⸤ 🩸 ⸣ ⸻ 𝒗𝒊𝒌𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒔, an independent and private multimuse. ft canon and original characters from different medias, with a focus on original characters. dark themes will appear, proceed with caution. by kiki, she + her, twenty8+. activity is permanently sporadic to low.
carrd, atlas, prompts, board.
blogroll, @klaeus, @elenaes, @raqeful.
sideblogs, @sunaed.
muse spotlight, river, eris, nimue, cassie, varina.
before interacting.
i am mutuals only, please respect that. do not interact if you're under 18, 21+ preferred.
basic etiquette and human decency please: no weird or gross behaviors, and be respectful.
while triggering topics will appear and be tagged, keep taboo subjects away from me. (r.ape/non-con, p.edophilia, i.ncest, etc.)
banned: i.an somerhalder and a recast klaus. exceptions can be made for multis that have a tag for them i can block.
mutuals are welcome to tag me in anything ever, send in countless memes whenever, message me at any time and request my d.iscord. basically if we're mutuals, "bug" me whenever and however you want 🤍
my formatting is simple, and i'm fine with icons, iconless, gif icons or gifs. answered asks can always be treated as a starter, feel free to rb them or start a new post to create a thread!
accessibility: lmk at any time if you need me to adjust anything for your comfort, it won't bother me at all. on my end, it would be super helpful if you don't use tiny icons or courier new font with me.
shipping and dynamics of all kinds are my lifeblood, so lmk at any time if you're interested in shipping with me.
there will be a heavy focus on my original characters, with canons taking a backseat by default. please do not try to interact with only my male muses.
originals.
amarande floresca, pureblood vampire, gemma arterton, primary.
aspasia, the dark urge / seldarine drow druid, tbd, primary.
aspyn verona, hunter, denise richards, secondary.
aurora provenza, black market doctor, danielle rose russell, moved to @shemad.
booker darcy, hunter / half demon, chris evans, primary.
briar kesta, reincarnation of aphrodite, danielle campbell, primary.
callan wisteria, private investigator, dylan o'brien, primary.
cassiopeia claremont, reincarnation of the goddess of the stars, claire holt, primary.
christian byrne, hunter, ethan peck, primary.
eris floresca, pureblood vampire, crystal reed, primary.
fern roque, serial killer of abusive men, bruna marquezine, secondary.
julieta cardenas, ghost hunter / streamer, lizeth selene, secondary.
luminita, gifted vampire, demet özdemir, secondary.
magdalena primrose, mortician / exorcist, alexandra daddario, primary.
mi-cha yeong, storm chaser, kim ji-won, test / wip.
mikhail floresca, pureblood vampire, douglas booth, primary.
naizak, archangel oc, kim jae-wook, tertiary.
nimue, ancient forest witch / shapeshifter, megan fox, primary.
opal undergrove, witch, yaya dacosta, secondary.
rhysand eoin ó cuilinn, vampire, chace crawford, primary.
river mihal, werewolf, alina kovalenko, secondary.
severina, white eyed demon oc, adria arjona, secondary.
sila prakenskii, mobster, tor thanapob, moved to @raqeful.
varina leucothea, siren princess, dakota johnson, primary.
canons.
caius, twilight, regé-jean page, secondary.
connor, dbh, bryan dechart, test.
damon salvatore, tvdu, giancarlo commare, secondary.
edward cullen, twilight, robert pattinson, secondary.
emmett cullen, twilight, michael evans behling, primary.
esme cullen, twilight, carla gugino, secondary.
isabella swan, twilight, antonia gentry, primary.
jack ryan, bioshock, jensen ackles, test.
lara croft, tomb raider, yaya sperbund, primary.
sam winchester, supernatural, jared padalecki, primary.
stefan salvatore, tvdu, paul wesley, secondary.
subject delta, bioshock 2, mads mikkelsen, test.
