Twelve:
The Elephant in the Room
Charles waited patiently; His Lordship wanted to speak with him, and Mr. Kent was almost finished undressing him. He didn't want to be overbearing and intrude. It just wasn't done, even if you were summoned.
Finally, Mr. Kent came out of His Lordship's dressing room and said, "You can go in, Mr. Carson."
Charles swallowed hard, knowing that he was about to be held accountable for… something. He thought he probably knew what it was, but he didn't want to assume the worst when he could still hope for the best.
He stepped into the dressing room and said, "My lord, you asked to see me?"
"Did I ever," Lord Robert said. "Sit down, Carson. My wife has brought to my attention some rather serious allegations this evening –"
"Allegations, my lord?"
Lord Robert took a drink of his whiskey and made a bit of a face. "She says that Mrs. Hughes is with child," he commented dryly. "Of course, this will never do – between you and I, we will have to begin searching for a new housekeeper immediately. Cora, of course, thinks that I should allow her to stay on, but what kind of an example is that setting for the rest of the staff? And goodness only knows who the father is – have you noticed her being especially chummy with any of the men on staff, Carson?"
"My lord," Charles said, trying not to become angry, "if I knew anything about Mrs. Hughes's private life, I would not share it."
Lord Robert's lips pursed together into a thin line. "Cora also mentioned that you have needed some extra help with Fiona as of late, as she's decided that Mrs. Hughes is no longer her favorite."
"My lord, Miss Patmore willingly –"
"Carson, if you wanted your daughter out of your way so you and Mrs. Hughes could… fornicate… there are far less drastic measures than moving her into the assistant cook's room," Lord Robert said.
Charles spluttered, his face turning beet red. And yet, he found he could not deny the obviousness of His Lordship's statement. "My lord –"
"She told me everything, Carson."
"Everything? How does she know everything?" Charles challenged.
"Mrs. Carson told her," Lord Robert shot back irritably. "It's not done, Charles. You know that. If you and Mrs. Hughes were not in charge, I would look more favorably on your… marriage. But as such, it's just not done. The housekeeper and the butler –"
"My mother –"
"Your mother was an exception to the rule, Carson, and you know it. She was beyond responsible and she did not become housekeeper until after your step-father had died."
"They kept their marriage secret," Charles ground out. "There was no reason that Elsie and I could not have been the same –"
"Aside from the very obvious fact that you bedded her a little too well and now there will be another little Carson underfoot downstairs," Lord Robert snapped. "I have been patient with you, Charles, because my mother expects it of me; I have given you every chance for promotion, every pay rise I can give you, because you excel at what you do. However, this is beyond the pale. How dare you sneak around behind my back and take advantage of my generosity and kindness?"
Charles knew there was no way on earth this conversation would end well; he decided that discretion was the better part of valor, and he backed down. "My lord, if one of us must be punished, please let it be me," he said, looking down at his feet. "I knew better, and yet, I found myself unable to restrain myself. I love her, my lord, and if one of us must leave, it should be me."
His Lordship's fury seemed to cease right then. "She said something similar; that she should be the one punished rather than you. It seems that you and Mrs. Hughes are equally matched, Carson."
"My lord, I will leave Downton if you will it to be," Charles said.
"Do you have any idea how difficult it is going to be to replace you and Mrs. Hughes? God forbid; I just needed to know if this was Cora's idea of a joke, or if you really feel something for the woman." Lord Robert had gone back to scowling. "I am not, however, pleased that you found it necessary to practice deception against me, Carson. You could have come to me and said that you and Mrs. Hughes had begun an illicit relationship. I would have explained to you how to prevent… unwelcome consequences."
Charles felt his anger rising again. "Our child is neither unwelcome nor a consequence," he hissed. "He or she is very much wanted and very much loved."
"But surely, you did not want to marry again – let alone because you had fathered another child."
His anger grew exponentially. "We married before the child was even thought of," Charles growled. "I care very deeply for Elsie, and she for me. This is not a marriage of convenience, nor was it brought about by circumstances of honor. We are in love, my lord, and I am sorry if you cannot understand that."
