Chapter 6

Anna stood from her chair at the servant's hall and walked towards the corridor with a mended tablecloth neatly folded and draped across her lower arm and her sewing basket in the other. She had borrowed a needle from Mrs Hughes when she had accidently snapped all hers in half making vain attempts of trying to poke through the thick cloth of the table cloth. She knew she should have known better than to stick needles used to sew silk across the hard linen of the table cloth and she certainly deserved "the look" and the mild telling off she got from Mrs Hughes.

She was making her way towards the Housekeeper's sitting room to return the needle and the table cloth when she spotted Lady Grantham standing on the corridor and peering into Mrs Hughes' sitting room. To Anna, it was a certainly odd sight. Why was Her Ladyship downstairs at this highly unusual hour? Why wasn't she entering the room? And why on earth was she peering through the slightly open door? Confusion written all over her face, Anna walked towards Lady Grantham and when she was close enough she spoke out.

"Mila-" Anna was cut short when Cora shot her head towards Anna's direction and placed her finger on her lips indicating her to remain quiet. For a fraction of a second Anna stopped in her tracks and then with soft steps reached Lady Grantham wondering what this unusual behaviour was all about. Anna stepped to Her Ladyship's side and peered inside through the opening. A "Cheshire cat grin" (with perfectly good intentions and innocent amusement) formed on her lips as she gauged the sight of Sybil on Mrs Hughes' lap.

Anna couldn't help but contemplate how utterly adorable the older woman was with the little girl and how simple yet beautiful it all looked. No wonder Her Ladyship was mesmerised. Anna looked up to Cora's face who was still watching the two inside and saw streaks of dried tears glistening in the dim light of the basement.

She did fear Mrs Hughes as did all other footmen and maids. No one could get past her with any sort of mischief or wrong doing. Her regime was firm and strict yet never unfair. She was kind, compassionate and flexible (unlike Mr Carson who would never back out from his opinion). But Anna felt sorry that Mrs Hughes didn't have many friends. Mrs Patmore was the only woman of a similar age (Miss O'Brien was out of question) yet she was always at the Housekeeper's throat over something or the other. She only shared a friendship with Mr Carson and besides that she was quite lonely. But to the maids who rarely realised her worth she was like a second mother.

After several more moments of watching together, Sybil now enjoying a very animated story telling by Mrs Hughes, Lady Grantham bent down towards Anna and whispered, "I believe we should leave them and let them be." She walked slowly towards the stairs in soft steps and Anna turned back towards the servant's hall, a beautiful smile adorning her face.

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"It's very close to luncheon milady," Mrs Hughes said as she watched Sybil distractedly fumbling with the invoices and the various other things on the Housekeeper's desk.

"I don't want to go back Mrs Hughes," Sybil replied, still engaged in her exploration.

"Her Ladyship must be waiting for you dear," she tried again.

"But Mrs Hughes…" Sybil started protesting.

But Mrs Hughes cut her short, "No! You are going upstairs for luncheon young Lady," she said while ruffling the sweet, dark head of hair.

"Please!" Sybil started a vain pleading.

"Remember? If you start being naughty I'll turn you into something. A sugar shifter! Yes, a sugar shifter," Mrs Hughes countered faking a villainous tone. Sybil shifted slightly on Mrs Hughes' lap and she knew it had the desired effect and a slightly mischievous smile played upon he lips. Sybil gently slid down from Mrs Hughes' lap on to the ground and faced her.

"I'd better go up then. Would you mind if I come down here again?" the little girl asked, her eyes fluttering.

"Not if you have permission from Her Ladyship," Mrs Hughes smiled at the young Lady. How could she say no to that adorable face? And of course it was a refreshing change for Mrs Hughes to have a child around her. A change that she loved so much. Sybil giggled and walked towards the door only to turn back and skip towards Mrs Hughes' chair. She reached up on tip toes and placed a sweet little kiss on the Housekeeper's cheek and skipped back towards the door to leave.

A happy sigh escaped Mrs Hughes' lips. The sweet little girl made her feel things she had never expected to feel. Made her show emotions she had never dared to imagine. There was something so different about her, from the other Crawley daughters. Something that reminded Mrs Hughes of the girl she once was. Something that reminded her of Elsie who grew up into Mrs Hughes. The same enthusiasm and curiosity. With Sybil's absence from her lap, Mrs Hughes felt quite empty. She felt a cold feeling invading her as the warmth of the girl was lost to her. Maybe this is what mothers felt, when the watched their children grow. Maybe this was what her mother felt, when she left Becky and her behind, in promise of a better future for them all.

Another sigh and Mrs Hughes got up from her chair to head upstairs to assist with the arrangements for the upstairs luncheon, a smile on her face, only to meet Anna on the staircase who smiled to herself perfectly knowing the reason behind the Housekeeper's smile.

To be continued…

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