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List of books I read this year
The Summer Children by Dot Hutchison
My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite
The Reader by Bernhard Schlink
Kink: Stories by R.O. Kwon
Ada, or Ardor: A Family Chronicle by Vladimir Nabokov
Franny and Zooey by J.D. Salinger
The Vanishing Season by Dot Hutchison
If Beale Street Could Talk by James Baldwin
Nana by Émile Zola
Poesía completa by Alejandra Pizarnik
Hija de la fortuna by Isabel Allende
The Cure at Troy: A Version of Sophocles' Philoctetes by Seamus Heaney
The Complete Fairy Tales by Oscar Wilde
The Butcher Boy by Patrick McCabe
The Dalkey Archive by Flann O'Brien
The Likeness by Tana French
The Gathering by Anne Enright
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
The Plague by Albert Camus
Ham on Rye by Charles Bukowski
Book of Mercy by Leonard Cohen
Book of Longing by Leonard Cohen
The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley
Prince Caspian by C.S. Lewis
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Dale
Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood
The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin
Água Viva by Clarice Lispector
Graveyard Clay: Cré na Cille by Máirtín Ó Cadhain
Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut Jr.
The Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C.S. Lewis
New and Collected Poems: 1931-2001 by Czeslaw Milosz
A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin
Close Range: Brokeback Mountain and Other Stories by Annie Proulx
My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh
Lunch Poems by Frank O'Hara
The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd
The Silver Chair by C.S. Lewis
The Tombs of Atuan by Ursula K. Le Guin
The Satanic Verses by Salman Rushdie
As Normal as Possible: Negotiating Sexuality and Gender in Mainland China and Hong Kong by Yau Ching
The Black Phone by Joe Hill
The Horse and His Boy by C.S. Lewis
Firelight of a Different Colour: The Life and Times of Leslie Cheung Kwok-wing by Nigel Collett
The Farthest Shore by Ursula K. Le Guin
Reborn: Journals and Notebooks, 1947-1963 by Susan Sontag
I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy
To Paradise by Hanya Yanagihara
To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf
Tehanu by Ursula K. Le Guin
The Magician's Nephew by C.S. Lewis
How Now, Butterfly?: A Memoir of Murder, Survival and Transformation by Charity Lee
Santa by Federico Gamboa
Farewell My Concubine by Lilian Lee
Villette by Charlotte Brontë
Tales from Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin
Temprada de huracanes by Fernanda Melchor
The Silent Companions by Laura Purcell
The Doll-Master and Other Tales of Terror by Joyce Carol Oates
The Year of the Witching by Alexis Henderson
Dracula by Bram Stoker
Kissing Carrion by Gemma Files
The Last Battle by C.S. Lewis
Thus Spoke Zarathustra by Friedrich Nietzsche
Sybil: The Classic True Story of a Woman Possessed by Sixteen Personalities by Flora Rheta Schreiber
The Other Wind by Ursula K. Le Guin
Columbine by Dave Cullen
Kitchen by Banana Yoshimoto
Eva Luna by Isabel Allende
Posion for Breakfast by Lemony Snicket
A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess
Postcolonial Love Poem by Natalie Díaz
Girl, Interrupted by Susanna Kaysen
The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros
Rilke on Love and Other Difficulties: Translations and Considerations by Rainer Maria Rilke
You can follow me or add me as a friend on Goodreads.
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The Journey of Living at Downton
Chapter 26: February 1922
Masterlist
After Matthew's death, Mary struggled. She had refused to see the baby at first but when she eventually did, there was a disconnect between mother and child, nothing like the enamoured mother Emma had seen just after the baby, named George, had been born. In the months that have gone by, Mary has not moved out of her mourning clothes, while everyone else had moved onto colours, and remains forlorn.
Rose had moved to Downton while Shrimpie and Susan move to India during the six months after Matthew's death. Emma is sad to hear that they had to sell Duneagle as the fortune is all gone.
Emma also feels sorry for Mr Molesley, who has looking for a job since Matthew's death but has been unsuccessful.
——
"She's what?!" Emma exclaims as Gemma gathers the laundry to take downstairs. Emma is very pregnant by this point as the baby is due in the next couple of weeks and she can't wait as she feels annoyed and achy with all the extra weight she's been carrying around. Despite this, she is getting ready to go downstairs for breakfast.
"I wish I was lying but it's true." Gemma says regretfully. "All Miss O'Brien left was two letters to Mrs Hughes and Her Ladyship."
"But to run off in the middle of the night?" Emma complains. "What's Cor- Lady Grantham meant to do now?"
