Disclaimer: I do not own any of these characters and I do not obtain any economic benefit out of them.

There has been a slight mistake in my formatting. This is chapter 4 and the former was chapter 3. And thank you TgrLady for bringing it to my attention. As to your request I'll try my best to fulfil it *blushes* : )

Chapter 4: A Thousand Springs

16th May 1925

A thousand springs dawned upon me on a single day. No flower shone more brightly that spring than she, who I made my own.

C. Carson.

Charles Carson wrote quickly on the small notebook that he took out from the inside pocket of his coat with a fountain pen, a gift from Mrs Hughes, now his bride who slept peacefully with her head upon his shoulder as the train gently rocked from side to side. Her head slightly swaying against his shoulder due to the movement of the train. Her welcome body heat seeping through his tweed.

Seeing that the ink had dried he placed it back again in his pocket and turned towards the open window. The Downton landscape had now disappeared and they were heading far from the familiar country side. Scarborough was still many miles away. And between the green fields of Downton and the crashing blue sea waves of Scarborough, the space between which they were just husband and wife instead of Butler and Housekeeper, Charles Carson couldn't have been happier.

Raising a single one of his large fingers he softly tucked behind her ear a few strands of hair that had escaped her fine hairstyle and fallen onto her face. The few stray strands reminded him of the hours before of the wonderful waltz when he held her close and twirled her around in all her grace and also the way her bright blue eyes lit up as she reeled around to tunes of her motherland.

In his mind's eye he pictured a young Elsie Hughes with deep auburn hair in a barn lit by lamps, wildly clapping her hands and reeling as the merry notes of the fiddle and the pipe took flight. Hair escaping confines. The cold lost in the midst of the outpouring excitement. If he knew her then…

He doesn't let himself complete that sentence. Mourning for times lost would never bring them back and that he knew. After years of longing, she was his. By his side as she had always been, but now he can proudly smile as and let his hand rest on her back when they passed through busy corridors or narrow doorways. He can tuck her hand in the crook of his hand when they walked to the village or to the church. He can watch her without being judged for it. They can be as close as two people can for the rest of their lives.

He looked down the woman who loved for so many years, leaning against him. Her lovely warmth radiating towards him. She was now his wife. The most precious thing he could ever ask for. The greatest gift that God ever bestowed upon him.

And he gently entwined his fingers with hers, careful not to wake her, knowing that in a few hours time, their souls too shall entwine in the most intimate and loving way possible.

The End.

Thank you so much for your kind reviews! They make me so happy and keep me motivated. I am very grateful to you all for your time taken to let me know your ideas. I can only blame my busy schedule for my irregularity in updating, but I try my best to update as soon as I am able to. : ) See you soon with a new chapter!