But There Was Something.
Elsie and Charles marched along the pebbled path, silent but still linked by their arms. It was no longer dark, but it was not yet light either. The air was still damp from the night, but it wasn't cold. Apart from the crunching under their feet, they were accompanied by the occasional birdsong that came confidently from the bushes. Some birds were real early risers!
Elsie occasionally glanced up at Charles for a few paces and then looked straight ahead again.
„Will you tell me what's going on?", he asked suddenly, without looking at Elsie. He noticed how Elsie's hand tightened around him for a split second. (Aha! Gotcha!)
„What do you mean?"
Charles stopped and released Elsie's grip from his elbow. Elsie looked at the deep wrinkle that formed between his bushy eyebrows. This wrinkle had been teasing her for years and she would love to trace it with her finger.
„We fell asleep happily yesterday." Charles stated. He added an uncertain „Or?".
Elsie didn't answer and picked up her pace again.
„Yes, we did, Charlie."
„Please don't get me wrong, but it doesn't seem to me as if we woke up happily next to each other." Charles explained in confusion, rushing after Elsie.
Elsie remained silent. - Which was another little confirmation for Charles. Their walk didn't take much longer and soon they would be able to see Downton Abbey.
„Erm... Elsie. I'm missing something. I don't know ... I just don't know ... what ... ?" Charles rubbed his fingers on his forehead in bewilderment, bumping his hat. His brain was so knotted it seemed as if thinking was painful.
„I'm tired, Charlie. That's all!" A tight smile graced Elsie's face.
Hmmm. That's an explanation, of course. He straightened his hat, which had slipped out of place, but remained sceptical. He wasn't sure if this was true. He knew his wife, she was good at keeping things to herself. In any case, Charles didn't ask any more questions. He knew that he wouldn't be able to get Elsie to tell him the reason for her (possible) bad mood before they reached the servants' entrance anyway, she was too professional for that. And too stubborn.
A Scottish woman, after all.
_C&E_
They both took off their coats and hung them up on the hooks next to the entrance door to the service wing. It already smelled wonderfully of breakfast.
Charles wanted to wish Elsie a good start, but as soon as Elsie's coat was hanging, she turned on her heels and went down the few steps.
Despite all the uncertainty Charles was currently feeling, the corner of his mouth snapped up when he saw Mrs. Hughes walking down the corridor. The black of her daywear underlined her attractive authority, the corset formed forbidden curves and the chatelaine rattled along the corridor next to her confident steps. Mr. Carson gazed after her with pleasure until there was no sign of Mrs. Hughes and she disappeared into the dining room.
Charles corrected his thought from earlier: His Scottish woman, after all.
Mrs. Hughes was relieved when she found a cup of tea already filled on her seat and inwardly thanked the good soul Mrs. Patmore for it.
She wished everyone present a good morning. Everyone seemed to be well! Only one seat was empty, she knew immediately who was missing.
Elsie was about to sit down and already had her hand on the back of the chair when the others rose. Mrs. Hughes paused – Mr. Carson entered the room.
„Good morning, Mr. Carson.", Mrs. Patmore greeted him from behind, giggling happily as she appeared in the doorway with a large pot and Daisy in tow, placing two baskets of toast at the table.
„Good morning, Mrs. Patmore.", he greeted back, gesturing for the servants to sit down again and did the same. As soon as everyone was seated again, the clinking of china cups and lively chatter could be heard once more. Grinning and proud, he looked round the table while Mrs. Patmore poured him tea.
Elsie, meanwhile, was buttering a slice of hot toast. She took a bite and immediately feared that it would jump out of her mouth in horror.
„Where's Miss Bexter?", she heard her husband ask.
This question hit Elsie like a slap in the face. It was as if someone was grabbing her heart and forcing it to stop. She saw Mr. Carson looking around curiously. He took a sip of his tea with relish while he waited for an answer.
Elsie's chest was uncomfortably tight. She tried not to let it show and chewed her toast as if in slow motion. She couldn't persuade her jaw to move any faster.
„You know, Her Ladyship is having breakfast a little earlier today. She's travelling to London on the 7 o'clock train. That's why Miss Bexter is still upstairs with the breakfast tray. But she should be ... .", the cook was interrupded.
„Oh, a very good morning to you, Mrs. Hughes. Good morning, Mr. Carson. How nice to have you here again." Miss Bexter beamed at them both as she entered the room. She walked purposefully to her seat and reached into the basket with the fresh toast. The cook offered tea to some of the servants and then disappeared into the kitchen.
„Mr. Carson, would you have a moment for me today?" She leaned over the table so that Mr. Carson could see her clearly.
Mrs. Hughes coughed. She pricked up her ears and waited anxiously for her husband's answer, but tried to look at her toast calmly.
„Of course. Come whenever you have time."
Smiling, she nodded to Mr. Carson and indicated that it was fine with her.
Elsie had seen enough of it. Mrs. Hughes stood up. When she realised that she was attracting everyone's attention, she began to smile and left the room. Charles was worried about his wife's behaviour. To avoid attracting any more attention, he carried on eating his breakfast. But there was something.
_C&E_
„Have you finished breakfast already?" Mrs. Patmore called out incredulously from the kitchen when she saw the housekeeper walk past.
She slowly changed direction and went into the kitchen. Exhausted, Mrs. Hughes said: „Well, you know, I seem to have had enough free time in the last few days. I don't want to put my girls through an extraordinary day any longer than necessary."
„Miss Bexter has represented you very honourably, I must confess. I don't think you have much work to catch up on, or that the maids would have felt uncomfortable in your absence."