"Mrs Hughes will help her today and Anna and I are going to help her out after that until a new lady's maid is hired." Gemma explains.
"Won't that take time?"
"Well, what else can we do?" Gemma tells her as the two leave the room and walk along the landing.
Emma huffs. "It's just like Miss O'Brien, isn't it? Not thinking about how her actions are going to leave everyone in the lurch. Wasn't there any warning?"
Gemma thinks for a moment. "Well, apparently Miss O'Brien did say that she got on very well with Lady Flintshire when she was up in Scotland and she had a telegram yesterday. That must have been it."
"Just brilliant."
——
Emma, Billy, Robert, Edith and Tom are having breakfast with Mr Carson attending.
"Shouldn't you be lying down, Emma." Robert questions.
Emma rolls her eyes. "I'm fine, I'm not going to be running any marathons or running around."
Emma had been joining them for breakfast ever since she started her maternity leave from the Hospital. She doesn't like sitting about.
Robert grumbles slightly.
Edith walks back from serving herself at the sideboard as she laments, "Susan Flintshire has stolen Mama's maid whilst her daughter's a guest in this house?" They had all been discussing Miss O'Brien's departure.
"I'm sure she wouldn't put it like that." Billy remarks as Edith takes her seat on his left.
"I don't care how she puts it. It's absolutely disgraceful." Edith argues.
"It is pretty rude of her, I'll admit that." Emma says.
Rose comes in, looking apologetic. "It's all right. Madge told me."
"It is not all right." Robert counters.
"Did you have any idea?" Edith asks Rose.
Rose replies uncomfortably as she lingers at the edge of the table. "No. Not really. I knew... I knew that Mummy thought O'Brien was very good at doing hair, and they talked about her wanting to travel..." She moves to the sideboard to get her breakfast.
"What? When?" Robert demands to know sharply.
"Well, when you were all at Duneagle." Rose confesses.
"And you didn't think to inform us?"
"Edith is going into London tomorrow." Emma pipes up to divert Rose from the firing line. "She can advertise for the job in a magazine or something."
"Good." Robert says sharply and gets up to leave.
"Won't it take forever, waiting for the magazine to come out?" Rose questions.
"It can't be helped." Edith argues.
Robert turns to Tom. "We're meeting Trent at eleven."
"I'll see you there. I want to walk the plantations first." He hesitates and looks to Emma, who gives him an encouraging look. "I was wondering if Mary might like to come."
"Don't bother Mary. She's got enough on her plate." Robert dismisses. He leaves.
Emma rolls her eyes at him. They really do need Mary onboard, not only for Mary herself but for her son and the estate. Due to Matthew's death and the large sum of death duties to be paid, the previous plans for improvement to the estate that Matthew and Tom had have been abandoned. Everything might have gone to her son and she'd been completely blindsided by the laws, but Mary is still George's guardian and really should have a say.
"Never liked Miss O'Brien. She was always rather horrid." Emma comments as Rose passes behind her to sit at the end of the table.
"Must explain why her and Lady Flintshire get along." Billy remarks jovially.
Tom chuckles. "Match made in heaven."
Edith gives them a disapproving look but Emma can see she's containing a smile before she turns to Rose. "Did you really not know anything?"
"I never thought she'd go through with it." Rose replies.
Tom exchanges a look of exasperation with Edith, then picks up a newspaper and starts reading.
——
Emma suggests to Nanny West that they should try and encourage Mary to join the Nursery staff on a walk with the children. Emma would have joined herself if she wasn't so heavily pregnant. Nanny had pulled a face at Emma's suggestion and the idea of Emma coming along with her and George to Mary's room. The Nanny has been funny towards Emma ever since she had gotten the job.
Emma knocks on the door and enters with Nanny West behind her, carrying Baby George on her arm. The baby gurgles.
While everyone had moved on to lighter colours like purples and blues, Mary still dresses in the same black as if Matthew had died yesterday, which it still feels like sometimes.
"Mary?" Emma calls softly. Mary turns to look at her lethargically from the windows and has a blank expression on her face but Emma doesn't let that deter her. "Nanny West is taking the children out for some air. Would you like to join them?"
"I don't think so, but thank you." Mary says in a flat, languid voice. She approaches her son and runs a hand over his little head. "Poor little orphan." She plants a soft kiss on the top of his head. "Thank you, Nanny."
