A/N Thank you for the patience. Sorry I did not update earlier but I had absolutely no inspiration for this last chapter. I rewrote it again and again and am not entirely happy with it but posted it anyway.
Thanks for your lovely reviews! 3 they mean a lot to me!
Final Decision
He moved away from her, but only far enough to be able to look into her eyes. His hands still rested on the small of her back, supporting her.
"Elsie," he started, studying her face, focusing on her blue eyes that he had always admired because of all the emotions they expressed even when the rest of her face remained motionless. "I meant what I wrote though I wish I could have told you the exact same thing in person on the day you received my gift."
She looked at him in anticipation and made him realize that whatever he would answer now would change his life forever. He could not go back anymore, deny everything. Yet taking the final step made him nervous. Even more than he had been when he had written that short but so meaningful note.
Charles felt her hand on his arm, how she gently stroked it, letting her fingertips travel downwards from his shoulder to his wrist, enticingly slow. "You could say them now," he heard her mutter, almost imperceptible, so shy and at the same time so strong.
"I love you," he did not whisper it, uttered the three words clear and loud enough to probably be heard even outside on the corridor though no one could overhear them now. They were the only ones still awake. "For a long time," he added. "and I am sorry that I could only tell you now."
Her reply came out as a whisper against his lips. "I love you too," and she sealed their promise with another tender kiss that lasted long enough to leave him breathless again. Charles drew her close to his chest a second time before he continued to tell her his decision.
"You asked about our future, Elsie and what will happen next." He could feel how she nodded and took in a deep breath. "I would not want to leave Downton. It is my home, it is our home. It is the only home I know." An unintended sigh escaped him. "But we cannot stay here unless we keep everything secret. And I am tired of this. I don't want to burden you with this."
ooooo
She listened intently to his words that resounded in his chest when he spoke. Elsie felt safe and secure in his presence, ready to risk everything – their position, their reputation, their home. Even keeping their relationship a secret did not matter to her anymore. It was not a burden. Somehow the last few hours had made her fully realize what she had tried to understand during the last few weeks after her birthday. After that kiss all her anxiousness had disappeared. What mattered now was them, their happiness and she would take on everything to never let him go again.
His chest rose when he took another deep breath. "Elsie Hughes." He sounded determined and loosened the embrace to be able to lift her chin. She let it happen, holding her breath, waiting for his next words.
"Would you do me the honour of becoming my wife?" And when he finally said it out loud, his voice strong and without a hint of hesitation, she knew that all the fear, the uncertainty, and hesitation she had experienced before his return were a thing of the past.
"Elsie?" In her head she had answered his question numerous times already. Only when she saw the worried look on his face did she notice that she had not given him an answer.
"My answer is yes."
Before she knew, he kissed her again. The feeling of his lips on hers made her forget everything around her, the fact that it was almost midnight and that they had been standing in her sitting room for almost an hour now. Doing nothing else but savouring the only hours of solitude the big house had to offer. He had softly pressed his lips on hers, kissed her once, twice, a third time until his lips stayed in place. There was so much tenderness and desire in his kiss that this time she let her lips part and let her tongue demand entrance into his mouth. The sensation that flooded through her body made her lose her breath and she had to pull apart for a moment to recover.
She could feel the smile on his face as he rested his forehead against hers. "I have never been kissed like that," he admitted, his voice only a whisper. "So I assume we have made the right decision then?"
"Yes, we have."
ooooo
She had completely forgotten about the tea Anna had brought her earlier. It was left standing on the table, the candle underneath the pot extinguished long ago, when they closed the door to her sitting room behind them.
The way upstairs to their rooms took longer than usual since Charles found several excuses to touch her, kiss her and whisper I love you into her ear. She felt like a completely different person, renewed, full of energy and lightheaded from all the kissing. They would be separated for another three weeks when he left for London the next day but this time she would hardly be able to wait for his return.
"You should rest now." They stood in front of the two staircases that led to the servant's quarters. He would soon take the one on the left and she would climb the right one. "And tomorrow I'll talk to his Lordship as soon as I've arrived in London." His lips touched her nose. "Good night."
Elsie waited until he had disappeared around the corner, and only the sound of his footsteps on the old staircase reminded her of his presence. Then she turned around and went into her own room at the end of the corridor, next to the door that separated the men from the women, that one wall that separated her from him tonight.
ooooo
With his Lordships permission, he returned from London two days earlier than the family. Only Lord Grantham knew that the reason for Charles' request was not solely the heavy luggage that needed to be unpacked and sorted prior to their return. His early arrival at Downton Abbey coincided with an appointment at the registrar's office.
Charles had been nervous when he had told Robert Crawley about his decision to marry the housekeeper. But to his surprise, his Lordship had just smiled and shaken his hand with such vigour that he had stood before his employer dumbfounded for a few seconds. The only thing Lord Grantham at first did not agree with was Charles' wish to keep the relationship a secret.
"It is for the best milord." And he had explained what damage it would do to their reputation and credibility if the servants knew. They eventually would be informed but not right away.
ooooo
They stood on the steps in front of the registrar's office, looking up towards the big double door. Elsie wore a simple green skirt and a white blouse together with a green coat and a matching hat. The locket around her neck rested on top of her blouse. He had asked one of the gardeners to arrange a bouquet of fresh wild flowers she now held in her left hand. The other hand had reached out to take his.
"Shall we go in?" he asked without looking at her. This was the final step and the most important day of his life.
"They are waiting for us." He felt how she squeezed his hand and knew that she was not looking at the closed door in front of them but at his face. Carefully he turned his head and caught her gaze. "Nervous?" Her eyes sparkled and she bit her lip again yet the corners of her mouth told him she was actually smiling.
"A bit."
"Then it would be best to go in now." She stepped forward but he remained where he stood. "Charles?" The smile was gone now and replaced by a puzzled look mixed with what he thought was concern.
"One more thing." He closed the distance between them, bent down and placed a soft kiss on her mouth. "I had to kiss your sorrows away. Now we can go."
The locket glinted in the morning sun. Two letters were engraved on its surface. An E and a C, entwined so perfectly to form only one letter. Inside a new note lay hidden with 5 simple words written on it: I love you Elsie Carson.
THE END
