Dr. Clarkson was now with Charles for quite a while, and Elsie was getting impatient about it. What was happening in there? It couldn't be a good sign if it took that long. She had let made up the best room for him since his quarters were on the other side of the abbey. Elsie had just seen a glimpse of him as they had brought Mr. Carson upstairs. That picture will haunt her now forever. The way his limp body was hanging supporting on Mr. Barrow and Andy as they carried him, more dragged him to his made up the room. Would he recover? Mrs. Hughes tried to carry on with her duty's while they waited for the worst. It wasn't easy to distract her thoughts from it. Every 2 minutes she had to look at the big clock in the hallway, while she checked the work her maids had done. They hadn't it easy today with her. Elsie was always high in her authority, but she never was this impatient and strict with her housemaids like in the last 2 hours. Mrs. Hughes had yelled at poor Margey just because she had puffed out the pillows in the library the wrong way. If Elsie would not getting a life sign soon from Mr. Carson, she apparently would turn mad.
Meanwhile downstairs. Mrs. Patmore tried to prepare the food with Daisy for luncheon as suddenly the doorbell from the back door was ringing.
"Who could that be at this time! The delivery boy was already here?", Daisy questioned Mrs. Patmore. The older woman stirred up at her and was already leaving the kitchen as she answered: "Well, we will not know from just questioning! Everyone seems busy, so I will go and answer the door."
In her usual enthusiasm, she opened the door quite a bit too fast and made the young man in front of its jump.
"Good morning. I am looking for Mr. Branson! May you tell him, that I want to talk to him here outside?", the young blonde man asked politely. "I am sorry, but Mr. Branson is not living here anymore. He moved to America a couple of weeks ago!", Mrs. Patmore answered a little uneasy. "Are you one of the tenant farmer's?", The cook questioned. He didn't look like a farmers boy to her. His clothing was way too good for that, but she couldn't think of anything else for the moment. Well, he also was quite good looking, Mrs. Patmore noticed. Surely that boy never had made his hands dirty before. "No, I am not!", the young man answered in a sad tone and sunk his eyes to the ground.
"Well, is Elsie Hughes than to speak? I heard she is the housekeeper here?", The young man continued questioning. That made baffled. What could this young man want from Mrs. Hughes? Oh no, is he...? It must be Mrs. Hughes, the son she had never told anyone about. She remembered what Mr. Carson and Mrs. Hughes had talked about the night before. They had mentioned Mr. Branson and something about Mrs. Hughes, son. That must be the missing connection she didn't understand. "Oh yes, why don't you come in while you are waiting I get someone to fetch her. It is a little chaotic today, you see, our butler had taken ill, and now everyone seems quite preoccupied with it.", Mrs. Patmore explained. "I make you a cup of tea while you waiting!", She continued politely.
Elsie was again staring at the big clock for the fifth time in 10 minutes.
"Mrs. Hughes? There is someone downstairs for you!", Mr. Moseley approach from behind and made Elsie jump. "Oh, Mr. Moseley you scared me almost to death!", Mrs. Hughes informed him while holding her hand to her heart. "I am sorry, but there is a man downstairs waiting! He first asked after Mr. Branson, but as Mrs. Patmore informed him that he no longer lives here, he was suddenly asking after you!", Mr. Moseley explained to the housekeeper.
"And has this mystery man a name?", Elsie asked in wonder. "Oh, I must have forgotten to ask Mrs. Patmore about it! He didn't mention his name to me either!", Mr. Moseley answered now worried. "How unprofessional from him not to questioning it closer! He had come across the cook as he wanted to check the silver for Mr. Carson while he was unable. How had he could not have asked more about the intruder.", he thought troubled.
"Never mind! I'm on my way!", Mrs. Hughes told the stuttering man in front of her.
What could come now? It could just get worse! There was one thing Mrs. Hughes had learned for sure here at the abbey! Worse times are always followed by even worse times.
As Elsie entered the servant's hall, she caught a young blonde man sitting lonely at the table and stirring, deep in his thoughts, in his fresh served cup of tea. He still hadn't registered the housekeeper as she stepped closer in the room. She had never seen the young man before. His golden blonde locks were longer as she was used to and were touching almost his shoulders. The motherly part in her would have sent the young man right away to a barber shop.
"How may I help you?", Mrs. Hughes asked the young man to get his attention. Troubled he stirred up and stood fast in a way to proper manner. His sad look reminded Elsie on someone, but she couldn't put her finger on it. "
My apologies. I didn't see you come in!", The young man answered. "You are Elsie Hughes? My mother told me a lot about you. I don't know why I'm here! I guess I thought you could help me.", the young man tried to explain nervously. "Well, why not let start with your name!", Mrs. Hughes told the young man with a light smile.
"Oh, of course, but you have to promise me not to mention it to anyone! I'm in some trouble you see, and I don't know how to come out of it by myself anymore. My name is Shane Brabazon!", The young man answered. Mrs. Hughes face fell. She knew it! More trouble! Was there a magical spell who pulled now all things she had left in her past back. She just was hoping that his father not also planned to show up. Elsie thought she had left all this behind her years ago.