Nanny West leaves with George but Emma lingers.
"You should rest Emma." Mary continues in the same tone. "It's important to rest, that's what Matt—" Mary cuts herself off when she realises whose name she was about to say. Emma sees how her voice cracks, almost breaking the façade before Mary composes herself and turns away to sit in an armchair by the window.
Emma smiles at her softly. "Don't worry. I will."
Mary settles in an armchair with a book, pretending to read. Emma shares a saddened look with Anna, who had been standing by the bed, before leaving herself.
——
Cora and Rose are on one of the red settees, and Edith and Emma are on the other. They talk as Robert and Tom, just back from the farm, walk in with Isis. Billy isn't with them as he is at work. Emma smiles at the sight of her husband.
"By the way, I'm going into Thirsk after lunch. Do you want to come?" Cora asks Edith.
"I'm walking down to the Village to see how Isobel's getting on." Edith replies. Isobel had been a shell of who she was ever since her son died.
"Remind her it's an open invitation. If she wants to see her grandson or feels like company, she just has to turn up." Robert says. He sits down in the armchair that sits next to the settee his wife sits on, Isis loyally follows. Tom takes the other armchair next to the end Emma sits on the settee. He takes her hand and rubs the back of it softly, silently asking if she's alright. Emma smiles back in reply.
"I'll tell her."
Emma sees Rose perk up from the board state she's been in. Emma realises they are all probably not exciting enough for Rose, particularly Emma who's nearing the end of her pregnancy and can't do much.
"I might come with you." Rose says.
"I don't think so." Edith disagrees. "I don't think she's up to seeing many people."
"I only meant into the Village." Rose corrects.
"Edith, are you really going to London tomorrow? I have a couple of errands if you are." Cora says.
"I'm seeing Michael Gregson."
Emma shares a smile with Tom. It is clear something is going on between the two. Emma is glad Edith has found happiness after being jilted at the altar.
"He must have missed you while you've been here." Cora comments with a smile.
Edith turns to Robert with a hopeful look. Her father hadn't quite warmed up to Michael. "He's giving a party to introduce me to his literary friends."
"How exciting." Cora says. "Isn't it, Robert?"
Robert looks rather annoyed.
——
The next day is Valentine's Day. Emma smiles softly but also amusedly at her husband when Mr Carson hands her an envelope at breakfast while Tom gives her a similar look as he receives one himself. Emma had always thought of Valentine's Day as capitalistic rubbish but she saw no harm in handing out a loving card to her husband.
Emma emerges from the Dining room and walks – or rather waddles – to the Library, passing the stairs as she does so.
"Of course. It's Valentine's Day." Emma hears Mary say in a monotone voice as she passes the stairs. She looks up to see Edith and Mary standing halfway up the stairs talking. She lingers. "When are you leaving for London?"
"I'm catching the ten o'clock." Edith replies. A pause while Mary looks at her in silence. "I ought to pack." Edith walks past Mary.
Mary, in the flattest of flat tones of voice, says, "Have a happy time."
Edith gives her a half-exasperated, half-pitying look and continues upstairs. Mary descends the stairs and stands on the landing for a while, looking across the Hall, remembering happier times.
"Mary?" Emma calls. "Why don't you join me?"
Mary minutely nods before following Emma.
——
It's the afternoon and Emma wishes she could say she had done something of interest other than reading and seeing her daughter but she hadn't.
Mary, Emma and Tom have just had tea. Thomas is collecting the tea things. Nanny West comes walking in carrying Baby George and holding little Sybbie's hand while a younger nanny holds Ivy's.
"Oh." Nanny West softly exclaims when she enters. "Am I too early?"
"No. I'm afraid tea was a little late." Mary replies.
"Oh, dear. Can you manage? Should I give you a hand?" Nanny West asks Thomas. Emma doesn't like her patronising tone.
"I can manage, thank you, Miss West." Thomas promptly replies in a curt voice. Emma doesn't blame him as the woman just implied that he can't do his job.
Tom squats down and holds out his arms for Ivy. "Come to me, darling." She toddles towards him. He takes her into his arms. "Hello." He chuckles happily.
