Chapter 2

Beryl climbed the stairs that led to the large wooden door followed by Elsie. She took a step forward and rang the bell.

"Lovely looking place, isn't it?" Beryl whispered to Elsie, looking back over her shoulder.

"It is," Elsie nodded and looked up to get a view of the large house. It was an old house. Which era, it was hard to say, perhaps Edwardian or late Victorian, Elsie guessed. But by the look of it, the gloomy aura that hung about in houses from the early years of the last century was absent in it. The crisp, new paint and well renovated look made it seem dignified and perhaps even a bit modern for the distinctly old fashioned house.

The door opened and a cheerful, older woman stepped out. She smiled widely at Elsie and Beryl and greeted them, "Hello! Good morning!"

"Good morning Mrs Crawley," Beryl greeted in return and Elsie smiled at Mrs Crawley.

"Oh please come in," Mrs Crawley stepped back and opened the door wide for them. Beryl entered carrying two paper carrier bags and Elsie followed clutching the somewhat large cardboard box tightly to her chest.

Mrs Crawley closed the door behind them and took the lead, "This way ladies," she held her hand and gestured in front of her. Beryl and Elsie followed her through the house to the large and spacious kitchen.

Elsie followed the other two while observing the interior of the house as it passed. The interior was quite unlike the somewhat old fashioned exterior of the house. It did retain the architecture from the era it was built in. Large windows and mouldings with foliage sculptures. But the decoration of the house was done in a rather modern way. The furniture and even the electric fittings were neat and looked practical in contrast to the furniture that was usually present in houses this old. There were of course beautiful paintings in gilded frames and a few sculptures here and there. A large Victorian era book case was present in the far end of the living room and another antique cabinet in the wide hall way that led to the kitchen.

The kitchen was much, much more modern and contemporary compared to the rest of the house. White and grey seemed to be the theme for the kitchen. Wide, spacious counter tops with electrical appliances. A wooden table built in a modern design stood at the centre of it. Beryl placed the carrier bags on the table and Elsie rested the box on the nearest kitchen counter, leaning forward a bit and gently letting it slip out of her hands in order to place it as carefully as she could. Mrs Crawley who was standing close to the fridge rushed to her side.

"I can manage," Elsie smiled and let out a soft, inaudible sigh after the box was safely on the kitchen counter.

"Would you like cup of something?" Mrs Crawley asked, reaching for the kettle.

"If it isn't any trouble…" Beryl faltered, knowing it was impolite to refuse but not wanting to impose on Mrs Crawley neither.

"Not at all. Please take a seat," Mrs Crawley gestured towards the table and Beryl and Elsie sat down.

Filling the electric kettle with water, Mrs Crawley turned it on and faced Beryl and Elsie. "Tea or coffee?"

"Tea please," Beryl replied looking at Elsie, who nodded in agreement.

"Tea it is then," Mrs Crawley smiled to herself and fetched the tea leaves from a shelf directly in line with her forehead. She fetched a tray from the other end of the counter along with a tea pot, fetched the milk and arranged the tea ware. When the water boiled she quickly prepared the tea. Taking the tray in her hands she turned around to face them, "Shall we have it here or… perhaps take it into the living room?"

"We wouldn't mind it here. It's rather cosy to be honest. I'm not one very good at handling large, fancy rooms," Beryl admitted with a soft laugh and Elsie's lips tugged at the corners of her mouth to form a smile.

"You do have a point Mrs Mason," Mrs Crawley smiled back and placed the tea tray on the table where Elsie and Beryl sat facing each other. And she joined them at the head of the table.

"Oh please call me Beryl."

"Sure, if you don't mind."

"Everyone calls me Beryl," Beryl said and proceeded to introduce Elsie. "Oh I almost forgot, this my friend probably my best friend…,"She posed for a second contemplating whether she should make it formal or go with more relaxed and settled for the former option, "Miss Hughes." Beryl smiled and indicated Elsie with her hand.

Elsie turned in her seat slightly and stretched out her hand to Mrs Crawley, and introduced herself, "Elsie Hughes."

"Nice to meet you Ms Hughes. Isobel Crawley," Mrs Crawley took Elsie's hand and shook it.

A firm, confident handshake, Elsie observed. "Please call me Elsie."

