I've seen Perfection

Part seven

Short one, but an update nonetheless.

I hope you'll like it and find especially Mrs Hughes still in character, that's very important to me and I'm always totally thrilled when someone tells me they believe I get them and their voices. 

So, enjoy reading and let me know your thoughts if you would be so kind - love you all, lots of hugs!

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"Are you absolutely sure?"

Mrs Hughes couldn't help rolling her eyes a bit desperately at his persistence, although, she had to admit, she found it rather endearing somehow.

"As I keep telling you for the last ten minutes, yes, Mr Carson, I am sure", she replied, torn between giving him a reproachful look and an amused smile.
She had slept very well that night. Might have something to do with the dream you had after thinking about that nice- Shht!, she quickly silenced her own head. This was neither the time nor place for such thoughts, provided that she should have them at all.
She was in Mr Carson's pantry early in the morning to let him know that she planned to go back to work today. She had meant to just quickly inform him and then get on immediately as there would surely be much to do after her short absence - but what she hadn't foreseen was that he would try to talk her out of it since she had announced it.

"But it's only been two days, Mrs Hughes...", he said now, for the second time in this increasingly annoying conversation.

"Really, you surprise me, Mr Carson", she told him, deciding to go with the reproach she hoped he wouldn't notice was at least partly feigned. "I expected you to be the first to encourage me to go back to work as soon as possible."

Satisfied, she watched how these words startled him the exact way she had intended. He opened his mouth to say something, but closed it again, apparently realising that he couldn't argue with that. What she didn't know was that he could have, though, but not without revealing too much.

"Of course, I will be glad to have you back downstairs", he said slowly, cautious not to give anything away by making his worry too obvious. "You know I am."

He seemed a little distressed, and although Mrs Hughes hadn't really been cross with him, her eyes softened even more now, and she took a careful step in his direction, hesitating for a moment, but then - gathering her courage - she dared to put her hand on his arm soothingly.

"I do", she confirmed warmly. "And I thank you for your concern. But I'm fine", she assured him insistently. "Honestly, I feel perfectly well. And I promise to take things easy, alright? Just...trust me..?", she said, half asking, half instructing - a plea.

"Always", Mr Carson finally gave in sincerely, softened by the tone of her voice as well as the look in her eyes. He just couldn't deny her anything she asked, he knew well enough, and the grateful smile he received made up for every worry in the world.

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"Beryl Patmore!"

Mr Carson was startled from the wine he was just filtering through a cloth by the sound of a familiar voice echoing through the corridors right to his pantry. Alarmed and also slightly curious, he put the bottle down, got up and peeked around the corner in the direction of the kitchen, where the sound apparently came from.

"What must I hear?", he heard the annoyed voice, the Scottish lilt more penetrating than usually. "Two days away and I return to find the pillars of my principles questioned!"

Mr Carson couldn't suppress the corners of his mouth wrinkling into an amused smile when he heard that - she could always become so theatrical when she was angry, and he had to admit that he rather liked it - found it adorable even, as long as her rage wasn't directed towards him...
He made his way to the place of action and threw a glance through the door to find the addressed cook looking at the housekeeper a little distraught.

"Anna tells me you tried to talk her into giving you the keys to the store cupboard!", Mrs Hughes clarified very reproachfully. "You know exactly that's never going to happen", she said, accentuating every word, "Not as long as I'm housekeeper here!"

"Alright, alright...I see", Mrs Patmore tried to calm her down, raising her hands defensively.

"I should hope so", Mrs Hughes replied, eyebrows raised, underpinning her words.
"And that you don't forget it again as soon as I'm out of sight", she finished scoldingly, but the little twitch in the corner of her mouth told the cook that the matter was settled now and everything alright, so Mrs Patmore nodded and gave a confirmatory smile in return.

With a deep, final breath, the housekeeper turned around without noticing Mr Crason standing in the doorway, but she did indeed see Thomas, lurking in a corner as he leaned against the wall with his arms crossed in front of his chest and a rather smug expression on his face he wasn't even trying to hide.
"And what are you smirking at, Mr Barrow?", Mrs Hughes asked as she stood in front of him. "I should think the responsibilities of an underbutler would bestow you with more important duties", she stated meaningfully, watching Thomas who just looked back at her for a moment, remaining in his position - then he threw a glance to the floor, smiled innocently as he looked back up and straightened himself.

"Indeed, Mrs Hughes", he smiled confirmatory, turned around and left the room, obviously indignant that he had been reprimanded.

Mr Carson, however, couldn't have been more pleased with the scene he witnessed.
Isn't she incredible?, it shot through his head unintentionally and he quickly wiped the thought aside as the woman in question stepped out of the kitchen and approached him, for he feared that his feelings might be written on his face, an open book for her to read. Thankfully, that didn't seem to be the case, or if she spotted anything, she didn't let it show.

"I see you've settled back in", Mr Carson said when she reached him, a hint of amusement in his voice that told her he had apparently overheard the recent conversation.

"And not a second too soon, I should say", she replied with a meaningful glance down the corridor. "Anna is more than a worthy replacement, of course, but the rest of the staff seems to be eager to gain advantages from my absence by testing her - and my patience right along with it!"
He smiled fondly, the little amused twitch around the corner of his mouth finally making her smile as well.

"I'm glad you're back, Mrs Hughes", he said calmly, looking down at her.

"So am I, Mr Carson", she sighed, "so am I."

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Mrs Hughes sat at her desk when a knock surprised her. It was evening, an early one today to the delight of the staff, who had all already retreated upstairs, as she had thought. When she turned around, she saw Mr Carson standing in the door of her sittingroom, the sight sending a mixture of delight, anticipation and nervous insecurity through her body.

"Everything back in order?", he asked, remaining in the doorframe.

"I would say so", she replied. "I do hope I've still got enough authority in my old age to bring Mrs Patmore back in line, thank you very much", she told him, half reproach, half amusement. He looked down and chuckled slightly, and she was glad about it so he couldn't see the shiver running down her spine at the sound.

"I would never doubt it", he assured her when his eyes met hers again and their gazes locked for a moment, both remaining silent and staring just a little longer than would have been appropriate, until they suddenly looked away at the same time, smiling a little embarrassed, unaware that their own action was mirrored by the other.
Mr Carson kept standing in the doorframe, unsure if to retire or ask her if he could come in. He was still considering the best way to proceed, when Mrs Hughes came ahead of him.

"Would you like to sit down for a moment, Mr Carson?", she asked cautiously, a fond smile on her lips for she felt his insecurity was matching her own. "Can I offer you something? Tea? Or a sherry perhaps?", she suggested, finding support in the familiarity of the ritual they had kept up for so many years.

"If you don't mind", he agreed quietly, eager not to let show the amount of his delight at her invitation and the prospect of spending time with her alone - a circumstance that occurred so rarely and was highly valued by both of them. "That would be lovely..."

She gestured invitingly towards a chair at the little table in one of the corners of her sitting room and Mr Carson stepped in and closed the door behind him.