A big thanks to my lovely friend Happyheart2. Thank you for the plot bunny and all the fabulous Chelsie moments. I hope it lives up to your expectations, my friend :)
Disclaimer: Not mine, only wish they were...
Excitement was thick in the air at Downton. The great house would soon receive their guests from Italy. A very famous and well known Opera singer, Fiora Bella. She was a favorite of Lady Mary's, and the Earl and Countess were grasping at any chance they could to bring happiness back into the young widows life. They extended the offer to host the singer and her entourage at Downton while the party toured in the area. They would be staying one full month. The singer brought with her a manager, musicians, ladies maid, and her own personal doctor. A renowned specialist in otolaryngology. It was a warm, early summer's day when the caravan of motor cars pulled up the drive at Downton. The sun was shining high in the sky, as were the hopes of the Crawley family and servants as they lined up along the front of the house. Carson, Mrs. Hughes, and the rest of the staff stood to one side of the door. The Crawleys on the other, with Mary nestled safely between her parents.
Upon arrival each guest was shown to their respective rooms. Elsie had escorted the singer to one of the loveliest rooms in the house. On her way back down the stairs she saw Thomas and Mr. Carson with the remainder of the guests. Thomas was offering to escort the doctor and manager to their guest rooms upstairs near the singer. The doctor kindly refused the offer, choosing to stay with the musicians in a wing close to the servants area. He said he would like to remain near his friends, being their visit at Downton would be lengthy. What a sincere and lovely notion, Elsie thought. The doctor was an extremely handsome man. Tall, solid, and muscular. He had jet black hair, graying around the front and temples. His skin was smooth and tanned, his natural olive tone kissed by the sun. He looked to be near her in age, or perhaps slightly older. She silently thanked the heavens that she wore her best dress today. It was new. She had recently lost weight since the passing of the young heir. Grief taking its toll on the whole family, upstairs and down. The dress was a dark, nearly black blue. It had a lower cut in the bodice and clung to her curves, daringly stopping at mid calf. The times were changing and she would change with them. She watched the man as she continued her walk down the stairs. He glanced up to her, then stopped and held his gaze on her. As she stepped off the stairs he smiled at her and tipped his hat, slightly bowing. "I am Dr. Paolo Conti. It is a pleasure to meet you."
"Elsie Hughes, Housekeeper of Downton. It is a pleasure to welcome you, Doctor Conti. May we show you to your room?" Elsie asked politely, her hands clasped in front of her waist. She tried in vain to suppress the smile and charm she wanted to express. It was unusual for her to be so affected by a man in such a way.
"Please do so, Ms. Hughes." He answered politely, his smile melting away at some part of her she had long hidden.
"Thomas, if you could follow along with Dr. Conti's bags please." Elsie said, not correcting the man on her proper title of Mrs.. Best not lead him astray, she thought shockingly. Thomas nodded to Mrs. Hughes and went to pick up the two bags at the doctors feet.
"Oh, that will not be necessary my good man." He said in refusal. "Thank you kindly. I say to each their own. Never was one to be waited upon, when I could do the job myself."
The nerve! Charles thought, watching the exchange. Men like him should know better. The proper way of doing things should always be upheld. And the way he was staring at Mrs., or should he say Ms. Hughes! What was the man thinking? What was worse, is her accepting and reciprocating this behavior. Charles watched as her attention was on the other man. She didn't even acknowledge that he was in the room. Did not even spare him a glance in the presence of this new gentlemen. He had not seen her smile like that in quite some time. He was disturbed to watch the two walk away, the doctors gaze glued to Elsie's swaying bottom as she walked back up the stairs. Not that he blamed the man entirely, for his own eyes lingered on her lovely round bottom as she glided slowly up and out of sight.
Elsie thought she just might like this handsome stranger. A strong, capable, independent man. She walked ahead of him up the stairs. Totally conscious of the possibility he may be watching her from behind, she did her best to put a feminine swing to her walk. She looked back over her shoulder, catching his gaze on her. "Well now, here is your room." Elsie said stopping in front of the door. "I do hope you enjoy your stay with us Doctor. If there is anything you need, do not hesitate to ask." Her Scottish lilt almost sounded flirty.
"Thank you Ms. Hughes. I'm sure we will be seeing much of each other during my stay." He said smiling and nodding his head to her. With that Elsie turned and left to head back downstairs. She was not aware the doctor remained in the hall watching her leave, hips swaying the whole while.
Later that evening, long after dinner had been served upstairs, the musicians came down to play for the downstairs family of Downton. The guests were all very kind. The ladies maid Giada, was a sweet shy thing in her twenties, with long dark hair and eyes. The musicians were all kind men. Blissfully happy to share their music. They brought down with them delicious italian beverages to share with their new friends of Downton. Several bottles of wine and grappa, an Italian brandy-like drink. Mr. Carson was back downstairs, leaving Thomas to finish upstairs for him. A wine aficionado himself, he was eager to try these lovely new treats. The drinks were flowing, people were laughing, the band was softly playing. It was a lovely night and a wonderful way to start the visit.
Mrs. Hughes stood near the doorway of the hall, listening to the music and sipping her wine. It was nice to have some life back into the house, she thought. She watched Mr. Carson across the room. She always seemed to watch him. This man who consumed so much of her life. He was her partner and best friend. Her coworker and confidant. She loved him dearly. Had always wished he would come around someday and give her the affection she so craved from him. Yet she knew it would never happen. He was too set in his ways. Stiff, buttoned up, reticent. She would never get what she needed from him, so she accepted what she had. A beautiful, loyal, and honest friendship with a man she was desperately in love with. Mr. Carson seemed to be deep in conversation with the cellist. A small older gentlemen, with a curved mustache and happy grin. She liked the visitors, they all seemed quite pleasant. Especially the handsome doctor she met earlier. She did wonder if he would make his way downstairs to join his friends. Just as she wondered, she felt a hand on her shoulder from behind.
