Thank you kouw – without you there'd be mysterious glasses everywhere in this story and I'd know a lot less about the possessive s.
Charles Carson grabbed his bowler tightly in his hands. It was nearly time to leave and he had to admit to being slightly nervous. He really wasn't sure what her reaction would be.
For the past three weeks he had watched Mrs. Hughes and the others going through their meetings with Mr. Murray. While Mr. Bates and Lady Mary seemed nearly unfazed by the whole business, Mrs. Hughes always returned deathly pale and visibly shaken.
He had done whatever was in his power to lighten her workload but on the one occasion on which she had caught him, he had gotten a firm clipping 'round the ear and was sent off on his way. She also didn't allow many nightly meetings, always claiming that she was tired.
Not that he didn't believe that she was tired. She looked like she wasn't sleeping too well – if at all.
The Housekeeper had not said anything else to him about her involvement in Anna's case. He hadn't really expected her to. She had kept this secret for so long that she probably wouldn't even know how to share it now. The only thing he had been able to gather – from Lady Mary – was that the regular meetings with Mr. Murray had come into existence because Anna and Mr. Bates were worried about Mrs. Hughes' testimony. He had bristled at that insult, had actually mentioned his misgivings about the younger couples' unfair treatment of the Housekeeper to Lady Mary.
The young Lady had simply studied him silently for a few moments before replying that he surely couldn't fault Mr. and Mrs. Bates for wanting to be careful. He had – most reluctantly – agreed with Lady Mary, but in reality he still felt that Mrs. Hughes didn't deserve this kind of behaviour. Surely they others were able to see how much this whole business with Anna weighed on her.
After gleaning those facts, he was even more intent on supporting her – on forcing his help onto her if he had to. He was aware that his actions could be considered selfish – but he couldn't bring himself to stop.
Therefore, he had gone to her Ladyship two days earlier and asked to be allowed to accompany Mrs. Hughes and Lady Mary to York for the hearing. He had told Lady Grantham that he didn't think that the two women should make the journey by themselves. While Mr. Bates may be with them initially, he would probably stay on after the hearing. His Lordship was unable to go because of pressing estate business that required his and Mr. Branson's presence (after all Lady Mary couldn't be there).
Her Ladyship had looked at him intently for a few moments (and he got the strong impression that she understood his true motives, that she could tell everything from the tense set of his shoulders and jaw) before she had agreed with him. He had breathed a sigh of relief and promised that Mr. Barrow and Mr. Molesley were more than capable of looking after the family for one evening.
With a deep breath he put his bowler on his head and marched towards her sitting room. He gave a curt knock before entering. She stood in front of her looking glass, adjusting her scarf.
"Are you ready to go?" he asked, his voice belying none of his nervousness. She spun around to face him, taking in his travel attire.
"What do you mean?" Her mouth was a straight line.
"I will be going with you. Her Ladyship thought it would be best if I was there to look after you and Lady Mary."
Of course, Lady Mary. She shook her head, fighting her annoyance about his presence. Naturally he would want to make sure that Lady Mary was looked after. And if she, herself, had played a small part in his wish to come to York today, she shouldn't fault him for it. He meant well.
"Well then, I guess we'd best be off."
The drive to York had been in silence. Mr. Bates had taken the earliest train in the morning to support his wife before the hearing.
When they arrived at the courtbuilding, he helped Lady Mary from the car and showed her inside the impressive building. Mrs. Hughes followed in their wake.
Lady Mary was taken to a separate waiting area for the upper classes. Mr. Carson was satisfied to notice that even if Inspector Vyner had lacked a proper regard for Lady Mary's position, the court wasn't going to repeat his mistake.
He and Mrs. Hughes were then shown into the hallway where the courtroom was. Wooden benches lined the walls outside the room and they both sat down – an appropriate distance between them.
Before long they were joined by Mr. Bates, his face drawn. He nodded at the two of them but not a word was spoken. Mr. Carson watched as a court clerk came outside and fetched Mr. Bates for his hearing.
Mrs. Hughes didn't look up as the younger man went inside, her hands grabbing the handles of her small bag so tightly that her knuckles had turned white. Mr. Carson longed to put his hands on top of hers, to offer her some comfort. To run a gentle hand over her lower lip which she bit upon so furiously that he was afraid she'd split it soon.
