Thanks to all the kind reviewers, your comments are gratefully received! This is just a short, inbetweeny transition chapter that consists mostly of dialogue, so bear with me. I also know it would be highly unlikely for the family to take as many downstairs staff as I'm getting them to take but #creativelicence.
In terms of where it takes place in the series, Mrs Hughes and Mr Carson have had the Becky chat, but there was no proposal on Christmas Eve which is explained below. Hopefully it's not too OCC for you all but again, please let me know what you think xx

Usually, the middle of the morning was a busy time for the downstairs staff, however as it was boxing day and the family were taking things easy after the celebrations of Christmas Day before, and some of the staff had found themselves with a little spare time to themselves. This was time they usually spent catching up on odd jobs in each other's company in the servants hall and today was no different. Daisy was clearing teacups, Thomas was enjoying a cigarette as he leant back in his chair and Alfred was in the middle of polishing some brass buttons as they all chatted about the up-coming family trip to Scotland. It seemed as though most of the downstairs staff were to go with the family, and some weren't best pleased about the fact.

"I wouldn't let Mrs Hughes hear you saying that, Thomas." Spoke Daisy, as she stacked the dishes on the table.

"Wouldn't let me hear what?" came a familiar brogue from the doorway, as Mrs Hughes stood, one arm clutching a stack of fresh linen, the other hand firmly on her hip. Daisy looked horrified as she stood, mouth open, unable to form a reply.

"Oh, Mrs Hughes." Alfred stepped in, "Thomas here was just saying that he didn't much fancy going to Scotland with the family. Too much bad weather, odd people, and poor food. Doesn't think it's for him, you see." He smirked, enjoying his chance to get one up on Thomas as the Under-Butler shot him a glare. Daisy was grateful for Alfred's interjection.

"Mrs Hughes, I didn't mean, well…" Thomas started, having being completely put on the spot.

"Is that so?" The housekeeper interrupted, ignoring the Under-Butler's excuses, instead raising one eyebrow in his direction with a glare, "Well. I'm sure Scotland has enough good grace to overcome not meeting your approval Mr Barrow, though I'm not sure who gave you the impression that your approval mattered in the first place. I'll see to it that Mr Carson arranges some extra duties for you for the duration of our stay, so you don't have to experience any of the country." And with that she turned on her heel and left the doorway, leaving a rather glum faced Thomas in her wake. As she stomped her way to the linen closet she rolled her eyes at the grumbling and hushed arguing now coming from the servant's hall.

"What was all that about?" Mr Carson called to Mrs Hughes as she passed his pantry, he had heard the commotion and noted her heavier than usual footfall.

The housekeeper paused in his doorframe, "Can we discuss it later? I have so much still left to do before tomorrow that I'll be up until the wee hours if I stop now." She smiled wearily. The surprise trip to Scotland had indeed caused extra work for all downstairs, not least of all for Mrs Patmore and herself.

"Of course." He waved his hand as if to let her go, watching her figure disappear before turning back to the silverware spread over his desk.

"And I am to find Mr Barrow extra duties?" Mr Carson asked as he settled into his chair in her sitting room, flicking off the ceiling light, leaving just the table lamp on between them.

Mrs Hughes paused for a moment, considering her answer as she sipped her sherry. "No I suppose not… I'm sure the threat alone has been enough to cause him enough grief for the time being." Mrs Hughes smiled a little, "In all honesty I'm not sure where my outburst came from. I couldn't care less of his opinion normally, but there was just…. something." She muttered, biting her lip a little.

"Perhaps it was him insulting your homeland?" he proceeded cautiously, raising his eyebrows.

"Och," she scoffed. "I'm not as patriotic as all that, Mr Carson." she protested, shaking her head, "It's been a long time since I was last in Scotland, I'm not even sure if I can still call it my homeland."

"Nonsense." he spoke, watching her as she focussed on swirling the dark liquid in the glass clasped in her hand. Even though they had a big day tomorrow neither had wished to forgo their usual nightly sherry. He sat back, enjoying the opportunity to look upon her without her noticing. He could see she was contemplating something, he just wasn't sure what. Her lip was drawn back between her teeth as it often was, her eyebrows lowered almost in a frown. Even by the soft lamplight, her eyes looked tired from the day's many hours but she was still beautiful, he thought. In the weeks that had passed since their first cottage viewing, he had found himself unable to keep his thoughts away from the woman before him. She was so, so beautiful…

"Anyway. Are we all prepared for the journey tomorrow?" she spoke as she looked up, breaking the quiet in the room, a small smile on her lips as if to reassure the man sat opposite her.

Caught a little of guard and flustered by the fear she'd caught him gazing at her, Mr Carson mentally scrambled to look elsewhere before nodding, "As ready as we can consider ourselves at this late hour." He brought a small piece of paper from his pocket, "Our train leaves at seven; Mrs Patmore, Daisy, Anna, Mr Bates, Miss Baxter and Thomas will follow with the family at eleven am." He knew the times already but was thankful for the distraction the paper gave him.

"At least that gives us a little time to ensure Inveraray* is up to scratch before the family's arrival."

"Indeed. Though I still don't understand why they require almost all of the downstairs staff to travel."

"No, nor do I." Mrs Hughes shrugged a little. "By the sounds of it not all of them are happy about it. Perhaps the winter season sees a reduced staff up there?"

"Perhaps." Mr Carson nodded. He was more than a little irritated that this trip had interrupted his plans. He had decided to go ahead and buy the cottage he and Mrs Hughes had been interested in, even without her contribution, and wished to view the place one more time before signing the paperwork. With the family gone on their trip, he thought he would have plenty of time before their return to allow Mrs Hughes to accompany him and let her in on his plan for their future. But by having to travel to Scotland he was forced to forgo the last visit and sign the paperwork anyway. It was highly improper, he admitted, but the thought of losing the cottage to someone else made the decision for him - he didn't want to picture anyone but the two of them residing there. On top of that, both he and Mrs Hughes had been so busy since Christmas that he had yet to find the perfect time to ask her a certain question that had been burning on his tongue for several weeks now…

"Are you alright, Mr Carson? You look rather flushed?"

Her delightful brogue broke across his thoughts, and he realised he had no idea what she'd been saying, nor how long he hadn't spoken for. "No, perfectly aright. Just a little warm is all." It was his turn to reassure but he only succeeded in making his cheeks deepen in colour. He coughed awkwardly. "You were saying?"

He smiled as she continued where she had left off, but once again was lost in his thoughts as he watched her features as she spoke. This would never do, he scolded himself. How he was going to make it to the end of the next three weeks he could only guess.

*Inveraray Castle is the castle used as Duneagle Castle, way back in 2012 for Series 3's Christmas Special. I figured that if it could be Duneagle, there was no reason it couldn't be visited as Inveraray in this fic. ;)