Thanks to chelsiefan, for her beta work. And to you, dear reader, for still being with me.
Thursday morning dawned sunny and clear in Yorkshire, and Anna arrived on the Carsons' doorstep promptly at half past seven as expected. It was Charles who answered the door.
"Good morning, Anna. Do come in."
"Thank you, Mr. Carson," said Anna, thinking it strange to see Mr. Carson in just a collared shirt and slacks after years of seeing him in such formal dress. "Is she ready?"
"I believe she's just finishing dressing," said Charles, his ears turning slightly pink. "That is to say, she'll be ready in just a moment."
"Very well," said Anna, fiddling with her purse clasp. "I'll just wait here, then."
"You would be welcome for a cup of tea," said Charles, looking around for his wife. "Or there might still be some porridge left from breakfast. Oh! Would you like to sit down?"
Anna smiled reassuringly at him. "I ate before I came, Mr. Carson, and I'm quite happy standing."
"Right," said Charles, clapping his hands together. "Well, I'll just...erm...go check on her, then?"
"There's no need," came Elsie's voice down the hall. "I'm here now." She made her way towards the front door, cane in hand, prepared for their trip. "Charles?"
"Here, my dear," responded Charles, reaching out to touch her elbow. "And Anna has arrived."
"Yes, I did hear," she said, patting his arm. "Hello, Anna. Are we set to go?"
"Yes, Mrs. Carson," said Anna cheerfully. "Shall we?" Elsie nodded and took Anna's arm with practiced ease.
"Have a pleasant trip," said Charles. He couldn't leave it at that, however. "Do be careful, now."
Elsie shook her head at her husband, an amused smile on her face. "I can manage, Charles."
"That's not what I meant," he protested, but Anna flashed him a grin.
"I promise to bring her back in one piece, Mr. Carson," she said. "Now we ought to get on."
Charles nodded and opened the door for the pair of them. He couldn't resist kissing his wife on the cheek despite Anna's presence. "Enjoy yourselves," he said.
"We shall," promised Elsie. "I'm sure we won't be too late. I'll see you for supper."
The train ride to Ripon was a short one, and Anna chatted away about the news from the Abbey. Apparently, Lady Mary wasn't just gone for the day, but for most of the week.
"She won't let me go with her," Anna said, "she wants to me to rest, you see, and she wouldn't take no for an answer."
"For once, I agree with Lady Mary," said Elsie, as the train car rattled about.
"I've still three months to go," said Anna, putting her hand over her stomach. "And I'm not a china doll."
"That's all very well, but you don't need to be traipsing around the countryside if there's no need."
"You sound exactly like Mr. Bates," sighed Anna. "He's always on at me about working too hard. But I like it. It keeps me busy. I've no time to be nervous if I'm busy."
Elsie hesitated. They were alone in the car, and Anna had broached the subject. "Are you nervous?" asked Elsie quietly.
"I suppose I am," admitted Anna. "In the way that all women are nervous."
Elsie nodded, her mind flitting back to Lady Sybil's death. The terrible truth was that motherhood carried great risks. Elsie squeezed Anna's arm, trying not to imagine her dear girl suffering so.
"I'm more excited than nervous," Anna said. "Truly, I am."
"Good," said Elsie, giving her head a small shake. "So you should be."
"I won't fit into this dress much longer though," continued Anna, lightening the mood easily. "Miss Baxter has altered it all she possibly can. I must find material for something with more room."
"I don't see how I can help you with that," protested Elsie, who wasn't entirely sure what her purpose was in this whole endeavor.
"You are essential company," insisted Anna. "And perhaps we'll find you something for your honeymoon."
"That, I very much doubt," replied Elsie dryly.
Anna smirked. "We'll see about that."
"It's not black, though… more of a dark navy," said Anna, as Elsie ran her fingers over the bolt of fabric. "Do you think Lady Mary would mind?"
"Don't tell Mr. Carson I said so, but I don't think every standard needs to be so strictly adhered to. If it's as dark as you say, I'm sure she wouldn't mind."
