This is my first ever attempt at fanfiction and I'm really nervous about it. I'd appreciate any reviews or pointers. Basically I had this idea of what happens when Carson goes to London with the family for the season. Obviously the other house has a housekeeper and I just got to wondering if Mrs Hughes had ever met her and what would happen is she did...
"Mrs Hughes has arrived M'Lord. I have shown her to the room she shall be using. I think it best if she and Mrs Travis wait until tomorrow to begin, as it's been quite a long journey for Mrs Hughes."
Cora and Robert nodded as Carson explained.
"Of course, there's no rush. I'd like to meet with both of them tomorrow morning." Cora said. "Make sure Mrs Hughes gets something to eat."
"I will M'Lady."
"Did Mrs Hughes bring any news from Downton?" Robert asked. "Thomas and O'Brien haven't staged a coup whilst we've been gone have they?" he joked.
"Robert!" Cora chided.
Carson's eyes twinkled with amusement but he maintained a dour expression. "Not as far as I know M'Lord. I think Mrs Hughes greatest concern is having left Mrs Patmore in charge of the store cupboard." His mouth twitched slightly.
Robert laughed and Carson excused himself.
Mrs Hughes entered the kitchen and looked around at the new surroundings. Mr Carson paused in his preparations when he saw her.
"Ah Mrs Hughes. Did you manage to have a rest?" he asked.
"Yes, I did, thank you." She looked at the food he had laid out on the table.
"Her Ladyship said to make sure you got something to eat." Carson said. He pulled out a chair for her to sit on.
"That's very thoughtful." She said sitting down. She looked around the empty kitchen. "The cook, I'm afraid I don't know her name, I'd like to thank her."
"Oh she's finished for the day and gone home." Carson explained. "I just threw this together myself, I'm sorry it's nothing much."
"Oh no, it looks lovely." Mrs Hughes assured him. "I forgot the staff don't all live in as they do at Downton." She smiled.
"Hmm. It's just Mrs Travis, the housemaid Grace, Harry the footman and the hall boy Daniel who live in the house. Mrs Davies, the cook, comes in everyday and we get extra staff in when there's a need for it. And then of course Mr Bates, Miss O'Brien and I during the season." He sighed. "It's a far cry from the way it used to be."
"I suppose seeing as the family only use it occasionally it's not worth keeping a full complement of staff." She mused.
"Hmm." He began to pour her some tea.
"Will you join me?" she asked, noticing there was only one cup.
He hesitated a moment.
"If you're busy…" she began.
"I have time." He smiled.
"Good." She smiled back. She had missed him, she couldn't deny it. She hadn't quite realised how much until she stepped off the train and found him there to meet her. She hadn't expected him to meet her at the train station and was ashamed to admit that even though he had been a sight for sore eyes, one of her first thoughts was to wish she'd had time to freshen up before seeing him. She must have looked a right state after her journey. She had been surprised by this, as she wasn't a woman given to thoughts of vanity and it was only Mr Carson. He had seen her almost every day for the last, oh she didn't even want to think how many years! She doubted it would ever even occur to him to consider her appearance.
He settled at the table after pouring himself a cup of tea also. He took a sip and then looked at her steadily. A gaze so intense she almost began to blush. Then he nodded almost imperceptibly, gave a half smile and took another sip of his tea.
She raised an eyebrow. "So, do I pass?" she asked.
He chuckled. "I apologise Mrs Hughes, I didn't mean to make you feel as though you were under inspection. I'm just glad to see you that's all. And… glad to see you looking so well." His eyes darted around a little nervously and he reached for his cup again.
"Oh, well, thank you." She smiled shyly and directed her attention to her food for a moment.
"Have you…" Carson began but was interrupted.
"Mrs Hughes!" Mr Bates entered the kitchen and greeted her warmly.
"Mr Bates, how are you?" she smiled brightly.
"Very well. Mr Carson said you would be joining us for a few days."
