Chapter 9

Mr Carson had left her sitting room about two minutes earlier. Mrs Hughes was sitting at her desk, tapping her fingers on her ledger, trying and failing to concentrate. She felt very nervous, hoping that things were going well for the Butler upstairs. It would be unbearable if His Lordship was unkind to Mr Carson, she knew the high regard with which her lovely man held the Family. She only hoped Lord Grantham would be happy for them. She could see the way her husband-to-be steeled himself before he left the room; this was such an important conversation for Mr Carson and she hoped with all of her heart that it went well.

"Mrs Hughes, the Dowager is arriving and I am not sure where Mr Carson is?" Anna said, as she popped her head in the door.

"Oh goodness … have the Ladies returned from visiting Mrs Crawley?" Mrs Hughes asked.

"Not yet … and Mr Branson is still in York, I don't think he will back for a while … something about travel documents to sort," Anna explained.

"And so the Dowager is visiting with Lord Grantham?" Mrs Hughes asked, her voice very high pitched.

"Yes I believe so …" Anna responded, not sure why the normally steady Housekeeper looked so unsettled.

"Oh lord above …" Mrs Hughes said, as she swiftly rose from her seat and hurried past Anna to the corridor.

"Mrs Hughes is everything alright?" the younger woman asked.

"Yes, yes fine Anna thank you … I will go and greet the Dowager, please send some tea to the Drawing Room," Mrs Hughes directed, as she quickly ascended the stairs.

Please don't let her have interrupted them. Goodness knows, it has taken us long enough to get to this point. Mr Carson is anxious enough to tell Lord Grantham our news without the Dowager being there as well. He will fall apart if she arrives before he has told His Lordship.

Mrs Hughes made it to the top of the stairs and across the hallway, relief flooding through her body as she saw the Dowager only just stepping out of her car. However, she knew that Mr Carson always made it his business to greet the Dowager. Oh well, I will have to do.

"Good Morning Milady," Mrs Hughes offered, with a small bow of the head.

"Good Morning Mrs Hughes," the older lady replied.

"I am afraid His Lordship is presently occupied. Therefore, perhaps I could take you through to the Drawing Room and get you some tea," Mrs Hughes said calmly, all of her years of training standing her in good stead to remain the epitome of composure.

The Dowager looked at Mrs Hughes as if she had said something quite peculiar, as she walked towards the Housekeeper, leaning on her cane for support. The two women then walked side by side into the House.

"He is occupied? What with? And where is Carson, he always greets me?" the Dowager crowed.

"Mr Carson is actually with His Lordship, Milady," Mrs Hughes responded. Damn and blast, I should not have said that.

"So they are both together and yet neither came to greet me?" she trilled.

"I think they are perhaps in the middle of something quite important Milady," Mrs Hughes said vaguely, as they paused in the middle of the Main Hall.

"Something important? Robert doesn't do anything important Mrs Hughes … where exactly are they?" The Dowager said.

Mrs Hughes faced the older woman, at a loss as to how to proceed. She couldn't lie about where they were. Perhaps they will have finished by now? Although she didn't think so; Mr Carson would have left the Library if that was the case.

"They are in the Library Milady," she said honestly.

"Right, well let's see what is so important!" she exclaimed, as she turned towards the room.

"No!" Mrs Hughes gasped.

The Dowager turned around to look at Mrs Hughes.

"Apologies Milady, I just don't think you should interrupt them," she offered, taking a deep breath. How have I got myself into this situation? She asked herself.

The Dowager now became more interested in Mrs Hughes and her reaction than what was happening in the Library. Something was afoot and she wanted to know what it was. The Housekeeper was the most unflappable woman the Dowager had ever met and yet she seemed quite agitated in this moment.

"Mrs Hughes, I think I should take tea in the drawing room and I think you should join me," she directed, now changing her route and walking towards the other room.

Once the older woman was settled in a chair and Mrs Hughes had poured her tea, she motioned for the Housekeeper to take a seat.

"Milady I really don't think …" she began.

"Mrs Hughes please sit …" she said, offering no room for debate.

Mrs Hughes took a seat across from the Dowager, hands folded on her lap demurely.

"Mrs Hughes, what are my son and Carson discussing? You said it was something important," she began, taking a sip of her tea.

