The storm outside of Downton Abbey raged as thunder clapped and lightning cracked across the sky. It was nearly nine o'clock when Carson heard a knocking. The family was at dinner, and he was irritated that he should have to leave his post to see who was at the door. He muttered something under his breath about propriety and the importance of not coming to the estate at such a ridiculous hour. He opened the door and looked out onto the dark grounds. He frowned. He did not see anyone until he looked down. A girl, about the age of sixteen was sprawled on the ground wearing a white dress that was soaked and torn. Her head was bleeding and her dark hair was matted down from the rain and blood. He gasped and picked the girl up in his arms. "Mrs. Hughes!" he shouted. Just as he called for her, she appeared. 'What is all this yelling about, Mr. Carson?" She asked and then saw the unconscious girl he was holding. "Oh my!" she said as she examined her wounds. "Tell his lordship," carson started, but was interrupted when Lord Grantham entered the room. "Tell me what?" He asked. "Dear God what has happened?" He said and called Dr. Clarkson. Carson, Mrs. Hughes and Lord Grantham all moved upstairs to a spare bedroom. While they were rushing upstairs, Carson became aware of how much blood the girl had lost and how intimate a way he was holding her which made him blush. When they had reached the bedroom, Carson laid the girl on the bed and examined her wounds. She was bleeding badly from her upper forehead and she lacked shoes. She also had lacerations along her arms and her wrists appeared to have been bound. Her skin was as cold as ice and paler than Lady Mary's. Her dress was torn badly on the bottom and had a bruise on her right cheek. "Carson, give her your jacket," Lord Grantham ordered and he obliged. It was already covered with her blood and he did his best to try and keep the mysterious girl warm. Just then, Lady Grantham appeared with Mary, Sybil, and Edith. "What has happened?!" Sybil asked and quickly ran to the girl's side and inspected the damage. "Is Clarkson coming?" Asked Mary. "Yes, he is on his way and should be here soon. Mary, can you wait at the front door until he arrives?" asked Lord Grantham. "She is cold as ice. We need to give her a fresh set of clothes," said Sybil, who had already gone into full nurse mode. The men exited the room, and the women undressed the wounded girl and replaced her soaked and tattered dress, for a clean nightgown. Sybil ordered one of the maids to get warm water and a washcloth and started to wipe away the blood. It wasn't long before Clarkson arrived and rushed into the room. He and Sybil wiped the blood away so they could see the damage. She had a gash about an inch wide which required stitches. Clarkson prepared the needle and was about to begin the surgery when the girl's eyes flew open and she began screaming. She started thrashing about, trying to escape and yelling "I need to get out of here! Let me go!" Clarkson and Sybil both had to retrain her and Sybil stabbed a sedative into the girl's vein, which eventually calmed her. Paranoid that she would wake again, Clarkson quickly stitched her wound up and then examined her for any other wounds. She seemed fine, besides her low temperature from the storm and the bruise on her cheek. He grabbed as many blankets as he could find and covered the girl to bring her temperature back up. He also ordered a fire be lit in the fireplace. After all the work had been done, he and Sybil left the room to address the anxious family.
"Is she alright?" asked Lady Grantham. "She will be if we get her body temperature back up. She also had a nasty gash on her forehead which thankfully, I was able to stitch up. The other wounds didn't need stithes and shoukd heal within a week or two. There is something, however, I wish to discuss with you, Lord Grantham." And the two walked towards the library to discuss what was troubling to Dr. Clarkson. "Will she make it?" asked Mary. "I think so. She needs a lot of rest, and I will take care of her. Make sure that there are fresh blankets, sheets, and dresses for her to wear when she wakes," Sybil ordered. Mary left to go tell Mrs. Hughes, and Edith quietly spoke to her mother. "Mama, why do you think that she came here?" She asked. "I don't know, my darling. But I think we can help her. And that's what we will do." She smiled and kissed her daughter's forehead.
Meanwhile in the library, Clarkson and Lord Grantham called Carson into discuss with them. "Carson, you were the first one to see the girl, correct?" asked Clarkson. "I did, sir." "And what did she look like when you saw her? Was she awake? Did she say anything?" Carson sighed. "She looked like an angel that had fallen from heaven. She was bleeding, but unconscious. I looked to see if there was anyone else on the grounds, but I didn't see anyone, sir." He said. Clarkson nodded and turned to Lord Grantham. "Robert," he started. "I believe foul play was involved." "What kind of foul play?" asked Lord Grantham. "The slice on her forehead is constant with a knife injury. it appears the knife had a jagged edge like a combat knife. As for the bruise on her cheek, I believe she was beaten before she was attacked with the knife. I checked for more bruises and found more on her arms and legs along with more slices." He said gravely. "Good God. How did she get so beaten up?" he asked. "I don't know for sure, we will have to ask her ourselves when she wakes. But I do believe that all of her injuries were intentional and that whoever did this, wanted her dead."
