Chapter 14

The first things Colin noticed when he opened his eyes were the bright lights and the plush surroundings of the room in which he found himself. Never, in his entire life, had he slept in a bed as comfortable as this, with sheets so soft they felt like silk, and with a pillow that seemed to cradle his head upon a cloud. Carefully, he moved his head to first one side and then the other, surveying every part of the room and looking for clues as to his whereabouts.

Pain shot through his chest as he tried to sit up more in the bed, and looking down at his clothing, he noticed that he was no longer in his own things. Someone had taken the liberty of putting him in a fresh nightshirt, one that he most certainly could have never afforded given his finances. With his curiosity getting the better of him, and a deep desire to know where he was, he carefully swung his legs over the side of the bed and stood, albeit shakily, to his feet.

Wobbling a bit at first, he took a few steps before he was halted by a severe coughing spell, one which nearly brought him to his knees. Gripping the post of the bed, he steadied himself until it passed; thankful he did not black out from the force behind the coughs, and took a few tentative steps towards the only object in the room which seemed familiar.

Despite the opulence of the room, the ornate ceramic wash basin beside the bed, the large writing desk by the window, and the thick rug beneath his feet, Colin was completely focused on a lone object sitting on the mantle. It was one he would recognize anywhere. He'd spent a week studying it carefully, finding just the right springs and coils, perfecting the timing until it was in excellent working order. Yes, this mantle clock was one he would never forget. How could he when such a thing of beauty entered one's life and brought such a handsome price. And yet he wondered how it had ended up here, in such a lavish home. The gentleman who'd first brought him the piece couldn't possibly own this house.

The timepiece sitting on the mantle was truly a unique design. Colin had never seen another like it before or since. It was made of the finest porcelain, resembling that of a dinner plate which might be used in a house of great wealth and means, certainly not a plate found at the Hughes home. Elsie has taken one look at it and fallen in love, declaring it the most beautiful clock she'd ever seen and likening it to a waxing gibbous moon. In the void, where the darkness of the moon would have been evident in the night sky, there was a five-pointed star which housed the delicate clock. The star and surrounding crescent were decorated with a wealth of flowers one might find in a proper English garden. Bright colors, slightly muted so as not to be overwhelming, were painted in such rich detail that they almost looked real. And the face of the clock was cast in sparkling gold, and when the light hit it just so, Elsie said it reminded her of stars twinkling in the night sky. No doubt, that was the desired effect crafted by the creator, and both Colin and Elsie admired the handiwork. Just as he was about to reach out and gently touch the edge of the casing, the door opened behind him and in stepped a familiar, yet unfamiliar, face.

"Ah, you're up and about I see. Very good." The tall, stout man with dark eyes stepped fully into the room and closed the door behind him. "We had hoped you would finally be awake and able to eat a bit this morning."

Confused, Colin carefully walked back to the bed and sat on its edge. "I'm sorry, but, where am I? And, more importantly, who are you? I do not recall your name, but you look familiar."

"And the clock, it would seem," the man countered. "My name is Spratt, Septimus Spratt, and I am the butler to the Queen Mother," he announced with more than a hint of pride laced through his voice. "You, no doubt, recognize me because of our dealings with that very timepiece on the mantle. It was a gift to Her Majesty from a very old and dear friend. When it stopped working, she was most displeased. I had heard of your reputation with mending clocks, so I brought it to you. I will admit, I was more than a little hesitant about leaving it with you but you restored it and Milady was most pleased … with both of us."

Colin scratched his head and tried to recall that particular set of memories. "Yes, I remember you now. You were quite demanding and skittish," he said, thinking to himself that the man was also more than a little arrogant, as well. One look at Spratt's face was enough to force Colin to continue. "Though, you were rather generous in paying the fee and adding in a little extra something for my troubles. That was very kind of you, sir."

"That was her Highness's doing. When I told her about you, she made a few inquiries. Apparently, your reputation is quite remarkable in the surrounding villages. Not a single blight against your name, which is quite rare. Everyone spoke highly of your talents in repairing clocks, and for a reasonable fare."

Colin felt his cheeks warm a bit at the unsolicited compliment. "Am I to assume, then, that I am a guest of Her Majesty? The last thing I remember was falling ill and seeing a rather large carriage and a magnificent team of horses … oh no! Philippe! My horse!"

"Your horse is fine. I can assure you. He's being tended in our stables with our own horses. Once you are dressed, the doctor will be here to have a look at you. He was quite concerned for you as you have been very ill. However, your fever broke yesterday so you should be on the mend. Assuming he thinks you are well enough to travel, I will arrange for a footman to see you and your horse home."

"What do you mean by 'quite some time'," Colin asked, shocked by the news that he had been so severly ill. "How long have I been a guest?"

"Oh, longer than I would have cared for, I assure you, but Her Majesty is generous and wanted you looked after until you were well enough to travel. As you are now up and about, I think that time has come."

Colin realized he would get no more information out of the man and would be better off departing with as much haste as possible. "I would like to thank Her Highness for her generosity of spirit and to make arrangements to repay her for the food, lodgings, and any other expenses she's incurred during my stay."

