A/N: I thought we needed a more light-hearted chapter after the turmoil of the previous chapter – hope you enjoy it- 5 more to go after this x
Chapter 11
A loud crash resounded from the courtyard; it sounded like a hundred dishes had clattered to the ground. It was accompanied by what sounded like loud yelps.
"What in heavens …" Mr Carson shouted from his pantry as he raced into the corridor.
Mrs Hughes also came out of her sitting-room; she withheld a chuckle as she watched Mr Carson working himself into a tizzy as he gazed open-mouthed towards the servant's entrance. She wondered with amusement if he thought that staring at the closed door would sort out whatever problem had just occurred.
"It will be something and nothing Mr Carson … lets go outside and find out," she said rationally, as he nodded silently, mouth still hanging open.
'Daft man' she smiled warmly to herself.
The sight that met them when they stepped outside was Jimmy and Deidre, the new kitchen maid, lying on the ground in a crumpled heap, the metal bins that stood in the yards lying on their sides around them, and an old tandem bicycle lying on its side. The two were laughing hysterically until they saw the Heads of Staff. They scrambled to their feet.
"What in the world is going on here?" Mr Carson shouted.
"It is my fault Mr Carson, I am sorry. I found this old bike in the shed and I suggested to Deidre that we should give it a go … but we couldn't quite get the hang of it …" he said quickly, hoping that the Butler might not be too hard on them.
"You were cycling around the yard, causing mayhem, when you both should have been hard at work in the House … how dare you!" Mr Carson bellowed.
Mrs Hughes gulped but stood at his side, with her sternest look on her face to show that she was in support of Mr Carson, even though she did find the matter quite harmless.
"Mr Carson I …" Jimmy began but was cut off.
"Not another word young man … I will speak to you later … and I am sure that Mrs Hughes will also want to speak to you Deidre," Mr Carson stated severely.
Mrs Hughes gave a solemn nod.
"Now get back inside and clean up immediately and I don't want to hear so much as a peep out of either of you for the rest of the day … is that understood?" he stormed.
"Yes Mr Carson," they both replied respectfully, before dashing off inside.
As soon as the door was closed, Mrs Hughes broke out into a wide-grin as she surveyed the scene in front of her. She then looked back to the Butler, who was still wearing a dour expression.
"Oh Mr Carson … it's not all that bad … heavens, if that's the worst they get up to then we have nothing to worry about …" she smiled, walking across to the bicycle to have a closer look.
"Mrs Hughes … frolicking around on a tandem when you should be …" he began but was cut off by an impatient Mrs Hughes; she could not be bothered to see him getting into a flap over something so trivial, and she knew that if she did not prick his bluster he would get ridiculously agitated.
"Shushhh now Mr Carson ... no real harm was done … now ... I have never seen one of these before … where on earth do you think it came from?" she asked, not looking at him as she spoke as she knew that he would be looking at her with one of his flabbergasted expressions and it would only make her laugh if she turned to see him, and that would not help matters at all. It was best just to soldier on as if everything was well and he would eventually calm down as he always did.
The Butler's mouth hung open again at being shushed by Mrs Hughes; he was about to restate his point and affirm that this was indeed a serious matter when he realised there was no point; she would think him very silly and she would probably be right, he admitted. He therefore shook his head in irritation and replied.
"The young ladies used to ride it when they were young … the last time I saw it was when Lady Mary and Lady Edith were teenagers … they used to ride it around the grounds," he explained.
Mrs Hughes turned to face him, happy to hear from the tone of his voice that he had soothed.
"It looks like fun …" she smiled, with a mischievous glint in her eyes.
"No …" he said firmly, knowing exactly what Mrs Hughes was about to suggest.
"Oh Mr Carson … I have told you before … we are getting on … we can afford to live a little," she grinned excitedly, looking back at the tandem bicycle.
"No …" he mouthed clearly, raising his hands in the air, as he turned to walk back inside.
"Oh, you are an old stuffed shirt sometimes Mr Carson!" she shouted, hands on her hips as she scowled at his retreating figure.
