Carson had stood when His Lordship quit the room, and he remained standing before Lady Mary.

"Please sit back down, Carson."

He obeyed her, silently.

"Papa only wants to know that you are well, Carson. You know that." Lady Mary soothed. "I tried to convince him that you would be better off back at Downton, but he's very worried about you. According to Mrs. Butte, your health was questionable even early in the Season."

"I don't know why she would say that." Carson said, dully.

"Well, she must have her reasons, though I suspect Barrow must be involved. In any event, I think you are stuck going to the clinic unless you want to tell Papa your real reason for wanting to return to Downton tomorrow." She looked at him expectantly.

"My Lady?"

"I saw the two of you this morning, Carson; in the park."

Lady Mary had seen them! Carson was not sure if the emotion that swept through him was shame or relief. "My Lady, I can explain."

"There is no need, Carson." She wanted to reach out and touch his knee to assure him, but she remained sitting passively opposite him. "I am very happy for you both. Unfortunately, I don't know how Papa will view this or if he will believe that it is a new development."

"I assure you, My Lady, even a week ago I could have honestly told you that there was nothing between us." Carson cast his head down slightly and frowned. "Not that I am not proud of that fact." I have blindly squandered the devotion of a good woman for many years.

"There is no need for you to assure me of anything, Carson. I could clearly see that this is all very new to you both. You had a dazed look about you at the gate and Mrs. Hughes looked like a giddy school girl."

Carson smiled gratefully and somewhat smugly. It was strange how naturally he could discuss this with Lady Mary. Despite the difference in their relative positions, they understood each other in an instinctual way. It never occurred to him to lie to her or hide the depths of his feelings for Elsie from her.

"But what can I do, My Lady? Mrs. Hughes thinks I am returning to Downton tomorrow. We were hoping for time to figure things out together before we needed to inform the family."

"Then making a clean breast of it to Papa is not an option." Lady Mary thought aloud. "Maybe after you've endured this trip to the clinic, you can return directly to Downton."

"But will His Lordship be content even if they find nothing?" Carson did not want to entertain the idea that they might actually find something wrong with him. He certainly was not as spritely as he had been in his youth, but he was fairly certain there was nothing for any doctors to find. Still, there was a small doubt in his mind. Who knew what this clinic might be like?

"Unlikely. Maybe by the time the doctors present their report, you'll have had time to discuss your future with Mrs. Hughes. And maybe we'll have figured out exactly what Barrow is up to. If he has fabricated this whole story, he must know there is a strong chance they won't find anything. What else might he try when that fails?"

Carson had not considered that. Could this move just be the first in a series of attempts to undermine him? Was there more behind this than just a desire to stay in London for a few extra weeks? What was Thomas' end game?

Of course, Mary's question had been rhetorical. "Not to worry, Carson. Even if Barrow has Papa fooled and Mama eating out of his hand, you may be sure that I am on your side; yours and Mrs. Hughes'."

"Thank you, My Lady. That is a comfort to know."

Mary smiled benevolently at the man who had always supported her. She reached into a fold of material at her waist pulled out a small, blue velvet, drawstring pouch. "After I saw the two of you this morning, I knew I wanted to give you something. I hope I am not being too officious, but I want you to have this, Carson, and I would be honored if you would present it to Mrs. Hughes."

Without even opening the pouch, Carson knew he must decline this offering. Shaking his head, he tried to avoid accepting her gift, but Mary pressed it into his protesting hands.

"I insist, Carson. Grandmama or Aunt Rosamund, I honestly cannot remember which, gave this to me on my eighteenth birthday. I know it sounds silly, but I've never felt that it belonged to me." She faltered over her words, unsure of how she could make him understand exactly how she felt. "Every piece of jewelry has a personality of its own. This is lovely, but our personalities don't match. I've never worn it. Last night, I realized to whom this truly belongs. I was just holding on to it until the right moment to pass it on to her."

Still unsure, Carson emptied the pouch onto his palm. His breath stopped. He understood exactly what Lady Mary meant. There was no doubt in his mind; this ring was destined for Elsie. A trio of sapphires were set on a delicate golden ring, the center gem slightly larger than the other two. On either side of the central stone, a line composed of three tiny diamonds divided the sapphires. The light reflected off the facets of the gems like the sunlight off the water at Brighton. Looking into this ring was like looking into Elsie's laughing, sparkling eyes as she had watched him splash about in the water.