Emma beams from where she sits on the settee before calling out, "Come here darling Sybbie." She reaches her hands forward to pull Sybil's and Billy's daughter onto the settee next to her. She can't very well put her on her lap as there isn't much room left. Billy is at work and won't be able to see his daughter until the evening.
"Now, here's the little prince, M'lady." Nanny West hands George to Mary to hold in her arms. George makes content noises. "See how happy he is to see his beautiful Mama? God bless him."
Thomas walks past them with the tea tray, looking ready to murder everyone in the room (except possibly the kids and hopefully Emma herself).
"Thank you, Nanny." Mary replies as she awkwardly bounces her son in her arms.
——
It's a new day and Edith has returned from London bringing a mixer for the Kitchen, Mrs Patmore is going to love that.
Edith had privately told Emma, as it seems that's Emma's role in this family, learning people's secrets, that Michael Gregson has plans to try and get a divorce from his wife, who's mentally ill, and has the idea as in Germany, as it is possible to gain a divorce from a mentally ill spouse if you live there. He had even suggested Edith come with him but when Emma thinks of the current climate in Germany in this decade and the next couple, Emma implores Edith not to go and tries to suggest other countries like Portugal and Greece where these laws also apply.
Tea time in the Library. Cora, Emma and Rose are on the red settees. Mary is in an armchair by herself, near the window. Edith stands at the writing desk, while Tom has just walked in the door.
Rose had informed them all that a couple of days earlier, she had placed a card in the Village's post office window, advertising for a lady's maid.
"Why did I struggle across London if Rose was going to sort it out?" Edith questions, sounding put out.
Emma huffs amusedly. "You hardly struggled." Edith rolls her eyes at her remark in an equally amused way.
"You had other things to do." Mary says monotony.
Edith is reminded of why her annoyance and sighs irritably as she sits next to Rose, opposite Emma and Cora as Tom walks to the table by the windows that had been laid out for tea. "It doesn't explain why Rose put the card in the Post Office window."
"I just thought how much quicker it would be if we could find someone local. I do feel responsible." Rose argues.
"Honestly Rose, it's not your fault," Emma reassures, "but thank you for trying to help." She raises an eyebrow at Edith, telling her to leave it alone. Rose gives her a thankful smile.
Tom serves himself some tea and sits down near Mary as Edith asks, "Have you had any answers yet?" Letting go of her annoyance towards Rose.
"We've had three and one's promising, so we'll see her in Ripon on Friday." Rose answers.
"Why isn't she coming here?"
"She's looking after her aunt; she can't get away."
Emma frowns. "But won't she need to? For the job?"
"I'm sure we'll work something out." Cora reassures her.
Emma nods but then winces when she feels a particularly hard kick on her ribs and can't help but let out a hiss of pain.
"Emma?" Cora asks with natural motherly concern. "Are you well?"
Emma smiles at the woman who has become some sort of surrogate mother to her. "I'm fine. Just carrying an acrobat."
"You'll be glad once it's out." Rose jokes.
Emma chuckles. "Yes, but then the real trial begins." Cora gives an understanding smile.
She looks up to see Robert walk in and go over to the table to serve himself. Cora gets up to serve herself another cup and soon returns with a pastry that she hands to Emma, who grins happily at the treat.
Emma gets drawn back into the conversation with Cora, Rose and Edith when she overhears Robert saying, "Tom, don't bore her with all that nonsense."
She looks over to see Robert had joined Tom and Mary's conversation. Emma frowns displeased at Robert's words. How are they meant to pull Mary out of her shell if her father keeps pushing her back in?
"It's my fault. I asked." Mary retorts with all the strength she has right now, which isn't much.
"Even so. You concentrate on feeling better. You mustn't worry about anything else." Mary smiles at her father. Tom clearly disagrees.
——
Tom had come to Emma with his frustrations about Robert's attitude about helping Mary and the two of them agreed that they need help from a trusted source. They head downstairs and poke their heads into the Butler's Pantry to find Mr Carson sitting at his desk. The man looks up when they knock and rises in surprise as they enter.
"Mr and Mrs Branson."
"Mr Carson." Tom closes the door behind them. "I know you won't think it correct, but we need to ask your help in a difficult situation."
"My help, Sir, Ma'am?"
