Chapter 7 The House Will Pay

Her Ladyship's Dilemma

Cora was in the kitchen, settling on the menus for the week with Mrs. Patmore.

"Is everything on track for the wedding?"

Asking Mrs. Patmore this was the best avenue to information available to Cora. Although she met regularly with Mrs. Hughes, she felt it almost intrusive to venture a personal query, especially after Mary's interference. The lady of the house and the housekeeper just did not have the kind of a relationship that permitted such liberties. Robert had a more direct role as best man and he had Carson as an informant, but men were so oblivious to pertinent detail and Carson didn't seem to know anything worth knowing anyway.

"Well," Mrs. Patmore said, looking around slightly apprehensively, "I'll have to find some wood to knock on..." She moved over to the servants' hall table and rapped her knuckles firmly on it, "yes, everything's in order. Finally."

Cora smiled indulgently. "I think weddings are always prone to pitfalls, no matter who's marrying and how well planned they are."

Mrs. Patmore was less impressed with the ingenuity of the concerned parties of this wedding in finding - or creating - original obstacles to their own bliss. She forbore to enlighten Her Ladyship on the problems she had resolved thus far. "I'll just be glad to see the day itself," she intoned.

"And the wedding menu? Is it finalized?"

"Just about," Mrs. Patmore said airily. "But that's not a problem." There were situations in which Mrs. Patmore found herself at sea, but cooking - cooking anything, for any number of people - wasn't among them.

"It's a lot of extra work for you." Cora only wanted to let Mrs. Patmore know that she appreciated the cook's efforts.

"Oh, it's nothing." Mrs. Patmore dismissed this with a wave. "It's for Mrs. Hughes, after all. I'm glad to do it."

This elicited a smile from Cora. "For Mrs. Hughes? Not Carson, too?"

Mrs. Patmore actually had to think about it for a few seconds. "Oh, him, too. I suppose. But she and I are good friends."

It pleased Cora to hear this and not just because it meant good working relations below stairs. Friendships contributed to happiness, and she was glad that the two women who gave so much to Downton had this blessing in each other.

"I'd like to do something for Mrs. Hughes," Cora said thoughtfully, "only I can't really think of anything."

Mrs. Patmore could. "You're paying for the wedding breakfast, my lady," she said bluntly, and she knew quite well enough what that was costing.*

Cora only shrugged. "That's the house, really. I meant something personal."

Mrs. Patmore said nothing more, though she did wonder how you went about giving a personal gift to someone you didn't really know.

The House Will Pay

Carson came into the library to find His Lordship standing by one of the long windows.

"Mr. Bates said that you wanted to see me, my lord," he said, advancing on the other man.

"Yes, Carson. Please. Come in."

They didn't usually discuss business while staring out at the grounds, but Carson did not question His Lordship's choices.

It was because they were not going to discuss business that Robert was where he was. He had the wherewithal to realize that a personal conversation ought not to be conducted in the same manner as a professional one, but did not quite know how to stage-manage the difference. Standing together and across the room from his desk was as innovative as he could get.

"I was...wondering, Carson, if you'd given any thought yet as to where you will spend your honeymoon."

They neither of them were completely comfortable discussing such matters, but Carson gave His Lordship a lot of leeway in what he might ask, and Robert, as best man, felt he had some room to maneuvre.

"We have decided where, but I've not as yet made the arrangements," Carson said. "To be honest, my lord, I am still a little overwhelmed at the prospect of being away from Downton for a whole week. I've not been off work for such a sustained stretch...ever." Carson was not counting his more than two years' absence on the halls in this. He referred instead to the almost unbroken record of service he had posted subsequent to that youthful misadventure.

Robert smiled at this evidence of Carson's stalwartness. "Then it is time for such a break, Carson. You're a rank amateur at this marriage business if you think you can get away with anything less than a week. And don't worry about it. You'll forget Downton even exists and be reluctant to come back at all."

Carson doubted that but was, in the moment, slightly discomfited by the implications of His Lordship's words.

Robert moved on. "Where did you have in mind?"

