#dancing lessons

“We’re going to have to do something about Tom before the party,” said Mary as she came into Edith’s room. “We can’t let him flail about like he has been, and Granny wants him in tails as well.” Mary said all this as she pulled her gloves up over her elbows.

Edith turned from her dressing table to look at Mary. “He’s doing better about the dinner part of things. He usually uses the right fork now and he almost never gets confused about which cup is which.” Tom had made a lot of progress since landing at Downton and Edith was proud of him for how hard he was trying to fit in.

Mary sat down on Edith’s bed. “Yes, he’s coming along well, but he’s still very shy around our types and I want him to be confident instead of always worrying he’s messing up. And there will be dancing at the party, I don’t think I’ve ever seen him dance. Well, I suppose he did a bit at his wedding.” The dancing at a working-class Irish wedding was not exactly the style that was popular among the upper-classes. Back then, it had been Edith and Mary who didn’t know what to do.

“Also at the Servant’s Ball. It’s been a few years ago now, I suppose.” That had been back in the winter of ‘14. It seemed like forever ago now. Edith didn’t remember if Tom was any good at dancing, she just remembered seeing him and Sybil dance together for part of the night. Much of the dancing at the Servant’s Ball also wasn’t exactly the type one did when a duchess was part of the company. Tom probably needed some instruction on the waltzes and a few other more refined steps.

“He’s not going to have any fun at all if he’s not coached a bit,” said Mary. “I think we need to take some time tomorrow and put him through a bit of a charm school. See what he knows of dancing, teach him some of the etiquette, that sort of thing.”

“I hope you’re prepared to hold him down,” said Edith, “because that’s going to sound like torture to him.” Tom tried to put a brave face on it to her parents, but would often confide to Mary or herself how uncomfortable he was wearing dinner clothes and how much he disliked them. To be in tails and learning stuffy dance steps would surely be a trial for him.

“I am prepared to do what is necessary if it’s for his own good,” said Mary. “He doesn’t want to be embarrassed and we certainly don’t want to see him embarrassed. Besides, it’s high time he learns some of this.”

“I agree,” said Edith. “But I’m not sure he will.”

~~~~~

“Must I?” Tom pleaded when Mary and Edith told him of their plan after dinner. “Can’t I just hang to the edges and go to bed early?”

“Certainly not,” said Mary. “You’re our brother now, and part of the family, and one of the hosts. It’s your job to help everyone have a good time and besides all of that, we want you there.”

“Yes,” said Edith. “It won’t be any fun at all if you’re not part of it.” While not as antagonistic as they once were, it was still rare enough for Edith and Mary to join forces. Edith hoped that the double pressure would be enough to sway Tom.

“I can’t believe that,” said Tom. “I’m hardly the life of the party at the best of times.” Edith rather suspected that Tom could be very lively indeed, he just was never comfortable enough to be so at Downton.

“We’ll leave being the life of the thing to Rose,” said Mary. “But we won’t leave you to drown when we can teach you to swim beforehand.”

“You know it’s a good idea,” said Edith. “And I promise we’ll be gentle instructors.” She hoped that by now Tom would trust them to be kind to him and not laugh at him if he made a mistake.

“I won’t,” said Mary with a mock severity. “I expect good work if I’m to give full marks. And I’m not easy to please.”

“Are you giving me no choice?” Tom sighed.

Mary smiled. “Not at all.”

~~~~~

Edith sat at the piano and Mary stood with Tom’s arms around her. “Now remember,” said Mary as she adjusted where Tom’s hands went, “don’t be nervous. Just relax and it all goes much easier.”

Edith kept her smirk to herself. Mary sounded like a groom coaching his anxious bride on their wedding night.

“There’s so much to remember,” complained Tom, “I can hardly keep it all straight.”

“That’s why we’re practicing,” said Mary. “We’re going to do this until it’s second nature.” Mary took Tom’s hand in hers. “Don’t be afraid to touch my waist.” While watching them, Edith had noticed Tom seemed reluctant to really hold Mary properly.

“But what if I spoil your gown?” asked Tom.

“You won’t,” said Mary. “Besides, no lady minds a spoiled gown if she’s had a good dancing partner.” She smiled at Tom and Edith knew she was trying to get him to relax about it all.

“Which you will be,” Edith chimed in. “You already move very well, you just need to get used to the steps, that’s all.” Edith hoped that the encouragement would go a little way to soothing Tom’s nerves. She and Mary specifically hadn’t invited Rose to help with this because they wanted Tom to be able to relax and Rose often made everyone a little on edge.

Mary looked over at Edith. “I think we’re ready to start again. Play it at full speed this time, Tom knows the steps now.”