"It is the best one, for the price. I'm not going to wear it for very long. It seems silly to waste a lot of money."
"I quite agree," said Elsie. "Tell the saleswoman you'll take it."
"Wait just here, I'll be half a minute," said Anna, picking up the roll of cloth. Elsie nodded. Anna was a fine guide, and the shops were quiet. It was easy for Elsie to pick up the sounds of those around her and to know that she wasn't in anyone's way. She listened to Anna give the fabric requirements to the women at the counter, and then she heard the sound of the material being rolled out and measured. There was a sharp snip, followed by a dull ripping sound as a pair of scissors tore through material, mingling with the idle chatter from two women off in another corner of the haberdashery. The sound of coins clinking together brought Elsie's attention back to Anna as the transaction finished.
"All sorted?" asked Elsie as the sound of Anna's heels on the wooden floor came towards her.
"I believe so," said Anna. "I don't need any thread today, so that's it. I've a few more stops, but perhaps we ought to have tea first."
Elsie heard her own stomach rumble as if on cue. "You'll hear no argument from me," she agreed.
There were three tea shops in Ripon, but only one that Elsie had frequented with some regularity when she was employed at Downton. The Thistle was the most modest one by a long shot, and it was run by a quiet Scottish family for whom Elsie harbored a special affection. She would have liked to go more often, but tea was not something she'd regularly seen fit to spend her money on. She had so little that tea seemed like an untenable expense. Still, today was a treat, a small celebration for Anna's coming joy.
A bell above the shop door chimed as they entered, and the pleasant smell of fresh scones greeted the two women as they stepped through the door.
"Good afternoon," called Anna to the woman behind the counter. "For two, please."
"Anywhere you like," came a lilting Scottish accent, which Elsie recognized immediately. The owner of the voice recognized her as well. "Oh, why, Mrs. Carson! It's been a long time."
"Too long, Agnes," said Elsie with a conciliatory smile. "How are you?"
Agnes ventured out from behind the counter, a slight young woman with bobbed sandy hair and a bubbly disposition. "Very well, thank you," she said. "Ma's been baking up a storm today. You're in luck."
"That woman never disappoints," said Elsie. "Anna, have you met Agnes?"
"I don't believe so," said Anna. "Anna Bates." She turned to shake Agnes' hand, only to stop short when she realized both of her hands were occupied: one held her parcel, and the other helped to guide her companion.
Agnes smiled, slightly wider and more genuinely this time. "Let me take that for you," she said, easing the parcel out of Anna's arms. "How do you do?"
"Quite well, and thank you," smiled Anna, looking around the cozy dining room. "You've got a lovely shop."
Agnes smiled, clearly proud. "Thank you for saying so. It's not mine, truly. Mum's the one who's done it all. I just the wait tables, really."
"You're modest, Agnes," said Elsie, knowing full well that the girl managed a good portion of the bookkeeping as well, but she didn't want to embarrass the girl by saying so. "Where would you have us?"
"Why not the corner - it's a touch quieter and more private, if you'd like?" suggested Agnes. Elsie nodded her agreement. "Right this way."
The two women followed the sprightly girl to their designated table and listened intently as she rattled off the specials of the day, along with her personal recommendations. In the end, they ordered a few different sandwiches and a few blueberry scones to go with their pot of tea.
It was quiet, as Agnes had promised, and once again the conversation turned to the Abbey. As Lady Mary's maid, Anna was privy to a great deal of gossip from both upstairs and down. It didn't hurt that she was also very well-liked by virtually everyone in the big house, and in Mrs. Hughes' absence Anna had cemented herself as the staff confidant.
Elsie listened to Anna's rundown of the family's activities with more fascination than usual. Elsie did care for those she'd served, some more so than others, but she'd never found their endless parties, suitors, and squabbles to be particularly amusing. The vast majority of her concern for them before had stemmed from how it would impact her workload. Now, hearing about the goings-on of the family was really the only way for her to know how they truly were faring. Her interest was not the curious gossip of a busybody whispering on the street; it was a genuine concern for the well-being of people for whom she had developed a fondness over the years. She felt a tug of affection and sympathy for Mr. Branson as Anna described his new friend, Miss Bunting, and the absolute ruckus her presence had caused when she'd been invited to dine with the Crawleys.
