Thank you for all the reviews and I am glad so many of you like the story. I have really enjoyed writing this and already have 7 chapters done! I will hopefully be posting daily.
Disclaimer: Let's just pretend Charles and Elsie are a bit younger than they are in series 5. And I don't pretend to be a wonderfully talented writer, I just really enjoyed this!
Once in her sitting room, Elsie sat in the chair near the fire with Grace in her lap. Charles pulled up her desk chair to sit opposite them, close enough that he could reach Grace.
"Now, my love, tell us what happened," Elsie started, pulling the girl from her shoulder long enough to make eye contact.
Grace sank into her mummy's lap with her head against her chest. She reached for her da's hand. "I wanted to see you," Grace began. "I missed you. Why don't I get to see you every day? I want every day to be like yesterday."
Elsie stroked Grace's little leg as she began. "Oh love. Mummy and da are here to work. We love spending the day with you, but we have a lot to do here. You would not have any fun or be able to go outside like you do with Mrs. Leplin. You wouldn't have anyone your age to play with." Elsie tried to convince her daughter, but was having a hard time convincing herself.
"I want to work too," Grace said tilting her head to look at her mummy. "Then I could be with you. I love you." Grace hugged her mummy while keeping her da's hand wrapped tightly around hers. "Mrs. Lepin says I am a good sweeper. I can sweep at Downton Abbey." She said with hope.
Elsie glanced up at Charles with pure sadness in her eyes. Charles sadness met hers and he nodded.
"Gracie girl, why don't we see if Mrs. Patmore has any biscuits for you in the kitchen? I know she keeps a stock of shortbread for your mummy and I think she is willing to share." Charles forced a smile and sparkle in his eye as he addressed Grace.
She smiled and leaped into his arms giving him a kiss. Charles stood with her in his arms and they made their way into the kitchen.
Elsie smiled, encouraging Grace to get her treat. When they were out of the door. She sighed and felt the weight of the world on her shoulders. She knew their secret needed to come out sometime soon, but dreaded it terribly. She hated what they had to do to Grace. It was in no ways ideal, but she understood why it had to be that way. Grace could not, nor was she supposed to, understand why it had to be like this.
Charles came back into the room and closed the door. He paused a moment before he walked slowly over to Elsie and took her hands, helping her to rise. As soon as she was standing with her head lowered, he brought her into his chest. Elsie sighed into his shirt and found comfort in the fact that she was not going through this alone.
After a peaceful silence, Charles said, "What do we do now, love?"
"Well, we knew it had to happen sometime soon. I guess now is as good a time as any." They stayed silent for a moment before Elsie brought her head back and looked him in the eyes. "I don't know how I am going to let her go after this," she said is a calm and serious voice.
Charles sighed. He knew this was coming. "Lets think about a separation when, and if, the time comes. Right now the staff and family expect an explanation."
There was a knock at the door. They separated quickly and Elsie said, "Come in," moving towards the door.
It was Thomas. "Mr. Carson, his Lordship has requested your presence in the drawing room." Thomas had a smug expression on his face as he looked straight at Mr. Carson.
"I'll be back in a moment," he said as he walked out of the room. Of course he did not expect Thomas to keep his mouth shut for more than two minutes.
Elsie followed him out of the door but turned towards his pantry. She phoned Mrs. Leplin to let her know Grace was alright and would be spending a few days with them. They would discuss further matters later on.
She then turned to the kitchen to see Grace sitting at the table nibbling on a shortbread. She sat in a chair with her feet dangling a foot off the ground. The kitchen maids were finishing preparations for the servants dinner around the table. They were talking with Grace about her blanket.
"Mummy made it for me when I was born. It smells like her." She snuggled it against her face and ran her fingers along the edges. "We went on a picnic yesterday with mummy and da. I sat on blankey and we had strawberries and sandwiches." Grace lit up while telling about her outing.
Elsie stared at her little girl through the window separating the kitchen from the corridor. She caught Mrs. Patmore looking at her with wide, accusing eyes. Elsie sighed and nodded her head silently communicating 'later.'
Elsie stood listening to Grace's story about how her da made funny faces and made her laugh and how mummy ate three whole sandwiches herself. She turned as Mosley came up behind her.
He addressed her in his most dignified way. "They want to see you in the drawing room Mrs. Hughes. You and…" he pointed to the little girl.
"Grace" Elsie finished for him.
"Yes," Mosley answered quickly before turning and rushing down the corridor.
