A./N.: A rather long chapter and more angsty than anything els, but it resolves itself at the end. This chapter is actually based on true accounts for this time and age and society. I watched a documentary on youtube that deals with Workhouses in the UK around that era (the narrator is Jim Carter, how cool is that!? *squeal*) and I had to incorperate it into this story. If you are interested and want to watch it, I can publish the link on my profile here and/or on Tumblr. Enjoy this chapter and pretty please leave a review.

Scandal's Price

After Service the servants had been given more time as usual to remain in the village and mingle with their friends or relatives or to celebrate the upcoming nuptials of their superiors. Lord Grantham would take his family to the Dower House to have a small, informal lunch-on with the Dowager Countess. Currently the formidable older lady stood her ground by Mrs Hughes' side. Her withering glare kept many a village wife at bay. She had become quite protective of her son's housekeeper, but wouldn't admit that out loud, of course. Instead she engaged in a conversation with the other woman.

"What a lovely service, Mrs Hughes," she said softly, seeing Mrs Hughes' gaze following her butler everywhere he went. Her shoulders were tense as she watched many shopkeepers and suppliers gather round Mr Carson and bombarding him with questions and what-not. "He can look after himself," she added very quietly, trying to reassure the other woman. "He's a big boy."

Mrs Hughes chuckled mirthlessly. "Yes, he is big and strong … but … but what if I ruined his reputation in this village? What if he will come to regret his entanglement with me?" Elsie knotted her hands in front of her lap.

Violet Crawley was not usually a sympathetic woman, but now she felt deeply for the younger woman. Mrs Hughes was only a mere four years older than her daughter-in-law and the same age her own daughter was. Violet could not deny that there was an element of protectiveness about her, and that she felt a bit of responsibility for the younger woman … as did all the family. For once she and Cousin Isobel were on the same side – fighting for Mrs Hughes' rights and her happy future with a certain obstinate butler.

"I doubt Mr Carson's name will be damaged by this, my dear Mrs Hughes," the Dowager Countess said firmly, stomping her cane a little to emphasise her point. "His friends all hold him in higher esteem since his devotional care of you. And if you are worried over our reaction to it, you shouldn't. I had hoped that you knew of our loyalty to you and him by now."

Elsie cast her gaze down, suddenly intensely interested in her shoes, peeping out under the hem of her dress. Her cheeks had flushed a brilliant red and she had no idea how to respond to this statement. Yes, she was indeed worried that the family would eventually change their view on things and revoke their support. She carefully chose her words to express her concerns. "I don't doubt your sincerity, Your Ladyship, but I'm not entirely sure if you have really thought this through … or he." She nodded towards Charles, currently in the centre of a cluster of men, clapping his shoulder and talking and laughing with each other.

Lady Violet frowned deeply and she turned slightly to be able to look properly at Mrs Hughes. "What do you mean?" she asked, clearly confused and very interested in the answer.

Elsie drew a deep breath and ploughed on, feeling her cheeks flame even more intensely and a horrible sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach. She knotted her hands together and worried her bottom lip. Unawares to both women, Isobel and Cora stepped closer to them and joined the conversation, having heard the deep-rooted doubts in Elsie's voice. "I would like to know that as well," Lady Grantham spoke softly, not drawing any unwanted attention to them and giving off the air of a friendly chat.

Mrs Hughes slowly let the breath out again and faced the music. Maybe Beryl and Charles were right and her old strength and confidence were returning. "I am simply not sure if you are truly aware of the disturbances to the household, raising a child downstairs. Not to mention the fact that inner-staff-marriage are still not accepted in most households and our will certainly raise quite a few eyebrows – even if they don't know the circumstances surrounding it." Elsie was running out of steam and courage. Her gaze dropped back to the floor and she wished for a hole to appear and swallow her.

