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My dearest Charles;
I know this letter will take quite some time to reach you, but I'm afraid it cannot be helped. Meggie, your mother, and I are all doing very well. Meggie has her first tooth and sits up on her own now. I know she misses you, as do I.
Lady Grantham has been civil, if not kind, though we do not live in anticipation of such a thing. She personally brings your wages to me each month, and I have done with them what we have discussed previously.
I hope everything is going well with Lord Robert's journey. He deserves what happiness he can achieve, even if his main aim is to be money to keep Downton solvent. You have written such wonderful things of New York and Newport, and I find myself jealous of your ability to see such lovely places. I am afraid that I cannot even journey to London – your mother is quite protective of me, and rightfully so, for you are to have a new son or daughter near Easter.
Personally, I am hoping for a wee lad to spoil. But I am knitting a new blanket and booties regardless. I wish I could tell you face to face this wonderful news, but, alas, you are halfway around the world.
Please do not think too many American girls lovely, or I shall be very put out, dear heart. I miss you, as always, and am ever
Your devoted wife,
Elsie
Charles couldn't stop smiling as he assisted Lord Robert with his jacket. "Am I to assume the letter earlier that you received was from Mrs. Carson?" Robert asked with a smirk.
"Yes, m'lord."
"And what news, Carson?"
"Meggie is sitting up by herself and has a tooth now," Charles said. "And we are to expect another Carson lad or lass around Eastertide."
A dark shadow passed over Robert's face, only to be replaced with a bright smile and enthusiasm. "I say, old chap, good on you and the missus! A son would be a fine thing this time, though, wouldn't it?"
Charles's smile was now less easy. "I should merely be happy to get home and hold my daughter," he admitted. "I miss them both dreadfully."
"Well, I think it will be a boon to you, then, that I intend to pursue Miss Levinson most ardently," Robert said, fastening his cuff links. "Her father is flush with cash, which is the main thing, but she and I speak with great similarity and she is quite pretty in her own way. I could be content with such a match." His bravado was false, and Charles could see it beginning to crack around the edges. He knew that Robert felt that, in truth, he was betraying Ida, but he could see no alternative but to play along with his parents' wishes.
"You said much the same about Lady Ida," Charles reminded him. "I would not wish to overstep –"
"Carson, we are family," Robert said. "If you cannot speak frankly to me, who can?"
Charles cleared his throat. "Lady Ida would not wish to see you miserable in a marriage of convenience. If you must marry for money, m'lord, you should at least be able to more than slightly live with your chosen partner. You will have to perform marital duties –"
"Yes, I know," Robert sighed. "Though I fear I shall always see Ida in place of my second wife. God, how morbid is that? I am such a fool –"
"No," Charles said. "If I lost Elsie, I would go to pieces and never recover. I pray every day for her health and welfare because I cannot live in a world without her in it."
"I feel as though I keep you apart more than I have championed you together," Robert admitted, "and for that I am truly sorry. Your daughter deserves to see you more often than she has, and your wife deserves you being there with her rather than here with me. I am sorry," he apologized yet again.
"My duty lies with you," Charles said. "My heart lies with them. I would feel much easier if we were still within walking distance of one another, but it cannot be. Thus, I am content to remain where I am needed most for the time being." He cleared his throat. "Miss Levinson's favorite flower is a yellow rose with peach tips called a 'peace rose'. Her favorite food is smoked salmon with hollandaise and caviar. Her favorite diversion is the opera." He paused. "So surprise her with daisies. Offer her something simple and refined to eat. Take her to a museum. Broaden her horizons and show her that you can be a wealth of hope even if it is a marriage of convenience for you both. And treat her as though she is to be your world – because she will be."
"Lord, Carson, I am too old for this nonsense already," Robert scoffed. "I'm a widower and I'm not even twenty-five. How am I to woo anyone?"
"You are the heir of the Earl of Grantham," Charles said simply. "To most, that is enough."
Robert exhaled and muttered, "How did you woo Mrs. Carson, then? And under all our noses?"
"Simple kindness," Charles admitted. "I showed her kindness and we became friends. And then much more." He didn't even feel shame in telling it. "And a housekeeper and butler who slept very soundly. Because I might have spent more nights in Elsie's room than my own."
