Thank you for the reviews of the last chapter.

It was a remarkably relaxed group sitting after dinner in the servants hall enjoying a second cup of tea and a bit more cake. It was as if everyone realized that tonight was their last chance to enjoy that tiny sliver of freedom, or what passed for freedom in the servants hall, away from the ever watchful eye of the staid Mr. Carson. With his return tomorrow there would be no more afternoon breaks of games in the courtyard and, as Tom listened to the group gathered around the table, there would be no more frivolous conversations and especially not conversations involving the family as that now taking place.

"I would love to see one of the balls" Daisy remarked as she refilled Gwen and Tom's tea cups. "All those women in beautiful gowns and handsome men and the music and dancing." She let out a deep sigh before placing the tea pot on the table.

But it wasn't only the butler's absence thought Tom that affected the mood around the large wooden table for the absence of O'Brien and Thomas was probably as much or maybe even more of a relief for the staff. While Carson might be a stickler for rules and often stern he wasn't mean; no that distinction fell on her ladyship's maid and the footman who were both spiteful and malicious. With their harsh tongues they … the mention of Lady Sybil's name caught Tom's attention and he suddenly became interested in the conversation around him.

"Lady Sybil showed me the dress she was wearing for her ball and it was the most beautiful dress I've ever seen" said Gwen. "I'm sure she looked stunning in it."

"What did it look like?" someone asked.

Tom only heard that it was blue and his thoughts immediately turned to how Lady Sybil's eyes were the color of the sky on a perfect summer day. Of course she'd choose to wear a blue dress for her … what was that term she had used …

"I wonder if we'll be planning for a wedding soon" someone mused.

"I don't know" Gwen began "Lady Sybil is quite independent and I'm not sure-"

"Isn't that the whole purpose of it" someone interrupted.

"But Lady Mary and Lady Edith are still single" someone else chimed in.

"Well that's not surprising about Lady Edith. And Lady Mary might be beautiful but she's a bit-"

"I think this conversation has run its course" Mrs. Hughes interrupted signaling her distaste for the turn in conversation.

"Well Lady Sybil is beautiful and nice" Daisy made one last comment before the conversation drifted off into who had been the best lawn bowler.

The sounds of laughter floated down the hallway to where Tom stood in the doorway of Mrs. Hughes' office. He glanced back down the hallway to the source of the laughter before turning his attention to the housekeeper who appeared busy with paperwork.

"It's been rather nice" he said.

Holding a pencil in her hand she looked up at him seemingly puzzled at his comment. He nodded towards the servants hall. "It's something we don't have much ... laughter in the servants hall."

"They've worked hard these past few weeks. I can't begrudge them a bit of fun."

He looked at her and smiled. "You're a good boss, you're good with people."

Her puzzlement was replaced with a slight smile. "Well" she tilted her head. "One doesn't get many compliments around here." So I'll take it." Her smile broadened "unless this is a bit of the blarney leading to your asking for more time off."

He laughed. "That wasn't my intention but now that you mention it …" he shrugged his shoulders as he ran his hand through his hair and she thought that with his lopsided grin and his slightly messed hair how handsome he looked.

"Actually I look forward to the family being back." His comment certainly surprised her and noting her surprise he added "my job is to drive them and when they're not here … well … it's a bit slow for me."

He stepped into her office. "I actually enjoy driving to Ripon or York … well I enjoy driving and with a motor car as fine as the Renault" he grinned again as he shrugged his shoulders. "And when we're in Ripon or York I usually have a bit of time to walk around which is a nice break. The countryside here is pretty and it reminds me a bit of Ireland with the fields of sheep and stone fences. It's funny that I never really thought about the seasons before but now I can see it through the changes in the trees and the fields and the flowers."

She gave a slight chuckle. "Didn't figure you as a nature lover."

"Any time you'd like to walk around the estate while, depending on the season, we dine on edible berries while I point out the alders, the blackthorns and hawthorns and of course showing you those bushes whose berries aren't for eating."

"And you've learned all this just by driving along?"

His face reddened as he thought of Lady Sybil, she who had such knowledge from her years following around the estate gardeners. "My passengers do talk you know" he finally found his voice. "And there are books on nature in his lordship's library" he hastily added.

"I'm sure there are" she replied. But I imagine your knowledge isn't from such books she thought for she too knew of little Lady Sybil's penchant for following the gardeners.

"So what time is Mr. Carson arriving?" She was surprised at the sharp change in conversation and it took her a moment to reply.

"You needn't meet the train" she replied. "Two of the stable hands are meeting him with the horse carts for the luggage."

"And Mr. Carson will ride in the horse cart?"

"Of course" she replied as Tom shook his head.

