Chapter Two

Dr. Clarkson arrived at the big house as fast as possible. His entrance decided for him as he would be attending a footman. He arrived downstairs, knowing he'd have at least four flights of stairs to climb to see the footman. Still, it was an opportunity. Get a hold of ye self man. The doctor tried unsuccessfully to shake thoughts of the housekeeper from his mind. There's a job to attending the sick needed first. Even the crunching of pebbles under his feet did not shake the images of the housekeeper from his mind. Arriving at the servants' entrance (there's that word I hate he thought) the doctor knocked. It was Mr. Carson who answered. Of course it would be the butler. He hoped the fiery Scotswoman might be the one to greet him. In his thoughts on the way to the Abbey he envisioned her opening the door. Mr. Carson didn't have the same appeal to him. He was pleased to see her standing next to him. Wait strike pleased as in his mind she was standing a bit too close to the butler. Of course that could be from anxiety, worried that others might fall ill. All this raced through his mind. He did raise an eyebrow to Mr. Carson as if asking who is this person (although already knowing the answer)

"Excuse me where are my manners. Dr. Clarkson this is the new housekeeper of Downton." Mrs. Hughes stepped forward extending her hand saying with a delightful lilt in her voice, "I'm Elsie Hughes." She didn't break eye contact with the doctor instead looking him in the eye taking a direct approach. She had to admit he was a handsome man, and not tied to a career that kept him from having a family, loving and living life to its fullest. My why did all these thoughts enter her mind. The doctor had yet to speak but when he did Mrs. Hughes thought she might be knocked down by a feather. "How nice to meet you Mrs. Hughes. I believed we passed in the post office today." He was Scottish. Never had a voice sounded so wonderful to her as she was at times so homesick just for the sounds of her native land. The English who surrounded her in life were nice and friendly but the truly didn't understand a Scotswoman. That would take another Scot and here standing in front of her was just such a man. After hearing his voice she couldn't help but say, " Tha mi toilichte do choinneachadh" Dr. Clarkson could not be more pleased as he hear his native language. With only a brief hesitation he replied, "Tha mi toilichte do choinneachadh. Co às a sibh?" The two were just staring at each other smiling like teenagers at each other who had learned they had something in common. Before she could respond to his last question the conversation was interrupted by the butler. "As much as I would like for you two to continue your conversation, which of course I can't understand (a sign of Carson's irritability as he always felt English far superior to the Scottish Gaelic. Plus he didn't know what the doctor was saying to his Elsie. Wait when did he start thinking of Mrs. Hughes as his?) Carson had his own thoughts to ponder.

"Of course Mr. Carson, excuse me Mrs. Hughes. We'll talk after I've seen the patient." Carson again looked agitated at the Scottish doctor. After all the doctor is here to attend to a footman. He saw no reason he should be conversing with the housekeeper. His housekeeper...no the Abbey's housekeeper, Carson thought to keep everything in perspective. Meanwhile the doctor climbed the steps with a bit more enthusiasm than usual. A pair of brilliant blue eyes followed him until he disappeared to the next level. She'd given some thought of going with them but then decided the doctor might think she was intruding. The Scots had long been famous for their brilliant doctors so she knew that the footman was in capable hands. Odd. She'd noticed his hands when he had greeted her by offering her his hand. When they touched Elsie could not deny the feeling that coursed through her being. It was as if she'd been asleep and suddenly awakened by a lightning bolt from the sky. It threw her off balance. It had not been more than an hour before she heard the familiar steps of Mr. Carson making his way to the downstairs section of the kitchen, dining area and of course their respective offices. She'd been doing some paperwork, but made a quick effort to return to the foot of the stairway. She could hear the less familiar steps of the doctor. Of course she'd noticed him in the village that morning. How could she not but at that time she didn't know he was from Scotland. She just thought him a most attractive and distinguished looking man. Both men arrived at the end of the stairs (despite Carson trying to have the doctor leave by the main entrance.) Something about the way the doctor and the housekeeper greeted each other was unsettling Carson. The butler wanted him out of the Abbey as soon as possible and away from his Mrs. Hughes. Even he was not blind to their attraction, yet the stubborn housekeeper never noticed the attention he gave her. Perhaps it was because he didn't speak her language. More likely it was because he never really gave her the attention she deserved. While the doctor had been examining the footman, who as it turned out was not seriously ill, only a mild cold, Carson had time to look the man over. It was apparent he was a man of some means. Not a nobleman, like Lord Grantham, but higher in the class structure than himself, but just barely. Carson had to admit the doctor was fit (for his age. He had to be at least five or six year older than Carson making him at least 10 years older than Elsie-Where did that come from he never calls Mrs. Hughes Elsie.) Carson returned to his butler persona in time to hear the doctor tell him to have the footman take a cold remedy he left for the next few days and stay in bed. He would call again to make sure all was well with the footman. Carson thought that was the last thing he wanted. "Doctor could we just not send you a report on his status?" The doctor could tell Carson wanted him out of the Abbey and not return anytime soon. "No Mr. Carson. I would be irresponsible in my duties were I not to return to see the patient." Carson made another attempt, "We could send him to you if he was well." The doctor was ready for that too, "No that might lead to a setback and more trips for me to the Abbey." Carson thought quickly more trips here was the last thing he wanted with thoughts of Dr. Clarkson and Mrs. Hughes invading his mind and nagging at him.

Meanwhile Elsie waited for both men to arrive downstairs and she particularly wanted to talk with her Scotsman. Wait when did he become hers as if they belonged together. The sound of the steps on the old stairway were getting closer. Her heart was beating just a bit faster. It wouldn't be long now before she might have a proper chat with the doctor. The doctor was thinking the same thing. Carson was thinking how he could get the doctor to leave as fast as possible.