Mary sank into the chair behind her. Oh what have I done?
She screwed her eyes shut and a sob escaped her. How could it be worth this? How could he know?
Outside in the hall Matthew gestured to Carson. "Carson, could you have the car ready, I'll be getting myself to Carlisle tonight."
"Sir, are you quite sure? I am aware that you prefer to drive yourself on most occasions but this is more than three hours, and at this time of the evening. Shall I not call for the chauffeur?"
"No, there's no need for that."
"Very well, Mr Crawley." Carson turned around with a nod, "Molesley!" he called.
In a matter of ten minutes Matthew was driving out of the grounds, cases packed for an ambiguous amount of time. He exhaled gently and gave a last glace towards the house.
...
Edith stood up and wiped her cheeks, shaking madly. None of this made sense anymore.
She needed to see him. Now.
Edith looked out of the curtains at the dark night. It was bitterly cold for what had been a beautiful day. She couldn't well walk all the way to Loxley, though that might have been an option given her state of frenzy, but all the crying had really started to have herself bushed.
Breathing heavily, Edith snatched her shawl from the armchair in the corner of the room and wrapped her shoulders up in the warmth of it. There was only one thing for it.
She shut her bedroom door tightly behind her and crept towards the stairs. Once in the hall she made her way towards the servants staircase. But there was shuffling from behind the door to the small library.
Edith hid behind a pillar, drawing her shawl up tight. Mary flitted up the stairs whimpering heavily.
There wasn't time to ponder over this, by the time Lady Edith was in the servants quarters her heart was pounding. Why did this have to be the only way?
She was extremely fortunate there was nobody in the men's hall, it was now that it came to Edith's realisation how discreditable this would look if the wrong person came out of one of these doors.
Holding her breath she examined the names on each room until she found "Bernes" written in a neat scrawl. This had to be the room of the new chauffeur.
She tapped nervously, a "come in" followed.
The man who was lounging so care-freely on his own bed spluttered in shock and got up immediately. "M-M'lady! L-lady Edith I - is there somethi-"
"Bernes?"
"Yea-yes M'lady."
"I'm going to need you to take me to Loxley. Can you do that?"
"Now? I-er-yes. But Mr Carson M'lady?"
"As much as he is dear to me - he is the Butler, and doesn't need knowing where I need be at eleven in the evening. However, you will have to. Is there a way we could get out without being seen?"
"Um-I believe so, yes, M'lady."
"Now then if you please, I can't afford any waiting."
"O-of course."
There was a short-cut to the servants entrance from the men's hall, the two of them skipped past the servants quarters holding their breath. Bernes extremely timorous, leading the way.
Once they were outside the garage was only yards away when Lady Edith began to make strides in the wrong direction.
"Um M'lady!" Bernes hissed in the dark. "You're going the wrong way, the cars are this direction."
"I'm afraid I've lost you- Oh!" Edith's voice came from behind one of the sheds as she made a tumble into something.
Bernes ran towards the sounds of casualty, his heart in his ears. "M'lady? Are you alright? Please, don't be hurt."
"I-just-need - your hand. Please! Oh, where are you?"
"Here!" With struggle Bernes managed to pull Lady Edith out from between two bushes and a bin.
Re-adjusting herself, Edith coughed, feeling extremely embarrassed and dishevelled. "I thank you. Bernes," she whispered, pulling hair out of her eyes.
"Not to worry. This way M'lady."
"Right."
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