A/N: I know it has been almost a lifetime since I last updated my other fic and I promise that I will get around to finishing it! I'm in the middle of about three different ones at the minute but this one was the first to be finished. I'm not satisfied with it at all but there's only so many times a girl can rewrite those same sentences. But… HURRAH FOR OUR SHIP BEING (almost) CANON, RIGHT?!

Merry reading!

Silence fell on the servants' hall as the butler relayed the tragedy that had stormed upon the family without warning. Daisy, always trying to help in anyway that she could, was the first of the staff to speak, "Is there anything we can do, Mr Carson?"

"Carry on, Daisy. As we all must." The butler breathed in and gave a small, sympathetic smile before turning away and leaving the room.

Mrs Hughes lifted her gaze from the floor to watch him hurry to his pantry. He was upset. They all were. Lady Sybil was a highly valued and highly loved member of upstairs, by the family and the staff.

Daisy's sniffle brought Mrs Hughes' attention back to the staff. Her shoulders began to tremble as she tried to hold back her tears. Anna lifted her hand and rested it on Thomas' arm. Ivy took hold of Mrs Patmore's hand. In all the years Mrs Hughes had worked, she had never seen a group of people be so wholeheartedly affected by the death of a family member. She stepped forward and gathered Daisy in her arms, silently willing her to let go of the tears that she was holding back.


Only fifteen minutes had passed since they had heard the news but it felt like hours. Mrs Hughes sat in her sitting room, staring at the cold cup of tea that was placed in front of her and absent-mindedly playing with the keys that hung from her waist. Unlike Mr Carson, she did not worship the family but she would have agreed that they least deserved a tragedy such as this. Mr Carson. Her mind wandered to him. He had known Lady Sybil much longer than she had done. He had watched her grow up.


Mrs Hughes wiped the tears from under her eyes before knocking and entering the butler's pantry. She silently studied him before asking, "Are you alright, Mr Carson?"

He quickly turned his head to look at her as if he had only just noticed that she was in the room. He let out a long breath, "I've known her all her life, you see."

Mrs Hughes moved closer to him and covered one of his hands with her own.

"I've known her since she was born."

She spoke soothingly, "You don't need to explain yourself to me."

"She was…" He broke off as a tear rolled down his cheek.

"The sweetest spirit under this roof." She finished for him.

He squeezed her hand and tried to smile but another tear escaped. Mrs Hughes lifted her free hand and brushed her thumb over his cheeks.

He moved away from her touch, "I should not be crying in front of you."

"Mr Carson." She sighed.

He stayed facing the wall.

"Mr Carson," She was by his side once again. "I think propriety can be forgotten on this occasion."

This time, it wasn't her that took his hand but him who took hers. They stood, silently comforting each other, neither of them having to say a single word to make the other understand how they were feeling, until the clock on the mantelpiece made them both jump.

Mr Carson squeezed her hand before almost reluctantly letting it go, "It's very late, Mrs Hughes. You should be asleep."

She wanted to stay. She knew he would not go up just yet. She knew he wouldn't sleep tonight. She wanted to comfort him. Have him comfort her. She wanted to stay. But she didn't. She understood how he needed to be alone. She almost wished she didn't know him so well.

"Goodnight, Mr Carson." She placed a soft kiss on his cheek before turning and leaving.

"Goodnight, Elsie." He said to the closed door.


~ THE END ~