Mrs Hughes comes down the stairs hurriedly. Her keys jingle against her leg as she walks. She's already had a bad start to her morning and it doesn't look as if it's about to get any easier. She's had an argument with Mrs Pattmore and a disagreement in roles with Miss O'Brien. Now she's just been informed, by Her Ladyship, that His Lordship wants to have a shooting party this weekend. I'm not looking forward to telling Mrs Pattmore, Mrs Hughes thinks, and it only Monday! This week can only get worse! She pops her head into the kitchen warily.
"Yes, Mrs Hughes?" Daisy says politely. "Can I help you? Mrs Pattmore is out having a cigarette."
"Can you tell her that I just talked to Her Ladyship and there's to be a shooting party this weekend? I'd like to speak to her about the details." Mrs Hughes already sounds tired.
"Of course, Mrs Hughes. Mrs Pattmore isn't going to like that very much." Daisy sounds nervous.
"To be honest, Daisy, I'm not very happy either, but that's what His Lordship wants, and that's what will happen. Apologize to Mrs Pattmore and tell her I'll be in my sitting room when she's ready to discuss details." Mrs Hughes says heavily.
"Yes Mrs Hughes." Daisy says quietly. She continues to prep the meal Mrs Pattmore decided on for luncheon.
Mrs Hughes sighs heavily as she climbs the short flight of stairs to her sitting room. She unlocks the door and heads into the room. She sits on her sofa and puts her head in her hands. Her week has just gotten four times as hard as it was when she woke up this morning. She has to get the guest list from His Lordship so she can organize the rooms and the dinner table seating arrangement. She already feels tired and she hasn't even started all her work. She hears a knock at her door. She hopes it's Mrs Pattmore so she can go talk to His Lordship. "Come in." Mrs Hughes calls.
Mrs Pattmore enters the room. "I got your message from Daisy, Mrs Hughes. Does His Lordship really want to do this? Do we know who's coming?"
"It sounds like His Lordship is pretty adamant about having a shooting weekend. I haven't gotten the guest list from His Lordship yet. I'll let you know when I do get that list. Do you have any ideas about food for the weekend?" Mrs Hughes asks tiredly.
"I'll have a better sense of what I can make when I see the guest list, but I do have some nice game I can use for lunch the first day. When the game comes in from the first day of shooting I can use the game for dinner and lunch the next day. Are you alright Mrs Hughes? You seem out of sorts today." Mrs Pattmore tells Mrs Hughes.
"I'm just tired, Mrs Pattmore. I'll be alright. Thank you for your input. I'll go get the guest list from His Lordship and I'll copy one for you." Mrs Hughes tells Mrs Pattmore.
"Don't work too hard, Mrs Hughes. I'll see you later." Mrs Pattmore says gently before she leaves the room. Being of a similar age they try to look out for each other.