They slept then, the deep sleep of the truly satisfied and exhausted. He awoke a long while later to a very dark room. They'd fallen asleep in the mid-afternoon, and it was now night. Just enough moonlight was streaming into the room for him to be able to read his watch on the bedside table. 2AM. He'd slept for almost ten hours. Slowly, in an attempt not to wake Elsie, he pulled his arm and leg from beneath her. She clung to them in her sleep which he found endearing. Fumbling into his robe, he moved over to the door to check for the sandwiches. All this activity had made him ravenous. Sure enough, there they were with the two bottles of beer as before. He pulled the cart into the room as he mentally decided to give the innkeeper a slightly larger tip.
He had decided to sit on the uncomfortable chair and eat by moonlight, when he heard Elsie stirring in the bed. "Are those the sandwiches?" she asked sleepily. In answer, he lit the hand lamp, keeping the light low and carried the tray over to the bed. She sat up, not bothering to keep the sheets around her this time; they slipped down to her waist leaving her breasts bare. He smiled, supposing modesty went out the window after what they'd done together. "Hungry?" he asked. Her reply was a low hum. He set the tray in the center of the bed and sat down at the opposite corner to share their late supper. They ate together in silence and finished off all the sandwiches and beer. He wasn't the only one who had worked up an appetite he noticed. When they'd finished he replaced the now empty tray and bottles on the cart and pushed it back into the hall. Returning to the bed, he removed his robe and lay down beside Elsie who had already snuggled back under the covers.
"Tired?" he asked, kissing her shoulder. "Yes," she sighed, "but not sleepy."
"Mmm, I feel the same," he replied.
"Charles, could we just talk for awhile?" she asked.
"Is there anything in particular that you want to talk about?"
"No, just talk or not, I suppose. We could just lie here and enjoy each other's company"
"I do, you know."
"Enjoy my company?" she asked.
"Yes and your breasts of course. Very nice breasts you have there, firm and with just the right amount of bounce."
"Charles!"
After a few moments, he said seriously, "I meant it, you know."
"That I have nice breasts?"
"That too, but I was referring to the whole 'as long as we both shall live' thing"
"Oh, yes, I meant it too."
"Elsie, I mean that as far as I'm concerned we're married now. I will never leave you. You are my wife in every way that really matters. If you want, we can go and make it legal now."
"At 3 am?"
"Don't joke, you know what I mean," he said a little exasperated, "Elsie, what I'm trying to tell you is that you're the most important person in my life. I would leave Downton, if you wished. I'm not completely sure how I would support you, but I'd figure something out. My heart and my life are yours."
"Charles, I feel the same way. You have been the most important person in my life for quite a while now. I would never ask you to leave Downton, though. It's too much a part of who you are. You've lived there for over 20 years. It would be like asking you to leave your family. You have held my heart for years, now you have the rest of me."
What could any man do at the end of a speech like that but thank his lucky stars? He did and kissed the woman who held his heart.
"Since we've decided that we're truly married now, could I ask a personal question?" she asked hesitantly.
"What?" he asked, a little nervous himself at anything that would make Elsie Hughes hesitate.
"This inn, the meals, the sandwiches, I'm sure they're all rather expensive," she began.
"And you're wondering how I can afford all this on a butler's salary," he finished for her.
"Well, yes."
"Elsie, did it ever occur to you that I've been in service since I was 20. I've had my room and board provided all that time. While my salary is not large, I have never had to spend very much of it. After the foolishness of my youth, I never spent my money on frivolous things. Starving can make one very frugal. I have never been fond of drink, and I've not had any lady friends. The two biggest consumers of cash I believe. Plus, both my parents are deceased. I have inherited a small amount from them. And I've had some good gains at the racetrack. Altogether, I have a tidy sum squirreled away. I suppose I even have enough that I could leave service and find a small business to run: a pub, a tobacco shop, or even a tea shop. I just have no desire to do so. This time with you has been the happiest of my life. Any amount I've spent has been more than worth it."
This openness about his finances made her believe him her husband more than anything else. She couldn't help asking, "You're a gambler?" Somehow, it just didn't fit her mental picture of him.
"I do not gamble," he stated flatly. "I make carefully considered investments. I attend the races regularly, but I rarely place a bet. I only place bets when I am almost sure of success, and I never bet more than I can afford to lose. I win 8 out of 10 times. A few of those times have fortunately had rather long odds. You forget that I am the son of a groom. I know how to judge horses," he finished with a smile.
"I know how to judge men, Charles Carson, and I say that you are a very good man."
"Is it my turn now to ask an incredibly personal question?" he asked after a long pause.
He felt her smile and nod against his chest.
"You've said before that you've loved me for almost five years. Does that mean you found me somewhat attractive from the start?"