"Well, um, Lord Grantham is against us in this, and with Mr Matthew gone, we've no one else to turn to." Emma explains. "You see, Lady Mary is not improving."
"She's suffered a terrible tragedy." Mr Carson replies.
"Of course." Tom agrees. "But it's six months now, and she's no better than she was a week after he died. The only way is for her to find an interest outside of herself, and I, we, know that should be in the running of the estate."
"What does His Lordship think?"
"Lord Grantham thinks his duty is to protect Mary and her son by managing everything himself." Tom answers.
"And he won't listen to you on the subject?"
Emma huffs irritably and rolls her eyes at the thought of the man and his current behaviour. "He sees her as a little woman, who shouldn't be troubled by anything so harsh as reality."
"And even were I to agree with you..." Mr Carson says slowly, "how could I help?"
"Give her advice. She'd take it from you." Tom suggests.
"What makes you say that?"
"Because she knows you only want the best for her." Emma tells him earnestly.
Mr Carson only acknowledges this with an inclination of his head, but he's clearly moved.
——
Emma and Cora, dressed for dinner, come walking down the stairs into the Great Hall when Thomas approaches them.
"Your Ladyship? Mrs Branson? Do you have a moment?" Emma always finds it odd how Thomas sometimes refers to her this way but knows he wants to look professional and proper so she lets it slide as he still refers to her as Emma when it's just them.
"What is it, Barrow?" Cora asks him shortly.
Thomas seems to take a moment to collect his thoughts, which causes Emma to frown with concern. "There's something's worrying me, M'lady and I... I can't hold it in anymore." He confesses.
Cora is alarmed. "Why? What's happened?"
"It's Nanny West." Thomas explains and that is when Emma begins to look at him somewhat doubtfully. "It seems she's been leaving the children to their own devices."
"What? You mean she's neglecting them?" Cora questions.
"I wouldn't have spoken up if it weren't for two... two little girls and a baby boy being put at risk." Emma feels panic shout through her. What if Nanny West really is doing this and Emma is being a terrible mother for not noticing?
Emma and Cora take a few steps towards him, concerned and eager to hear more.
——
Robert, Emma, Edith, Tom, Billy, Cora, Mary, Rose and Violet sit for dinner with Mr Carson, Thomas, Jimmy and Alfred all in attendance.
Emma sits quietly to herself as she turns over Thomas' accusations about Nanny West while the conversation is spoken around her about the lunch for the tenant farmers. She wonders how much is true considering it seems Thomas doesn't like the woman and may be simply trying to get rid of her but then Emma recalls the woman's odd behaviour around Emma, Tom, Billy and their children and her preference for George. Emma had initially dismissed it as George being the youngest and needing more care but she now questions that assumption.
"Do you know, I have a feeling I've double booked." Cora confesses. "It's this Saturday, isn't it?"
"Don't worry." Robert reassures her. "We're not having the wives. Edith can preside."
"I can't, I'm afraid. I'm going up to London."
Emma knows there's no point asking her considering how heavily pregnant she is. So, who else?
Violet is ahead of them on that front. "Mary, then."
Her son's head whips around in shock and Mary is startled out of her daze and blurts, "Me?"
"Well, if George is owner of half the estate now, shouldn't you represent him?" Violet casually suggests.
"Well, I..."
Robert interrupts. "I don't want to bother Mary."
"They'd like to see you." Tom says to Mary earnestly.
"I'm sure they would but..."
Violet cuts her off this time. "After all, you'll have to run it if anything happens to Robert. Until George is of age, or longer."
Mary has had enough and exclaims, "Oh, for heaven's sake! Why does everyone keep nagging and nagging?!"
Emma is surprised by her sudden outburst but then sees Mr Carson's distressed look and realises the butler's talk with the eldest Crawley daughter might not have gone as well as they hoped.
"My husband is dead! Can't you understand what that means? After all he suffered in the war, he's killed in a stupid car crash!" Her voice breaks. "Matthew is dead, fifty years before his time! Isn't that enough for me to deal with?" She throws down her napkin. "Just leave me alone!" She storms out, leaving a ringing silence in her wake.
