"Thank you, Daisy." The lady's maid smiles softly. She takes the pot of tea, plays mother and pours for everyone in the room.
The air is thick with something, a feeling- an event that has been a long time coming and it has finally hit them all.
"When are you leaving?" Daisy takes a seat opposite her.
"In a week," the person next to Anna shifts in their seat, "We wanted to tell you all earlier but we weren't sure of it until a few days ago."
It pains them all. The loss of a colleague. Two of them really (only of them truly part of the family), and a boy who has grown and changed before their very own eyes into a lovely lad with his whole life ahead of him.
"We'll all miss you." Baxter says, filling the silence and the others murmur in agreement.
Mr Bates stirs his tea, leans closer next to his wife, "You're all welcome to visit, should you find the time. I'm sure Johnny would enjoy that, just as we would also."
Then there's silence, once more. Downstairs, usually bursting with chaos and mischief, has changed too. The staff is smaller now. Mrs Pattmore is completing her final week of work before she retires to live with Mr Mason. Daisy will be taking over, Andy already has- although, Mrs Carson isn't sure how long that will last. The boy isn't suited to the work, he'd much rather be at the farm, doing hard yet fruitful labour. Soon there will be children for them to take care of. Mrs Hughes will be the relic of the past, already is a reminder of time gone by. Of corsets, seasons and grand balls.
She clears her throat, excuses herself and walks to her pantry. Her husband moves to follow her, only stopping short when he hears the lock click on her door. He came up at the request of Anna, to hear the news before it travelled to him by other means.
He gestures to her now, pulls her aside and says, "We might care to visit soon. If that's agreeable, Mrs Bates."
"Of course, Mr Carson. You're both welcome to do so."
"I'm glad. You see, we, Mrs Carson and I, could offer you both some guidance should you wish. Perhaps some assistance once the baby arrives?"
Anna smiles and nods, begins to walk back to the Servant's Hall.
"Anna?"
She stops, "Yes, Mr Carson?"
"You may find that Mrs Carson would be available for tea tomorrow, on her half day."
"I'll be there, Mr Carson."
I'm still not entirely sure about this one. I don't know if I got their voices right (albeit, there was little dialogue/interaction between characters) but I felt the need of a change of pace. Let me know what you think xx