Mrs. Hughes and Carson addressed the staff about their new house guest. "Remember, the girl is a guest in this house and you shall treat her accordingly." said Carson sternly. "Is she alright, Mr. Carson?" Asked Ana. "I hope so, Ana." he said sadly then dismissed the staff. He and Mrs. Hughes closed the door to her sitting room, and both sat down. "The poor girl," Mrs. Hughes sighed. "How old is she?" she asked Carson. "She must have been about sixteen or so. She's only a child. Dr. Clarkson and Lord Grantham believe that she was attacked." he said gravely. "I'm going to go see if she is alright," she said and went upstairs to check on their visitor.
When she opened the door, Mrs. Hughes quietly entered. She then silently closed the door behind her and sat in the chair next to the bed. The covers were drawn up to the girl's nose, and Mrs. Hughes carefully drew the covers back from the girl's face. She really did look like an angel. She had long dark hair that fell around her face and pale white skin. She had a few freckles around her nose which made her look younger, but she looked as if she was in her teens. Mrs. Hughes gently felt the girl's forehead and felt she was still cold. After wapping the girl up again in the blankets, she tended to the fire and sat down on the chair. after a little while of watching the girl, mrs. Hughes dozed off and was awoken by Carson a few hours later.
Carson entered the room to check in on the house's new guest. it was about midnight and he couldn't sleep. he needed to know that she was safe. after entering the room, he found mrs. Hughes sleeping in the chair beside the bed. Carson smiled and after tending to the fire, gently woke the sleeping mrs. Hughes. "Good heavens!" mrs. Hughes said with a start. "Mr. Carson, what are you doing here?" she asked quietly. "I was checking on the girl. she seems to be warmed up a bit. let's take off a few blankets so the poor thing doesn't die of heat." mrs. Hughes and mr. Carson both took 3 blankets off and neatly folded them. now the sleeping girl only had the one comforter to stay warm and she seemed fine. The two of them left the room and returned to the servants quarters. after bidding each other good night, they went to bed.
the next morning, Sybil woke bright and early to tend to her new patient. she checked her temperature, cleaned her wound, and fixed the blankets. she also had a breakfast tray to be brought up, just in case. She then heard a noise and turned to see the girl move. she painfully sat up and opened her eyes. "Who are you?" she asked. "I am Sybil Crawley. You are at Downton Abbey. you were found at our doorstep badly injured so we took care of you." she smiled. The girl looked confused and touched her forehead where the stitches were. "Careful. don't want to pull the stitches," said Sybil. The girl then glanced down at her arms and saw the bruises. "What happened to me?" she asked quietly. "We were hoping you could tell us that," said Sybil as she placed the breakfast tray on the bed. "What is your name?" Asked Sybil. the girl furrowed her brow. "I... I don't know." "You probably have temporary amnesia from the head injury. I've seen it before in soldiers. your memory should return unless the amnesia is permenant." "Permanent?!" the girl cried, a worried and scared look crossing her face. "Don't worry. it's probably temporary." "When will my memory come back?" she asked. "It could come back in a few days or a few months. you don't know. usually something triggers the memory to come back, like experiencing something you're familiar with." said Sybil. The girl nodded stiffly. "Thank you, lady Sybil." she said. "no no, please call me Sybil." she smiled and left the room.
Carson and mrs. Hughes were anxious to see the mysterious girl, but both had to attend to their duties. They ordered the servants to not disturb the girl, and do what lady Sybil said.
Lord Grantham entered the bedroom where his guest was and smiled. she was awake, and looking much better. "Hello, my dear. I am lord Grantham. welcome to Downton." The girl smiled. "hello, lord Grantham. thank you for your kindness and hospitality. I am ever so grateful." "what is your name, my dear?" he asked. She frowned. "I can't remember." she said sadly. "no matter. we shall find out who you are soon enough. meanwhile, you are welcomed here and shall be our guest. For the meantime, might I suggest picking a name for us to call you by?" he smiled and exited the it was Carson's turn to meet the girl.
Carson entered the room tentatively, unsure on the girl's mental and physical status. She was awake, but still looked banged up. she had dark circles underneath her eyes and bruises covered her pale skin. She looked so fragile, and yet so strong. Her amber colored eyes betrayed her confident aura by showing traces of fear. "Can I fetch anything for you, my lady?" he asked kindly. "No thank you. But if you don't mind, would you mind staying for a while?" she looked hopefully at Carson. Carson was torn. he had so many tasks to complete, but on the other hand, the girl really did need someone to talk to. He nodded and sat down on an empty arm chair opposite from the bed. "Who are you?" she asked. "My name is Carson, the butler here at Downton Abbey. Mrs. Hughes will be taking care of you mostly, as will Ana, but if you need anything, you need only ask," he smiled and she seemed satisfied. "Can you help me with something?" she asked shyly. "I need a name to call myself because I can't remember my real name." she said looking down, ashamed. Carson smiled understandingly and nodded. "Might I suggest, Kathrine?" he said after thinking for a moment. The girl looked up and smiled. "I think that will do just fine. What should my last name be?" After a small pause, the girl's face lit up. "I know! Carson!" "Yes, my lady?" he asked inquisitively. Kathrine laughed. "No! My name will be Kathrine Carson! it has a nice ring to it doesn't it?" she smiled.