A/N Thank you again for all the marvelous reviews! You're all very kind. I was really worried when my editors (my middle and youngest daughters, ages 14 and 12) read this story. They told me, "It's a little boring. All they do is talk." But many of you have assured me that you like the conversations, so I feel a little better. Please keep reviewing. I feel a little silly when I keep telling you how important the reviews are to me, but it's true: they mean a lot, and I'm grateful for each and every one.

Chapter 3

"I've been thinking, Mr. Carson – ever since you told me of your plans," declared Mrs. Hughes the next morning as they walked back from church. They'd let the rest of the group get far enough ahead of them that they were afforded some privacy.

"Oh?" wondered Mr. Carson.

"Yes, and I've had some thoughts of my own."

"Have you?"

"I have. As it happens, there are certain … endeavors I might like to pursue that my current arrangement will not allow," she informed him cryptically.

"Such as?" He raised an eyebrow and tried to suppress a smile, but one corner of his mouth curled slightly.

"Well, the same undertakings you've been pondering – courtship and marriage."

Certain now that Mrs. Hughes had understood what he'd been hinting at, he allowed his smile to spread fully across his face. "Now, that is news, Mrs. Hughes. I'd no idea! Erm … And if I may inquire, have you a particular gentleman in mind? Have you already secured his affections?"

"There's only one gentleman I've ever had in mind, Mr. Carson, and I've sought his affections for some time, though I can't know if I've secured them."

His heart raced. "Of course you have! Any man would be a fool - " He left off abruptly, blushing, and coughed quietly. "Forgive me, Mrs. Hughes. That was rather forward of me."

"It's all right, Mr. Carson," said Mrs. Hughes shyly. "Actually, I'm rather flattered."

"Yes, well … Your gentleman … He's not told you, then, how he feels?"

Now her face colored, and she looked away. "Not explicitly, no. At present, my friend is not in a position to make any proclamations or proposals, but I have reason to believe he soon shall be."

"I see. But even when he is able to declare himself, how shall he do so?" he proceeded cautiously. "As housekeeper, you're hardly in a position to be entertaining gentlemen callers or walking out."

"I suppose I shall need to leave my post."

"Will you? Truly?" he asked eagerly. It seemed she meant to proceed in the manner he'd hoped she would, and he could hardly contain his excitement. He'd worried that she would be reluctant to leave her position and the people who meant so much to her, but she was evidently willing to do so for him.

"I think I must," she responded. "As long as I remain here, my friend will never suspect I favor him. He likes to do things properly, and he'll never dare to make any advances until he knows marriage is a possibility."

"Indeed? He likes to do things properly? Imagine that! A man after my own heart. Or I suppose it's your heart he's after," he flirted brazenly. He knew he was being very forward, but he didn't care. Her assurances, veiled though unmistakable, emboldened him.

"I wonder if he knows it's already his," Mrs. Hughes returned, just as audaciously.

Mr. Carson felt his heart swelling in his chest. At the same time, his lungs were constricting. He was unable to form an appropriate response – or any response at all, really – and they walked on in silence for a time.

When he finally recovered, he asked, "So … when will you tell the family?"

"I don't know. Do you suppose we should both speak to them together?"

"Heavens, no!" he cried emphatically.

"Why ever not?" she asked with a confused look. "Given that we'll be leaving at the same time, it might be easier just to have it all out at once."

"But that's just it! That we are leaving at the same time will look suspicious enough on its own. It would be better for us to speak to them individually. If we were to approach them together, they might think … they might presume … well, they could get the wrong idea."

"And what idea would that be?"

Mr. Carson cleared his throat nervously. "Well, that you and I … I mean that we … that two of us will be … leaving together."

"And won't we be?"

"We will be leaving separately, but at the same time, Mrs. Hughes," he corrected.

"Ah, yes. I see the distinction," said Mrs. Hughes.

He suspected that she saw no distinction whatsoever and was merely humoring him, but the qualification was important to him, and he felt the need to explain himself. "It mustn't look like we've been planning something – that we've somehow coordinated our efforts."

"Of course not," she agreed indulgently. "It does seem rather a remarkable coincidence that we should both be planning these changes at the same time; don't you think?"

"Quite. Which is why we must be very careful not to give the wrong impression," he warned sternly.

"Well, then, what if you speak with Lord Grantham this afternoon, and I'll wait a few days before I tell Lady Grantham? That way, I'll be able to say that when I spoke with you of your retirement, you made the prospect sound so appealing that I thought it might suit me, as well. That is, after all, what has happened, is it not?"

"Well, yes, it is, actually. And when you put it that way, it does sound very reasonable."

"I have been known on occasion to have an inspired idea, Mr. Carson," teased Mrs. Hughes.

"You're a very clever woman indeed, Mrs. Hughes," Mr. Carson conceded with a bright smile. "I'll speak to his lordship this afternoon. He usually spends some time alone in the library after tea. That might be a convenient time."

"And then I'll go to her ladyship in a few days. I'm sure your announcement will cause quite a stir, and it will be better if I wait until everyone's had time adjust to your news before I cause a fresh commotion."

"I think that would be wise," he concurred.

By now, they were nearing the house and had almost caught up with the others. Once they entered the courtyard, they could no longer speak privately, and their conversation turned to more mundane matters.