Autumn 1923
"Come on, it will be fun if nothing else." Mrs Patmore tried, after she'd brought tea to the housekeeper's sitting room and told her about the plan.
"I just don't really understand why I have to come along." Mrs Hughes contended.
"I already told you; this Mr Vyner is coming along, he is eager to meet someone, and he travelled all the way down from London. And to be honest, I don't really know anyone else our age."
"But I am not eager to meet anyone, it will just be a disappointment for him."
"Well, first of all, you never know that! If nothing else, it's a free fancy dinner! And second of all; Mr Willis wouldn't really be able to come otherwise. He said Mr Vyner would rather find him some work to do than let him go out on his own."
"This Mr Vyner sounds like a bit of a bully."
Mrs Patmore didn't reply, just pouted her lips, and gave her friend a pleading look.
"Can Mr Carson spare us?" Elsie asked, hoping to still be able to find a way to get out of this.
"Well-" Mrs Patmore hesitated.
"Have you spoken to him?" The housekeeper continued.
"Not yet." Beryl admitted and ignored her friends' eyeroll. "I was hoping you could talk to him."
"Why me?" Mrs Hughes was astonished. "It's not my idea."
"Yes, I know, but he is more likely to say yes to you."
"I very much doubt that." She laughed sarcastically. She didn't think Mr Carson would be too excited about the idea of them going on a date, be it coming from either of them.
"He might object to us leaving at the same time, but still, he can't ban us from taking a bit of time off."
"No, I don't think he can."
"Well then!" Mrs Patmore was very insistent.
"I'll think of something, Mrs Patmore, leave it to me." The housekeeper concluded, even though she was sure she'd still rather not go at all.
…
"Are you busy?" Elsie knocked on the butler's door some time after their luncheon.
Mr Carson was sat behind his desk, going through wine ledgers, and drinking a cup of tea. "Come in." He instructed her.
"I gather Mr Blake might be coming up."
"I think so, his lordship mentioned he might like to turn it into a proper dinner on Saturday, invite a few more guests."
"And it's just family and Mr Blake this Friday?"
"As far as I am aware." He noticed a slight change of demeanour in her.
"So, we're not too busy then." She said quietly - more to herself rather than to him.
"I don't think so. Why?"
"I wonder if Mrs Patmore and I would be missed on Friday evening?" Elsie blurted out and pressed her lips together, watching his reaction.
Charles looked up at her with a perplexed expression. "Friday evening?" He wasn't quite sure which question to start with, so he just repeated her words.
"We'd leave before seven, so Daisy could keep the food warm, and we'd be back by ten, before everyone goes to bed."
"Where will you be going?" He asked with his eyebrows furrowed, studying her façade.
"We've been-" Mrs Hughes started, but changed her mind as she was speaking. "That is, we've got some errands to run for Lady Edith's Birthday." For some reason, she couldn't bring herself to tell him the truth. She just thought it would be simpler that way.
"Running errands at 7 o'clock in the evening?"
The housekeeper just nodded, she wished she had prepared her lie a little better.
"What sort of errands?" He pressed her.
"It wouldn't be a surprise, if I told you, Mr Carson." She said with importance, rubbing her hands nervously. "Lady Rose has asked us to keep it a secret."
"Hm, I see." Charles gave up even though he still wasn't convinced.
"Well, I better go see what they are up to in the kitchen." Elsie stood up without looking at him, yet Mr Carson's eyes were glued to her, and his mouth open until she left the room. Then he just shook his head in disbelief.
…
"Did you speak to him?" Mrs Patmore sprinted towards her friend with impatience when she arrived in the kitchens.
"I did." Mrs Hughes offered the cook half of a smile. "We should be fine as long as we're back by ten."
"How did he take it?" The cook was curious.
"Fine," Elsie said simply.
"Was he not bitter about it?" Mrs Patmore was hoping to hear the old butler at least showed some emotions towards her colleague.
"I am sure he trusts Daisy will manage." Elsie wasn't sure what to say, yet she suspected Beryl might have been hoping for a different kind of answer.
"Alright." The cook didn't want to pry too much or make anyone uncomfortable.
"To be honest, I didn't really tell him the whole truth." Mrs Hughes finally admitted after a moment of silence. "But no need to delve into it, it's all been settled and arranged." She said and headed back to her sitting room with a triumphant spring in her step.
Mrs Patmore just stared at her friend in admiration for a few seconds and then giggled to herself.
