A/N: This is for Peekaboo003 who gave me the idea. Hope you like it 3 It'll be a T until further notice
Disclaimer: I don't own them, Fellowes does. If I did...well I'd be rich and there'd be a lot more going on between the Butler and the Housekeeper ;-)
The season had only just begun, Lady Rose's first with the family at that, and yet when they arrived at the London house it was in a state of panic. The housekeeper had up and gone, packed her things and simply left. Carson stood in the hallway in utter shock, bags in hand he shook his head. What on Earth would they do now? Depositing his bag in his pantry he composed his thoughts for a few moments before heading upstairs to break the news to the family. There was only one solution in his mind, Mrs. Hughes had to come up. He knew she didn't know the house or the staff, but he knew she could bring order to a pack of wild dogs if she needed to.
Climbing the stairs he sought out his Lordship, still unsure of how exactly to break the news.
"Ah Carson there you are! How is everything downstairs?" Roberts voice emerged from the doorway of the library, the house seemed to be in more of an uproar than usual. He knew things could be hectic on the first night, but it seemed even more off than usual.
"Actually M'Lord I was just coming to find you. It seems we have a small problem. Mrs. James seems to have left M'Lord. Janie said she was here last night and gone this morning. No notice, no letter, her rooms are empty."
"You're not serious!" Taking one look at the butlers face, his own jaw dropped. "You are. What are we to do? I can hardly go and hire a housekeeper off the street...Do you know of Janie is ready for the task full time?"
"What about sending for Mrs. Hughes M'Lord? I'm sure she can assess what needs to be done and see to either preparing Janie or finding a replacement for Mrs. James." If he was completely honest he would love for her to be here with him, to show her the city on their half days. He'd never tell her that though, but he would gladly use the disappearance of Mrs. James to bring her here.
"Yes...yes I think that would be best. I'm sure Anna will do fine taking over for the season, with Mary home she'll be there anyhow. Call Downton immediately, see to it that she's on the very next train to London."
"Yes M'Lord" Turning Carson made his way back downstairs to phone for Elsie.
The conversation wasn't a long one. She was shocked, but agreed to come. How could she deny it really? She only had one request, it was silly really. She'd asked him to meet her at the station. She had been to London before, but never alone and she wasn't entirely sure how to find her way from the train to the house.
As she hung up the phone she sighed. London...for the season, or at least part of it anyways. She needed to speak with Lady Mary, and then Anna, as well as get herself packed and on the next train. First things first, she had to see to her ticket, once that task was done she made her way upstairs in search of Lady Mary.
Partway up the stairs she stopped as Alfred passed with a tea tray, there was only one person it could be for so she stopped him. "I'll take it up Alfred, I need to speak with Lady Mary anyways." Taking the tray from him with a smile she continued up to the sitting room and then inside with the tray.
"Oh Mrs. Hughes, I wasn't expecting you..." Mary glanced up expecting Alfred of Jimmy, and feeling a wave of relief as she saw the older woman. They had by no means become close friends since Matthews death, but they were both kinder to each other. It had been Mrs. Hughes who'd come to Annas rescue when she had locked herself in her rooms. The stern but gentle push to at least care for herself had been exactly what she needed.
"I told Alfred I'd bring it up M'Lady, I needed to speak with you anyways. I've received a call from Mr. Carson, it appears Mrs. James has left with no warning. They would like me to come up on the next train to get the house settled. I had thought to send Anna, but felt she would be better here." With you, she thought. Anna may be only a maid to Lady Mary, but there was an undeniable friendship there. Pouring the tea she carried the cup over to Mary.
Taking the cup she sighed soflty, "No, that's fine...you must go Mrs. Hughes. I'm sure we can manage. If you're not there we both know Carson will work himself into a state, and neither of us want to see that again." She cast a knowing look to the house keeper, wondering how much longer it would take the two of them to throw propriety to the wind and get on with it already.
With a smirk she nodded, "Yes he will. I'll settle things with the staff then and be off this evening. Is there anything else you need M'Lady?"
"Just take care of them Mrs. Hughes..."She trailed off sipping her tea before looking up once more a grin spreading across her face, "And tell Carson he's to take you out to dinner for coming to the rescue."
"I think I'll do just that M'Lady." With a smile Elsie left the room shutting the door behind her once again.
Calling the staff together she passed on the news, and the plans for what would be happening. She still expected the rooms to be thoroughly cleaned, Thomas was to make certain the footmen polished the silver as Mr. Carson had asked. Looking at the clock she sighed, she only had three hours to pack and get to the train station on time, at least she had been smart enough to call for the car. Climbing the stairs she packed quickly.
Mrs. Patmore, the dear woman, had packed her a small basket of food for the trip. Anna accepted the keys with a smile, glancing to the grinning Mrs. Patmore, "You're not getting the key from me. I value my job too much for that." The three of them shared a laugh as Elsie rushed out to the car.
"You know where I am if you need anything...please don't burn the place down while I'm gone. And for Heavens sake...don't do anything I wouldn't do!"
She'd gotten to the station on time and into the car before the nerves hit her. The uncertainty. She'd never gone to London for the season, the few times she had been there were short trips to help Anna or to look for work before coming to Downton. And then there was the fact that she would be able to spend this time with him, time she never got to spend with him. There was a certain excitement in sharing this aspect of his life, though she'd certainly never admit it to him.