I wasn't really thinking of writing much anymore but I'm recovering from a bad auto accident and still can't walk yet due to my shattered femur so with my activities rather limited I've turned back to writing. I don't have my papers or Downton Abbey script books (which I use as guides to incidents from the show) here with me so my timeline of events might be off quite a bit. Writing this has given me something to concentrate on besides my current situation so I hope you'll enjoy it and of course any reviews would be welcomed.
Thinking her ears must be deceiving her, Mrs. Hughes put down her pen on her desk and, leaning back in her chair, took in the unfamiliar sounds coming from the kitchen. There was the usual banging of pots and pans but instead of being accompanied by the barking of Mrs. Patmore there was the quite unfamiliar sound of laughter. As she sat there marveling at this most unusual turn of events she noted a blur of green passing her doorway. This must be the fourth or fifth time the chauffeur has gone to the kitchen she thought.
Intrigued by the laughter as well as wondering what the chauffeur was finding so fascinating in the kitchen this morning she rose from her chair and stepped into the hallway. Seeing him standing in the kitchen doorway she walked down the hallway coming to a stop just behind the young Irishman. Peering around him she sawacross the kitchen were two of the young kitchen staff along with Daisy watching as Lady Sybil, leaning over the stove, slowly stirred something in a sauce pan.
Clearing her throat so as to catch Branson's attention she said as he turned around to face her "surely you must have some work this morning Mr. Branson or are you planning on becoming a cook?"
Although his cheeks faintly reddened he replied. "Surely I don't know what you mean Mrs. Hughes."
Glancing towards Lady Sybil then back towards him she replied "This must be the fourth or fifth time you've passed my doorway to stand idly here watching the kitchen staff."
His reply "I just thought I'd get another cup of tea" caused her to raise her brow. "The kitchen staff seems quite busy enough" she said before stepping aside and nodding towards her office. "I have a tea kettle in my office if you really have a need for another cup" and began walking back towards her office.
Before following her, he took one last long look at Sybil standing in front of the stove looking much like the rest of the kitchen staff rather than a lady of the manor. Instead of entering the housekeeper's office he stood in the doorway. "I actually can cook" he said then chuckled as he noted her astonishment. "My Ma saw how lost our elderly neighbor was after his wife died, eating beans straight out of a tin or making a meal off bread and a tomato, so she thought we boys should learn to do a bit of cooking."
"Mind you" he continued "simple but filling things like stews and roasts, boxty and coddle but then" he shrugged his shoulders "isn't that what we eat. I mean nothing fancy like Mrs. Patmore serves upstairs although" he gave that cocky grin that Mrs. Hughes was sure had charmed many a girl "I would like to learn how to make her salmon mousse."
Mrs. Hughes raised her brow. "Salmon mousse."
Branson nodded. "It was in my packed lunch last Thursday when I took his lordship to York for his luncheon with the troops."
"Salmon mousse was in one of your packed lunches?" Mrs. Hughes was incredulous for she couldn't recall salmon mouse ever being served in the servants hall.
Tom chuckled at Mrs. Hughes' shock. "Sometimes I get leftovers from upstairs. I guess Thursday Mrs. Patmore didn't have any ham or cheese for my sandwich so she used the salmon mousse."
"Oh there you are Branson." Carson's deep voiced echoed in the hallway as he approached. Noting the chauffeur's amusement the butler looked from him to Mrs. Hughes who to his eyes looked more astonished than amused.
"He was just telling me how much he enjoyed the salmon mousse Mrs. Patmore packed for his lunch last week" Mrs. Hughes explained.
Most of the servants would have crumbled from Carson's withering look but the chauffeur rather enjoyed seeing the staid butler flummoxed. Trying not to laugh he said "it was quite delicious. But surely Mr. Carson you're not here to discuss my lunches. Is there something you wanted?"
"Lady Mary needs to go to Ripon. She'll expect you with the motor car out front in fifteen minutes."
Tom nodded. "Of course."
Carson watched as the chauffeur headed towards the entrance door. Turning back to face Mrs. Hughes he said. "The chauffeur gets salmon mousse for lunch. One lady of the house is in the kitchen learning to cook while another is learning to drive. The next Earl is a distant relative who works as a solicitor and his countess to be is -" he paused. Taking a deep breath he wiped his forehead. "Has the world gone mad?"
Under the archway to the nursing college Sybil insisted on carrying her luggage inside so Tom watched as she reached for her luggage. She gave him a wan smile as she picked up her cases and in return he nodded his head then they headed in opposite directions, she towards the entrance door and he towards the courtyard. He had only taken three or four steps when he turned around but Sybil had already disappeared into the building. Still holding his chauffeur cap in his hands Tom looked down at the stone pavers.
I'm terribly flattered. How could he have so badly miscalculated?
"May I help you?" The voice was kind and motherly and Tom looked up to see an older woman dressed in a nurse's uniform. He wasn't sure how long he had been standing there reliving his conversation with Sybil. "Are you here to see a patient?"
