncomfortable silence between them.
“Here, let me buy you a cup of tea at the café across the street as way of apology.”
“Oh no! I couldn’t do that, it wouldn’t be proper! What would the family say?!”
“Well at least let me carry your shopping and escort you back to the abbey.”
“What? All the way back to the abbey? It’s a bit out of your way ain’t it?”
“Please, I insist. Or I shall spend the rest of the day feeling wretchedly guilty about the whole thing.”
“Well, if you insist.” Mrs.Patmore handed him her shopping bag. “Only, I’m not going straight back, I’ve just got to pop t’bakers and pick up a loaf for the servants’ tea. Normally, I’d make it meself but there’s a dinner at the ‘ouse tonight, oh well I suppose you know, and I just ‘aven’t ‘ad the time.”
The two started walking along the street towards the bakers.
“Yes, I must admit to feeling awfully guilty thinking about all the work you put in, when eating those delicious dinners. There are always so many courses.” Matthew observed.
“Oh, I don’t mind. It’s me work and I enjoy it. And I have Daisy of course. She’s a big ‘elp. She could be a cook ‘erself one day if she put ‘er mind to it. But don’t you tell ‘er I said so!”.
“My lips are sealed.” Matthew said with a wry smile.
The two walked along back to the abbey, stopping at the bakers on the way and to Mrs.Patmore’s surprise it wasn’t at all as uncomfortable as she was expecting. Usually when she spoke to someone from upstairs she found herself being fairly stiff and watched how she spoke. But this walk was different. She found herself telling Matthew all about her sisters and her nephew Archie.
He, in turn, told her about his new job and his previous one in Manchester and about his father and his mother and before they knew what had happened the grand sight of Downton Abbey had loomed into view.
As they got near to the doors, Mrs.Patmore stopped and took the bag from Matthew. “I’ll take that from ‘ere, we can’t ‘ave you going through the servants’ entrance.”
“No… you’re probably right. I got a bit of a whacking for coming down to see you the other day.”
“Oh… well we all thought it were very nice of you. But there’s a right way and a wrong way of doing things I suppose.”
“If it means enjoying company as wonderful as this, then I’m firmly of the belief that I’d like to do things the wrong way.” Matthew flashed Mrs.Patmore a cheeky smile, his piercing blue eyes alight with mischief.
“Gerraway y’daft beggar!” Mrs.Patmore chuckled before catching herself “That is, don’t tease an old lady, sir.”
“I don’t see any old ladies around here.”
“Well we can agree to disagree on that, and now I must get this down to the kitchen before they sound out a search party. Thank you for your ‘elp oh and, sir…?”
“Please call me Matthew, at least when we’re alone.”
“I’m not sure I can get used to that… but I’ll try… in any event, can you not tell anyone about the loaf of bread. If they found out I were shirking me duties….”
“I won’t tell a soul. In a way, it’s rather nice, don’t you think?”
“What’s that?”
“Our first secret, between us. It means we’re really friends. What a lovely thought.”
Mrs.Patmore felt her face flush. “Eee, y’cracked. I’ll be off then.” and she turned and scurried across the gravel path. Matthew watched her bustle out of view.
“Cousin Matthew?” came a voice from behind him. He turned to see Mary standing on the lawns, a book clutched under one hand.
“Ah, cousin Mary. Good afternoon. Have you been enjoying a read on the grounds?”
“Yes, our sort does things like that. What were you doing with our cook?”
“Oh, I bumped into her in the village. Literally, actually. So I helped her with her shopping as way of apology.”
“How gentlemanly of you. Goodness, you keep that up and you’ll know the staff better than you know us.”
“I’m sure I can manage to get to know you all as well as I would like.”
“Perhaps you’d like to eat with them tonight instead of with us?”
“I’m sure you’d prefer that at least.” Matthew replied cuttingly, “Good day.” And he strode off back down the path to the village.
