"Retire!" Lord Grantham's eyes widened and he was silent for a few moments. "You've surprised me, Carson. Are you sure everything is all right? Are you well?"

"Perfectly, milord."

"And right after Mrs. Hughes has given us her notice, too! I hope it isn't catching. Shall I tell her ladyship to expect Mrs. Patmore's resignation soon?" the earl joked.

Mr. Carson made no reply.

"You'll have a cottage, of course," Lord Grantham assured him. "You and Mrs. Hughes are good friends, I should think. Perhaps you would like to take one of the cottages near hers so you can visit regularly. There are several available in that area that have recently been modernized. I'll ask Tom to show you."

"That won't be necessary, milord," Mr. Carson told him. "I do not require a cottage."

"Do you mean to go elsewhere, Carson?" The earl was rather shocked. "I assumed you'd stay here when you retired."

"What I mean, milord, is that Mrs. Hughes and I plan to be married, and we will live together in the cottage she's already furnished and decorated."

"Steady on, Carson!" Lord Grantham exclaimed. "This is two shocks in one day. Are there any more surprises I need to know about?"

Mr. Carson couldn't suppress a little smile. "No, milord," he assured his employer. "Only those two."

"Well, congratulations, Carson. I wish you both the best."

"Thank you, milord."

"I think this news requires a talk with her ladyship," Lord Grantham commented. "Be warned, Carson, that Baxter will likely know all within an hour of our conversation. You and Mrs. Hughes had best make up your battle plan."

Mr. Carson was perturbed. "Thank you for the warning. I believe your lordship is correct."

"Be off with you, then," the earl commanded, amused. "Go and find your bride."

"Thank you, milord, I will."

After a hurried conference and several kisses in her sitting room, Mr. Carson and Mrs. Hughes decided to make their announcement at lunch. Miss Baxter might know their secret before then, but it wasn't a foregone conclusion that she would immediately spread the news. And if she did choose to make it everyone's business, there wasn't much to be done about it. It was only a few hours until lunch, and it was hardly the end of the world if half the house had heard the news before they announced it.

Fortunately, Miss Baxter chose to stay silent and Mr. Carson was able to shock and surprise the staff all at once when he announced his impending retirement and marriage. Mrs. Hughes wondered if Mr. Carson would miss making these impressive pronouncements from the head of the table, the staff all held in thrall by his authoritative manner and voice. He would have no authority over her when they were married, in spite of the marriage vows she would recite, but Mrs. Hughes was still mesmerized by that voice of his and he might find that enough compensation for this loss of a stage for his performances. She had been only momentarily surprised when she had first learned that he had performed for an audience in younger days. Mr. Carson had been a song and dance man, making audiences laugh and tap their feet, but he also had an undeniable theatrical presence and admirable dramatic timing that helped him perform his role as butler flawlessly. Mrs. Hughes wondered how that would translate into the quiet and privacy of retirement, when she was his only audience. She gleefully anticipated observing the transition. She had a feeling it would be terrific fun.

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After years of allowing Lady Grantham to be deceived by Thomas Barrow, Lord Grantham decided that he must, at last, acquaint her with the man's true character: his theft, his scheming, his impudence, his indolence. He would have happily allowed her to continue in ignorance rather than make this uncomfortable revelation, but making Mr. Barrow butler of Downton Abbey was a line he would not cross. If the under butler had been a man of good character, there would be no question of his being the perfect candidate to take over for Mr. Carson when he retired, but Lord Grantham could not stomach it. On top of the thorny conversation with his wife, it would be troublesome to bring in a man from outside who would have to learn the ways of the house, but it could not be helped. Mr. Barrow would receive a reference from Mr. Carson or the new butler should he choose to leave, which seemed likely if he were passed over, and he could pursue his ambition elsewhere.

Mr. Carson and Mrs. Hughes worked together to write an advertisement for a new butler, which was speedily approved by Lord Grantham and sent out to a variety of magazines for publication. Within just a few days, responses began to pour in. With so many great families in decline and great houses like Downton Abbey no longer being kept as private homes with domestic staff, there were many qualified applicants for the position.

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"Are you free for a few minutes, Mrs. Hughes?" Mr. Carson asked, standing at the door of her sitting room.

Mrs. Hughes looked up from her work and smiled. "Of course. What is it?"

Mr. Carson entered and closed the door behind him before coming to stand in front of her. "I have some news. Good news."

"I'm glad to hear it. You can sit down if you like, Charles." She gestured to a chair.

Mr. Carson remained standing and continued. "His lordship tells me that there are enough suitable candidates for my position that he feels certain we can have a man in place in a fortnight or less. I'll spend another two weeks training him and at that time I will leave service for good. That means we can be married in a month."

Mrs. Hughes rose from her seat and wrapped her arms around Mr. Carson. "Wonderful," she sighed.

He held her in his arms and spoke softly in her ear. "You'll only be on your own in our cottage for a few weeks. Shall we pay Mr. Travis a visit tomorrow?"

Mrs. Hughes smiled mischievously. "Well, I'm not sure," she answered.

Mr. Carson pulled back to look at her. "What do you mean? Why not?"

"Suppose I decide I like living alone and I change my mind about having you around?" she teased.

He relaxed, laughing and pulling her close again. "I'm afraid it's too late for that, love. You've already accepted my proposal. You're stuck with me now."

Mrs. Hughes sighed. "I suppose it can't be helped, then," she lamented. "Well, I've put up with you for this long, I might as well marry you and reap some of the benefits of marriage."

"I'm glad you think there will be benefits to being my wife," Mr. Carson told her seriously.

"I know there will be. I can hold your hand anytime I like, for one thing."

"You're very playful today, my dear."

"Am I? Well, I've just had some very good news. When shall we see Mr. Travis?"

"We've an appointment tomorrow afternoon, if you can spare the time."

"If I can spare the time!" she scoffed merrily. "I'd go with you even if I couldn't spare the time. I have a feeling her ladyship wouldn't sack me for it. Now be off with you. I've work to do."

Mr. Carson only laughed as he opened the door and left the room.

Mrs. Hughes sat back down at her desk and returned to her work, smiling and humming. In spite of all the excitement, she felt focused on what she was doing. And though she was retiring in just two weeks, Mrs. Hughes felt younger than she had in years. She was happy, and she was about to be even happier. She could only marvel at the series of events that had led her to this place. Where had it started? Why had it finally prospered? Mrs. Hughes wasn't sure when Mr. Carson had started loving her, but she found herself less curious about that than about what had brought them at long last out of their comfortable state of something a little more than friendship but not quite romance. It had started on that day by the sea, but what madness had possessed her to offer him her hand and what madness had made him take it? She didn't know how soon, but she planned to bring it up with Mr. Carson someday. Even if neither could explain what came over them, it was bound to be an interesting conversation.

To be continued...

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