"Milady, I really cannot say. I am sure His Lordship will tell you immediately, once they are finished," Mrs Hughes responded.

"Mrs Hughes you are intriguing me more and more. You obviously know what they are discussing and therefore it must be something that involves Carson," she said, absolutely accurately.

Mrs Hughes sighed. Any other member of the Family would not have been so perceptive.

The Dowager suddenly had a worrying thought.

"It's not bad news is it?" the Dowager asked quietly.

Mrs Hughes was moved by that; moved on behalf of her fiancé. She could see that the Dowager genuinely cared for Mr Carson. She had always known that they were very fond of each other. Mr Carson held both Lady Mary and the Dowager in very high esteem. She decided that the only way out of this predicament was honesty, the Dowager would know soon enough anyway. Here goes nothing.

"Not bad news at all Milady, at least I hope not. Mr Carson is informing His Lordship that he is to be married," Mrs Hughes replied evenly, despite her racing heart.

There, I have said it. Hopefully Mr Carson won't be too annoyed with me.

The two women gazed at each other in silence. Mrs Hughes watched as the Dowager's face registered surprise for only a second and then delight.

"Many congratulations Mrs Hughes," she replied warmly.

Mrs Hughes was stunned. How on earth does she know that Mr Carson is marrying me? However, the older woman simply stared at the Housekeeper with a knowing smile. Mrs Hughes gave up her musings and smiled in acceptance; an unaccustomed sweet moment between the pair.

"Thank you Milady," she replied, amazed to find herself feeling a little emotional.

"I thought he would never ask …" the Dowager continued with a wry smile.

"That's what I said," Mrs Hughes replied just as dryly.

The Dowager gave a familiar chuckle, enjoying this moment. Her features then turned thoughtful, as she replaced her tea cup on its saucer. Mrs Hughes inhaled sharply; readying herself for whatever was to come next.

"I think very highly of Carson, Mrs Hughes. He has served this Family in an exemplary manner for decades. He is vastly superior to the majority of men that he serves. I have known him since he was a young man and I have always thought his unhesitating devotion to this Family, at the sacrifice of his own personal happiness, was in part because there was no woman worthy of him …" the Dowager began, her voice wavering a little.

The older woman sat a little straighter, at pains to remain controlled; neither woman was given to sentimentality or unseemly emotion and yet the air in the drawing room was charged with meaning.

Mrs Hughes nodded. She knew that the Dowager regarded Mr Carson very highly and she did not expect the Grande Dame to hold her in the same esteem.

"… however, he has finally found that woman," she finished.

Mrs Hughes swallowed hard, as tears glistened in her eyes. She too fought to remain contained; showing emotion in front of the Dowager really would not do.

"Thank you Milady, from someone who knows Mr Carson as well as you do, that is quite a compliment," she managed, mortified to have to take a handkerchief from her pocket to dab her eyes briefly.

"I only give one compliment per decade Mrs Hughes and so I may be long gone before you hear another," the Dowager said seriously, only the glance of a smile on her lips.

Mrs Hughes laughed lightly.

"They should be done by now Milady, if you wanted to join them," Mrs Hughes said.

"Yes let's … and perhaps we can have a little fun!"

######

The Dowager had enjoyed her fun, taking both her son and the Butler by surprise with her knowledge of the engagement. Mr Carson now stood beside Mrs Hughes, as the Dowager sat on the sofa and Lord Grantham remained quite flabbergasted as he stood by the window.

"Carson … I never thought you had it in you!" she exclaimed.

The Butler flushed bright pink again at this mischievous comment. Mrs Hughes smiled happily beside him, as she gave his hand at his side the briefest caress to reassure him that everything was fine, he should simply enjoy this. He took strength from her touch and smiled broadly at the Dowager.

"And it is just as well Mrs Hughes is a patient woman … you certainly took your time," she continued, enjoying this rare opportunity to tease the Butler.

Mr Carson spluttered with shocked laughter, as Mrs Hughes chuckled too.

"I did Milady … but as Mrs Hughes has often told me … I always get there in the end," he returned, surprising the Housekeeper by taking her hand in his and holding it firmly.

"Indeed Carson, indeed …" was the Dowager's simple and happy reply.

A/N: Thank you again for all of your reviews- they are unbelievably kind and I appreciate each and every one of them x