✔️ shadows of desire | downton abbey

chapter 15

A/N: sorry for no updates in the last couple of days. Unfortunately I lost someone very close to me and honestly, it was incredibly hard for me to deal with it. Anyway, please enjoy this chapter.

FEBRUARY 1914

The morning air was crisp and fresh, with the scent of blooming flowers wafting through the estate grounds. Birds chirped merrily in the distance, a cheerful counterpoint to the looming unease I felt. Lady Edith walked beside me, her voice light and casual as we discussed her plans for the day.

"I plan on visiting the shop today," Lady Edith mentioned, her tone pleasant. "I need a new hat."

Surprised, I raised an eyebrow. "But I just fixed one, haven't I?"

Lady Edith nodded, her expression thoughtful. "Yes, you have, however, somehow it broke again. Papa said to just get a new one. Not to bother you with it again."

As she spoke, my eyes caught sight of a familiar figure approaching from a distance. My heart sank, recognizing the brisk stride and the set expression—it was my mother, her presence radiating disapproval even from afar. The last thing I needed was a scene, especially in front of Lady Edith.

My mother closed the distance, her face set in a practiced smile that never quite reached her eyes. The smell of her cheap perfume, a sharp contrast to the delicate garden scents, was almost overwhelming as she stopped before us. I braced myself, trying to keep my expression neutral.

"Miss Crawley, what a splendid day, isn't it?" she began, her voice carrying that distinctive lower-class accent, laced with a syrupy sweetness that barely masked her underlying contempt.

Lady Edith, always the epitome of politeness, nodded slightly. "Yes indeed. Sorry to ask, but who are you?"

With a quick glance at me, my mother's smile widened, though her eyes held a glint of malice. "I'm that spoiled brat's mother," she declared, her voice cutting. Turning her gaze fully on me, she continued, "Where's the money from last month?"

A sigh escaped me, the familiar knot of anxiety tightening in my stomach. "I sent it to you the day I received it. However, this is not an appropriate conversation now, don't you think?"

Her eyes narrowed, and her voice rose, startling a few nearby birds into flight. "Do you seriously think you can tell me what to do?" she shouted, her voice grating. "You ungrateful brat. No wonder nobody likes you. You walk around this grand house, thinking you're something better than us."

The harshness of her words felt like a slap, leaving me momentarily stunned. The air seemed to thicken with tension, the cheerful sounds of the estate muted under the weight of her tirade. Lady Edith looked between us, her discomfort palpable.

I felt a surge of emotion—anger, embarrassment, and a fierce need to defend the life I had built. "I don't think I'm better than anyone," I retorted, my voice steady but tinged with frustration. "But I am trying to make something of myself. The Crawleys have given me a chance to do that."

My mother scoffed, her disdain evident. "Oh, don't give me that. They're just using you, like they use everyone else. And you're fool enough to fall for it."

I straightened my back, meeting her gaze with a newfound resolve. "They've treated me with more respect and kindness than you ever have," I shot back, my voice firm. "I've learned more here, grown more here, than I ever could have under your roof."

Lady Edith stepped in, her voice gentle but firm. "Mrs. Barrow, I can assure you that Eden is valued here. She has proven herself to be a diligent and skilled member of our household."