Aurelia stood and watched her sister and new brother-in-law as they danced happily together. She smiled with excitement at the thought of her own wedding in three days' time. She glanced at her husband to be as he walked over to her with two glasses of champagne and he was smiling from ear to ear. He loved her so very much and couldn't imagine his life without her and she very much felt the same for him.
'How are you my sweetheart?' He whispered tenderly into her ear, sending a pleasant shiver down her neck.
'Very, very happy, because this will be us in a few days, well it'll be much smaller than this, but it'll be exactly as we want it.' She whispered back and smiled as he placed a soft kiss to her forehead.
Aurelia wasn't like Mary in that she hated the idea of a big wedding with all of their parents' friends and ninety per cent of people they didn't know, she and Henry wanted their immediate family and close friends only, but Aurelia had ensured that the staff would also be there as to her, they were as much her friends and family as anyone else in the house. She'd even planned a little surprise for her mam to be revealed on the day.
They were joined by Sybil and Tom, who looked most uncomfortable in his morning suit that had been forced upon him by his new family, but both Sybil and Aurelia were pleased to see he was at least making an effort and although things between him and the family were still a little strained, Robert and Cora were beginning to come round to the idea of him as their son-in-law.
They partied well into the night until one by one they all started to disappear to bed until it was just a few of them up and the footmen who were serving. Aurelia crept downstairs into the servants' hall in search of her mam, wishing to say goodnight to her before retiring to bed herself. She chapped lightly on the living room door and saw her mam half awake, sat at her little table with a cup of tea in front of her. She looked exhausted and Aurelia thought it was just because it was very late and had been a busy day, and whilst that was true, Mrs Hughes was also emotionally exhausted after talking to Mr Carson, but she now felt as if the rest of the weight she'd been carrying all these years, had finally been lifted from her shoulders.
'I just wanted to call in and make sure you were alright and to say goodnight before I head up.' Aurelia whispered with an exhausted smile.
'Would you like a quick cup before you go? There's still some in the pot.' Mrs Hughes asked as she lifted the pot of freshly brewed tea.
'Sure why not?' Aurelia said as she flung herself unceremoniously into the chair.
'Have you had a nice day?' Mrs Hughes asked as she topped up her own cup and then poured a fresh one for Aurelia.
'It's been wonderful, but it's just made me all the more excited for mine now. Not long to go.' Aurelia said as she took a sip of the hot drink and felt instantly warmed by it. 'You must have left fairly sharpish after the ceremony, I didn't even see you leave.' She added.
'Ah, well that's something I need to talk to you about actually…'Mrs Hughes began to reply, when, as if almost on cue, Mr Carson walked in.
'Oh, Mr Carson!' Aurelia said with a flustered tone, she hadn't expected anyone else to be up this late and she looked urgently at her mam for help, but she received a very calming look back.
'It's alright Ella, he knows.' Mrs Hughes said and she didn't even try to use Aurelia's full name or title. She was tired of trying to hide from her true feelings and she was surprised to see that Mr Carson seemed to completely accept this change in reference.
'After Mr Grey's outburst the other night Milady, I worked out who it was that he was referring to. Mrs Hughes has told me everything.' He said.
'Everything?' Aurelia replied with a look to her mam for clarification.
'Yes absolutely everything.' She confirmed and at that second they all heard a loud resounding crash in the kitchen. 'What on earth?! I'll go and see what that was.' She said as she disappeared in the direction of the sound, leaving Aurelia and Mr Carson together.
'I hope you don't think badly of ma..of El…of Mrs Hughes.' Aurelia struggled to say. It had felt natural for her to say mam, but she stopped herself as she didn't think Mr Carson would find it appropriate, nor did she think he would find her calling the housekeeper by her first name appropriate either, so she'd managed to settle on her formal title, but she had to admit to herself, she begrudged saying it.
'No Milady, I don't think badly of her at all; I actually feel a great deal for Mrs Hughes and admire the courage it must have taken her all these years to get through such an ordeal to continue dealing with it every day of her life.' He said and Aurelia had no doubt in her mind that he meant it and something else in his voice indicated to her, that a small fantasy she had in her mind about the butler and housekeeper, maybe wasn't as unrealistic as she thought.
She gave him a tired and knowing smile and walked slowly toward him, stood on her tip-toes and placed a gentle kiss on his cheek.
'Thank you Mr Carson.' She whispered and then made her way towards the door, but stopped briefly. 'She feels a great deal for you, Elsie I mean, a great deal.' And with that she disappeared from his sight, leaving him very much alone with his thoughts.
Aurelia found her mam in the kitchen, she'd just finished lecturing one of the kitchen maids who had still been up and had managed to break a plate or two, but they had both been too tired to clear it up that night, so she had sent the maid to bed with the strict instruction that she was get up all the earlier to clean the mess. Neither mother nor daughter said anything to each other, perhaps they were too tired to speak, but Aurelia kissed her mam on the cheek and gave her a gentle squeeze, before heading off back upstairs towards the warmth of her awaiting bed.
The emotion of the day and the fact that she was tired finally drove Mrs Hughes to shed a few tears as she walked back towards her living room. She hadn't anticipated the fact that Mr Carson would still be there, she thought he'd have left at the same time as Aurelia, but she was glad to see him just the same.
'So there you have it Mr Carson, you now know everything; well actually not quite, and this you certainly won't approve of I'm sure. After Ella found out that I am her mother, both she and her Ladyship asked me to play a more active role in Ella's life. I go up to her every night and spend an hour with her. She wanted to get to know me and where she comes from I guess.' Mrs Hughes explained and she was surprised to find that Mr Carson still didn't look to judge her. Instead he took hold of one of her hands in both of his and placed a gentle kiss on her knuckles before lowering it to his chest.
She was surprised by this display of affection, but she wasn't disapproving, in fact, she was far from it. Although Aurelia had joked about it and she had brushed it off, the truth was that she did indeed harbour feelings of deep love for the man in front of her, but she had never thought for one moment that he felt anything for her; after all, he enjoyed doing things properly and in service, especially in their positions, relationships below stairs were not encouraged.
He desperately wanted to say so much to her; he wanted to tell her how much he thought of her and how much he loved her but the most he could manage was a squeeze of her hand, but it was a squeeze that meant so much.
'Thank you Mr Carson,' she whispered.
'I will make sure that you and your daughter have the life you deserve and I promise you, no harm will ever come to you again, not whilst I'm alive and under this roof.' He whispered back.
Aw I love writing Mr Carson and Mrs Hughes. Out of all the characters on DA I ship them the most. Anyways thanks to all those who left reviews and who have read on. There is another sequel coming soon, so keep your eyes peeled.