Chapter 1: The aftermath of that night…
A/N: So, this idea is something that was in my mind since I recovered from the shock of the third episode. I was wondering and thinking what is going to happen after that night. How the secret Anna and Mrs. Hughes share is going to affect their lives? This story is my answer to the question. I had to watch again episode three. I hope you like it.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything. If any character or situation that appears here and not at Downton Abbey then it's mine.
Enjoy!
She quickly put on her coat and hat and left the house. She only stopped for a moment hearing her husband calling her but continued walking without a glance at him. She knew that he wouldn't follow her and that was a relief to her. She walked towards the gardens of the estate that she always loved. It was April but it was quiet chilly outside in the evening. The cool air of the night was a relief to her hot face that was wet from her tears. It took away her thoughts for a few minutes but they came back to her and caused more tears to fall. She didn't want to confront her husband tonight, so she kept walking waiting for the time to pass so her husband would be asleep when she returned to their room at the house.
John watched his wife as she continued to walk away without a glance to him. He was worried about her but he was also confused with her behavior. His first thought was to follow her but he decided it against it. Maybe if he gave her some time alone she would be able to talk to him. He stood there staring the closed door of the back yard for a few moments before walking inside the house again. Suddenly, he stopped dead at his tracks when he reached the housekeeper's sitting room. He remembered that his wife told him that the housekeeper had found her a dress. He thought that maybe she knew something about his wife and he raised his hand to knock.
Elsie had seen John following his wife at the back door and hurried to her sitting room closing the door behind her. She had just got downstairs after attending to Lady Mary lying to her about Anna not feeling very well. She was relieved that the rest of the staff had already retired to their rooms for the night. She knew that the butler was at his pantry attending to some paperwork or anything else and he may not come to ask her to join him for a cup of tea or a glass of wine. After all, it was past midnight by now and they both had a very busy week. She sat in her desk trying to concentrate on some papers but she couldn't stop thinking the events of the day. Everything was going well until Ivy came to her sitting room about Mrs. Patmore. They were all excited that they were allowed to listen Nellie Melba singing. She was shocked and surprised to find Anna at that state in her sitting room with tears in her eyes. Suddenly, a knock on her door brought her back from her thoughts. She wiped the tears she hadn't realized that were falling. "Come in.", she called with a shaky voice.
John opened the door and was surprised to see the housekeeper at this state. He always admired her for her strength and the kindness she showed whenever someone needed her. "I'm sorry to interrupt you, Mrs. Hughes.", he knew that something had happened to put the woman in this state. "I was wondering if you know what's wrong with Anna.", he was worried about his wife and he wanted to know what was happening with her.
Elsie's eyes widened a bit at this. "What do you mean, Mr. Bates?", she didn't want to say something wrong in case Anna had told him something
"She told me that she wasn't feeling very well and she fainted which was the cause of what happened to her face. Is something wrong with her?", he was more worried now upon seeing the older woman's eyes widening before.
"She must be tired. This week had been very busy for all of us.", she wanted so much to tell him the truth but Anna had made her promise that she wouldn't say anything to anyone.
John didn't want to pressure the housekeeper anymore, especially after seeing how tired she looked. "Yes, it was a very busy week. You may be right. I'm sorry to interrupting you, Mrs. Hughes. Good night!", he said with a small sad smile.
"Good night, Mr. Bates.", she watched him as he left the room and closed the door behind him.
She decided to attend to the most important papers before going up to her room to rest because she knew very well that she wasn't going to sleep tonight or the nights to follow. Almost an hour later she put her papers and pen aside, looked once more around the room, turned off the light and left the room closing the door behind her. In the same moment Charles left his pantry closing the door behind him. "Elsie, I was coming to you right now.", he offered her a smile. "I wanted to ask you if you wanted to join me for a glass of wine.", he was hoping that her answer would be positive. He wanted so much to have a bit of time with her alone.
She wanted so much to accept his offer but she was feeling very tired and she couldn't confront him tonight. She raised her head to look at him and saw the hope in his eyes which sank her heart. "I'm sorry, Charles. I was heading upstairs to my room. I'm very tired and it's already two in the morning.", she didn't lose his gaze for a second.
He noticed how tired she looked and the tracks of tears on her face. He was worried about her now. "Elsie, what's wrong?", he put a hand on her arm and was surprised when she stepped back from him.