"I don't think his lordship would begrudge Mr. Carson using the motor car." Then, thinking that he couldn't recall the butler ever riding in one of the motor cars, he chuckled "or are motor cars still too new fangled for him?"

Mrs. Hughes set her pen down on the desk top and sighed. "Mr. Carson is a man of tradition."

After Branson left, she remained seated at her desk unable to concentrate on her paperwork for her thoughts were on the young chauffeur. He was in many ways an enigma, certainly different from the rest of the staff. He was bright and had a thirst for learning and she had no doubt that in other circumstances he could have become a solicitor or businessman maybe running his own garage. He was certainly hardworking. Although his demeanor was personable and pleasant he didn't involve himself in the pettiness and intrigues that sometimes pervaded the servants hall.

She leaned back in her chair. When he had first arrived she feared that the presence of a young, handsome man might lead to problems with the young housemaids. Now she couldn't help but wonder had she been looking in the wrong direction? Was his interest not in the young housemaids but in the youngest lady of the house? There had been of course all that brouhaha with Lady Sybil and the political rallies but she didn't ascribe that problem to Branson. As she herself had told Mr. Carson Lady Sybil was quite capable of finding that trouble herself.

But … she took a deep sigh. It hadn't escaped her notice how Branson perked up whenever there was mention of Lady Sybil. The two did have a lot in common, interest in politics and women's rights and books. She had to admit they would make a fine looking couple. But … she didn't hold the same belief as Mr. Carson that aristocrats were better persons just because of their station in life … but … she sighed again … the chauffeur and the young lady of the house … that would bring so problems. She looked towards the empty doorway and thought how unfortunately it would be the chauffeur who would suffer the most.

Mrs. Hughes stood alone in the grand salon her head tilting slightly left then right as she surveyed the room. Moving to the sideboard she ran her hand across the top and was pleased to find no dust.

"Is everything in order for their return tomorrow?" the butler's deep voice seemed to echo around the multi-storied room.

She wasn't aware he had arrived back at Downton and hadn't heard him come into the room. Turning to face him she said "Of course. So how was London?"

"Busy but enjoyable" he off-handedly remarked as he in turn was looking around the room. "Shouldn't there be fresh flowers in here?"

"I thought we'd wait till tomorrow morning." Noticing his raised brow she added "we've plenty of time before they arrive and this way the flowers will be fresh."

Mrs. Hughes looked around the room once more pleased with all the work that had been done in here from removing the long heavy Persian carpet for a deep cleaning as well as cleaning and polishing the wood flooring underneath it to housemaids standing on ladders to clean the upper portions of the walls and marble columns. The work in this room had taken the best part of five days. Pillows were plumped, brass knobs shined, glass sparkled, and marble gleamed. The air held a hint of lemon from the heavily polished furniture. The room as well as the rest of the house was ready for the return of the family

She turned to face the butler. "You didn't have to come back today I'm perfectly capable of getting the house ready."

"I don't doubt that Mrs. Hughes but I like to have the heavy luggage back and unpacked before they get here."

As if they'll have need of any of it she thought but wisely kept silent. Then turning towards the empty foyer and the front door she asked "where are the houseboys with the luggage?"

"Certainly Mrs. Hughes you don't think the houseboys would carry the luggage through here."

"It's not like the family is here Mr. Carson. It would have been nice for them not to have to carry that heavy luggage up an extra flight of staircase."

"Well" he took a deep breath "Mrs. Hughes I hope this isn't an indication of you lowering our stand-"

"The world won't come to an end if a houseboy carries a piece of luggage through the foyer."

She wasn't sure if it was her words or that she had interrupted him that caused his look of consternation. It wasn't often that she seemed to flabbergast him and she took a moment to relish it. "And Mr. Branson was perfectly capable of meeting you and the luggage at the station with the motor car."

It was a fine afternoon and Mrs. Hughes was taking a few minutes to enjoy the fresh air in the courtyard outside the servants entrance although it was probably the solitude she was enjoying more than the fresh air. She ventured to the far end of the courtyard and through the open gates to where on her left yellow rose bushes in full bloom rose against the outer brick wall of the courtyard and to the right overhanging branches of a maple tree provided shade from the summer sun. She closed her eyes and took in a deep breath to savor the sweet smell of the yellow roses.

The solitude and stillness she was enjoying ended with the sounds of footsteps on the gravel courtyard.

"Oh it's you Mr. Branson."

"You sound relieved Mrs. Hughes" the chauffeur said as he approached her. He chuckled. "Afraid it was Mr. Carson with more last minute questions?"

She felt her face redden at his comments which were closer to how she felt than she cared to admit.

He stopped beside her. "He's reminded me five times of the time their train is arriving. I half expect him to come to the garage to make sure I leave on time. Although" he looked up at the sky "I'm not really sure he knows where the garage is."