"And me Isobel," Mrs Crawley said starting to pour the tea for Beryl and Elsie.

"Beryl tells me you own the Downton Hospital and Health Clinic," Elsie commented.

"Well it's like a partnership. I'm one of the owners. I'm also Chairman, took over from my late husband," Isobel replied, shrugging her shoulders slightly. "In fact I trained as a nurse as well. I still help out at the hospital."

"Oh that is wonderful," Elsie replied very impressed by Isobel Crawley. Being trained as a nurse let alone working as one was something she least expected from someone living in a house this fine. Especially given her position as a partner and Chairman.

"Thank you. And what do you do Elsie?"

"Oh she's an events planner," Beryl chimed in rather excitedly, "One of the best at that too. Got quite a name within and even outside the county."

Elsie's lips turned into a slight smile as she looked at Beryl but her eyes stated otherwise about her opinion on Beryl's untimely intrusion. Elsie knew she was very good at her job, but she wasn't one who was very comfortable with declaring it aloud.

"What?" Beryl shrugged. "You'd never have told how good you are at it."

"You are incorrigible Beryl!" Elsie hissed at Beryl, now with a sparkle of mischief dancing in her deep blue eyes.

Isobel laughed at that, "That's fantastic Elsie. And I must say to become good at that one must have a superb talent. I do my fair share of organising for charity and it wears me out."

Elsie beamed at the compliment, "It can get rather stressful, yes."

"Have you worked for the Crawley's? Lord and Lady Grantham?" Isobel inquired.

"No I haven't, I'm afraid. I've seen them at a couple of events but I haven't worked for them. But I've worked for Lady Shackleton, that is both the Dowager Lady Shackleton and Lady Shackleton. Also Lord Merton. And Sir Anthony Strallan as well a couple of times," Elsie replied, quite proud of her accomplishments.

"I'm not very familiar with the Anthony. I've met him at the odd party or another. I know the Dowager Lady Shackleton quite well too, through Lady Grantham. And you mentioned Lord Merton?" Isobel asked.

"Yes. I've organised events for Lord Merton and his sons as well. Particularly Mr and Mrs Larry Grey, only one or two for Lord Merton. If I'm honest with you they those two are not the easiest to work with. Lord Merton seems very nice though."

"I agree wholeheartedly with you. Larry Grey and Amelia Grey are probably the people I least like. I can even go to the level of downright hate," Isobel laughed and Elsie joined in.

Elsie felt that when Beryl first mentioned Isobel Crawley, her own thoughts were misjudgements for she now realised that Isobel Crawley seemed to be a very nice person, very far from the person she had imagined Isobel Crawley to be. "You'll hear no argument from me," Elsie agreed.

"But I know Lord Merton very well. Dickie's actually a partner of the hospital," Isobel said after the laughter had died down.

"There's like three partners?" Beryl asked.

"Five actually. Dickie Merton, Violet Crawley that is the Dowager Lady Grantham, Robert Crawley that is Lord Grantham, Doctor Richard Clarkson and after Reggie passed away, me. We're considering going in to be a public limited company these days. Release shares. That way we can get more investments and we'll be able to provide patients with the latest medical treatments at a much lower price than other hospitals and save people the some of the time they waste at state hospitals as well. It'll all be more accessible to most people if we go on with the new plan. I'm finding allies for it these days."

"Oh? Why?" Beryl questioned, rather confused.

"Because we're quite divided about it. Dickie and I on one side for going PLC. Violet and Richard on one side against it, him on that side more because he's afraid of Violet. Robert is quite lost. He can't agree with us because he doesn't want to go against his mother. He can't agree with his mother because he understands that she is wrong," Isobel shrugged. "And the Dowager can be very hard to persuade I can tell you. She isn't willing to let go of her partnership to her daughter-in-law neither. I'm trying so hard to get Cora involved. She understands the value of my plan."

"Today's event has something got to do with it?" Elsie raised an eyebrow.

"No, no," Isobel shook her head. "It's to raise funds for the children's ward. So that we can provide some minor treatments at a lower cost and eventually at no costs for those who can't afford treatments. There's a series of events I've got in mind for it," Isobel answered excitedly, a distinct sparkle in her eyes.

"That's nice," Beryl smiled.

