Disclaimer: It all belongs to Fellowes, I'm just playing with them for a bit.
Anna descended the stairs in time for breakfast dropping a tray off on her way before slipping into her seat. She hadn't left last night, it'd been almost a month and she was worried about Lady Mary. Mrs. Hughes entered and offered Anna a nod, is she any better this morning Anna?
"No, Mrs. Hughes. She hadn't touched the tray I brought up last night, I talked her into a few spoonfuls of soup before I fell asleep but that was it. I'm not sure what to do anymore."
With a sigh Mrs. Hughes slipped into her seat, "Daisy can you bring me another bowl please? I'll go up after breakfast Anna you look like you're about to drop."
"Thank you Mrs. Hughes, I'd like to run home for a change if that's alright?"
"Of course." As breakfast began Elsie served up her own food as well as a serving for Lady Mary.
Carson watched with a perked brow, "Surely you're not taking that up to Lady Mary Mrs. Hughes? It's not what she prefers for breakfast..."
"It is Mr. Carson, and frankly I don't care what she prefers. She's got to get something down and this I can spoon into her mouth even if she's fighting." There was a hint of a smile on her lips, they both knew she'd do no such thing. They also both knew that she very well could manage it if she needed to.
As the staff left the table to attend their duties Elsie, set the porridge, toast with jam, and strong tea on a tray. Lifting the tray she began to mount the stairs, balancing the tray carefully she gave a short knock on the door before opening it. Slipping inside just as the nanny was leaving with the baby. "Good morning M'Lady."
"Oh...Mrs. Hughes. Good morning. I told Anna I didn't need anything..." Her voice was as hollow as her eyes looked. She'd lost too much weight, and she obviously wasn't sleeping.
"On the contrary, you need to eat. I know you don't want to, but you need to." Crossing the room she sat the tray on the side table, "And once you've eaten we're going to get you bathed and changed, and then you're going to go downstairs for a while so that I can clean your room and change the linens."
"No Mrs. Hughes. I'm not. I don't want to go anywhere. Just leave me alone please?" Mary sat staring at the wall directly ahead of her.
Throwing all things proper out the window, Elsie nudged Mary over closer to the middle of the bed gently and sat down facing the younger woman. Her mother couldn't get through to the girl, nor could her grandmother, or her father, or even her sister. Anna had tried, as had Carson. The doctor had pleaded with her to at least eat something and try to get some sleep, none of it had done a thing. It was time for the formidable housekeeper to give it a try. "I know we've not always seen eye to eye M'lady, and I know you're not all that fond of me, but I'm here and we're going to work on this."
Reaching over she gently wrapped Mary's cold hand between her warm ones, "Do you remember when you were much younger? Lady Edith had broken your china doll and Mr. Carson couldn't fix it, so you brought it to me in tears?" When Mary nodded, Elsie continued. "I told you then that she would never be the same, but we were going to pick up the pieces and glue them back together anyways. I don't pretend to understand what you're feeling, but it's time to pick up the pieces and glue them back together. And it's not ever going to be the same but you've got a wee babe that needs his mother. So...let's start by getting something into that stomach of yours hmm?"
"Oh Mrs. Hughes." It was then that Mary began to cry, really cry. She'd been shocked, and angry even, but she hadn't broken down and just cried. Lurching forward she wrapped her arms around the older womans middle, resting her face against her chest.
It took her a few moments to process what had just happened, this was the last place she thought she'd find herself. Yet she knew it was exactly where she needed to be. Shifting the both of them Elsie let her back lean against the headboard and drew Mary close. Rubbing her back gently with one hand and stroking her hair back out of the way with the other. "Let it out lass, you've got to let it out." There was no shushing, and there wouldn't be. A good cry would do Mary a world of good, letting go was probably the single best thing the girl could do.
"Sing me a song Mrs. Hughes?" Mary choked out between sobs, clutching tighter to the one person who didn't seem to expect her to just move on. At least that was how she'd viewed the actions and words of her family. "Like you used to sing Sybil."
Shifting again so that they were both a little more comfortable, and yet keeping her shoes off the bed she continued comforting Mary while she began to sing softly.
"Baloo baleerie, baloo baleerie
Baloo baleerie, baloo balee
Gang awa' peerie faeries,
Gang awa' peerie faeries,
Gang awa' peerie faeries,
Frae oor ben noo.
Baloo baleerie, baloo baleerie
Baloo baleerie, baloo balee
Doon come the bonny angels,
Doon come the bonny angels,
Doon come the bonny angels,
Tae oor ben noo.
Baloo baleerie, baloo baleerie
Baloo baleerie, baloo balee
Sleep saft my baby,
Sleep saft my baby,
Sleep saft my baby,
In oor ben noo.
Baloo baleerie, baloo baleerie
Baloo baleerie, baloo balee"
Marys sobs had faded nearly halfway through the lullaby, her breathing had evened by the end. She slept still clutching to Elsie who found her eyes falling shut slowly, her cheek pressed to the top of Marys head. A little nap wouldn't hurt much would it? She couldn't bring herself to leave Mary to wake alone, not this time.
A/N: Please review! If you'd like more let me know I can continue or I can leave it here, just a little something that popped into my head in the middle of the night!
