I applaud your masterful work, my dear!

I have followed Downton Abbey (UK and US versions) and love the series, so naturally I can't get enough. I was crushed by the last season's sad ending and was resigned to doing without another Downton fix until January or whenever it returns...and then I found this. The style is perfect and I couldn't have enjoyed reading this more. Sakurasencha has a complete grasp of the characters, the nuances are all perfect, but they are not locked into their characters. She is creative enough to give them a little space to go off the rails now and then. Her fan fiction is as entertaining as the series. Most fan fiction is dreadful. This sets a new standard. Highly recommended to all Downton Fans!

Type your review for this chapter here...

There's a real housemaid called Lily? I thought she was an OC.

I simply LOVED O'Brien's little epiphany about Cora's nature. That's just about the ideal resolution of that story.

Strange, though, that a death on Christmas should ensure the family happiness. I'm actually glad you took the last scene to heaven. Quite a clever twist.

As for the rest, I loved the turn of events with Rosamund and her prospective victim, and of course Edith and her suitors. That goes double for the resolution of Mary's story.

There's so much in here that I don't have the space to cover it all, but still must put in a kind word for the images from the snowball fight - everything from Daisy getting clobbered to Matthew landed on the dreaded yellow snow.

God bless them, every one!

Just when I'm getting cozy, you spring an ending like that! Aargh, I'm not supposed to feel sympathy for Richard.

As for the rest, I thoroughly enjoyed Matthew's word of advice to Branson, Daisy's confession in the churchyard, and of course anything Mrs. Patmore-related.

Drama was high in this chapter, and I particularly liked the scene with the lawyers pounding on the judge's door, and the sequence where the usually guileless Daisy is enlisted to do some sleuthing and actually succeeds at it.

You've definitely covered all the bases here - scandal, sickness, and outright murder. I particularly like the prospect of bringing Richard Carlisle down...

Lots of vivid descriptions in this chapter. I do feel as though I'm eavesdropping on a shooting party.

And the dialogue was wholly suited to the characters. This exchange particularly pleased me:

"Ready for a day standing behind the guns, my lady?"

"I'd sooner that than stand in front of them."

I do like Mary's decision to rescue herself, and I liked Cora for giving Mary options. In the series it's easy to see Cora playing the Mrs. Bennet role, trying to secure an advantageous match (or any match) for her eldest, but I think she's essentially kind, as she is here.

That's quite an assortment of hints, clues, and outright revelations concerning MULTIPLE plot lines. Well done.

I particularly like Edith's participation in the investigation (If she doesn't marry, she might well need to go work for Hercule Poirot, or write novels).

It's always good to have more scenes from the Branson-Crawley marriage - nicely contrasting with Mary's calculation and despair.

And I like O'Brien's involvement here too, and that you've retained her essentially flinty character.

Wait a minute. That man thinks he has an equine nose? He must snort as well as sneer.

But Hepworth isn't my main concern. I think I see where you're going with at least two of the plot lines...perhaps. I do like the bit of mystery here, and the comedy, and Daisy's inadvertant eavesdropping.

And I do wonder whether you'll resolve matters with Robert and Cora. It's believable that they'd grow weary and/or apart, but I do like happy endings.

I certainly enjoyed the "trifecta of blandness," as well as O'Brien getting her nose out of joint over Miss Shore. Thomas is snarky as ever, and that's as it should be.

I enjoyed Cora's observations, and of course Violet is priceless.

On a more serious level, I was touched by Edith's trying on different identities (Ah, the plight of the usually ignored middle child!).

Edith with two prospective suitors. Bates putting together his defense. Lily collapsing. Sybil upchucking. I don't know whether this is going to be tragedy or farce! (I'm rooting for farce...)

This story just gets better and better. You've captured perfectly Mary's personality and turn of phrase, as well as her plight. I quite agree with her granny about the general odiousness of Richard Carlisle, and you haven't spared us a thing by referring to the wedding night.

I love Violet's zingers, and even can enjoy the snark from O'Brien and, to a lesser extent, Thomas.

You've captured a couple of more neglected characters well, particularly Edith, but I especially like that you've revealed Cora's impressions and epiphanies.

And the reference to Anna's singing to make up for Mr. Bates' absence - heartbreaking.

But "The Holly and the Ivy" is a favorite of mine, and I'm glad you picked it for this chapter.

I particularly enjoyed the structure in this chapter, the use of vignettes, the imagery. Most powerful was Anna's visit to John (So heartbreaking, especially the joy she took in the imperfect journey there and the sorrow in the smooth return home), but I appreciated the scenes with Sybil and Branson.

And I've read many O'Brien stories but can't recall one that explored the motivation behind her malice.

The second chapter is even better than the first one was. How well you convey the shifts in people's thoughts and moods - and self-absorption, self-pity and self-reproach that go with them.

I must confess, though, that I had my doubts about Daisy's being able to shift into light-heartedness, especially when she at the bottom rung of the servant ladder and has her own reasons to feel put-upon and guilty. Then again, maybe she could feel better for Having a Plan.

Mrs. Patmore was perfectly in character and her comments were priceless.

I expected to feel the most for Bates and Anna, but you managed to make Cora and O'Brien the curiously poignant figures.