Ipswich had been pleasant, at first that is. It was the first time in Elsie's life she'd not had a single thing to do. She'd taken up residence at the George and Dragon, Charles had sent her with enough money to last a few weeks until he was able to join her. The first few days she slept, most all day, enjoying for the first time a complete nights sleep. The following days were spent knitting, trying to get little things ready. She'd go through the local shops trying to find the cheapest and most practical baby clothes. She had even attempted to make her own, which quickly turned into a debacle of mis-cut pieces of cloth and scattered pins, while she could easily mend clothes, bugger if she could make them from scratch. After two weeks boredom and loneliness had set in.

Her first few letters had been quiet nice, she'd described how nice the town was, the shops were interesting, she'd tell him all about the baby clothes she had found. It seemed she was finally warming up to the idea of the baby. It had taken her so long to get over the initial shock, to finally convince herself that he truly wanted the baby, and her. However her letters turned sour very quickly, she was lonely, and bored. And if he was honest he was rather lonely himself. Though living in a house full to the brim of people, the one person he truly wanted was miles away. After a month he could take it no longer, her pleas for him to come to her had finally overwhelmed him and he went to speak with Lord Grantham.

"What?!" Lord Grantham shouted.

"I'm sorry sir, but my uncle is the only family I've got left, he is very ill and I'm needed." Charles said, matter of factly, hiding the lie deep inside himself.

"You are very much needed here. We've just lost Mrs. Hughes and now you tell me I'll be losing the butler as well, the house will go asunder!"

"I'm sorry sir, I truly am but it cannot be helped. Family is important, you of all people must understand the call of duty when ones family is concerned." Charles said, hoping he would strike a nerve with the selfish earl.

"Be that as it may you are putting us in a terrible spot. When do you intend to leave?"

"By the end of the week, sooner if I can manage it."

With that Lord Granthams patience broke, how dare this man they'd been so good to simply up and leave them with no warning, sick uncle or not.

"Fine you may go, tomorrow if you'd like, but know this Carson, you will not be welcomed back. Once you leave it will be for good. Do you understand?"

"Yes, milord." Charles was fighting back tears, Elsie was worth it he told himself, over and over. He was giving up the career he had worked so hard for for her, for a good woman and a child, his child. He just kept telling himself she was worth it.

A few days later Elsie stood on the platform of the train station pacing. Her belly had begun to grow, not too much but a little bit, enough to be noticeable. As she paced she began to worry, what would Charles say. Would he be turned off by her larger frame, would the reality have finally set in, what if he had changed his mind, what if he didn't come, what if he did and told her he didn't want her, he didn't want the baby and just walked away. She shook the thoughts from her head, Charles would never do that, he might not be happy with the situation but he would never abandon his child. Then a terror rose in her, what if he realized he didn't want the baby but came anyways, what if they spent the rest of their lives married, with him resenting her the entire time. She'd ruined his life, of that she was sure, but would be feel the same way?

"Elsie." He said softly, putting his hand on her arm, she turned quickly and just starred at him for a moment.

"Charles…" She whispered.

"I'm here love, finally." He said with a grin, looking down and noticing her slightly protruding belly, delight overcame him and he threw his arms around her. "Gods, I've missed you woman!" He whispered in her ear, holding her close.

She wrapped her arms around him and began to cry softly. He pulled back to look at her, raising one hand up to caress her cheek, the other still holding her body tightly to his.

"Hey, what's this love?" He asked.

"I was afraid you wouldn't come." She sadly admitted.

"Oh poppycock, of course I would come. There is not place on this earth I would rather be then here with you, well anywhere with you really. Please believe that."

"I do Charles, I do." She said with a nod.

"Now, lead the way home as I'd rather like to kiss you senseless but this seems neither the time nor place."

She beamed up and him and took his hand. She gently but persistently he pulled him towards the inn. After introducing him to the landlord, who still seemed a bit suspicious she led him upstairs to their rooms. Locking the door behind them Charles couldn't help but let out a sigh, his new home, for a bit at least.

"I was going to get the cheaper room with a shared bathroom, but with the morning sickness its rather an impractical idea. I had to splurge and get the more expensive one with the en suite." She admitted sadly.

"That is alright love. Lord Gratham was not pleased by my leaving but the Dowager was rather kind, she gave me a tidy sum to honor my years of service."

"That was rather kind of her, and unexpected." Elsie said, moving to sit on the bed, she quickly undid the buttons of her dress and slipped out of it, then began loosing her corset as she spoke. "Do you think anyone suspects?"

He stood there looking at her in awe, she was peeling off her clothes as though it was nothing unusual, he however felt certain he was now looking at Helen of Troy, the most beautiful woman in the world, hands down. And she was his, all his. He smiled a roguish grin and sat next to her on the bed.

"No, they don't suspect a thing." He said, gently pulling at the strap of her chemise, pulling it over her creaming white shoulder and pressing a soft kiss to the silken skin there.

"Um…Charles." She whispered. "I've missed you lover." She said, reading up to caress his cheek.

"I've miss you dear, but now you are not just my lover, but you are my legal wife. I have the paper in my coat pocket."

She smiled at him, putting her arms gently around his neck. Pressing her lips softly against his, there kisses quickly became more passionate and needy, it wasn't until Charles had pushed her chemise down completely, revealing her soft but firm and growing breasts that he paused, "Elsie, can we? I mean are we allowed to, with the baby?" He hoped to God she said yes, he could stop himself now if he had to but it might turn out to be the most painful experience to date.

"Only for a few more months, oh Gods I intend to make the most of those. I've been craving you these past weeks, more then I ever have before. There isn't a spot in this flat I haven't dreamed about." With that she pulled him on top of her, kissing him roughly.

"Ah, have you been a lonely girl?" he whispered, his hands moving to his shirt, quickly undoing buttons.

"Yes my love, terribly lonely and rather naughty as well!" she said, pinching his bottom.

And with that he knew the truth, she was worth it, Gods she was worth it.