Chapter One: The Unexpected Visitor
"First Footman!" Alfred exploded, sending the servants' hall into silence. "Why him? I've been here longer, I also know more!"
"This has nothing to do with how long you've been here Alfred; His Lordship has appointed James as First Footman because His Lordship feels that James is more suited to the post than you are. Now I must go and ring the dressing gong." Carson hissed still feeling stung that His Lordship had gone over his head, finalising the conversation with the young Footman. Shaking his head as he watched the young servants in the corner of the room sniggering along with James, shooting the latter a disapproving look Carson watched Alfred walk angrily up the main servants stairs to the entrance hall .Carson hoped that the young man's anger dispersed before he encountered any of the family, following the young man upstairs at a slight distance he was hoping that the rest of the evening progressed without any more drama.
Finishing her sewing, Anna was about to pack up and go upstairs to tend to Lady Mary. "Anna, there's someone here wishing to speak to you."
"Thank you, James; I'll be there in a moment." tidying her sewing away and placing it on the table by the door, she heard James talking to the unknown visitor and a soft reply followed by a sob and a sniff. Her curiosity piqued she walked into the hall leading to the back door and saw a shock of red hair above a crumpled white handkerchief.
"Gwen?!" she gasped 'My God' Anna thought 'I'm going to kill whoever has done this to you' "James please could you go fetch Mrs. Hughes and say that it's urgent, thank you" she said feeling herself shake as she took in Gwen's appearance. Leading her old friend to the bench just outside of the kitchen she looked desperately around for both Mrs. Patmore and Mrs. Hughes find the former she quietly asked for some ice and at the puzzled look on Mrs. Patmore's face she indicated the bench and saw the elder woman's face blanch at the sight, nodding at Anna, Mrs. Patmore left swiftly to the ice house. Sitting down next to Gwen she placed a hand on her knee and then pulled her into her arms and held her while she sobbed. The clinking of the chatelaine announced Mrs. Hughes' arrival stopping short and gasping she opened her sitting room and ushered the two women in just as Mrs. Patmore came into view carrying some ice in a cloth, nodding her thanks Mrs. Hughes took the ice from her and shut the door passing the ice to Anna who lifted Gwen's head up placed the ice to the young woman's face. "Gwen, what happened? Anna asked keeping her voice quiet and giving her a one armed hug.
"Mr. Bromidge's son… He...He...He… forced himself… when I tried to run he did this..." Gwen stuttered and hid her face again "He said no one would believe my story if I told it, when he got drunk tonight and passed out I ran for it and this is the first place I thought of, I'm so sorry"
"You've got nothing to be sorry for Gwen; I shall go and fetch Her Ladyship." Mrs. Hughes said getting up.
Running up the stairs to the hall as quickly and quietly as she could, she knocked at Her Ladyship's room and opened it once she heard "Come in".
"Oh, Mrs. Hughes, what's the matter you're awfully pale, I do hope you're not ill" Cora's voice was full of concern
"No, Your Ladyship, I'm quite well but I need your assistance on something and I may also need His Lordship's help." Mrs. Hughes gasped trying to catch her breath.
"Of course, O'Brien could you please fetch His Lordship and tell him to meet us…" Cora left the sentence hanging for Mrs Hughes fill in the blank.
"Downstairs, in my sitting room" Mrs. Hughes supplied "If you could bring Mr. Bates with you when you come down Miss O'Brien, I would appreciate it." 'And so would Anna' she added to herself
"Right you are Milady" O'Brien said as she exited the room
"If you ready Your Ladyship, I will warn you its quiet a shock to see" Mrs. Hughes said as she felt her stomach lurch again.
Following Mrs. Hughes downstairs Cora was starting to worry what had happened when she got to the corridor leading to Mrs. Hughes's sitting room she found her husband waiting with Mr. Bates standing behind him looking grave.
"O'Brien said that you may need my assistance Mrs. Hughes" Robert asked feeling a mounting dread in his stomach
"Yes, Your Lordship. Do you remember a housemaid, Gwen?" She asked trying to keep thoughts of Gwen's battered body out of her mind for the moment.
"Yes, I believe I do. She left to become a secretary didn't she?" Robert asked a slight frown on his face.
"Yes, Milord that's right, she came back tonight in a most terrible state she's been beaten black and blue and this is the first place she thought to come." Mrs. Hughes answered but silently conveying to Her Ladyship that there was something else to add.
"The assistance you require from me Mrs. Hughes?" He asked trying to figure everything out.
