A/N: Hey kids, the first section of this chapter is an actual scene with the two of them in it and the second and longer part is exploring the possible emotions of William's departure (with added Charles even though he wasn't in the scene) Hope you enjoy!


Season 2, Episode 3


The very next day they stood outside the house to welcome the general. Apart from the look shared between Acting Corporal Barrow and Mr Carson, it was uneventful.

In Mrs Hughes opinion, the General would find it difficult to get a word in edgeways with both Lady Cora and Mrs Crawley escorting him around


Mrs Patmore, Mrs Hughes and Daisy stood around the table while William drank his tea. Mrs Hughes listened to him talk of the war without fear and hoped for his sake, that he didn't see the worst of it. She looked to Daisy, and saw the fear she had of him and for him.

She didn't know what she would do if Charles had to go to war. She would forever be on edge, awaiting his letters or waiting to hear his familiar step outside her door before it creaked open to show his beautiful face.

Mrs Patmore's sigh broke her reverie. When the poor woman spoke of her nephew, her voice broke.

Mr Carson had come quietly down the stairs, stopping halfway before he could be seen. He had heard William's voice, his surrogate son. The boy he had nurtured from a boy to a man. Hearing Mrs Patmore speak of her nephew and how distressing was for her was heart wrenching. He furrowed his brow, about to enter the room and offer his support. Before he could however, he heard the maternal tone with a soft Scottish burr that melted his heart. He stood in the shadows of the hall and listened

"When we waved off our Archie, I remember-"

Mrs Hughes turned to her kindly and prompted: "What do you remember, Mrs Patmore?"

"I'll tell you. You remember a fine young man, who enlisted before he had too and who gave his life for his country. Because he'd be alive and well today, if he hadn't chosen to go to war"

He agreed wholeheartedly with her statement, however hurried to make himself scarce as he heard them moving to leave. Once successfully barricaded in his pantry, he allowed himself to think about how she would be feeling, sending her boy off to war.

What if it was their own son? William was like a son to them but what if they had a son. A son with her deep sapphire eyes and kind smile. He couldn't bear the thought of loosing such a precious boy, a precious boy like William to something as brutal and avoidable as war.

He took a deep breath, scrunching his eyebrows together to help him refocus, and left the pantry with his butler façade reactivated.