**********************************
That evening, once all the courses had been taken upstairs, Mrs.Patmore stepped out into the yard that housed the servant’s entrance to cool off in the chill autumnal air. The days were unusually hot but the evenings were cool and a foreshadow of the colder days to come.
She sat herself down on a wooden bench and looked up at the stars twinkling above. She thought about the things Matthew had said to her that afternoon. It was the first time she’d really thought about it as she’d been so busy all evening but now, all alone in the night air, she found herself thinking of it all rather fondly. A warm , fuzzy feeling washed over her, and a smile broke out involuntarily across her lips.
Then she realised what she was thinking and shook herself together.
“Don’t be daft, Beryl. You’re old enough to be ‘is mother for a start.”
But try as she might, she couldn’t suppress the happy feeling inside. Perhaps she didn’t want to. Even if it was impossible, perhaps it was nice to feel this way, every once in a while.
She rose to her feet and turned to go back inside, when she was stopped by the sound of footsteps entering the yard.
“‘O’s there?” she asked peering into the inky darkness.
“It’s me,” said Matthew, stepping into the light. “I thought I’d take a chance on seeing you.”
“Oh. Can I ‘elp you, sir?”
“Please, we’re alone now, you must call me, Matthew.”
“I daren’t. Someone might ‘ear. What are you doing down ‘ere anyway, shouldn’t you be at the dinner?”
“I excused myself for a moment, hoping to see you. I find myself thinking about how much I enjoyed our little walk together, earlier and was wondering if you’d like to do it again sometime. I’d rather like to visit some of the local churches, if you’ll join me?”
“Oh… don’t be daft. It wouldn’t be proper!”
“Surely, you must have a day off. And on your day off, you’re not the cook at Downton are you?”
“A day off? What’s one of them when they’re at home?! Anyway, wouldn’t you rather go with one of the young ladies of the ‘ouse?”
“I’m asking you. Your conversation is infinitely more diverting to me.”
“Well, since you put it like that, I don’t suppose I can say no… alright, I’ve got an ‘alf day on Thursday week. But I’ve got to be back in time t’make the dinner.. Let’s meet at 10 at the church in t’village.”
“I’m looking forward to it. Now, I really must get back or they shall think, I’ve gotten lost.”
He disappeared back into the darkness leaving a shocked Mrs.Patmore alone with her thoughts.
“My my my….” Mrs. Hughes commented, slowly walking alongside Mrs.Patmore from her vantage point in the alcove that covered the door to the house. “Mr.Crawley seems to be very keen to know the staff… or at least one member of the staff.”
“Aye… I expect ‘e’s just being friendly.” Mrs.Patmore said dismissively and turned to go back into the kitchen. She was stopped by Mrs.Hughes hand on her arm.
“Be careful, Mrs.Patmore. He’s not your employer yet. I doubt his lordship would be thrilled to know his heir is stepping out with his cook.”
“Gerraway wi’ ya! ‘E’s just being a nice young man to an old woman. ‘E probably thinks I’m lonely, or I remind ‘im of ‘is grandmother or something.” And with that she wandered back into the kitchen.
Mrs.Hughes sighed. “I hope that’s all it is for everyone’s sake.” she said to herself quietly and stood staring up at the stars.
**********************
“Ah, there you are.” said Mary as Matthew rejoined the party in the sitting room. “We wondered what had happened to you.”
“Oh, I stepped out for a breath of fresh air, I’m afraid I was feeling rather light headed.” Matthew lied.
“Oh dear, would you like to go lay down in one of the rooms upstairs?” Cora asked gently.
“No no. Thank you. I feel fine now, probably just the heat.”
“You’ve been working too hard at your new job.” Isobel chided.
“Perhaps.”
“Perhaps it is the heat,” Mary observed with a pointed tone. “Perhaps you gave yourself heatstroke this afternoon carrying all those heavy groceries.”
“What’s this?” Isobel asked.
