Mrs Hughes stood in the middle of her sitting room. She didn't know whether to sit, she didn't know what to do, come to think of it, what was she even thinking about? So much was running through her mind, she felt very confused. She felt the room begin to sway and quickly put her hand on the back on an armchair to steady herself, placing the other hand on her burning forehead. She exhaled deeply and closed her eyes, hearing a knock then the door opening she tried to stand straight but, overcome with dizziness, fell back into her previous position with a whimper.
"I'm just … Mrs Hughes?" Carsons deep voice was suddenly filled with concern. 'Wonderful(!)' she thought, when she heard his voice, this was the last person she needed to see.
"Oh, Mr Carson" she managed breathlessly managing to stand straight placing a hand over her stomach.
"Are you quite well?" despite her obvious improvement he was still concerned.
"I'm fine Mr Carson … really … I'm fi" but looking at his face, she couldn't finish the last words before tears filled her eyes. Embarrassed, she apologised and ran out of the room and up the stairs, covering her mouth to stop her sobs being all that audible.
Even more confused than before, Carson watched her go unable to decide whether her should follow or leave her to recover, she was clearly tired, and he'd noticed she had been yawning a lot over the last week. Choosing to wait, he turned the lights off in her room and entered the kitchen to put the kettle on. Tonight, she would tell him what was wrong, he wasn't going to stand by and see her upset any longer.
Mrs Hughes stood facing the mirror in her bedroom, hands gripped both side of the basin below and tears streaming down her face. She was normally such a strong woman and didn't show her feelings often, she'd kept them locked up but now they'd broken through and she was unable to stop the inevitable tide of sadness washing over her. She calmed down a little bit and looked into the mirror, but what she saw only made her cry more, putting her hand over her mouth she sobbed louder as she looked down into the basin. 'Look at you' she thought 'acting like a hysterical young woman, crying over a man, at your age!' her heart and mind were at an endless battle that neither could win. 'You're too old for this, you had your chance years ago and you blew it. Accept it, you will never have that life, he doesn't love you and you'll die an old, lonely spinster!'
She really was becoming hysterical now, she swayed causing her hand to slip off the basin, she gave out a little cry as she fell to the floor, knocking her unconscious.
Oblivious to the state she was in, Carson made his way up the stairs with a cup of tea. He knocked softly on her door, hearing no answer he called her name. Assuming she was asleep, he made his way to the men's quarters, he would ask her tomorrow.