Chapter 29

Only after Mr Carson had assured her they would be ok, had Mrs Hughes gone to speak to Doctor Roberts to get an update on Becky. The Housekeeper thought it might be tempting fate to leave them alone together when they had only just met but her fiancé reassured her they would be fine. Doctor Roberts had given a glowing report on Becky's progress although, as always, they had discussed Becky's weak heart. This was something that had been identified many years ago and Mrs Hughes knew that her condition likely meant a shorter life expectancy for Becky than that of other women. The Housekeeper tried not to dwell on this. Becky was in the best possible hands and she was happy; that was all that mattered.

Mrs Hughes approached the dayroom cautiously, peeping through the door at the table where she had left her fiancé and Becky. It was empty, although Charles and Elsie's coats were still resting on the chairs. She instantly panicked until she heard her husband-to-be's deep voice. She spotted them both, sitting on a blanket at the far side of the room, a little kitten playfully jumping on Becky's lap.

"Shall we leave this last one for Essie?" he asked, holding up the almost empty box of chocolates.

"Yes … she likes the gooey ones," Becky answered.

Mrs Hughes walked across to them.

"Have you two eaten the entire box of chocolates?" she asked in amusement, shaking her head warmly.

Both looked up at her guiltily.

"Charlie ate them all," Becky replied cheekily, pointing at the big Charlie rather than the little furry one.

Mr Carson laughed, pretending to look shocked as Becky giggled.

"Oh I can see he ate them all," Mrs Hughes laughed, as she bent down and wiped Becky's chocolate covered lips with a handkerchief.

Mr Carson reached our for his fiancée's hand, as he gently pulled her down to sit with them on the blanket.

"What can I say? Becky and I both love chocolate," he pronounced.

Mrs Hughes smiled warmly, stroking his hand. She then noticed Becky looking at their entwined hands. The Housekeeper quickly released Mr Carson's hand. Becky did not seem phased by this, perhaps a little intrigued. Mr Carson looked at his fiancée meaningfully, as he nodded to her encouragingly.

"Becky … there is something I would like to tell you," Mrs Hughes said, taking hold of Becky's hand.

There are those butterflies in my tummy again, Mrs Hughes thought.

"Yes Essie?" she said, her big blue eyes staring up at her older sister.

"Charlie and I are very good friends ... and we thought ... it might be nice if we got married," the Housekeeper said slowly, trying to gauge Becky's response.

"Married? Like Ma and Pa?" she asked, her expression suddenly uncertain.

"Yes exactly like that," Mrs Hughes said calmly.

Mr Carson held his breath; he was not sure what would happen if Becky was displeased with their news.

Tears immediately formed in Becky's eyes, the saddest expression on her face. Mrs Hughes heart ached as she watched the distress in her sister's eyes.

"Becky it will be ok, nothing will change. I will always be here for you," the Housekeeper said quickly, stroking Becky's cheek.

Becky began to sob; her face curled into her sister's palm like a young child. The Housekeeper's eyes began to fill with tears too.

The Butler felt a piercing pain in his chest to see both women so upset.

"Becky, I promise everything will be ok. I love you very much. Nothing will change," Mrs Hughes tried again, soothing her sister's face, running her fingers through her hair.

"It will change! You will get married and have babies and I will never see you again!" Becky shouted through her tears.

Mr Carson and Mrs Hughes may have laughed at this assumption under any other circumstances, however the distraught look on the younger woman's face made this situation anything but amusing.

"You are taking my sister away! I hate you!" Becky shouted at Mr Carson, with utter contempt in her voice.

She then leaned forward and lashed out at him, striking him on the chest. She did not really hurt the Butler but the shock of being hit by Becky absolutely took his breath away. Mrs Hughes had mentioned that her sister could show aggression, he had simply never expected it to be shown towards him.

"Becky!" Mrs Hughes gasped, folding her sister into a bear hug so that she could not strike out again.

"I am so sorry," Mrs Hughes whispered towards Mr Carson, over the top of Becky's head.

"It's fine Elsie," he whispered with a genuine smile.

The younger woman tussled for a few seconds in her sister's arms, her strength belying her small stature. Mr Carson had never felt so helpless. He dare not try to help restrain Becky for fear of upsetting her further. He watched in shock as his fiancée skilfully held Becky to her chest so that she did not do herself or anyone else any harm. The younger woman eventually calmed, relaxing against her sister.

"Becky, Charlie and I will definitely not be having babies and you will see me, I promise. You will see both of us, even more often than you do now," Mrs Hughes reassured.

Becky looked at her sister warily, not yet believing her.

"But when Annie got married, she had a baby and left me ..." Becky explained sadly.

Mrs Hughes sighed, realising now why Becky was so worried. Annie had been her carer before Sarah and she had indeed got married, had a baby boy and then left her job to be a mum.

