Fic: A Matter of Perspective (Violet, Isobel, Carson/Hughes) ; Downton Abbey
Title: A Matter of Perspective
Author: northeto (Emiline)
Characters/Pairings: Violet Crawley, Isobel Crawley, Carson/Hughes
Rating: K
Word Count: 469
A/N: This has been kicking around in my brain and on my computer for months, and I thought I’d better finish it or it would never stop niggling me. Violet and Isobel probably wouldn’t get into a conversation like this, not really, but it was fun to imagine them doing so. Expect American spelling and American punctuation of honorifics.
Disclaimer: Done for the love of characters and the show, and because the idea wouldn’t leave me alone. Julian Fellows owns them, not I, and he’s the one making money on them, also not I.
“Ah, Mrs. Crawley, if I might have a word with you?” the Dowager Countess inquired.
“Well, you see I- ”
“A word, if you please,” Violet repeated, in a tone that brooked no argument. “Do step into the drawing room for a moment.”
Isobel Crawley obeyed grudgingly, and when she had passed through the Dowager shut the doors firmly behind her.
“I will not have you playing matchmaker with my servants, Mrs. Crawley.”
“I am not!”
“Mrs. Crawley, whatever you make think of me, I am not stupid. I have a great deal more experience in these matters than yourself-"
“I very much doubt that.”
“-and I will not allow you to do so. It is much too disruptive to the smooth running of this house.”
“And what, pray tell do you know of it?” Isobel demanded furiously.
“Much more than you, my dear.”
“Perhaps you simply do not wish to see it. It offends your sense of the order of things does it? You wish to maintain control over the lives of everyone in this house, even in the private affairs of your servants.”
“Are you not meddling in their private affairs? I must insist that you stay out of matters that are none of your concern.”
“You would deny them happiness then, just to suit your own agenda?”
“If you think by continuing in this ludicrous, meddlesome and highly improper course of action you are bringing them happiness, you are sorely mistaken.”
“But it is obvious to anyone with eyes that he is taken with her!”
A small, triumphant smile spread slowly over Violet’s features and Isobel had a sudden horrid sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach.
“My dear Mrs. Crawley,” the Dowager Countess began, “of course he is. He’s been half in love with her for years. But you mustn’t tell Mrs. Hughes that.”
“Whyever not? Who are you to decide that for them?” Mrs. Crawley returned hotly. “Shouldn’t Mrs. Hughes be given a say in the matter?”
“What you have failed to notice in your desire to turn the workings of this house into some dreadful romance novel is that Mrs. Hughes does not reciprocate those feelings.”
“Have you asked her?”
“Of course not. I don’t need to. I can assure you, I know. Mrs. Hughes has the highest regard for Carson but she is not in love with him, and I will not allow you to embarrass them by attempting to encourage something which does not exist. You will only hurt them, and damage both their professional relationship and their friendship. I cannot allow that.”
Isobel opened her mouth to retort but before she could do so the Dowager Countess continued, “I trust you see my point, Mrs. Crawley. Good day.”
And with that the Dowager swept majestically from the room.
Author: northeto (Emiline)
Characters/Pairings: Violet Crawley, Isobel Crawley, Carson/Hughes
Rating: K
Word Count: 469
A/N: This has been kicking around in my brain and on my computer for months, and I thought I’d better finish it or it would never stop niggling me. Violet and Isobel probably wouldn’t get into a conversation like this, not really, but it was fun to imagine them doing so. Expect American spelling and American punctuation of honorifics.
Disclaimer: Done for the love of characters and the show, and because the idea wouldn’t leave me alone. Julian Fellows owns them, not I, and he’s the one making money on them, also not I.
“Ah, Mrs. Crawley, if I might have a word with you?” the Dowager Countess inquired.
“Well, you see I- ”
“A word, if you please,” Violet repeated, in a tone that brooked no argument. “Do step into the drawing room for a moment.”
Isobel Crawley obeyed grudgingly, and when she had passed through the Dowager shut the doors firmly behind her.
“I will not have you playing matchmaker with my servants, Mrs. Crawley.”
“I am not!”
“Mrs. Crawley, whatever you make think of me, I am not stupid. I have a great deal more experience in these matters than yourself-"
“I very much doubt that.”
“-and I will not allow you to do so. It is much too disruptive to the smooth running of this house.”
“And what, pray tell do you know of it?” Isobel demanded furiously.
“Much more than you, my dear.”
“Perhaps you simply do not wish to see it. It offends your sense of the order of things does it? You wish to maintain control over the lives of everyone in this house, even in the private affairs of your servants.”
“Are you not meddling in their private affairs? I must insist that you stay out of matters that are none of your concern.”
“You would deny them happiness then, just to suit your own agenda?”
“If you think by continuing in this ludicrous, meddlesome and highly improper course of action you are bringing them happiness, you are sorely mistaken.”
“But it is obvious to anyone with eyes that he is taken with her!”
A small, triumphant smile spread slowly over Violet’s features and Isobel had a sudden horrid sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach.
“My dear Mrs. Crawley,” the Dowager Countess began, “of course he is. He’s been half in love with her for years. But you mustn’t tell Mrs. Hughes that.”
“Whyever not? Who are you to decide that for them?” Mrs. Crawley returned hotly. “Shouldn’t Mrs. Hughes be given a say in the matter?”
“What you have failed to notice in your desire to turn the workings of this house into some dreadful romance novel is that Mrs. Hughes does not reciprocate those feelings.”
“Have you asked her?”
“Of course not. I don’t need to. I can assure you, I know. Mrs. Hughes has the highest regard for Carson but she is not in love with him, and I will not allow you to embarrass them by attempting to encourage something which does not exist. You will only hurt them, and damage both their professional relationship and their friendship. I cannot allow that.”
Isobel opened her mouth to retort but before she could do so the Dowager Countess continued, “I trust you see my point, Mrs. Crawley. Good day.”
And with that the Dowager swept majestically from the room.