"That won't be necessary. She said she was happy to help considering your reputation and gift with clocks." Spratt motioned towards a chair where the clothes Colin had been wearing when he had collapsed sat freshly laundered and folded. "So, if you'd be so kind, I will leave you to it and be back shortly with the doctor, some tea, and breakfast."

After a hearty meal consisting of eggs, toast, porridge, jam, and bread, Colin was introduced to a kind doctor; Clarkson, he thought the man was named. He was given a proper examination and advised to rest as much as possible in the next few days, drink lots of fluids, and stay indoors until the nasty cough had subsided. Colin listened closely, though with little intentions of following the doctor's instructions. How could he when his daughter was still being held in the massive house with a man who seemed disinterested in showing any compassion, even to those in need?

As soon as the doctor left, Spratt returned to the room. "Seems he's given you permission to return to your home. I've arranged for the carriage to take you back. I would advise you to do as the doctor prescribed. When you arrived here, you had a high fever and were mumbling something about a castle, some woman named Elsie, and a kidnapping. Sounds like a rather sordid tale, if you ask me."

"Well, I didn't ask you," Colin snapped without thinking of the consequences. "I mean, that is to say … funny what the mind will dream up in a fevered state. Elsie is my daughter, and she's currently away from home. I hope to see her again very soon, though. She helps me with the clocks and the farm."

"Very nice, I'm sure," Spratt replied with a sneer. "Now, if you'll kindly dress, I will escort you to the carriage so you can return home to your farm and your work."

"Are you certain I cannot speak with Her Highness, only for a moment, to express my gratitude?"

"Yes. I'm very certain. She's busy, at the moment. I'm sure you understand."

Feeling quite defeated and a little nervous about upsetting this fidgety man, Colin merely conceded the point and obediently followed Spratt down a series of winding staircases and into the fresh air through the servants' entry.

"Thank you, again, for your hospitality. I hope to one day repay Her Highness, but until that day, she has my eternal gratitude." Spratt nodded then motioned for the footman and the team of horses to start on their journey towards Colin's home.

oOoOoOoOo

Unbeknownst to Colin, Joe Burns was also on his way back to the Hughes farm. His efforts over the last few weeks to locate the elusive castle with the beast of a man reigning over it were in vain. He was more convinced than ever that Elsie had simply had enough of her father's feeble attempts to make the farm successful and his clock business wasn't earning nearly enough to keep it from the tax collector. And the more Joe thought about the prospect of losing Elsie to someone else, most likely in another village, the angrier her became until he was practically seething by the time he reached the outskirts of Thirsk.

"Joe! Joe, you're back," Jos yelled across the village square as he saw the familiar horse and his friend riding towards him.

"You are supposed to be at the Hughes farm keeping watch! Why are you here in the village?" Joe pulled his horse to a halt and dismounted, his jaws firmly set and a steely gaze looking down at Jos.

"Well, funny story, that! After all this time, Colin returned this afternoon, in a fancy carriage no less, and he didn't look all that well. He's been gone as long as you, and I came looking for you, hoping you'd be back. And he even had money to give a portion to the tax collector. I saw that with my own eyes. Colin was just making his way into the house when the man showed up. There was some talk of payments, though I couldn't make it all out clearly. Then, he surprised us all by reaching into his pocket and pulling out several coins. I think he was as surprised as the tax collector, judging by the look on his face, and then Colin went inside while the other man left."

"Wait a minute! Go back. Fancy carriage, you say? What are you on about now, Jos? Are you sure you weren't daydreaming instead of keeping a watchful eye?"

"No, honest! A nice carriage with a smartly dressed man driving the team pulled up in front of the house not more than two hours ago. He watched the whole exchange between Colin and the tax man, then he helped the old man inside. After that, he took Colin's horse to the stable for food and water, then left again. I was going to ask him a few questions, but he left before I could."

"So, the old man is back, then! Well, I think it's time I paid him another visit … and this time, he won't be so dismissive of me. I can guarantee it."

"No luck finding the house or Elsie, then? What are you planning to do?" Jos had to admit that he was more than a little nervous for the old man and his daughter. When Joe Burns put his mind to it, he usually managed to get his way, regardless of the consequences or circumstances. The idea that Colin Hughes and Elsie might suffer made the nervous little man very apprehensive.

"The old man has played me for a fool, Jos, and I won't stand for it. I've roamed these woods all this time and there's no sign of a house or his daughter. Well, he'll not make a fool out of me any longer, and I'm finished playing his games. If he can't tell me where Elsie is, then I'll see to it that he regrets ever starting this whole sordid tale."

Jos wrung his hands nervously, not at all comfortable with Joe's tone of voice or the fire he could see in his eyes. "But, why would he lie? He's an old man, and we both know she loves her father too much to simply walk away. Doesn't make any sense … his story or her disappearance."