"Nothing is wrong, Mr. Carson.", she didn't move from where she stood. "I'm very tired. Good night, Mr. Carson.", she said and left quickly before he had the chance to stop her with his words or his hands.
She closed and locked the room as soon as she entered her room upstairs. She pressed her back against the door and stood there for a few moments. Suddenly, she felt like she couldn't breathe, like something was taking away from her to capability to breathe properly. She got out of her dress, her corset, her shoes and stockings as quickly as she could. She stood only in her undergarments feeling able to breathe again. She didn't want to put on her nightgown feeling that it may take again the capability of breathing. She walked towards her bed, lied down and curled in a ball crying all night.
She finally walked towards the house feeling a little better thanks to the walk through the gardens of the estate. She saw that everyone had gone to bed and went slowly upstairs. She didn't want to sleep with her husband and knowing that her former room was still empty she decided to sleep there, if she managed to sleep tonight. She removed quickly her dress, her corset, her shoes and her stockings, put them aside and lied down on her former bed covering her body with the blanket. She curled in a ball and started crying again.
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Anna went downstairs thinking that she was the first one, except from the kitchen staff, to be up and about but she saw the door of the sitting room being a bit open and the housekeeper working on some papers. She decided to leave the housekeeper alone and made her way to the servant's hall and sat at her usual seat. After a while all the staff was up and about, sitting in the large table and having breakfast. Everyone noticed the weird atmosphere that was in the room. Charles noticed how tired Elsie looked and tried to start a conversation with her but her answers were short and she avoided looking at him. John noticed how tired his wife looked and wanted to speak with her about last night but he didn't have a chance as Lady Mary's bell rang and she left quickly.
Elsie seeing that the family started to woke up, left the servant's hall and went to her sitting room. She didn't want to confront Charles about last night and she tried to focus on her work for the day. It was already difficult for her because she was tired from the busy week and she hadn't slept a second. Every time she closed her eyes the image of Anna and memories were in front of her making her to open her eyes immediately and cry once more. Suddenly, she felt that her hands were a bit wet and discovered that she was crying once more.
It was time for the servants to have lunch. Anna was upstairs helping Lady Mary to change to rest. John was already in the servant's hall waiting for the others. Charles was at his pantry working on some important papers. Beryl informed him that the lunch was ready. He finished what he was doing and left his pantry to go to the servant's hall when he saw Elsie coming down with a ledger in her hands. Somehow she missed the step and started falling forward when she felt someone grabbing her and steadying her. Anna was at the top of the stairs seeing what happened and was worried about the housekeeper. Elsie raised her head to look who had helped her and saw Charles looking at her with concern. "Don't touch me.", she stepped back quickly and rushed to her sitting room closing and locking the door behind her. That took everyone by surprise, especially Charles, Anna and Beryl, who was ready to enter the servant's hall.
Anna entered the servant's hall and took her usual seat while Charles and Beryl remained looking each other. They were very confused about the housekeeper's behavior. "What's wrong with her, Charles?", the cook whispered to him as she walked towards him.
"I don't know, Beryl. Until yesterday evening everything was fine.", he was very worried and confused. "I don't know what's wrong with her.", he was telling the truth to the cook because he didn't know if he had done something wrong. Suddenly they heard a noise, like something was broken, coming from the sitting room. They rushed to the door quickly worried about what happened. "El…", he remembered that he was in front of the whole staff and he wasn't alone speaking with his wife. "Mrs. Hughes, are you alright?", he was getting very worried about her. "Mrs. Hughes, please open the door.", he looked concerned at the cook who just shrugged her shoulders.
They heard a click and saw the door of the sitting room opening. Elsie appeared in front of them. "I'm fine, Mr. Carson. A glass fell on the floor and broke. I cleared up everything.", she looked at them sternly. "I have a lot of work to do, so I won't have lunch with the rest of you.", she closed the door without saying anything more leaving them confused.
Everyone went back to the servant's hall and took their seats. They had a very silent lunch for the first time in weeks. Although, inside of the sitting room Elsie was clearing up the cut on her hand. It was deep but not deep enough to need the doctor, so she attended to it herself. After she had cleared up the cut and put a bandage carefully, she sat in her armchair and let the tears she was holding to fall free and the memories to come.
Please, please, please review! I would like to know what you think about this and if you would like to continue this.