Bedside Manner

by The Irish Chauffeur

An engaging piece of whimsy, while I continue with Chapter 13 of Home Is Where The Heart Is. Written for all of you who, like myself, just love the interaction between our favourite ex-chauffeur and the youngest daughter of the house. As you will now find out, the path of true love is sometimes a rocky one.

Bedside Manner

Following his accident in the garage at Downton but a couple of days ago, which had left him with a broken collar bone and a few minor cuts and bruises, Tom, once his injuries had been attended to by Dr. Clarkson, expected to convalesce in the chauffeur's cottage on the estate. After all, with the approval of Mr Carson, Mrs Hughes had made it perfectly clear that his meals could be brought down to him from the servants' hall, his needs attended to, and whosoever wished to visit him was at liberty to do so whenever they could.

But, as it was, that proved singularly unnecessary.

For now, here he was sitting tucked up in bed, in one of the only two private rooms at the Cottage Hospital down in the village. Tom smiled, he could guess who it was who had arranged this …

"So", she said. "I'll come again tomorrow?"

"I'd like it very much if you would" said Tom. Footsteps in the passage outside his room caused them both to glance up with mounting concern. It would not do for anyone to suspect. Tom hastily buttoned up his pyjama jacket.

She got up, reluctantly, and moved towards the door. There she turned.

"Until tomorrow, then". She smiled. Then was gone.

Sybil had been late arriving at the Cottage Hospital, having had to walk down from the house. It was only as she walked down the passage leading to Tom's room that she received the shock of her life. There was her grandmother, the Dowager Countess of Grantham coming down the passage towards her.

"Hello, granny" said Sybil. "I didn't expect to see you here".

"Hello, dear" said Violet. They exchanged the briefest of kisses. "A word of advice, dear. He" - the Dowager Countess nodded towards Tom's room – "prefers the older woman".

With that, the Dowager Countess was off, with, thought Sybil, an unexpected spring in her step. "Tom", thought Sybil, "you have some explaining to do".

"Yes" thought Violet a few moments later as she walked out of the entrance to the Cottage Hospital, "I'm invariably right. I always suspected - his driving apart - that Branson had many admirable qualities!"