“I bumped into Matthew outside earlier this afternoon, he had carried Mrs.Patmore’s shopping all the way from the village.”
“What?” Edith scoffed. “I don’t understand. Why?”
“I bumped into her, literally. It seemed the gentlemanly thing to do..”
“And so it was.” Cora chimed in, giving Mary a warning look.
“Oh mama, you should have seen it, it was the funniest thing, seeing Mrs.Patmore shuffling along and cousin Matthew like some sort of mule.” Mary laughed cruelly.
“Forgive me, it sounds just like rather good manners to me.” Isobel countered.
“Manners perhaps, but it’s hardly proper is it? Besides, we don’t want the staff to get used to all this attention cousin Matthew has been lavishing on them.”
“I haven’t been lavishing anything I…” Matthew started to defend himself.
Robert raised a hand, calling for peace. “I think Mary has a point, it was certainly noble of you to help a lady in need but you have to remember you are the heir to this estate and I expect you to behave as such. The people in the village won’t respect you when you’re the Earl if they’re used to seeing you cavorting with servants and fetching and carrying.”
“I would hope they would respect me for not being elitist.”
“Hear hear!” Isobel proudly added.
Matthew and Robert both turned and gave her a look.
“Now, see here old chap. Nobody is questioning your motives…”
“Cousin Mary did an excellent impersonation of it.” Matthew interjected.
Mary raised an eyebrow and sipped her drink.
“It’s just the way of doing things, it would be damaging to the order of things if you and the staff…”
Suddenly the door to the sitting room opened and Carson walked in carrying another bottle of Brandy on a silver tray. Robert quickly stopped talking as soon as he came in and put his finger to his lips. Matthew rolled his eyes.
A moment of silence hung in the air and then Isobel started up a seemingly natural conversation.
“I am so looking forward to Christmas here in the country. I bet you do it very well.”
“Mmmm yes, we do all sorts of events and dinner parties through December…” Cora explained, “Then of course there’s New year’s, we normally have a party for that and then in the beginning of January we have the servants’ ball!”
“Oh, what fun! We shall look forward to all of that!” Isobel said enthusiastically. “Won’t we Matthew?”
Matthew nodded weakly.
“One event more than the others by the sounds of things.” Violet quipped.
*****************************
Thursday week seemed like an age away to Matthew and when it did finally arrive it was over all too quickly.
“Eeee, look at the time!” Mrs.Patmore exclaimed as they left their fourth church of the day. “If I’m not back it’ll be my guts they’re serving for dinner!”
“Oh must we end it so soon. I’ve been having a marvellous time.” Matthew coaxed.
“Oh.. aye, it ‘as been fun ‘asn’t it. Been a long time since a nice young man has taken me out anywhere.”
“Is that all I am to you? A nice young man?”
“Well, what else would I see you as?”
“Oh, I think you know what I’m implying.” Matthew said softly, slipping his hand into hers.
“Aye ‘appen I do but I’m not sure I can be believing it.”
“Then believe in this.” Matthew leaned forward and gently kissed Mrs.Patmore on the lips. One hand still clasping hers, the other slid softly through her hair, until it was stopped by a clump of dried flour.
Time seemed to stop for them both for a moment. Nothing else in the world existed except for the two of them, in the church yard,lips entwined as the wind whipped quietly through the yellow and gold leaves above.
Eventually their lips parted and Mrs.Patmore was staring into Matthew’s clear blue eyes.
“I’m sorry if that was terribly forward of me.” Matthew said, stroking Mrs.Patmore’s hand.
Mrs.Patmore was speechless, she didn’t know what to say. In the distance the clock tower struck the hour.
“Blimey! I’m already late!” she suddenly squawked and bustled off down the lane at high speed.
“Mrs.Patmore wait! When can I see you again?!” Matthew called after her.
“I dunno!” Mrs.Patmore stopped for a moment. “I’m a busy woman!”