Tom shook his head before saying "I … I brought someone to the nursing college." He smiled weakly. "I best be off" he said as he walked into the sunny courtyard. But if Tom thought leaving the nursing college and driving back to Downton would put what had happened under that arched entryway out of his mind he was sorely mistaken.
I'll make something of myself.
I know you will.
Then bet on me.
Over and over again he relived those minutes when he had bared his sole.
I'm terribly flattered.
He was hurt, he felt like a fool, he was angry at himself. He didn't know which of these was worst.
Somewhere outside of Ripon he pulled the motor car off to the side of the road and got out. Standing beside the Renault he looked out at the English landscape of green fields separated by stacked stone walls that so reminded him of Ireland.
They won't let me stay when they're heard what I've said.
They won't hear. Not from me.
As he watched sheep in a distant field he thought maybe it was time he did go home despite what Sybil had said.
Sometime between Ripen and Downton the sun had set but Tom hadn't really noticed until the motor car approached the abbey where lights glowed from several windows. He would have preferred throwing stones or bricks or some such things into the field beside the garage relieving the tension he felt or better yet sitting in the garage drowning his sorrows in a bottle of whiskey until he could no longer remember what had happened under that stone archway but wisely chose instead to go sit at the table in the servants hall for the evening meal. He heard little of the conversation around him for his thoughts were still on what had happened under that cold stone archway.
"Mr. Carson" Tom said as he stood up. Surprising the staff since he usually sat at the table until the old ladies were ready to leave Downton for their homes he said "I'll be out front in the motor car for whenever the Dowager and Mrs. Crawley are ready to leave."
Later, after the rest of the staff had scattered, some to their evening chores while others were off to bed, Mrs. Hughes sat in Carson's office. "It's been quite a day" the butler said as he poured each of them a small brandy. "So Lady Sybil's off to nursing college." With the brandy bottle still in his hand he paused and stared at one of the glasses before offering it to the housekeeper. "I wonder how soon she'll be back once she sees what it involves."
"Are you hoping she'll fail Mr. Carson?" Mrs. Hughes replied as she took the glass.
"Of course not. It's just that I'm not sure she's suited for such work."
"Well I can't think of anyone around here who would be better suited." Mrs. Hughes stiffly replied. "She's-"
Carson threw his hand up "please Mrs. Hughes I'm well aware of your thoughts on the family. Let's not argue over that." He took a sip of his brandy. "When I said it was quite a day I wasn't just thinking of Lady Sybil but also of Mr. Bates and his sudden leaving. I hate to think of the changes that will have to be made now that Mr. Bates is gone."
"Just remember you don't have to do everything yourself."
"Oh and just who else should be his lordship's valet now?" Carson stared at her.
"Of course you'll do that but-" She took a deep breath as Carson interrupted her with "maybe I should get …" and as he droned on she thought of how they had already had this conversation several times since the war had started.
She didn't realize she wasn't paying attention to what he was saying until she heard his rather loud "ahem." Rather than admit she hadn't been listening to him she plowed ahead with "it's rather strange that Branson didn't stay at the dinner table until you told him the Dowager and Mrs. Crawley were ready to leave."
Carson crinkled his brow as he looked at her.
"It's just that" she continued before he could speak "He was so quiet at dinner this evening."
"I'd take that as a pleasantry" Carson shook he head as he added "and not a concern." He took a sip of his brandy. "Maybe he's upset over Mr. Bates leaving, they did appear to be friendly. Actually when I think about it Mr. Bates was a good counter balance to all that political nonsense Branson's always spouting."
Mrs. Hughes sat back and took a sip of her brandy. Just like she and Mr. Carson would never agree on the Crawleys, they'd never agree on the chauffeur. But she was sure something was bothering the young lad and she knew he hadn't received any mail from home. Surely it wasn't the valet's leaving but … she took a deep breath … So Lady Sybil's off to nursing college. Could it be the youngest Lady of the house leaving?
"I asked yesterday for that dress to be mended" Lady Edith whined.
"Well I'm leaving for London tomorrow and I simply must have this blouse" Lady Mary growled as she handed the silky blue garment to Mrs. Hughes.
Wanting to throttle the two sisters Mrs. Hughes looked down at the clothes she held in her arms. How could it be that with closets full of clothes these items were so desperately needed? "Another one of the housemaids left yesterday and we'd already been rather shorthanded …"
"I'm not looking for excuses Mrs. Hughes" Lady Mary interrupted the housekeeper.
A few minutes later it was a frazzled Mrs. Hughes that entered the servants hall where she was greeted with the sight of the chauffeur sitting calmly at the table, reading the newspaper while sipping a cup of tea with a half eaten scone on a plate in front him.
"I definitely have the wrong job" she blurted a little too loudly.
Glancing up from the paper the chauffeur smiled. "Is there something I can help you with?"
"How are you with a dust mop? Can you sew a button on a blouse?"
