The sun streamed through the open window of her room, the view facing the gardens of the house, just the way she liked it. Leaning against the soft pillows, Louise watched the curtains billow back and forth, her head tilted slightly as she soaked in the warm rays before she needed to get up.

It had been such a good week, and she had the sinking feeling that when she left the bed it would all fall apart.

Letting a soft sigh pass her lips, she slipped out, her bare feet gracing the wooden floor, relishing in the warmth the sun the had given them.

She called for Gwen, knowing that she was up way before any of her other sisters, and Sybil always woke up late anyways.

Unplaiting her hair, she let her chestnut waves fall to her waist, smiling as she stared out at the beautiful flowers she and her mother had spent hours picking out, trying to think positive, hoping nothing would ruin this beautiful April day.

"I hope you weren't waiting too long M'lady," Gwen apologized, immediately rushing to her wardrobe to pick out the many layers she would have to wear that day.

"Oh not at all," Louise dismissed, standing up, her smile not wearing off, "I only hope I didn't tear you from your breakfast too early,"

Gwen shook her head as she began to dress her, "Of course not M'lady, we were only talking about the newspapers that had come in, dreadful it is,"

Louise froze, letting Gwen tie her chemise up before she began the tedious task of corseting her, "What happened?"

Gwen's movements slowed, "Well, it's just…she sank M'lady," the lady's maid paused, stopping what she was doing as if taking a moment of silence, "The Titanic,"

Louise nodded slowly, her heart tugging at the news. She felt shame wash over her, for not feeling upset enough at the tragedy. Indeed it was one, but she wasn't aware of anyone she knew, let alone gotten the whole story. Ships sank all the time, she was unsure why this one was worse.

"Thank you Gwen," Louise nodded gratefully, the two of them moving to the vanity, starting to pin her hair up. She couldn't stop thinking about all those people who had gone down, letting Gwen ramble on with details of the tragedy, her heart sinking further and further at the news.

So many people killed when it could've been so easy to save them all.

She took her time coming down the stairs. Sounds of barking filled the halls and Louise felt relief wash over her, at least her father was up. She hated being the first one to wake, it only gave Mary more ammunition to spit at her during parties.

The blue silk shuffled around her legs as she moved into the dining room, her father and Carson sharing downcast looks. No doubt they had heard the news as well.

"—I'm afraid we'll know some people on it." Papa was saying as she entered the room, grabbing a plate and a cup of tea to accompany her breakfast. "Good morning darling," He mustered up a half-hearted smile, and Louise bent over to kiss his cheek.

"Good morning Papa, I suppose you two have heard the news?"

Carson nodded somberly, "Indeed so m'lady,"

Louise smiled gratefully, taking a seat next to the head of the table, "I don't suppose there are any lists of survivors yet?" She asked hopefully, trying to find a grain of good news in this horrible day.

Papa shook his head, still gathering his food from the tray.

"I understand most of the ladies were taken off in time." Carson tried to make them feel better. Louise and her father shared a knowing look.

Papa met Carson's stare with his own, "You mean the ladies in first class?" He spoke dryly, clearly upset with how the entire thing was handled.

After hearing about it from Gwen, Louise couldn't agree more. The poor oversight on the amount of lifeboats immediately jumped into her head.

"Those poor people below decks," She sympathized, drawing the cup of hot tea to her lips, the taste as bitter as the news they had received.

Papa and Carson nodded, the former taking his place at the head of the table, opening up the newspaper to the page that had transcribed the tragedy.

"On their way to a better life," Her father mused, drawing his eyebrows together, "What a tragedy."

The door opened a few moments later, her other sisters crawling into the dining room beside each other, her twin not far behind them.

"When Anna told me, I thought she must've dreamt it." Edith began, her golden hair shimmering as she stared over Papa's shoulder.

Mary was right behind her, "Do we know anyone on board?"

Her father's eyebrows creased even deeper if that was possible, "Your mother knows the Asters. At least, she knows him," Papa sighed, flipping the page, "We dined with Lady Rothfuss last month. There are bound to be others."

Mary nodded as she took a seat further down the dining table, locking eyes with Louise as she raised her eyebrows in a silent language.

Edith spoke next however, "I thought it was supposed to be unsinkable."

"We all did," Louise remarked, "But unfortunately, it was just another empty promise,"

Her father sighed, rolling his eyes slightly before turning back to the paper, "Every mountain is unclimbable until someone climbs it, so every ship is unsinkable until it sinks."

Sounds of footsteps were heard in the hall, Sybil's usually smiling face was downcast, handing Papa a bright orange envelope before turning toward the trays of food and tea, gently settling in.

"Good morning, Papa." Sybil kissed his cheek before settling in across from Louise, the two sharing a gentle look.

