Prologue
Changes
Change had come upon Downton after the London season. Not the sort of huge change like a wedding, a birth or a death would course, but people had left and others had arrived. New faces refreshed the always busy live downstairs, struggling at first with the strict and exhausting life that being a servant was, but with a little help of Carson's lectures about standards and property, Mrs. Hughes comforting words to ease homesickness and Mrs. Patmore's sarcastic comments about all sorts of things they soon got used to certain standards and rules, knowing exactly what to do and when to do it.
The family had returned to Downton the exact same time as the year before and the year before that. However the return of the staff had been quite different. With Carson and Mrs. Hughes both been gone the house wasn't as well prepared as usual, so it was actually true to call the two days before the Crawleys moved back in a fiasco. On one hand Mrs. Hughes, still somewhat relaxed and satisfied after that day on the beach and the new gained experience of a busy, but enjoyable London season, had no problems with making sure her maids worked hard and well. On the other hand, Carson slammed doors and shouted at the hallboys who in fact did their jobs as best as they could, but not fast enough in Carson's opinion who always worried about sloppy presentation.
Therefore on Mrs. Hughes part was a lot of eye rolling going on, while Carson was close to working himself into a heart attack. Once or twice, after a heated discussion with Carson in his pantry or her sitting room, she simply raised her hands in defeat and sent a sigh accompanied by an exasperated look to the ceiling. Anyways, the house was in perfect state when the Earl and his family came back home and things started getting back to normal. There were fewer arguments fought between butler and housekeeper. Carson's face stopped being all time reddened. Mrs. Hughes stopped being all time worried about his health.
And right then the changes had started. First Ivy had left for New York. Mrs. Hughes had been as surprised as Carson when Mrs. Patmore told them the tale of Mr. Levinson's growing fondness of Daisy's cooking, his offer being brought to her by his valet, – Carson sighed theatrically at his mentioning – Daisy turning him down and Ivy stepping in, having the chance of her life time as she had described it. Carson hadn't commented the subject further while Mrs. Hughes had only had an "I hope that girl knows what she's doing" to add. Mrs. Patmore had of course wanted to hire a new kitchen maid and that had been the first new arrival. Sophie Hobbs was a young lass of sixteen from York. Her parents both worked in a factory. She had no siblings. Apparently her parents wanted her to have a safe future which a position at a huge estate such as Downton could offer. Sophie was working hard, being a right hand to both, Mrs. Patmore and Daisy. Mrs. Hughes was glad that the girl kept her distance from James unlike Ivy had done. She didn't look for trouble. Even Carson thought after only a few weeks that she belonged at Downton.
The next change hadn't been as unexpected as the first. Molesley wasn't a footman. He was a good worker, but not a footman. When the Dowager's butler Sprat retired, Molesley put in his notice to work in a position that suited him far better than the one he had had at Downton. Carson was relieved to have gotten rid of him since he had been forced to hire him. Now he had to find a proper replacement. He picked a lad of nineteen called Raff Steward. He was from Lancaster. His father had died in the war, his mother afterwards. He had lived with his aunt and uncle. Carson had hired him for he saw potential and discipline. Mrs. Hughes didn't question Carson's decision, but worried about the lad who seemed to feel lonely.
Upstairs things remained mainly the same. Of course Edith was still trying to find out what had happened to Michael and with the baby so close she couldn't help, but pop by now and then, no matter the risk. Mary tried to focus on estate business, her thoughts wandering to Charles and Tony from time to time. Tom avoided Sarah to stop the nasty rumour that had spread. Cora and Robert were busy with being grandparents and Lord and Lady Grantham. Rose used every opportunity to visit London. Isobel visited regularly to see her grandson and to avoid Lord Merton who came to the village quite often, not stopping his attempts to court her. And Violet still disliked Americans.