Matthew sprinted up after her.
“Oh please say I can see you again, and that I haven’t frightened you off.”
“Well, it’s not that exactly but…”
“But nothing. Just tell me if you want to see me again, as I would desperately like to see you.”
“Oohhh.. This coming Monday, the family are going out for the day to visit some friends of theirs in Wales, they’ll be gone until Tuesday.. I can get some time off then I suppose.”
“I look forward to it!” Matthew said with a smile.
“Now, let me get back!” Mrs.Patmore exclaimed again and within a minute, her bustling form had disappeared down the lane and out of view.
Matthew let out a happy sigh and practically danced his way home.
********************************
They did see each other on Monday, and then again on Wednesday, and the following Saturday. In fact in 14 days they had managed to see each other a number of times.
They were now on their 7th date. A picnic on a hill overlooking the Abbey. It was nearly October now and the sun was already starting to dip low in the sky, casting everything in a slightly golden haze.
“It’s big innit?” Mrs.Patmore remarked.
“What’s that?” Matthew asked.
“The abbey. Y’spend so long downstairs or rushing in and out of it, you never stop to look at it. But sitting ‘ere, it looks massive. Like a castle in a fairy tale. “
“Yes, I’ve rather grown fond of it, to my surprise.”
“It’ll be yours one day.” Mrs.Patmore observed plainly.
“Not for a long time yet, I don’t think.”
“Aye, probably not. But one day. Your own castle. You’ll be like a king!”
“Not quite, but I see what you mean.” Matthew said, taking a sip of his champagne. “A king and castle need a queen, Beryl.”
“Oh yes. I’m sure. Come the London season next year you’ll have some beautiful, refined young lady hanging off your arm, trained her whole life to be a countess.”
“I don’t want that, though.” Matthew said seriously. “I don’t want some silly thing who can host a charity luncheon but knows nothing of the real world.”
“Oh I see..” Mrs.Patmore said quietly. “What are y’looking for then?”
“I’m so glad you asked me that, Beryl. Because there’s something I’d rather like to ask you, and I’ve been plucking up the nerve…”
*******************************
Two days later:
“...and so I was thinking we could all take a trip to the isle of Man, do some grousing. Lord Whittersby has a place up there and when I saw him at the club the other night, he practically insisted we use it. “ Robert announced to his family around the dinner table.
“Will there be room on this trip for me?” Violet asked curtly.
“Of course.” Robert replied simply.
“Oh good, I’m so glad to still be included in “all”.”
Robert and Cora exchanged weary glances.
“Well I think it sounds terribly dull.” Mary chimed in.
“You don’t mean that.” Sybil replied across the table. “It’s always nice to take a trip.”
Robert smiled warmly at his youngest daughter.
“Oh I meant it alright.” Mary replied icily. “What fun is shooting if there aren’t any handsome men to partner up with?”
“Well, cousin Matthew will be there.” Cora turned to Matthew who was sat to her right. “You will come, won’t you?”
“Oh how kind!” Isobel joined in the conversation before Matthew could answer. “I haven’t been to the Isle of Man in ages! We used to go when Matthew was just a little boy. Do you remember, Matthew?”
“J-just about but…”
“You really did mean all, didn’t you.” Violet observed as the footmen cleared away the empty plates before them.
“Actually, I don’t think I’ll be going,” Matthew finally managed to get out. “ I have so much work to do and I don’t really shoot.”
“Oh, surely you can get out of work for a few days.” Robert said with persuasion but also just the slightest hint of an order.
“Not really, frightfully busy at the moment, usually is this time of year..”
“My good chap..” Robert started, looking a little flushed.
Cora sensing an argument about to break out, swiftly rose to her feet.
“I’m catching the ladies’ eye..” she announced.
“No, let’s not bother with that tonight.” Robert said coldly. “Matthew and I have little to talk about alone. Clearly, we live in different worlds.”
