I'm not even sure what this is, but it wouldn't leave me alone… so here it is.
The next update for Scenes from a Marriage should be up tomorrow. As soon as my lovely beta is finished with it.
He gave his customary short knock before he entered, carrying a laden tea tray.
"Ah Mr. Carson, come in. I was wondering when you'd come," she smiled invitingly at him. He stifled a tired sigh.
"I'm sorry Mrs. Hughes, things took longer upstairs than I had anticipated," he apologized. He couldn't help the sad smile that spread over his face.
"Oh don't look so upset, Mr. Carson," she soothed and beckoned him to enter the room further. He put down the tray and she instantly busied herself with preparing his tea for him. He didn't know how she always managed to get it just right, no matter what happened, she never forgot.
"Sit down, Mr. Carson," she implored and he gladly followed her orders.
They made idle chit-chat about some house business or the other. He held onto his tea cup as if it was the only thing keeping him upright.
"Won't you tell me what's bothering you?" she asked softly and he felt himself catapulted back in time, to all the previous instances in which she had asked him the exact same question.
"It's nothing, Mrs. Hughes. I'm just a bit tired," he replied – just like he had always done in the past.
"Before I forget, you really need to pay attention to Thomas. I think he's bullying William again," she changed the topic abruptly. He simply nodded in response and they fell silent.
For a long while neither of them spoke, his eyes focused on the tea cup in his hands. When he looked up again, he found her studying him with a strange look in her eyes.
"When has your hair turned this grey?" she asked in a small voice and he felt his heart breaking.
"It's always been like this, Mrs. Hughes," he tried to reassure her. She continued looking at him for a few more moments, her confused blue eyes boring into him.
"I'm tired," she exclaimed suddenly. "I think I should head up."
"Of course, you're bound to be after such a long day," he told her, his voice soft. She nodded, putting her tea cup back unto the tray.
"Leave it, I'll take care of it," he offered quietly. She nodded again.
"Goodnight, Mr. Carson."
"Sleep well Mrs. Hughes." He watched her as she left the sitting room to head upstairs. He stayed behind, staring ahead blankly, his shoulders hunched.
When he was sure that enough time had passed, he put his own tea cup down – the tea long gone cold, bitter.
He made his way upstairs wearily.
He didn't knock this time, simply entered the bedroom. He found her lying on top of the covers, her energy obviously exhausted before she had had the chance to undress. He grabbed the throw from the little chair that stood in the corner of the bedroom and gently covered her with it. His hand tenderly pushed some errant strands of hair out of her face. His eyes briefly came to rest on the ring shining on his finger.
He pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead before pulling the chair closer to the bed, his hand carefully covering hers.
With a little bit of luck he'd be Charles again when she woke up and his heart could stop breaking – until the next time he became nothing more but Mr. Carson to her.
I hope you "enjoyed" this little one-shot. I'd love it if you left a review.