"Might have?" Robert said with quietly frank admiration. Charles had to admit that he had been rather foolhardy and rash in being with Elsie before marriage, but the risk had paid off in spades.
"I won't directly incriminate myself," Charles said, dusting off Robert's shoulders with a fine brush. "I will see you later this evening, m'lord."
Cora Levinson was the kind of delicate beauty his mother preferred, thin and lithe, dark haired and blue eyed with a wide, easy smile and a carefree attitude. Her mother was brash and didn't give two shits to rub a farthing in, and her father tolerated her mother's antics with the overly indulgent way of men who were led around by the balls.
Robert downed a snifter of brandy immediately, then gladly took a flute of champagne as the waiters moved around the room. It was a small gathering, but he already felt out of place: an English gentleman awash in the waters of American society.
The young woman crossed the room quickly and took his arm. "Lord Robert, I am quite glad to see you this evening – Mama was afraid you wouldn't come, and she has been so looking forward to it." Her voice was low and conspiratorial. "And Papa thinks you will make a good addition to the family, and pronounces it casually to anyone who will listen. It's rather like being Elizabeth Bennett, and I do wish I had a Jane to lean on while I search for Mr. Darcy."
Robert cracked a smile. She was rather endearing; he felt a pang of intense guilt deep in his gut that wiped the smile clean away. "Well, I do not proclaim to be as stern as Mr. Darcy, but I've not the evil idle ways of Wyckham."
"And you do not ardently love me," Cora said with that cheerful smile of hers.
"Miss Levinson… may I be frank?"
"Of course, Lord Robert. We are on good enough terms for honesty."
"I am in love with my late wife. I cannot… I do not feel affection the same way anymore," Robert said gruffly. "I do not think I will ever feel the same way again."
Her smile wavered, faltered, then came back. "My dear," she said softly, "no one expects you to just… get over her. Least of all myself. But there are expectations: estate, fortune, heirs. I bring the money and you bring the estate, and I will do my best to provide you with heirs. Love… is not a consideration."
"I should not like to feel you pressured into a loveless marriage –"
"My mother wants your title. My father wants your prestige. I want to be as far away from their scheming as possible," Cora confessed. "You are handsome, charming, clever, and you are rather witty when you've a mind. We have gotten along well so far, and I've no doubts that this will continue if we are to be married." She turned the full force of that smile on him and added, "Besides, it saves me the trouble of turning down one of the Astors again. They're such awful snobs, and one of them had the gall to pat my backside in public."
Robert cleared his throat and mumbled, "Very unseemly, that."
"I should think you'd not treat me such," Cora said with a mischievous smirk, as if she were daring him to do just that.
"Not in public," Robert said. "But such a bottom as yours should be… adored."
She blushed. "Lord Robert, if you are going to say such things, the least you can do is propose."
He mumbled, "You deserve better than me."
She inclined her head and murmured, "Maybe so, but I know my own mind. Ask me and I will answer truthfully and without guile."
"Will you marry me, then?" he inquired as casually as if he were asking if she wanted another cup of wine.
"On one condition," Cora said, making him look at her with some trepidation.
"Which is?"
"No matter how cross we are with one another, we will share a bed," Cora said very quietly. "I do not like the idea of sharing every other aspect of our lives and then separating to sleep. It is… degrading to think that I would merely be your brood mare."
"I will agree to that condition, and any others within reason," Robert said softly. "I will speak to your father and then I will ask you in front of your parents and we will be in agreement?"
"I am already agreed, Robert," Cora murmured. "And I cannot wait to see my new home."
"I'm afraid that I live in a small house in the village," Robert said, "with very few servants and no sense of grandeur. It will be that way until I inherit the estate upon my father's death."
"Then I will be right at home," Cora said cheerfully. "Of course, my maid is to be married soon and I'm not certain I should hire someone here and force them to go to England…"
"My mother and sister can begin looking at candidates," Robert promised. "I think we will make a fine start of it, Cora. Together, yes?"
She lifted her chin and smiled. "Together," she agreed.
Elsie jiggled Meggie onto her hip, kissing the baby's cheek. "There's mam's good lass," she murmured. "Daddy will be home very soon – he's on the next train, love. He'll be so happy to see you." She glanced down the platform, seeing Lord and Lady Grantham and Lady Rosamund all in wait, as well. Once in a while, Lady Grantham would shoot a dirty look Elsie's way, then look away.