"I have no illusions that our lives won't change, but – if I may say so – I believe that the change will be positive," Lady Grantham said softly, smiling genuinely and gently touching Elsie's arm. When the other woman hesitantly raised her gaze, her smile widened and she nodded reassuringly. "Your life has already changed, my dear Mrs Hughes, and I'm afraid that it hasn't entirely been to the better, but we are all trying to support you and bring you back into a wholesome life." Lady Grantham took hold of Elsie's hand and squeezed it tightly. Her smile was a bit forced and her eyes showed great sadness on Elsie's behalf, but there was also great determination. "We will stand by your side, Mrs Hughes, because we have a responsibility for you and because you have always been loyal to us. Now it is our time to repay you for all the years you have sacrificed for us."

Isobel smiled at her cousin's sincere words, feeling the same way despite the fact that she hadn't known Elsie quite that long. The strong friendship, which had been built between the two so different (on first sight) women, spoke for itself. "Raising a child is never easy, Elsie," she said calmly, smiling when Elsie's head whipped up and horrified eyes locked on hers. "You have the blessing of having three mothers on your side, ready to lend advice and a hand. And you are much better off than some women I have known throughout my years as a nurse. Besides from what I hear your maids already think you are a wonderful mother. Mrs Patmore will insist on having the store room key, though, on the pretence of taking a load off your shoulders." Isobel's laughter rang out over the church yard as Elsie huffed most unladylike and rolled her eyes mightily at her. Even Cora had to hide her wide smile behind a tittering hand. The Dowager looked as haughty as ever, but the crows-feet around her eyes were far more pronounced.

oOoOoOo

Charles' eyes were once more drawn to the small group of women when he heard Mrs Crawley's laughter. Elsie's face was alight with a beautiful smile and he was suddenly unable to take his eyes off her. A hand on his shoulder brought him out of his fanciful contemplations over his fiancée He turned to see one of his childhood friends – now the owner of the Grantham Arms – and smiled at him. The two men clasped hands and made pleasant conversation for a while before Mr Carter turned serious.

"I've seen the way you looked at her, old chap, and I'd bet good money that this isn't just to stop gossip from spreading," he said softly so that no one else around them could hear. Charles had drowned his sorrow on a few occasions in The Grantham Arms – more often recently – and had confided into his friend, without going into detail.

Charles looked back at Elsie and a smile bloomed once more on his face. "No, Peter, this is a love match, believe it or not." Wryness played around his mouth now as he chuckled lightly over Elsie glaring at Mrs Crawley but then reluctantly breaking out into laughter as well.

"So you've finally put Alice's memories into their proper grave, thank goodness for that!" he said emphatically, clapping Charles' shoulder before becoming serious. "Shall I spread the word that you marry her out of love?"

Charles cast a quick glance back this friend. "Do you have to say anything? It's none of their business after all." There was a distinct snarl on his face as he said that.

"Well, there are some rumours flowing around," Peter said even more softly, letting his gaze drift towards the woman in question this time as well. "Is it true?" he asked, not looking at his friend for fear of what he might see in his eyes.

"Is what true?" Charles asked evasively.

Peter rolled his eyes. "Really, Charlie, you know what I mean," his voice was rising a bit. "There is a rumour that she has been rap…"

"Don't say it!" Charles snarled and thus confirmed everything Peter had to know.

The other man curled his fists tightly and suddenly looked at Mrs Hughes with different eyes. He had always known about his friend's fascination with the woman, but now he came to see their sudden engagement in a different light. "I see," he said simply. Then added, "I fight your corner, mate. She a good woman and you are an honourable man."

oOoOoOo

"I am very grateful to you, Your Ladyship," Elsie said as the laughter gradually died down. Mrs Crawley slowly hiccupped herself back to some semblance of calm and seriousness, but her eyes still twinkled merrily. "I just wish this feeling of uncertainty would go away …" Elsie admitted quietly, causing Isobel to turn serious instantly and quickly stepping to her side.

It now was Lady Grantham's turn to cast her eyes down and inspect the grass under her shoes. When she spoke her voice sounded very worried, "I hope we haven't forced you into this and you really are happy – it's simply that we didn't see any other way …" Her voice died away and a faint blush tinted her cheeks.