"Still no …" he called, a smile on his lips, as he went inside.
Mrs Hughes chuckled to herself. She was happy that she and Mr Carson were back on teasing terms. The last few weeks had been a little peculiar; with lots of emotions and feelings that she still did not quite understand. They had had several misunderstandings and disagreements, yet that was very usual for them; in fact they both quite enjoyed their little spats. However, there had been a couple of occasions when emotions had been strained to the point of them both seeming a little bewildered and lost. Mrs Hughes had given this much thought and she had concluded that they were both overtired; it had been a particularly busy period, and she thought what they both needed was a little relaxation and fun. Therefore, she was happy to see that things seemed to have returned to normal.
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Later that day, Mrs Hughes was walking past the Boot Room, when she spotted Jimmy. He had about thirty pairs of shoes lined up on the table. He was covered in black polish and looked quiet out of breath with the sheer energy it had taken to buff and polish so many shoes. She bit back a smile thinking that there was no prizes for guessing who had set him off with this arduous task; it was obviously his punishment for his antics earlier.
"Are you nearly done?" she asked, sympathetically.
"I have nearly done with the shoes … but then I have fifteen pairs of boots to do next," he grumbled, still buffing away.
"Well Mr Carson was right James … you should not have been cycling in the yard when you have so much work to do …" she said, she did feel quite sorry for the lad, lord knows the young staff did not have much chance of fun, but she of course needed to fully support the Butler.
"I know Mrs Hughes … but I have even more work to do now …" he said despondently, thinking it would take him hours to get the remainder of these shoes, and then the boots, up to Mr Carson's impeccable standards.
Jimmy felt Mr Carson was being too harsh and very unfair but he did not dare express that to Mrs Hughes; he knew that you couldn't get a cigarette paper between the two Heads of Household. They always supported each other and as much as Jimmy had witnessed them bicker occasionally, he knew that neither would ever undermine the other in front of the staff; mores the pity he thought, as he could have done with Mrs Hughes's help now.
"Well, just make sure that you work extra hard and then you'll be back in Mr Carson's good books soon enough … and no more tandem rides …" she replied, with a hint of humour.
Jimmy chuckled as he continued his task.
######
The Housekeeper and Butler were standing a foot apart in his pantry, having one of their regular 'discussions'.
"Mr Carson … the lad is about to collapse … he has been in that Boot Room for hours … please go and tell him that he doesn't have to do the boots as well," she implored.
"No … he needs to be punished … his behaviour was …" he began his rant.
"Intolerable … disrespectful ... improper … unacceptable … deplorable … disobedient … have I missed anything?" she asked cheekily, glaring at the Butler.
"Well!" he responded, exhaling loudly.
"Oh stop being such an old grump and have a heart … you were young once!" she exclaimed, as she turned to walk out of the room.
"Yes I was … and I didn't go riding tandem bicycles when I should be working!" he blustered to an empty room; she had already left.
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Jimmy was beaming delightedly as he walked up the stairs to the staff quarters to get cleaned up; he was sure that Mrs Hughes must have had a word with the Butler. He knew that he would never have been excused from his punishment otherwise. Mr Carson had obviously not admitted that, he never would. Instead, the Butler had proclaimed that he was tired of looking at Jimmy's miserable face and that he should go upstairs and change, ready for the evening service.
Jimmy grinned thinking that for all of his puff; Mr Carson found it very difficult to say no to the Housekeeper. She can always get him to do what she wants, Jimmy chuckled. He had observed this several times. She would never undermine Mr Carson but she would gently cajole him into doing what she thought was best. Jimmy smiled thinking that he once had a sweetheart like that, before he came to Downton; she could wind him around her little finger and get him to do almost anything. Jimmy felt a flush come over him as he remembered why he had been so compliant with the girl, thinking that he had always been richly rewarded for pleasing her. He started to cough and almost choked, thinking that he hoped that Mrs Hughes was not rewarding the Butler in the same way. Surely not? Although there was a definite spark of something between his two seniors, yet surely they were too old for that, he concluded with a look of horror.
