OK so I know it's April and a million miles away from Christmas, but as it's such a romantic time of the year I of course had to create a Christmas fic for their wedding. Thank you to those who have stuck by my stories and continue to provide me with feedback, it's always so much appreciated and keeps me going.
This Christmas was going to be more special than any other Ella had ever had at Downton. It would be her first with Henry as his wife and Sybil's first with Tom and Mary's first with Matthew. But it was also an even bigger first, in Ella's eyes, for her and Elsie, as this would be their first Christmas as mother and daughter and by Christmas day she would have a new father to boot!
Their year of many firsts had been a very rocky one, to say the least, with plenty of turmoil, tears, tantrums and triumphs. Ella very much hoped that their new year and new decade would mean a completely fresh start with much happier events to come, but certainly there was one big event to come before hand, that she was most looking forward to; the wedding of Charlie and Elsie.
After her conversation with them both about their cottage and the money she was gifting them, she had then turned her attentions to their wedding day. She knew that they were so busy downstairs, that if she left it up to them, without a gentle push in the right direction, it would end up being another six months before they considered it again.
'So what is this idea you have had?' Elsie had said as she had stifled a giggle at the look of delight and excitement that had been on her daughter's face, as all three of them sat in Elsie's sitting room.
'Well, I thought that, seeing as we will be hosting the servants' ball on Christmas Eve this year, why don't you get married on Christmas Eve? Then you can come back here, the place will already be beautifully decorated, everyone will have lots to celebrate, especially me because it will all have been organised and carried out within a month, and I won't have to wait any longer!' She'd said, with one very long and very excitable breath.
'But won't Reverend Travis be rather busy Ella?' Elsie had replied with a raised eyebrow, a sure warning sign that she wasn't convinced by this idea.
'Well I already spoke to him, I didn't give him any specific details or anything, I just asked him a couple of questions and it turns out that he would be very happy to do a very small, very simple ceremony in the afternoon.' She'd explained and that was that. The next day Elsie and Charlie had gone into the village to speak with Reverend Travis themselves and he booked them in there and then and their bands were displayed immediately, which of course received no objections from anyone.
Ella was so delighted that she had persuaded them to be married on Christmas Eve, her favourite time of the year and now only three days away. By helping her mam to organise everything, she felt like she was giving something back to her, as her way of saying sorry for all of the torment that she felt Elsie had been put through because of her; not that she would ever actually voice that reasoning to anyone. She had told Elsie and Charlie that she wanted them to be happy and that their happiness, in turn would make her very happy.
The three of them were now sat together, at the end of their day, having a glass of wine left over from that night's dinner and talking about Elsie and Charlie's new house. Ever since Ella had told them that the renovations were finished they had started to buy a few material possessions and essentials, such as items for their bedroom and their kitchen.
'When do you intend to move in?' Ella asked as she took a few of the pins from her hair and allowed her long curvy waves to fall around her face and shoulders. Very few people ever got to see her this relaxed, but she felt so at home with Elsie and Charlie, that she often felt comfortable to be herself and not have to worry about her appearance.
'We thought we would wait until after the New Year; we should have everything we need by then.' Charlie replied with a contented smile as his soon to be wife and daughter.
'This place will seem so very strange without you in it, but I'm very glad that you're not retiring…well, not yet anyway.' Ella said with a grin. Although the cottage had been her idea and was only a mile or so away from Downton Abbey, she was still going to miss being so close to her mam; but as soon as she thought about how strange it would be not have her mam immediately on hand every day, she reminded herself about their time together in London and how free the three of them were together. This would be exactly as it would be in their new cottage, their own little sanctuary, away from prying eyes, and that thought did appease Ella's anxieties and made her think that her slight sacrifice would be worth it.
Charlie and Elsie had spoken, in great detail, about their future together and what they wanted once they were husband and wife. With the gift Ella had given them they could now, very easily, afford to retire without ever having any concerns about money; but Elsie couldn't get used to the idea of being so far away from her daughter.
Although, in a way, she had spent so many years separated from her Ella, she had still always been a part of her life. She had always been able to sneak a glance at her or feign an excuse to talk to her; but now, even though Ella knew the truth and they'd formed this beautifully close bond, Elsie worried that being away from Downton might make things harder for them and not easier, as Ella intended, and Charlie didn't want that for either of them.
