Good Tuesday evening, my darling readers! Here I am with the second chapter to this story…
And speaking of, what a welcome it got! I can only say I was quite taken by your lovely reviews on the first chapter. And I hope you'll all stick around for the rest of this adventure.
As I already said, I appreciated your wonderful reviews so much, but as always, this app is playing tricks on me and I can't reply to all of them! So, I thank you all now for encouraging me to continue with the story! And especially the guest who I have no way to thank individually! All of your reviews mean a lot to me!
But now, before this gets waaayyy too long- I will let you get to reading! I hope this chapter can answer some your burning question you had after reading the first one…I sincerely hope you'll enjoy! Next chapter should be out very soon. Stay safe!
Elsie stared at her reflection in the mirror, her teeth biting into her lower lip.
She had a yet another sleepless night behind her, despite her great efforts to try to fall asleep. She just couldn't help her thoughts from keeping her awake.
And really. She was scared.
Scared of the little bump under her skin. How the thoughts of visits to the doctor years ago, and fearing what it might be, made her cry.
She ran her fingers over the side of her breast, careful not to be too hard.
The lump was back.
She had discovered it three days ago. Of course, she had tried to keep herself from worrying. After all, it had all worked out last time, it had not been-
A word she couldn't bring herself to even think about.
She knew her husband had noticed a change in her. Noticed how she barely ate a thing- she couldn't. Her stomach was turned upside down by it all…
But keeping him in the dark was not fair to him. And Elsie begged herself to tell him. But every time she was about to, something made her stop. She kept thinking, hoping perhaps, that maybe keeping it to herself would make it go away.
But she knew it wouldn't.
She grabbed her corset from the chair next to the mirror in the bathroom and tightened it around her middle. She would have to get ready for work. There was no time to linger. A wince graced her face as the corset bore into her skin.
…
They ate breakfast at the Abbey that morning. Fortunately for Elsie, she had her weekly meeting with lady Grantham right after, and she had an excuse to get away from the table quickly. Seeing the concerned look on her husband's face, she placed a comforting hand on his shoulder as she excused herself from the table.
She hurried upstairs with her books and found the lady of the house in the drawing room, sitting at her desk.
"Oh, Mrs. Hughes, good morning.", Cora greeted her with a bright smile.
"Good morning, your ladyship."
"You're very early today."
"I can come back a little later, if you wish, milady?"
Cora shook her head and motioned for the housekeeper to take a seat.
"Not at all. The sooner we start, the sooner we finish."
"Quite right, milady.", Elsie flashed her a smile as she took a seat close to the lady.
"I trust you're on board with the dinner party on Saturday?"
"I am, your ladyship. We've started preparing quite early so there will be time to cover any shortcomings, should the need be."
"Of course.", Cora nodded."I will have the guestlists ready for you tomorrow."
"Very good. And what time shall I ask the flowers to be delivered, milady? Should you wish to be there to receive them."
"Just let me know when they arrive, Mrs. Hughes, that would be very kind of you."
"Very well, your ladyship."
The housekeeper wrote the information on a notebook she had brought up with her.
"I think I would like a cup of tea- what about you, Mrs. Hughes?"
Elsie looked up at her words.
"I don't think so, milady. I've only just eaten breakfast.", and really, she felt bad enough already, not even thinking about a cup of tea.
"Oh, of course. I've forgotten.", Cora stood up and headed to pull the cord in the corner of the room.
She made her way back to her desk.
"Mrs. Patmore will want to go the menus over with you one last time, milady. What time shall I tell her to expect you?", Elsie asked kindly.
"I'll come down tomorrow, after breakfast perhaps. I won't have much time; I'm expected for lunch at the Dower house."
"I'm sure that won't be a problem, your ladyship."
They were interrupted by Andrew at the door.
"You rang, milady?"
"Yes, thank you, Andrew. Might I have some tea?", the lady of the house said politely.
The footman simply nodded and left the room.
Elsie watched her employer turn to her desk, adjusting papers and brushing a speck of dust from the corner. Really, the new maids didn't know how to dust properly!
"Is everything else running smoothly downstairs?"
She was shaken out of her reverie by the question.
"I believe so, milady.", Elsie answered, swallowing before she spoke.
"And you and Mr. Carson?"
"Milady?", it was a weird question.
"Only, I wondered how you've settled in the cottage. I hope everything's satisfactory?"
The corners of the housekeeper lips turned upwards in a faint smile;
"Yes. We're quite happy, your ladyship."
"I'm glad.", Cora smiled genuinely at that; she was glad for the butler and housekeeper.
They deserved to be happy.
"Only…", Elsie began but stopped abruptly.
"Yes?"
"Well, only, Mr. Carson wondered that perhaps he might take his next half day when I have mine, milady."
"Oh?"
"Apparently, he wishes to take me to York for dinner, milady. But of course, we can go some another time."
"Nonsense! Of course, he can take his half day whenever it best suits your plans. You've both earned a treat."
The housekeeper smiled brightly then.
"Thank you, milady."
Soon, Andrew returned with a tea tray and placed it on one of the tables by the big windows. He started pouring the boiling water into a cup, but her ladyship stopped him with a smile;
"You can leave the tray there; I don't want to keep you from your duties. I can manage from here."
The footman was slightly taken aback by her request but complied with a nod.
"Very good, your ladyship."
Andrew walked to the door and shut it after him, leaving the lady alone with her housekeeper. The lady in question moved to pour herself a cup of tea.
