I am so sorry it's taken me this long to get back to this story. I can't promise how often I will post going forward, but it won't be so long again!
Chapter Thirty Six
Stokes descended the stairs into the servant's hall and noticed Nancy looking ready to cry and wringing her hands in the corner.
"Nancy? What on earth is wrong?"
"Oh! Mr Stokes! Thank goodness you've come!" Nancy was just about ready to cry "They keep asking me questions about what her ladyship does in the mornings, whether she wants a tray? Will she need this or that" She sobbed "I don't know any of the answers. It's not like this at home. I'm not liking this London at all!"
"Now, now. Take a deep breath and calm down" Stokes handed Nancy his handkerchief "Her ladyship hasn't changed overnight, it's just these people are used to a different way of life than us. I've just come down for some fresh water for his lordship, then I'll be going up to help him dress. You come with me and we can sort all this out easily enough."
"Do you think so?" Nancy looked up at him with hopeful, innocent eyes.
"I know so. Come on." Stokes led the way back up the stairs.
-TW- -TW- -TW-
Isobel rolled over to snuggle into Dickie's shoulder. As usual he was awake before her. He leant over and kissed her forehead as she came to slowly beside him. He smiled indulgently.
"Good morning my beautiful wife" He whispered.
Isobel stretched and snuggled up closer "Good morning, handsome husband." He could feel her smile against his shoulder. He sighed. All too soon he heard the knock from Stokes on the dressing room door.
"Come in Stokes. I was just thinking about getting up." Dickie smiled at the familiar face.
"Forgive me m'Lord, but Nancy needs a quick word with her ladyship if she's awake yet?" Stokes asked in hushed tones.
"What's wrong? Has something happened?" Isobel immediately thought the worst and was wide awake in a flash, sitting up in bed. She looked across to Nancy who looked red-eyed and nervous "What's wrong Nancy?"
"There's nothing wrong, m'lady" Stokes said calmly "Nancy just needs to have a chat about how you would like to run your routine while we're here, that's all" He turned to Nancy "Come on" he said gently.
"We'll leave you ladies to it" Dickie said decisively "Let me know when you'd like to go down to breakfast." Isobel watched him disappear into the dressing room and mentally sighed.
"Now, Nancy. What do you need to know? You seem very upset: has anyone been mean to you?" Isobel tried to be gentle, remembering that Nancy wasn't really a lady's maid and hadn't been to London before.
"Oh no m'lady! Everyone has been very friendly" Nancy paused "It's just they keep asking me lots of questions that I don't know the answer to. Like, what you would like on your breakfast tray, and what you will be wearing today, and what you will be wearing tonight, and… well, all kinds of things" She started wringing her hands again "I'm sorry m'lady, I shouldn't have come."
Isobel threw back the covers and went to reassure Nancy. She lifted the young girl's chin so she could look her in the eye "You have nothing to be sorry for. These people are used to looking after people like Lady Mary or Lady Edith, not plain old nurses like me. I'm sorry…" Nancy's eyes widened " I should have had this conversation with you before we left Downton so that you were prepared. A lesson for both of us, I think?"
"Yes m'lady" Nancy said quietly, a little unsure.
"Now! I intend to have the same routine here as we have at home. I'll get up when his lordship does and have breakfast downstairs. I don't expect to need to change until whatever is happening for dinner. And in the meantime, you make sure you get to see some of the sights! Does that sound simple enough?"
"Oh yes! Thank you m'lady!" Nancy looked mightily relieved.
"Just a word of caution: London is a big place full of all sorts of people. Make sure you are with someone you trust when you head out, and keep your wits about you." Isobel winked at Nancy and gave her a reassuring smile.
-TW- -TW- -TW-
"Is everything alright?" Dickie asked nervously as he and Isobel headed down to the dining room.
"Oh yes! It was nothing serious. I should have thought to talk to Nancy about life in London before we came, but I had so much on my mind" Isobel smiled at him reassuringly. "Have you given any thought to what we might get George for Christmas?"
"Morning Campers!" Hugh greeted them from the breakfast table "Up and at 'em, eh!"
"Morning Hugh. Anything interesting in the papers?" Dickie helped himself to breakfast and joined Hugh at the table.
"Usual drivel" Hugh said, dismissively "This and that. Although there is an interesting piece about the cricket…"
"No cricket!" Margaret interrupted as she entered the room "For goodness sake Hugh! Just for once, can you talk about something else!"
"Well I never!" Hugh pretended to look affronted "And 'Good Morning' to you too, my dear. Don't usually see you downstairs this early in the morning" He crooked his eyebrow at his wife as she leant down to kiss his forehead.
"I remembered that Isobel is an early riser, and I didn't want to abandon her to the chat about cricket!" She smiled at Isobel "Besides, we didn't really settle on firm plans for the week last night and I wanted to make sure you have a chance to do everything you need to"
"Thank you" Isobel smiled at her friend "But I think we should achieve everything. Hopefully we can get the majority of the Christmas shopping this afternoon, then we will know how much spare time we have. Who are we expecting this morning?"
"As soon as you've finished your breakfast we'll head out" Hugh muttered to Dickie quietly as the ladies discussed the morning ahead "I don't fancy running into half that lot!" Dickie chuckled.
-TW- -TW- -TW-
"What we gonna do Charlie?"
Charlie took a long drag on his cigar and exhaled slowly, filling the room with yet more smoke.
"Nothin' Jack" Charlie knocked his Ash on the floor.
"Nothin'?" Jack looked confused. "Surely we 'ave to do somethin'?"
"Think for a minute. Who knows what we were up to? Hmm?" Charlie turned to look at his partner.
"We'll, as far as we know, no-one."
"Right. We made a tidy sum, now we're safe and secure. Let's just concentrate on what we're good at now." Charlie sat back in his chair and took another puff.
"But we could make more Charlie! What about a touch of blackmail? The rest of the family must be good for a few quid?" Jack grinned.
"Nah. Now is the time to cut." Charlie swung his chair to look out the grimy window. "We've made enough and the bird has flown. As things stand the rozzers have no idea we're involved. I want to keep it that way."
"But..."
"No buts!" Charlie said forcefully as he swung his chair back, stating hard at Jack "If we get linked in any way, it's all over for us." Charlie relaxed back into his chair "If you want to live long enough to enjoy that retirement somewhere sunny, then you have to live long enough. Trust me."
Jack sighed "OK Charlie"