Downton Abbey - The Story of Emma Barrow

Reading Competition (September 1922)

Emma sat on the bench, nervously wringing her hands. Her heart was pounding so loudly she could hear it thundering in her ears. The voices of the other children and the murmuring of the audience, gathered in the hall, sounded like distant, confusing noise in her head. The reading competition was just minutes away, and fear crept relentlessly into her thoughts. What if she made a mistake? Or, worse still, what if she stammered? What if she made a fool of herself in front of all those people?

She had practised the story so many times, but now, when it really mattered, her mind felt completely blank. Her hands were trembling, and she felt a tight lump forming in her throat. Emma looked out of the window at the crowd. The chairs were nearly all filled, and everywhere she saw curious faces, eagerly awaiting the competition.

At that moment, she felt a familiar hand on her shoulder. She lifted her head and saw her father, who had crouched down beside her, now looking at her with a gentle smile.

"Are you alright, Emma?" he asked in a calm voice.

Emma swallowed hard and shook her head. "I don't think I can do it," she whispered. "What if I stammer, or can't get any words out? There are so many people!"

Thomas raised an eyebrow and looked at her thoughtfully. "I didn't think you'd get stage fright," Thomas said with a chuckle. "You've practised so much, Emma. You're a fantastic reader. If anyone can do it, you can."

"I don't know..." she said, her voice filled with doubt.

"Would you like some fatherly advice?" he asked.

Emma shrugged her shoulders.

"Believe in yourself."

Emma looked at her father, uncertain if those simple words could really help. 'Believe in yourself,' he had said, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

"But what if I make a mistake?" she asked quietly, her voice barely more than a whisper. "I don't want to embarrass myself."

Thomas smiled softly and sat down beside her on the bench. "Emma, everyone makes mistakes. It's nothing to worry about."

Emma nodded slightly, but the nervous feeling in her stomach wouldn't go away. Her father put his arm around her and gently pulled her close. "You've got this, my little dwarf. And now, let's get going, or you'll miss your competition."

Why did Barrow have to start with a B? Her name was right at the top of the list, which meant Emma barely had a chance to listen to her classmates and see how they handled the spotlight. Only Daphne Atkins had gone before her.

Emma's heart started racing again, and the nervousness crept back as her name was called. This time, though, she didn't let it overwhelm her. She took a deep breath before standing up and walking to the stage.

As she stood before the microphone and looked out into the crowd, her eyes instinctively searched for her father. There he was, sitting in the middle with a proud and encouraging smile on his face. Beside him sat Phyllis, Mr. Molesley, Mrs. Hughes, and Anna.

In front of her sat the judges, consisting of two teachers, the headmaster, and to Emma's surprise, the Dowager Countess herself. The old lady surveyed the room with a scrutinising gaze.

Emma took a deep breath and began to read. The first words came out hesitantly, but as she realised the world wasn't ending and no one was laughing at her, her voice became clearer and more confident. The story she had practised so many times now flowed easily from her lips, and soon she was fully immersed in her role. The words filled the room, and the audience's attention was solely on her.