Papa gently slid the letter opener through the paper, unfolding the tiny parchment, Louise standing up to place her recently cleaned plate back on the tray.

"Oh great," Mary's voice rose up from the table, "She's already tired of our company and we haven't even been up that long,"

Louise spun around, staring daggers at her twin, brown eyes clashing against blue, "I'm not going to apologize for getting a head start,"

"No," Mary scoffed, "You never do,"

Louise's response was cut off by her father's hasty exit, standing up and leaving the room without so much as a word.

"Papa?" Louise called after him, concern shaping her face, "Papa, is everything alright?"

But her question remained unanswered, and she was left standing there like a fool as her father's feet flew up the stairs.

"I can't believe it," Sybil exclaimed, the two girls making their rounds of the Abbey Gardens, "How could they be so foolish?"

Louise linked her arms in her sisters, placing her head on the younger girl's shoulders, "They couldn't have known it would sink when they got onboard," She tried to comfort her. Sybil always was the more impressionable of the four of them.

"I'm sure James and Patrick thought it was best at the time," Louise bit the inside of her cheek, recalling how charming the latter had been.

If he had chosen her over Mary, she probably would've said yes. Her heart tugged again at the thought, recalling how taken she and Edith had been with the young man.

Despite being the heir, Patrick had treated her and her sisters with kindness, something rarely found among the upperclass men they entertained.

If it wasn't for the two minute gap between her and Mary, she was have been certain Papa would've betrothed Patrick to her instead of Mary.

But because she was technically younger than the girl, she had been passed over.

Again.

That two minute gap had tortured her since they were little, and she hated it.

Sybil and Louise were quiet the rest of the walk, circling back toward the front door faster than normal. Neither of them wanted to think anymore.

"I think I'm going to head up to my room," Sybil informed the older sister, bringing her in for a kiss on the cheek, "I'm still processing the news,"

Louise nodded, tracing a pattern on Sybil's smooth cheek, "Of course, I'll be down here if you need me,"

The younger sister smiled gratefully before making her way up the stairs, Louise watching her frame disappear behind the pillars before heading to the library. She quickly tucked a stray hair behind her ear, freezing in place when she heard voices through the open door.

"—But when Patrick had married Mary, and you grandson been hailed as master, honour would have been satisfied," Louise recognized that voice. Her grandmother had made an appearance, and it didn't sound like she was happy at all, "Unfortunately, now…"

"Now a complete unknown has the right to pocket my money," she heard her Mama complain, sounding just as put out as Grandma Violet, "along with the rest of the swag."

Louise leaned in closer, trying to get a sense of who they were talking about. Patrick had been the last heir, so obviously another one must have been named.

"The problem is, saving your dowry would break up the estate." Violet chimed in, already bringing the conversation down, "It would be the ruin of everything Robert's given his life to."

Mama paused, as if considering the Dowager's words. "And he knows this?"

"Well, if he doesn't, he will." Violet spoke gravely.

Louise's breath caught in her throat.

Her family was in danger of having everything they loved taken from them, and there was nothing she could do.

"Then there's no answer." Mama sounded defeated, like she had given up after a few minutes of debate.

Violet however, disagreed, "Yes, there is, and it's a simple one. The entail must be smashed in its entirety, and Mary recognized as heiress of all."

Her heart sped up, anger starting to bubble dangerously close to the surface. Mary recognized as heiress? She had just as much a right to that title as some stranger did. Perhaps even more considering she actually knew what went on at Downton.

"There's nothing we can do about the title," Mama sighed, her slight pause giving Violet an opportunity to complain some more.

"No. She can't have the title," Violet agreed, "But she can have your money. And the estate. I didn't run Downton for thirty years to see it go lock, stock, and barrel to a stranger from God knows where."

Louise waited in silence, hoping that someone would speak up for her. Thankfully someone did.

"What about Louise?" Mama asked, "She's the same age as Mary, perhaps we could give her the title of heiress,"

Yes, she prayed, please listen to Mama.

Violet shook her head, "If she was a few minutes older than perhaps we could, but she is the younger sister. By the right of succession, Downton belongs to Mary,"

Mama scoffed, "What? Just because she was born a few minutes later? That hardly seems fair."

Violet chuckled, her soft laugh sounding sarcastic, "When has life ever been fair?"

Unable to listen anymore, Louise tore herself away from the door, anger threatening to spurt out of her chest.

How dare they? Once again that damn two minute gap had cost her.

But it didn't matter. Mary wouldn't care for the estate, she already didn't care for it. Louise knew she was the better choice, and she would find a way to prove it. Even if it meant going behind her family's back. Without a moment's hesitation she whisked herself up to her room, and began to write.