Chapter 32

"What do you mean no one is down yet," the Dowager Countess asked the poor footman who had let her in, in a very annoyed tone.

"The young ladies and His Lordship are having the fever Milady and Her Ladyship is with them," the young footman replied in a meek tone which indicated clearly that he was intimidated by the formidable matriarch. "If Your Ladyship would like to wait in the library, I could inform that you are here My Lady."

The Dowager Countess walked through the door that the footman had opened for her. Clearly they must have known she was visiting. She had informed them that last morning and it annoyed her when there was no proper welcoming party for her, especially after she was back from London after a month at Rosamund's.

Ever so gracefully she sat down on the large red sofa in the library, a critical pair of eyes running over every detail of the elegant room. Leaning her cane against the sofa, she ran a finger on the edges of the stool next to the sofa and inspected for any stray dust. Having found none she huffed. A curious sound broke her critical reverie. She looked around the room to find here the sound was coming from but for a moment she couldn't lay a finger on it, where it was coming from and what it was.

Realising that the sound was in fact coming from behind the sofa, Violet got up and took a turn around the arm of the sofa and she was in deed slightly amazed.

In front of her was the Housekeeper on her hands and knees scrubbing rather vigorously at a stain on the carpet rather oblivious to the world around her. Her brow was furrowed in concentration and her lips pursed as she gave the stain her full attention.

"Mrs Hughes?" the Dowager called and the Housekeeper looked behind over her shoulder and an expression of utter surprise invaded her earlier expression of severe concentration with a start and she quickly rose to her feet.

Reflexively she wiped her hands on the apron tied around her waist and she stood to her full height, squaring her shoulders and retaining the quiet confidence that the Dowager didn't like very much but rather admired, in the reserved Scotswoman.

"Milady," she smiled her usual professional, tight lipped smile. "What can I do for you?"

"I've come to see the Family but no one is down yet so one of the footmen went up to relay my message," the Dowager replied eyeing the housekeeper from head to toe. She didn't particularly like the Housekeeper being Scottish, there was something foreign about it. But she did admire Mrs Hughes' skills and work ethic. "But I must say the Housekeeper scrubbing at a stain is not an everyday sight."

"Most of the senior housemaids are down with the fever and only Anna is up and about and she feared she wouldn't be able to handle the stain on her own," Mrs Hughes replied noticing the critical eye of the Dowager.

"Hmm," the Dowager hummed her approval. It's not often that one finds a Housekeeper who could go back, away from the desk job, and take actual matters into hand, she could give Mrs Hughes that. And it rather impressed her, though she wouldn't voice her approval very loud, given her initial disapproval at promoting the then Head Housemaid as Housekeeper.

"Mrs Hughes are the family very ill?" the Dowager asked with a bit of worry lacing her voice.

"I'm afraid so Your Ladyship. I was looking over the young ladies this morning since Nanny was ill too and they were rather poorly. They are recovering of course but quite slowly."

"Oh my! Then I better get my poor old bones out of this place. I'll not last a minute with a fever of that strength and at my age, Mrs Hughes, I can think of much comfortable ways of dying," the Dowager Countess finished with a light laugh, amused by her own wit.

Mrs Hughes only retained her usual, measured smile. She respected the Dowager Countess for her strength and her honourable nature but there were always times when the "old bat" would annoy her with the rather rigid words she spoke. Mr Carson on the other hand, she had noted, almost worshipped the ground that the old lady thread upon.

"Could you tell Lady Grantham that I've left?" the Dowager Countess requested as she walked back around to the sofa where she left the cane.

"Very well Milady," Mrs Hughes said gave a slight bow as the grand old lady walked out of the library in her gracious gait, regally holding onto her cane. The Housekeeper let her shoulders drop a little in relief. She would never admit it to Mr Carson but sometimes the "old bat" unsettled her.

Mrs Hughes, having finally gotten the stain off the carpet, let out a sigh of relief. This had been a trying day indeed and it had proved to her what her advancing years were doing to her knees. She placed a firm hand on the ground and was just rising to her feet when the sounds of someone running towards the library echoed on the corridor outside. Their footsteps coming as loud but muffled thuds on the thick carpet on the corridor.

Anna emerged from the door panting, a hand on her chest. Mrs Hughes throat constricted. Whatever could be wrong?

"What on earth girl?" Mrs Hughes asked, hints of fright taking over her. Anna's dishevelled appearance after her running and her red cheeks only adding to it.

"Mrs Hughes…" Anna tried to regain her breath that were now coming only in short and sharp bursts. "It's Lady Sybil…"

Mrs Hughes' whole body tensed. The fear in Anna's voice was clear. The ominous feeling from earlier in the morning returning. Her lips parted slightly while she watched Anna trying to regain her breath. Her patience did not last.

"For heaven's sake girl what is it?" she all but screamed at Anna but managed to tone it down to her usual angry housekeeper tone. It wouldn't do to frighten the poor girl.

"She's worse. I think… I think it's measles," Anna finally burst out relieved that's he was finally able to get it out. She took deep breaths, her hand still at her chest watching the emotions changing on the housekeeper's face like a dark ink mingling in a dish of clear water.

"Oh my God," was all Anna barely heard the Housekeeper whisper and Mrs Hughes rushed out of the library with quick steps that almost never touched the ground, her hands reaching behind her back and tugging at the knot on her apron.

To be continued…

Thank you so much for all your reviews! I'm so grateful! Writing the Dowager Countess was tough. Well… that is to be expected isn't it? See you soon with the next chapter!