Joe laughed loudly and slapped Jos on the back. "And that's exactly what we're going to point out to the rest of the village, my friend. It doesn't make sense! Any rational thinking man would see that this is the elaborate storytelling of a man who is clearly on the verge of cracking. He's losing it, the old man. His farm. His daughter. His reputation. Don't you see? This … this story … it's all he has left. Elsie must have known it was coming so she fled before her reputation could be damaged, too."

"I … I don't know. His story hasn't changed since the first time he told it. That doesn't seem like a delusional man to me, Joe. And he truly does seem worried. Why else would he have left the farm to go looking for her when you … rightly mind you … refused to help?"

Joe rolled his eyes and sighed to show his discontent. "It's all part of his little game. I swear, you are so naïve at times! He wanted everyone to believe him so they'd take pity on him. In order to do that, he had to make us all believe he was out hunting for his daughter, and to strike fear and to gain support, he made up that grand tale about the man in the castle."

"But that doesn't explain the carriage that brought him back or why he was gone for so long."

"Are you saying you don't believe me, Jos Tufton? Are you telling me that you're ready to take his side in this matter … after all I've done for you? After all this time, you're telling me you now have sympathy for the only man in town who has ever dared to deny me something I desired?"

Jos's voice shook as he answered. "N … no! Not at all, Joe. You know I'm always on your side. I've been your loyal friend for years. I'd never … "

"Good! Then I can count on your help and support when I put my next plan in motion. I can tell you it won't be pretty but it's the only way. I'll have Hughes farm and everything that entails. And when his precious Elsie comes running back, well … she will have two choices. She can marry me and together we will raise a family and she'll be a loyal wife."

Jos scratched his head. "Or? You made it sound like there was a second option. She can marry you … or?"

With a scowl on his face, Joe turned to Tufton and arched an eyebrow. "She can marry me, or she will marry me. Those are her only options. For a woman in her position, this late in her life, her choices are very limited, my friend. I'm the best hope she has for a good future. As it is, I'm taking a risk, and hoping that she can sire me at least two good sons. If not, there are other means of producing an heir, and she'll have no right to complain, if I have to make use of those options available to me. She shouldn't have put me off for long and wasted so many good child-bearing years."

"Ah, yes. There aren't many women in this village who would deny you, that's for sure, though I don't think Elsie Hughes will stand for a cheating husband or an illegitimate child."

"She'll have no choice but to grin and endure, though I will be generous with her. I will give her ample opportunity and time to grant me children. I wouldn't dream of taking a mistress for at least the first year of our marriage, maybe even two if she's agreeable in that area of things," he said with a toothy grin which made Jos's skin crawl.

He suppressed a shudder before asking his next question. "So, where do we go from here? Colin Hughes won't give up the farm, or his story, easily, and we've no proof that Elsie has abandoned him other than the fact that she's not here."

"Then we make our own facts, my friend! We will go down to the pub, if he won't talk, and start spreading rumors about Elsie being driven away by her crazy father. We will tell them all how I have searched and searched the woods and nearby villages for any signs of her but found none. Then, it will be your job to raise suspicions about what Colin might have done to his daughter and blaming it on this beast of a man he claims lives in a castle. We need to make it sound like he's delusional, maybe even go so far as to make them think he has multiple personalities. You know … a kind old man who has finally snapped and perhaps harmed his only child in a fit of rage."

Jos laughed. "They'll never believe Colin capable of all that, Joe. We'll be laughed right out of the pub before we even get halfway through the story."

Joe lowered his voice, and it sounded darker and more menacing than Jos had ever heard. "We will make this story work, if it takes every single ounce of energy I have, calling in every favor owed me, and bribing anyone who gets in my way. If he won't tell me where she is, I'll either flush her out by discrediting her father, or I'll have him locked away and take the farm by paying the taxes. One way or another, this ends!"

Jos Tufton felt a knot forming in the pit of his stomach. While Joe Burns was the best friend he had ever had, his obsession with Elsie Hughes and her father's farm was getting a little out of hand. The old man had only ever wanted to protect his daughter and preserve his farm. Now, if he followed through with Joe's plans, the farmer might lose everything and Elsie could be sent to the workhouse if she refused to marry. But, if he didn't go along with the plan, it was certain, too, that Jos's life would be much less comfortable without Joe's support. As he listened to his mentor scheming about how their next moves would play out, he could only send up silent prayers that either Colin answered Joe's questions or the villagers wouldn't believe them. He'd rather be run out of town for vicious lies and rumors than to ruin the reputations of Colin and Elsie Hughes.

A/N: And so the plot thickens! The clock is ticking for Charles, Elsie, Colin, and everyone at Downton Abbey while Joe and Jos scheme their way into devious waters. **insert dramatic theme music here** ChelsieSouloftheAbbey and I want to thank each and every reviewer (signed and guest) for the lovely reviews. You guys have been wonderful with your support and encouragement for the story. Big shout out to DameofDownstairs for the beautiful artwork and Girl-Loves-Cake for the editing skills! If you're interested in seeing the clock described in the beginning of the chapter, hop over to my tumblr (Chelsie-Carson) or ChelsieSouloftheAbbey's (Csota). Hugs for everyone and happy reading!