Chapter 2

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A flashback; this chapter describes Daisy's first months at Downton Abbey. Of course, nothing is mine. Hope you like it…

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When Daisy had entered Downton Abbey as a scullery maid, thirteen years old, an orphan that had lived in an institution for the past five years, she had been terrified. Her job was to get up early and first light the fires in the kitchens and after that in the family's rooms. The family had to get up in a nice warm room, but she had to make sure they didn't notice her. After her breakfast she cleaned the oven and then tend to the other fireplaces in the house. However, she had to be careful NEVER to be noticed by any member of the family or their guests! The other maids had made it sound as if one could get the death penalty should that ever happen.

She did very well.. She did her work and made it a second nature to be invisible. No one noticed her, nor the upstairs neither the downstairs. As a result, hardly anyone ever spoke to her at all, apart from giving orders. At first she was glad about that. She was afraid of the other maids, who seemed to know exactly what to do and criticized her al the slightest mistake. She was very afraid of the cook, a short tempered woman who seemed to do nothing but scream at her staff, and she made sure never to get in her way. The housekeeper was a dark and gloomy figure, stern and prim, always dressed in black and carrying keys with her, and in Daisy's eyes that made her look exactly like the staff in the orphanage. During her years there she and the other children had been trained to never, ever cross the staff. Daisy was very afraid of the housekeeper and made herself scarce when she heard the jingling of keys that always preceded her.

But downright terrified she had been of the butler. A tall, large man, with stern features and a booming voice, to her he was almost a creature from another world. Daisy had never known her father, the orphanage was run by unkind women and so this male figure of authority was an unknown phenomenon to her. Luckily, the nature of her tasks made it very unlikely she would ever have to face him, as long as she made sure not to disturb any member of the Family.

So Daisy lived her life at Downton Abbey, very quiet, hardly noticed by anyone unless she had made a mistake, and within four weeks she learned not to make mistakes anymore. And while the lack of scolding made her life easier than it had been in years and she had a warm bed and enough to eat, Daisy slowly started to pine away. She had tried to become invisible and apparently had done so well, it now seemed she actually was invisible. Like a small, grey mouse. She worked hard and made long hours, but she often found herself without appetite. A bit of toast and a cup of tea, a small bowl of soup were enough for her. Mrs Patmore, the cook, had noticed and had frowned upon more than one occasion, and whenever she felt the cook's stern gaze on her she quickly had another bite.

Five months after entering service, Daisy had lost a stone and a half and felt terribly unhappy. She cried herself to sleep almost every night and to her own horror found herself wishing to be back at the orphanage. At least there were the other children, her friends that she could talk to. She wouldn't be so terribly lonely anymore. So one night, after many nights of crying, tossing and turning, Daisy decided to run away. She didn't know the address of the orphanage, only that it had been in York, but she thought she could easily find it. She remembered the building very well and knew that she would recognise it as soon as she saw it. She had no idea how far she had to walk, but she trusted she would find the way.

So that evening, instead of going to bed, she packed a bag with her few belongings and waited until late in the evening before slipping out of her small room. Very, very quietly she made her way downstairs and carefully tiptoed through the deserted corridors. The clock in the servant's hall chiming eleven made her jump, but she managed to find her way through the dark corridors without any obstacles on her way. Finally she reached the back door.

It was locked.

She moved the door-handle up and down, pushed it a bit, but the door remained locked.

A window, Daisy thought. She knew the servant's hall had a window, perhaps she could climb out from there. But when she turned around to go back, she got the biggest scare of her life.

Someone was walking down the corridor, holding a candle. Daisy saw the dancing light come closer and closer, heard the footsteps, but she couldn't see who was approaching. She was almost paralyzed with fear and cowered on her knees, trying to make herself invisible against the doorpost.

'Who's there?!' an ominous voice thundered through the empty dark corridor and she cried out.

'No, please no, don't hurt me…' she whispered, arms wrapped around her knees and eyes wide with fear.

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'What…?'

Mr Carson stood perplexed. He was making his round through the house as he did every evening, to make sure all fires were banked and all doors and windows were locked. Noticing an unexpected noise near the back door he had growled a warning as he usually did. Most times, it was caused by rats and he'd made a mental note to tell the hall boys they should set out traps again. But then, to his utter surprise he found the small girl, curled up against the door, crying and obviously scared to death by his appearance. Of course, she couldn't see him behind the light, he realised quickly and he put the candle on the floor and stepped around it.

'Don't be scared,' he whispered and squatted down to be at the same height as the girl, 'It's me, Mr Carson.'

Somehow, that didn't seem to reassure the girl. He reached for the candle and lifted it to have a better look at her face.

'Wait,' he said, trying to remember her. 'Wait now. You're the maid, the scullery maid. Mrs Hughes mentioned you. A flower's name you have…Lily?…No, Daisy, you're Daisy. What are you doing here love?'

