A/N First of all, some of you may have missed the previous chapter. Fanfiction-dot-net was misbehaving when I updated last week. Those of you who receive alerts will have known about the update, but some of you others might have missed it. If you did, go back and read Chapter 19 first.

Second, I know I sound like a broken record, but I have to say it. Thank you! You readers are terrific! I'm just bowled over by the number of reviews I've had for the last two chapters, and by the number of follows and favorites, with more still coming in this late in the game!

Third, special thanks go out to both caddydrummer91 and HB Rules for helping me with the details regarding Mr. Carson's angina. Their knowledge and willingness to answer all my questions have been more valuable than I can say.

And last, please keep the reviews coming. Not only am I eager to read about your ideas, but I enjoy responding with PM's. Some of the virtual conversations I have with you are as much fun as writing the story.

And without further ado, on to Dr. Clarkson's assessment and some fluffy Chelsie flirting!

Chapter 20

"Come in," called Mr. Carson in answer to the knock.

Dr. Clarkson entered and exchanged greetings with the butler and housekeeper. Mrs. Hughes stood from her seat, intending to afford the two men some privacy, and offered, "I'll leave you gentlemen, then. Doctor, may I bring you some tea?"

"No, thank you, Mrs. Hughes," the doctor answered kindly.

Mr. Carson then surprised Mrs. Hughes when he looked up at her earnestly and entreated her almost meekly, "Actually, Mrs. Hughes, I'd like you to stay, if you wouldn't mind."

Thrilled at the request – and the implication behind it – she replied, "No, I wouldn't mind at all, if that's what you'd prefer."

"I would," he assured her with nod and a confident smile. Then turning to Dr. Clarkson, he asked, "Would that be acceptable, Doctor?"

"If you don't mind Mrs. Hughes's hearing what I have to tell you, then I certainly have no objection," answered Dr. Clarkson, placing his medical bag on a chair and removing some of its contents.

"It will save her the trouble of listening at the door," remarked Mr. Carson while eyeing Mrs. Hughes with a cheeky grin – one which she very much hoped the doctor hadn't seen. She opened her mouth to retort, but then stopped short and closed her mouth, merely sitting back down and folding her hands in her lap.

Doctor Clarkson eyed the couple curiously and his lips betrayed a hint of a smirk, but he wisely refrained from commenting. When he asked Mr. Carson to push up his sleeve so that he could measure his blood pressure, Mrs. Hughes thought it wise to employ some discretion, so she turned away and busied herself by fussing with the dishes on the dinner tray. Then the doctor asked Mr. Carson to unbutton the top buttons of his shirt so he could listen to his heartbeat, and she turned even more pointedly away, both to preserve Mr. Carson's modesty and to hide the flush that had overtaken her face, ears, and neck at the thought of Mr. Carson's exposed chest. After a few quiet moments, Mrs. Hughes heard the doctor putting his equipment back in his bag, and she deemed it safe to face Mr. Carson again and reoccupy her seat.

"So, you've felt well since my last visit?" asked Dr. Clarkson. "Nothing to report?"

"Yes, I've felt well. No, there's nothing to report," Mr. Carson answered. "Mrs. Hughes has been taking remarkable care of me."

"I'm sure she's an excellent nurse, even if she has been burdened with a most uncooperative patient," commented the doctor, looking sideways slyly at Mrs. Hughes and earning himself a broad grin from the housekeeper.

Now it was Mr. Carson who opened his mouth to object, but he also desisted, instead conceding, "It's true I may have been somewhat defiant."

"Well, despite your best efforts to the contrary, your improvement is encouraging. You've regained a good deal of your strength, and you've had only a few occurrences of discomfort. Those are good signs. I'm heartened by your prospects for recovery. However … " the doctor hesitated.

"'However,' what, Doctor?" Mr. Carson asked. "What is it?"

"Well, it's only that the last time I raised the subject we must now discuss, you insisted that I mention it to no one else," he stated, glancing significantly at Mrs. Hughes, who suddenly became uncomfortable.

"Yes, well, if it's the matter to which I think you're referring … Mrs. Hughes and I have since spoken of it. It's all right to proceed, Doctor. I would like Mrs. Hughes to know whatever it is you must tell me. Even if she were not to hear it now, she would find out soon enough on her own," Mr. Carson remarked teasingly, also looking meaningfully at Mrs. Hughes.

