THE POWER OF PERSUASION
Hello everyone. Good to be with you again. I decided to write a story, that I had in my mind for quite a long time, but I constantly put it away, because of the other, new ideas popping in my head. This story will revolve around one of my favorite plotlines from the series-a war memorial in the village. I have a slightly other idea for that...This time I won't totally stick to the dialogues from the series (only partially).
Mrs Patmore is devastated, because she wants Archie's name to appear on the memorial, so she asks Mrs Hughes to convince Carson to that idea. Since the traditional request failed, Elsie decides to use some of her magic to persuade Charles. Will she succeed?
Legal note: Charles, Elsie or Beryl don't belong to me, if they did I would have given them much more screen time, because they are the best in whole Downton. Hope you will like it ;-)
That letter from her sister really distressed Beryl. The sad memories connected with Archie came back to her again. Many years have passed since the war was over, but Beryl still couldn't forget that awful shock that she had when she found out about Archie's death. The shock was even bigger, when it turned out that he was shoot for cowardice. Poor, young boy, who volunteered to fight for king and the country. His life has ended before it even begun. It was so depressing, that Beryl often tend to erase that from her memory, just not to bring back those sad thoughts.. Unfortunately, now they've returned, as she received a message from her sister, informing her that Archie's name won't be included on War Memorial at their family village. The committee considered him unworthy for such honor. It was a bitter pill for Beryl and her family. Her sister was doubly devastated, because none of the neighbors or friends knew the truth cause of Archie's death and she knew that they will start asking questions. Beryl knew her sister very well and she sensed by the tone of this letter, how difficult it must have been for her.
Ever since that news, she couldn't stay calm. She was tossing and turning this night, thinking how to help her sister to solve this problem and finally, when it was almost dawning and her tired brain was in the border of sleep and awakening, a thought has crossed her mind. There was a solution and it was right there.
All through the next day, she considered carefully the plan that appeared in her head. If Archie's name appeared on the Downton's memorial, the problem would have been solved. Nobody could discredit that poor boy's name again. What a happy coincidence it was that Mr Carson was the head of the committee. If it was His Lordship, Beryl felt that she wouldn't have a courage to ask him for such a favor. Even though she didn't feel absolutely confident about talking to Mr Carson about it too, there was a person who could take care of that without any problem. Her dear friend-Mrs Hughes. She was such a good woman, such a kind soul, who would have never refused anybody's favor, let alone her friend's favor. Even though they never spoke about it, Beryl knew that there was a special bound between them. They knew each other for so long, they liked each other very much and they always did whatever they could, to help one another if any of them had any problems.
Besides, Beryl was not blind. She watched Mr Carson and Mrs Hughes for a long time and she was the one who realized first, what sort of feelings they have for each other. She couldn't even count how many times she observed Mrs Hughes getting her way with Carson. She could twist him around her little finger and he wasn't even aware of that. Keeping him in belief that he was the head of the staff, Mrs Hughes always managed to do all the things the way she wanted and what was more interesting, Mr Carson never realized how much she has influenced all his actions.
Beryl decided to use the moment when all the family was upstairs, eating dinner, cause she knew Mr Carson would be there, to serve them and she knocked to Mrs Hughes sitting room.
"Hello Mrs Hughes. Do you have a spare moment?"
"Come in Mrs Patmore. How can I help you?"
"You see, I have received a letter from my sister. She is very upset, because they are funding the war memorial in our village, just like the one that we are going to have here and it turns out that Archie's name won't be on it."
"Oh dear! Why ever not?"
"Well, you remember that our Archie was shoot for cowardice.."
"Of course. Who could forget that, but it shouldn't matter.."
"Unfortunately, I'm afraid that it does. They told my sister that he did not deserve to be on this memorial and this is very painful to her and to me.."-Beryl's eyes filled with tears...
"Dear Mrs Patmore..I'm so sorry for you. It must be an awful burden for your family..Is there any way I can help you?"
"Actually, there is. I was thinking about it all night and I think I found a solution."
"And what might that be?"
"If Archie's name appeared on our memorial, then people from the village that my sister lives in, would not be surprised that his name wasn't on theirs. We could have said that his name is here because of the family connections."
"That's an idea."
"It would spare my sister and my family a lot of grief Mrs Hughes. We almost managed to forgot about this terrible pain and now it all comes back to us."
"I understand. I believe that it is a good solution. Since Mr Carson is the head of the committee, I think that you should speak to him about it, if you will explain him your difficult position, I'm sure he will understand.."
"That's the thing Mrs Hughes. I was kind of hoping that you would do that for me.."
"Me? Why me?"
"Because everyone knows that you can twist him around your little finger."
"Then everyone is wrong."
"Are they? I wouldn't say that. You may not see some things, but I certainly do. You have no idea how you effect him."
"Mrs Patmore! Please. Let's stop this nonsense!"
"All right. You know what you know and I know, what I know...Will you speak to him for me?"
"I will try, although I won't promise you that the result will be positive. You know how difficult he can be sometimes."
"That's true, but I'm sure you can handle him your own way.."
"Mrs Patmore..Really.."
"I'm quiet now..I will be ever grateful, if you will talk to him for me."
"Of course, I will help you. I will speak with him after our dinner."
"Thank you."
"You don't have anything to thank me for yet."
"But I believe in you."
"I will do my best."
So that's it for now. In the next one, Elsie will try to convience Charles to include Archie on the memorial. Will she succeed? Will see. I love this golden trio of DA. Want a spin-off with them ;-) As always, sorry for any mistakes. And I hope that you will like my idea for this plot and will continue to read next chapter. Stay safe and see you soon!