"Ms. Hughes. How do you do this evening?" Paolo asked in a deep quiet voice. His Italian accent burning through her.
A bit startled, she turned quickly back to him. "Oh! Good evening Dr. Conti. I am very well tonight, thank you. I wondered if you'd be down." She said looking away, quickly regretting the words as they came out.
"Have you?" He paused and smiled. "I was hoping to run into you as well." He offered, in hopes of easing the embarrassment her statement may have caused her.
She felt the blush come over her cheeks and down her chest. She felt silly, like a young lass at her first dance. They stood near each other, neither saying anything for several minutes. Just enjoying the electricity radiating between them. Elsie spoke first. "If I may ask, how long have you been traveling with the group, doctor? It must be an exciting way to live. All the traveling, I mean."
"Indeed. I am only traveling with them for the length of the tour. Just to tend to Madame Bella. Then I shall head back to my practice in Paris. Though my heart is forever in Italy." His eyes drifted downward as he spoke.
"Your family is in Italy then? Your wife and children?" Elsie asked with disappointment in her voice.
"Yes. My family remains in Italy. My children and grandchildren." He spoke forlornly. "But my dear Sophia has been gone six years now."
"I am sorry for your loss." Elsie's kind words came out like a warm blanket. She was always the mother, the soother, the fixer of problems. Elsie yawned. "It is getting late, and I was just heading to my sitting room for tea."
"Would you care for some company, Ms. Hughes?" He smiled at her again, an honest smile that shone through his eyes as well.
She knew this would interfere with her plans with Mr. Carson. They had always shared their tea or wine in the evening, chatting about the house or family. Yet still she couldn't turn away this handsome, friendly stranger. "I would enjoy that. Thank you." Elsie answered shyly, and she headed to her sitting room, the doctor following closely behind.
Charles watched Elsie across the room. She looked sad tonight. Her shoulders leaning against the doorway. What was wrong with her, he wondered? He caught her eye and gave her a grin. But she quickly whirled around as he saw the visiting Doctor lay his hand on her shoulder and smile at her. They were soon in conversation and her smile returned. He could see Mrs. Hughes' blush from across the room, watched it as it slowly crept down her chest. What was that man saying to her to make her react like that. He hoped the doctor would not be so bold as to be crude or inappropriate to her. She was a moral, upstanding woman. Was not a toy any man could just play with. Charles would always be there to make sure of that.
Elsie and the good doctor quickly found themselves in her sitting room and caught up in conversation. He asked her about her growing up in Scotland. She inquired about his life in Italy. They talked of service and doctoring, classes and politics. Elsie had never spoken so freely and openly before on her views. She had also never met anyone who's take on life was so similar to her own. She had become so accustomed to the fighting and defending on an everyday basis as she clashed with Mr. Carson. She felt at ease with Dr. Conti, and it seemed he felt the same with her. He was generous in his compliments, yet not false or overbearing. Just honest and kind. She was surprised to find herself quite taken with the man. He had just leaned over the table to place his hand over hers in a friendly gesture when Mr. Carson walked through her open door.
A shock as cold as ice flashed through Charles' body as entered Mrs. Hughes room to find her hand clasped under that of Doctor's. "Oh...uh.. Do excuse me.. I was just."
Elsie stopped him. "It's quite all right, Mr. Carson. Dr. Conti and I were just having a little chat. Getting better acquainted."
"I was just coming in to go over a few of the preparations for tomorrow, Mrs. Hughes. If you'd like me to come back later, I can." Charles spoke, his voice free of emotion. He was always so careful to keep everything hidden. Feelings made him weak. He was once a weak man, and vowed to never find himself in that position again.
"That's alright, Mr. Carson. I should be heading up to bed. I've had a long day of traveling." Dr. Conti offered and turned back to Mrs. Hughes as he stood. "Goodnight Ms. Hughes. I've enjoyed our discussion immensely. I would like finish it tomorrow, if I could have the pleasure? A turn around the lovely gardens perhaps? I shall see you in the morrow."
"That would be nice, Dr. Conti. I shall try to make time." Elsie answered sweetly, yet was beyond uncomfortable to be in this situation in front of Mr. Carson.
Dr. Conti bowed slightly and headed out the door. A red faced Carson just sputtered. "Later!" Then followed behind him, leaving Elsie alone. She heard the slam of Mr. Carson's pantry door. She wondered what had made him so upset. The impropriety of her having a strange man in her sitting room, or the fact of what he just walked in on. He couldn't possibly be jealous. He wouldn't care if she was wanted by another man, as long as it was moral and proper. Propriety is what mattered to him. Propriety and the Crawleys. She was sure she had a place in his heart somewhere, but it was most likely small and replaceable.
Charles left the room fuming, he entered his pantry and slammed the door behind him. How dare she do this, he thought. How would it look? What was she thinking fraternizing with some handsome stranger making his way through town? Had the woman lost her common sense? No, of course she would never have a dalliance of any sort, it is not in her character. He sat down at his desk and began to calm down when he realized nothing would ever come from it. Elsie Hughes was a good and loyal woman, he is sure she was just being kind and friendly. Her loyalty to the house was strong, he would not worry. He liked to think her loyalty lied with him as well. She was his closest friend, possibly his only friend. She would never look for a life outside Downton. He would have to keep his eye on this Dr. Conti during his stay, that was for sure, but everything would be fine in the morning. He knew Mrs. Hughes always adjusted to his little flares of temper. Yes, it would be just fine. Yet, as he leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes, he could not shake the image of Elsie's hand being held by the handsome Italian doctor.