Thank you all for reading and leaving reviews! Hope you're having a good holiday week!
Pie
by imnotoakywiththerunning
"Oh tidings of comfort and joy
Comfort and joy
Oh, tidings of comfort and joy…"
The carolers from Downton Village continued to sing, their voices echoing through the Abbey's library. They had come just before dinner service to regail the big house with their songs and with any luck leave with some beer and snacks.
Carson watched them with the studied detachment befitting a butler. It was easier for him today. He was still attuned to the needs of the family, but his mind was occupied elsewhere.
He could still see the look on Mrs. Hughes's face as she'd told him why she would not be able to buy a house with him. She had sat in her chair, brave and strong, as she'd told him of her sister and of the need for her to provide for her. He had always thought that Mrs. Hughes was a woman of substance, and hearing her story just cemented his opinion.
Still, he could not deny the flash of disappointment that had flooded his heart at her words. Not because she could not afford to buy a house, but because his plan to link them together in retirement had failed. He swallowed, sweeping an eye over the library's occupants, but no one needed him at the moment.
He knew he was getting older, getting closer to the time when he would be forced into retirement. And though Mrs. Hughes was younger than he, he had thought that they would perhaps retire together. Or if not together, close to each other. He liked their nightly chats; had come to count on them to center himself after particularly tiring days. She was his friend. His best friend. He couldn't imagine his life without her now.
The carolers finished their last song and a round of applause brought Carson out of his head. He moved to lead the carolers out of the library and into the entrance hall where a small repast had been laid for them.
"That was lovely," he heard Mrs. Hughes say. She was standing behind a table laden with mince pies and mulled wine, smiling and chatting with the contingent from the village. She caught him staring and sent him a small wink.
He'd already decided that he was going to buy the house they'd found. It was perfect. He had enough money for it. He hadn't ever really needed Mrs. Hughes to go in halfway. Asking her to buy a house with him had been testing the waters. He thought that maybe she might feel the same as he did, but he had to make sure. And her enthusiasm in looking for houses had given him hope.
He watched her as she laughed at some joke old Mr. Molesley had said and made up his mind. They might not be buying a house together anymore, but that didn't mean that they couldn't retire together. All he had to do was ask the right question this time.