Elsie also considered her future as a grandmother, when it eventually happened, and wanted to be a huge part of her grandchildren's lives, which was what Ella wanted; but if Charlie and Elsie retired, they both felt that they would miss out on the early days of their lives. So they had agreed to save retirement for several years, until their future grandchildren were old enough to visit them in their cottage and to give both Elsie and Ella time to adjust to their, sort of, separation.
'No Ella, we won't be retiring, not any time soon at least, so you won't get rid of that easily.' Elsie joked as she gently patted her daughter's hand.
'Believe me when I say that, not only is it a relief to me, but Papa and Mama were quite relieved when I told them. Mama even said that she didn't know how this house would without you both here to do it.' She replied with a tired smile.
'Oh I'm sure they would manage; anyway my girl, I think it's time that you got yourself off to bed, you look exhausted.' Elsie said with one of her stern maternal looks.
'Don't worry about me Mam, I'm perfectly well.' Ella replied quickly, but received an even sterner look. 'You know Mam; if you keep frowning at me like that you'll get wrinkles.' She added as she reluctantly stood from her chair by the fire place.
Elsie didn't quite know what to say to that and tried desperately hard to hide the laugh that was playing on her lips, but she had so much to be happy about these days, that any chance to express her joy was out of her before she could stop it, so she let herself laugh joyously at the cheek of her daughter and smiled with delight.
'Go and get to your bed, cheeky wee bism.' Elsie said through her laughs.
Ella smiled at her mam and enjoyed seeing her happy, a twinkle in her eyes and a mischievous grin. These days, she was barely recognisable as the once, troubled and closed off soul that she once was.
'Goodnight Mam, I do love you really.' She said as she gave her mother a very loving hug and breathed in the light remnants of her perfume, a scent she found very comforting, and then she turned to Mr Carson. 'Goodnight Mr Carson, don't worry, I love you too.' She said as she gave him a warm hug and Elsie smiled as she watched them together and saw the look of delight on his face as he peered over Ella's shoulder. He was going to be an excellent second father to her.
Ella then left them together and quietly walked up the stairs and into the large entrance hall, where her posture and demeanour changed. She often felt like she had two very different personalities, depending on which of her families she was with. With Robert and Cora and her sisters, she always maintained her aristocratic ways, the way she would sit, the way she walked and even the way she spoke changed. Here, Charlie and Elsie were referred to as Mr Carson and Mrs Hughes as they always had been, her butler and housekeeper and nothing more. Guests to the house would never know that she had a much more personal relationship with either staff member and nor would the other staff, but as soon as the three of them were together in their own sanctuary, Ella became a very different person. She no longer felt the need to behave like the Lady that she was brought up to be.
Charlie and Elsie had also settled well into this relationship and Elsie, in particular, no longer minded it when she and her daughter had to distance themselves whilst upstairs in the house, because they both knew that their upstairs personas were just an act and that the quality time they did spend together, was made all the more special for it. Ella did still, on occasion, feel rather guilty for treating her mam so formally, but Elsie always reassured her, with just a loving glance, that everything was alright and that she did understand.
As Ella finally got to the gallery landing and turned into her bedroom, she breathed a sigh of relief, feeling tired and glad to be getting to bed at last. Henry was already there waiting for her, reading a medical journal on the latest treatments, one of his favourite pass times, which he quickly put to one side on seeing his wife.
'Ah, I was beginning to think you'd never come up. Is everything alright?' He asked.
'Yes everything is fine; we were just talking about the cottage and their wedding, just finalising some of the last minute arrangements really.' She replied as she grabbed her night clothes as slipped into the dressing room and left the door slightly ajar.
'And are you alright? You've been looking very tired these past few days; I do hope you're not over stretching yourself.' He said as she approached the bed and discarded her clothes onto one of her chairs, then climbed on to the bed and sat beside him.
'Everything is just perfect and I will thank you not to worry so much about me. Mam and you will give yourselves a stomach ulcer if you keep worrying like you both do. I can assure you that I am perfectly well.' She smiled contentedly as she took hold of his hand and interlocked his fingers with hers.
'Ah, but my darling wife, you would complain that I didn't love you if I didn't worry.' He replied as he reciprocated her smile.
'True,' she replied as she bent down and kissed him.
Ella soon drifted off with a contented smile on her lips as she watched her husband do the same, wrapped lovingly in each other's arms and with so many wonderful things to look forward to; Christmas Eve couldn't come quick enough for her liking.
