Mr. and Mrs. Carson stood together in the stairwell, just behind the green baize door.
"Are you ready, Mr. Carson?"
"I am. And you?"
"As ready as I'll ever be!" Mrs. Carson replied, opening the door. They walked side-by-side to the front doors, which stood open for them. When they stepped out, the family and the staff were lined up as though waiting to greet an important guest. Mr. and Mrs. Carson had already said their goodbyes downstairs, but now they were faced with the Crawleys, or most of them. Lady Grantham stood with Lord Grantham to her left and Ladies Edith and Sybil to her right. On the other side of the door were the dowager countess and Mrs. Crawley. Every one of them was gracious with their farewells and good wishes, although the elder Lady Grantham seemed a little uncomfortable and said very little. Her daughter-in-law did more talking than anyone else.
"Carson, Mrs. Hughes, we can't possibly thank you enough for all that you've done for this family over the years," she told them sincerely.
The young earl spoke next. "We'll miss you both very much, but we wish you great happiness together."
The two young ladies wished them well and shook hands with the departing butler and housekeeper. The dowager countess and Mrs. Crawley gave their formal goodbyes and Mr. Branson opened the car door. The Crawleys had insisted on providing the couple transportation directly to their new home in Ripon. Mrs. Crawley had pointed out to her son that carrying all of their belongings to the village and then on a bus would be awkward and uncomfortable and he had immediately determined that they should travel by motorcar.
Before they climbed into the car, however, Mrs. Carson returned to stand before Lord Grantham and the younger Lady Grantham. "Mr. Carson and I are so sorry that Lady Mary isn't feeling well enough to see us off," she began. "But please do let her know that she will always be welcome in our home should she wish to pay us a visit. Just as all of you are."
Lady Grantham was touched by Mrs. Carson's concern for her eldest daughter. Both women knew the real reason for Lady Mary's absence, which gave the countess a true appreciation for the olive branch as well as for the woman who offered it. "Thank you, Mrs. Hughes. We'll be sure to let her know, won't we, girls?"
Lady Grantham was not the only person who was touched by Mrs. Carson's words. Mr. and Mrs. Carson climbed into the car and were on their way. Mr. Carson would have kissed his wife if Mr. Branson hadn't been in the front seat. "Thank you, my dear," he murmured. "That meant a lot to me."
She smiled. "Perhaps she'll come round, Charles. You never know."
Mr. Carson returned her smile and took her hand.
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As soon as the car was out of sight the family slowly returned to their usual activities - all but Lady Sybil, who hurried back inside and up the stairs. She knocked on her sister's bedroom door, but didn't wait to be invited in. Lady Mary sat on the side of her bed farthest from the door, so her back was turned when her sister entered.
"If you've come to lecture me about ingratitude, you're wasting your breath, Mama," Lady Mary declared. Lady Sybil crossed the room and sat next to her sister. "Oh, Sybil darling, it's you. What a relief."
"Yes, it's me, and I haven't come to lecture you about ingratitude or anything else. But I do wish you had come down to see Carson and Mrs. Hughes off."
"Why should I?" Lady Mary asked bitterly.
Lady Sybil put an arm around her sister's shoulder. "I know it's sad that he's gone, but Carson will always love you, Mary."
"If he loves me, how could he leave me?"
"He couldn't stay here and be married. You know that," Lady Sybil reasoned.
Lady Mary was trying to hold on to the bitter anger that gave her the energy to continue. "Why does he need to get married at all?" she demanded, tears in her voice. "She's not good enough for him."
"Mary, don't be so unkind," Lady Sybil admonished her sister gently.
Lady Mary gave in to the angry tears that streamed over her cheeks as fast as she could wipe them away. "Well, since he has decided to leave me to marry Mrs. Hughes, I'll never see him again," she vowed. "Never."
"You should consider visiting him, Mary. Carson won't be watching over you every day, but he will always be happy to see you."
Lady Mary covered her face with her hands. "Oh, Sybil," she cried. Her younger sister pulled her into her arms. "First Papa and now Carson. I just can't bear it."
As Lady Mary dissolved into weeping, Lady Sybil was brought to tears, though she could still speak. "I think I understand now, Mary. But everything will be all right. I promise it will."
For a while after that, neither of them spoke, each shedding tears on the other's shoulder. The conversation had begun as a discussion of Mr. Carson's departure, but it had evolved into the sisters mourning their father.
As their tears ebbed, Lady Sybil spoke again. "Mary, you ought to know what Mrs. Hughes said to Mama about you."
Lady Mary stiffened. "What right has she to say anything at all about me?"
"She said she was sorry you didn't feel well enough to see them off, and that you will always be welcome in their home."
"She said that? After what I said to her..."
"She knows Carson loves you and she loves Carson," Lady Sybil explained. "She did it for him, in spite of the fact that you insulted her."
"I don't know what to say. Except perhaps I do need that lecture on ingratitude."
"You might do well to give Mrs. Hughes more credit."
"You seem to be a great defender of Mrs. Hughes," Lady Mary commented, but without venom.
"Carson's always supported you, but he wasn't the only person downstairs who could comfort a little girl or a young lady in trouble or grief."
"And I suppose Carson needs someone to comfort him," mused Lady Mary.
"You should have seen Carson's face when Mrs. Hughes mentioned you to Mama. He was looking at her like she was the most beautiful and wonderful thing he'd ever seen. I hope I can find a man who will look at me like that."
"Preferably before you're as old as they are," Lady Mary remarked, suddenly laughing.
Lady Sybil was taken by surprise at her sister's jesting tone and couldn't help giggling herself. She hugged Lady Mary again, but this time they were both smiling through their tears.
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With a little direction from Mr. Carson, Mr. Branson pulled up to the little cottage on the outskirts of Ripon and helped carry the Carsons' few belongings inside. He offered to drive them to the Register Office for their ostensible appointment, but they told him they preferred to walk, so he shook Mr. Carson's hand, wished them both well, and drove away. Mr. and Mrs. Carson walked down the street, but a few minutes later, once they were sure that Mr. Branson was well on his way, they turned back toward their new home and went inside.
"What do you think, Elsie?" Mr. Carson asked, showing her their new rooms. "It must be strange to have your new home chosen for you."
"Not really," she answered. "That's how it works when you're in service. You find a job and they give you a room. This is better, because I know you chose it with just us in mind."
"I did," he confirmed. "I wanted you to be comfortable."
Mrs. Carson looked out the front window. "You brought in a maid, didn't you? So I wouldn't have to clean it up when we arrived."
Mr. Carson smiled, pleased that she had noticed. He approached her and wrapped his arms around her from behind. "There's tea in the kitchen, too, and a few other necessities, though we'll need to go shopping soon."
"Shall we have some tea, Charles?" she asked softly.
"Yes, that sounds lovely."
To be continued…
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