A/N: Anna is in bed with the flu, Edith has taken it upon herself to let the surprise go swimmingly. Lets see how things go. (this chapter is absolutely safe for work)

Elsie was fuming. With Ethel cleaning the chandelier in the hall, Jane polishing the crystal and Anna sick in bed, there had been nobody to fetch Lady Edith. Her ladyship had been vague about why Edith had to come in, something about a dress that had been Mary's and altering it. Elsie did not think it made much sense, but who was she to argue with her employer.

The weather was lovely. Perhaps she had reacted a bit irrationally. A bit of a stroll through the grounds was welcome as she had send everyone off to their various tasks and it turned out she had her own work as good as finished. Today especially she found she had taken care of all the bills, the linen rota and that everyone was at the place she ought to be. Except for Anna. Lady Edith had come to her to say Anna had taken to her bed and was too sick to work.

Of course the first thing that came to Elsie's mind was that Anna could be pregnant (being sick in the morning usually told any woman as much), but Lady Edith had nipped that thought in the bud, giving symptoms of flu instead. Elsie had sent Jane over to check up on Anna and learned the headhousemaid was fast asleep. Sleep was good for any illness, Elsie thought as she walked past the pond.

Elsie loved the pond. It was a quiet area, somehow few of the people living at Downton went there . The same did go for the folly. Except for Lady Edith she never heard anyone talk about it. Of course the thing was a bit of a monstrosity. Lord Grantham's grandfather had fallen for it when other great houses were having the same structures build, but it was a thing that had only been looked upon with fondness in the past.

She walked on, her mind drifting to many a late night rendezvous on stifling summer nights, of the cool walls against her back, his strong, soft hands on her thighs and... She was interrupted in her thoughts by classical music coming from the folly. What on Earth was Lady Edith doing?

He hurried down the lawn and felt his heart pound in his chest. Whatever was Lady Edith thinking, going off with Sir Anthony unaccompanied? When Lord Grantham had rung for him, he had thought it was for tea or coffee or perhaps a light snack, but when he was told that his lordship had misplaced both his daughter and her suitor, Charles had just nodded and taken off.

The grass under his feet was bouncy and he breathed in the air. Everything here smelled of home. Home, to him, was Downton. He could not imagine living anywhere else but here. Of course he would have to retire in the future, but he counted on his Lordship to provide him with a cottage maybe, or two renovated rooms over the mews. As long as there was space for a double bed and it was not far from Elsie, he would be content.

'No,' he shook his head as he made a beeline towards the folly, avoiding the pond for fear of getting his shoes smudged, 'i won't be content with just being close to her. I want her with me. Always.'
Just as he thought this and shocked himself a little, he heard music coming from the folly and he hastened his pace even more, getting a little out of breath.

As he followed the music, he did not really know a word for what he found. There were drapes and plaids and pillows on the floor and Elsie stood in the middle of it, a note in her hand.

"Elsie?" he managed.

Edith and Anthony stood hidden in the shrubbery. Edith suppressed a giggle. How silly to be standing here, looking at two people she knew so well, hoping their reaction would be favourable. Mrs Hughes had picked up the note and she was just about to read it, when Carson came almost running to her.

"Elsie?"

Of course Edith knew Mrs Hughes had a first name, but she had never heard it uttered before. She practically gasped and clamped her hand against her lips. She saw Mrs Hughes turn to Carson and giving him a radiant smile. A smile that had only fallen on Edith when she was still very little. Edith had had a doll and she enjoyed putting the doll in new clothes several times a day, but being the uncoordinated thing she was, the dresses got torn. She knew better than to ask her nurse or mama's maid, so she had always gone to Mrs Hughes. Who had sewn her doll's clothes back to perfection and handed back the doll with the smile she had just seen.

"What are you doing here?" Mrs Hughes turned to face Carson.

"His lordship asked me to get Lady Edith... she is missing from the house, as is Sir Anthony."

Edith blushed fiercely. The implications in that one sentence were so powerful, she had to close her eyes and think of something soothing very hard. Then Anthony's arm snaked around her waist and a kiss was planted on her cheek. "Sssst..." he whispered. "Lets see how this goes on..."

Anthony was a bit of a romantic then. She knew. She had always known and she leaned against him, focusing on the folly instead of him. His scent. How near he was. His breath on the naked skin of her shoulder.

"Her ladyship asked me to get Lady Edith so she could fit a dress." Mrs Hughes sounded amused. "I think we have been set up."

"It appears so." Carson did not sound amused. He wouldn't be at first.

"I found this note." Mrs Hughes handed the note to Carson, who read it aloud. Edith knew what it said, she had written it after all, but it was peculiar hearing your own words while a branch poked you in the leg and a strong arm laid around your waist.

"Dear Carson and Mrs Hughes,

Anna wanted to surprise you both to thank you for the way you took care of her while Bates was imprisoned. The family too thanks you for the way you have done all in your power to support Anna and Bates and appreciate the way you have been able to keep the house run smoothly.

Edith"

The note was short and to the point and she couldn't think of the right way to end it. "Yours truly", or "sincerely" sounded too formal, but "yours affectionately" and "with love" were too... well... too amical.

"I am surprised... " Mrs Hughes said. The music stopped and she turned to the gramaphone. "There are more records here and a hamper. Look! There is even champagne..." Mrs Hughes did not only sound surprised, but very happy. Edith felt she was smiling widely. This was going even better than expected. "And a letter. It's Anna's handwriting. Addressed to me." She picked up the envelope and pulled out the letter.

"Do you think they know?" Carson asked. His voice was slightly uneven.

'Know what?' Edith wondered.

"No. I wouldn't think so. Come. Sit here." Mrs Hughes took Carson's hand in hers and led him to the bench that had been improved with the cushions from the guest room she and Anna had raided. They sat down together and Mrs Hughes cupped Carson's cheek in her hand, gazing into his eyes intently.

And suddenly Edith understood.

The straightening of his tie this morning. The glances whenever they passed each other anywhere in the house. Carson in Mrs Hughes' parlour when Edith had come over to get her doll's clothes repaired.

"Lets leave them to it..." Edith whispered in Anthony's ear and placed her hand in the crook of his elbow. Together they managed to emerge from the shrubbery unseen, leaving Carson and Mrs Hughes behind in their little refuge.

A/N2: What will be in the letter? Will Anna be alright? What will Edith do now she knows about Charles and Elsie?
Stay tuned and find out in the next (couple of?) chapters!

And as always: reviews appreciated! Also a heads up: next chapter will contain mature content. Not of the violent or swearing kind.