A/N: I am in love with this scene. Phyllis's accent is so beautiful and I think this scene really highlights it.

After the minor anxiety attack he'd had in the servery during dinner she decided to let him cool off a bit after the servant's meal. She finished balancing her ledgers and went to his pantry to find him. The door was open so she knocked softly on the frame before stepping in.

He heard her knock but couldn't bring his gaze from the candelabra he was inspecting. He knew he got obsessive when he was stressed but knew he wanted her there, in the room with him too.

"I'll say goodnight Mr Carson," she said, her soft beautiful lilt caressing his name and her gentle tone serving to wake him a little from his anxious fog that he had been sitting in since Grigg wrote to him

He was studying a candelabra closely, the silver cupboard stood open behind him. He didn't look up when she spoke but acknowledged her by pointing to the object in his hand

"Look at that scratch," he said as he took several steps in her direction,

"We'll have to get that sorted out while they're up in London"

She took his invitation and stepped closer as well, quickly glancing up to his face before down at the candelabra to offer her inspection

He felt her presence as she too stepped closer to inspect the item. She had misjudged the distance slightly and stood closer than she normally would. As she leaned in she brought her hand up to her chin. He swiftly chased away all thoughts of her touching his chest and leaning against him, no it would not do to be alone, late at night with the woman he loved without temptation creeping in.

"You can hardly see it" she said dismissively, his attention to detail always grew when he was under stress and this discovery of a tiny scratch was a perfect example.

Her voice this close to him was so reassuring and such a comfort in the dark uncertainty Grigg brought, he looked at her finally. She was so close, close enough to touch, to hold. No.

"Well I'll know it's there," he said pointedly, looking at her as if he just realised she was there. He stepped away hurriedly and turned to put it back in the cupboard.

Her next words, spoken so gently almost hesitantly, made her lilt stronger

"Are you alright now, only you seemed a little upset earlier?"

He spoke on a diagonal firstly, not able to fully face her and not tell her the whole truth, he took a few steps towards her, glanced at her to see her eyes soft and sparkling, he paused, deciding he couldn't tell her.

"Yes-erm, I'm sorry about that... I'm just um… a bit tired"

Truth be told, the small lie of being tired wasn't entirely false. His constant plaguing thought of Grigg revealing him had made him loose sleep.

She knew he was lying to her, she could always tell, but she could also see that the matter that had put him in this state was not one of the usual suspects. When William had a rip in his livery, it was different, when Thomas was rude, it was different, no this anger and precaution was entirely dissimilar to anything she'd seen. She decided to let it rest, he could tell her if he wanted too, and if not then so be it.

He moved to the side table and retrieved the second candelabra, she watched him and decided to give him a way out, an excuse of sorts for his 'tiredness.'

"And no wonder, did the dinner go well?"

He continued in his path to the cupboard as she spoke glad she believed his exhaustion to have a proper cause, if not an incorrect one. He spoke facing the cupboard.

"Oh well enough…but they wont make a match between them if that's what they're thinking"

Ah, back on familiar territory with household talk

"Lady Mary doesn't like him?" she asked curiously

Of course she didn't, she didn't like anyone who was suitable to her.

He turned back to face her now, holding a lamp to use on the stairs

"And why should she like the man she's being passed over for? And why has she been?" he said adamantly, gathering speed as he spoke.

"That's what I'd like to know"

Oh lord, you've woke the beast, she thought when she heard his tone. He got very adamant when it came to what his precious Lady Mary deserved. She attempted to calm him with the simple fact of the matter.

She tilted he head, always the voice of reason

"It's the law"

He knew she would never agree with him so he decided to end the conversation with finality

"Well it's a wicked law"

Well that's that, you're second best once again and that's how it will stay. Get over it lass. She sighed and looked away from him as he slammed the cupboard shut.

A/N: Let me know your thoughts, in my opinion that was a less romantic scene but still showed how well she knew him and how much she cared. Next is preparing for the ceremony...ah another fave :)