"Exactly what I was afraid of." Robert exclaims angrily just as the door slams shut before he, Billy and Tom sit back down after standing when Mary got up to leave. "She is living a nightmare. We must all step back and allow her to come through it in her own time." He turns to Violet. "Aren't I right, Mama?"
"No. We can't discuss it now." His mother says. Emma knows she's right as she glances at those serving them and, despite appearances, listening in to everything. Violet changes the conversation, "This mousse is delicious, Carson, is it the work of Mrs Patmore?"
"I suppose she hasn't bought it in?" Cora remarks.
"I don't think so, Your Ladyship, no."
"Then you must be sure to send her our compliments." Violet says calmly but Emma sees her façade break slightly. Emma doesn't blame as she herself feels shaken after Mary's outburst.
——
It's Friday and while Emma herself isn't up to much, doesn't mean she doesn't know what people are up to. Cora and Rose head to Ripon to interview the new potential lady's maid. An old friend of Mr Carson's is being released from the workhouse and into Mrs Crawley's care as apparently quite unwell and in need of help.
Violet, Lady Shackleton and Edith are having lunch today so as to advertise Mr Molesley to Lady Shackleton as a butler to get him a new job. She hopes Violet's butler Mr Spratt won't mind. Edith heads off to London later on in the day but not before telling Emma about how disastrously the lunch had gone for Mr Molesley.
Emma had hoped to see her daughter and the other children but Nanny West seems to increasingly want her to stay away, which heightens Emma's suspicion that Thomas is right and there's something going on with her.
That night Cora comes back with the news that she had decided that she's hiring the woman she had seen in Ripon. Emma is pleased to hear this until she hears the woman is Edna Braithwaite. She wants to say something but Billy, after talking it over with Mrs Hughes and Mr Carson, begs her to keep it quiet until Edna is seen to step out of line. Emma grumbles but surrenders to his pleas.
——
Emma and Cora are walking along, returning upstairs after dinner. They both hear the sounds of a baby crying causing them to both falter and share a concerned look. Emma knows that Thomas' words are going through Cora's mind as it does in her own. They walk softly in the direction of the Nursery. The door is ajar, meaning they can see what's going on inside without being seen themselves. Nanny West has a crying Baby George on her arm.
Nanny West is rocking him and talking to him in a soothing tone, "There, there, my precious boy, and don't let that uppity maid and chauffeur's daughter and that engineer's daughter disturb you anymore." She turns towards the cribs little Sybbie and Ivy are sitting in. "Go back to sleep, you wicked little cross-breeds."
At this, Cora walks firmly into the room and goes straight to the bell. Emma quickly follows, walking around Nanny West to comfort the distressed little girls in the room.
Nanny West is shocked by their sudden entrance. "Your Ladyship! Mrs Branson! I didn't see you there!"
"Obviously not." Cora says drily.
Emma glares at the woman. "As an uppity maid, I'm quite good at slipping about unnoticed."
Nanny West pales at her words and tries to laugh it off. "I was just er... I was just having a game with Miss Sybbie and Miss Ivy."
"I want you to pack tonight and leave first thing in the morning." Cora orders her in a low but very firm voice causing Nanny West's expression to drop.
"But, Your Ladyship..."
"Please put Master George back into his crib. You are not to touch the children again." Emma can see Cora's suppressed rage boiling right under her calm surface. Nanny West obeys, thunderstruck. Mrs Hughes enters.
The woman looks surprised to see both Emma and Cora in the room. She clearly had not expected them to be here, which is confirmed by her next words. "Oh. I thought it was Nanny West ringing."
"No, Mrs Hughes, Nanny West is leaving in the morning." Emma says to the Housekeeper. In the background, Nanny West has started sobbing. "She needs a bed for the night elsewhere. Can you find it? Also, ask one of the maids to sleep with the children."
"But Mrs Branson, Your Ladyship, I was only joking." Nanny West begs through her tears.
Cora turns to her sharply. "I prefer not to discuss it, except to say that your values have no place in a civilised home!" Nanny West rushes out, still sobbing and Cora takes a seat. "Now, Mrs Hughes, I'll wait here while Nanny West packs. You will fetch a maid and prepare a room. You understand? Miss West is not to be left alone with the children. Not for one minute."
Nanny West is still crying. Mrs Hughes nods, looking rather shaken. Emma is reluctant to leave her daughter but knows she'll be fine in the care of Cora and then one of the maids.
