Chapter 4: Everyday Happenings

Chloe Kensington couldn't believe her luck. She had only been at Brancaster for less than a month as an official maid, and the fiancee of Lord Hexham had chosen her to be his ladies maid. Lady Edith had given her a note to give to a Mrs. Baxter once she arrived downstairs.

Already familiar with the staff, Chloe searched for an unfamiliar woman. She finally spotted a lady with a sewing needle in hand. Gathering up her courage, she walked over to her.

"By chance, are you Mrs. Baxter?" Chloe asked. With the woman's nod of approval, Chloe handed her the note. Mrs. Baxter read the note and let out a sigh of relief. She looked up at Chloe and said, "I'm very glad to assist you with Lady Edith. The last time I was here I had to do her mother, her older sister and her. I was run ragged by the end of the trip."

"You've been here before?" Chloe asked as she sat down beside her. Seeing that Baxter could use a hand with her sewing, she picked up a needle and began to thread it- something her mother used to say she could do quicker and easier than anyone she knew.

"Yes... last November... A friend of the Crawley family invited them here for the grousing shoot... Lady Edith met Bertie- I mean Lord Hexham then..." Baxter said- her eyes thanking the sweet young girl who handed her a needle ready to go.

Looking around and seeing that most of the staff had left to carry out various errands, Chloe took the opportunity to find out more information. "Is that why she choose the forest bedroom? It's so dark compared to the others..." Chloe mused as she followed Baxter s lead and began to stitch up a small hole in an outfit.

"Yes... the dark green walls do make it rather dark. Lady Edith never told me why she loved it so..." Baxter commented as she continued to stitch. "How did you come to work here? I don't remember you being here last year.."

Chloe smiled and said, "My father provides most of the vegetables that Mrs. Lowdes uses to cook the meals. He always sent me here to deliver them. I stuck up a friendship with her, and she saw in me something that I didn't... she convinced me to become a maid. I started training in February and completed my training a little over a month ago."

"Did Lord Hexham lose most of the staff after the death of his cousin?" asked a man who relied on a cane to walk.

"Some... Most of us who knew Lord Hexham when he was an agent stuck around. When Mrs. Lowdes declared she was staying, I knew I was as well. She's a dear friend- almost a second mother to me," Chloe commented as she finished stitching the hole.

With that the bells began to ring... Chloe watched as the man went up when the bell rang for the Golden Age Room... so, he must be the valet for Lord Grantham, she mused. Baxter put her stuff down as well and followed him out of the room. Before she left, she told Chloe that she would help her with Edith's wardrobe the next day. Chloe nodded and went to the kitchen. Another maid, Rebecca, would let her know if her bell rang. She highly doubted it would be soon since Lady Edith and Lord Hexham enjoyed the quiet moments in the drawing room after the rest had gone to sleep.

"I just met Mrs. Baxter- the ladies maid for Lady Grantham... she seemed pleased that I would be taking over for Lady Edith," Chloe said as she grabbed an apple and started to munch. It never failed for her to grab something when she walked into the kitchen- it reminded her of home tasting the fresh fruits and vegetables.

"I'm glad to hear that... When Bertie told me he was bringing Edith back here, I had an idea that you would be chosen," Mrs. Lowdes said with a twinkle in her eye. She was the only one who still dared to call Lord Hexham Bertie and none of the other staff corrected her. It was well known that anybody that dared cross her would be in trouble with Lord Hexham.

"I'm glad... I never knew that they met here," Chloe said as she finished eating the fruit.

"Yes... and I am so glad that they are getting married... for far too long, Bertie has put everyone else first- including his mother... but him choosing Edith, well that tells me that he followed his heart..." Mrs. Lowdes said as she wiped down the counter.

"You mean with Marigold... Lady Edith told me she was bringing a ward with her. I recommended Mrs. Story as a nanny..." Chloe said as she grabbed a cloth to help her.

"I think that there may be more to the story, but that is for them to tell," Mrs. Lowdes said as Rebecca entered the room. With a wave to Mrs. Lowdes, Chloe flew up the stairwell.

"I'm glad that dinner is over with," Edith said as she sat at the dressing table. Chloe carefully began to find and pull out the pin curls in her hair.

"If I may ask, why is that?" Chloe said quietly.

Edith pondered the question and Chloe. As she watched the maid make quick work of undoing her hair, she saw in her someone that could be trusted. When she had told Bertie her idea of Chloe being her new ladies maid, he had said Mrs. Lowdes would highly approve. Edith had since figured out that much like Mrs. Hughes at Downton, Mrs. Lowdes ran the household downstairs. She almost envied the relationship Mary had with Anna, and began to think that this might be her chance.

"Mother Pelham... I thought my grandmother, the Dowager was tough... but she takes it to a whole new level. Even papa realized it... Bertie has been wonderful... loving and supporting me through it..." Edith said as she stood so Chloe could carefully help her out of the dress.

"Mrs. Pelham has most of the staff downstairs on their toes as well," Chloe said. "Even Mr. Kinkade has trouble with her..."

"I can understand that... Did Baxter say anything about more dresses being brought up for me?" Edith questioned as she tightened up her robe.

Chloe nodded and said, "She told me she would help me with it tomorrow. Is there anything specific that you need?"

Edith thought for a moment and said, "I know we are going on a tour of the grounds... something simple and easy for that... Sometime tomorrow or Sunday, Mr. Wick will be doing our engagement photographs for the London paper... so I'll need something pressed and ready for that as well."

Chloe nodded and bade her good night. With a smile on her face, she walked up to her small quarters. This was going to be something new, something exciting and she couldn't wait. She had always known in her heart that she was born to serve people, and she now had the perfect opportunity to fulfill her lifetime wish.

And now, you've been introduced to Chloe Kensington... purely a figment of my imagination... The next chapter will probably go back to Edith's point of view, but I felt the need to let Chloe tell her story.

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