Elsie Hughes felt like she was walking on air. She had floated contentedly at his side as they passed through Belgravia and on to Piccadilly on the north side of the Palace Gardens and Green Park. She had walked these streets during the daytime, but never at night. The city streets were just as alive with people and buses and vendors and cabs as they had been in the daylight, but the lights of the buildings and vehicles gave the streets an aura of the fantastical. Elsie felt like a child who had followed the fairy lights to a new and magical world. It was so thrilling it might have been frightening, but for the strong and sure presence by her side.
As they walked, they spoke of their London experiences. She had spent one season in London as a Lady's maid before taking her post as head housemaid at Downton. "My mistress was a very demanding woman. I was responsible for her and her daughter, who was coming out that season. I didn't have much free time. And I certainly never walked the London streets this late. I was respectable back then."
"You are respectable now." He reminded her, smiling broadly.
"Am I? That's too bad."
Charles Carson had initially planned to take her to a pub that he knew near Leicester Square, but his plans had changed as they walked. He saw how her eyes followed the sights and sounds of the London night. The charms of London had long paled for him, but it was still new and exciting for her. He wanted to give her the perfect evening. He still tingled to remember her words, 'I am all yours this evening.' Charles knew this night was important to her. He promised himself she would not regret placing her trust in him.
Elsie was surprised when Charles led them off Piccadilly onto St. James Street. She had assumed they would continue walking up to Piccadilly Circus and on to Covent Gardens. She knew it was one of his favorite places in London.
For the first time she questioned him. "Where are we going?"
"To my favorite restaurant."
"A restaurant? Not a pub?"
"No, a restaurant. I only hope they have a table available at such short notice." They took the first left onto Jermyn Street.
"But we are not dressed properly for a restaurant."
"I am not dressed properly." He admitted. "But a beautiful lady is welcome anywhere. If I may say so, this evening you are lovely enough to command a table at the Savoy."
A compliment like this was something she had wanted desperately from him all night. Now that it had been given, Elsie was surprised to find herself embarrassed at his words. To hide her discomfiture, she tried to make light of his praise. "You see? Was that so difficult?"
"I am sorry about earlier. I don't do very well with an audience. Even when Grigg and I were performing, I would get the most awful stage fright. Eventually, that would pass and I'd come round right when it mattered."
"I am sure you did."
They'd reached their destination and Charles motioned her towards a dark oak door beside an unassuming arched window. Simple, understated gold lettering announced, 'Wiltons Restaurant'. Her eyes grew large. She recognized the name; it was one of His Lordship's favorite restaurants. Before she could protest that this was too fine a place for two servants, they were through the door and Charles was speaking to the maƮtre d'hotel. The man was as large and imposing as the front of the restaurant was small and inconspicuous. He was broader and taller than Charles, with light brown hair. He looked to be in his forties. Elsie was shocked as she listened to their conversation.
"Of course, Mr. Carson, we have your usual table available. I could provide you with a coat and white tie, but I don't think it's necessary tonight. We are a rather casual house this evening."
"Why is that?"
"We had a good theatre crowd earlier, but we are slow now. Some countess whoseywhatsit is having her ball tonight. Everyone who is anyone was invited. Anyone who wasn't invited doesn't want to be seen anywhere else tonight."
"Yes, our family is there tonight which is why we have the evening off."
"I was beginning to wonder if you were going to visit us this Season."
"The Season isn't over. We've been very busy with Lady Rose's presentation and ball."
"I heard it was quite the success. His Majesty the Prince of Wales attended, they say."
"I've no idea how that was managed, but it was a very great honor."
"A royalist like you must have felt like a child at Christmas."
"It was a very great honor." Carson repeated, noncommittally. "It is also a great honor for me to introduce you to my companion. Mr. Laramie, I am pleased to present Mrs. Hughes. Mrs. Hughes, allow me to present Mr. Laramie."
Elsie nodded demurely and offered her hand. Mr. Laramie took it gallantly and bowed. "Enchanted to meet you, Mrs. Hughes." For a moment, it looked as though he was going to kiss her hand.
"Easy now." Mr. Carson warned the younger man.
"My apologies, Mr. Carson. If you will allow me to take your coat, Mrs. Hughes, I shall show you to your table."