Carson wasn't sure why he felt such a sudden burst of annoyance at Mr Bates' arrival but when Mr Bates sat down and at the table he felt his annoyance deepen. Surely the man must have something else to do, he thought peevishly.
Mrs Hughes had finished her food and Mr Bates finally retired for the night. Carson had cleared away the dished and returned his attention to Mrs Hughes.
"I expect you're looking forward to your bed." He said.
"I'm in no rush." She had enjoyed catching up with Mr Bates but she really would have enjoyed further chance to catch up with Mr Carson. There were a number of things she wished to ask him before tomorrow about the house, the staff…the other housekeeper. She wanted to know the lay of the land so to speak. She still had not been introduced to Mrs Travis. "But I imagine you want to retire, after all you've done a day's work, all I've done is sit on a train."
"Travelling can take it out of you." Carson said. "And I don't feel tired at all. In fact…"
"There you are!" a voice cut in.
They both turned to see a wiry, dark haired woman standing in the doorway.
"Mrs Travis." Carson said.
Ah, thought Mrs Hughes, so this is Mrs Travis. The woman looked quite formidable. She was taller than Mrs Hughes with sharp features and her hair pulled back in a tight chignon.
"I'd like you to meet Mrs Hughes."
Mrs Travis stepped forward and both housekeepers shook hands and greeted each other. "I'm sorry I couldn't be here for your arrival Mrs Hughes, I had to step out to run some rather late errands. Daniel, our hall boy took a tumble earlier and of course we're all out of bandages when they're needed."
"Oh I hope the lad is alright." Mrs Hughes said.
"He's fine. It'll teach him not to run around so recklessly in future." Mrs Travis said unsympathetically. She took a long look at Mrs Hughes. "Well, it's nice to finally put a face to the name."
"Likewise." Mrs Hughes smiled.
"Oh I doubt you've heard my name mentioned much. Not as often as I've heard yours." Mrs Travis said.
What does she mean by that, Carson wondered as Travis turned and walked back to the door. "I'm sure Mr Carson has already settled you into your room?" she asked. "Can I help you with anything else before I retire?"
"Everything is under control." Carson said. "Goodnight Mrs Travis."
"Goodnight then Mr Carson. Mrs Hughes."
"Goodnight." Mrs Hughes said.
Carson felt himself sigh in relief, he wasn't sure why but he had been fretting all week about Mrs Travis and Mrs Hughes meeting and wondering whether they would get on. It had seemed a little strained, and Mrs Travis has stared for longer than was appropriate but perhaps they would get along fine. He turned to see Mrs Hughes grinning at him. He raised a questioning eyebrow.
"The look of relief on your face!" she said. "Anyone would think you'd been nervous about Mrs Travis and I meeting."
"Oh no, not all, that would be ridiculous." Carson mumbled. Mrs Hughes just smiled knowingly.
Mrs Hughes arrived for breakfast the following morning and was greeted by Mr Bates and Miss O'Brien. Mrs Travis was already seated at the table and barely acknowledged her arrival. Miss O'Brien took her seat and then looked around the table.
"Where shall you sit Mrs Hughes? It's customary for the housekeeper to sit to the right of the butler but what's the custom when there's two housekeepers?" she asked bluntly.
Mrs Travis eyed her beadily.
"I'll sit at the end here. It makes no odds." Mrs Hughes replied
"Perhaps Mr Carson should be allowed to choose which housekeeper he wants sitting next to him." Miss O'Brien suggested.
"That's enough Miss O'Brien." Mrs Hughes and Mrs Travis both responded and then looked at each other. Mrs Hughes smiled but Mrs Travis turned away and it was Miss O'Brien who looked smug.
Carson arrived and sat at the head of the table, it was only when looked down the table and saw Mrs Hughes sitting at the end that he seemed to do a double take. It seemed wrong to have her sitting there but what could he do? What was the protocol in such a situation? He could make Miss O'Brien move and give her spot on his left to Mrs Hughes but would that be strange?