The look on Tom’s face told Edith he did not know the steps, but Edith started to play at full speed anyway. Sometimes it was harder to go slower because you could get a bit lost in it and forget how the steps related to the music. Edith knew the song well enough that she could look over at Mary and Tom while the danced. Edith would never have accused Mary of being a kind woman, but with Tom she very much was. Even before Sybil died, Mary had gone out of her way to be good to him.

She watched as her sister and brother-in-law moved around the room. Tom was trying not to look at his feet this time, instead he and Mary were looking in each other’s eyes as Mary muttered reminders about which step to take next. Edith hadn’t been lying when she said that Tom moved well, he had a sort of natural easiness when he danced that would make him pleasant to dance with if he learned the steps. Mary and Edith both had had their share of stiff and cardboard-like dance partners who didn’t know the first thing about moving comfortably with a partner.

As Mary and Tom continued to move around the room, Edith could see Tom’s confidence begin to grow. The steps were starting to become familiar now, and Mary’s tutelage was having an effect. Slowly, Tom’s shoulders relaxed and he held Mary a bit closer to himself. Mary smiled and Tom smiled back at her. The two seemed almost in their own little world. With all the men currently buzzing around Mary, Edith almost wondered if there wasn’t someone for her sister a little closer at hand.

The song only lasted a few minutes, and at the end of that time Mary and Tom both needed a small break. “You did really well,” said Edith. “I knew you’d pick up on this in no time.”

Tom smiled shyly. “All credit goes exclusively to my lovely instructors, I did nothing myself.”

“Pishposh,” said Mary. “I think you know more than you let on and you’re a quick study.” Mary came over to the piano bench and sat down, bumping Edith to the edge. “I’m tired, you teach him the next one, Edith.” Edith stood and Mary rifled through the sheet music they had out. “Here, let’s do a foxtrot next. We’ll have some younger ones at the party and we wouldn’t want Tom to know only old person dances.”

Edith looked at Tom who held his hands out to her somewhat bashfully. She smiled at him and stepped in close. “Don’t worry,” she said, “you’ll like the foxtrot.” Tom put his hand to her waist, but seemed hesitant to actually hold her. Edith tried to reassure him. “For this one we have to be a bit closer than a waltz.” Stepping in even closer, Edith pressed herself against Tom’s and fitted his arm around her body. She saw Tom blush slightly and felt a flush in her own face. She wasn’t sure she’d ever been this close to him before.

“Ready?” asked Mary from the piano.

“Yes,” Edith said. Mary started to play the music and Edith began coaching Tom through the steps. Tom fumbled through the whole thing a couple times, but Edith just kept encouraging him. Mary wasn’t one to play music slow, so the pair fought their way through the dance at full speed. By the third repetition, however, Tom was starting to get the hang of this one too.

“Have you got it?” Mary asked, not looking up from the sheet music.

Edith and Tom finally broke apart as Mary played the last few notes. They were both a little out of breath. “I think so,” said Edith. “Tom’s got a knack for picking things up quickly.” She shot Tom a small smile to show she was proud of him.

Tom gave her an appreciative smile in return. “You both make it very easy,” he said.

Mary stood up from the piano. “Well, I’m very glad for that because we still have quite a lot to get through before the party. We’ll take a small break, then back at it.”

Tom opened his mouth as if he were going to beg mercy and ask for no more, but Edith cut him off. “Mary’s right on this one, I’m afraid. You need a little more practice just to make sure it sinks in. I promise it will pay off, though. You’ll have such fun.”

Tom sighed. “I suppose you two know best.”

“We do,” said Mary with a smile.

The dance lessons continued for several days, and each day Tom got better at them. Edith and Mary didn’t want to overwhelm him, but tried to teach a variety so he would be ready for whatever happened. In the process, Edith rather thought Mary enjoyed herself more than she had since Matthew died. The stumbles and awkward steps made Mary laugh more than once, but she was never cruel about it, always quick to buck Tom up and get him to try again. Edith supposed the pair of them were rather in the same boat, being widowed so young. It seemed to create a bond between them, and perhaps through it Tom was able to trust Mary in a way Edith had never thought possible.

As they worked with Tom, Edith spent much of the time wondering how Michael would be at the party. He was more of a gentleman than Tom was, but he wasn’t the same sort of dyed-in-the-wool aristocrat that the Crawley’s usually associated with. She didn’t expect him to have any trouble fitting in like Tom did, but she was curious to see how well he’d blend with her family. She hoped that everything would go well and that maybe not too far in the future they might announce their engagement. She hoped that her family would like him. She was really counting on Tom to be in her corner here. Whenever Michael got his divorce – she was certain it would happen at some point – her family would probably object to the match for that reason alone. But this time she was going to be like Sybil. She wasn’t going to give up a man she loved just because her parents said “no.” This time she would have what she wanted, no matter how long she had to wait.