Mrs. Hughes was becoming annoyed now. As much as she enjoyed Mr. Carson's playfulness, and as much as his good spirits pleased her, she did not appreciate the gentle gibes he directed at her.

"If you gentlemen are going to discuss me as if I am not here in this room, then perhaps I should simply leave and make it that much easier for you!" she cried with more frustration in her voice than she actually felt. Then she added with a hint of self-satisfaction, "I can just as easily listen at the door."

"I'm sorry, Mrs. Hughes. I'm glad you're here, and I'd like you to stay. Please?" Mr. Carson beseeched her sincerely.

"Very well, but you must behave yourself, Mr. Carson – else you'll find yourself short a nurse and a housekeeper!" she shot back, just to let him know that she would brook no more of his cheek at her expense.

"I shall be on my best behavior," he promised.

Dr. Clarkson listened and watched the exchange in amusement before intervening. "Shall I continue?" he asked.

"I'm sorry, Doctor," Mr. Carson apologized. "Yes. By all means, please do continue."

"Right," the doctor carried on. "As I was saying, I'm pleased by your progress so far, and I'm quite hopeful. Over the next days and weeks, you should be able to slowly resume daily activities: moving about, walking a bit, changing your clothes, and bathing. Don't attempt to navigate any stairs until you truly feel ready, and even then, only slowly and with someone to assist you. I still contend that your occupational obligations are too taxing to be good for you, and I must still advise retirement, though I'm sure you'll resist the notion."

"In point of fact," Mr. Carson said, "circumstances have changed somewhat since we last spoke about the possibility of my retiring. I no longer oppose the idea so vehemently. I'll not deny that I find myself ill-suited to a slower pace, but Mrs. Hughes has convinced me I might grow used to it. She's confident I'll find something to fill the time."

"You must be rather persuasive, Mrs. Hughes. Mr. Carson seemed very adamant in his refusal," Dr. Clarkson told her, sounding impressed. "I commend you for accomplishing such a difficult feat. How did you manage it?"

"I had quite a job of it, I don't mind admitting. You wouldn't believe me if I told you," she said, stealing a glance at Mr. Carson whose eyes were wide.

"Perhaps it's better I don't know," the doctor acceded. Then turning back to Mr. Carson, he proceeded, "Well, however this transformation has been achieved, I'm glad to hear that you're finally being sensible. Based on your descriptions of your symptoms and my own observations, I expect that your heart could tolerate the moderate daily activities of a retired man. Determining precisely what level of activity you can endure and which types of activities cause you distress will be purely a matter of cautious trial and observation. Careful monitoring will be most important. Any discomfort you experience will likely be alleviated by the nitroglycerin. I fear, though, if you were to return to work, you would be in danger of more frequent and more severe attacks of angina. I believe that your moving to one of the cottages near the Abbey would prove a perfectly workable solution, though I dislike the idea of your being alone."

"As it turns out, Doctor, I may not be alone," Mr. Carson happily informed him. "You see, it so happens Mrs. Hughes has been contemplating retirement, as well. As long as her cottage will be nearby, I imagine she might be kind enough to drop in and check on me from time to time." Then turning to Mrs. Hughes, he asked, "Will you do that for me, Mrs. Hughes?"

"Oh, indeed," she confirmed, smiling openly now at him and not caring anymore what the doctor would think. "My cottage will be very close by. I intend to keep a careful eye on you and not to allow you out of my sight for any longer than I can help it."

Doctor Clarkson was an observant man – it was, after all, part of his job – and clever, besides. He surely must have sensed that something was going on between the butler and housekeeper, and he must also have made a pretty good guess as to what that something was. They were, after all, flirting shamelessly right in front of him. But he was also discreet, and so he prudently chose to ignore it, saying only, "I do feel better, Mr. Carson, knowing that you'll be watched over and taken care of. And if I may say so, there's no one better suited to that job than Mrs. Hughes."

"I believe you're correct, Doctor," replied the butler, not even glancing in the doctor's direction but smiling devotedly at the housekeeper, who was beaming right back at him.

"Well, then. I'll say good night. I'll come back in a few days to check on you, and do call if you have any concerns in the meantime," said Dr. Clarkson cheerfully as he made his way to the door.

The couple hardly spared a nod and smile in his direction, so absorbed were they in each other. The door had barely closed behind the doctor before Mrs. Hughes found herself once again in the arms of her beloved.