"Good morning, Mr. Carson," Mrs. Hughes greeted him with a genial smile when they were seated for breakfast.
"Good morning, Mrs. Hughes," Mr. Carson replied, returning her smile. "Do we expect the dowager or Mrs. Crawley today?"
"Not today, Mr. Carson," she answered. "They know the family returns today and that the house will be at sixes and sevens."
"Oh, I doubt that, Mrs. Hughes," he told her. "Didn't you say the house was ready? I know your maids have been working very hard."
"Well, yes, but-"
"Then I'm sure it's in perfect condition for receiving any guests," Mr. Carson interrupted.
"Perhaps, but-"
"And all of the luggage is unpacked, except what they've got with them, and that isn't much. I think between the two of us we've got the house in much better shape than 'at sixes and sevens.'"
Mrs. Hughes laughed. "I'm sure you're right, Mr. Carson, but regardless of all that, the dowager and Mrs. Crawley will not be joining us today for tea or dinner. I think they'd like to let everyone settle in before they start visiting."
Mr. Carson nodded. "Well, that's a different story then. I think it's very courteous of them to think of the family's comfort. But I'll hear no more talk of this house being in disorder when I know very well that your being in charge of it for the last month or more makes that quite impossible."
"I had forgotten that this was one of the topics we discussed in our letters," she replied, trying to look serious. "You're going to give me a swelled head, Mr. Carson. Do stop exaggerating."
"I never exaggerate."
Mrs. Hughes couldn't help laughing. "This is much better, Mr. Carson," she told him. "Thank you for writing. I think we shall get on fine now."
"I'm glad to hear it."
"You're much better at teasing than I remember," she said, her eyes merry.
"I'm glad to hear that, as well."
Mrs. Hughes chuckled and returned to her food. The family would not arrive from London until the afternoon, but there was always plenty to do. Lady Edith would ring for her at any moment, and after that Mr. Carson would serve breakfast to her and Mr. Branson. In spite of all the rush and bustle that would shortly be upon them, though, Mrs. Hughes's heart was light. The true Mr. Carson had come back to her and she was happy. She felt she could face her work cheerfully and looked forward to another chance at tea with him.
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"Mrs. Hughes, I wonder if you might do me a favor," Lady Edith commented as the housekeeper finished styling her hair.
"A favor, milady?" Mrs. Hughes was puzzled.
"Yes, and it's rather a big favor. Madge will be back today, but I wonder if you could continue dressing me even after she's returned. Just in the mornings. You're so much better at doing my hair than Madge is."
"Well, milady, with everyone back in the house it may be difficult for me to continue dressing you, even if it's just in the morning. I'll have to speak to her ladyship and Mr. Carson about it."
"I'll speak to her ladyship as soon as they all return," Lady Edith told her. "You needn't come to me tomorrow morning unless you have seen her first."
"Very good, milady. Will there be anything else?"
"No, thank you, Mrs. Hughes."
Mrs. Hughes left the room feeling a bit uneasy. She wondered why Lady Edith had made this request. She said it was because Madge wasn't very good at doing hair, but she suspected there might be something else afoot. Lady Edith had told her when she returned from the Continent that it had taken Madge a long time to master her hairstyle, but she had mastered it. The young woman had seemed very fidgety and nervous this morning, as well. Mrs. Hughes knew there wasn't much to be done but wait for Lady Grantham to approach her, but that wouldn't keep her from feeling mightily curious.
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Mrs. Hughes was at her desk later that day when she heard the scrape of chairs on the floor of the servants' hall. She went immediately to investigate and found Lady Grantham at the bottom of the stairs.
"Oh, Mrs. Hughes," the countess greeted the housekeeper, approaching her. "It's you I've come to see. Can we go into your sitting room?"
"Of course, your ladyship." Lady Grantham led the way and Mrs. Hughes followed, closing the door behind them.
"Mrs. Hughes, I understand that Lady Edith has asked you to continue dressing her even though Madge is back from London."
"She has, milady. I told her I would need to speak to you first, and Mr. Carson as well."
"Quite right," the countess agreed. She looked away from Mrs. Hughes for a moment, gathering her thoughts. "Mrs. Hughes, I'm worried about Lady Edith. I'm determined to find out what is troubling her, but she was so concerned that she have you take care of her in the morning that I didn't want to refuse. Do you think there is any way you can manage it?"
"Well, milady, there might be some difficulty taking care of my other duties if Lady Edith needs me in the morning. Perhaps Mr. Carson would have an idea what we might do," she suggested. "I believe he's just in his pantry, if you'd like me to fetch him."
"Yes, please do. Then we can make a plan."
Mrs. Hughes hurried down the corridor and entered the pantry. "Mr. Carson, you'd better come," she told him. "Her ladyship is in my sitting room."
Mr. Carson was startled and got up immediately to follow her. "What's wrong?"
"Not wrong, exactly," she answered, as they went quickly back down the corridor. "You'll understand shortly."
In a few moments the three were behind the closed door of the housekeeper's sitting room.
"Her ladyship has asked me to continue looking after Lady Edith in the mornings," Mrs. Hughes explained. "I'm not sure if I can do that and see to my morning rounds."
"We thought you might have a suggestion, Carson," Lady Grantham put in.
