A/N IN LIGHT OF THE AMAZING CHELSIE IN TONIGHT'S EPISODE I GIVE YOU ANOTHER CHAPTER. MOSTLY BECAUSE NOW I JUST WANT TO GET ON TO THE JUCIER STUFF IN SUBSEQUENT CHAPTERS! xx
Dr. Richard Clarkson trudged up to the front gate of Downton Abbey. He was trying to shield his face from the cold air with his scarf, but in his haste to leave and respond to his lordship's call, he hadn't dressed warm enough and he feared his whiskers might be freezing.
He had always tried not to marvel too greatly at the Downton estate. He had been making much more frequent visits since the Crawley daughters were born, but he always was a bit astounded by the beautiful home. While he was certainly a successful man, he knew that he would never live to see a day when he lead a life like that of Downton's inhabitants. But he loved his work. He felt a grand sense of purpose in taking care of the people in Yorkshire.
He could have knocked on the front door, but figured he would go round to the servant's entrance, as to make less of a fuss. The Earl had sounded as though he wanted to keep the situation mum - as not to alarm anyone, Dr. Clarkson supposed. By going in the side-door, he could circumvent most of the upstairs - he'd just have to be mindful to miss certain downstairs staff members who were particularly apt to spread gossip. Luckily for him, the servants were all off well into their day-to-day activities around the estate, so he managed to make his way through their quarters unannounced. As soon as he stepped into the upstairs foyer, he saw the Earl of Grantham coming toward him.
"Dr. Clarkson, thank you for arriving so promptly." Robert said, his hand outstretched. Dr. Clarkson shook it and nodded appreciatively.
"I came as quickly as I could, m'lord. Is her ladyship upstairs?"
Robert nodded and led Dr. Clarkson up the grand staircase, two stairs at a time. "She's been quite ill all morning. Hughes has been with her all morning."
"Hughes?" Dr. Clarkson said, following Robert down the long hallway to Cora's bedroom.
"Oh- yes," Robert said, pausing as he reached the door, "That would be Cora's new lady's maid."
Dr. Clarkson nodded and Robert opened the door. As he stepped into the room, the first thing Dr. Clarkson saw was a dark-haired woman leaning over the bed of Cora Crawley, Countess of Grantham. He had to assume this was one, Hughes, the lady's maid. He certainly didn't recognize her. Hearing their footsteps, she turned around, a relieved smile gracing her face. She was young- younger than the previous lady's maids Dr. Clarkson had known at Downton. She was quite pretty, slight like her ladyship and dressed neatly. She held in her hands a damp cloth, which she had presumably been patting along her ladyship's brow, and when she noticed his doctor's bag, she moved away from the bed to make room for him to proceed.
"You must be the new lady's maid." Dr. Clarkson said, approaching the bed. He put his hand out and Hughes took it, though with obvious reservations, as her hands were as damp and clammy as her ladyship.
"Yes, you must be Dr. Clarkson." she said, "I'm Elsie Hughes."
Dr. Clarkson nodded and approached Cora's bedside, "It seems you've been taken most wonderful care of her ladyship, Ms. Hughes." he said. He turned his attention to Cora now, taking her in fully for the first time since he had entered her room. "And how are you, m'lady? Under the weather, are we?"
Cora smiled weakly, her face ghostly white. Her lips were cracked and pale, and her normally bright and sparkling blue eyes were dark. She flicked her eyes to Robert, then back to Dr. Clarkson.
"Could you send Robert away?" she whispered, her voice crackling, "I would prefer to speak to you in private."
Nodding - somewhat knowingly - Dr. Clarkson turned back to Robert, who was standing awkwardly near the door. "M'lord, if you would - I'm going to need to do a full physical examination. Ms. Hughes will fetch you when we are through."
Robert looked helplessly at Cora, "If you'll be alright, I'll go, darling." he said quietly. She nodded and Hughes approached him, putting her hand tentatively on his forearm.