Elsie stepped into the kitchen and made her presence known. "Grace, love, come here." She reached out her hand.
Grace immediately left her plate of biscuits and held her mummy's hand. "Where are we going?" she asked, excitement in her voice and they strolled through the downstairs.
"We are going to meet his Lordship and his family. Remember how we practice using our manners and being polite?" Grace nodded. "Well this is another time to practice them darling." Elsie was not nervous. She had a well mannered little girl who could charm any lord or lady.
Grace happily skipped alongside her mummy up the stairs until they reached the upstairs rooms. She was silent with her mouth wide open as she gazed at the extravagance of the upstairs, turning in every different direction. Elsie pulled her quickly towards the drawing room and bent to straighten her dress. She wore the light blue dress that Elsie made with buttons on the sleeves. It was Grace's favorite. Elsie fixed the bow in her hair and whipped the bit of shortbread off her mouth.
Elsie gave her a reassuring smile and hand squeeze as she turned the door handle and entered the room. His Lordship was standing at the fireplace with his back to the door. Lady Grantham and Ladies Mary, Edith, and Rose were sitting on various chairs. Tom was standing with a drink behind the sofa and Charles was by the door and went to stand with his family. Grace took his hand when she saw him.
The family's conversations halted when they saw the girl. Lord Grantham turned to see a direct copy of his housekeeper. The other family members looked between Carson, Mrs. Hughes, and the child. They had no idea what to make of this. The girl was holding each of their hands in a familiar way. Yet, the family had never seen this girl before.
Charles cleared his throat before his introductions. "Milady may I present Grace Elizabeth Carson." Grace dropped both her parent's hands, stepped forward, and curtsied just like how they practiced. Elsie smiled down at her.
Lady Grantham spoke next from her seat on the sofa. "It is lovely to meet you Miss Grace. My, but you do look like your mother."
Grace smiled, "Thats what da says." She looked up at her da and received a look of approval.
Lord Grantham looked at the family and sighed. "So Carson, this is the little girl I have waited to meet for the past 3 years. She is a delight."
Lady Mary's eyebrows came together in a look of surprised and she stood at her father's acknowledgement of the child. "Papa, you knew about this?" Her voice was accusatory.
"Of course," Lord Grantham continued, but not before taking another sip of his scotch. "Carson came to me and your Mama 3 years ago when Mrs. Carson was with child. At the time, they still wished to stay in our employment, but it would never have worked with a child underfoot." He gestured towards Grace. "So Mrs. Carson left under the guise of visiting her ill sister. Carson left for a week when she was born saying he was visiting family."
Lady Mary looked at Carson who only nodded his approval of Lord Grantham's words. "We did not care to bring any scandal upon the family, so we collectively decided to keep it private." They took a pause to allow the family to process.
Elsie continued the story. "She lives with Mrs. Leplin at the childcare center in Rippin. We visit her at least once a month. Yesterday was our half day and we went to see her. Then this evening, she managed to come to Downton, by a means that is still a mystery to me." Elsie gave Grace a look during the last statement.
Grace looked to her mummy. "I left when Mrs. Leplin was making dinner and asked Billy to take me."
Now that piece was put together. "Billy is the telegram boy. He has a bicycle with a large basket in the front," Elsie explained, mainly to Charles.
Lady Mary interrupted, "But Mrs. Hughes I still don't understand… or is it Mrs. Carson?"
Charles answered, "It is Mrs. Carson and has been for over 10 years milady." The young ladies and were taken aback and Mr. Branson took another drink.
"Well," Lady Grantham intervened, "I think that is all we need to hear tonight. Mrs. Carson, you may take one of the guest bedrooms tonight for your family. I am sure you can find an appropriate one."
"Yes. Thank you milady," Elsie replied with a slight head nod.
Lady Grantham stood up and then bent down to Grace's level. "It was a pleasure to meet you Miss Grace. I hope we will be seeing more of you." She smiled.
Grace smiled and did another curtsy. The upstairs family was breaking up and began to walk out of the room. The Carson family stayed in one place, Grace with a parent's hand in each of her own. Charles and Elsie both breathed a sigh of relief that the first round was over.
Each family member had a smile for the Carsons as they passed. Lady Mary's expression was painted on more that sincere. Tom introduced himself to the little girl and had her giggling when he brushed her cheek.
"Oh mummy!" Grace suddenly exclaimed causing everyone to turn around. "I forgot." Grace wrapped her arms around her mummy's middle and placed a kiss on her stomach. "I forgot to say hi to baby!"