Mrs. Hughes frowned slightly at the excited chatter she heard coming from Lady Sybil's room. Her maids were supposed to be cleaning the family rooms, not indulging in idle gossip. She hurried along the corridor to see what all the fuss was about. Peering around the doorframe she found Anna and Gwen making Lady Sybil's bed while discussing the biggest news to hit Downton since that awful business with the Titanic- Mr. Matthew and Lady Mary's upcoming wedding.
"I think it's just lovely," Gwen was saying. "They seem so perfect together."
Anna nodded her agreement. "I'm happy for them. Lady Mary says-"
"Girls," Mrs. Hughes interrupted them. Much as she didn't believe Anna capable of spiteful speculation, it still wasn't a housemaid's place to show opinions on the Family's affairs. "I trust you've not encountered any problems in your work this morning?"
"No, Mrs. Hughes," they said in unison.
"How many more rooms are left?"
"Just Lady Mary's after we're through here," Anna chimed. Mrs. Hughes nodded approvingly and left them to finish their work.
Mrs. Hughes continued on her rounds thinking of preparations for the upcoming Season and the society wedding planned for the end of it. She wasn't worried about the Family's move to London– Mr. Carson had that well in hand and her schedule for the Abbey's yearly deep clean had been written out months ago. What troubled her most were the plans for Lady Mary's wedding. Specifically, the food that would be needed and who was going to prepare it.
Mrs. Patmore's eyesight continued to worsen. She could get along all right as long as things were kept in the same place and the recipes were ones she knew, but when things went wrong, the poor kitchen maid Daisy was the unfortunate recipient of the cook's ire. Much as she might wish otherwise, Mrs. Hughes could only see the wedding as too much for Mrs. Patmore's failing eyesight which could only end in disaster. She saw no way around bringing the issue up with Her Ladyship. Checking the time, she knew she could find Lady Grantham in her sitting room. Resolved, Mrs. Hughes changed directions to go find her Ladyship for a rather uncomfortable conversation.
Cora was sat at her vanity later that night after dinner. She had been thinking of Mrs. Hughes words throughout the day. Cora had known of Mrs. Patmore's ailment but hadn't realized the full extent of the problem.
Mrs. Hughes had obviously been reluctant to bring up Mrs. Patmore's illness. She had said she couldn't see a way to accommodate the cook, especially with Mary's upcoming wedding. Cora couldn't help but agree with her. Her eldest daughter was… selective at the best of times. She couldn't imagine her reaction if something went wrong at her wedding.
Cora didn't want to sack Mrs. Patmore. Even half blind she was still the best cook in Yorkshire. Mrs. Hughes had mentioned that Dr. Clarkson had spoken of a specialist in London. Mrs. Patmore had been reluctant to go for many reasons- money being chief among them, though Mrs. Hughes had not explicitly said. Cora frowned at herself in the mirror, a plan beginning to form in her mind, and waited for Robert to join her.
"Robert," she said excitedly to him as he entered their bedroom. "I have a proposition for you."
"Oh, that doesn't sound very good," Robert grinned.
Cora barely refrained from rolling her eyes at him. "It's about Mrs. Patmore. Mrs. Hughes brought it to my attention today that her eyesight is getting worse. It's cataracts, Dr. Clarkson, says and there are specialists in London who could fix them." She looked at Robert expectantly.
"Does she want to go to London?"
"Well," Cora hedged, "I don't think she's quite accepted how bad her eyesight had gotten."
"Yes, I suppose she's gotten used to it some," Robert agreed.
"Mrs. Patmore is such a good cook. It'd be a shame to lose her," Cora sighed turning back to her vanity to watch Robert's reaction in the mirror. "Especially with Mary's wedding at the end of the summer."
"It would," Robert said thoughtfully. His eyes lit up as he leaned toward Cora excitedly. "Maybe we don't' have to lose her. Do you think if we offered to pay for the specialist she would accept? She could come with us to London for the Season and be right as rain by the time it's over."
"She might," Cora encouraged him trying to keep a small grin from her face.
Robert nodded decisively, clearly pleased with himself. "That's settled then. I'll speak to Carson tomorrow, and Mrs. Patmore, and make the arrangements."
"That sounds wonderful," Cora said standing up from her vanity to give Robert a kiss. "You're such a good man."
Robert preened as they got into bed and Cora finally allowed herself a victorious smile. She'd known he wouldn't disappoint her.
Mrs. Hughes and Mr. Carson were sitting comfortably in his pantry sharing a glass of sherry. Mr. Carson was to leave with the Granthams to London in the morning and he was enjoying Mrs. Hughes's company before he would only be able to speak to her in letters.
Carson had always enjoyed Mrs. Hughes's friendship. They had run the house together efficiently because of it, Mr. Carson was sure. But something had changed between them since he had been sacked and then returned earlier this year. They had gotten closer. They had enjoyed small banter and household gossip before, but now Mrs. Hughes was bolder. She challenged him more. He didn't know what had caused the change and he couldn't bring himself to disapprove of it though he was vaguely aware that he should as the head of the Household.
