A/N: So I'm still recovering from eye surgery that left me blind for several weeks so if I've messed anything up please let me know as its really not hard to get spelling mistakes past these silly eyes. As per usual I don't own anything.
"Are you alright Mrs. Patmore?" Mrs. Hughes asked as she handed her friend a cup of tea, much needed by both women at the end of what had turned into a very busy and long day.
"Yes, I'm fine. These old bones just giving me more trouble than they ever used to." She said, sipping her tea.
"I can sympathize with that. I hate to say it but I wish Lady Mary would settle down again soon. Its so much easier running this house without a herd of suitors showing up at a moments notice all the time. Its like watching sharks circle their prey."
"Of course the sharks don't usually expect the prey to feed and house them!" Mrs. Patmore said with a giggle.
Mrs. Hughes indulged in a bit of laughter as well. It felt nice to be light for a bit, between running the house and planning her wedding it seemed she had little time to relax.
The two women sat in silence, sipping their tea and enjoying the calm.
Finally though Mrs. Patmore began to wiggle in her seat a bit. After receiving a curious glace from Mrs. Hughes over her cup Mrs. Patmore decided to break the silence.
"I was wondering though, how wedding planning was going?" She asked tentatively.
"Well enough. Anna is finishing the dress, the flowers are ordered, the food for the wedding breakfast has been ordered. I think now there is little more to do but show up to the church on time."
"Well it sounds as though there is still one thing to deal with." Mrs. Patmore said slowly.
"What on earth could that be?" Mrs. Hughes asked, mentally going through her wedding list again.
"I suppose, its more in regards to after the wedding." She said, hoping her friend would understand her meaning.
"After the wedding? You mean the honeymoon? We've already booked our hotel in Brighton for three nights, I only need to convince Mr. Carson to take the earlier train."
"That's not exactly what I was talking about." Mrs. Patmore said feeling very uncomfortable now.
"Mrs. Patmore, I'm far too tired to go on a wild goose chase for whatever is on your mind." Mrs. Hughes said, trying not to lose her patience with her good friend.
"I meant a nightgown for your wedding night."
"What?!"Mrs. Hughes asked horrified.
"Well…I was just thinking about when the young ladies got married, well they had special nightgowns made and I just thought…perhaps its something you might consider."
"I hadn't really thought about it, I just figured I'd wear my normal nightdress. I just bought it last year."
"Yes and its very nice however, its not what anyone would call…oh bugger…alluring towards the opposite sex, is it?"
"I can hardly believe we are having this conversation." Mrs. Hughes said hiding her face in her hands, hoping to keep her friend from seeing her blush.
"Yes well, it certainly wasn't something I ever thought we would be discussing but here we are. The wedding dress is all fine and grand, everyone gets to see that but just…just make sure that you don't forget to look your best for him too. Doubt anything takes the steam out of a marriage then a plain old cotton night dress that covers you from your neck to your ankles."
"Mrs. Patmore, I really think-"
"I mean think about it, ol' Charlie boy has been sniffing around your skirts for years. He ought to have a bit of a reward on the happiest night of his life."
"Oh God Mrs. Patmore. And whose to say our marriage will even be…of that nature?" Mrs. Hughes said, finally letting her worries be spoken.
"Well you aren't dead!" Mrs. Patmore said raising her voice.
"Keep your voice down!" Mrs. Hughes said quickly.
"Do you think that Mr. Carson might not be interested in…more traditional aspects of marriage?" Mrs. Patmore said gently, noticing her friends discomfort.
"A bit I suppose. Its not something we have ever discussed. I wouldn't even know how to begin such a conversation. He'd likely die of embarrassment."
"Tosh! He's probably worrying about the same thing!"
"You really think?"
"Of course! He's completely in love with you, no doubt he's worrying himself sick wondering if you want the same things from your marriage as he wants. And of course he'd never do anything you didn't want. Perhaps…perhaps-"
"Perhaps what!?" Mrs. Hughes said sitting on the edge of her chair now.
"Perhaps there is a way to tell him what you want or maybe don't want without even having to talk about it."
"That would be nice." Mrs. Hughes said sitting back a bit in her chair, trying to regain her lost composure. "But how?"
"Simple enough if you wear your current night dress…well…I'd say that sends a pretty clear message that you aren't interested in…you know. But if you go and buy one special for the night and all that well…I suppose that would be a pretty clear sign for Mr. Carson what you are expecting."
"That might…that would work I think." Mrs. Hughes said.
"Now you've only got to decide…what it is you want." Mrs. Patmore said reluctantly, expecting the conversation to drop now.
"I suppose so. If…I mean…I don't know if I'd even know what to buy." Mrs. Hughes said getting incredibly flustered again.
"Anything with satin and lace and a bit of skin I'd imagine."
"Oh God! I'd be humiliated going into a store and buying something like that for myself…at my age…can you even imagine? Here in the village where everyone knows…oh God Mrs. Patmore! Everyone would know! Every shop girl and wagging tongue in Downton Village would know."
"You probably couldn't get anything like that in the village, you'd have to go to Ripon."
"Then everyone in Ripon and Downton would know! Mr. Carson would die of embarrassment and I think I'd probably join him!" Mrs. Hughes said hysteria in her voice.
"We could go to York then." Mrs. Patmore offered.
"We?" Mrs. Hughes asked.
"If you wanted company that is. If you want to go alone of course you can but I just figured tha-"
"I'd love it if you came with me. I doubt I'd have the courage to do it without you." Mrs. Hughes said, finally beginning to calm down.
"Well we certainly wouldn't want Mr. Carson to suffer just because you're a bit nervous."
At that they both heard a strange noise come from the other side of the door.
"What in heavens…" Mrs. Patmore said as Mrs. Hughes set down her teacup and walked quickly over to the door.
Throwing open the door Mrs. Hughes was shocked to discover Mr. Carson on the other side of her previously closed door.
"Oh good God!" Mr. Carson muttered his face completely red as he starred at his fiancé.
"Mr. Carson!" Mrs. Hughes yelled covering her, what she could only assume was very red, face.
With that Mr. Carson turned and hurried down the hallway and locked himself in his pantry.
After pausing in the doorway Mrs. Hughes slowly turned back to face Mrs. Patmore. Locking eyes both women burst into hysterical laughter.
"Well," Mrs. Patmore began to say between chuckles "I guess he's figured it out now!"