She looked up at him so he could see the roll of her eyes, "The ego, Charles!"
"It is rather sensitive," he agreed, "Humor me?"
"It was not love at first sight if that's what you're asking. You were just the stern butler at first. No, I can remember the precise moment I fell in love with you."
"Go on."
"Do you remember James the octopus?"
"An apt description. He's running a pub in Ripon now with his wife, one child and another on the way."
"For his wife's sake, I hope he can keep his hands away from the serving girls better than he could the housemaids. Anyway, he was coming on to me rather strongly, and I had finally decided to put him down a peg or two. Then, you came in to rescue me."
He smiled a bit at that, "Actually, it was to rescue James that I came in to the room. Well, your temper is impressive at full sail, my dear," he added hurriedly at her look of surprised indignation.
"Hmmph!" she sniffed and continued, "You apologized for his behavior which I found most endearing. I looked up into your eyes to speak to you, and you smiled at me. I believe I've been in love with you ever since. You do have a lovely smile, Charles."
"Would it surprise you to learn that I remember that incident well, because it is also when I fell in love with you?"
"Took you long enough to do anything about it," she grumbled.
"Well, there are rules, love."
"Yes, I understood after I learned about 'the rule' and the previous butler's behavior."
He stiffened a bit, "What do you know of Mr. Carter's behavior? Who's been carrying tales?"
"Mrs. Dunmore. She and Mrs. Patmore were lamenting your lack of a love life one night. When I questioned them about why you didn't just choose some woman on staff, like me, they explained about the 'rule'. They also explained that Mr. Carter was 'a leech' in Mrs. Dunmore's opinion and that you hated it and were as a consequence a much better butler."
"Nice to know they were worried about me," he said drily, "That's all true as far as it goes."
"Do you want to tell me the rest of the story?"
His shoulders shifted a little uncomfortably.
"Don't if you'd rather not. I don't need to know."
"No, I think you do need to know. It will make you see a little more of how I feel about Downton and our current employer."
"Then, I'll listen."
"Mr. Carter was indeed a leech, and his behavior bled down to the rest of the male staff. I would try to put myself in his way at times, but there is a limit to what a footman can do to a butler. The old Earl probably wouldn't have listened to me, but I should have spoken to Lord Robert. I had served as his valet many times. He probably would have done something. In the end, I was more afraid of losing my job than doing the right thing," he finished with disgust.
"There was a kitchen maid who was very foolish. I know Mr. Carter shouldn't have abused his position, but she certainly didn't make it hard for him. He apparently got her 'in the family way', and they disappeared together suddenly one night. It was left for me to make explanations to His Lordship. That was an uncomfortable discussion to say the least."
"I'll bet!"
"His Lordship made me the butler after that with the understanding that something like that was never to happen again. He let me know that while he was not foolish enough to expect celibacy from his staff, he did expect discretion. He was most disturbed by Mr. Carter's apparent abuse of position."
"Charles, what Mr. Carter did was despicable, but at least he did marry the girl."
He grimaced, "Elsie, how happy could a forced marriage be? Also, judging from his previous behavior, I doubt that he is the most faithful of husbands. Bessie was a foolish girl, but any woman deserves faithfulness if nothing else."
"Charles, very few women actually get that," Elsie replied with a little bit of sadness.
"You know this from experience?"
She nodded, "When I first went into service, I suppose I was the foolish girl. My only excuse is that I was just 17; everyone's foolish at that age. He was just a footman, though. I believed him when he said I was the only one until I found that I was only one of three or more."
"Elsie, I realize that these are just words, but you know that would never happen with me," he said drawing her closer.
"Charles, I've known you for five years. I should think I know by now that you are a very different sort of man. Although I've seen a much different side of you these past few days," she said with a smile.
"Well, I don't think the butler could exactly show this side to everyone, could he?"
"He'd better not!" she laughed.
Laughing, he replied, "Elsie, you're the only person I've ever been able to be this way with. I don't just mean this," he indicated their current state of undress, "I mean this relaxed. I have to be reserved, dignified, and stern with everyone else, comes with the job. It's wonderful to not have to restrain myself with you."
"I'm glad to be of some service to you," she said with a wry smile, "but speaking of being unrestrained. Are you still very tired?" she asked as she began to caress his chest.
"No; I'm feeling rested now, did you have something in mind?" he asked sliding down to lay facing her with his hand on her hip.
Leaning forward to kiss him, she said, "I was thinking you might show me how unrestrained you can be."
"I think I might be able to do that," he said as he caressed her bottom, drawing her closer.
"Good," she smiled as she leaned forward to kiss him.
Rolling her under him, they both let all restraint slip away and enjoyed each other's company very much, indeed.