Lady Violet sighed. Apparently it was up to her – once again – to be the voice of reason in this discussion, which was turning in circles. She drew a deep breath to fortify herself and then plunged in head first. "And what, pray tell is the alternative?" she asked, sharper than she had intended initially. Her voice softened a bit, but she went on without really waiting for an answer, since it had been more of a rhetorical question. "Who would believe you when you say you had been raped and the child you are carrying is the result of that? They will not have seen your wounds; they won't know that it is the truth. And I dare say they have heard that excuse before from girls and women who have given themselves away without even a thought about the consequences or who have committed adultery. You will be made a social outcast, who will have to live with the stigma of being a loose woman."

Isobel gasped and glared at her cousin, throwing daggers at her through her eyes for speaking so cruelly and compassionless. She drew breath to speak, but Cora grasped her forearm to keep her still as she, too, cast her mother-in-law an incredulous stare. Elsie simply looked down to the floor, tears streaming down her face.

"I know that," she whispered, her voice broken. "The unmarried mother of a fatherless bastard …"

Cora felt like fainting as her words were repeated back at her. Her cheek virtually blazed red and she certainly wished that she had never opened her mouth that day. If only Isobel hadn't baited her like that … but no she couldn't blame her for that. It had been her after all who had opened her big mouth and put her foot in it. She haltingly started to speak, but her mother-in-law overrode her.

"Not only that, Mrs Hughes," the old lady muttered, casting her gaze off into the distance for she couldn't bear the defeated look in Mrs Hughes' eyes anymore. "You wouldn't find any other work and I'm afraid that you would be forced to go to one of the workhouses." Violet Crawley closed her eyes and there was a pained expression on her face. The last words she said were barely above a whisper and they cost her every ounce of courage she could muster. "Your child would be separated from you and you would likely never see it, even if you could escape the workhouse."

Elsie swayed alarmingly on her feet and Isobel rushed to her side, grasping her arm and supporting her weight. "That is enough!" she exclaimed forcefully, glaring the Dowager down.

"I agree," the older woman said readily enough, "I don't think I could bear much more of these thoughts, but they are plaguing my mind when I allow myself to think about it. Please, believe me, Mrs Hughes, when I say that I will do anything to spare you that fate."

The housekeeper nodded dully. Her legs were still shaking violently and most of her weight was braced against Isobel's side. Closing her eyes tightly, she asked herself why this thought was so terrifying for her. Hadn't she wished she wasn't pregnant? Hadn't she even contemplated throwing herself down the stairs to put an end to this nightmare? Dazedly she shook her head to rid herself of those horrible images. No! No, she would never do something like this! This was her child growing in her and she would do everything to protect it. For the first time she felt absolute certainty and something other than dread when she contemplated her pregnancy. Coming out of her dark thoughts, she heard Isobel hiss at the Dowager.

"Was this really necessary, Cousin Violet? She is damaged enough without you harping on her. Elsie is marrying a decent, honourable man who loves her and will love her child."

Violet inclined her head grandly and a shy smile curled her lips as her eyes locked with Elsie's. "Yes, and I couldn't be happier for her. Charles Edward Carson is one of the best men I had the privilege to know during my life. I have watched him grow up from scrawny hall boy to dashing footman and, after a long absence, to formidable butler. You are very lucky indeed, Mrs Hughes." Elsie felt an answering smile pull at her lips and she nodded, agreeing with the Dowager Countess for once in her life.

"Then why scare her?" Cora asked her mother-in-law a bit sharply.

Instead of addressing her daughter-in-law, Violet spoke directly to Elsie Hughes, boring her eyes into her blue depths. "Because you have to stop doubting him and yourself," she said firmly. "Carson is aware of the alternative and would rather go straight to Hell than let ever that happen to you. He loves you and wants to do right by you." Her eyes drifted to the butler in question for a split second before pinning Elsie again, her gaze looking directly into her soul. "You adore that man and have pined away over him for years. If you had the choice you would have wanted him to be the father of your child. You never asked to be raped. You never asked to be a burden on us or the other staff. And you never asked him to marry you. Yet we all are all too glad to help you in any way we can. In Carson's case that means to finally allow himself to love you as he has wanted for years and as you so undoubtedly deserve."

Before she could get too sentimental and actually shed the tears brimming her eyes, Violet turned on her heels and strode majestically over to her son, leaving behind three very astonished and speechless women.