"Scarborough, my lord."

This elicited a bit of a shrug from His Lordship. "Are you sure? Nothing more exotic?"

"We're not looking for exotic," Carson responded mildly. "Only away. We like the coast." Carson felt a fleeting sense of satisfaction about speaking of "we," with regard to Mrs. Hughes and himself, and also that they shared this particular taste. "And we don't want to spend time travelling."

"Mmm." Robert could understand that. He cleared his throat, a cue to bring him to the point. "The thing is, Carson, I wanted to make something clear before you finalize everything." He drew himself up a little, believing that a formal statement required a formal bearing. "You are marrying from this house and, as such, all the resources of the house - the kitchens, the gardens, the wine cellar, the greenhouse, the staff, and even Downton itself, if you so wished - are at your disposal. The house will cover all the expenses associated with the wedding and the wedding trip. Take this into account when you are making your preparations."**

An air of astonishment descended on Carson as Robert spoke. His jaw sagged a little and for a long moment he was struck dumb.

"My lord," he managed to gasp finally, "you are kind...and generous. I am overwhelmed..." As he struggled to express himself, Robert moved into the gap.

"Not at all, Carson. This is about who we are."

But Carson shook his head. "It is too much, my lord. I cannot accept."

Robert was prepared for this. "Then I hope you will reconsider, Carson. Lady Mary was wrong to press you to hold your reception at Downton. All decisions regarding your wedding must, of course, be yours and Mrs. Hughes's. But in the conviction that you are entitled to all the benefits Downton has to offer on this occasion, Lady Mary was completely in the right and the family are all agreed on this."

"It doesn't matter where you hold the reception or spend your honeymoon. Let it be the schoolhouse and Scarborough, and anything else you fancy. Only indulge yourselves, here with the assets of Downton that you may find useful, and in Scarborough with the best hotel and the finest dining."

"This isn't a gift, Carson," Robert added abruptly. "It is only what you have earned yourself - what you and Mrs. Hughes have both earned - in two lifetimes of service to this house."

But Carson was still in shock. "It is unprecedented, my lord."

"Of course it is," Robert agreed. "There is no one else like you at Downton. If it makes it easier for you, I promise to extend the same benefits to anyone else who serves this house for half a century."

Carson gave him a look at that. Robert only smiled.

"You are marrying from this house," Robert said again, "and have therefore a legitimate claim to the privileges that entails." He dropped his formal manner and a sudden boyish eagerness came over him. "Please accept it for what it is, Carson."

The honest sincerity in His Lordship's appeal touched Carson more deeply than the tangible advantages being offered. He would not deliberately or lightly offend His Lordship by rejecting out of hand this recognition of his own place at Downton.

"I must speak with Mrs. Hughes about this," he said finally, meeting His Lordship's gaze and hoping he would understand.

He did. "Of course." Robert was confident that Carson would put this to Mrs. Hughes in the proper context and that they would accept it in the spirit it was offered.

"One more thing," he added.

Carson almost imperceptibly braced himself. He could digest only so much largesse on the part of His Lordship in one afternoon.

"I thought we might go to York for dinner on the evening before wedding," Robert said. "A sort of low-key sendoff, as well as a distraction."

A predictable disavowal formed on Carson's lips and Robert waved it away impatiently. "Do you think, Carson, that for one night of our lives we might be just two men?"***

Carson recoiled visibly. "Of course not, my lord!"

Robert sighed. "When we're apart, Carson, I am as stalwart a defender of the old order as you are. But in your company I find myself rationalizing the breaking of rules, eager, in fact, to do so. Do you see what you drive me to?"

It was no use, of course, so Robert tried a different tack.

"Every man needs a distraction the night before he marries, Carson."

Anticipating Scarborough

After the fiasco over the venue for the reception, made painful not least because of the tug-of-war between Mrs. Hughes and Lady Mary in which he had been the rope, Carson was wary of approaching Mrs. Hughes with His Lordship's offer. He feared she might see this as more unwarranted interference by the family. And yet he felt it necessary to put it to her as soon as possible. The arrangements they would subsequently make would turn on whether or not she was agreeable.