The day before the party, Edith and Mary had Tom practice one last time. Taking turns, they each practiced all of the dances without any interruptions or instructions. “All right,” said Tom as they began, “I’m here to be your dancing monkey.”

“Don’t be silly,” said Mary as she positioned herself in his arms. “You are a dashing and gallant figure who will preserve the honor of the house. Besides, far too often men are afraid to dance so I’ve got to have someone I can count on.”

Tom gave Mary a soft smile. “You can always count on me, I suppose. Even if it means doing this.”

Mary gave him a soft smile of her own. “Don’t think I don’t appreciate you for doing this.”

“Did you ever get tails?” asked Edith. Granny had brought it up no fewer than ten times when Edith saw her earlier that day.

“I did,” said Tom. “And I will look a right fool in them, I’m sure.”

“Nonsense,” said Mary. “You’ll cut a charming figure. You always look nice when you dress up.”

Tom shook his head with a half-smile. “I know you just tell me that so I’ll keep doing it.”

“Well, it’s not really fair if the women are the only ones who’re uncomfortable,” said Edith as she sat at the piano and opened the sheet music. “The men ought to suffer a little.”

This made Tom laugh. “Is this the modern feminism? Not about freeing women, but making men equally miserable?”

“Yes,” said Mary. “Men have had it easy for too long. It will make them appreciate women more if they have to wear uncomfortable clothes once in a while.”

Edith saw Tom look at Mary’s face, still softly smiling as he gave in to her arguments. “Very well,” he said, “I’ll do it for the equality of the sexes if for no other reason.”

“Do you need someone to help you dress?” Mary asked as Tom took her hand in his own.

Tom shook his head. “No, I can manage just fine. Besides, I wouldn’t even know what to do with someone helping me dress.”

“I can always ask Carson to help you,” said Mary. She readjusted her hand on Tom’s shoulder. The two of them being so close in height made the positions a little easier.

Tom shook his head again. “I really don’t need help. Besides, Mr. Carson is a busy man.”

“It’s just Carson for you now,” Mary reminded. “That’s the proper way to say it and it will go a long way to getting on his good side if you do things the proper way.”

Tom sighed. “I’m never going to get this right.”

“Of course you will,” said Mary. “Now let’s get started.” She glanced over her shoulder and Edith took the cue.

Edith started to play and Mary and Tom began to move across the floor. The pair moved gracefully. Mary always had easy, fluid movements. Out of the three sisters, only Sybil had been a better dancer and not by much. Tom, being more relaxed now then when they had started, also danced well. He matched Mary’s elegant steps and no longer hesitated as he moved along to the music. Edith knew the song more than by heart by now and watched them dance as she played.

It was nice to see the two of them having fun. Both of them seemed to be enjoying themselves and Edith was glad of it. Even almost two years after Sybil’s death, Tom really wasn’t the same. Maybe this party would have the effect of reminding Tom that he was still alive and still young. Mary was already brightening up a bit, though how much of that was real and how much was Mary putting on a brave face, Edith wasn’t sure. Sybil had always been able to see through Mary’s masks, but Edith never could, not in the same way.

Whatever the case, Edith hoped beyond hope that this party might give both her sister and her brother-in-law the encouragement they needed to live again and enjoy life a little. She had to admit that she worried about the both of them. She knew there wasn’t anything she could do to help either of them, they would have to get through their grief on their own, or maybe together. But without any interference from her. As she finished the song, Mary and Tom came to a standstill and stood apart from each other.

“Well done,” said Mary. “I felt like a debutante at my first ball.”

Tom blushed a little. “Just watch me forget everything and step on every foot in the house when the time comes.”

“Don’t be so hard on yourself.” Mary grabbed Tom by the upper arm and gave it a reassuring squeeze. “We’re all here to support you.” Glancing over at Edith, Mary said, “Well, your turn next.”

Edith rose from the piano and changed places with Mary. “You really are doing well,” she said.

“I’m trying my best,” said Tom. Edith could see the earnestness in his eyes.

“I know,” said Edith.

“I’m beginning,” Mary called by way of warning before immediately launching into the next tune.

Tom and Edith had to jump into the dance quickly so as not to be left behind by the beat. “Thank you for taking the time to teach me all this,” said Tom. “I must say it’s been more fun than I had imagined.”