A/N: This chapter has been a real labour of love. But i think i have gotten all the plotholes out, which is the best thing i can say about it. Of course i still hope you will all read and review this. Reviews are lovely, they help you master your craft and learn from your mistakes, so don't be afraid to let me know what you think!

Elsie could feel it. There decidedly was an atmosphere brewing in the servants' hall. If there was anything she hated, it was an atmosphere. They never seemed to be followed by something good. Charles was nowhere to be found and one of the new maids had made herself ill with homesickness and had been in bed for most of the morning, leaving the other new girl and Anna to take care of things.

What would she do without Anna? she wondered. The girl was exactly where Elsie had been when she was her age. Well, not exactly of course. There was no cozy cottage and loving husband for Elsie Hughes, but in terms of being respected, knowledgeable, strong and independent: Anna was precisely what she was looking for to follow in her footsteps. Elsie was starting to feel her years. To feel how much the war had taken out of her. How much it had taken of her to cater to needs of others, while the only one catering to her needs was a man who was as tired as she was.

She knew Charles was tired, but to be fair: he was much better than during the first year of the war, when he had collapsed of pure strain. He was so much better than when he was recovering from the Spanish Flu. Somehow, he seemed cheerful and to have a lot more gumption than she did. She straightened her back. 'Stay strong, Elsie.' she told herself.

She walked the halls upstairs, checking if all the work she had dished out was done and she was perfectly content with what she found. Oh, of course the grates could be cleaner, but couldn't they always be. A curtain that was not perfectly pulled back was straightened by a quick and expert hand. Elsie would miss Downton very much if she ever left.

Leaving. Something that sprang into mind all of the sudden. She had never given it much thought. Naturally she had saved as much of her salary as she could, splurging on few things - she managed to banish the thought of her four different coats to somewhere in the back of her mind - and she would be able to retire quite comfortably.

But she wasn't going to retire until she was certain he would.

Going back downstairs, she saw him coming from the winecellar and she hurried to catch him before he went into the servants' quarters.

"Mr Carson?"

One day, hopefully not too long now, she would not have to be careful anymore. Not long now and she could call him 'Charles'. Or 'dear'. Or 'love'.

He turned around and smiled at her. He looked well. Well, he would, he slept well enough, she had made sure to use all within her power to ensure him to get at least eight hours in. Not that it had been hard to persuade him to... how should she put it... get some exercise before going to sleep. Elsie bit her lip to suppress a gleeful smile.

"Yes, Mrs Hughes?" His smile was not to be denied. He was looking decidedly smug.

"I wonder if you have time to help me sort out a problem i have encountered with a bill we have received for supplies i don't think we have ordered nor received." Ah, how easy the lies came after all this time.

Not long now... Another five years maybe... Unless of course he was thinking about dying in harness. 'Don't think about him dying, Elsie!' she reprimanded herself. 'Just. Don't.'

"Of course. I will come with you now, i have a few minutes to spare." and he followed her to her parlour where she closed the door and fell into her chair.

"Charles... There most definitely is something brewing downstairs and i don't much like it."

If there was something brewing, it was because of Anna's plan. She had spoken to Lady Edith in the morning when she had dressed for breakfast. With so few people in the house, her ladyship had decided to have breakfast with her father, engaging him in conversation and trying to ease his loneliness. Anna had to hand it to Lady Edith: she was a strong woman. Before the war she had been the overlooked middle child, bitter and unpleasant, but the war had given her a sense of purpose and she had been a great comfort to the recooperating soldiers in the convalescent home Downton had become.

With all the officers gone and her sisters married, she had very little to do. Sir Anthony often came to pay his respects and have tea or dinner and Anna knew Lady Edith would jump at the chance if he would propose. Why didn't he? Of course it could be that he did not want to burden Lady Edith with his physical trouble, though he was getting much better. All of this Anna learned while fastening corsets and combing out hair. Not exactly secrets, but not exactly things you shared.

Anna's job was easier now there was only one person for her to dress and she found that Lady Edith was both a good listener and a good conversationalist. Pulling the laces through the hoops, she had told Lady Edith about her plan and it had been received first with apprehension, but then enthusiasm.

Mrs Hughes shouldn't be so concerned with the atmosphere brewing downstairs. She should be worried about the ladies upstairs, who all knew about the plan and were working together to give both Mr Carson and Mrs Hughes a splendid surprise. Anna hoped Mrs Hughes didn't notice how often the bell was rung for her and that nobody knew about the menu being drawn up for the two faithful managers.

There was a lot to work out. The hardest was to get the two of them together at the same time at the same place. The only time they seemed to be together was after all the work was done and they retired to Mrs Hughes sitting room for a chat and Anna wanted them together a lot earlier, in the sunshine.

So she schemed and plotted and went through her plans with Lady Edith, who turned out to be an organisational talent. A talent much appreciated by the man she would marry someday.

Four days after the conversation in Lady Edith's bedroom, Anna found herself tending to the flowers in the hall.

"Anna?" she turned around. Lady Edith gestured her to come into the library.

"Yes, milady?" Anna followed her.

"I think i have all the details clear and we could let the surprise go ahead this Saturday." Lady Edith's face was lighting up.

"Coming Saturday? Really?" Anna repeated incredulous.

"Mother and father are dining with Mary and Matthew and i have been asked to dine with SIr Anthony, so there is no need for them to be here. Mama has spoken with Mrs Patmore and then it is up to you and me to take care of the rest. Mama is asking Carson to check on something or other and i will be asking the same of Mrs Hughes and everything should be settled!"

When Anna returned to the servants' hall she was feeling very excited and cheerful.

Her surprise was underway.

A/N: Oooooh! What could it be? Will it all come off without a hitch? Will they thank Anna?
Stay tuned for more!