"You see Milord, she has confided in Anna and me that her employers' son forced himself on her." Mrs. Hughes got no further as she watched Cora's face crumple with anguish and a gasp of shock escape her as she held a hand out to her husband who grasped it steadying her as she swayed. "Anna is in with her at the moment, but I was wondering if Your Lordship might contact Mr. Murray." Mrs. Hughes added watching Her Ladyship's face carefully
"Of course, I'll telephone him directly, we must get this sorted as quickly as we can so justice can be done, Mrs. Hughes I thank you for informing us." Robert added on his way back upstairs, "I shall see you shortly, my dear." grasping her hand again lovingly. Turning to Bates he added "Do stay, Bates, Anna will need you" At Bates's nod, Robert turned and headed up to the dinning room.
Cora nodding her thanks to her husband, tentatively knocked on the door after a second it was opened by Anna who looked worried beyond anything Cora had seen before.
"Gwen?" Cora called quietly hoping not to scare the young woman.
Gwen gasped trying to stand up, but she swayed so violently she had to be helped back down by Anna "Lady Grantham, I'm so sorry to call you away from your dinner, please forgive me."
"My dear, there is nothing more important than making sure that you ok, Dr. Clarkson is on his way to see you and I want you to rest, yes I want you to rest in a guest room until he arrives, Anna, I want you to stay with her, I'm sure Lady Mary will understand, I'll have Lily see to her until Gwen is well." Cora knelt in front of the young woman and felt her stomach turn over, "His Lordship, is telephoning Mr. Murray tonight, I expect he will be here either late tomorrow morning or early afternoon" at the look on Gwen's face Cora stopped "Oh my darling, what's wrong?"
"He said that no one would believe me, I mean he's a respectable young man, he said that people will think that I'm just accusing him because he has money." Gwen said fear in every word
"Well, he won't be respectable when this is over with" Cora said with such venom in her voice no one had heard before. "Gwen, how did you get here?" her voice softened as she said this as did her face
"I came by taxi Milady" Gwen answered slightly fearfully
Cora smiled at her "You shall have the fare back, my dear, I'm very grateful that you came here, we will look after you, would you like to go and rest while we wait for Dr. Clarkson?"
With a grateful nod Gwen got up with the assistance of Anna, once at the door Gwen turned "Thank you, for you're kindness Milady"
"You're very welcome Gwen, I'll ask Mrs. Patmore to send you up something to eat after Dr. Clarkson has been to see you" Cora smiled as Anna helped her back through the door and upstairs, sighing she closed the door and sat down feeling her breath coming out in long gasps she felt that she would faint if she moved.
"Milady? Are you ok?" Mrs. Hughes asked, understanding how the other woman felt
"I'm sure I'm better than that poor girl could you ask Lady Sybil to come down, I need to talk to her?" Cora asked feeling herself grow a little stronger.
"Yes, of course Milady." Mrs. Hughes said as she left the room shakily.
Walking along the quiet hall she knocked at the dinning room door which as opened by Carson who had concern on his face "Where's Her Ladyship? Is she OK? His Lordship came in only a few moments ago."
"She's OK." She responded 'Or she will be when she's had chance to process this' Elsie added in her head walking up to where Lady Sybil sat talking quietly to Tom.
"I'm sorry to disturb you Milady, but Her Ladyship wants to talk to you" glancing swiftly at Tom she nodded, as the young couple got up and excused themselves from the dinning room.
"What's happened? Papa looked like he'd seen a ghost when he walked in" Sybil asked concern etched in her words and on her face
"I'll let Her Ladyship explain" Mrs. Hughes responded not wanting to be the one to part such terrible news.
"Where is Mama?" Sybil asked concerned when Mrs. Hughes held open a door to the servant's stairs.
"In my sitting room, Milady, if you'd like to follow me"
Opening the door, Sybil quickly went to her mother
"Mama, what's happened?" Sybil asked fear in her voice
"Sybil, my darling, do you remember Gwen?" at Sybil's nod she carried on "Well she came here to night after she was attacked by her employer's son she's in a bad shape, Your father has called for Mr. Murray and Dr. Clarkson to come, but I was wondering if you would go up to see her first she may feel more secure, I have Anna staying with her. Oh and Sybil dear, would you be able to fetch something Gwen to change into when Dr. Clarkson has left I feel that she would do better in clothes that don't remind her of what she's been through this night" Cora smiled weakly at her daughter the look of anger in her eyes told Cora that she would support Gwen whatever came her way and there was a slight look of guilt there too but only Tom caught that look and held her close.