“I’m rather glad we’re going through together, I hope you don’t mind but I’ve asked a friend to join us for drinks.” Matthew said to Cora.
“A friend? Golly, how nice! But why didn’t you ask them to dinner?” Cora replied with a smile.
“I don’t think it would have been appropriate. They should be joining us shortly.”
“How mysterious! But this is your home now, you must feel comfortable to invite your friends to join us.”
“Not too comfortable though.” said Violet. “I’m too old to be meeting someone new at every meal.”
Everyone chuckled mildly and they marched through to the sitting room.
They sat and chatted as Carson served them Brandy. Once everyone had been served a glass, Edith started up the conversation.
“So, where is this mysterious friend?” she asked.
“Oh, they should be here at any moment.” Matthew replied just as a knock came at the sitting room door. “Ah that’ll be them now!”
“But I didn’t hear the doorbell?” Edith asked feebly.
Matthew opened the door and Mrs.Patmore walked in. Robert observed it was the first time he’d seen her without her cap and apron.
“Good evening m’lord your ladyship.”
“Good evening Mrs.Patmore. We thought you were someone else. Please come in, can we help you?” Cora welcomed her genially.
Mrs.Patmore looked at Matthew.
“Uh, actually cousin Cora, Mrs.Patmore is the friend I asked to join us.”
“What?” Robert said with venom.
Matthew suddenly became aware of just how many sets of curious eyes there were upon him. It unnerved him but he took a deep breath and put a hand on Mrs.Patmore’s shoulder.
“When I first moved here, you were all so kind but I felt so terribly alone. Then I met Mrs… that is Beryl here and we soon became friends.”
“How nice!” Isobel said uneasily, sensing the tension in the room. “To make friends in unexpected places…”
“Yes, mother. I’m glad you think it’s nice you see we’ve become very very good friends in fact… we’ve fallen in love and two days ago I asked Beryl to be my wife… and she said yes. You are looking at the net countess of Grantham.”
A stony silence fell across the room for just a moment until it was interrupted by a deafening crash, caused by Carson fainting while holding a drinks tray.
Nobody seemed to notice.
“What did you say?” Robert said, already breathless with rage.
“That Mrs.Patmore and I shall be married.”
“I always knew she was a frolicker.” Violet said quietly but loud enough for everyone to hear.
“A frolicker?!” Mrs.Patmore exclaimed, forgetting where she was.
Carson had come to and was picking up the glasses and tray.
“Oh how marvellous!” Sybil decided to break the silence. “Congratuations to the both of you.”
Robert shot her a deathly glare.
“I WILL NOT ALLOW THIS! THIS IS A FOLLY!” Robert shouted at the top of his voice, face bright red.
“Now, darling. Let’s keep our cool for a moment.” Cora tried to soothe but Robert ignored her.
“To allow this potato peeler to become the countess of Grantham?!”
“Last time I checked potato peelers don’t make vichyssoise!” Mrs.Patmore snapped back.
“Darling, please.” Matthew said with a squeeze of Mrs.Patmore’s shoulder.
“And what about you?” Violet turned to Isobel, “Did you know about this?!”
“No, I’m as shocked as you are.”
“Well, say something to your son. You can’t be happy about this?!”
“Matthew,” Isobel started, “perhaps we should all talk about this a bit more at home..”
“No, mother. I told you when we moved here. I would choose my own wife. And I’ve chosen Beryl here. I love her.”
“And I love you.” Mrs.Patmore said affectionately to her fiance.
“I don’t understand.” Edith said suddenly.
“Oh, it's very easy to understand.” Mary scoffed. “Not only is cousin Matthew not suited to being an Earl, he’s got terrible taste as well.”
“Hold your tongue, cat.” Matthew snapped.
