With Molesley attending to Matthew Crawley at the abbey he didn't open his letter straight away. He merely pocketed it, when Mr. Crawley had left with his wife on an outing and the brushing of clothes was over he went to the servants hall. Anna was sewing at table and he acknowledged her before sitting down and withdrawing the envelope from his pocket. He flipped over the envelope and slid his thumb under the flap to break the seal. He pulled out the muted cream paper and read the contents.
Dear Mr. Molesley,
I find it necessary to write to you. I have left Crawley House and will be staying with my sister in Manchester until I can find employment. Mrs. Crawley did not dismiss I left on my own accord. Mrs. Crawley has taken it upon herself to hire Ethel Parks. If the name sounds familiar she is the former housemaid from Downton Abbey who bore an illegitimate child and supported herself by being a prostitute. I have lived my life on principles that I can not turn my back on. Do you remember when we fed the soldiers? I can not in good conscious work in a home where it may destroy any chance for further employment or where my values are tarnished. I do wish you happiness and future blessings in your life. You were a good friend to me.
Sincerely,
May Bird
As soon as finished the letter he read it again before bolting upright. His sudden movement moved his seat across the floor with a grating sound. Anna gasped before asking, "Everything all right Mr. Molesley? Is it bad news?"
Anna watched as Molesley opened his mouth before closing it, looking remarkably like a fish. He said nothing and dashed straight to Mr. Carson and handed him the letter. The butler was about to give Molesley a lesson on etiquette when she saw the paper clutched in the man's hand. Without needing to ask permission he simply took the paper from Molesley and read it before his own eyes widened in shock, "Mrs Crawley has hired a prostitute to manage her house." He nearly shouted in disbelief.
"That's why Mrs Bird felt she had no choice but to hand in her notice." Echoed Molesley wanting Mr. Carson to know he had no prior knowledge of these events.
"Nor did she, poor woman." Carson declared blowing out a breath, he then dismissed Molesely with a nod and the man scurried away. Mr. Carson then went in search of Mrs. Hughes he found her in her sitting room with Mrs. Patmore. The cook could see there was business to be had between the two. She merely rose from her chair and began shouting to Daisy. Carson shut the door and hissed to Mrs. Hughes, "We have a serious problem."
To her knowledged there were no problems. The staff were behaving, no one was threatening to leave and there were no secret armours between any maids that she knew of and hopefully the money situation of his Lordship had been resolved. She shook her head in not having a clue as to what he was on about.
"Mrs. Crawley has hired Ethel Parks as housemaid" Carson informed.
Mrs. Hughes had been dreading this, she had hoped that this was one possibility that would not come to fruition. "Mr Carson, this is Ethel we're talking about." When his face was unchanging she put more emphasis on her words, "Our Ethel!"
Carson scoffed and mocked, "And Mrs Crawley was just trying to give her a helping hand."
His words stung, the burn was more intense since she too had thought like this. "Is that so wrong?"
Carson softened, "I do not criticise Mrs. Crawley for her charity, but she hasn't considered her actions.
No respectable person...certainly, no respectable woman - can now be seen entering her house."
Elsie was becoming frustrated, "But Ethel's given all that up."
"I didn't think she was running a brothel in Mrs Crawley's kitchen." He said sarcastically but Elsie knew that his words would be the first thoughts of everyone in the village. Ethel would suffer and with her so would Mrs. Crawley. She sighed as she remembered the bruised face the woman who had only ever tried to help.
"Can't we say nothing for now? Mrs Bird's gone, and I don't remember Ethel as any great cook, so it may sort itself out." Or at least until I can find another placement her mind supplied.
Mrs. Hughes had played her trump card at the right time and Carson sighed, "Very well. Let's keep this to ourselves."
Elsie nodded at him before patting his arm. She went to leave and he covered her hand with his own, "But I don't want the maids going into that house on any pretext whatsoever. Is that clear?"
"Quite clear, Mr Carson." She answered and he released her.
As Mrs. Hughes walked towards the kitchen she heard Carson's voice behind her, "Or the footmen!" At his words she chuckled slightly she highly doubted that Alfred would like to hook his leg over Ethel! Her chuckle died, how were they going to stop anyone from going into Crawley House? With Mrs. Bird gone and Molesley here it was Ethel's responsibility to do the shopping, she would be seen in the village. She had tried, her fingers had nearly bled with the enquiries she dispatched. No one she knew was in the need for a housemaid.
At Crawley House Isobel was already feeling the effects of her decision. She was currently at her desk, one hand cradling her head the other grasping a pen to write. The first effect was that she missed Richard, she ached and felt incomplete. A soldier who had lost his arm had described his phantom pain.
I can still feel it, you know, if I close my eyes I can feel the muscles twitch. As if I can extend my hand and pick up a fork and eat. Then I open my eyes and see that the arm is gone yet I can still feel it.
When Isobel closed her eyes she could feel Richard's hands gliding down her back. She clutched the pen in her hand and banged it down onto the desk rattling the still full cup of tea. The second effect was she was hungry, Ethel's cooking was appalling and her tea was abysmal.
What I think is that you are so consumed with doing the right thing that you miss doing the smart thing.
His words came back to her and she found herself fighting the urge to cry.