"Becky, Annie was a young woman and I am not. I won't be having any babies, I can assure you of that," Mrs Hughes smiled warmly, kissing Becky on the nose.

"Are you sure?" she asked.

"Quite sure and I will never leave you Becky, never. I love you too much. You will always see me, and Charlie. He would never take me away from you. He is such a kind man Becky," Mrs Hughes said sincerely, one arm around her sister and one hand reaching out to hold her fiancé's hand. Charles smiled warmly at the pair.

"He is kind. He let me have all of the nicest chocolates ..." Becky agreed.

Becky then looked at Mr Carson.

"I don't hate you Charlie," she said apologetically.

"I am glad Becky, as I hope one day you will see me as a brother. I have always wanted a sister," he offered tenderly.

Mrs Hughes squeezed his hand, thinking she might burst with love for him.

Becky's eyes lit up with happiness.

"I have never had a brother. Is it like having a sister?" she asked innocently, the last of her tears drying.

"It is ... but we aren't quite as pretty and we eat more chocolate!" he joked.

Both of the Hughes sister's laughed heartily at that. Mrs Hughes then looked at her sister; she thought some further explanation and reassurance might be needed. She wanted to know that Becky fully understood and accepted their marriage. She did not want to leave her sister with any doubts.

"Becky … do you remember how much I love you?" she said, stroking her sister's face.

"This much," Becky demonstrated, stretching out her arms as wide as they would go.

This was a game that the two sisters had always played. Mr Carson thought he might weep right there in front of them as he watched the most honest love between the sisters; his emotions all over the place after the last few minutes.

"That's right Becky. I love you so very much and I always will," Mrs Hughes promised, as Becky grinned from ear to ear.

"And I love you Essie," Becky said, cuddling into the side of her sister again.

Mrs Hughes stroked her hair and hugged her closely.

"But you see … it is possible to love more than one person and I love Charlie too," she continued to explain gently.

"You mean big Charlie?" Becky asked seriously.

"Yes I do … although this wee thing is lovely too," Mrs Hughes laughed, tickling the kitten under the chin.

Becky giggled.

"And do you love Essie Charlie?" Becky asked, still snuggled into the side of her sister.

"I do Becky ... very much. Do you think it would be ok if I married Essie?" he asked softly.

Becky's brow crumpled as she seemed to think about this for a second or two.

"Yes I do. I have Sarah and lots of friends and I don't want Essie to be on her own," Becky replied.

Mrs Hughes bent to kiss Becky's hair, as tears now spilled freely down her cheeks.

"I promise that I will never leave Essie on her own Becky and we would love it, once we are married, if you would come and visit us," he smiled.

"Can I bring little Charlie?" she asked, seemingly now settled with the idea.

"Of course," he replied.

Becky smiled gloriously at that.

"Shall we go to the beach Becky?" Mrs Hughes managed, feeling much relief.

"Yes please!"

######

The Housekeeper and Butler walked along the beach hand in hand as Becky ran to collect shells and then ran back to them, depositing her treasures in the basket Elsie had brought from the Home.

"Have you found any cowries yet Becky?" Mrs Hughes shouted.

"Not yet … oh … here's one Essie!" she gasped, as she proudly brought it back to the couple.

"What's this then?" the Butler asked, genuinely not having a clue.

"It's a cowry shell Charlie …" Becky said, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

Mrs Hughes snorted with laughter.

"A cowry?" he added.

Mr Carson had grown up surrounded by the countryside of Yorkshire, rather than the coastal paths and shorelines of Argyll.

"Yes … feel it. It is so smooth," she said, as the Butler took it in his hands.

"You are right Becky … it feels like the smoothest China," he said, feeling the small egg-shaped shell in his hand, with its flat underside.

"It used to be a snail. Didn't it Essie?" Becky said proudly.

"It did indeed. Tell Charlie how it came to be on the beach," she encouraged Becky.

"Well … the snails body would have been here …" Becky began, pointing to the gap on the underside of the shell.

"This would have been its home," she said, pointing to the round, translucent shell.

"One day, it wiggled out of its shell and swam away … and then its home, the shell, washed up on the beach," she finished.

Not quite accurate but it was the version Mrs Hughes had taught her sister when they were young girls.

"Well I never! I think we should try to find more of these cowries don't you?" Mr Carson suggested.

"Let's try and find … umm … ten!" Becky cried enthusiastically, as she and the Butler set off in search of cowries.

Mrs Hughes grasped Mr Carson's arm before he went any further.

"Thank you," she mouthed silently, squeezing his arm.

Mr Carson beamed with pride.

"My pleasure," he whispered, giving his fiancée a kiss on the cheek.

"Charlie hurry up!" Becky shouted.

Mrs Hughes and Mr Carson laughed happily as the Butler dutifully ran across the beach to join the search for shells.

A/N: I hope you are enjoying this innocent tale. I really don't plan for this story to become an 'M' and so I hope too many of you won't be disappointed. A review would be lovely! x