THE DOUBLE DATE

Autumn 1923

Mrs Patmore and Mrs Hughes arranged to meet in the servants' hall at quarter to seven. They then walked to the village together to meet with the two policemen. Even in the last minute, Elsie still had hope they might cancel, or something else will come up, but she didn't have that much luck…

They met and walked together to the pub. They were all very quiet at the beginning, as none of them were used to 'dating' in their old age anymore, but they found some decent conversation topics soon enough.

"Now, ladies, I must recommend their scampi, that's my go-to." Mr Willis said and ordered for everyone.

"And I must recommend their beer." Mr Vyner said and raised his pint towards Mrs Hughes.

"I think I will stick to wine, Mr Vyner." She dismissed him.

"I like a woman who can take her drink." He blurted and burped into his palm. "What do you normally drink then, Miss Hughes, just wine?"

"It's Mrs Hughes, that's the title I use working as a housekeeper." Elsie corrected him. She was pushing herself to be pleasant. "It's mostly wine, yes, but an occasional port or a sherry do quite nicely as well." Telling him all that made her think of the quiet evenings with Mr Carson.

"All that sounds rather alien to me." The inspector replied, taking big gulp of beer, and offering her a smile.

They finally started bringing the scampi and Sergeant Willis grabbed the plate from the waitress so eagerly and ineptly, he almost caused a faux pas. Mrs Patmore seemed to really be enjoying herself and the Sergeant's attention, but Mrs Hughes started being nervous on top of already being rather uncomfortable. She noticed people looking at them, probably gossiping, and she really didn't want her secret to come out.

"Do you normally get evenings off then?" Mr Vyner asked the housekeeper with his mouth full, breadcrumbs rolling down his chin.

"No, not regularly." She replied and the cook laughed sarcastically adding "Almost never!"

"What do you usually do then? Work and then go straight to bed, taking work with you?" He asked while snapping his fingers at the waitress and pointing at his empty pint.

"We have a bit of time to ourselves after the family finishes their dinner and drinks." Elsie explained, thinking of the butler again. "We sit together and discuss the events of the day before going to sleep. I imagine you take your work home with you as well, Mr Vyner?"

"That I do, Miss Hughes, I mean, Mrs Hughes, even in my sleep I still interview suspects and chase down criminals." The inspector chuckled at his own joke. "So, I take it you have no time for romance in your job?" He grabbed his second pint from the waitress and swung a big gulp, leaving beer foam on his upper lip.

"Well," Elsie exhaled and bit her lip because once again Mr Carson popped up in her mind with the inspector's question. "Not really, no."

"Aye, it's the same for me." He ignored her absentmindedness. "That's why you came along today, then?"

"I am not sure why I came along today, Mr Vyner." Elsie was being honest with him.

Once they scoffed up the last bits of their meal and finished their drinks, they gathered in front of the pub to say their goodbyes.

"I'd like to see you again very soon." Mr Vyner took and kissed the housekeeper's hand. "Would you meet me here again at the same time on Monday?"

"It was nice to meet to you today, Mr Vyner, but I am afraid I won't be seeing you again." She said decisively.

The inspector was shocked but not willing to fold his guns just yet. "Take your time to think on it. I really like you quite a lot, I can see a future with you."

"I can think on it, but I am quite certain I won't change my mind." Elsie bit her lip again, hoping her rejections will get through to him eventually.

"Very well, then." He put his hat back on and offered his goodbyes.

As they were walking away, Mrs Hughes noticed Mrs Patmore was quite jolly and off in her own world, she turned around to look at the policemen one last time before they would disappear in the distance. She furrowed her brows and narrowed her eyes as she saw Mr Vyner kicking a lamp, shouting unjust words, and then belching out loud sounding like old car engine.

…

They got back a bit earlier than they anticipated. The servants' hall was still buzzing, and lights were still on in most rooms. Mrs Patmore went straight to the kitchens, to help Daisy clean up and Mrs Hughes headed to the butler's pantry to inform him of their arrival.

"You're back then." Charles smiled down at her when she walked in as he was putting some silver away into his cabinet.

"We are." She folded her hand in front of her.

"And you got everything you needed?"

"What do you-" She stopped herself. "We did." And nodded with a smile.

Mr Carson then looked her up and down, as he was closing the cabinet. "You look very smart."

Elsie just looked away, blushing. She wasn't sure if she was imagining things but is seemed that since the day at the beach, Mr Carson was much more comfortable flirting with her.

"The dinner was a success." Mr Carson changed the topic suddenly.

"Is Mr Blake still keen, do you think?"

"It seems so."

"I wonder who she will choose in the end."

"Someone who is worthy of her I hope."

"That would be no one if you were the judge of that." She teased him and he just shook his head.

"Are you free now then?" He grabbed the wine he had prepared for them and gestured towards an empty chair, urging her sit down.

She sat down and took the overfilled drink he was handing her. "I already had a glass, mind you."

The butler dithered. "You did? When?" They usually only drank with dinner or in the evening, and she wasn't there for dinner.

"Oh-" She panicked. "Just before we left." And lied.

"Ah." Charles took a sip of his drink, unaware.

They chatted for a while and drank a couple more glasses before they decided to retire.

"This was very nice, Mr Carson, thank you." Elsie felt like she had to acknowledge how much she enjoyed his company after the awkward dinner with the inspector. "But I better go up now."

He wasn't sure if she was referring to the wine or the evening being nice, but he enjoyed both, so he simply replied. "It was, indeed." And watched her as she was getting up.

"Goodnight, Mr Carson." Elsie said softly.

"Goodnight Mrs Hughes."

…

After a couple of days, Mrs Hughes received a letter from Mr Vyner, asking her to reconsider his offer. His eagerness put her off and she replied with what she thought must finally be a definite answer he would accept.

A week after that she received another letter from him, this time it was not as polite and pleasant as the first one.

Dear Mrs Hughes,

It's quite amusing and fitting, that you call yourself a Mrs, as I am sure no man will ever want you again. By rejecting me, you have thrown away the last chance of making something of yourself. Good luck with bowing and scraping and looking after people that probably don't even know your name.

Do you still think you are so special?

Not yours,

Bob Vyner

Instead of replying, Mrs Hughes had eventually decided to let it be. She was angry at first and wanted to fight back, but later found it amusing and realised that the best way to deal with his behaviour, is to ignore it.

She really dodged a bullet there, she thought.