Sorry, I am just exorcising a plot bunny from "A Story of a Brooch", I just began to imagine how the 'girls' might have tried to sneak around and find out if Mr. Carson and Mrs. Hughes were involved with each other. Pretty much falls on the far side of fluffy.

As much as she dreaded it, Elsie Hughes knew they were going to have to talk about this situation. Wanting to make sure they had plenty of time and privacy, she decided to wait until the end of the day. She listened until she heard his heavy, slightly weary tread on the back stairs and counted to ten before making her way to his pantry. He was just locking up the last of the silver when she stepped through the open door. He turned to smile at her and asked, "Are you off to bed then, Mrs. Hughes?"

Clearing her throat a little nervously, she said, "No; there's a little matter I believe we need to discuss."

"That sounds ominous," he said with a questioning frown, "perhaps we should sit down."

Smiling at him reassuringly, she said, "It's not that bad, I hope."

He indicated the remains of the evening's wine to her which looked to be just enough for two glasses. At her grateful nod, he poured them each a glass. After handing one to her, he waited until she had settled herself on the settee and then sank down gratefully into his armchair.

They sat together in companionable silence for a few minutes, sipping their wine and reflecting over the events of the day.

After a few moments of this enjoyable peace after the bustle of the day, she began, "I received a note this afternoon, and I would like your opinion on what to do about it."

"What sort of note?" he asked, interest increasing.

She drew a folded piece of paper from her pocket, and he rose to take it from her. He noticed that there were one or two ink blots on the page.

Mrs. Huges

I think you are very pretty. Your hair is nice. I like your eyes, too.

I love you

Mr. Carson

He chuckled, "Apparently, I am not so besotted with you that I took the time to learn to spell your name correctly or to grace you with my Christian name."

Then, with a smile, he drew a similar note from his own pocket and handed it to her.

Mr. Carson

I think you are very nice and tall. You are handsome. You have a nice voice, too.

I love you

Mrs. Huges

She laughed out loud, "And I must be so addle-pated with my overwhelming love for you that I have forgotten how to spell my own name."

Pretending to be offended, he said, "I don't know what you're laughing so hard about. I am rather tall, and I've been working on this voice for years."

They laughed together for a few moments and continued to sip their wine until Mr. Carson said, "I suspect we may be the victims of three little imps. They certainly seem to have been sneaking around a little more than usual, and I heard something suspiciously like giggling earlier today," he finished with raised eyebrows.

Smiling at him, she agreed, "I could certainly see Miss Mary doing something like this."

"Now, Mrs. Hughes, Miss Sybil is a little devious herself, and Miss Edith is certainly not completely innocent."

Clicking her tongue at him, she admonished, "Mr. Carson, Miss Sybil's only five years old. She couldn't have come up with something this silly on her own, and you know as well as I do that Miss Edith never takes the initiative in anything."

Smile fading just a little, he replied, "It's not that silly. After all, we're two adults, near enough in age, who work closely with each other and are good friends; I hope?" looking toward her with a questioning look. At her nod, he continued, "The girls just don't understand yet that not everyone has to be married like their parents."

Looking quickly away and then back, she said, "Yes; I'm sure that's all it is. The question remains: what should we do about it?"

"Why do we need to do anything about it?" he asked confused.

"Mr. Carson," she said seriously, "I don't really like to be the subject of a practical joke."

"Why do you think it has to be a practical joke?" he asked quietly.

Looking at him confused for a moment, she replied, "If it's not a practical joke, it's almost worse. That would mean that our employer's children…"

"Exactly, our employer's children think that we are, we are…" he interrupted.

"infatuated with each other," she finished for him.

"Yes," he nodded, "Do you really think anyone would take this seriously?"

"No; I suppose not," she replied with a half smile.

"Mrs. Huges, I see this as a fairly harmless prank. Why does this upset you so much?"

"I suppose I just don't like to be laughed at," she said quietly.

Smiling at her a little bemused, "Firstly, they're children, and I don't think this is malicious. Secondly, I would take it as a compliment. Apparently they think that you are 'very pretty' or at least they think that I think… I'm sorry. I'm afraid this wine must have been a little stronger than I thought. My mind's a little fuzzy."

Standing, she said, "It probably has something to do with how little you ate at dinner. Take these to the scullery, and I'll fix you a sandwich."

"Yes; Mother," he replied standing and took her glass from her to carry both to the scullery while she went to the kitchen.

She brought the sandwich back to him in his pantry, and he sat down to eat it gratefully. After a few moments, he said, "I really don't think we should say anything to either the children or anyone else. Again, I think it's harmless, and I wouldn't want them to get into any trouble."

"I suppose not. If it doesn't get any worse than this, then at the very least, it will provide us with some amusement," she said with a grin.

He agreed with a small laugh.

After a few moments, he looked at her thoughtfully and said, "I do hope that you were able to realize right away that this was not from me."

Rolling her eyes at him she said, "Well, I would like to think you know how to spell my name after all this time."

He snorted, "That too. But I meant that I'd like to think that I could come up with something a little better than, 'I think you are very pretty.'"

"Oh really," she said more interested now, "And just what would you have written?"

He paused for a few moments. And she thought she might have over-stepped just a little.

Then looking at her a little more seriously, he said, "At the very least I would have written something like 'Your beauty surpasses what my words can express."

She stared at him in surprise and just a little breathless, so he continued, "Then I would have probably commented on your raven-colored tresses and something about drowning in the deep brown pools of your eyes."

Grinning at her gape-mouthed stare, he said, "You needn't look so surprised. I do read, you know. And I have at least attempted to 'woo' a woman or two before."

Deciding to take it for the joke it likely was, she laughed and after a moment he joined her.

Reviews are welcome. If you don't think it's too silly, I have an idea for where it might go.