She recalled the first time she heard his voice. The first time that the deep timbre and smoky undertones of his voice caressed her ears like the velvet inside of her gloves warmed her hands in the cold of winter.

Her arrival at Downton had been without incident. The train arrived on time and the walk from Downton Station to the house had been pleasant enough; the day was warm and breezy. She marveled at the majesty of the great house and its grounds as she rounded up the gravel drive. Making her way across the yard and to the servant's entrance, she set her valise on the ground and rapped on the door. A young footman answered the door and politely bid her entrance. He took her valise and directed her to the Housekeeper's Sitting Room. The footman suggested that she take a seat and he carefully set her bag out of the way. He explained that the housekeeper was on her morning rounds and that she was due downstairs in a quarter hour. The new head housemaid thanked him for his assistance and assured him that she would be fine while waiting for Mrs. Goode to appear.

As she sat there, she surveyed the room around her. The desk, the papers stacked neatly and resting in the tray, the knick-knacks lining the shelves. The pretty tea set on the table. She thought how this room would be hers in a few years. She had been brought to Downton with the understanding that Mrs. Goode was to retire in three years and if she thought the head housemaid ready to be housekeeper, she would recommend her to Lady Grantham. Yes, she could see her future. Housekeeper of a fine house such as this.

"Oh, beg your pardon. I thought Mrs. Goode had made it back from her rounds," he said with startled look, stopping himself at the doorway. Remembering that the new head housemaid was due to arrive, he collected himself and drew himself to his most imperious height. "I am Mr. Carson. The Butler. I presume that you must be Miss Hughes."

The commanding baritone of the Butler's voice intrigued her. His voice strong and a bit imperious with tones as smooth as a looking glass. She had only ever heard a voice like that once. It belonged to the minister of the kirk she attended with her parents in Argyll. That minister had a deep, booming voice that filled the village kirk warning little Elsie Hughes of dangers of eternal damnation and death in a fiery hell. But this man's voice, the Butler's voice, while imperious, had a undertone of kindness to it. He was very young, she thought, to be butler of such a large and prestigious house. She imagined that he sounded imperious in order to cement his authority with the staff.

"Hello, Mr. Carson," she replied. "I am indeed, Elsie Hughes. A very nice footman asked me to wait here for Mrs. Goode until she finished her rounds."

"Miss Hughes. Very nice to meet you. I trust your journey was a pleasant one?" he inquired.

"Oh, indeed it was," she answered happily.

"Well, Mrs. Goode told me that you came from Farnley Hall?"

"Yes, that is right," she chirped, unsure of his the intent behind his questioning. She wondered if he were making small talk or if he intended to make a point.

Mr. Carson drew his lips into a straight line and nodded appraisingly. "Well, Farnley Hall is a smaller house and not quite on the scale of Downton. I hope that you are up to the task. A house like Downton can prove challenging at times." Ah, she recognized, he made his point. He is sizing me up she thought. The condescending flourish at the end of his statement riled her, but she refused to show him. Always one to give as good as she got, Elsie Hughes remained calm and focused her most becoming smile on the butler.

"Well, Mr. Carson, I think you'll find that we Scots are a hearty lot and that I am quite capable of handling any challenge that I might encounter here at Downton," she assured him. 'Including impertinent butlers', she wished to add, but chose to restrain herself. Not just anyone would have noticed the noticed the slightest of smiles tugging at his lips. It was then that she realized he was testing her. He had wanted to see if she was easily intimidated; she proved that she could hold her own. She was intrigued. Perhaps this challenge would prove very interesting. Very interesting indeed.

"Well, then Miss Hughes," he surmised, "I believe that we shall get along very well. Welcome to Downton." With those words, the butler turned and walked across the corridor to his pantry.

TBC…. Next chapter, Caron's point of view

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Forthcoming chapters will include topics on their first observations on hearing the other express anger, guilt, passion, fear, silence, remorse, consternation, etc.