A/N: A quick update. Hope you like it x
Chapter 3
"I am sorry Mrs Hughes just ignore me … I am being ridiculous. Of course she doesn't still love me … we hardly know each other at all now … it has been almost forty years …" Mr Carson stuttered, shaking his head.
Mrs Hughes smiled at him without saying a word; all she could think about was whether Mr Carson still loved Alice rather than whether Alice still loved him. This thought almost broke her. She continued to smile at him, not daring to speak.
"Anyway, it will be nice to catch up with her and to hear about her life. She might be married now for all I know …" he said, his words trailing off as he pondered that thought for a moment.
Mrs Hughes watched his contemplative expression; trying to gauge whether the thought of Alice being married had wounded him. For once she found it difficult to read his thoughts.
"I should be going Mr Carson. It has been a long day and I am ready for my bed," Mrs Hughes said plainly.
"Oh right … I understand Mrs Hughes. Thank you for listening to me," Mr Carson said sincerely.
"Good night Mr Carson," she smiled.
"Good night Mrs Hughes," he replied happily.
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It had been almost a week since Mr Carson received the letter from Alice. Mrs Hughes had been able to push it to the back of her mind. No-one would have noticed any real change between the heads of household. They still enjoyed their nightly tipple before bedtime and they still delighted in an easy banter and humour throughout the day. However, Mrs Patmore, perceptive as ever, could see the sadness in Mrs Hughes's eyes. She did not know what had upset her but she was determined to find out.
"Mrs Hughes … would you like to join me for a cuppa?" Mrs Patmore said, as she approached the Housekeeper in the corridor downstairs.
Mrs Hughes could sense an interrogation. However, she did not have enough energy to resist.
"Why not?" she replied.
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Two cups of tea later, Mrs Hughes had almost told Mrs Patmore the whole story.
"So she dumped him for his best friend and now forty years later she thinks she can just turn up out of the blue and stake her claim?" Mrs Patmore said, already despising Alice.
"Well I cannot be sure about that. She may just want to meet up with an old acquaintance … I hope so anyway," Elsie whispered, admitting for the first time to someone else that the thought of Alice made her uneasy.
"He cannot still have feelings for her Mrs Hughes. He really cannot. He cares for you," the Cook said warmly.
Mrs Hughes shook her head, feeling flustered. Mrs Patmore was one of her best friends in the world but they had never discussed this topic fully. It was something best avoided.
"I don't think that is true …" she began but simply did not know what to say next.
"Mrs Hughes it is true. You have been at Mr Carson's side for over twenty years; supporting him and caring for him. You have always been loyal to him and have never betrayed his trust … unlike that singing trollop!" Mrs Patmore said confidently, as Mrs Hughes tried to stifle a giggle.
"Ooh I don't know ... I think I am just being selfish. Mr Carson is a dear friend but of course he is allowed to have other friends. I should be happy for him," Mrs Hughes added, chastising herself.
"Mrs Hughes you are allowed to be human once in a while you know. You don't always have to be the Saint of Downton!" Mrs Patmore joked, giving her friends hand a little squeeze as she did so.
Mrs Hughes laughed again despite herself.
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"Mrs Hughes … has something happened that we should all know about? Some good news?" Anna asked happily.
"Whatever do you mean Anna?" Mrs Hughes asked, confused.
"It is just Mr Carson … he has been whistling and singing in his pantry for the last half an hour … I have never heard him so cheerful," Anna said innocently.
Mrs Hughes forced a smile in return. She knew that he was meeting Alice later that afternoon and she knew that his happy demeanour was obviously in anticipation of seeing his old friend.
"Oh perhaps he has just torn a strip off Thomas … that always cheers him up!" Mrs Hughes joked lightly in return.
Anna giggled and walked off down the corridor.
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"I am off then," Mr Carson said, as he stepped inside Mrs Hughes's sitting room.
The Housekeeper quickly stood to greet him. She noticed straight away that he had made a special effort in getting ready. He wore a pale grey suit that she had never seen before and a matching blue tie and handkerchief in his jacket pocket. He was also wearing the cologne that he usually only used on Sundays; she could smell it from where she stood; it was a scent she loved.
"You look very nice Mr Carson," she said without thinking and then immediately blushed. Why on earth am I commenting on how he looks? She thought with mortification.
"Well thank you very much Mrs Hughes ... that's probably because I usually look rather awful!" he joked.
Mrs Hughes laughed with him. Yet she always thought he looked very handsome. She decided wisely not to mention that fact.
"Well … good luck then Mr Carson. I hope you have a very enjoyable afternoon," she managed, her voice gently breaking. She hoped he did not notice.
"Thank you Mrs Hughes. I must say I feel a little nervous," he smiled anxiously, looking for some reassurance from his friend.
"Try not to be nervous Mr Carson. You will be fine," she smiled.
He nodded gratefully and then walked out of the room.
Mrs Hughes grasped the sideboard to steady herself; having just watched the man that she loved, walk out of her sitting room, on his way to meet his former love. She bit her lip as her nervousness overtook her. Would Mr Carson fall in love with Alice all over again? Had he ever stopped loving her? Could she ever compete with Alice in terms of his affections? I am the one who made him think fondly of Alice again, she thought with a despondent laugh. I even bought him a photo frame to put on his desk! What was I thinking? Yet, she knew what she was thinking. She cared for Mr Carson deeply and she had wanted to help him heal an old wound. She wanted him to have happy memories, not sad memories, of his former sweetheart. However, had she known his former love was alive and well, she may not have behaved quite so unselfishly? Anyway, perhaps forty years later she has changed; perhaps he will no longer like her as much, Elsie thought hopefully.
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Mr Carson stood outside the tea shop; a bundle of nerves. Try not to be nervous, Mrs Hughes had said; he must try and take his friend's advice. He smiled happily at the thought of the Housekeeper; she always knew exactly what to say to make him feel better. His attentions then turned to Alice; he wondered if he would still recognise her and, indeed, if she would recognise him. Well, there is only one way to find out, he thought sensibly. He took a step forward and opened the door to the shop. He scanned the tables hoping to recognise his friend. His gaze stopped in an instant as he immediately saw her across the room. She stood to greet him; the most delighted smile on her face. She had not changed one bit, Charles thought, as he smiled tenderly at his friend. He felt the warmest feeling overtake him as he walked across to where she stood.
"It is wonderful to see you Charles," she breathed.
"You too Alice," he replied, as he took her small hand in his, beaming broadly.
A/N: Thank you so much for your reviews x