"You're welcome to come inspect my cottage Mrs. Hughes. I guarantee you'd have to look long and hard to find the slightest mite of dust. Well" he grinned sheepishly "maybe you'd find a wee bit upstairs since I moved the bed downstairs where's it's a might warmer these winter nights so I don't really go up there." He set the paper down. "As to my sewing skills well I've sewn many a button on a shirt."
He nodded towards the clothes in her arms. "However I doubt Lady Edith and certainly not Lady Mary would appreciate my sewing skills."
"Oh please remain seated" Cora said to Mrs. Patmore and Mrs. Hughes. She held up an envelope. "I've just received this from Lady Sybil. She'll be home on Friday."
"Her class is finished already? My the time goes fast" Mrs. Patmore said. "Seems like it was just a week or two ago that she was in my kitchen."
Cora smiled. "She's so grateful for all the help you gave her. And that cake she baked for me was so delicious."
"She was a good student."
Mrs. Hughes chuckled. "That's fine praise coming from you Mrs. Patmore."
"Anyway" Cora began "She won't be here until late afternoon so I'd like something special at tea … to welcome her home."
"I could do some of those salmon sandwiches she's so fond of and maybe that bacon quiche she likes so well." Mrs. Patmore looked down at the floor. "We're rather low on sugar so the sweets might have to have a lot of jam."
"She does love your apple crumble" Cora replied. "Although that might be better for after dinner but the salmon sandwiches and bacon quiche sound wonderful."
As they continued talking the outside door opened and Branson walked in.
"Oh Branson" Cora said. "Lady Sybil just wrote and you need to be at the nursing college on Friday at 2 o'clock to get her."
"Of course milady" he answered. "I'm sure you'll be so happy to have her home again."
"Oh yes" Cora answered. "But the best part is that she'll be working at the cottage hospital here in Downton!"
"I'm sure that pleases you milady."
"Yes it's wonderful Branson!" Cora exclaimed. "I know that was the plan but …" Mrs. Hughes didn't really hear whatever else Cora was saying for she was concentrating on the chauffeur. That twinkle in his eye at her ladyship's announcement that Lady Sybil was returning to Downton hadn't escape Mrs. Hughes' notice.
The dark clouds that had loomed threateningly all morning on the bus ride from York to Thirsk opened into a drizzling rain just as Mrs. Hughes took her seat on the local bus. She smiled as she saw the little girl in the seat in front of her trace the raindrops cascading down the glass in jagged prongs. But as the bus drew nearer to Downtown and the drizzle became harder she sighed thinking she'd be soaked by the time she walked from the village to the Abbey. She'd only taken a small overnight bag, something she could easily carry, and since the weather had been sunny when she left she hadn't thought to bring an umbrella.
As the bus came to a halt at the stop on the village green Mrs. Hughes was grateful she had worn her coat instead of a jacket. The leaves and limbs of the sprawling oak tree that covered much of the village green provided some cover from the rain as she stood there wondering if she should find a doorway to stand in or maybe enter a shop until the rain eased or mercifully stopped or whether to just drudge ahead. Before she could decide a motor car pulled alongside her and she heard "Mrs. Hughes" in that familiar Irish voice as the front passenger door opened.
"No one told me when to expect you" Branson exclaimed as she put her overnight bag on the floor. "Lucky I was passing by."
Feeling somewhat uncomfortable sitting in his lordship's motor car she asked "are you meeting someone at the rail station?"
Shaking his head he remarked "No. I took Lady Sybil er" he looked at her and grinned "Nurse Crawley as she now likes to be called, to the hospital for her shift."
"So how was your trip?" he asked as he began to drive. "Your cousin must have been happy to have you there with her."
"Aye lad I think she feared the worst but my nephew looked better than we expected although he's still in a lot of pain. The worst is the bones in his left arm are shattered and they're not sure he'll regain the use of that arm and he'll probably have a limp from the damage to his foot but he's alive which is more than we can say for many lads."
"Duncan was always such an active lad, seemed never able to sit still or walk when he could run or jump." She looked towards the church and the grave yard. "You read about the war in the newspapers but you don't really get a sense of it until you're in a hospital ward and see-" she looked down at her lap. "The ward must have had 30 beds crammed in such a small space, every one filled with men, so many just young lads really. Some missing an arm or a leg or …" she shook her head.
"I know what you mean Mrs. Hughes. Even here at the cottage hospital they're getting more and more patients." As they drove past the tall stone pillars that marked the entrance to the abbey Tom said "But it does sound like your nephew will make a good recovery."
"He'll spend a couple more weeks in York at the hospital and then he'll go back home to Argyll" Mrs. Hughes replied.
"At least his army days are over unlike some we know." With the abbey now in view he glanced over at Mrs. Hughes. "You might be surprised at the newest worker at the cottage hospital" he teased.
Her first thought was of Mr. Crawley but surely they wouldn't send him to work at the hospital. She raised her brow "and who might that be?"
"Thomas"
"Thomas!"
Branson nodded his head. "He came yesterday. Apparently his hand injury is bad enough not to send him back to the front but not bad enough to release him from the army."
"Well" Mrs. Hughes began "don't they say a bad penny always turns up."
