Chapter 7
Phyllis stood with her mouth open, unsure if she was hearing her friend correctly. Joseph was still kneeling in front of her with her hands in his. Had he truly just asked her to marry him? He must have unless she was going crazy. "You want to marry me?" she asked nervously. Joseph nodded silently. "Yes, I will marry you Joseph. If you really want to be stuck with me for the rest of your life, then yes."
Joseph stood with a broad smile and wrapped his arms around her in a tight and loving embrace. "And I don't consider it being stuck with you. I love you, and I want to give you all the love in the world," he whispered in her ear.
Phyllis pulled back and pressed her lips to Joseph's. "You have already give me more love than I have ever received," she said as she broke the kiss. "I love you Joseph Molesley." The couple embraced for a few more minutes, before Joseph suggested going back inside and telling Mr Carson and Mrs Hughes.
"And you should also talk to his Lordship. When Mr Bates readies him for bed, you ought to go up with him, or just do it yourself," Phyllis said.
"I will talk to him one way or another," he replied, offering her his arm to lead her back to the house. She took it gratefully and they walked back in a contented silence.
Upon their return to the house, they found Mr Carson and Mrs Hughes in the housekeeper's parlor. "May we speak with you?" Joseph asked the Butler and Housekeeper.
"Of course," Mrs Hughes replied, the pair entering and closing the door behind them. Once Phyllis realized that Joseph was too nervous to talk, she spoke for him.
"Mr Molesley and I require a meeting with his Lordship because we wish to marry. We hope that you will both consent as well," she said.
Mr Carson and Mrs Hughes looked at each other for a moment, making Phyllis and Joseph quite nervous. "Unless Mrs Hughes objects, I can see no problem with this. Mr and Mrs Bates are married and have continued to work here. If you would like, I can see if his Lordship is available right now," Mr Carson said.
"I have no objections. If you want to get married and his Lordship agrees, I wish for you both all the happiness in the world," Mrs Hughes replied. Joseph and Phyllis looked at each of her with broad smiles as Mr Carson rose to seek out Lord Grantham. Once he was gone, Mrs Hughes cleared her throat. "Now, Mr Molesley. I don't believe you would ever hurt her, but I am warning you all the same. If you hurt Miss Baxter, I will ensure you lose your job, that you will leave without a reference and nothing will stop me. I gave this warning to Mr Bates as well, when he married Anna."
"I'd never hurt Phyllis," Joseph replied. "You have my word."
"Good. And congratulations. I doubt Lord Grantham will have an issue with your wedding," she said. "You are both hard workers and the family holds you both in very high esteem."
Soon, Mr Carson returned with Lord Grantham. The pair explained to him their intentions to marry, which made Lord Grantham smile. He chuckled lightly. "I wish you both all the happiness in the world. You may keep your jobs for as long as you wish and, like Anna ans Bates, you will have your own cottage on the estate," he said. "Baxter, I'll let you deliver the good news to her Ladyship. She has been hoping something might come of your friendship."
"Thank you, milord," Phyllis said with a smile. Lord Grantham left the parlor with a smile to return to his family upstairs. "Joseph, shall we go and tell our friends in the servant's hall?"
"I think we should," he replied, taking her hand and thanking Mr Carson and Mrs Hughes before leading her from the parlor to the servant's hall. Once they were there, they stopped dead in their tracks. How would their co-workers react to the fact that that were engaged to one anther? Would they be happy for the pair? Would they be angry that now not only were the Bateses married, but now there was another couple that would have their own cottage on the estate? Finally, Miss Baxter cleared her throat to get the attention of their fellow staff. The servants looked up from what they had been doing and ceased their conversations, looking up at the couple.
"Mr Molesley and I have some news," Miss Baxter started. "We are engaged to be married." With her words, the quietness of the servant's hall ceased as servants cheered or went up to the couple to congratulate them. Miss Baxter received hugs from Daisy, Madge, Anna (and several other maids); and the gentlemen shook hands with Mr Molesley and clapped him on the back. Even Mr Barrow came over and gave the couple his congratulations. Everything would be fine, the couple had no reason to be worried about their upcoming marriage causing any problems in the servant's hall of Downton Abbey, which was an utter relief.