Set on the evening of the Season 5 Christmas Special. How does Mrs. Hughes tell Mrs. Patmore about her engagement to Mr. Carson and how does the cook react? A little one-shot exploring what this moment could have been like.

Better late than never

After the Downton Christmas celebration, Mrs. Hughes always liked to walk around the house to check everything was in order. She knew she didn't have to do that, knew there would be enough time the next day – but it had become a matter of routine for her. As she walked through the Great Hall she stood still for a moment. Silence. Complete silence. Something that was to be cherished in this house, since it was hardly ever quiet. After a moment, Mrs. Hughes kept walking and opened the door to the staircase that would lead her back to the servants' quarters. Mostly everybody would be asleep by now, she presumed. She heard some noises from the kitchen – probably Daisy doing some cleaning up – and saw a dim light from the butler's pantry shining into the corridor.

For a moment, Mrs. Hughes considered stopping by Mr. Carson's pantry for a moment, but changed her mind, thinking that after what they'd talked about earlier, ordinary conversation would be a bit strange. So she smiled thoughtfully, remembering their conversation, and went into the kitchen to get a cup of tea.

"Why aren't you in bed already?", came Mrs. Patmore's voice from the kitchen, which brought Mrs. Hughes' mind back into the present moment.

"I could ask you the same question!", Mrs. Hughes replied. "Shouldn't Daisy be the one cleaning everything up?"

"Oh, I decided to let her have the evening off. It is Christmas after all.", the cook explained.

Mrs. Hughes nodded. "That was kind of you." She went over to the kitchen sink and started pouring water into a pot. "I don't want to be in your way, I'm just going to make a quick cup of tea."

"Can you make two? I'm almost done and wouldn't mind a cup before going upstairs."

So Mrs. Hughes made enough tea for the both of them and was just putting the steaming tea on the small kitchen table, when Mrs. Patmore came over to sit down beside her. They quickly started chatting about the big Christmas party and how they, even though they'd enjoyed it, were happy it was over.

Then Mrs. Patmore remembered something. "Now before I forget, I wanted to ask you something." She gave the housekeeper a meaningful look before she continued. "Where did you go earlier?"

Mrs. Hughes didn't fully understand. "What do you mean, where did I go?"

"Well, you suddenly left the Great Hall when the family were singing and all that. You and Mr. Carson.", she said that last sentence with a very questioning look.

"Oh…", Mrs. Hughes knew what moment her friend was referring to. "It's just that… You see, Mr. Carson found a solution to our problem concerning the cottages we were looking at."

"I see.", Mrs. Patmore replied, not totally convinced that was the reason. "So have you settled on a cottage then? Did you decide?"

"I suppose we did in the end."

Mrs. Hughes went on to talk about the cottage some more, while Mrs. Patmore tried to figure out what it was that her friend wasn't telling her. Still, she listened with interest and prepared for what she wanted to say. When Mrs. Hughes was done telling her all about the cottage, Mrs. Patmore got up and went over to the nearest kitchen cupboard.

"Now, I have an idea.", she said, while she got a bottle of white wine from her cupboard. "You and I are going to drink a glass of wine – it's a fine one, the Bakewell's sent it with my food order for the Christmas dinner, as a little Christmas present, you see." She poured two glasses of wine, put the bottle away again, and sat back down in her chair. "And while we drink it, you can tell me what it is you seem to be hiding from me."

Mrs. Hughes tried to look surprised. She wasn't sure she was ready to tell anybody about the actual reason she and Mr. Carson went downstairs earlier, what they actually talked about. So she took a sip of wine, as innocently as possible, and said. "Mrs. Patmore, I don't know what you mean."

The cook had a sip of wine too and went on to say, "Oh come on, I have known you for nearly 3 decades! You should know by now I'm really good at reading your face – and it has secrecy written all over it!"

At that, Mrs. Hughes had to laugh. Mrs. Patmore was right, they had known each other for a long time. They usually never kept secrets from one another – that is, if they ever had secrets at all, which didn't happen all too often.

