Chapter 13
As they sat contentedly side by side on the sofa, Mrs Hughes stifled a small yawn.
"You are tired … I am keeping you up too late," Mr Carson smiled warmly.
"Not at all … I am having a lovely evening … I am really not that tired," she said. However, when another little yawn escaped, Mrs Hughes had to laugh, adding,
"Maybe I am a little tired."
"It has gone eleven and we have had an exciting evening … time for bed I think Mrs Hughes …" he said, rising from the sofa.
He then stood nervously, running a few different scenarios through his mind. Mrs Hughes stood up carefully too, testing her ankle as she placed her foot gently on the floor. She was grateful to note that it didn't hurt very much and she could stand quite easily. Mrs Hughes gazed at Mr Carson, not quite sure what they were going to do. They had not previously broached this matter at all.
"Right …" Mr Carson began, taking the lead.
"… I think you should sleep on the sofa … it is nice and warm in this room and I will get you a blanket … and then I will sleep in the bedroom," he said.
It sounded less than chivalrous for him to take the bed and to let Mrs Hughes sleep on the sofa and yet he knew that in reality, she would be cosy and comfortable on the couch whereas the bedroom was like an ice box. Anyone sleeping in the bedroom was likely to catch pneumonia and he certainly would not allow that to be Mrs Hughes.
"Mr Carson, that bedroom is not fit for man nor beast and you know it. It is perishing in there and it is out of the question that you should sleep in that room," she said adamantly.
He knew she was right, the only room that was hospitable and warm enough to sleep in was the sitting-room but that left them with a dilemma; other than the two wooden stools, there was only the sofa. He looked at the couch and gulped, his eyes shooting upwards to meet Mrs Hughes's gaze. He then looked to his toes with nerves.
Mrs Hughes had the same thought but she needed to be pragmatic. There was no choice as far as she could see; they both had to sleep in the sitting-room and the only suitable place to sleep was on the couch.
"The sofa it is Mr Carson … we will both have to sleep on the sofa," she said with forced confidence.
He looked at Mrs Hughes; not quite sure if her blush was caused by the Scotch or her frank words. He did allow himself a happy thought before he began to panic again, thinking that the Housekeeper looked very pretty standing in the flickering candlelight. He shook his head to banish this mushy thought.
"Mrs Hughes, we can't … that would be most improper," he replied, continuing his panic.
Mr Carson was well aware that the two had lowered their barriers during the evening, they had shared fond touches and even a couple of gentle, chaste kisses to the forehead or cheek. However, there was no way they could sleep on the settee … together! He flustered.
"Mr Carson, we do not have a choice… there is no fire in the bedroom, we would freeze," she countered.
"But Mrs Hughes, think about what you are suggesting … you and I … together … on a couch!" he said dramatically.
She bit down hard on her lip to stifle her laughter.
"Mr Carson, I promise you are safe with me … I may be a little hazy with the Scotch but I am an honourable woman," she returned.
"I know you are … of course you are … my goodness Mrs Hughes! And that is why I cannot sleep on that couch with you!" he said, looking down at the sofa as if it was possessed by the devil.
"Mr Carson, you have very kindly hugged me and held me this evening, have you not?" she asked.
She was growing even more tired and she needed to win this battle and quickly.
"Well … yes."
"And we have danced together?" she smiled, enjoying the memory.
"Yes we have," he said, his eyes brightening.
"And you have carried me in your arms, outside in the snow?"
"Yes … yes I have."
"And we have … well … we have enjoyed sharing friendly touches and endearments?"
Mr Carson flushed bright red, his pupils dilating as he stared at Mrs Hughes. He stuttered his response.
"Umm … we have Mrs Hughes … umm … and I have enjoyed it very much … I don't mean improperly of course … but it has been … umm … it has been …"
"Yes?" she smiled sweetly at Mr Carson.
"Simply lovely," he grinned adoringly.
She looked delighted by this statement.
"Well then … what does it matter if two dear friends … two dear friends who are stranded in the middle of a snowstorm … in a lodge that only has one room with any sort of heat … what does it matter if those two friends lie together on a sofa and go to sleep?" she asked defiantly, her confidence growing.
Mr Carson pondered Mrs Hughes's words, thinking that when she put it like that it seemed absolutely the sensible thing to do. He tried to stop his mind wandering to just how wonderful it would feel to wake-up next to Mrs Hughes. He took a deep breath.
"Yes Mrs Hughes, yes you are quite right …" he said anxiously.
Mrs Hughes was amazed that he had come around so easily; she had expected him to resist much longer.
"Good … well perhaps you could collect the blanket from the bed?" she suggested.
Mr Carson nodded and did as he was asked; returning swiftly with the blanket in his hand. Mrs Hughes had busied herself by putting an extra couple of logs on the fire. She needed to keep herself occupied as her nerves were beginning to rise to the surface. She turned once again to face Mr Carson; her big, strong Butler.
"Well then … let's get settled," she said, her heart fluttering at the thought of sleeping closely to Mr Carson.
"Right … absolutely … umm … uh-hum … how should we … I mean … oh dear god … the sofa is very small Mrs Hughes," he mumbled, near hysterical.
"Yes … yes it is …" she breathed, staring at the tiny sofa.
"… you lie down first Mr Carson, I think that will be easier … and then I will join you," she said, holding her breath.
Mr Carson hesitated for a second and then duly lay down on his back, edging himself as close to the back of the sofa as possible, not an easy task given his enormous frame. It still left very little room for Mrs Hughes.
She smiled as she watched him trying to rearrange himself so that he didn't take up quite as much space.
Mr Carson gave her a nervous but kindly smile as he waited for her to join him. She really is divine, he reflected happily as he gazed at the adorable image before him; Mrs Hughes looked coy and slightly anxious as she stood in her pyjama top. He did not dare breathe as she sat on the edge of the sofa, swinging her legs up to rest against his. She leaned towards him, placing one arm across his front and then snuggled into his side. Her head rested on his chest.
Mr Carson was resting his arms uncomfortably behind his head, as he tried to keep them out of the way until Mrs Hughes was settled. He reached forward and placed the blanket across both of them. His arms continued to hover in the air; he was not at all sure if he dared to rest his arms around her.
"Are you going to stay like that all night?" she teased, smiling against his chest.
Mr Carson rolled his eyes at her fondly; knowing that he must look quite ridiculous as he lay on his back with his arms high in the air. He therefore threw caution to the wind, lowering his arms and gently wrapping them around Mrs Hughes, as he kissed her hair gently.
"Mmmmm ... you are so cuddly …" she sighed blissfully, as she nestled even closer.
Mr Carson snorted with laughter at this description.
"Am I now? Well, that's good to know ..." he chuckled fondly.
"Very cuddly ..." Mrs Hughes breathed as she closed her eyes and let herself drift off to sleep.
Mr Carson gazed down at her lovingly, thinking that he would very much like Mrs Hughes to be in his arms forever.
A/N: You may want to kill me but I thought I should let you know … I won't be able to update for the next 4 days. I never planned to write this story now, it just sort of happened one Sunday night when yet another episode disappointed me, and therefore I couldn't have planned that my short break away would interrupt my writing! I will certainly be checking Tumblr whilst I am away but I won't be able to update. However, I promise that I will post the next chapter on Wednesday, once I am back home, and then I will continue to update every evening as usual, until this little fic is complete. Therefore, just think of this as a little hiatus and enjoy the thought of Mrs Hughes and Mr Carson snuggled on that sofa for 4 entire days x