Unfortunately the head housemaid was not up to the task of getting Mrs. Hughes' rounds started. The first two days were fine, but on the third day, Mr. Carson found the library untidy, in spite of Eliza's having assured him that it was ready. Mrs. Hughes relieved her of these duties and altered her own schedule so she could manage it. She rose an hour early and had Daisy fix her something to eat, so she could check all of the main floor rooms while the others were eating breakfast and before Lady Edith rang. She dressed Lady Edith and then went back to her usual duties, and with some haste was able to catch up by mid-afternoon. It was not ideal, but it was manageable. Mrs. Hughes lost an hour of sleep, but was otherwise able to keep everything going, including her nightly chats with Mr. Carson. They had always met regularly, but since his return from London, they met every single night, either in his pantry or her sitting room.

Mrs. Hughes's life was further complicated about two weeks after the family returned. Miss Baxter received a telegram with news that her sister was ill and she had to leave immediately to see to her. Anna was able to see to most of Lady Grantham's needs while still dressing Lady Mary, but Mrs. Hughes was sometimes needed to dress the countess when Lady Mary made occasional day trips to London and took Anna with her. What really threw the house into an uproar, however, was when Madge turned up missing a few days later. Mr. Carson was on the point of summoning the police when Mrs. Hughes found a note hidden among the papers on her desk. Madge had left Downton Abbey and would not be coming back. Mrs. Hughes did not begrudge the maid any happiness in her planned marriage, but she failed to understand why Madge had felt she must leave without notice. With Miss Baxter gone for an undetermined period of time, and the unfortunate Eliza not trained as a lady's maid, all four ladies in the house were left to the care of Anna and Mrs. Hughes. Lady Edith began to dress herself, only asking for help with her hair in the morning and the occasional hook or button that she could not reach, but the others, though they made no complaint over delays and inconsistencies, still provided a great deal of extra work for Anna and Mrs. Hughes. An advertisement was placed, but until a new maid could be hired, or Miss Baxter returned, nothing could be done.

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Two weeks later, Mrs. Hughes stood in Mr. Carson's pantry while he poured two glasses of wine. He gestured for her to take a seat, but she shook her head. Once he had set down the wine and glasses he approached her and tried to usher her to her chair with a hand on the small of her back, but she would not move.

"Please sit, Mrs. Hughes. You don't look well at all." Although there were dark circles under her eyes and a few curls had escaped her ruthlessly tight hairstyle, he thought she was beautiful.

"I'm afraid if I sit I won't be able to get up again," she told him.

Mr. Carson was alarmed. "Then perhaps it would be best for you to forgo your glass of wine and go to bed right now."

"I don't want to do that, either," she murmured. "This is my favorite part of the day. Talking with you every evening keeps me from going mad."

"Well, I'm glad of that," he replied gently. "But if you make yourself ill you won't be able to chat with me in the evenings, or even see me at all."

"I suppose you're right," she admitted. "They'll have one of the maids checking in on me if I'm ill. Although it does seem odd that I may come and go in and out of your room as I please when you're ill, but it doesn't work the other way round."

"Would you want footmen visiting sick maids?"

Mrs. Hughes scoffed. "I wouldn't want maids to visit sick footmen, either. But it's hardly the same, is it? You and I are different."

Mr. Carson fixed her with an intense gaze, then shrugged. "Perhaps. But I don't think you would find me a very good nurse."

She relaxed into a slight smile. "Perhaps not."

"Mrs. Hughes, if you will not sit, I will stand with you, and we can chat. Why don't you tell me what is troubling you?"

"Miss Baxter," she began. "I've just had a letter from her, Mr. Carson."

"What's she got to say?"

"She wants to return, but she's still trying to settle her sister's situation. She'll be gone at least two more weeks."

Mr. Carson could see where this was going. "So you'll be playing ladies' maid and housekeeper, with no head housemaid for help."

Mrs. Hughes's voice shook, but her eyes were dry as she stared at nothing. "I'm not sure how I can possibly do it all. I'm already up at three o'clock every morning. There aren't many more hours in a day, and I must sleep."

Mr. Carson was shocked. "Three o'clock! Mrs. Hughes, you really must speak to her ladyship. You can't continue like this."

"Probably not. But we've advertised. And until we replace Madge-"

"Yes, I know, you haven't time to further train Eliza until you replace Madge." Mr. Carson hesitated for a few moments, but moved toward Mrs. Hughes and wrapped his arms around her shoulders. "Don't fear, Mrs. Hughes," he said soothingly, as she laid her head against his chest. "We will think of something."