"It is perfect for her, My Lady, but I cannot accept it." Though it grieved him, Carson still felt obligated to refuse such a gift.

"Please, Carson. I owe you and Mrs. Hughes so much, and not just for how you care for my family. To be honest, the two of you have rather inspired me. I have been wondering of late if it was even possible for me to ever again feel the measure of love I experienced with Mr. Crawley. Until now, I've been willing to settle for a pale imitation of love with some nice, but ultimately uninspiring men. Seeing the two of you last night reminded me that the right person is worth the wait. I know now that I will settle for nothing less than a love that is truly worthy of the rest of my life."

"It pleases me to hear you say that, My Lady. None of us would see you settle for anything less."

"And I will not settle for anything less than you accepting this small token of my esteem for you and Mrs. Hughes." As her father had done earlier, Lady Mary stood imperiously, declaring the matter closed with her body language as much as with her words. Carson stood with her. Mary took his hands and closed them around the tiny ring. "If I could give you every jewel I possessed, it would not be sufficient to show my respect and gratitude to you both."

With that, she flowed out of the room with a swift grace, leaving Carson speechless and more than a little choked up.

-00-

After they had been dismissed, Mrs. Butte had scuttled downstairs to finalize luncheon preparations. Thomas had remained behind in the servant's stairwell, wanting to be there to greet Mr. Carson after his meeting with Lady Mary and His Lordship. He knew Mr. Carson would be wounded terribly and Thomas was ready with the salt.

Finally, the door opened and Mr. Carson walked through with a dazed look in his eyes as he placed something in his pocket. Mr. Carson's shoulders did not have the set of a defeated man, but Thomas suspected he was just hiding his disappointment well. Thomas' grin grew wider as he met Mr. Carson's eyes and he allowed himself an audible chuckle. This was a mistake. Before Thomas knew what was happening, he was being drug down the stairs by his lapels, his feet flailing, searching for traction. No words came from the butler, only a series of growls, as they reached the next landing down from the ground floor. Disoriented, Thomas felt himself being flung. For a brief second, Thomas feared Mr. Carson had thrown him down the stairs, but instead of steps, his back struck the wall of the stairwell. He stumbled and fell to sit at Mr. Carson's feet.

Recovering slightly from his scare, Thomas opened his eyes to look up at an enraged Charlie Carson. This was no butler before him, but a street brawling tough who outclassed him in height, reach and weight. But where Thomas lacked size and strength, he compensated with speed and guile. Forcing himself to smile, Thomas stood up on the landing, facing his opponent boldly. "Why, Mr. Carson, you're libel to hurt yourself if you carry on like this."

Doubt flickered across Carson's face at this show of self-assurance. Even now, anger was subsiding and rational thought filtering back into his mind.

"I should have you sacked for insubordination! What do you mean telling lies about me to His Lordship?"

"Lies, Mr. Carson? You must admit, you've not been yourself lately." Thomas drawled with more false bravado. "I merely mentioned my concerns to His Lordship."

"Would it interest you to know that we were already planning to keep you on in London? That you were to have a trial of six weeks running Grantham House on your own?"

It was Thomas' turn to be surprised. Thomas cursed himself as he realized that there had been no reason for him to show his hand yet. He recovered quickly from the shock. "Were you planning to tell me at the train station?"

"I was going to tell you this morning, but you were too busy scheming behind my back to be found." Carson did not appreciate the under butler's cheek. "In case my communications are not timely enough for you, let me make this clear; you have until the end of the Season to find another position. You will not be returning to Downton with the family. I have been too lenient with you for too long. My benevolence is at an end. I suggest you find another job while you are still gainfully employed. After this Season, you will be dismissed from this family with no reference."

"That would be very unwise, Mr. Carson." Thomas was sweating now, but he was not unprepared for this confrontation. He had, after all, brought it about.

"Is that so?" Carson asked skeptically.

Thomas answered cooly, "You are not considering the things I know about this family."

"What?"

"I'm only saying that I know a lot of interesting facts about this family and this staff, Mr. Carson; enough to keep them in the scandal rags for some time."

TBC…

Dun dun dun!