Chapter 39

Christmas Eve

The enchanting melody of singing echoed everywhere throughout the large house as it breathed in the joy and smiles of the people gathered in the great hall. The Christmas tree stood tall and proud as dozens of eyes wandered over the beautiful ornaments, then on to the magnificent architecture of the great hall that had seen centuries of Crawley history unfold. If only the unfeeling stone could speak, it would have related with pride, nostalgia and perhaps sorrow the millions of moments lost in time that once were cherished by the forgotten people who have walked these halls.

The glow of the fire, fresh Christmas treats, the signature smell of pine and crisp winter air along with the stunning decorations wove a perfect evening around everyone present.

Crawley family members, their servants and some of the tenant farmers stood in the great hall, carols ringing around them, the notes of the piano reverberating and the Christmas Eve breathing life around them.

The Family, their friends and their relatives stood right at the front close to the Christmas tree while tenant farmers were scattered behind them. Mr Carson stood at the end of the hall, overseeing. Mrs Patmore and several kitchen maids stood on a side, watching the glamour of the proceedings rather excitedly. Footmen were busy serving, moving about carefully yet swiftly through the crowd or were staying at attention awaiting orders, yet somehow managing to find a moment to admire the evening and sneak a glass or two of punch behind Mr Carson's back. Anna stood next to Mrs Hughes in the crowd, Sophie by Anna's side. Jane, Nancy, Gwen and the other housemaids along with Miss O'Brien stood in a group a few feet away. Mr Watson, His Lordship's valet stood quite away from where the crowd was gathered, holding a glass of punch.

The Dowager stood as grand as ever next to her daughter-in-law, Lady Grantham. Lord Grantham stood at the centre, in front of the tree, next to his wife while his sister, Lady Rosamund, and their cousins joined in from the side. A little further away from them, to their side the young girls stood with Nanny. Mary, as regal as a girl her age could be. Edith, with a genuine smile on her face, and of course trying to outshine her elder sister. Sybil, a little sleepy but as excited as she could be, her smile beaming widely.

The singing paused for a moment and Lord Grantham invited everyone to help themselves to Christmas treats and drinks, followed by a big round of applause. Mrs Hughes quickly scanned the room, making sure everything was running smoothly. As she turned around, her gaze caught Mr Carson's who nodded at her with a slight smile tugging at his lips. And she returned it, with a free flowing smile bursting upon her face.

Feeling a tremble next to her, Mrs Hughes turned back around to see Anna teary eyed and trembling.

"Are you alright my dear?" Mrs Hughes whispered, holding Anna's arm gently.

"Yes, yes… I'm perfectly alright Mrs Hughes. It's so beautiful and… well… perhaps a bit overwhelming," Anna smiled and wiped her tears with the back of hand and reached into her pocket for her handkerchief.

Mrs Hughes smiled and stroked Anna's arm a couple of a times before letting go. She understood what the young girl meant. Christmas Eve back at home was almost if not entirely different for most of them than what now unfolded before their eyes. But on the contrary there lurked something so vaguely familiar and homely about it too. Resonating with memories from one's own home. She sighed and breathed in deeply her heart filled completely in what she knew was pure happiness, which she perhaps didn't know to be twinkling in her eyes, through the windows of her soul.

Lady Sybil raced to where her father stood, urged him to bend down and joyfully whispered something in his ear. Lord Grantham picked her up and balanced the young girl upon his arm as they engaged in a lively conversation. Lady Edith nodded in affirmation at something that the Dowager asked from her while Lady Mary listened uninterestedly to something that Master Patrick was relating to her. The young, somewhat shy boy, animatedly talking, a clear contrast to Lady Mary's expression on her face.

Mrs Hughes didn't stop the smile that blossomed on her face, as she saw Lady Sybil laughing with His Lordship, one arm around his neck. She leaned backwards, laughing and Lord Grantham carefully placed his other arm around her back to support her.

The Housekeeper shook her head and turned to walk down the hall to its far corner. The delightful image of the joyful, young girl who stole her heart, tugging at her heart and tip toeing in her mind.

"Mr Carson," she said in a low voice as she approached the Butler, who was standing absolutely straight, his hands behind his back and a proud smile on his face.

"Splendid, isn't it Mrs Hughes?" he asked, observing the celebration that bubbled and glowed in front of their eyes.

Mrs Hughes turned back slightly, attempting to follow his gaze and replied, "It is."