"Well, I would be glad to help if I could, but I don't think I can reliably be available to make rounds, even if it were just of the main floor rooms." Mr. Carson thought for a moment. "What about your head housemaid? Might she be entrusted with checking things until you finish with Lady Edith and can take over for her?"
The countess was thrilled. "That's an excellent idea! If you think she's up to it, Mrs. Hughes."
"I'm not sure if she is or not, but I'm willing to give it a try."
"Thank you so much, Mrs. Hughes. I will let Lady Edith know. And this won't be permanent, I promise. I'm sure we can find a way soon to let you get back to your regular duties." Lady Grantham smiled and moved to leave the room, but turned briefly to speak once more to Mrs. Hughes. "I want to make it clear that I am not asking you to spy on Lady Edith. I would wish to know if she were ill or in some serious trouble, but otherwise, you may keep her confidences." The countess now nodded to both of them and left the room.
Mr. Carson closed the door again after her. "What was that about?" he asked, his eyebrows drawing together.
Mrs. Hughes shrugged. "I'm not quite sure. Lady Edith says it's because I'm better at doing her hair than Madge, but I think there is something else going on."
"What do you suspect?"
She shook her head. "I hardly know. Her ladyship seems to think Lady Edith is in distress of some kind and wanted to let her have her way in this while she investigates."
"I hope it is not too much for you, Mrs. Hughes," Mr. Carson said, concerned.
"I can manage."
"Of course you can. But if you find it getting to be too much, please let me know and I'll see what I can do to help." He reached out and touched her arm briefly, then smiled. "We can't have you getting ill."
Mrs. Hughes smiled back. "Thank you, Mr. Carson."
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"So now you admit that you might enjoy retirement?" Mrs. Hughes asked, as they sat alone in Mr. Carson's pantry that night.
"I'm a long way from ready to retire now, but the more I think about it, the less dreadful it sounds." Mr. Carson took a sip of his wine.
"Then, by all means, keep thinking about it!"
"You've been very persuasive, Mrs. Hughes."
She laughed. "Well, isn't this a summer of surprises!"
"Yes, it is," he replied, smiling thoughtfully.
"What's changed your mind?"
"Not one single thing, really, but many different things. Mainly, though, you've got me away from my imaginings of retirement as a lonely, solitary time."
"Which it won't be at all," Mrs. Hughes put in. "Unless you let it be. You'll have to make a little effort to avoid becoming a hermit, but I suspect even if you don't do a great deal of visiting you'll not spend much time alone that you don't want to be alone."
"So you think I'll receive a lot of visitors?" Mr. Carson asked.
"Of course you will! Lady Mary I'm sure will want to see you, even if she can't make time very often. And some of the staff - Mrs. Patmore of course, Anna and Mr. Bates, maybe even Daisy."
"And what about you?"
"Well, that goes without saying, doesn't it, Mr. Carson?" she replied. "If I retire first, you can come see me on your half-day. If you retire first, I'll come see you on my half-day. And once we're both out of harness we can visit each other as often as we like. You'll tell me all about London's sights and I'll school you on the prices of beef and tea and the like. You may tire of my company, however, once you've learned how to buy your own groceries."
"I'm sure you could never bore me, Mrs. Hughes." Mr. Carson smiled at her.
"Very well. And I know you could never bore me, so I think we shall get along well, even when we've no Downton business to discuss."
"I'm sure we shall. Even now, the house isn't the only thing we ever talk about."
"You're right, Mr. Carson. The last time we spoke alone of only house business was yesterday."
Mr. Carson grimaced. "Don't remind me. I do apologize if it seemed like I doubted your maids. I'm not sure what came over me."
Mrs. Hughes shook her head. "You needn't apologize. Whatever it was, it came over both of us, but thankfully seems to have gone now."
"Yes, thankfully," he agreed. "Mrs. Hughes, I have a question for you now, about your retirement, if I may."
"Of course. Ask away."
"You said in one of your letters that you weren't planning a change anytime soon, but that there might be things that could change your mind - that you might retire sooner. What did you mean by that?"
Mrs. Hughes was a bit flustered. "Well, I suppose I might go sooner if I discovered that I couldn't keep up with my duties."
Mr. Carson was surprised at her ruffled composure. It seemed to him a straightforward question. "Anything else? Perhaps if your sister asked you to live with her?"
Mrs. Hughes shook her head. "I couldn't go to Lytham St Annes. When I'm retired I'll be able to visit my sister more often, but I don't want to leave Downton permanently. She has her own family. She doesn't need me."
"I'm glad that you plan to stay."
"Are you?" Mrs. Hughes looked at him questioningly.
"Of course," Mr. Carson answered. "I'm glad to know you love Downton as I do."
She smiled. "Perhaps not exactly in the same way as you do, but it is my home. There's no doubt of that. And just like you, I'd miss the people here if I left." Mrs. Hughes allowed herself to look directly into his eyes before she spoke softly. "They're my family. I was sorry to be separated from them during the Season."
"Don't tell me you missed me," Mr. Carson teased.
"I did, Mr. Carson, very much," she answered seriously, her eyes never leaving his.
"And I, you," he told her. "Very much."
To be continued...
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