Thomas waited until his Lordship needed to be changed for Luncheon, it was now or never. He may temporarily be covering for Bates, but he'd much prefer to see old Carson out on his ear. The bell rang and he began ascending the stairs a smile across his face the entire time.
Entering the room Thomas wiped the smile from his face, working hard to look grim as he set to the task of dressing his Lordship.
Robert watched the man, Thomas was not his favorite by any means, in fact he wouldn't be at all sad to see the man go. The look on his face meant one of two things, either something had happened or Thomas was up to something. "Is something the matter? Has something gone wrong with the preparations for the ball?"
"The ball? No M'Lord...but there is something..."
"Well? What is it?" Robert asked as he studied the younger man behind him in the mirror.
"It's Mr. Carson and Mrs. Hughes M'Lord. I saw them yesterday and thought you should know..."
Oh this was going to be good Robert thought. If only Thomas knew the things he knew himself. No, no he was going to play along for now. "Saw them what?"
"Well they took a buggy in to Thirsk M'Lord, on the way back I saw them sitting rather close. Mr. Carson had his arm around her and I believe he kissed her M'Lord. I know relationships aren't exactly allowed, and I thought you should know."
Robert fought hard to contain the smile he so desperately wanted to allow to grace his face. Instead he nodded and kept his face as neutral as possible. "I see. Well I'll look into it. Thank you for informing me. I'll see you at the ball tonight Thomas, that will be all."
Thomas nodded and walked out of the room, his smile returning and a spring appearing in his step. If this didn't work, he wasn't sure what on earth would.
Robert watched him go and only hoped this would be the catalyst that got the damned man thrown out the back door. He wasn't sure how to tell Carson, or if he should, the man would most likely hit the roof if he knew that they had been seen.
Luncheon was served and the girls dismissed themselves early to help finishing with preparations. Robert looked to Carson and mentally shrugged. If he hit the roof so be it, "So Thomas had to come running to me today. I think he was hoping to get you sacked. Told me he saw you and Mrs. Hughes sitting rather too close in a buggy. Do you know how hard it was to keep a straight face until he left the room? To think... he had thought I'd be upset over it."
Charles for his part sputtered and nearly choked on his own tongue, "He what?! He shouldn't have been out of the house that far anyways."
"Who knows when it comes to that man. Hopefully he'll leave us soon enough or do something bad enough we'll have cause to fire him. But enough of that...are you ready for this evening?"
"Oh...yes M'Lord the preparations are complete to the hall, I believe Mrs. Patmore has the food well under control..."
Robert cut him off, "That's not what I meant and you know it." Standing he made his way over to pour himself a drink and poured one for Carson as well. Holding the glass out he rolled his eyes at the look he was given. "Take it my man...a little liquid courage never hurt anyone. Lord knows I needed a bit before I proposed to Cora..."
Finally taking the glass he gave a soft chuckle before drinking the contents, his gaze moving out the window as Mrs. Hughes directed the footmen about in moving some piece of furniture or another to a storage shed. Her hands on her hips like that she looked rather intimidating. "Thank you M'Lord...I may just need this after all."
Robert drew his brows together then looked out the window with a chuckle, "Yes well...we all know if she didn't keep that whip cracked this house would fall down around the lot of us." Finishing his drink he set the glass down on the table and turned to leave, casting one last glance back at Carson who was still nursing his drink and watching out the window.
Charles waited until Elsie returned inside before he began descended the stairs once more. He was able to catch her if only for a moment as she moved from her sitting room to the servants hall for her own lunch. He offered her a smile and let his hand brush against hers. She smiled back up at him and his heart did a flip in his chest, "Lets go in then and eat hm?"
"Yes...lets." Her own voice was slightly husky as she spoke. It took her a moment to propel herself forward and to her chair. The effect that man had on her was...well it was wonderful, but if it didn't calm down some it could be disastrous. And he knew it, she could tell just by looking at him as he crossed the room to his chair. Oh the cheek that man had!
As lunch was finished the staff grew antsy, they had the rest of the day off for whatever they needed to do before the ball. Lord knew she needed to get changed, perhaps Anna would help her with her hair. As she stood she looked to the younger woman. "Anna, when you're finished may I see you in my sitting room for a moment?"
"Yes Mrs. Hughes, I'll be right there." Smiling Anna finished her lunch and then stood making her way to Elsie's sitting room and knocking on the door lightly.
"Come in." Elsie was sitting behind her desk leafing through a small stack of papers. "Have a seat Anna, I just...I was hoping you could help me with something if you're not too busy."
"Sure Mrs. Hughes, what can I do for you?" Anna breathed a soft sigh of relief, for a moment she wondered if she'd forgotten to do something this morning.
"I was hoping, well I was hoping you could help me pin my hair up this evening for the ball. I'd like a change for once."
"Of course! I told Daisy I'd help her as well but that shouldn't take too long, I can come by right after and do yours up with more than enough time to do my own."
"Thank you Anna. I'll be up in my room whenever you're ready for me.
Standing again Anna gave a nod and turned for the door, something was up. Maybe she could find out just what it was.
Elsie was a bundle of nerves. Could she really do this? Go this far out of her comfort zone and change her hair and her normal attire? Setting the papers down she stood and left her sitting room heading to her bedroom to see if she could find her courage.
