A/N Day 3 prompt. There were 2 chapters posted today.
Hot Cocoa
by imnotokaywiththerunning
Carson shook the fallen snow off of his coat and hung it up on the rack by his pantry door. He'd managed to stay out of the worst of the winter storm, instead directing the footmen and groundskeepers where to set the massive Christmas tree from the inside of the main hall. But the thing was set now, and the housemaids were already hard at work placing decoration. He'd left Mr. Barrow to supervise.
"Thank God for this," he heard Andy say out in the hallway and he frowned. "I'm bloody freezing."
"That's enough of that, Andy," Mrs. Hughes's voice admonished the footman, saving Carson the trouble of doing so himself. He listened to see that she had the lad in hand and went to his desk. He still needed to go over the wine order for the next week.
"That boy," Mrs. Hughes sighed as she entered his pantry with a tea tray. Carson stood to clear a place on his desk and take the tray from her. He set back down once she'd taken the chair across from him.
"While I disapprove of his language, the sentiment is shared," he said, feeling the need to defend his footman.
Mrs. Hughes rolled her eyes but pushed a mug of hot cocoa towards him. "Well, drink some of this before you freeze to death and we're left with Mr. Barrow as the butler."
"Perish the thought," Carson shuddered, dutifully drinking the cocoa before it turned cold.