And just a couple of drabbles...
Think this is it.
Title: The Gentleman Butler
Rated: T
(100) words
Elsie sighed and shut her book with a snap.
“You’re not enjoying Mr Forster’s latest?” Charles Carson, sharing the lamplight with her as he also read, asked.
She grimaced. “I’m not sure I need to be reminded I’m from the lower classes.”
“You, Mrs Hughes, have more class in your big toe than some of the ladies who have waltzed through the front door of Downton over the years.”
She reached out and squeezed his hand. “Of course, you would say that, Mr Carson.”
“It’s the truth,” he huffed, bending to kiss her hand gently. “You’re my lady, Mrs Hughes.”
Title: Choices of the Heart
Rated T
(100) words for the 'sacrifice' prompt
Elsie clutched the toy prize.
Joe was a prize.
She’d never thought, at her age, she’d received such an offer: a farmhouse, a husband, even the promise of grandchildren. A life of her own; not one dictated by her employers.
A brief knock startled her.
A young maid came through her parlour door with a tea tray, setting it down on the low table.
After the girl left, with a respectful curtsey in her direction, Charles entered, wordlessly settling into a chair and pouring tea.
She lowered herself into the chair beside him.
She would refuse Joe in the morning.
Title: Putting Two and Two Together
Rated T
(300) words for the 'distraction' prompt
23. 34.
A knock on the pantry door made Charles jump.
“Come!”
Thomas leaned into the room, his mouth upturned into a smug smile. “Lord Grantham is home, Mr Carson,” he announced.
“Thank you, Thomas.”
“However, Mr Bates still hasn’t returned from town. I’m supposing it takes him a lot longer than the normal person,” he sneered. “Will I attend to his Lordship in the meantime?”
“Thank you, Thomas,” he repeated through gritted teeth.
He started to tot up the figures again, using his finger to trail down the column to ensure he never lost his place this time.
73. 127.
“Mr Carson!” a voice called out as they knocked.
“Yes!” he called back, keeping his finger firmly on the page of his book. He was almost at the end.
William opened the door.
“Just wanted to let you know that Mr Bates has returned, Mr Carson,” he said in his usual cheery way.
He gave the boy a bland smile. “Thank you, William.”
He still had his place once the young lad had bowed politely and left. But what was the total? 127? 137?
With a sigh, he returned to the top of the column.
23. 34.
This time the door opened after the briefest of knocks.
“What!” he bellowed.
“Well, it’s very lucky it wasn’t Lord or Lady Grantham at the door, Mr Carson, with that welcome,” his new visitor noted. She placed a tea tray onto his desk. “Time you took a break if that’s your mood,” she ordered crisply.
She gave him her best stern look; the one she saved for the youngest of the maids. But all he could see was the gentle mocking sparkle of her eyes, and the softness around her mouth.
The ledgers could wait.
“You’re an extremely welcome distraction, Elsie Hughes.”
Title: The Gentleman Butler
Rated: T
(100) words
Elsie sighed and shut her book with a snap.
“You’re not enjoying Mr Forster’s latest?” Charles Carson, sharing the lamplight with her as he also read, asked.
She grimaced. “I’m not sure I need to be reminded I’m from the lower classes.”
“You, Mrs Hughes, have more class in your big toe than some of the ladies who have waltzed through the front door of Downton over the years.”
She reached out and squeezed his hand. “Of course, you would say that, Mr Carson.”
“It’s the truth,” he huffed, bending to kiss her hand gently. “You’re my lady, Mrs Hughes.”
Title: Choices of the Heart
Rated T
(100) words for the 'sacrifice' prompt
Elsie clutched the toy prize.
Joe was a prize.
She’d never thought, at her age, she’d received such an offer: a farmhouse, a husband, even the promise of grandchildren. A life of her own; not one dictated by her employers.
A brief knock startled her.
A young maid came through her parlour door with a tea tray, setting it down on the low table.
After the girl left, with a respectful curtsey in her direction, Charles entered, wordlessly settling into a chair and pouring tea.
She lowered herself into the chair beside him.
She would refuse Joe in the morning.
Title: Putting Two and Two Together
Rated T
(300) words for the 'distraction' prompt
23. 34.
A knock on the pantry door made Charles jump.
“Come!”
Thomas leaned into the room, his mouth upturned into a smug smile. “Lord Grantham is home, Mr Carson,” he announced.
“Thank you, Thomas.”
“However, Mr Bates still hasn’t returned from town. I’m supposing it takes him a lot longer than the normal person,” he sneered. “Will I attend to his Lordship in the meantime?”
“Thank you, Thomas,” he repeated through gritted teeth.
He started to tot up the figures again, using his finger to trail down the column to ensure he never lost his place this time.
73. 127.
“Mr Carson!” a voice called out as they knocked.
“Yes!” he called back, keeping his finger firmly on the page of his book. He was almost at the end.
William opened the door.
“Just wanted to let you know that Mr Bates has returned, Mr Carson,” he said in his usual cheery way.
He gave the boy a bland smile. “Thank you, William.”
He still had his place once the young lad had bowed politely and left. But what was the total? 127? 137?
With a sigh, he returned to the top of the column.
23. 34.
This time the door opened after the briefest of knocks.
“What!” he bellowed.
“Well, it’s very lucky it wasn’t Lord or Lady Grantham at the door, Mr Carson, with that welcome,” his new visitor noted. She placed a tea tray onto his desk. “Time you took a break if that’s your mood,” she ordered crisply.
She gave him her best stern look; the one she saved for the youngest of the maids. But all he could see was the gentle mocking sparkle of her eyes, and the softness around her mouth.
The ledgers could wait.
“You’re an extremely welcome distraction, Elsie Hughes.”