Dear Mr. Carson,

Of course I will respect your wishes on the subject of retirement. I might wish you would yield to my persuasion to do something I believe would make you happy, but I would not expect you to make the decision lightly, or without your own comfort as your primary concern. You are the person who must live with that decision, after all, not I. I do not anticipate retiring particularly soon, but I look forward to that next season my life. For now I will stay where I am, but I might be persuaded to retire sooner rather than later, given a good reason. I think I shall enjoy retirement quite as much as I've enjoyed my work over my years at Downton Abbey. It is my true home as well, just as you've said it is yours.

I quite agree with you on the subject of Mr. Molesley and his friend. It is harder to argue for the separation of husband and wife for weeks at a time than it is for a couple who are courting, but I am not even certain of the nature of the friendship between Mr. Molesley and the person we're speaking of, so I do not think it any bad thing that they should be apart for a time. He also does not seem to be terribly cast down by their separation. There is interest, but I do not believe it has yet gone beyond that. If it ever does, I do at least feel that they will behave in a manner that will disrupt downstairs life less than that foolishness last year with Daisy, Ivy, and the two footmen did. But we needn't worry about such an event until it comes to pass.

I am glad to hear that our family will soon be back together again. I look forward to further news of your return. I will be sure that my maids have the house in the best possible condition in time for the family's arrival.

Sincerely yours,

E. Hughes

#####

There were a great many things to do at Grantham House in preparation for the move back to Yorkshire, and Mr. Carson went several days without writing to Mrs. Hughes. He had hoped to send her at least one more letter before returning, but the date for leaving London had been pushed up, keeping him even busier and leaving less time to write a letter and post it before leaving himself. Finally, he gave up on the idea of writing and decided to telephone. Hopefully she would be downstairs when he placed the call. The telephone rang six or seven times before it was answered, but it was Mrs. Hughes on the other end of the line.

"Hello, Mrs. Hughes," Mr. Carson said.

"Mr. Carson! I'd been wondering if we'd hear from you. I haven't had a letter with a train time and I'd begun to get a little worried."

"I'm sorry I couldn't write. I've been so busy with preparations for departure. I should have made the time, but-"

"You needn't apologize. Just tell me when the family will be home. Thursday? Friday?"

He cleared his throat. "They will be home Wednesday. I will be home tomorrow."

"Tomorrow? Truly?"

"I've wondered the same thing, but Mrs. Bute insists that she has everything under control." He laughed. "I think she will push me out of the door herself tomorrow if I don't go willingly. So yes, you will see me tomorrow back at Downton. It will only be me, though. I won't bring our family along with me as you asked, though they will follow the next day."

She was silent on the other end of the line.

"Is everything all right, Mrs. Hughes?"

"Yes, fine. Everything's wonderful. What time will you be back?"

"I'll arrive on the two-thirty, if all goes well. Tell Mr. Molesley and the hall boys to be ready for the luggage that will be arriving with me."

"Yes, of course. I'll send them to the station with the car. Have you any orders for me?" she asked.

"Just one. A chat over tea and biscuits at about three-thirty. Your sitting room or my pantry; it's up to you."

"Certainly, Mr. Carson."

"Well, I'd best be going or Mrs. Bute may not be rid of me tomorrow as she wishes."

Mrs. Hughes laughed. "Goodbye, then. I'll see you tomorrow."

"Goodbye."

Mrs. Hughes replaced the earpiece of the telephone and sat down in Mr. Carson's chair. Tomorrow. She would have a little more time to prepare for his arrival than she had when he had brought Isis to the country, but it was still much sooner than she had anticipated. The whole family and their entire staff could arrive at this very moment and the house would be ready for them. What was less certain was whether she herself would be ready. Tomorrow, however, he would arrive. She thanked heaven for Mrs. Bute and her determination to get Mr. Carson out of Grantham House a day before the rest of them. She must find a way to thank her someday.

#####

That night Mr. Carson invited Mrs. Bute to his office for tea. They weren't in the habit of meeting in the evenings as he and Mrs. Hughes were, but if there was ever an occasion for it, his last night in London was probably it.

"We'll see each other tomorrow morning, of course," Mr. Carson said, sipping his tea. "But I thought a little chat and wrap-up of the Season might be nice."

"Thank you, Mr. Carson."

"I'm so sorry you were ill," he told her.

"I think you all were well taken care of in my absence, though," she replied. "Your Mrs. Hughes is very efficient, it seems."

"My Mrs. Hughes? What do you mean by that?" Mr. Carson was not angry, but his brows drew together.

Mrs. Bute laughed. "You misunderstand me, Mr. Carson. It's only that Mrs. Patmore sometimes calls her 'our Mrs. Hughes,' as though she belonged to you all."

He smiled. "Yes, of course. I think if you paid us a visit at Downton you might be able to call her 'our Mrs. Hughes' yourself. She was sorry you were ill, but glad that she was able to make your acquaintance. She likes you, and thinks you very intelligent and capable."

Mrs. Bute colored faintly at this praise. "That means a lot to me. I know how much you and the others respect Mrs. Hughes. From all I can see she seems almost a genius at what she does. I suspect she could arrive at any large house in England and have things set right in a day or two."

"Very likely," Mr. Carson agreed. "Downton is lucky to have her."

"I hope we will meet again," Mrs. Bute remarked. "I liked her as well."

"I'm glad," he answered. "As for meeting again, I suppose you never know. Life is full of surprises. What will you do until next Season?"

"The same as every year," she replied. "I find temporary work in smaller houses, either in London or nearby. I'm trained as a ladies' maid as well as a housekeeper. In a pinch I can play head housemaid. In between jobs I stay with my brother."

"A century or two ago, Grantham House might have been kept open all year and you'd have been sure of a permanent position. It's unfortunate that your work is so uncertain."

"It isn't ideal, Mr. Carson," Mrs. Bute agreed. "But I make do."

"Do you prefer to be a housekeeper or a ladies' maid?"

"Oh, I much prefer housekeeping," she answered. "But there's quite a lot of competition for the few year-round posts available."

"Her ladyship has given you a reference, though, has she not?"

"Yes, and it's gotten me my best off-Season work. I'm very grateful to her."

"Good. I do wish you luck, Mrs. Bute."

"Thank you, Mr. Carson." She smiled. "I wish you luck as well, though I doubt you will need it."

Mr. Carson sighed. "I just might."

To be continued...

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