His Lordship sighed. "Carson… I don't know what we're going to do. I cannot condone your actions, but I cannot dismiss you from your post. Surely you must understand the position this puts me in."
"Please do not dismiss Mrs. Hughes," Charles repeated. "If anyone should be punished, let it be me. I have trod upon your generosity long enough –"
"Stop trying to be noble – it doesn't suit you." Lord Robert pinched the bridge of his nose, as if he had a headache coming on. "I don't suppose the scandal would sink Downton entirely, but it will tarnish the edges a bit."
"My lord, in my defense… I did try to behave the perfect gentleman."
"Dear merciful heavens, Carson, I don't need details."
Two days had passed since Elsie had spoken to Lady Grantham and Charles had spoken to Lord Grantham. Elsie was still paranoid, looking over her shoulder in fear that one toe out of line would lead to her being dismissed without reference, and then she would be out of a home, a family, and god knew her reputation would be utterly destroyed, even if she was married and a proper wife and all. She was nervous, skittish, and spent most of the day either snapping at people irritably, or locked up in her sitting room, crying.
Charles, dear man, didn't know what to do to help. He tried, lord love him, he tried… but he just kept making everything that much worse.
It seemed like the instant they knew about the baby, she really began showing. She couldn't bear to be confined in her corset, so she loosened the laces a bit more and let out a few of the darted seams in her day dress, trying to conceal as much as she could her changing figure. But it was going to be a losing battle – it was only a matter of time before she was round as the rubber ball Fiona was bouncing in the corridor and no amount of artistry would hide that.
"Mrs. Hughes," Charles said, poking his head in the open door of her sitting room, "Her Ladyship has asked for you to come upstairs to her parlor."
"Bloody hell," Elsie swore, more worried about the invitation and her suspicion than being rebuked for her language. "I'm in the middle of writing the last of the linen rota for next week –"
"I'm afraid she's rather insistent," Charles said. "Goodness knows, we don't want to upset Lord and Lady Grantham any more than we must, considering how kindly they are behaving in regard to us."
She huffed and got up from her chair, gently rubbing her belly through layers of fabric and corset. "Yes, I suppose you're right," Elsie sighed. "I feel like I swallowed a melon. I look dreadful. She's going to be lovely, as usual, and far more pregnant than I am, and it makes me feel very… badly."
"You are the most beautiful woman on earth," Charles said with a small smile, "and I don't care who hears me say it."
Fiona came to a stop behind her father, holding onto his leg. "Daddy, will you play with me for a minute?" she asked.
"For a minute," Charles agreed. "When Elsie comes back downstairs, maybe she can play with you more."
Fiona scowled. "I don't want to play with her."
"Charles, no," Elsie said gently, seeing that he was about to take Fiona aside and have a talk with her. "It's all right. I'll go upstairs and see Her Ladyship and you and Fiona can play."
"See, daddy? It will be okay if we play a bit," Fiona said with a wide smile, just for Charles.
She smiled sadly at Charles, then headed into the corridor, past him with barely more than a gentle touch of their fingers together to say 'I love you'. She hurried up the stairwell, and made her way to Lady Cora's parlor.
"Oh, there you are," Lady Cora said with a smile. "I'd begun to think you'd ignored me."
"No, m'lady," Elsie said. "Did you want tea or –"
"Carson brought tea already," Lady Cora replied. "Will you come and sit for a moment? Dr. Clarkson is adamant that women with child should rest whenever possible; that it's good for the baby if we are not on our feet all the time." She smiled and reached for her teapot. "I'll be mother. It will do me good to wait on someone else for once."
"M'lady…"
"Mrs. Carson, I'd like to think we could be friends," Lady Cora said pointedly.
Elsie sighed. "Yes, m'lady," she finally agreed. She sank onto the settee; she would never admit it, but she was glad to get off of her feet. She'd felt swollen and uncomfortable all day and her relief was palpable.