"Well, I'm glad Mr. Branson has a friend of his own," Elsie declared. "It is his house, too. And she sounds like she has a good head on her shoulders."
"A stubborn one, though," said Anna. "A little more tact might go a long way with His Lordship."
Elsie gave a noncommittal shrug. "No amount of tact would make His Lordship pleased about a Labour government," she said.
Anna laughed. "Probably not," she agreed. "I must say the downstairs lot is pleased, though."
Elsie nodded. "As am I, but please don't get Charles started."
"I won't dare."
Elsie took a rather large sip of tea and shook her head. She and Charles had begun having more spirited discussion over the morning newspaper, but they did not see eye to eye on this particular matter. Not keen to discuss politics further, Anna decided it was time for a change of subject.
"Have you settled on a date for the honeymoon? Mr. Carson mentioned the summer the last time, so I wondered…"
Elsie smiled, happy to speak of it. "We have. Mr. Carson booked us a trip to London for a few days, and then we shall spend a week by the seaside."
"That sounds quite lovely," said Anna.
"Actually," said Elsie, fingering the handle of her empty teacup idly. "I was hoping you might help me on that score.
Anna blinked in surprise. "Me?"
"Well, Mr. Carson has suggested I plan our portion in Brighton and surprise him, so I was wondering if you might help me with a little research…"
Anna beamed. "Marvelous!" she declared. "I'd love to."
Before Elsie could say anything more, she heard deliberate footsteps approach the table. It was Agnes, bearing a pot of tea and a plate of sandwiches.
"Ladies," she said, setting it down on the table gently, "tea and your sandwiches as requested. Shall I pour?"
"Thank you, Agnes," said Elsie, giving the girl a nod. There was a moment of silence as Agnes poured the tea and added a touch of milk to Elsie's cup. The former housekeeper was flabbergasted; the girl had remembered. Elsie listened to the gentle clinking of the spoon against her china cup and felt herself finally relax into her chair.
"There you are, Mrs. Carson," Agnes said, placing the tea in front of Elsie. "Anna? Milk or sugar?"
"I don't mind fixing it, but thank you, Agnes," said Anna cheerfully.
"Let me know if you need anything," said Agnes, retreating.
The teacups at The Thistle had a bit more heft to them than the ones at other places. They had no fancy ornamentation or delicate handles; in fact, they were almost like the plain ones she had in her own cupboard at home. Elsie liked them best, really. The warmth radiated from the cup as she lifted it to her lips. They had a different blend of Earl Grey than the one she was used to; this one had cornflowers in it. She hadn't had it in some time, and it reminded her of her precious visits on her rare half days when she treated herself to a pot of tea and a seat by the window for the afternoon.
Anna noticed her companion seemed lost in thought, so she didn't pursue their previous conversation. Instead, she busied herself in dividing up the sandwiches between the two of them.
It was a peaceful stillness. Beyond their little table came the sounds of other patrons speaking quietly, of cutlery against a dish, and - a little more muffled - the sounds of Agnes and her mother moving objects in the kitchen. It all washed together and lulled Elsie into a spell. It was the most comfortable she'd felt in public for a long time. No one's stare to make her feel self-conscious, no uncertainty about how she would manage her meal, and no fear of making a fool of herself without realizing it.
Patiently, Anna sipped her tea, unwilling to break the silence. She was dying to ask more about the Carsons' upcoming trip and how she might help, but she held her tongue. All in good time.
Eventually, Elsie realized Anna was waiting for her to begin eating.
"Goodness, I didn't mean to keep you waiting," said Elsie hurriedly. "Do go ahead."
"I didn't mind," said Anna softly, picking up one of her sandwiches. "You seemed…"
Elsie lifted her chin, curious.
"...Happy," finished Anna. "You seemed happy."
Elsie smiled. "I am happy," she replied.
TBC