An English lesson

His Lordship was in the study at Downtown Abbey when the butler
approached and coughed discreetly.

"May I ask you a question my lord?"

"Go ahead, Carson ” said his lordship.

"I was reading an article in The Times and came across a word I am not
too clear about."

"What word is that?" asked 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 me
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 his thumb was so painful, Kate had to cut up his venison
from our own estate, even though it was extremely tender.”

”Yes, my lord, I did observe 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, is your prick still
throbbing?'

And you, Carson, did not spill one drop of coffee!

Now that is aplomb!”

Thanks Norman