"Shall I pour it for you, milady?", the housekeeper offered, already standing up.
"Oh, that won't be necessary, Mrs. Hughes."
"Nonsense, your ladyship, I insist- since I am here."
Cora gave in with a grateful smile and moved to sit down on one of the armchairs.
"You're very kind.", she adjusted the pillows behind her back and leaned back comfortably.
"Not at all, milady."
Elsie was quick to pour the steaming, hot water in one of the two cups on the tray, adding a spoonful of sugar to top it off. She made the tea just like lady Grantham liked it. Sweet, but not too sweet. Elsie leaned to grab a spoon from the tray, about to mix the sugar into the water filled with the taste of tea leaves, when the spoon accidentally fell from her grasp, falling on the floor with a quiet 'thumb'.
Cursing her clumsiness, Elsie kneeled to collect the silver spoon, only to feel a piercing pain on her breast as she bended.
"Ah-", her eyes shut as her hand came to rest on her chest.
"Mrs. Hughes?", Cora was quick to ask when she heard the quiet whimper leave the housekeeper's lips."Is everything quite alright?"
She had to remain in that position for a moment, her knuckles whitening as she fought the wavering pain. The pain, now slightly subdued, Elsie slowly stood up again, the fallen spoon between her fingers. She had to take a few deep breaths before answering the other woman;
"Of course, milady. I must've slept in a funny position; it seems my muscles are slightly sore this morning."
Not desiring to ask more questions, Cora said reassuringly;
"Well, I daresay that's happened to the lot of us."
"Exactly, milady."
The housekeeper handed the lady her tea, now mixed with a clean spoon, and turned away with a smile. She leaned slightly against the table where the tray had been placed, letting out a sigh. The throbbing on her breast was not comfortable at all…
…
Later that night Charles sat down on his desk chair with a heavy sigh. It had been a long day.
Mr. Barrow had been testing his temper and a wine delivery would be late, making his blood boil. Why did nothing go his way that day? Andrew had, apparently on accident, broken a tea set when he had taken a tumble on the stairs as well. Charles wasn't looking forward to relaying the news to her ladyship, whose favourites the cups were…However, he tried to not let those things get the better of him.
Because what weighted his shoulders the most, was his wife. His wife who seemed to be feeling poorly. His thoughts went back to the night two days ago, him holding her hair from her face as she threw up what little she had eaten that day. And the way she looked so tired the morning after. Something was wrong and he didn't know what it was. And it pained his heart.
And he wasn't sure if it was just his head playing tricks on him, but he could swear she was avoiding him. He barely saw her during the day, and at the cottage she went to bed early. Although, she still kissed him good morning and good night each day, like she had always used to while they've been married, but he couldn't help but think he'd done something wrong. He could be quite the curmudgeon at times, he knew that.
She had told him everything was alright, of course she would. She didn't want him to worry, but of course he did worry. She was his wife, for heaven's sake! His darling wife…
He tried to reassure himself that she'd tell him if something truly was wrong. Wouldn't she? He prayed she would, as would he.
He knew her work occasionally stressed her out, as it did him. But she enjoyed what she did. And it had been quite calm at the Abbey lately. The only thing he could possibly name to be the cause for her feeling poorly was the upcoming party, but as she had reassured him a while ago- it was nothing she couldn't handle. And he knew it was the truth. He was at a dead end once again…
So, what was bothering his darling wife so?
"Mr. Carson?"
He jumped at the voice. It was Mrs. Patmore standing in his doorway.
"Mrs. Patmore."
"Away with the fairies?", she forced a smile.
"Just thinking, Mrs. Patmore."
Worrying more like, he thought to himself.
"What about, if you don't mind me asking?", the cook asked him, taking a few steps further into the room.
Charles lifted his gaze to properly look at the woman before him. It would be Mrs. Patmore, if someone, that knew what was bothering his wife.
"Perhaps…", he began, unable to find the right words.
"Yes?"
He cleared his throat.
"Perhaps, you know what's bothering Mrs. Hughes, Mrs. Patmore?"
The words caught the cook's attention.
"So, it isn't just me.", she sighed."I had hoped it was."
"What do you mean?"
Beryl remained quiet for a moment, then moved to close the door after it had been left open when she entered his pantry.
"I've noticed something's off with her a while ago, but I didn't want to think much of it.", she said, turning back to him.
The butler nodded.
"The thing is, I'm worried about her. And she won't say anything to me."
"That doesn't surprise me, Mr. Carson."
"Maybe. But I wish she would. I worry I've done something wrong.", he murmured, tapping his fingers against his desk."Has she said anything to you?"
"She hasn't. I tried asking her about it the other day, but she basically told me off for worrying in vain."
They fell into a silence, both thinking for a possible way to get to the bottom of this.
"You know, your wife is the one people search for if they are in trouble."
"I blame myself for that. She's always been better at keeping secrets and finding a solution to other's problems. I could have done more if only I-"
"I doubt she'd see it that way, Mr. Carson.", the cook rushed to reassure him."But nonetheless, she might be carrying too much of a weight on her shoulders."
"But what can we do?"
He watched her take a deep breath.
"I honestly don't know, Mr. Carson."
"If only she'd tell me what it is…"
Beryl truly felt sorry for the butler. She could see the whole thing really troubled him.
"I'm sure she will. In her own time."
"Only, it's not like her."
No…It was not like her. Not at all. And he would ask her about it. Over and over again, until she told him.