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Mrs Hughes watched Jimmy ascending the stairs, a contented smile on her face. Our Butler does have a heart, she thought tenderly. Although she already knew that.
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"How are the plans for the garden party going?" Mr Carson asked Mrs Hughes at dinner.
"Very well yes … we have over a hundred guests and so it is quite an undertaking …" she replied.
"I am sure it would not faze you if there were one thousand guests Mrs Hughes … you will carry it off with aplomb and finesse as always …" he said honestly.
Mrs Hughes paused from eating, gazing at her friend and blushing under his sincere praise. Mr Carson was not one for false praise or platitudes and therefore when he did offer admiration, albeit it professional admiration, she found it very touching.
"Thank you Mr Carson … that means a lot ... but if Her Ladyship invites one thousand guests, I am on the first train to Scotland …" she joked, defusing his compliment.
Mr Carson chuckled as they continued to eat their dinner. After a few moments he stole a glance at Mrs Hughes. He was amazed at the effect his kind words seemed to have on her; he knew that he should praise her more often; he knew that he was guilty of taking her for granted. She had flushed so prettily when he had paid her the compliment about the garden party. Mr Carson shook his head, banishing that thought, by prettily he had meant that … well … it was charming that she became a little self-conscious under his praise; he had not meant to suggest that she looked pretty … although she was pretty of course … that was obvious to anyone … oh for heaven's sake man, what is wrong with you, focus on your dessert, he flustered, shaking his head.
Mrs Hughes looked at Mr Carson out of the corner of her eye. She could see that he was musing over something or other. He looked to be having some sort of internal tussle with himself; she often watched him wrestle with some thought or decision like this. She knew that if he wanted to speak to her about what was bothering him, he would; she had learned not to push him too hard, although if she sensed it was something very worrying, she would push away. However, in this particular case he'd had a little smile on his lips, before he righted himself, and so she knew that it could not be anything too serious.
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They were sitting at the staff table enjoying a cup of tea, a few of the other staff were still milling around but many had already headed up to bed. Mrs Hughes decided to try her little idea again.
"It has been a long week hasn't it? I cannot remember the last time we had so many dinners and functions …" she began.
"Yes indeed … and we still have the reception tomorrow and so it won't let up for at least another day …" he replied.
"It's a shame that we cannot think of something fun to do … to help us relax?" she said, biting her lip as she picked up her teacup to have another sip.
"Something fun?" he asked warily, not sure where this was going.
"Yes … I was thinking it might be nice to get a little exercise … perhaps a little fresh air … we have been cooped up inside for days …" she continued, straight-faced.
"No …" he boomed, realising now what she was getting at.
"Oh Mr Carson come on …" she giggled.
"No …" he replied, with an amused but defiant face.
"Won't you do it for me? I have always wanted to …" she continued to smile.
"No …" he repeated.
She laughed; he was a stubborn old goat but she couldn't help but care for the man. She made to speak again but this time she did not even get one word out ...
"No …" he added.
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Jimmy was the last to go upstairs to bed; Lord Grantham had stayed in the library to read when the rest of his family had retired to their rooms. Therefore Jimmy had been on call to serve. He was climbing the servant's stairs to his room when he heard what sounded like a squeal from outside. He looked out of the small window on the first floor landing. The window pane was dirty and he could not see very clearly but he thought he could see some sort of movement. No, it couldn't be, he thought, rubbing his eyes and thinking his tiredness must be affecting his brain. It looked like someone was riding the tandem; it looked like Mr Carson and Mrs Hughes, he gasped. He continued to rub his eyes, then looked out of the window again, grinning from ear to ear. My goodness, it is! Jimmy thought he might burst with glee; he would feast on this for days. As he continued to watch the Butler and Housekeeper cycle around and around the courtyard, knowing that they would think all of the staff were already safely ensconced in bed, he had just one thought; Mr Carson really will do anything for Mrs Hughes.