'I wanted to run away,' the girl whispered.

He didn't know what to do, but he could see she was desperate and exhausted as well. 'But Daisy, it's the middle of the night,' he said gently. 'You haven't got a proper coat and it's cold outside, dear.'

'I know, but I want to leave Mr Carson,' the girl said, tears forming in her eyes.

He jogged his memory. What was it Mrs Hughes had said about that girl? A loose remark it had been, wile they were having their glass of wine before going to bed... 'Mrs Patmore is worried about her youngest maid, Daisy, she seems to be very unhappy. She asked me for help, but the girl seems to be afraid of me. I don't know what to do,' she'd said. Yes, that was it.

He smiled at the girl, suddenly feeling sorry for her.

'You may leave whenever you wish, Daisy. I just don't think it is a wise decision to go out this time of night. Won't you come to the kitchen with me? I will make us a cup of tea and you can tell me what's bothering you. And you can leave in the morning if you wish to, but we have to have a talk first. All right love?'

The endearment probably did it. And the fact that she had no choice.

After studying his face for a long time, she sighed. 'Yes Mr Carson.'

'Good girl.' He held out his hand and helped her get up.

He had no idea why this girl touched him like she did. There had been many homesick and unhappy maids and he had never paid them any attention, that was Mrs Patmore and Mrs Hughes' job and they did it well. So why did he bother now? Why not sent her back to bed and to the housekeeper's sitting room in the morning? He didn't know and decided it didn't matter.

Together the entered the kitchen, a familiar place for her. Good thinking Carson, he prided himself. Not in your office, that would make her nervous. He put the kettle on and started to scour the cupboards for treats. 'I know Mrs Patmore keeps a supply of chocolate biscuits here… no, it's empty. Oh wait, here is some dark bread and cheese. And tomatoes, yummy! I always love a little snack before going to bed, don't you?' he smiled at her, and she bit her lip to hide her grin. So that was where Mrs Patmore's secret supplies went! The kettle was boiling and Daisy prepared tea, while Mr Carson was busy with bread, cheese and tomatoes, not looking like the stern butler at all, humming and in his shirt sleeves. 'There now love. Sit down.'

He had prepared them both a sandwich with a thick slice of cheese, fresh tomato and some salt and pepper. Daisy suddenly found she was starved and devoured the sandwich. Mr Carson smiled and prepared them both a second one. She looks like she hasn't had a good meal in weeks, the thought to himself. When they finished their treats and had a fresh cup of tea, Mr Carson patted her hand.

'Now Daisy, tell me why you wanted to leave tonight,' he said gently.

She hesitated and he noticed it.

'Don't be afraid to tell me. We have raided the kitchen together and that creates a bond between us. I was hungry and I daresay, so were you.'

'Yes Mr Carson I was,' she said. She began to feel comfortable now, he could see that. Alone in the kitchen, sharing a secret. She smiled at him.

'Thank you Mr Carson,' she said shyly.

He had been kind to her, in fact, he had been kinder to her than anyone in the past years. He still was a tall man with eyebrows like caterpillars and a dark voice, but she could see kindness and compassion in his eyes. She wasn't afraid of him anymore.

And she told him why she had wanted to run away.

Mr Carson listened with growing concern. Good heavens, and he'd always thought Downton Abbey was a safe haven for everyone, be it upstairs or downstairs! His first impulse was to ask why, why! hadn't she asked someone or told someone, but he managed to suppress that. It was obvious she had not felt safe enough to do so! While she talked he studied her and it became clear to him why she had touched him in the way she did: she reminded him strongly of his younger sister Molly, who had died at age twelve after being run over by a carriage. He had been fond of Molly and had missed her terribly. Now, it seemed she had sent him a replacement…..

When she finished talking he reached across the table and took her small hands in his.

'I am very sorry you felt that way Daisy. I hope you will agree to stay here until tomorrow, and then you can decide what to do. In the meantime, I want you to know you and I are friends now. You can always turn to me when you need help or just someone to listen to you, and we will have no secrets for each other. Is that agreed?'

'I would like that very much Mr Carson. If I had a friend, I wouldn't feel so lonely anymore.'

'Good. It is very late now, so I will arrange for one of the hall boys to do your early morning duties and I'll report to Mrs Patmore that you are unwell. She'll understand, she's been worried about you for some time. She is a kind woman at heart, in spite of all her shouting.'

'Thank you Mr Carson.'

'Off to bed with you then. I'll clean up in here,' he said.

Daisy got up, walked up to him and stood on tiptoes to kiss his cheek.

'Goodnight Mr Carson,' she smiled.

'Goodnight love.'

From that day on, they had been friends.

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A/N Please leave a review if you can find the time, thnx george