"If I'm honest this has fascinated me a lot. As much as a full blown dinner party would," Mr Carson commented and looked down at the Housekeeper, who was watching the celebration in front of them, in an attempt to read her reaction. All what he could see was that soft smile of hers that he had grown to love over the years. Her usual assortment of sarcastic expressions that she reserved in response comments of his that went down that line still not making an appearance.

"Well, that comes as a surprise to me," Mrs Hughes chuckled and looked at Mr Carson's gradually furrowing brow.

"Why is it so hard to believe?" he questioned.

"To start with, you always like the style, the show, the elegance and it's quite hard to imagine that you would see this simple celebration as equally beautiful," Mrs Hughes replied promptly, quirking her eyebrow at him.

"Of course there is elegance Mrs Hughes. The style is still there, even the show. Just not in their usual form," Mr Carson said, looking ahead.

"What I see is a group of people celebrating a happy day in relaxed and simple setting, while another group of people celebrating it in grander surroundings than usual," Mrs Hughes countered observing the Family, the servants and the tenants.

"Surely Mrs Hughes…"

Mrs Hughes smiled, "You know perfectly well Mr Carson that you and I don't agree and won't agree on that topic. Besides it's just all about the happiness isn't it? With or without the show."

Mr Carson smiled back at the Housekeeper, letting his eyes rest upon hers which were glowing in the vast, golden light of the great hall. Yes, she was right. It was all about the happiness.

The notes of the piano began to echo again from further across the hall and everyone gathered close by ready to resume singing, headed this time by young Lady Mary. The young girl, standing proudly in her bright red dress, hands held graciously in front of her and her head held high.

As the music grew louder around them, Mrs Hughes leant a bit closer to Mr Carson and whispered, "Could you spare me for a moment?"

"Yes but whatever for?" he leaned down and whispered back as best he could.

"Something I've got to do."

"At this time? What?" he asked, his eyebrows raised in surprise.

"Yes now, and never you mind," Mrs Hughes chided and slipped in through the few people at the back, and the footmen close by towards the green baize door.

Mr Carson's gaze followed her as she stepped towards the door and disappeared behind it.

Flickering light from the candles filtered on to the corridor and danced upon the bright rich colours that adorned it and hid in the shadows formed by sharp corners and elegant shapes that decorated it. The warm glow of the light and colder air unified to bring the feeling that December was at its height and the winter was in its prime.

Mrs Hughes walked along this corridor with a small package, wrapped in wrapping paper left out after wrapping the gifts for the Family, in her hands, tied with a bright red ribbon with a bow on the top. Around her, Christmas scents, beautiful light and cheerful singing formed an orchestra that played a symphony which spoke directly to one's heart and soul in a language that one knew but couldn't understand.

She stopped at the nursery door and peered in. The pastel colours of the flowery wallpaper smiled at her and the warmth of the fire invited her. From each bed hung a decorated Christmas stocking. Lady Edith's was green, Lady Mary's red and Lady Sybil's a peach tone.

The girls were all downstairs and the room was so still and at peace. Outside the speeches and singing continued accompanied by conversations, all sounding very distant when inside the room. A little bubble away from the world.

Mrs Hughes stepped towards the bedpost from which Lady Sybil's stocking was hanging. She ran her fingers upon the soft material and on to the mistletoe decoration upon it made of coloured cloth. There were already a few small presents inside it. Most of their gifts were beneath the tree, waiting to be opened the following day. She placed the little package carefully inside the stocking, arranged it back properly and gave it a final, soft pat.

On the side of the bed, by the pillow, a beautiful doll with dark hair, dressed in a yellow coloured dress and a pretty little hat upon its head, was leaning against the headboard of the bed. An eternal smile painted upon its lips. Eyes open to the room, beneath its thick eyelashes, whether the colour of the eyes were a shade of blue or green the Housekeeper could not recognise. Perhaps a brown, she guessed. Mrs Hughes chuckled remembering for whom the present was really for.

She stepped towards the door and turned to look back at the room which was almost in a peaceful slumber, as if it was lying in the gentle divide between a dream and the reality.

From the Great Hall "Silent Night" drifted into the corridor as the Housekeeper made her way back to the Great Hall.

To be continued…

Thank you so much for all your lovely reviews on the previous chapter. And also, thank you for being patient with me, I'm sorry to have kept you waiting for this chapter. I would be grateful if you could let me know in the reviews your thoughts on this chapter and this story. Thanks again! Hope you enjoyed! See you soon with a new chapter.