"Let's go to my sitting room; then you can explain to me what this is all about!", Mrs. Hughes told him. Shane just nodded and followed the housekeeper in her tracks.
"I was wondering if I could stay here for awhile. I could work here and help in the kitchen if needed?", Shane asked as soon they were seated. That was not at all what Mrs. Hughes had expected.
"What, why on earth would the son of an Earl wants a job in the kitchen!", Elsie questioned still confused about the whole thing. "I have to hide! Don't worry it's not the police who is looking for me! I can't go to any relations of me because that is where they will look first. Well, I guess I thought I come here and ask Tom to help me, but I didn't know he left.", He explained sadly. They had the same eyes, Elsie recognized.
"Didn't he told you that he is moving?", Mrs. Hughes questioned while trying to understand. "To be honest, we didn't speak for five years. He refused to answer my letters, so I thought I come here and ask him carefully in person and apologize for what had happened.", the young man explained. "Why do you think he would have helped you if you two had fallen out with each other?", the housekeeper asked. "Because he always does!", Shane just answered. Mrs. Hughes didn't know what to make of it. Elsie didn't know a thing about her sons past. She never thought he would know his half siblings by all the hate he had against the aristocrats.
"Look, I know I brought him in big trouble with the whole Drumdoogle thing, but it was an accident. I sometimes have a too big of a mouth in front of the wrong people, but I am truly sorry.", Shane said. "I don't know what you are talking about. I first found out yesterday that he was aware that I am his real mother. He never spoke of anything to me. So if you want me to help you, you have to be more precisely!", Mrs. Hughes told him a little uncomfortable with the whole situation. Shane shifted in his seat. "Well, you see my brother Keith, and I never saw eye to eye on any situation and his wife is much worse. Lady Laura manipulates him and everyone around, so I was quite a bit loaded as I was at my particular meetings. You see I'm not an imperialist like my father. I couldn't understand how they could be so blind so I might have lashed out in front of an IRA meeting that I attended. I told them how Drumdoogle had no use for any citizens anyway and that they were as corrupt anyone couldn't imagine. Well, I was more referring to Lady Laura, but as soon I recognized my mistake and tried to undo it they kicked me out. They called me a traitor then. I wasn't able to fix my mistake because they had moved their meeting to another location. That was when I got Tom involved! He was a journalist at this time and had some connections to find out where the new meetings were held. Well, Tom first didn't want to do it, because it wasn't the first time I got him into trouble. In the end, he never says no to me for long. He couldn't change their minds about to burn the place down, but he was able to talk them out on harming someone.", Shane explained to Elsie. Mrs. Hughes felt her anger cooking up. "So let me guess! As they found out about you being part of it, your father took the opportunity to blame it on your brother.", Elsie continued for Shane. "Not quite! Of course, Papa had his hands in it too, but I think it was more Lady Laura. She thought now that he was married to Lady Sybil she would make him change his mind about the inheritance. What is in itself nonsense. Tom would never want it.", The young man told Mrs. Hughes.
"If you think I was in any way of the hook then you're wrong. I had to pay for it as well. It has a little to do with why I'm here. My family is full of manipulating bastards were found there ways through every opportunity they getting." Elsie flinched at the word bastards. She hated bad language, but her anger had slipped away. Mrs. Hughes understood better as he thought. She knows exactly how they were and started to feel pity for the young man in front of her. "Maybe I can allow you to stay for a short while, but you definitely can't work here. It wouldn't be right! I will talk to his Lordship about it...".
"Oh please don't! Nobody should know I'm here. Lord Grantham and Lady Mary know me! That's why I thought to work in the kitchen! They would not take notice, and I'm out of your way.", Shane interrupted. "That's not a good idea! It isn't 1880 anymore, where the kitchen staff has to hide from their masters.", Elsie scoffed. "Do you know how to cook anyway?", She continued. Shanes' head fell. "Well, I'm here to learn, am I.", he answered now to sure of himself. She clearly could tell now Mr. Branson and he was brothers. They have that from their father. "Very well I look what I can do. We must do something about your cloth. I tell Mrs. Patmore to take care of you, for now, I have not the time!", Elsie explained and made a quick nod to him that he followed her to the kitchens.
"Mrs. Patmore?! That is Shane he will help you in the kitchen for today. May you show him to a livery and tell him how it all works here! I have to look to other things!", Mrs. Hughes ordered to Mrs. Patmore. Elsie's thought it would be best just call him by his first name to avoid any suspicion. Her worries went back to Mr. Carson. She still hasn't heard a word how his condition was. Mrs. Patmore looked confused at her friend and just nodded at her. Now it was clear to Mrs. Patmore; this boy really must be her son! Nobody was getting a job here without first to talk to Mr. Carson and his Lordship. Before Mrs. Patmore could ask any further, Elsie was already around the corner, leaving her alone with her handsome new helper.