"I'll stay with her the entire time, m'lord. And I'll fetch you just as soon as Dr. Clarkson's through with his work."
She looked at him kindly, and for the first time since she arrived, Robert really felt a certain affection and appreciation for Elsie Hughes. He nodded and quietly stepped out of the room. Hughes shut the door behind him, then turned back to Dr. Clarkson.
"How can I be of help, doctor?" she said, returning to Cora's bedside. Dr. Clarkson looked at her, then back at Cora.
"Well, m'lady - do you think you know the source of your ills?"
Elsie though that she detected a slight blush of color reaching Cora's cheeks and her eyes brightening just a bit.
"I think perhaps I do," Cora said "I've felt this way twice before."
Dr. Clarkson nodded, "Indeed! And have you been having your monthlies?"
Cora thought a moment, "I suppose the last one was a bit unusual. It wasn't exactly late, but it was not what I would normally anticipate." she turned to Elsie, "I daresay I was pleased by it at first- I am always so embarrassed for my lady's maids during that time. How dreadful it must be for them."
"You needn't worry m'lady." she said, patting Cora's hand affectionately.
"Well, I will do a brief examination to tell you for sure." Dr. Clarkson said. He turned to Elsie, "If you would, please, help me to arrange the blankets - I'll just need to reach my hand under them here -" he gestured to the side of the bed, "- and then if you'll assist her ladyship to sit up ever so slightly - yes, up there at the head of the bed. Perfect. Thank you."
Elsie felt her eyes widen at the sight of Dr. Clarkson's hands moving about underneath the blankets of Cora's bed. When she looked at Cora's face, though, there was a quiet resignation about it - clearly she had been through such an examination before and while it was no doubt uncomfortable, it wasn't quite as shocking. When Dr. Clarkson removed his hands at last, she heard Cora sigh. He stood and walked over next to where Elsie stood, her hand placed somewhat delicately on Cora's hair, and instructed her to help Cora lie back down, completely flat.
"Mrs. Hughes, have any of your previous employers had children during your tenure?" he asked as he lifted Cora's dressing gown and placed his hands upon her bare stomach. Cora tensed and he apologized, "Terribly sorry if my hands are chilled, m'lady."
"That's alright, just startled me a bit." Cora said. She turned her face up to Elsie, "Have you?" she asked.
She was referring to Dr. Clarkson's question, of course. Elsie smiled, "No, m'lady, but I would be so excited if this could be my first."
Tucking the covers around Cora once more, Dr. Clarkson took a step back and smiled, "Lady Grantham, I must say, your instincts are impressive. You are pregnant - I would estimate around six weeks gestation, putting your date of confinement in late October."
"Oh, m'lady, congratulations!" Elsie said, unable to contain her excitement. When she looked down at Cora, she saw that not only was she smiling just as wide, but her eyes had grown damp with tears.
"Hughes, would you go fetch Robert?" she said.
"At once, m'lady." Elsie replied. She nodded to Dr. Clarkson and raced out the door. She knew it wasn't proper to run, so she merely quickened her step. Bouncing down over the stairs she heard the booming voice of Carson just as she reached the foot.
"Ms. Hughes, unless there is a fire I would advise you to slow your step. We do not race at Downton unless it is on horseback."
Elsie turned, feeling a loose piece of hair fly askew and into her eyes. She quickly moved to fix it, seeing Carson round the corner and head up the stairs himself.
"I'm sorry Mr. Carson. Forgive me. I have to fetch his lordship before Dr. Clarkson leaves."
Carson furrowed his brow, "Is everything alright?"
Elsie pursed her lips in a somewhat feeble attempt to hide her smile, "Oh, yes, Mr. Carson, nothing to worry about."
With an air of mystery about her, she continued on down the hall towards the library - away from Carson, who stood at the foot of the grand staircase unable to get the sight of her delicately brushing a wisp of hair away from her glowing face out of his mind.