Elsie knew she was meant to shut herself away now that she was showing, but she couldn't be bothered with it. She delivered her embroidered goods the day she finished each piece, collected her money, and went to the shops or the post office. She went to church on Sunday. She had friends and neighbors who were glad to see her about despite her husband's absence. Lady Grantham could suck on a lemon.
The train pulled to a stop, and Elsie smiled. "Meggie, love, look – there's daddy," she murmured to the baby, pointing to the window where Charles was seated in third class. "There's daddy." Charles smiled out the window and waved eagerly, and Meggie squeaked, still chewing on her fingers. She was up to standing and taking her first wobbly steps on her own, so of course she wanted to get down, but Elsie held her closer. "Ah, ah, little lass," Elsie scolded gently. "Not yet, love. Stop kicking me."
Charles was nearly the first one off of the train, flying down the steps at a breakneck pace, not even waiting for the platform to clear before he was enveloping them in his embrace. "God, Elsie, I've never been so happy to see anyone in my life," he whispered, kissing her over and over again – chastely because they were in public – and it was all she could do to smile and kiss him back.
Meggie took her fingers out of her mouth and yelped, "DA!"
"Why hello, my darling girl," Charles said. "You've gotten so big!"
Meggie giggled and nearly took a dive to the ground as she all but launched herself into his arms. "Da!" she announced excitedly. She grinned at Elsie, then said, "MA! DA!"
"Aye, me love," Elsie praised, "that's your daddy. That's daddy and he's home now."
Meggie curled up against his shoulder, snuggling in. Elsie had told her every day all about her daddy and how much he loved them, using a photograph of Charles from their wedding day to show him to her so she wouldn't be afraid of him when he came home. But there was something else, something far more primal, that the baby was responding to. Elsie inhaled deeply and her body responded quickly to his scent – the smell of his cologne, of his soap, of him – lulling her into a tender feeling of security that had been lacking for so long.
"Elsie, that's her," he was saying, gesturing furtively down the platform. "Miss Cora Levinson."
"I don't care about Miss Cora Levinson," Elsie said firmly, pulling his attention back to her. "I've missed you horribly, Charlie," she whispered, giving him a kiss that was bordering on indecent. "Please come home tonight," she murmured.
"I will," he promised.
"You will what?" Lord Robert asked as he joined them. "Mrs. Carson, you are looking very well indeed – and is that your lovely daughter? My goodness, she has grown!"
"Bob!" Meggie pronounced excitedly, waving at him.
"Hello, Meggie, dear," Robert said with a smile. "Now, don't tell me you've been teaching her –"
"She'll learn better respect when she's older," Elsie promised. "But I had to explain to her that her da works for Uncle Bob and that's why he wasn't here."
Robert's smile grew. "Thank you for asking me to be one of her godparents," he said. "I will never cease to enjoy her enthusiasm."
"Bob!" Meggie said, waving shyly, which earned her a kiss from her daddy.
"Would you like to meet my fiancé?" Robert inquired. "She knows… most everything, Aunt Elsie."
Elsie inhaled sharply, then said, "When you marry her, I won't be Aunt Elsie any longer, Lord Robert, if ever I really was."
"Yes, you will," he said. "To me if no one else. Cora is a lovely young woman and I think you will warm to her if you give her a chance."
"Do you care for her like Ida?" Elsie asked.
"No, but I do care for her."
Elsie hesitated, then nodded. "Yes… I will meet her."
Robert walked back down the platform to the knot of people and came back with a dark haired young woman whose traveling gown was finer than any Elsie had ever seen, and she'd dressed Ida in the finest clothes for years! "You must be Mrs. Carson," the woman said with an enormous, sunny smile. "I've heard so much about you from Robert – I feel as if I already know you."
Elsie felt very awkward about shaking Miss Levinson's hand; her hands were coarse from needle pricks and heavy work, and the young woman's hands were clad in delicate kid leather gloves. But she did it anyway. "It's a pleasure to meet you, miss," she said softly, not wanting to be impolite, but feeling completely ill at ease with the situation.
"You must call me Cora if I may call you Elsie – we shall be great friends, I hope," Cora said brightly. "Carson tells me that you are a very accomplished embroiderist – perhaps you could teach me some of your techniques."