“DON’T YOU TALK TO HER LIKE THAT! SHE HAS EVERY RIGHT TO BE UPSET!” Robert roared. “I WON’T HAVE IT!” He threw his glass against a wall, shattering it into pieces. “Know this.” he snarled. “You’ll be an earl to a penniless estate. I will smash the entail and leave you with nothing. You will be an earl in name only.. I will not a…ah..ahhhh!!”
He stopped mid-sentence and clutched his chest, falling to the floor. Cora rushed over to him.
“Darling?!” she cried, loosening his collar as Robert writhed on the floor, face bright red, eyes bulging towards the ceiling.
“CARSON! GET THE CAR. WE MUST GET HIM TO A HOSPITAL.” Cora ordered. Carson sprinted out of the room.
“What do we do?!” Mary asked hovering over her parents while Cora clutched Robert’s hand.
“He’s having a heart attack!” Isobel said, rising to her feet.
“Let’s get him some water!”
“No, no water.. We need…” Isobel was interrupted by Carson coming back.
“Branson is bringing the car round now my lady.” he said breathlessly.
But no answer came. Cora was still clutching Robert’s hand but tears were streaming from her face.
“There’s no need, Carson. He’s dead…” she stuttered through a whimper, clutching the lifeless hand of her husband.
Isobel checked his pulse and then somberly nodded in agreement.
The room fell silent.
****************************
6 months later.
The spring morning was warm and clear as church bells rang out across the village. A crowd of people stood, gathered outside the church waiting.
Suddenly the big church doors flung open and out stepped the happy couple.
Matthew in a crisp grey morning suit and Beryl in a beautiful ivory silk gown.
The crowd exploded with cheers and showered the happy couple with confetti.
The earl’s wedding was always a big affair to the village even if this was a slightly off marriage.
The only member of the Crawley family who attended was Sybil.
Matthew kissed his new bride.
“Shall we go home then, Countess of Grantham?” he said with a loving smile.
“There’s just one thing…” she replied seriously. “Are y’sure you’re ready to see me… wi’out me corset?”
“My darling, I’ve thought of little else since I first met you.”
“Eeeeee gerraway ya daft beggar!”
And they rode off back to the Abbey together in a horse drawn carriage, ready to start the rest of their lives together.
FIN
Epilogue:
After Robert’s death, Cora and the girls moved into one of the more modest estate homes left to them in his will. After a year of this, Cora decided to move back to New York, Edith went with her. While on a trip to the Metropolitan Museum of Art she caught the eye of Mr.Bricker who was there to evaluate a painting. The two fell in love and now travel the world together as a team of art historians.
Mary stayed on in the smaller estate, taking Anna with her as her ladies maid. She eventually married Tony Gillingham and they had no children.
Anna worked as Lady Mary’s lady maid for a short while until she was wooed by Evelyn Napier, heir to Viscount Branksome, while he was visiting Mary. They ran away together in the night and got married shortly after.
Bates, now unemployed, went back to his wife where they lived, hating each other for many years. A situation that eventually boiled over when they both killed each other with poisoned food on the same day. The papers declared it a lover’s suicide pact. Anna, now the Viscount Branksome, commented that it was “very sad and that she had no idea they loved each other so much.”
Edith got a job writing for the New Yorker and eventually married Harry Truman and enjoyed a stint as first lady of the United States. During this time, Mary was unable to read the newspaper.
Sybil married Tom Branson and decided to travel like Cora. He became and international journalist and they travel the world reporting on world events. They had four children, one of which was named Robert. Sybil commented it felt right, though she felt her father would have thought it “ghoulish”.
Carson felt initially unable to serve under the new countess of Grantham, until Matthew ordered him to do so, when years of British deference took over and he served them for several years.
Violet, unable to face Downton moved in with her daughter Rosamund for three months until Rosamund moved out and fled to the continent .
Matthew and Beryl fulfilled the role of count and countess exceptionally and the estate and the county flourished. She was the only member of the British upper classes who still made her own Yorkshire puddings as the new girl “couldn’t get it right.”