HOUSEKEEPER IN NEED OF CARE
Hello people. Apparently this weekend is sponsored by the number 50. Yesterday I wrote a 50th chapter of my story-"Charles's Christmas Carol" and today I'm writing my 50th story on this page. Still can't believe it. When I started my fanfiction adventure two years ago, I would have never predicted, that I will write so many stories. But here it is.
Today's story is a gift to shine-on-down who gave me the idea for the story, that has been written already by few of you, but I decided to give my own take on it.
Story summary: Elsie is always the one who takes care of everyone, but who will take care of her when she needs it?
Legal note: Don't have any rights to any of DA characters.
Everyone at the Abbey knew, that if someone needs any kind of help, there is one person that was always willing to help. In any possible problem. Whether it was a sudden migraine attack or a broken heart or a household emergency, that needed to be solved right away.
Elsie Hughes was well known for dealing perfectly with all the problems, so all the upstairs and downstairs people, didn't hesitate to ask her help, whenever it was needed.
She had tons of responsabilities of her own, but as soon as someone knocked on the door of her sitting room, she put everything away and focused all her attention on solving the problem, however difficult it might have been.
For the upstairs people she was like a rock, the most reliable person in the house, who could deal with things, that were too delicate or too complicated to be resolved by the butler.
For the downstairs team, she was like a mother, that they didn't have daily. Someone who could mend the missing button, who gave perfect advice and someone who always had a sympathetic heart for all of them. When they had a bad day or they thought that they will not be able to go on without their families, far away from home, Elsie was the one who always lifted their spirits up.
It was the same with all the afflictions that they were suffering. Servants life was a difficult one and there wasn't much time for being ill. Sometimes they had to work, in spite of feeling so bad, that they could barely stand on their feet.
Elsie was able to see that moment, when there was no way for them to stay on their feet. She knew exactly, if someone was simply lazy and tried to get out of work or if this person was in a really bad shape and needed to lie down and rest.
As much as she took care of everyone in the house, she never really thought about herself. It was pretty common for her to go through hosting a big house party with a splitting headache, it was normal for her to talk over the daily routine with Mr Carson, when her throat sored so much, that she could barely speak and it wasn't unusual for her to get through inventory, having a temperature.
Furthermore, none of the people who worked with her, could ever tell that something was wrong with her. She maintain her calmness and her smile, throughout the difficult days.
But every person has a certain level of durability. Elsie found that out, when one time she started to feel really unwell.
Normally, she would have just ignored that, but that was something different than usual. She heard that the flu was spreading in the village, but she ignored that and she went shopping few days ago. She remembered, that one of the villagers, that she met in the store, was indeed sneezing and coughing in her presence, but she didn't give much thought about that, until the moment when she started to feel really ill.
Her head felt like stone, she literally never had a bigger headache. Her throat was so sore, that she was not able to speak without hoarseness. She felt heat waves surging through her body every now and then.
In the beginning, she thought, that she would be capable of taking it under control, she took all the medicines that she had, but in time, she realized, that it will not pass.
Being stubborn as she was, she was not going to admit to anyone, that she felt bad, although her work colleagues were not blind and they noticed that she was not feeling well.
Mrs Patmore was the first one to notice. Early, in the morning, when they were chcecking the food stocks in the larder, she saw, that the housekeeper was pale and exhausted. She asked her if she was all right, but Elsie replied that everything was fine. With sterner and much severe voice than usual, just to dishearten the cook from asking further questions.
Daisy was the next person, who noticed that something was not quite as it should be. She was about to inquire, but Elsie's face did not encourage her to ask anything and in the result, she just resigned from investigating this.
As the afternoon tea was served in the sevants hall, everyone noticed the absence of the housekeeper, especially Anna, who liked to have a friendly chat with Elsie at this time. It was their long known custom to do that.
After a careful consideration, Anna decided to check what was the reason, that Elsie was absent with the rest of them by the table.
At the same time, Elsie was aware that the situation is getting worse and worse with each minute. She tried to check something in the papers, but she wasn't even able to read them, because the letters were jumping in front of her eyes. She thought, that maybe she has some eye problems and she should use her glasses, but when she raised herself from her desk and went towards the shelve, she suddenly felt so dizzy, that she wasn't able to stand on her feet.
That's how Anna found her, when she knocked into her sitting room and she entered, because she was concered with a lack of invitation.
When she saw that Mrs Hughes was barely standing on her feet, she knew that the situation was serious. She called Mr Carson immediately and as he entered the room, his face suddenly turned white, when he saw the woman that he loved, in such awful shape.
Both he and Anna went towards her, to keep her standing...Mr Carson firmly hugged her waist and she was so weak, that she wasn't able to pay attention to any rules, she simply lay her head on his chest..
