A bit of a memory… and a possible set up for some more anxious moments!
Store Cupboard Spies – Chapter 6
The day could not end fast enough. Between dealing with the business regarding Mr. Bates and his Lordship's decision to send Anna with Mrs. Patmore to the specialist in London, Elsie and Charles were thoroughly exhausted. Since Anna and Mrs. Patmore would be leaving promptly in the morning, Elsie found herself furiously attempting to determine a way to delegate duties whilst causing the least amount of grousing from the staff. She knew that in the case of Sarah O'Brien, it was a fruitless effort, but she would deal with that later. At the moment, her eyelids were becoming heavier and heavier, dragging her down into a reluctant rest.
Charles knew that wine was a bad idea this evening. He was exceptionally drained from dealing with Thomas's relentless attacks on Mr. Bates' character as well as assisting his Lordship in determining a suitable option for temporarily replacing Mrs. Patmore during her trip to London. He was honestly worried for the cook's future, all dependent on the outcome of the surgery, which dealt its own blow to his caring nature, further impacting the exhaustion of the day.
Elsie had already sent Mrs. Patmore and Anna to bed, preparing them for the early travel hour that awaited them. The other servants were slowly filtering out of the hall, up the stairs and into their beds. Charles knew that if he did not go now, he would most likely fall asleep at his desk. He moved into the kitchen deciding that he would exchange their usual end of the evening glass of port for some warm milk, with a few aspirins thrown in for good measure.
As he slowly opened the door, backing his way in to accommodate both him and the tray, he looked over to find Elsie asleep at her desk. She was sitting straight up in the uncomfortable chair, pen rolled away from an open hand but with such relaxed beauty visible in her face that it nearly stopped his heart.
He had loved her for a long time, longer than he could even remember. After their first, hurried kiss in the store cupboard, they decidedly slowed down a bit, enjoying getting to know each other in a whole new way that only previously existed in their own imaginations. The sly looks, the slight touches… all the little things they were so used to hiding from each other, bursting forth into the open, but only to their own eyes. It was nothing that they hadn't been doing and experiencing for years, it was only now accomplished through new visions and open hearts.
He thought back to the day when his life would change forever. His Lordship had requested that Charles go into Ripon to retrieve a specialty wine, requested for sampling before order. Unknowingly, her Ladyship had requested that Elsie travel into Ripon to consult with a seamstress on a special order for Lady Edith on the same day. "Well this won't do at all," Elsie exclaimed, appalled at the idea of both heads of household leaving Downton to surely descend into chaos. Normally Charles would have vehemently agreed, but he was overwhelmed with the notion that this precarious situation could just lead to the happiest day of his life.
Charles was relieved when both his Lordship and her Ladyship refused to back down on their requests. Elsie was exasperated, and found Charles's agreeableness disconcerting, to say the least. Anna, just over being quite ill, had stepped up and offered to take on the responsibility of seeing to anything of urgency, much to O'Brien's chagrin. Elsie finally relented, reluctantly resigned to the fact that she couldn't argue the matter any further.
Charles retrieved two envelopes from his pantry, one containing the wine order, the other a document that would change everything. Elsie, clearly aggravated by the situation let out an exasperated sigh as they exited Downton, making their way to the car. The new chauffer, Branson, would deliver them into Ripon to complete their errands.
And to make a special stop, if Charles had any say in the matter.
Branson dropped them off in the Ripon town square. Charles suggested that he take some time to get to know the surrounding town, being new to the country. It would only enhance his knowledge for the job, and leave Charles some desperately required, and well-deserved, time alone with Elsie.
They completed their respective errands quickly and efficiently, leaving them a good three hours before Branson was set to return. "Why did you give him so long" Elsie wondered, a perturbed note in her voice, still afflicted with worry about their joint absence from the house. "I dare say, you are beginning to sound like me, my dear," Charles replied, a bit too much amusement seeping into his voice for her liking.
"Alright, out with it. What exactly are you up to Charles."
"Elsie," he said as he took one of her hands into his own. "We never get time to ourselves. Any of our time alone is rushed, hurried and hidden in dark corners. Forgive me if I want to walk with you, freely, in the sunshine without worry of speculation and gossip."
"You always do know just what to say," she sighed, closing her eyes and pausing briefly to cherish the moment.
"I do so hope that you'll still think so after what I'm about to suggest."
She turned to look at him with a decidedly raised eyebrow and questioning eyes.
"I think we should get married."
"Pardon," she replied, shaking her head in an effort to process what he had just said. She had surely thought of the prospect, many times, over their shared years together. Before they had declared their feelings for each other, she had always just assumed that they would retire together as amicable companions. She had never dared hope, even after knowing of their mutual love, that he would want to make if official.