O'Brien was eyeing him. "Doesn't seem right does it?" she asked quietly.
Carson didn't need to ask what she was referring to. "It's not a situation that arises very often." He said.
"Stop trying to cause a stir Miss O'Brien. Ignore her Mr Carson, she's already tried to make things awkward." Mrs Travis said brusquely. Carson raised and eyebrow.
"All I said was perhaps you should be given the choice of which housekeeper sat beside you." Miss O'Brien replied innocently.
"I'm quite comfortable with this arrangement, thank you Miss O'Brien." Carson said wearily wanting to avoid giving O'Brien any further opportunity to cause tension.
Mrs Hughes looked at Carson at the head of the table talking quietly with Miss O'Brien and Mrs Travis. Nothing strange about it, she told herself, this was his routine when he was in London. It was then that it suddenly struck her how much of Carson's life she knew nothing about. Foolishly perhaps it had never occurred to her before that Carson had other routines, habits, acquaintances when he left Downton for the season every year. But all this was as much a part of his life as what he had at Downton. She suddenly realised why the Crawley family were so important to Mr Carson. They were his one constant. She knew he considered Downton his home but for a part of each year that changed. For her there was one house. One butler. For Mr Carson housekeepers were interchangeable.
Cora joined Robert in the library where he was reading the paper. He lowered it when she entered.
"How did things go with Mrs Travis and Mrs Hughes? Shall there be a duel?" he asked.
Cora gave him a withering look. "Don't be ridiculous Robert. I don't know why you find the idea of our housekeepers meeting so ludicrous. I think we should have done it years ago. The Ellis's have coordinated the running of their two houses for years."
"Coordinated the running?" Robert scoffed. "That's what Carson does." He raised his newspaper again.
"There are other matters, outside of what Carson manages. Lady Ellis told me how much easier it's been alternating between houses. It makes hosting guests a lot more manageable and not to mention it's more impressive to the guests. Lady Ellis said it's vital if one is to make an impression and stand out from all those new money families it is important to have a distinguishable and over all style that is not dependant on which house one is hosting in at the time."
Robert lowered his newspaper again. "Stand out from all those new money families? You sound like Mama!"
Cora sighed. "Well fortunately, even if you don't see the point, both Mrs Travis and Mrs Hughes understood the importance and agreed wholeheartedly with me." She said with a pout.
"Of course they did." Robert laughed. "And so do I!" He added on seeing the look on her face. He raised his newspaper again. "Even though I don't understand it, I agree wholeheartedly with you. I always do."
Cora rolled her eyes.
Mrs Hughes and Mrs Travis sat in the latter's parlour. For the past two days they had been going through Lady Grantham's ideas and had come up with a few ideas of their own on how they could go about making a some changes. If she were honest Mrs Hughes thought it a wasted exercise. She understood Lady Grantham's desire to maintain the highest of standards and that she wished to ensure that the Crawley's would be seen as beacons of elegance and sophistication, as they already were in her opinion. But to coordinate the running of each house to such a degree she thought impossible. She had been around the house and whilst it was a fine house, it was no Downton Abbey. They could plan as much as they wanted and Mrs Travis could do the best that she could but this house could never have the same level of grandeur as Downton Abbey, not even a fraction.
"Shall we take a break until after lunch?" Mrs Travis asked.
"Yes, why not." Mrs Hughes nodded.
Mrs Travis tidied up some papers and glanced sideways at Mrs Hughes. "It's Mr Carson's day off tomorrow." She said casually.
"Yes, I believe so." Mrs Hughes replied.
"Perhaps he'll take you out for the day. You haven't had a chance to see much of London have you." Mrs Travis stood up.
"No, I haven't. But I'm sure Mr Carson has better things to do with his time off and we still have so much to do." Mrs Hughes answered.
