A PROPOSAL SHE CAN'T REFUSE

"Do you think you might be a tad jealous?" Mrs Patmore never saw her friend in such a state. She saw her angry countless times. But this anger was different from her usual Scottish rage. She was also hurt.

"No! I am not jealous." She lied. "I am just astonished."

They looked at each other and then both starting staring at their hands, both tending to their own thoughts. Mrs Patmore was hopelessly trying to figure out how to help her friend's situation and Mrs Hughes was trying hard to persuade herself that she is not jealous.

"It will be nice to get away for the trip, then." Mrs Patmore said finally.

Meanwhile, back in the servant's hall Daisy and Andrew were playing cards. When Daisy got up to bring them tea, he moved over to where the valet was sitting and lowered his voice. "I don't suppose you have a minute to talk, Mr Bates?"

Mrs Bates looked at his pocket watch first and then at the footman. "I should be fine for a moment."

"The servants hall is a bit loud." Andrew hinted.

"If you'd like a more private conversation, we can go to the boot room, but I think Anna might still be in there."

"That's fine." The footman replied quickly, and they both hastily retreated to the boot room.

"So what's the big secret?" Mr Bates asked the young lad bluntly, which not only took Andrew by surprise but also caught the attention of Anna.

"A secret?" Anna teased them both. "Should I make my departure?"

"I don't mind. Your input might also be of help..." Andy said eagerly.

"Go on then." Said the valet impatiently at the sight of Andy's restless fidgeting.

"I want to ask Daisy to marry me!" He cried out more loudly than he expected.

"That's amazing, Andy, congratulations!" The married couple enthused.

"Thanks, but…" He tried to stop their excitement. "I'm not really sure how to go about it… I want to make sure she says yes."

Mr Bates and his wife just nodded.

"I want to make sure the proposal is romantic and impressive so that she can't refuse even if she wanted to. So, I wanted to ask for tips…"

At that Mr Bates laughed. "I am probably not the best person to ask. Anna wanted to hit me at first, because I asked his lordship even before I asked her. I didn't even pop the question, she just assumed what I wanted." The spouses now both started chuckling. "It was just outside, in the courtyard, and freezing!"

"It was still very romantic for me." Anna admitted.

"What I am trying to say is that my proposal is not one to be inspired by. We were rushed." He explained to both of them.

"You should ask Mr Carson." Anna suggested out of the blue. "I hear his proposal was very romantic, on the Christmas Eve as well."

Both the valet and the footman looked at her in mild shock.

Andrew stood outside the housekeeper's sitting room for a while swaying slightly from one foot to another. When he finally mustered the courage to knock and enter, he interrupted what seemed like an intense conversation between Mrs Hughes and Mrs Patmore.

"I wanted to speak to Mr Carson." Andy said after he greeted them and cleared his throat.

Mrs Hughes just raised her eyebrows and waited for him to continue talking.

"I was wondering when would be the best time to pay him a visit? Or if he's coming to the abbey any time soon?" He was rubbing his neck. "I just want to talk to him for a couple of minutes." He explained again. He felt a bit like he was on trial; both the old ladies studying him, trying to figure out what he's plotting.

"May I know what about?" Mrs Hughes answered his question with a question.

"No." Andrew said quickly and gulped. "You'll find out soon anyway..." It was embarrassing enough he was planning on talking to the butler about something so personal. He didn't want another superior to know about his intentions.

"Very well," she sounded a little annoyed, "you can usually visit him during lunch time or after four o'clock-"

"Why don't we go together now, Andy?" The cook interrupted the housekeeper and got up to leave. "I want to talk to Mr Carson as well."

Both Andrew's and Mrs Hughes' jaws dropped.

"Let me just fetch my coat."

In his mind, Andrew was now coursing Anna for giving him such ill advice.