"You had nothing to do with this, my love, but I know that you will be there for her every step so I would like you to promise that you will leave handling this scoundrel to Mr. Murray" Tom whispered and hearing Sybil soft chuckle she kissed her hair, "We should get back to the dinning room before they send a search party for you Milady" Tom said looking at Cora who nodded watching Sybil leave accompanied by Mrs. Hughes.
"Do you mind if I lean on you Tom? I'm feeling quite weak" Cora asked still seated
"Not at all Lady Grantham" he replied giving her his arm and steadying her before they left the sitting room and shutting the door behind them.
Walking in silence to the dinning room, they opened the door and walked in Robert's look of concern was evident on his face but as she passed she smiled and touched is arm reassuringly, taking her seat as the dessert was served she only took a small serving, still feeling very uneasy her mind upstairs in the Blue Room. The silence of the dinning room was broken by the sound of the front door opening and closing, Thomas' voice and the sound of the dinning room door opening and Thomas walking towards Cora and leaning down to talk to her.
"Dr. Clarkson is here, Milady, where is he to go?"
"Thank you. I'll come and see him." Cora replied getting to her feet.
Slipping out of the room again Cora hurried over to the Doctor. "Thank you, for coming at such short notice, please this way." Cora added, walking quickly up the stairs to the Blue Room.
"If you don't mind my asking, Lady Grantham. Who is my patient?" Dr. Clarkson asked as they reached the door
"A former housemaid, she'd been attacked by the son of her employer and he had as far as she has managed to tell us forced himself on her, Lady Sybil is with her and so is Lady Mary's maid Anna. Do you need anything before I go back down?" Cora asked looking at the Doctor with concern
"I don't think so, Lady Grantham, but I shall see you before I leave" Richard responded, taking a deep breath, he knocked on the door and entered.
Walking slowly down the hall Cora noted that one of the bedroom doors was slightly ajar walking swiftly over she opened it and saw Thomas closing the door to Robert's dressing room.
"Your Ladyship? Is everything ok?" Thomas asked shocked to see her in there.
"Yes, well actually, no but I hope that it will be soon though thank you for asking." Cora replied hoping that she was right.
Walking somewhat unsteadily back down to the dinning room, she noted that the drawing room door was open and that Carson was standing just outside it.
"Carson, what a trying day this has been, please tell His Lordship, that I have retired to my sitting room if you could ask Lady Mary, Matthew and Tom to come in to see me." She asked turning and walking down the hall and turned into the drawing room. "Carson, when Dr. Clarkson has come down please could you show him in."
"Of course, Milady, I will do so directly." Carson replied turning into the drawing room.
Sliding slowly on to the sofa in front of the fire she waited feeling her stomach turn. Upon hearing the door open slowly Cora turned to face it with a solemn look on her face as she turned to her daughter, and her two sons-in-law. "My dears," she started numbly but stopped as she took a composing breath and continued "I wonder Mary if you remember Gwen our former housemaid" she stopped at the sound of the door opening and James voice saying.
"Dr. Clarkson, Milady"
"Thank you James" Cora replied standing somewhat shakily and walked over to the pale doctor and offering him a seat as Matthew poured him a whiskey.
"Mama, what were you saying about Gwen?" Mary asked looking worried at her mother's appearance.
"Mary, my dear, she arrived here tonight in an awful state, her employers' son had attacked her and this was the first place that she thought of, which I am very grateful for. I wanted to talk to you about the arrangements we have put in place for her, I have asked Anna to look after her while she recovers and was hoping that you wouldn't mind if Lily took over Anna's duties while she's looking after Gwen?" Cora finished feeling slightly worried at the look that was crossing Mary's face.
"Mama, I would prefer that Anna stayed with Gwen until we know that she's recovered so she feels more relaxed and at home and if I could make a suggestion that when she has recovered that, if its ok with you and Papa that she could be Sybil's Lady's maid?" Mary replied hoping that she wasn't over stepping her boundaries. Cora was shocked that Mary was thinking so far ahead, after seeing Gwen she knew that it would be several months before she would be recovered and even Cora hadn't thought about what would happen after that, but she could see that Mary was right, Gwen needed to be somewhere that she knew she was safe, she also knew that layout of the house, knew almost everything that Sybil liked to wear and they had a very good rapport, also that Sybil would want to know that she was ok and to have her close as she felt guilty that she had helped Gwen get the job.