"Do you think Mrs. Patmore will be alright in London?" Mrs. Hughes asked suddenly, drawing Mr. Carson from his musings. He frowned trying to glean her meaning. Mrs. Patmore would be with almost the entire household in London. Why wouldn't she be alright?
"Yes, I imagine so," he said slowly. "She won't be alone."
Mrs. Hughes huffed slightly, "I meant with her operation."
"Oh," Mr. Carson said in comprehension. How could he have missed that? "Dr. Clarkson is very hopeful that it will be a success."
Mrs. Hughes nodded into her glass thoughtfully. Mr. Carson eyed her sympathetically. She was a kind-hearted person, Mrs. Hughes. Naturally, she would be worried about the cook and her eye operation. He didn't think there was any need. It seemed a straightforward medical operation the end of which would see Mrs. Patmore with her eyesight restored. The marvels of modern medicine, Carson thought wondrously.
"I'm sure Mrs. Patmore will be fine," Mr. Carson said with a smile hoping to reassure Mrs. Hughes. "She'll have the best care."
"Thanks to His Lordship," Mrs. Hughes said without her usual sarcasm she used when speaking of the family. She looked at Carson seriously. "It appears you were right about the Granthams. They are more generous than most anyone."
Carson tried to contain his self-satisfied grin with little success. "I should get this in writing. You've admitted I'm right about something."
"Oh you," Mrs. Hughes laughed. "I was being serious. This is a very generous thing they've done. Most people would have offered her a retirement settlement and found a new cook."
"They are good people, Mrs. Hughes," Mr. Carson said with conviction.
"Then you are a better person than I am," she said quietly. "Especially after what they did to you."
Mr. Carson felt frozen in his seat. She couldn't be talking about what he thought. She couldn't know. "What?"
Mrs. Hughes bit her lip as she glanced away. She took a deep breath before she turned back to him boldly. "When you went away earlier, you didn't just leave," her grip on her glass tightened slightly. "You were sacked."
Mr. Carson couldn't look at her. He felt numb. He'd thought he'd been able to keep that part of his departure quiet what with his and His Lordship's explanation of a family emergency. How had Mrs. Hughes found out? He let out a bark of laughter. How had he expected her not to have found out?
"I'm sorry, Mr. Carson," she murmured, setting her glass down and standing. "I shouldn't have said anything. Only," she paused with a slight frown, "whatever it was for, you didn't deserve it. You're quite possibly the best butler in Yorkshire and probably the whole of Britain. His Lordship must have been out of his mind."
"He wasn't," Mr. Carson interrupted her, finally meeting her eye. "He did what he thought necessary to protect his family. His Lordship is a good man."
Mrs. Hughes shook her head sadly. "The Crawleys don't deserve you, Mr. Carson."
She left him still sitting in his pantry. His only consolation was that she didn't seem to know why he had been sacked. He was mortified but grateful for that at least. At least Lady Mary and her mother were spared further humiliation.
He closed his eyes and sighed deeply. Mrs. Hughes parting words were still ringing through his head. No, he thought, the Crawleys didn't deserve him. They would have been much better off without him.
"Are you looking forward to your first Season, Sybil darling?" Papa asked over his morning papers, surrounded by his three daughters.
"Everso, Papa!" Sybil gushed launching into a list of all the things she wished to do in London.
Edith smiled at her sister's contagious enthusiasm. She could well remember the excitement of her first London Season. For the first time in her life, she had been the center of attention and she had reveled in it. Edith couldn't help but be happy for her youngest sister.
"We'll have to go dress shopping, of course," Sybil said breezily, "for Mary and Matthew's wedding. It's going to be so beautiful, I know it!'
Mary smiled into her teacup at the mention of her upcoming nuptials. Edith scowled darkly. Mary was happy again despite Edith's letter to the Turkish Ambassador. Her plan to ruin Mary had failed, and with her marriage to Matthew at the end of the summer, Mary was set to become the next Countess of Grantham. Edith fumed.
Oh so perfect Mary, always getting whatever she wants. Always believing she would get what she what she wants. Well, now Edith knew the truth. Edith knew that Mary's entitlement was nothing but a lie. Mary wasn't Edith's eldest sister. She wasn't even a Crawley. She was just a servant's bastard. She didn't deserve to become the next mistress of Downton Abbey. She definitely didn't deserve kind, sweet Matthew.
"You'll have no shortage of suitors, Sybil darling. You won't have much competition," Mary said drawing Edith back into the conversation. She glanced wryly at Edith. "It's just Edith you'll have to worry about."
"Mary!" Sybil scolded.
Mary rolled her eyes. "I'm sorry, Edith dear. I'm sure you'll find a husband this year."
Edith grinned darkly at her half-sister across the breakfast table."Yes, I'm sure I will."
A/N So with this chapter I've tacked on a few more chapters than originally planned. Instead of 14 chapters there will now be at least 16. Maybe more. Thanks to everyone who's still reading this story. Reviews are always welcome! Tell me you like it or even if you think I should pack it up and end this sucker. I love hearing from you!