"Now, I wanted to make sure that you know that Lord Grantham is not going to dismiss you – or Mr. Carson," Her Ladyship said with a small smile. "And we're looking into whether or not we can move you into a small apartment in the north wing – Robert is pissing and moaning about propriety, but when I reminded him that the butler and housekeeper can hardly be sent out to the cottages to live, he started seeing things my way." Her smile grew. "By the way, we've almost got the nursery finished for the new baby. Hopefully, it is a boy; I think it must be, with all the trouble it's causing me."
"I hope you have the son you long for," Elsie said, honestly. "He will be very much loved."
"Yes, but your apartment – do you take sugar, Mrs. Carson?"
"Oh, no, thank you," Elsie murmured. "Just a splash of milk, m'lady. And you mustn't think you should go to any trouble for Charles and me. We'll make do, same as we have."
"I want to make you more comfortable," Lady Cora said. "You'll still be close enough to the attics if something goes wrong, and you'll still be close to the family quarters to assist. But you'll have somewhere that's just for your family."
"M'lady, that's very kind," Elsie said, nearly in tears. "I – I don't know what to say."
"Don't say anything," Lady Cora advised, passing over a cup of tea. "Now, I took the liberty of sending Miss Abbott to Ripon on an errand for me yesterday. I asked for her to find ten yards of simple black muslin, and ten yards of black sateen, and all the accompaniments for two dresses. I think she did a lovely job; I know you worked very hard on your new dress, Elsie, and you must be shattered that you won't be able to wear it for ages. So I wanted to surprise you with more fabric and notions – every woman deserves to have something comfortable to wear when she's expanding." She proudly pulled out two boxes and showed them off for Elsie's benefit. "I hope you're not offended –"
"Oh, no, m'lady – the last thing in the world I am right now is offended," Elsie breathed, her fingertips stroking the fabric and ribbon and lace in the boxes. "I am not worthy of such fine fabrics…"
"Nonsense," Lady Cora said with a smile. "And, of course, you should need something lovely for church and trips into the village with Mr. Carson – so you must feel free to look through my dresses. I have so many from when I was pregnant with Mary that I think you would be comfortable in – and I have no need for them, so you may take whatever you wish."
"M'lady, you are too generous," Elsie breathed, near tears.
"Nonsense! As I said, we should be great friends, Mrs. Carson – and my son and your child will grow up together, so…"
Elsie smiled and murmured, "I will not forget such kindness, m'lady – you and Lord Grantham are too generous and kind by half."
"Have things improved at all with Fiona?"
"No."
"Maybe you should tell her that you've married her father."
"Maybe," Elsie hedged. "Or maybe that's a fool's errand; we still haven't told the downstairs staff yet."
"You'd better do that before someone guesses," Lady Cora warned.
"Miss Patmore has already guessed," Elsie admitted. "I called her a daft beggar and reminded her who looks after the key to the storeroom and she'd best not be on my bad side."
"Well, tell them the truth then," Lady Cora advised gently.
"I don't know if that's the best idea," Elsie sighed. "The young ones will think they can just… follow in our footsteps."
"Not if they know what's good for them," Lady Cora snapped. "I will not tolerate shenanigans and monkey business belowstairs, Mrs. Carson; and neither should you. What's done is done in regard to you and Mr. Carson; now we move forward." She shifted uncomfortably and rubbed her belly. "I'm sorry – my son is kicking up a fury."
Elsie smiled. "I can't wait to feel that," she admitted. "It's one of life's few true joys."
"Elsie," Lady Cora said, "you need to make up with Fiona. I can tell how upset you are that she's behaving the way she is."
Elsie shrugged dismissively. "She will do what she wants; after all, isn't she Charles Carson's daughter? Pig-headed, stubborn mule doesn't begin to describe it."
"Oh, but you love those pig-headed stubborn mules," Lady Cora said with a saucy grin and a wink.
"Aye," Elsie said, blushing. "I do."
END PART TWELVE