Did she really not hear him? He began to fall nervous, second guessing the cleverness of his plan. Perhaps this wasn't the best idea. Just as he decided to pass it off as a joke, his heart made itself known, loudly fighting his rational thought. He had come this far; he was determined to convince her to join him.
"Elsie Hughes… I am asking you to be my wife."
"What? Today?" Elsie was incredulous.
"Today's a good a day as any," he said with a smile, giving her hand a squeeze.
"Now Charles, you can't simply decide to get married and actually follow through on it all at once! There are procedures. Licenses, rings… so many things to think of!"
"And you know my penchant for planning," he said, offering her the last remaining envelope that he had hidden in the lining of his coat.
Shocked and curious, she took the envelope from his hands and slowly began to run her index finger underneath the seal. He couldn't have.
Ever calm and controlled Elsie Hughes felt tears beckoning behind her eyes. In her hands, she held a marriage license.
"But Charles, when? When did you do this?"
"I have wanted to do it for years, but I couldn't well follow through on it without knowing that you returned my feelings… so I took it out the next day," he said with smiling eyes.
"But what if I don't want to get married," she said quietly.
Charles felt a crushing pain in his chest. Was she saying what he thought she was saying? He hadn't thought that there might be a chance that she would refuse him.
"Well, I know that the situation isn't ideal and that we wouldn't be allowed to live as proper husband and wife but…"
"Charles!" Elsie put a hand on his chest to stop him from continuing. "After all these years, you should know me well enough to realize when I'm teasing," she said with a smirk.
He could kill her; for now, he would kiss her soundly, right in the middle of the street. Here they weren't reticent Mr. Carson and Mrs. Hughes. Here they were Charles and Elsie, free and deeply in love.
"Shall we," he asked as he pointed her in the direction of the registrar's office.
"So you are serious?"
"No, I'm teasing," he replied.
"Charles, this isn't funny. In fact, this is quite serious. Are you certain?" Elsie was afraid to hope that it was all this easy.
"You are holding the license in your hand, dear," he replied. "What else could make it more real? Oh, wait just a minute," he continued, clearly pleased with himself.
He grasped one of her hands and brought it over his rest on his hip.
"I am all for a quick kiss here and there, Charles, but this is going a bit far, especially for you!"
"No Elsie," he laughed loudly and pressed her hand against him harder.
She felt something hard against her palm. Yes, it was definitely small, hard and circular. No wait, there were two.
She couldn't help herself. She reached into his pocket, withdrawing two simple gold bands.
"Well aren't you full of surprises, Mr. Carson," she said, positively gleaming.
"If you had left your hand in my pocket any longer, MRS. Carson, I believe I would have had a surprise of a different sort to offer you," he growled into her ear, earning him an elbow to the gut.
"Mrs. HUGHES… for the next few minutes, at least," she smirked, leaning in to give him a brief kiss.
The next hour saw Charles Carson and Elsie Hughes pledging themselves to each other in front of God and a few anonymous witnesses in the Ripon Registrar's Office. Their relationship had always been run on a good dose of humourous fun, but this day revealed more emotions than either of them had felt confident in, or even possible of, sharing. There were some tears, all shed out of gratitude.
They had found each other, long ago, and would now undoubtedly remain together for life.
It wouldn't be easy. They would have to keep their newfound marital status a secret from everyone they knew. Easy displays of newlywed affection would not be possible which would surely prove trying.
Though everything about their lives was changing, nothing at home could change. They both understood this but were bound and determined to make it work. It was only natural to commit themselves to each other, both confident in the knowledge that there was no other option.
They met Branson a little over an hour after the ceremony, rings safely tucked into their clothing. They wouldn't be able to wear them, but they were tangible, solid evidence of their commitment to each other. He would buy her a special jewelry box, he decided, thinking to the future.
They had managed to keep up the ruse at Downton for months now, convinced that no one knew the wiser. If anyone did have any suspicions, they were never voiced. That definitely left Thomas and O'Brien out, he thought with a grin.
He continued into her parlour, depositing the tray soundlessly on her desk. He crossed over to the door, closing it gently in an effort not to wake her. He made his way back to her chair, longing to stroke the soft skin of her cheek, to unpin her hair, but not wishing to disturb her well-deserved slumber. Gently, he scooped her up into his arms, bringing her over to and depositing her carefully on the settee. Sidling in close, he let her unconsciously nestle into him, intending to steal this precious moment to tenderly watch her slumber.
He was asleep within seconds.