"Mrs Hughes..Mrs Hughes...Are you all right? What is happening?"
"I don't...I don't feel so good...My head...I can't stand...Please let me...I need to...Lie down..."
"Oh my God Anna! Help me! We need to sit Mrs Hughes on the chair..."
They both walked Elsie to her chair. She was so weak, that she could barely breathe..
Mr Carson, I'm going to call the doctor immediately, but we need to walk her to her bedroom.."
"I'm not sure that she will be able to walk..Mrs Hughes-are you able to walk to your bedroom?"
Elsie tried to get up, but it didn't end well, as her legs were not able to keep her in a standing position...She was collapsing all the time...
"I don't think that she is able to do that Mr Carson...I think that we may need to carry her to her bedroom. Maybe I will ask Thomas to help you..."
No! There is no need...I will do it myself...Just come with me and you will open the door for me..."
Anna looked at the butler with curiosity and admiration. She had absolutely no doubts, that the butler was madly in love with Mrs Hughes. It was obvious for her, as the fact, that after every day the night came. Mr Carson was a very strong, well built men and Mrs Hughes was very light, but even so, it was difficult to believe, that he will be able to carry her to the bedroom, with all those stairs.
However Anna was aware, that if Mr Carson asked her to do it, she will have to do it...
So she opened the door for him, while he carried her all the way...He was praying silently not to drop her and just when he thought, that he won't be able to do it, they finally reached to their destination.
With a sigh of huge relief, he put Elsie on her bed cautiously.
Anna stopped and watched, as he covered her gently with the duvet and as he adjusted the pillow for her, just so it would be more comfortable..Every little of those gestures, were clearly showing how much she meant for him and Anna thought, that if someone deserved that level of care, it was certainly Mrs Hughes. It was nice to see that she was finally being taken care of for a change.
Mr Carson repeated his request for calling a doctor one more time and Anna left, leaving them alone.
Dr Clarkson arrived as soon as he could. After careful examination, he told them, that it was a particularly difficult case of the flu. Mrs Hughes was really fighting for her life during the following week.
Anna, Mrs Patmore and Daisy, were helping as much as they could. From obvious reasons, they took care of all the delicate things, connected with a personal hygene on them.
Apart from that, Mr Carson was the one that practically didn't leave her alone at all. It was the first and probably the last time in his life, when he truly neglected his butler duties, because they meant nothing, compared to the woman that he loved.
The upstairs family knew the situation and they were very understanding.
Mr Carson has never been more scared in his life..Nothing was important now...All it mattered was Elsie and her health. He even slept in the armchair near her bed, just to make sure, that she was ok at night.
He gave her water, he wiped her forehead, he covered her lovingly with the duvet, when he saw, that she was having shivers from the fever.
He watched her night&day, checking her temperature, reacting to every little concerning signal, indictaing that she might have felt worse...
Elsie was not much aware of what was going on around her those days. She was in a state of half asleep, half awake. Sometimes she recognized the voices of the people who were in the room.
Even though she was very ill, she felt secure and taken care of..She felt, that there was someone who was watching her all the time.
In those few rare moments, when she regained her consciousness, she saw the well known figure of the butler and she knew, that she was in good hands...Warm feeling went through her body and she knew that she was safe.
She felt his hand squeezing hers in the night gently, she felt his big hands, who became extremely delicate, when he was touching her forehead, checking her temperature, she felt how he was covering her with the duvet, every time the shivers went down her spine.
His presence in her room was calming and she thought, that the last time when she felt so much loved and so secure, was when her mother was taking care of her when she was a little girl.
Ever since that time, she has never been taken care of by anyone. Not until now. When this gentle giant butler, who liked to give impression that he was stern and harsh, has turned into the most caring and loving person, that she has ever met...
When she woke up once, in the middle of the night and she felt how tightly he held her hand, she decided, that if she will get better, she won't hesitate no more, of speaking with him about their affection.
They both avoided this subject consequently, but her unexpected disease, has convinced her, that it was no point in further delay..
After a few days of difficult struggle, when she finally woke up in the morning, feeling almost normal, she turned her head in his direction and she saw his trusting and loving eyes, staring at her like she was the only woman in the world..
He was holding her hand again and she smiled, looking at him with warmth and pure love in her eyes. All her face expressed one thing that, she wanted to tell him: "Thank you for taking care of me.."
She never actually said those words out loud, but it wasn't necessary...At this moment, their mutual gestures told them everything they needed to know...
That's all for this story. It's true that Mrs Hughes was always taking care of everyone in the house, but there wasn't much people who took care of her...Except our beloved butler of course ;-) Thank you in advance for reading this story and most of all thank you to shine-on-down for the idea. Hope you liked it. Stay safe everyone!