"One day off won't make a difference. And Mr Carson wouldn't forgive me if I deprived him of anymore of your time." With that she practically flounced out of the room.
Mrs Hughes remained slightly stunned. She couldn't figure that woman out at all. Whilst she was not exactly unfriendly there was a prickliness to her and these constant enigmatic remarks had Mrs Hughes quite confused. She got the impression sometimes that Mrs Travis was somehow resentful of her any time she spoke to Mr Carson. She wondered briefly if it was jealousy but what was there to be jealous about? Then again, if it was Mrs Travis who had been brought to Downton would she feel differently?
She got up and came across Miss O'Brien in the corridor.
"Miss O'Brien." She nodded her greeting.
"Mrs Hughes. How you coping being cooped up with Mrs Travis all the time?" O'Brien asked.
"Fine. We're getting a lot done." Mrs Hughes answered carefully.
"Hmm." Miss O'Brien sniffed. "Bet it's getting right up her nose having you here."
"Why do you say that?"
"Well, she's used to having him all to herself isn't she." O'Brien nodded towards the end of the corridor where Mr Carson and Mrs Travis were talking. "Now she knows she's second fiddle."
"I really don't think you should speak of Mrs Travis like that." Mrs Hughes reprimanded.
Miss O'Brien eyed her for a moment. "Perhaps you'll change your mind when you're around her for a few more days." O'Brien made a face and continued on her way.
The change of location obviously has no effect on Miss O'Brien's personality, Mrs Hughes though.
"The girls are back from Rosamund's." Cora informed Robert.
"I thought they might be." He said. "I've asked Carson to bring some tea." He said.
"Oh good." Cora smiled. "It's such a miserable day." She said looking out the window at a grey sky.
"How are Mrs Hughes and Mrs Travis doing?" Robert asked.
"Very well I think." Cora said. "Although, Mrs Hughes did make this point before and I'm beginning to think it's true, this place simply cannot compare to Downton Abbey no matter how much we plan."
"I could have told you that." Robert said gently.
There was a knock on the door and Carson entered with a tray. Mary and Edith arrived two minutes later.
"How's Mrs Hughes? She's not missing Downton too much is she?" Robert asked greeting his daughters.
"No, I don't think so." Carson replied. He straightened up. "As you know, it's my day off tomorrow – unless you need me to change it for any reason?"
"Not at all Carson! It's well earned." Robert said.
"Well, if Her Ladyship doesn't mind, I thought I might invite Mrs Hughes to join me. She hasn't seen anything of London since she's been here and I thought I might show her around. That is, as I said if Her Ladyship doesn't mind her taking the time off." Carson waited for Cora's reply, he wasn't sure why His Lordship seemed to be grinning at him.
"Oh I'm sure it won't be a problem. As long as Mrs Travis doesn't get jealous! You'll have to take her out for a day some other time!" Robert joked. Mary and Edith supressed smiles.
Cora gave him a warning look. "Of course I don't mind Carson. Mrs Hughes doesn't get to London very often so I'm sure she would love to have the opportunity to look around."
Carson chose to ignore His Lordship's comment and nodded at Lady Grantham. "Thank you M'Lady."
Carson exited the room and Cora threw Robert a reproving look. "You made him uncomfortable."
"Oh no I didn't." Robert said shook his head. "He knows I didn't mean anything by it."
"You're like a bold schoolboy." Cora admonished.
Robert laughed. "You have to admit it must be a bizarre situation for Carson."
"Why?"
"Well, it's like he has two wives under the same roof." He said. "It's bound to be tense."
"Two wives?" Edith asked.
"More like having his wife and his mistress suddenly meeting." Mary said.
"Mary!" Cora said shocked. Robert laughed out loud.
"Who's the wife and who's the mistress do you suppose?" Edith asked.
"Edith!" Cora was utterly appalled. "Look what you've started." She said to Robert but he just continued to laugh.
I'm not sure whether to continue or not.