Mr. Carson's step was sprightly as he made his way down the multiple sets of stairs that separated his attic room and the ground floor servants' hall, the thought of spending his half day inspecting the house on Brounker Road with Mrs. Hughes inspiring him to whistle a merry tune as he wound his way down the corridor. "Good morning, Mr. Molesley!" Mr. Carson offered a bright smile on his lips as he passed the footman on the stairwell.

Caught off guard by the older man's cheery greeting and swift pace, Mr. Molesley had to grab the railing before gathering himself enough to return a "Good morning, Mr. Carson!" to the quickly descending back of his superior.

Unaware that he was in Mrs. Patmore's direct line of sight, Mr. Carson stopped short of Mrs. Hughes' sitting room in order to smooth the sides of his hair and pull down his waistcoat. He had taken two steps towards the housekeeper's door when the cook's voice carried across the kitchen, "She's in the storage cupboard."

Mr. Carson quickly cleared his throat as he took a few steps towards the kitchen, "I am not sure why you felt it necessary to broadcast Mrs. Hughes' whereabouts to the entire world, Mrs. Patmore. I was simply on my way to my pantry as it happens." He returned Mrs. Patmore's knowing smile with a curt nod, turning on his heel as he proceeded to his private domain where once safely inside he grumbled, "Nosey woman!"

His cheerful demeanor had begun to wane just as Mrs. Hughes knocked on his door, slipping in without invitation. "Good morning. I heard you were looking for me."

Mr. Carson grimaced, but found he couldn't maintain a scowl as he took in the bright smile in front of him. "I just wanted to wish you good morning and make sure we were still on for our journey this afternoon."

Mrs. Hughes crossed to him, her smile brightening as she placed her hand on his arm, "We are very much on as far as I am concerned."

Mr. Carson's pinking cheeks proved her skill at making him blush was quite intact. "Are you warm, Mr. Carson? Perhaps we should open the door?" Mrs. Hughes began to remove her hand from his arm, but her action was swiftly halted as he placed his hand over hers'.

"I am quite all right, Mrs. Hughes. If I am warm it is not something that may be altered by opening the door."

A rose now bloomed on Mrs. Hughes' face as Mr. Carson's statement was delivered with a skill similar to her own. "I see. Well, then…"

Mr. Carson let his fingers gently caress the top her hand as his face lowered towards her, each of their pulses quickening as the gap between their bodies narrowed. They had just begun to tilt their heads in opposite directions as a loud knock registered on the door.

"Mr. Carson?" Mr. Molesley's voice elicited a groan from both of them as Mr. Carson quickly opened the door, startling the footman with a highly annoyed, "Yes, Mr. Molesley, what is it?"

"His Lordship is asking for you to meet him in his dressing room."

Mrs. Hughes offered a consolatory smile, well aware that this particular summons was not one Mr. Carson could put off. "I will see you at breakfast."

The disappointment that filled Mr. Carson's face was remedied by the brief squeeze of his hand Mrs. Hughes provided as she crossed into the corridor. "I very much look forward to this afternoon, Mrs. Hughes."

She gave him a playful grin over her shoulder, "So do I, Mr. Carson. So do I."

Mrs. Hughes postponed the serving of breakfast as long as possible as she waited for Mr. Carson to take his place at its head, but after ten minutes, an exasperated look from Mrs. Patmore told her the eggs and bacon could wait no longer and so the meal was served with Mr. Carson's chair remaining vacant.

A litany of bells began to ring a few minutes into the meal, to which Mrs. Hughes offered her apologies as tea cups were quickly drained and pieces of toast were plucked from plates to accompany the hungry servants as they set off to perform their respective duties.

Mrs. Hughes made a point of stopping by the kitchen to make sure Mrs. Patmore had saved a plate for Mr. Carson, offering a mea culpa in the process, "I'm sorry. I know, I know. I shouldn't have made them wait."

Mrs. Patmore only raised her eyebrow before turning away to hide a smile. Although neither Mr. Carson, nor Mrs. Hughes had acknowledged it, Mrs. Patmore and Daisy had both noticed that something must have occurred during the Christmas holiday to result in the escalated degrees of kindness and consideration the butler and housekeeper now offered one another. Mr. Carson's early morning preening and Mrs. Hughes' delay of breakfast had only intensified their suspicions.

Stepping out into the corridor, Mrs. Hughes caught Daisy's eye and motioned for her to join her. "Would you mind making an apple tart for the servant's pudding tonight? It might make up for the hurried breakfast this morning."

"Of course, Mrs. Hughes." Daisy smiled before turning back towards the kitchen, but was stopped by Mrs. Hughes' hand on her arm.

"And please save a large piece for Mr. Carson. He is taking his half-day, but I know he would enjoy some when we return."

Daisy fought a knowing grin as she nodded, "Of course I will, Mrs. Hughes." Accepting a word of thanks from the housekeeper, Daisy watched the woman's black skirt sweep up the stairs before rushing back into the kitchen. "She wants me to make an apple tart for the servants' pudding and save Mr. Carson a big piece even though he is taking his half-day this afternoon."

"Well, well, well…" Mrs. Patmore smiled broadly.

"And not only that, but she said 'He is taking his half-day,' but then she said, 'he would enjoy some when we return.' So she is going with him. They are going together!"

Mrs. Patmore's grabbed Daisy's hands and the women whirled around the floor, "We will be making a wedding cake before long, Daisy! Mark my words!"