"If I can pull it off," Isobel shrugged. "Violet's not convinced, as expected. Sometimes I wonder why on earth Reggie got her involved as a partner. All she does is complain and lack of medical knowledge makes it worse. I supposed she believes she's got universal knowledge because she's a Countess."

The telephone rang in the living room. Loud and insistent. "Excuse me please," Isobel rose from her chair, excused herself and hurried in the direction of the living room.

"She's nice. Much nicer than I expected," Elsie commented when Isobel was out of sight.

"What did I tell you?" Beryl added with a smirk.

"A bit over enthusiastic but still…" Elsie giggled.

Isobel's voice sounded from the living room. The tone of her voice reflecting worry and distress. A couple of minutes passed by. Elsie and Beryl sat in silence, sipping their tea. A few minutes later Isobel returned to the kitchen. Her cheerful expression from earlier replaced with one of worry and anxiousness.

Isobel stood by her chair and held it with her right hand, leaning slightly towards it. Else and Beryl look at her expectantly, both feeling a bit awkward.

"Apparently one of the waiters are ill," Isobel sighed and sat down.

"Oh my god," Beryl blurted out and Isobel laughed let out a soft laugh at that. Elsie sighed and shook her head, classic Beryl.

"I wonder how on earth I'm supposed to find another one at such short notice, let alone get them prepared to serve. They'll not know where to start," Isobel rested her elbow on the table and rubbed her forehead. "I'll probably have to go without."

"Elsie could do it, couldn't you?" Beryl suggested.

"Me?" Elsie asked, her eyes wide as saucers in surprise.

"Well you know how and what to do. It's much easier than getting someone fresh or better than going on short of a waiter," Beryl added noting Elsie's surprise written clearly right across her face.

"Oh could you Elsie? It would such a great help for me," Isobel requested, turning looking at Elsie with pleading eyes.

For a moment Elsie couldn't believe what was happening around her. She had just accompanied Beryl to help with moving the things she needed for the catering of charity event simply because none of the delivery guys on Beryl's team were available. And now she had landed on to become a waiter at a posh charity event when she's already planned a relaxing evening for herself at her flat.

"I'm not sure…" Elsie stumbled.

"I'm sure you could get it right. As Beryl mentioned you do know how it all goes on," Isobel urged.

"Come on Elsie please," Beryl joined in.

Finally feeling trapped on all sides, and definitely finding it hard to refuse the request of the nice and kind woman beside her Elsie gave in. "Alright… I'll do it," she agreed nervously, wringing her hands beneath the table.

"You'll have black coloured slacks and a white shirt would you?" Isobel asked, now relief taking over her worry.

"Yeah… yeah… I guess… I suppose so… yeah," Elsie stuttered.

"Good. I'll fetch the waistcoat and the bow for the collar," Isobel beam hurriedly getting up from the table.

"Would the waistcoat fit?" Beryl asked. Elsie was in very good shape for her age but it still could be the one thing that could go off plan, she thought. For a fraction of a second Elsie wished it wouldn't fit.

Isobel eyed Elsie. "No I think it'll fit. Yes, it will. Give me second and I'll fetch it," Isobel rushed out of the kitchen.

Elsie slouched in her chair glaring daggers at Beryl, "Thank you very bloody much."

"It's just a small favour Elsie. You could even get some more new work, she knows a lot of people. It'll be good for your business," Beryl argued in a hushed voice.

"I had a nice, relaxing evening planned you know. A good glass of wine… perhaps two even, pizza, a pedicure for myself and a movie marathon with a face mask on," Elsie leaned a bit forward and complained and Beryl giggled picturing the scene.

"How can you compare that for an evening with good food, champagne and wonderful music," Beryl persisted.

"It's not like I'd be sitting at a table. I'd be bloody serving. Damn it," Elsie slouched back again.

"Oh come on Mary bloody Queen of Scots! Don't be such a grinch," Beryl rolled her eyes and muttered.

"Alright, alright. I'll do it," Elsie rolled her eyes in reply. "You will pay for this Beryl Patmore Mason, mark my words," Elsie hissed and sat straight as she saw Isobel enter the kitchen.

To be continued…

Thank you so much for all your lovely reviews on the previous chapter. I'm so glad you liked it and I'd be grateful if you could let me know your thoughts on this chapter in the reviews. Hope you enjoyed! See you soon with a new chapter! Thanks again!