——
The next day, Emma lounges in bed during the morning and very quickly realises it might not be a relaxing day. Her waters haven't broken but contractions have started and since it's close to her due date, she's not going to take any chances.
Tom panicked when she told him, but Emma reassured him that her contractions were still glade enough apart and her waters have not broken so they'll be fine for a bit longer.
——
Tom's POV
He's trying to focus on the tenant farmer who's speaking next to him, he had been momentarily distracted when Mary had entered, no longer in black, but looking very smart in a lilac dress, but his mind keeps on going to the thought of his wife and his future child and the possibly imminent birth.
Tom's startled out of his thoughts when Gemma bursts in with Thomas trailing after her.
Robert stands in surprise at the intrusion. "Gemma? Barrow? What is it?"
"My Lord, I tried—" Thomas begins to say but Gemma interrupts him.
"It's Mrs Branson, Your Lordship." She tells them frantically.
"Emma?!" Tom quickly stands from his seat at the end of the table. "What about her?"
"Her waters have broken. They're taking her to the Hospital!" Gemma tells them urgently. Mary stands at this causing the rest of the men to stand.
"Well, Tom. We must get you there." Mary says assuredly before turning to her father. "Papa..."
Robert is startled out of the shock he must've been in. "Right, yes. It appears gentlemen, that this luncheon will have to convene at another time. Carson..." He gestures to the butler, who nods and gestures to Jimmy and Alfred to clear away.
"Of course! No need to apologise My Lord." Mr Taylor says.
"Can't help it when there's a baby in the picture." Mr Marsh adds. The men chuckle.
Tom hardly listens as he races from the room with Mary and Gemma on his heels. He reaches the Great Hall to find Anna and Anne guiding Emma into the Outer Hall so as to get into the car. He rushes over to his wife. Anne steps back and lets him take his wife's side.
He clings to her hand and asks, "Are you all right?"
Emma chuckles. "I'm perfectly fine. There's no need to fuss."
"There's every need." Mary huffs from behind Tom, he is startled slightly as he had been so focused on his wife, he hadn't noticed her.
"Really..." Emma winces and Tom realises she's having a contraction.
"We need to get her to Hospital." Tom declares.
"What's happening?" Tom sighs irritably when he hears Rose's voice and turns to see Billy and Rose standing anxiously behind him. He relaxes knowing they are just concerned about Emma.
"Everything's fine." Emma huffs.
"We're getting her to Hospital the baby is coming." Mary answers her cousin and brother-in-law while Tom and Anna continue to guide Emma out of the house and into the car. Mr Bates and Mr Barrow had been holding open the front and the car doors in the meantime.
End of Tom's POV
——
Tom had anxiously joined her in the car while Rose, Gemma, Robert, Billy and Mary join in the car behind them. They had asked Mr Carson to call Isobel so she'll be at the Hospital and to get word to Cora and Edith as well as sending a message to Tom's family in Ireland and his brother in Liverpool so they know of the coming addition to the family.
Despite Emma's objections, Robert declares she must have a private room just like Mary had. Emma is surprised to see Robert acting like such a frantic grandfather, which makes her heart warm at the sight. Rose seems swept up in the excitement and is flittering around while Billy and Tom are demanding the nurses tell them when the room is ready. It's only Emma, Mary and Gemma that remain calm. They really must've been a scene when Dr Clarkson had come to tell them that the room is ready.
It's well into the next morning of Sunday 19th February 1922 that Emma gives birth to Michael Kieran Branson with Mary, Tom, Gemma, Cora and Isobel at her side. As they are waiting outside, it doesn't take long for Robert, Billy, Rose and Edith, who had only just got back from London, to burst inside with Violet walking after them more calmly but with a pleased smile on her face when she takes in the new baby in his mother's arms.
——
A/N: 'Death duties' is the old term for inheritance tax. Since Matthew was the co-owner of the estate at the time of his death, his heirs (Mary and George) are obliged to pay tax on the inheritance. As the estate is big and in good shape, this is a heavy financial burden.
It was difficult on deciding what Emma would be doing in this episode as she was heavily pregnant for most of it and wouldn't be darting everywhere like she usually is.
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