Chapter 25
A/N: Episode 6 brings with it many updates as this is centred on Mary's scandal reaching London and Carson hearing about it.
Thank you to all my reviewers from last week, I loved the comments on the 'eye action' as it was phrased
Happy Easter everybody! I hope oyu enjoy the weekend :D
May 1914
He stood in his pantry, reading a note from a fellow butler in London. The news was not good.
He was grateful to be pulled from it by her soft knock on the door. He couldn't help his eyes from taking her in properly, sweeping quickly from the floor to her beautiful face.
He raised his head as she stepped into his room and watched as she smoothly dodged the table in her way, marvelling at how it showed off her hips. He cleared his throat mentally.
"Mrs Patmore is very cruel to that poor girl," she said quietly, shaking her head as she spoke. She had come into his pantry in search of answers and she knew he had them. However when she looked at him properly she saw that he had less energy, as though the air had been sucked out of him.
"Mrs Patmore is frightened," he said firmly, not taking his eyes off her, but being very clear that she was not to blame.
"Is she right to be?" she asked gently
"Well, Dr Clarkson has confirmed she has cataracts," he said by way of explanation. She inhaled and looked away for a moment before speaking.
"What can be done about it?"
He looked away as well for a moment. "Well there are treatments, but even the best are uncertain, and she doesn't want to risk loosing what sight she still has."
He looked to the kitchen and she followed before speaking.
"I don't blame her. But it can't go on forever," she said gently, trailing off. She knew her heart would go on loving him, no matter what she told it. It was impervious to her command anymore. She knew this man before her so well, knew he was distracted and so wanted to reach out for him, touch him, hold his hand.
He looked back at her, "No," he was disappointed when her eyes didn't return to him but remained looking to the kitchen. He folded the letter as she looked at him.
"Oh dear, have you had bad news?" she asked, finally acknowledging the letter he held
She glanced to the letter as he looked at her questioningly.
"I shouldn't have bothered you," she continued.
"No, you weren't to know," he said absently as he put the letter back in the envelope.
She could never bother him; she was exactly what he needed. If it weren't for his inner sense of propriety he would have asked to take her hand for support but he couldn't so he had to dismiss her.
She wouldn't understand anyway, it concerned Lady Mary, a woman she did not think highly of.
She took that as her cue to leave and turned to walk out.
She paused at the door looking back at him worriedly as he again perused the letter. There were no secrets in this house that she didn't know about, she would find out sooner or later.
A/N: This scene isn't one of my favourite chapters I've written but I'd love to hear your thoughts