„Oh fine, the marvellous Miss Bexter.", the housekeeper said, dripping with sarcasm and letting her eyes circle.
When she looked into Mrs. Patmore's eyes again, she cleared her throat and forced herself to control herself. It was clear to see that Mrs. Hughes was very uncomfortable with this outburst of emotion.
Mrs. Hughes noticed that Mrs. Patmore was about to say something in reply, but beat her to it: „I'll go and check the rooms and see if Gerty has made a fire everywhere. Thank you for breakfast." With a good face and a decisive nod of the head, the housekeeper ended the conversation.
Mrs. Patmore watched Mrs. Hughes leave the kitchen. She pinched her lips together with concern and sighed. But there was something.
_C&E_
„Oh, Mrs. Hughes. It's so nice to have you back!", began Lady Grantham, when they happened to cross paths in the Great Hall this morning.
„Thank you, M'Lady.", Mrs. Hughes replied politely.
„But tell me, do you feel ready for work yet? You still look very pale. Has Dr. Clarkson allowed you to work yet?"
„Oh, don't worry. I'm just tired. Last night was very short. And the journey still seems to be in my bones."
„I see. Then you didn't feel comfortable in the cottage?"
„Yes, of course! It's such a lovely cottage! Thank you very much! I heard you're travelling to London today? Is there anything else I can do for you, M'Lady?", Mrs. Hughes was glad to be able to talk about another subject.
„Thank you very much! I have already spoken to Miss Bexter about my needs.", Mrs. Hughes nodded. Inwardly annoyed to the point of exploding, outwardly professional enough not to let it show.
_C&E_
Break at last. Elsie sat at her desk and savoured a cup of hot tea. „What a day.", Elsie thought to herself as she watched the spoon pull the liquid along with it in a circular motion. Her muscles were tense with stress and at the same time limp with exhaustion.
After the unusually long break, it was very difficult to get back into the daily routine. She didn't remember Downton Abbey being so loud and lively. She also hadn't realised that she was responsible for so much more than her duties as housekeeper.
She lifted the spoon out of the cup and tapped the liquid off the edge of the cup. As soon as the spoon was on the saucer, she brought her fingers to the back of her neck and massaged her muscles for a few seconds.
Miss Bexter really did keep things tidy, Elsie found the Downton Abbey rooms in pristine condition. If she was honest, though, she wasn't surprised. Miss Bexter was an impeccable worker.
Elsie took a sip and realised how the hot liquid ran down her throat and warmed her stomach. What was she to make of all this? When she thought about what Charles had said in his sleep last night, she felt quite queasy. And then, since getting up this morning, she had also remembered that Charles and Miss Bexter had disappeared for some time from their welcoming reception yesterday. Yesterday, that hadn't seemed worrying. But there was something.
Still, she couldn't imagine Charles and Miss Bexter ... together ... No. Charles was too much of a nobleman for that and he loved Elsie. Didn't he? He did, didn't he? An aching doubt spread through Elsie's mind. She closed her eyes and slumped back against the back of the chair, exhausted. If only the day was already over.
She felt insecure, and if she was honest, she felt anxious. The last few days - the last few weeks - she had become accustomed to having Charles around. She'd spent a lifetime without touchings, but now that she knew how fulfilling they could be, she was afraid of losing them again. Afraid of losing Charles. She wouldn't want him out of her life again.
Elsie wanted to go home. And unlike before, she wasn't thinking primarily of her home or the former warmth of her parents' house, but of Charles. Charles was now her home.
She wanted him to take her in his arms, pull her onto his lap and hold her close. She wanted to breathe in his scent. She wanted to feel his warmth, to have his arms around her. She wanted to be with him. She wanted him to tell her that it was all rubbish. And that what he had said that night wasn't true. His last sentence in particular gave Elsie a shiver that crept up her spine: „We must be extremely discreet so that no one sees us, I don't want anyone to know. It will be our little secret, Miss Bexter."
There was a knock.
Mrs. Hughes was startled out of her thoughts. She let the breath she had been holding out of her lungs and asked to enter. Mr. Barrow appeared.
„What can I do for you, Mr. Barrow?" Elsie heard herself ask the question, more exhausted than she intended.
„Have you got any more shoe polish? I can't find any in the storeroom."
„That's strange, some only arrived with the last delivery, at least that's what I gathered from the delivery notes last week. Perhaps you could ask Mr. Carson about it."
„I'd love to, Mrs. Hughes. But he's talking to Miss Bexter at the moment."
„Why do you put such an odd emphasis on the word 'talking', Mr Barrow?"
„Because Mr. Carson and Miss Bexter seem not to want to be seen."
„Why do you mean that?"
„Well, I wanted to knock on Mr. Carson's door - it was open, but as soon as I was noticed, Mr. Carson stepped into the door and closed it. Miss Bexter was sitting in front of his desk."
"Thank you, Mr. Barrow. Perhaps Mr. Molesley can help you."
Hastily she tried to escort Mr. Barrow out of her room. She didn't want to hear another word. At least not from him. After Elsie had made sure that no one was in the corridor, she pulled up the keys on their chain, forcing the rattling in her hand to stop. To avoid the clacking of her heels, she tiptoed to Mr. Carson's door and put her ear to the cool surface.
Well, let's see what Elsie will hear through the door.
What is Charles hiding?
No, I haven't forgotten the solution to the mystery of "the book" - it's coming soon.
Thank you for your comments and your support. I hope "my guest" doesn't put you off reading on. He's/She's managed to make me waver again.
Wherever you are, take care of yourselves!
See you soon! :) :) :)