He didn't know how long they had been sitting there when Lady Mary was led past them. The young woman gave a curt, tight nod in their direction. She was nothing like her usual aloof self. The door to the courtroom opened and Mr. Bates came back outside, his face revealing nothing. The court clerk led him past Mr. Carson and Mrs. Hughes and out of sight.
Mrs. Hughes watched his progress down the hall. Mr. Murray had told her that the judges would probably not allow the three of them to talk before each had given their testimony. She turned her head to watch a white-faced Lady Mary straightening her shoulders, holding her head high, as she was led into the courtroom.
When the heavy wooden door was closed again, she jumped up from the bench – no longer able to bear sitting still. She took a few turns around the hallway, her heels echoing eerily in the silence before she came to stand in front of the door to the courtroom.
He watched her quietly. He knew that he'd do her no favours by interrupting her attempts at calming herself. So instead he focused on watching her walking around the hallway like a caged animal before she stopped in front of the courtroom's entrance. He watched in quiet alarm how her shoulders started heaving as her breathing increased in speed.
"Mr. Carson," it was nothing more than a strangled whisper.
He was at her side in an instant. She grabbed his hand, crushed his large paw in a death grip. He didn't say anything, simply tried to give her the support, the strength she needed… hoping to at least be steadying her. She didn't release his hand again, gripped it even tighter – but at last her breathing slowed and steadied and some of the tension left her body.
When the door to the courtroom opened again, she quickly let go of his hand. She tugged her jacket down and squared her shoulders. With a brief glance at him, her face white but determined, she walked into the courtroom.
Mr. Carson wasn't sure why Lady Mary hadn't come out of the courtroom again (he wouldn't put it past her to have insisted on being allowed to stay, to listen to the rest of the hearing).
He was left alone in the draughty hallway, staring at the door. He curled and uncurled his hands behind his back before placing his right hand over his ribcage. This situation uncomfortably reminding him of another situation in which he had been forced to wait for her.
While this time it wasn't a matter of life and death (at least not hers), he was convinced that this hearing still had the ability break her easily and completely if it went wrong. He found himself doing what he had back then. He sent a silent, fierce prayer to the Heavens, wishing for her to have the strength she needed. For Fate and the court to be kind to her.
When she was released from the hearing, she left the room with her head held high. She didn't look at Anna, didn't think it would do anyone any good – especially as she was afraid that if she lost her concentration, she'd collapse on the spot.
With wobbly legs she managed the last yards until the door closed behind her again. She let out the breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding and sank against the closest wall. Before she had the time to organize her thoughts, he was next to her, his hand on her arm, his voice urging her to say something.
She put her hand over his, patting it softly. "I'm fine, it was fine, Mr. Carson," she reassured him, but his hand only closed firmer around her arm.
She hadn't been lying. It really had been fine. So very different from Mr. Bates' hearing. The judge had been kind, the prosecuting attorney well prepared but not intent on making her fall into a trap. And most importantly, she had been a lot better prepared than the last time. The sessions with Mr. Murray had paid off. Her words had been chosen carefully. She hadn't lied, but she hadn't exactly divulged all the information – only those that had been asked for.
"Come, sit down," his deep voice rumbling in her ear. She allowed him to lead her over to the bench, waited patiently while he fetched her a bottle of water from the street food vendor in front of the court building. When he had returned, and she had gratefully taken a sip, she took a moment to study his face.
The poor man. His face was gaunt with worry, his eyebrows nearly meeting in the middle. She withstood the urge to smooth her hand over his forehead, to try and take the worry lines away. Instead she began filling him in on what had transpired inside the courtroom, tried to remember as many details as possible to assure him.
Gradually his face began to relax, his posture loosened. He wasn't leaning into her quite as closely as he had before and she almost missed his closeness.
"What happens now?" he asked quietly.
"We wait, I suppose," she sighed. She leant her head back against the wall, withstanding the urge to rest her eyes for a moment. Her hands rested in her lap and she startled in surprise when she felt his right hand covering hers. She didn't look at him but started smiling softly as she turned her hand and allowed their fingers to lace together. And so, in silence, their waiting began – together.
You have to admit that this was slightly less angsty. Please leave a review and share your thoughts with me if you have the time. Thank you!