"Ma!" Meggie cried, then was back in Elsie's arms, all smiles and baby chatter. Elsie kissed her daughter's cheek, then regarded Cora through an unbiased filter.
There was nothing wrong with her; she was amiable, overly polite, and enthusiastic. There was nothing wrong with her; but that she was not Ida. "I should like that, Miss Levinson," Elsie said softly.
"May I speak with you for a moment?" Cora inquired. "It's a matter of some delicacy and I shouldn't like prying ears."
"Of course, miss," Elsie said, stepping away from the men with Cora.
"Let us be plain with each other, Mrs. Carson – I know your familial relationship to Robert and Ida. And I am aware that you will dislike me simply for not being your niece. And I am so very sorry for your loss; she sounds as if she was a wonderful woman and I would have liked to have met her." Cora hesitantly bit her lip. "I have traveled to England without a maid… because Robert said his mother and sister have been searching for one for me. Robert told me last night that you were Lady Ida's maid for many years. I… I would like to formally offer you a job as my maid, as Mr. Carson is to Robert." She inhaled deeply, then said in a rush, "I can understand if you would not – especially in your delicate condition – but I would be very honored if you would even consider my offer and –"
"I will," Elsie said softly. "On the condition that someone will replace me when it's time for my confinement."
"Of course," Cora said. "I wouldn't dream of asking you to give up time with your children just for my sake – they're small and need you far more than I do. I can do my own buckles and bows and my own hair if I need to." She smiled. "I do want us to be friends, if we cannot be family, Mrs. Carson."
Elsie nodded and murmured, "Thank you, miss."
"I told you to call me Cora," she replied with a smile. "Friends, remember?"
"When will I begin?" Elsie asked.
"Well, the wedding is in three weeks," Cora said, "and until then, we are all staying at the Abbey as guests of Lord and Lady Grantham – and Robert and I are not planning on a honeymoon tour, just moving into Crawley House."
"You should take a honeymoon trip, even if it is just a few days," Elsie murmured. "To be comfortable together and –"
Cora's smile faltered and Elsie felt a small amount of pity for her. "Eventually," she said, "we'll go on a trip, but not right away." She wrung her hands for a moment, then bit her lip. "Mr. Carson will be staying at the Abbey, and I'm certain you will be –"
"I am not welcome at the Abbey," Elsie said softly. "Her Ladyship does not care for me."
"You're my maid now, and she cannot dissuade me from bringing my maid," Cora said brightly. "Can you be there by two? I'll arrange your sleeping arrangements with Mr. Carson and whomever else I need to speak with so you may be together. I wouldn't want to keep you separated any longer than necessary –"
"You're very kind, Cora, but…" Elsie smiled sadly. "It's just not done."
"I don't care," Cora declared. "It will be done from now on. And the moment I am the Countess of Grantham, you and Mr. Carson will have your own cottage to raise your children in properly." She smiled at Meggie. "Is there anyone to care for her while you're working?"
Elsie nodded, then swallowed hard. Cora was more like Ida than she'd realized; practical and kind, with a cheerful demeanor and a genuine compassion for those around her… it was no wonder Robert had chosen her over the others. "I should… I should go home and ready my bag, then," Elsie murmured. "My black dresses all need let out – I did some housemaid work until I began to show, and then it's been embroidery and laundry since."
Cora smiled. "Are you excited about the baby coming?"
Elsie murmured, "A bit, but not too much. I was too worried about my Charlie in America."
"Cora, dear?" Robert interrupted gently. "We're leaving for the Abbey. Carson, please be at the Abbey by two and no later – you won't get your full half day today, but I will see to it that you'll get a full day next week."
"Robert, Mrs. Carson has graciously decided to be my lady's maid," Cora said. "Can we persuade your housekeeper to give the Carsons joint accommodation so they don't have to run away on a half day together?" Her voice was high pitched and teasing, but very direct and cautious.
"My dear, anything you wish that is within the realm of reason, I will grant," Robert said with a small smile. "And I will argue with my parents over the repercussions."
Cora smiled and gestured at the small family. "Go home and enjoy," she instructed sweetly. "We'll see you this evening."
Charles led Elsie off the platform and smiled. "Admit it: you like her," he said.
"Mebbe," Elsie said. "Just a wee bit."