Mrs. Hughes didn't argue. She felt safe and warm and protected, and she was sure if she fell asleep like this, Mr. Carson would not let her fall. Her hands crept up to rest on his chest as well, on either side of her head. Mr. Carson rubbed her back gently and she sighed as some of the tension of the last few weeks left her body.

"Tomorrow morning, take care of the young ladies as you have been." Mrs. Hughes did not argue, only nodded against his chest. "But then you must speak to her ladyship. Tell her everything you've been doing for the last several weeks. And of course she must know of Miss Baxter's letter."

"I don't know when I'll find the time to speak to her ladyship, Mr. Carson." Mrs. Hughes's words slurred together a little. She was losing the battle with sleep.

"We'll worry about that once you've gotten through breakfast," he murmured. "For now just concentrate on getting yourself to bed before you drop to the floor right here and now." Mr. Carson wouldn't have minded if she had fallen asleep leaning against him, but he knew that was entirely impractical, so he tried to help her towards the attics. He drew away from her and pulled her arm through his so she could lean against his arm as they walked down the corridor. Her steps faltered and she gave a great yawn as they made their plodding way in the direction of the maids' staircase, where he let her go. Mrs. Hughes took the first step on her own, leaning heavily on the railing, but Mr. Carson was not satisfied with how unstable she appeared. He decided to take her arm and accompany her up to her room, but a moment later he changed his mind and lifted her in his arms instead. He was wearing his shoes this time, but he tried to be as silent as he could as he carried her up the stairs and to her room. When he reached her door he was going to set her on her feet and let her enter under her own power, but by that time she was fast asleep. He quietly entered and laid her on her bed. She would be uncomfortable the next morning if she slept in her evening clothes, but he couldn't bear to wake her, so there was nothing else to be done. He allowed himself to remove her shoes, but nothing more. She lay on top of her sheet and blanket, but he found a spare blanket in the cupboard and covered her with it before leaving the room, closing the door, and hurrying downstairs.

When he reached the bottom of the stairs, Mr. Carson's heart was pounding from the exertion and the fear of discovery. Nothing improper had occurred between them and that would be obvious to any witness, but all the same he didn't fancy having to explain his reason for being in the women's corridor late at night. Even a hint of impropriety could damage reputations and undermine authority. He was relieved to be safely in his own bed a quarter of an hour later, worrying about Mrs. Hughes, but also thinking of how wonderful she had felt in his arms, both as she leant against him in his pantry, and as he carried her to her bedroom. The situation had not been even slightly romantic, but Mr. Carson had been glad to be of service to her. He didn't often get the chance; she rarely needed help, and when she did she was still unlikely to accept it. He was already making a plan for how he would help her tomorrow. He knew she might be angry, but something had to be done.

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Mr. Carson found Lady Grantham embroidering in the drawing room the next morning just as soon as Anna had told him that the countess was dressed and out of her room. She was alone, thankfully; he preferred not to have the conversation with any witnesses present.

"Your ladyship, I wonder if I might have a word," he intoned.

"Yes, of course," she answered pleasantly. "What is it?"

"Something has been going on that I think you may not be aware of."

Lady Grantham set down her embroidery, looking concerned. "That sounds very serious, Carson. What is it?"

"As you know, Mrs. Hughes has taken on a number of extra duties since Madge left so unexpectedly."

"Yes, and I'm sure it must be a dreadful disturbance to her routine." The countess frowned.

"Mrs. Hughes has also had a letter from Miss Baxter, who reports that she will not be back for at least two more weeks. An advertisement has of course been placed for Madge's replacement, but until a new maid arrives or Miss Baxter returns..."

"Yes, I suppose that is too much to ask of Mrs. Hughes even with the head housemaid taking care of some of her morning rounds."

"Unfortunately, milady, Eliza proved not to be up to the task set before her, so Mrs. Hughes has been rising early and taking care of her rounds of the main floor while the rest of the staff eat breakfast. She takes her other meals on a tray at her desk. Her own work has been so disrupted that she is now rising at about three o'clock in the morning just to make sure everything gets done, and she seldom goes to bed before eleven."

The countess's eyes widened. "Three o'clock! Why did no one tell me of this?"

"I wasn't aware of all of it until yesterday, milady, when Mrs. Hughes told me of the letter she had received from Miss Baxter. I'm afraid Mrs. Hughes will make herself ill if she continues on in this way."

"She certainly will! And we can't have that, can we, Carson?"

"No, milady, we can't. The house couldn't run without her."

"Thank you for telling me, Carson. I'll see to this matter right away."

"Thank you, milady. Will there be anything else?"

"No, Carson, that will be all."

To be continued...

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