She listened in attentive silence while he explained, over a glass of sherry in her sitting room that evening. It took her a moment to gather her thoughts.

"This is...unexpected," she said finally.

They had, of course, discussed the wedding expenses and decided how much they would spend, and their preliminary plans reflected this. Mrs. Hughes had taken primary responsibility for matters directly connected to the wedding, while Mr. Carson had assumed control over the details of their honeymoon. They envisaged a good party at the wedding breakfast, in part to share their very good fortune with their downstairs family, for whom the opportunity to enjoy themselves without obligation was rare. This was one of the reasons why Mrs. Hughes was so insistent on a celebration away from Downton. Their wedding trip would be more modest in consequence, but they didn't require much, only to be alone and comfortable. Mr. Carson's news changed things a little.

"And how do you feel about it?" he inquired cautiously.

She did not answer immediately, only staring at him as she thought about this surprising and generous offer. "I agree with Lord Grantham," she said, at length. "Downton is part of who you are. It means the world to you and you'd do almost anything for it. If this is how the house - and the family - want to acknowledge your dedication, then I won't object."

"It's not just for me," he said quickly. "It's a recognition of us both, of our work in the service of Downton Abbey."

She smiled at his impulse to include her. "Oh, I think not, Mr. Carson. Nor should it be. How do you feel about it?"

He hesitated.

Mrs. Hughes nodded encouragingly. "You're allowed your own views," she said.

Well. That's not what she'd said about the venue, although he supposed that Lady Mary's involvement might have had something to do with her position there.

It took him a moment. "I am...touched," he said finally. "I'm honoured." He spoke quietly and with a gravity that conveyed his feelings more effectively than the words themselves.

Her heart swelled a little, watching him. She didn't rely on the family as he did. He had so much more invested in them emotionally. And yet it surprised him when they reciprocated. She was still wary of them. What they gave, they could so easily take back or deny. She could never fully trust them and risk herself thereby, not as Mr. Carson did. But it was gratifying, even to her, when they proved up for him, as Lady Mary had in responding so warmly to the news of their engagement, and as Lord Grantham had in embracing his role as best man.

"Should I feel otherwise?" He was still uncertain of her response, still not sure she was wholly behind it.

"You don't mind them paying for the wedding?"

"Not if you don't." And then he thought he understood what she was saying. "'The house will pay,' that's what His Lordship said. Not the family, Mrs. Hughes, but the house. There is a distinction there. And I take His Lordship at his word on that." He paused again. "Then...you're all right with it?"

"Yes."

She could sense his relief and wished they could have agreed on the schoolhouse as easily. She thought perhaps he'd been a little cowed by her ever since.

And she did understand both His Lordship's characterization of the gift as almost an entitlement of the house. Goodness knows, Mr. Carson loved Downton Abbey almost as much as he did Lady Mary. And she believed that a gift sincerely given ought to be received with grace, whether it was humble or great. The Granthams appreciated Mr. Carson. Let them show it.

They sipped their sherry.

"It'll mean we'll have quite a good time in Scarborough," she said, after a while, thinking of the comfortable accommodations and fine dining ahead. It took her a moment to realize Mr. Carson was staring at her, and with that oddly intense look he'd had on his face the day he'd seen Dr. Clarkson. "What is it?" she asked, puzzled.

An almost wolfish expression came over him. "Oh, we were always going to have a good time in Scarborough, Mrs. Hughes. I can assure you of that."

*A/N1. In Season Six, Episode 3, Cora tells Mrs. Patmore to charge all the food to the house account.

**A/N2. I was less convinced about the viability of this thread, but canon supports me here. In Season Six, Episode 4, Robert and Mary have the following exchange at the breakfast table:

Mary: We could've managed something a little better than Scarborough.

Robert: I offered, but that's what they wanted.

If the Carsons were taking care of their own wedding trip expenses, this conversation would not make sense.

***A/N3. In for a penny, in a for a pound.