A/N: Thank you for your reviews for the last chapter. Mr Carson, of course, spoke to Lady Grantham on behalf of Mrs Hughes when he thought the Housekeeper was ill, therefore, I thought it wasn't too much of a stretch to think he may also get involved in this instance to support Mrs Hughes and Charlie. In this chapter we find out a little more about Charlie's past x
Chapter 10
Mrs Hughes was woken from her slumber by loud shouts. She was disorientated at first and then with horror, she realised they were coming from Charlie. She scrambled out of bed and across to him. He was tossing and turning, shouting out jumbled words, although one word was clear. Mam! Mam! He shouted. He sounded scared.
She sat him upright, pulling him into her arms, trying to soothe him.
"It's alright Charlie, it's alright. You are having a bad dream. You are safe. You are here at Downton. I am here. You are safe pet, it's alright," she continued to murmur against his hair as she felt him eventually calm and begin to rouse from his sleep.
"He is coming to get us," he cried, in a half-asleep, half-awake murmur.
"Shh now love. You are alright. No-one is coming to get anyone. You are safe," she added.
Charlie seemed to eventually realise where he was and he gave an exhausted smile towards the Housekeeper.
"It was just a bad dream pet," she tried again, smiling at him warmly.
"A bad dream," he repeated, tears in his eyes.
He then looked downwards, immediately feeling very worried as he recognised what had happened. Mrs Hughes followed his eyeline and realised too.
"It's alright love, we'll get that all cleaned up," she soothed.
"I'm sorry," he said.
"There is nothing to be sorry about. You've just had a little accident. It could happen to any of us," she reassured, stroking his face.
"Really? You aren't angry?" he asked anxiously. His Mam's friend had always been very angry whenever that had happened.
"Of course I'm not. You haven't done anything wrong. It was an accident. Now, let's get you cleaned up and into some fresh pyjamas eh? Then how about you snuggle in with me for the rest of the night. You can be my very own little hot water bottle?" she teased gently.
Charlie giggled at this and nodded enthusiastically, a big smile appearing on his face.
"Right then, let's get you changed," she soothed.
######
The morning had been event free as Mrs Hughes completed her rounds. Although she had chosen to keep Charlie with her this morning, rather than leaving him in the care of Mrs Patmore or Anna as she usually did in the mornings. He was much brighter but she could see he was still a little shaken following his dream. She also knew that she needed to talk to him about the things he had said; this fear of someone coming to get him and Ethel. She did not want to upset him again but she thought that if they talked about it, it may help him. They were currently doing a jigsaw at her desk in her sitting-room and so she thought this was probably as good a time as ever.
"Charlie, are you feeling alright now? I know you had a very bad dream last night," she asked gently.
He looked up at her, as he sat on her knee.
"I'm alright. I don't like bad dreams," he offered quietly, placing another piece of the jigsaw in place.
"No, me neither. Bad dreams are horrible," she agreed.
"Do you have them?" he asked, amazed by this. He thought it only happened to him.
"Sometimes yes, although not as much as I used to. I've found it helps to talk about what I dream about, then I don't dream about it quite so much," she said, hoping this would encourage him to talk to her.
He looked up at his new Ma, seeming to process what she had just said.
"It was Peter. Mam's friend. He wasn't nice to Mam. He hated me. He used to shout at me," he said, looking down at his knees.
Mrs Hughes stroked his hair gently and kissed his forehead.
"Well he sounds like a horrible man …" she began, pausing before her next question. There must be more to this than the man shouting at Charlie.
"… did he ever hit you Charlie?" she asked as softly as she could.
He looked up at her again. He nodded.
"One time he hit me … and he hit Mam ... lots of times," he said, tears in his eyes.
"Oh love, that's awful. That must have been terrible for you and your Mam," she said.
He nodded again, as she wiped his tears with her handkerchief.
"That's why we moved," he said. To the refuge, Mrs Hughes thought.
She then had an even more worrying thought, could it have been this Peter that had beaten Ethel to death? No culprit had been found, as far as she was aware. Mr Barratt did mention this 'friend' of Ethel's but he suggested that the police thought her death was more likely linked to Ethel's occasional work as a prostitute. Mrs Hughes shuddered at that thought. Either way was equally horrific.
"Mam was worried he would come and find us," he said. His words broke Mrs Hughes's heart. The poor lad should not have experienced such fear and violence at his age. He should have been protected, he should not have had any such worries.
"You do know that he will never be able to hurt you again. Never. You are safe now. You won't ever see him again," she smiled.
Charlie nodded, feeling very relieved. He felt safe with his new Ma. He felt safe at Downton.
"He was a bad man," Charlie stated.
"He was love. He was a very bad man. But not all men are like that. Most men are kind," she said, knowing that he had never had a positive male role model in his life.
"Like Mr Carson," he added brightly.
She laughed warmly at that. He really does worship the Butler.
"Exactly. Just like Mr Carson," she smiled, deciding to leave it at that for now.
######
Mrs Hughes had a busy afternoon ahead, with much to organise for the following week. She had planned for Charlie to stay with her in her sitting-room whilst she did her work; she hoped she could keep him occupied with his colouring pencils and drawing pad. However, after sharing with Mr Carson what had transpired, the Butler had offered to take Charlie with him when we went to the Post Office later in the afternoon. He thought a walk and a bit of fresh air might help clear the lad's mind. The Housekeeper had readily agreed, secretly thrilled that Mr Carson was taking such an interest in the young boy.
Mrs Hughes smiled as she remembered the Butler's bumbling offer to take Charlie with him; he had tied himself up in knots as he made the suggestion. She could see that the Butler was falling for the little boy; no matter how hard he tried to hide this. She had assured Mr Carson that Charlie would love to go with him and that she would have him ready at three.
It was now half past two and Charlie was already in his coat and hat, sitting on the sofa. He had insisted that he wanted to get ready; so excited was he for his trip with the Butler. Mrs Hughes chuckled to herself as she watched the small boy; he was full of excited anticipation.
Eventually the time came, and the Butler knocked on her sitting-room door, dressed also in his coat and hat.
"Are you ready Charlie?" he asked.
"Ready!" he said enthusiastically, bounding down off the sofa.
Mrs Hughes stood up as well, grinning at the excited little boy. She knew that it said everything about the Butler that Charlie completely trusted him, particularly given his past experience.
"Now you be a very good boy for Mr Carson and don't tire him out will you? He needs to serve dinner later tonight and we can't have him falling asleep in the soup," Mrs Hughes teased, looking first at Charlie and then quirking a smile at the Butler.
Mr Carson shook his head playfully and Charlie giggled loudly.
"I won't Ma, love ya," he said, reaching up to give the Housekeeper a hug goodbye.
Mr Carson swallowed hard as he watched the young lad's affection for the Housekeeper.
"I love you too little one, now be off with you and enjoy your afternoon," she joshed, whispering 'thank you' to the Butler.
Charlie reached up and grasped Mr Carson's hand, once more surprising the Butler. The little lad simply beamed up at him, excited for their adventure. Mr Carson had to quickly gather himself as he felt Charlie's small fingers wrap around his own much larger fingers.
"Right then, let's be off," he managed.
"Let's be off," Charlie repeated, as he had a habit of doing.
Mrs Hughes gazed at them both devotedly as they walked out of the room.
A/N: A review would be lovely to let me know what you think x