His Lordship was in the study at Downton Abbey when the butler
approached and coughed discreetly.
"May I ask you a question my Lord?"
"Go ahead Carson " said his Lordship.
"I am doing the crossword in The Times and I have found a word I am not
too clear on"
"What word is that?" said his Lordship.
"Aplomb" my Lord.
"Now that's a difficult one to explain. I would say it is self
assurance or complete composure"
"Thank you my Lord, but I'm still a little confused".
"Let me give you an example to make it clearer. Do you remember a few
months ago the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge
arrived to spend a weekend with us."
" I remember the occasion very well , my Lord. It gave the staff and
myself much pleasure to look after them."
" Also", continued the Earl of Grantham, " do you remember Will
plucked a rose for Kate in the rose garden? "
"I was present on that occasion, my Lord, ministering to their needs"
While plucking the rose a thorn embedded itself in his thumb very
deeply"
Carson replied, "I witnessed the incident my Lord and saw the Duchess
herself remove the thorn and bandage his thumb
with her own dainty handkerchief."
"That evening that prick on his thumb was so sore, Kate had to cut up
his venison from our own estate even though it was extremely tender."
"Yes my Lord, I did see everything that transpired that evening."
"The next morning while you were pouring coffee for Her Ladyship, Kate
enquired of Will with a loud voice," "Darling does your prick still
throb?"
"And you, Carson, did not spill one drop of coffee!"
''I did not Sir''
Well Carson that is aplomb!"
approached and coughed discreetly.
"May I ask you a question my Lord?"
"Go ahead Carson " said his Lordship.
"I am doing the crossword in The Times and I have found a word I am not
too clear on"
"What word is that?" said his Lordship.
"Aplomb" my Lord.
"Now that's a difficult one to explain. I would say it is self
assurance or complete composure"
"Thank you my Lord, but I'm still a little confused".
"Let me give you an example to make it clearer. Do you remember a few
months ago the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge
arrived to spend a weekend with us."
" I remember the occasion very well , my Lord. It gave the staff and
myself much pleasure to look after them."
" Also", continued the Earl of Grantham, " do you remember Will
plucked a rose for Kate in the rose garden? "
"I was present on that occasion, my Lord, ministering to their needs"
While plucking the rose a thorn embedded itself in his thumb very
deeply"
Carson replied, "I witnessed the incident my Lord and saw the Duchess
herself remove the thorn and bandage his thumb
with her own dainty handkerchief."
"That evening that prick on his thumb was so sore, Kate had to cut up
his venison from our own estate even though it was extremely tender."
"Yes my Lord, I did see everything that transpired that evening."
"The next morning while you were pouring coffee for Her Ladyship, Kate
enquired of Will with a loud voice," "Darling does your prick still
throb?"
"And you, Carson, did not spill one drop of coffee!"
''I did not Sir''
Well Carson that is aplomb!"
