I still own nothing! I am just writing for fun. By the way has someone trouble with uploading, too? Hope my writing is okay since I have no beta. I also hope that the real families from the Brabazon's and Powerscourt's forgive me for making fictional characters out of them, but part of their family history is just so fitting. Please don't sue me; it's just a fictional story based on real Characters. Of course, I changed a few things like names and dates.

Chapter 2

Mr. Carson had not talked to Mrs. Hughes since two days. Charles was able to avoid her, even if he wasn't furious at her. Mr. Carson just didn't know what to say. It was too much information, and he couldn't talk to anybody else about it. His Lordship's son in law was also Mrs. Hughes, son. Nobody should ever know that. It would be a scandal! What would the people say?

Maybe it wasn't that bad after all, that he moved to America.

That thought made him sad as he realized, it must have been hard for Elsie to lose him again. It was weird how obviously it was now for him, knowing that detail. All came together. Why she always excused his actions and seemed to favor him.

"Carson is everything alright; you seemed preoccupied.", Lady Mary asked at the breakfast table. Pulling himself out of his head and back to his duty's he quickly answered.

"I am sorry, milady. Nothing to bother you with, I was just thinking about a situation downstairs."

That made Lord Grantham look up from his paper and turn in his chair.

"Is something happened?", he asked worriedly.

"No milord, just busy since so many of the staff have left.", Mr. Carson answered.

That eased Robert and leaned back in his chair, fixing his eyes on his newspapers again. "I know more and more seem to leave service this day's, but that must not be all a bad thing.", Lord Grantham tried to convince him.

"What are your plans for today, Mary?", Robert asked his daughter to change the subject.

"I wanted to go back to Tom's office. While I could follow most of the stuff he was talking about; I still have troubles with his books for the workshops. Maybe I just leave it. It's full of formulas and high mathematical calculations. As he showed it to me, he made it sound like it was the easiest thing ever. He must have forgotten that I wasn't at a college.", Mary explained.

Robert laughed at that. "Neither was Tom! I still remember his references as he started working here. He left school already with eight. I thought that was young at the time. Apparently, his parents couldn't afford it anymore. If you would like I will look at the books for you! I was after all at Oxford University! I'm sure that's not a problem.", Lord Grantham was showing off. Mary gave her father a suspicious look.

"You shouldn't underestimate me; I can calculate. It just doesn't look ordinary to me, but if you think you can handle it, give it a go. Keep in mind that I warned you about it.", Lady Mary replied. Mr. Carson who had followed the conversation was shifting in his spot. Another realization about Mr. Branson hit him. He remembers what Mrs. Hughes had told him about his father and her. Both of them had high mathematical skills, so it might be possible that they had passed that on him. It wouldn't surprise him if his Lordship were getting embarrassed. Let's hope it is not to out of the ordinary and his Lordship's mathematical skills are up to it.

After Andy and he had cleared the table, Charles went downstairs to his office. Mr. Carson was so glad that Mrs. Hughes was nowhere near at the moment. He needed more time to think. He still loved that woman, but he couldn't make a decision without over thinking it. Maybe love is sometimes not enough. She had cheated his trust and everything he believed in.

Sitting down at his table, he looked at the big book in front of him. "Great Houses of Britain" was written in gold letters on the cover. His Lordship had once given it to him as a Christmas gift. He had made it a tradition, as he registered, how fond he was from "The Royal Families of Europe," that he continued to give Carson every year a new one. He was so thankful to his Lordship.

Now Charles was curious. Mrs. Hughes hadn't told him Mr. Branson's father full name, so he knew nothing about him. Charles thought it would help collecting the missing pieces to the story. He was aware that Mr. Branson was from Bray in Wicklow. Mrs. Hughes had said, that the man who had adopted him, was from the same county so his father must just be the Lord from the same county. It must be written down in the book. He scanned thru the front register until he found the county name with the page number behind it and opened it.

"County Wicklow, Powerscourt House, near Enniskerry: Mervyn Richard Powerscourt, 8th Viscount Powerscourt since 1904. Born*1880", was written on the Page he opened, with a lot of following information on it. No, that wasn't it. Also if it sounded imposing that the estate had the biggest and prettiest garden, the name and age weren't fitting. Charles opened the next Page.

"County Wicklow, Kilruddery House, near Bray. Thomas Reginald Brabazon, 12th Earl of Meath since 1887, Born *1860. Conservative politician in the House of Lords." He was sure that's the right man. This must be Mr. Branson father. Mr. Carson looks up from the Page. That would be a major conflict with Mr. Branson if he would know. "Did he know, who his real father is?", Charles wondered. The time and name seemed right, also that he is political. Even if he is in a party Mr. Branson not approved off. Well, or does he since the coalition with the Liberals? Mr. Carson was still confused over the changes in the parliament, that he couldn't say. Since the Earl of Meath was an Angol Irish, Charles was sure Mr. Branson didn't approve at all.

"Marriage to Lady Amelia Katherine Powerscourt at September 1885.

Three Children: Keith Reginald Brabazon born 1888, Shane Thomas Brabazon born 1893 and Lady Katherine Emily Brabazon born 1907.", Mr. Carson continued to read.

"They created the biggest union in Southern Ireland. 1913 Keith Reginald Brabazon married Lady Laura Drumdoogle, the marriage was succeeded with three children. Until today the Earl of Meath is linked with famous company's world wide."

Wait a minute! Lady Laura Drumdoogle? That name sounded familiar! Hasn't Mr. Branson played firebrand at her estate and was banned from Ireland because of it? That couldn't be a coincidence! There was more behind it, Mr. Carson was sure. That all wasn't helping his current situation right now, he had to think about something else to come to terms with Elsi`s past. The biggest question remained for Charles. Why had he come to Downton all that years ago, to the same house his birth mother was working? That couldn't be a coincidence either. Mr. Branson must know about it. Should he call Mr. Branson and just asking him? Charles had his new office number for emergencies, in case something bad happens. How much time was it again in Boston now? Mr. Carson pulled out his watch from his overcoat and looked at it. 10 am was it now. Charles believed it must be 5 hours time difference. It was much too early to make a call; he wouldn't be in his office until another 4 hours. Mr. Carson decided to call before dinner. After Charles had made up his mind about it, he studded up to leave his office and continued with his work.