An hour after Elsie had left Charles pantry she stands knocking on his pantry door once more
"Enter" Charles called and Elsie entered "Mrs. Hughes, is a night cap required?"
"Please Mr. Carson, I hope tomorrow runs smoothly as it shall be Christmas Day"
"Should go smoothly, it is very rare we have any hiccups with staff at Christmas time" Charles move the glasses on his desk and sits in his chair "How was everything with last rounds?"
"All excited about tomorrow but the main rooms are locked, just household for bed before I sort the Christmas flowers for the morning. Has the silver survived another polishing today?" Elsie replies with a slight laugh escaping her lips with the answer
"The silver has held well, Mrs. Hughes. But how can you tell?" Charles asked looking puzzled, thinking that he had put everything away.
"You have left the polish rag on show once again Mr. Carson" Elsie moves the rag off his desk and places it next to her keys and linked between her belt and dress.
"Sorry Mrs. Hughes. Have you any special wishes this Christmas?"
"Only one" Elsie stands and moves some mistletoe above her head. Charles stands placing his glass down and they share a friendly kiss between them both under the mistletoe. Both smiling as the kiss ends, they sit back down and Elsie raised her glass and says "To friendship, Mr. Carson"
"To friendship, Mrs. Hughes" Charles raises his glass and they click them together before drinking their sherry and discussing the days events with each other.
A few hours later and a knock on Mr. Carson's pantry door, he stands to answer the door and is told the household has settled and he wishes the footman a good night Elsie has stood up and collected the empty glasses to wash them
"Do you require a helping hand with the flowers, Mrs. Hughes?"
"Please Mr. Carson, as long as..." Elsie smiled
"I need to check things upstairs, so I can carry a few vases of flowers for you" Charles smiled back kindlly
"Thank you Mr. Carson, I will wash these before..." Elsie said drawing water from the tap to sort the glasses
"I can sort the glasses before I settle for the evening. Now shall we sort the vases of flowers before we retire this evening?" Charles smiles and Elsie dries her hands
"Yes lets sort the flowers then. Thank you so much"
"You are welcome, now after you Mrs. Hughes"
"Thank you kind sir" they left Charle's pantry to go and collect the vases of flowers for the household from Elsie's office and make their way upstairs carrying 3 vases each with wonderful displays of colour in them
"Mrs. Hughes, once again the flowers are amazing" Elsie smiles, Charles sniffs the flowers and hoping that he does not get heard he says "And smells as divine as my love" Elsie blushes but continues to sort the flowers as they reach the library not saying a word as she works quietly on her duties.