"Oh, very well.", the housekeeper conceded. "I suppose I can tell you."

Mrs. Patmore's eyes opened wide. She knew there was something, but Mrs. Hughes made it seem like it was something big. She hoped that, whatever it was, it would be good news.

"You see, in the end Mr. Carson decided to buy the house. In both our names. So his solution included making some… changes."

"Right.", Mrs. Patmore replied, moving to take a sip of wine but stopped before actually taking it. "Hold on for a moment.", she said and set the glass back down. "If he buys it, but you want to put down both your names and be co-owners, legally, you would have to be married!"

"Yes.", was Mrs. Hughes response, followed by a knowing look.

"But you are not married.", Mrs. Patmore stated, wondering how that would work.

Mrs. Hughes rolled her eyes with a smile. "Well, what do you think Mr. Carson's solution for that problem was?"

"Does that mean… oh my god! He proposed to you!"

The shocked look on Mrs. Patmore's face made Mrs. Hughes laugh out loud. Once the cook recovered from her immediate shock, she took the housekeeper's hand. "I'm really happy for you, that's wonderful news."

Mrs. Hughes gave Mrs. Patmore's hand a squeeze and thanked her.

"It was about time, if you ask me.", Mrs. Patmore said. "I thought he'd never ask!"

"That's what I said!", Mrs. Hughes responded and laughed, before drinking some more wine.

Thinking about the fact that Mr. Carson had waited a good 30 years to propose to the woman he loved, Mrs. Patmore had to stop herself from rolling her eyes. Englishmen and their feelings! But then again, Mrs. Patmore hadn't always been sure Mr. Carson had feelings, so this was a nice turn of events. "I say – that Mr. Carson is a man full of surprises."

"Oh I was surprised alright, I can tell you that much!", Mrs. Hughes chuckled.

"But you shouldn't have been, we all knew how fond of you he is.", Mrs. Patmore stated.

"Oh, I don't know about that.", Mrs. Hughes said, as self-conscious as ever.

Now, Mrs. Patmore did roll her eyes. "Trust me, it was clear to everyone who has two eyes and ears. How he looks at you, talks to and about you, even how he behaves around you. It's just different. It's… loving. He loves you."

The two women sat in silence for a moment.

"Still, I can't believe it took him 30 years!", Mrs. Patmore finally said and they laughed some more.

Then, footsteps approached the kitchen.

"What are you two laughing about at this late hour?", Mr. Carson inquired.

Mrs. Hughes turned around to look at him and blushed. "It's nothing."

But Mrs. Patmore exclaimed, "Oh yeah, nothing, except for the fact that you finally made up your mind to propose to Mrs. Hughes!"

Mr. Carson looked surprised, if not to say shocked. He turned to Mrs. Hughes. "You told her?"

"Well, of course she did.", Mrs. Patmore responded when Mrs. Hughes didn't find an answer. "After all, I've been watching this relationship unfold for several decades. I had a front-row seat to this slow-burning romance!" When Mr. Carson didn't seem to soften at that, she continued. "I'm happy for you, you know? Both of you. This was, after all, a long time coming!"

Now, Mr. Carson did give a tiny smile, followed by a dignified look. "Well, I think better late than never."

Mrs. Hughes smiled. "I agree."

And then Mrs. Patmore got up to get Mr. Carson a glass of wine as well, and the three colleagues and friends sat together for a while, talking about life, friendship, love, and many other things. After spending so many years working in the same household, you do get very close – and are happy when there are things to celebrate.

And as Mrs. Patmore sat there, looking at the soon-to-be married couple, she smiled and felt that everything was as it should be. She was happy to hear of the butler's and housekeeper's engagement, especially because it had been a long time coming. But in the end, what it comes down to is this: Better late than never.

The End

Author's Note: Just a little one-shot, because a while ago I was wondering how Mrs. Patmore reacted to the news of the big downstairs engagement. Kinda sad we never got the actual scene in the series. But that's where we can get creative :) I do hope you like it - reviews are welcome as always! Hope everyone is healthy and safe!