Once more, Elsie found herself swept along in a daze. She walked through a room that was no finer than any room at Downton or Grantham House, but the elegance felt foreign to her and more than a little intimidating. This was a place where she was not in control. She was not housekeeper here. She was used to being a part of the hustle and bustle behind the scenes. All she could see here was the calm and class of the final product. Mr. Carson looked at home here. Even wearing his simple suit rather than his tails, he looked as though he belonged amongst the obviously wealthy patrons sprinkled about the small restaurant. Someone would easily mistake him for a country squire. She felt small and frumpy in comparison.
Mr. Laramie led them to a small table in a small alcove of the restaurant. The maitre 'd hotel held her chair for her as she sat. A waiter hurried over and likewise held Mr. Carson's chair for him. It was a surreal moment for Elsie, to be treated with such deference. Charles smiled reassuringly at her. She was starting to feel more comfortable being treated like a true lady. The way he looked at her made Elsie feel that she deserved it.
Mr. Laramie bowed gracefully and indicated their waiter. "I shall leave you in Johnathan's capable hands. If there is anything either of us can do to improve your experience, please do not hesitate to ask."
"Thank you." Mr. Carson said, dismissing their host and turning to their waiter.
The waiter handed them two handwritten menus with today's date lovingly scrolled across the top. "Good evening, Mr. Carson. It is nice to see you again, sir."
"Thank you, Johnathan; I hope life is treating you well."
"I cannot complain."
"Johnathan, may I introduce you to Mrs. Hughes?"
"The Mrs. Hughes?" The waiter looked duly impressed. "I've heard so much about you, Mrs. Hughes. It is an honor."
Elsie looked at Charles questioningly. "And how is that you have come to hear so much about me?"
"Johnathan worked for Lady Rosamund before the war. He is still in contact with many of the current staff there and the Grantham House staff, all of whom greatly respect you." Charles explained.
Elsie nodded humbly at this explanation and looked with dismay at the menu in front of her. It was strange for her to have to choose what she wanted for supper. Usually she ate whatever was set before her without a thought. Elsie discovered that she rather liked not having to choose what she ate. Here there was the pressure of ordering the wrong thing and looking stupid. She was used to planning menus, not ordering from them. Her professional assessment of this menu was very favorable; it offered a wide variety of game and seafood. She also noted that there were no prices on the menu, which she took as a bad sign.
Charles saw that she was overwhelmed by the choices and turned to the waiter for assistance. "Do you have any recommendations from tonight's menu? His Lordship spoke very highly of the pheasant the last time he dined here."
"Alas, there is no pheasant today. Beyond that, I cannot be of much help, it's all excellent, as always, Mr. Carson. Shall I fetch you some wine while you are perusing the menu?"
"Yes, please. If I am not mistaken, there should be a bottle of the '21 claret in Lord Grantham's locker."
"Very good." The waiter bowed swiftly and left.
Elsie looked terrified. "We cannot drink His Lordship's wine."
"Why not? We drink his wine all the time." Charles said, logically.
"We drink their leftovers, we don't just walk in and open whatever wine we like. Won't he miss it the next time they come here?"
"I shall send more bottles tomorrow. The locker was almost empty and I was going to have to handle that soon, regardless. I've not taken my allotment from the last wine order, so it will all even out. Rest assured, we won't be stealing any wine, Mrs. Hughes." He reached across and cover her hand where it lay on the crisp, white tablecloth to assure her.
His warm touch helped her relax and she smiled across the table at him. She finally began to truly take in her surroundings. There were fewer than twenty tables in the restaurant which was narrow and darkly lit. The furnishings were spare but fine, creating the atmosphere of casual wealth. It was comfortable but clearly elite. She had never been a patron in a place as fine as this. The best hotel in York looked like a stable by comparison.
I could get used to this, she thought, feeling like a titled Lady holding her Lord's hand.
TBC...
A/N I am making rather a meal out of this...meal, so we'll have another chapter at the restaurant tomorrow. Just thinking about writing the next chapter is making me hungry.
Your lovely reviews have been overwhelming and I had no time this weekend to respond, so I am issuing a general 'Thank You' and I hope this update will serve as an adequate answer to your encouragements. We'll postpone the flubbing things up for a few more chapters, shall we?
