1Chapter 13

Young Lady Mary Crawley was going to have a field day with Sybil's constant visits downstairs. Of course even she made secret visits to see Carson and earn a few sweets that she was not normally allowed. But she would never fall below her station! Cuddling on the Housekeeper's lap! Besides Carson always treated her like the Lady she was! Mary couldn't entirely place whether her fury about Sybil's hideout was because of her parents' love towards "sweet" Sybil that she envied, because the grave impropriety of spending too much time closely with a "servant", because of Carson's fondness for Mary always being overshadowed by Mrs Hughes or maybe because… Mary brushed the last possibility out of her mind. No! Not because of that! But it came creeping into her like a nightmare conquering her land of sleep. Maybe because she craved the kind of love that Sybil got from Mrs Hughes.

She climbed the flight of stairs that led from downstairs to the main staircase dragging an almost tearful Sybil behind her and into the library where her parents were waiting with Edith. Once she neared the library, she slowed down her pace, raised her head and walked gracefully with the little girl shuffling behind her, disappointed, annoyed, sad and a whole bundle of other emotions bursting inside her little heart.

"Ah there you are Mary, we were wondering what took you so long," Lord Grantham smiled at her two daughters amused by the two contrasting girls.

"She was fast asleep!" Mary replied putting on as much emphasis as she could on the first word.

"Sybil dear, you still look very sleepy," Lady Grantham said with a very adorable smile playing on her lips and no sooner had she finished her sentence, Sybil let out an enormous yawn without even bothering to cover her mouth. Robert couldn't help but laugh at the adorable young girl and Cora joined in. But Mary scowled. How disgraceful!

"Come here my darlings," Cora stretched her arms and both girls walked into their mothers embrace and Edith joined them.

Mary didn't give up on her initial idea as she spoke out loud and clear in an accusatory tone, "Sybil was in the Housekeeper's parlour! Asleep on her lap!"

"You haven't been bothering Mrs Hughes have you?" Cora asked taking Sybil's face in her hands.

"No Mama. Mrs Hughes told me stories," Sybil replied now fully awake with exciting memories of the amazing stories about Highland fairies by the lovely Scottish Housekeeper.

"But Mama! She's spending too much downstairs! And with a servant nonetheless!" Mary protested.

"Mary, Mrs Hughes is a respected member of the household," Cora replied in quite angrily, cautiously looking over her shoulder at the footman who was standing still as a stone.

"But it is below us to act like that. It's not proper Mama! Mrs Hughes is still a servant!" Mary persisted. But she couldn't have had worse timing for Carson walked through the door of the library carrying a tea tray only to hear Mary's last sentence and the fine emphasis that she placed on Mrs Hughes' position. He stopped in his tracks, stunned, with tea tray in hand. Cora almost forgot the reprimanding she was about to give Mary when she saw Carson's reactions. Robert's eyes widened, but he couldn't find any words. Both Cora and Robert knew that Mr Carson and Mrs Hughes were great friends and people who had given most of their life to Downton. They were efficient, diligent and above all loyal.

After what seemed like a minute's silence, Carson walked across the library to place the tea tray on the table and started preparing the tea. It was not his place to voice his opinion but Lady Mary's words hurt him to the core. He wondered how someone so young, someone whom he cared for so much could be so mean and hurtful. Especially towards another person whom he cared for with all his heart.

Cora finally regained her senses and hissed at Mary, "Mrs Hughes as I mentioned before is a very respectable member of the household and I would remind you that without her this house would fall into utter chaos…"

But Cora couldn't complete for Mary protested, "But that is her job!" Cora was furious by this time and Robert was utterly surprised by his daughter's attitude.

"Mary, remember that she had done her job exceptionally well and with such loyalty that you can never understand. One day when you are old enough you'll understand what she means to this house. And besides, you would learn to treat all people with dignity despite their position. It is because of them that this house runs. And if Mrs Hughes didn't work as loyally as she did, it won't be long before this place turns to a ruin."

Mary's fire had died down a bit by then but Cora could see a few more sparks. Cora stopped her speech to accept a cup of tea that Carson offered, his face betraying no emotion but in his eyes were admiration for his employers. Cora looked at him and saw the man he pretended to be, no words, no emotions. But she read his eyes. She continued as Carson proceeded to hand over a cup to Robert.

"And Mary I would not tolerate your attitude. One day you would become the lady of a house. You'll have to run a house. Remember, treat everyone who works for you with dignity and honour. Respect them. Once you get to the core, they are not very different to us," Cora finished on a kinder tone and Mary nodded slowly. She still didn't like Sybil's behaviour very much but her mother's speech softened her and made her ashamed of the way she pointed Mrs Hughes out.

Almost an hour passed, with Sybil's retelling stories that Mrs Hughes had told her, Mary excitedly talking about her new dress and Edith filling in about the latest books she's read and time came for Nanny to take them back up. Mary would soon leave the nursery but Cora thought it would be best that she spent more time with her sisters.

Robert looked up at Carson and said, "That would be all Carson. Thank you." Carson nodded and replied, "Very well Milord." He walked out of the library after whispering something to the footmen and Robert called again, "And Carson we won't be needing Richard any longer." Carson gestured to the footman who swiftly walked out behind the Butler.

When both of them had departed Robert heaved a huge sigh and Cora giggled at Robert's amusing expression.

"I couldn't really look him in the eye after Mary's outburst," Robert said and Cora expression became serious back again.

"I don't what she's taken in. But I'd wager it's all your mother's talk about propriety," she looked at Robert with an accusatory look all about her face.

"Don't get at me for that," Robert retaliated utterly helpless, "but sometimes I do worry about Sybil spending time downstairs."

"Why?" Cora asked unable decipher the point that Robert was trying to make.

"I mean, it's not ordinary for her place in the world," he struggled to explain.

"Now you are sounding like Mary and your mother," Cora replied, disappointed. "Might I remind you of the many stories you've told about the times you've spent downstairs and how friendly you were with the cook?"

"I suppose you are right. I am being a hypocrite. But I'm afraid that it wouldn't help her to get too attached to it," Robert said.

"She spends most of that time with Mrs Hughes and I need not tell you how responsible she is. Besides I saw them one day and… Sybil… Sybil was so happy. I was so afraid when she turned all quiet all of a sudden and that seems to be passing and she seems so happy and alive again. I must say Mrs Hughes is quite a story teller," Cora replied now laughing.

"As are most Scots. Natural story tellers," Robert added smiling, infected by his wife's laughter.

"But more importantly Robert, it will let her to know the world as it is. Not everything in life comes on silver trays. It would do well for her to know that. To let her know that there is a life beyond elegant dinners and house parties and the reality of how all that elegance comes alive," Cora said and smiled.

Robert couldn't help but smile at his wise and kind wife. He nodded. Of course she was right as always, seeing things in a deeper light than he ever could. He walked towards her and gently kissed her on the lips and tried to imagine a day when his three daughters would grow up to be beautiful, kind and wise mother. The day he would be a happy man more than words could ever say.

TO BE CONTINUED…

Quite a long chapter! I'm not very sure if I pulled it altogether very well but it is for you to judge. Thank you again for all your kind reviews. They make me so happy and encourage me to keep this story going. And please don't hesitate to let me know your ideas in the reviews. And I apologize if there are any spelling or grammatical errors. I ran through the text quickly but time doesn't permit me to make a thorough inspection of it. I look forward to read your reviews. And a huge thank you to all of you lovely readers. Hope to meet you soon with the next chapter!