Chapter 20
It was almost 7.15pm. Charles was growing more and more anxious; maybe she wasn't coming? He was trying to keep calm; he knew there could be a million reasons why she was late. However, as the time ticked by his heart began to sink at the thought she might not be coming. What would he do then? How could he ever tell her how he felt? His biggest fear was that she had worked out somehow that the gifts and notes were from him, and she had stayed away because she did not feel the same. He was not sure how he could ever face her again. He hoped so much that he had not ruined their friendship. Car after car arrived at the Opera Hall, with guests heading up the steps to the theatre. Yet, His Lordship's car and Elsie were nowhere to be seen. Charles crossed his fingers and hoped she would arrive soon.
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"My goodness Mr Barnes, are you ok?" Elsie said, shaken as she clung to her seat in the back of the car, but thankfully she did not seem injured. The car was on an angle, in the ditch beside the road.
"Bloody fox! Jumped right out in front of me … I swerved to avoid hitting it … apologies Mrs Hughes … are you ok?" Mr Barnes said, turning in his seat to look at Elsie.
"Yes … yes … I seem to be fine … my heart is beating a little faster than normal but no permanent harm done!" Elsie said, still in shock.
"Good … good … well let's get you out of this car and then I'll see if I can get this thing out of the ditch …" Mr Barnes said, as he climbed out of the car himself. Suddenly, as the shock began to wear off, Elsie remembered where she was meant to be.
"Oh Mr Barnes! I can't be late … I really can't … I have to be at that Opera Hall …" Elsie panicked, as he took her hand and helped her down from the car.
Elsie stood on the side of the road dressed in all of her finery and she stared dumbfounded at the car. She could not imagine how Mr Barnes was going to get it back on the road. Neither could he, as he stood beside her gawping at the car. The thought that she would not get to the Opera in time terrified her. If she missed him, if he left before she got there, she might never know who had sent her those gifts, who had proclaimed his love for her. He would think that she had not turned up; he might never get in touch again. How could she live never being sure who it was? She would spend the rest of her life wondering who had loved and lost her.
"I'll do my very best Mrs Hughes but as you can see the car looks well and truly stuck … I may have to walk to the next village and get help …" Mr Barnes said, sounding far too relaxed for Elsie's liking. Did he not realise that Elsie's future happiness was resting on getting to Ripon, Elsie thought.
"Mr Barnes … walking to the next village will take too long … we need to move this car now …" Elsie said, growing more hysterical by the minute.
"Mrs Hughes we can't … at the very least it would need me to turn the engine over and steer, whilst someone tried to push the car up and out of the ditch … and you certainly are not strong enough to do that … besides you are all dressed up for the Opera … and very beautiful you look too …" Mr Barnes added, hoping that a little flattery might calm Elsie down. He had seen the Housekeeper's temper vented against the maids; he did not want to be on the end of that rage.
"Well I'll drive and you push!" Elsie shouted.
"Mrs Hughes … you don't drive!" Mr Barnes replied.
"Well I am about to learn!" Elsie said, as she made her way to the driver's seat; her beautiful silk dress swishing behind her as she marched to the front of the car.
"Mrs Hughes! You cannot just drive a car … I forbid you … I have been charged with keeping you safe this evening and I intend to do just that …" Mr Barnes shouted back at Elsie.
That was it; Elsie saw red. She needed to get to the Opera Hall; she needed to know if Charles was there waiting. This evening could not end like this; with her stood by a ditch in the road and her secret admirer standing on those steps thinking she had stood him up. She exploded at Mr Barnes,
"Mr Barnes … I am meeting a man at the Opera Hall … and I don't yet know who that man is … however … there is a small chance … a very tiny chance … that the man waiting for me is the love of my life … and if you think I am going to stand around for hours until you come up with some other solution to move this blasted car … then you are very much mistaken … so I am going to get in this car right now and you are going to give me a very speedy lesson to teach me how to reverse this thing … and then you are going to push with every ounce of your strength to get this car out of this ditch! …" Elsie screamed, she was getting closer to hysteria with every second.
"But Mrs Hughes …" Mr Barnes began but was immediately interrupted.
"Mr Barnes … please …." Elsie shouted, looking at the chauffeur and pleading with him.
"Oh … very well Mrs Hughes … god help me if anything should happen … but let's give it a go …" he said.
Elsie smiled at him, relieved, and without further hesitation, raised her dress and clambered up into the driver's seat. He explained the different pedals to her and explained how to rev the engine and move it back and forth to get some leverage to get the car back up onto the road.
"Remember Mrs Hughes … all you are trying to do is to get the car out of this mud … don't overdo it or it will stall … and remember I'll be at the front pushing it … so for heaven's sake don't go forwards and run me over!" Mr Barnes said worriedly.
Elsie had the good grace to be startled at that last comment. She was eager to get to the Opera but she really did not want to kill the chauffeur before she got there! Mr Barnes, having finished his instruction, walked around to the front of the car, ready to push. If anyone could have seen the beautiful, graceful woman, in the finest dress, with her hands on the wheel ready to get the car out of the ditch, it would have made them smile, not to mention impressed them.
"Right … let's go Mrs Hughes …" Mr Barnes said, hoping to goodness she reversed and did not flatten him right there.
The engine revved, making a loud scraping noise and then with a loud bang, it stalled.
"Damn and blast!" Elsie shouted.
"Try again Mrs Hughes … just a little lighter on the pedals …" Mr Barnes said.
Elsie tried once more and this time the engine did not stall. She put the gear into reverse and revved over and over again.
"That's it ... keep going …" Mr Barnes shouted, his face red from using all of his strength to push the front of the car backwards.
"It's moving! I think it's actually moving …." Elsie said, as she felt the car wheels spin beneath her.
"Keep going … now don't stall it …" Mr Barnes shouted, as Elsie rolled her eyes.
The car started gradually reversing. She felt it working its way up the bank and back onto the road. Even in this stressful moment, she managed to see the funny side as Mr Barnes' face was so red it looked like he was about to explode. The car was virtually back on the road.
"Just a little further … right … stop now …. turn the engine off Mrs Hughes!" he shouted. Elsie did just that, as she slumped back on the seat, relief flooding her body. She relaxed for a second and then sprang into action, scooting out of the driver's seat and into the back.
"Come on now Mr Barnes … I have an Opera to get to!" Elsie said happily.
The poor man dragged himself into the car and set off for Ripon.
"What time is it Mr Barnes?" Elsie asked, as they headed full speed down the road.
"7.45pm Mrs Hughes … we are going to be about an hour late …" he said regretfully, looking in his mirror at the dejected housekeeper.
Elsie's heart sank; would he still be waiting?
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Charles looked at his watch; it was 7.45pm. She is not coming, he admitted to himself as tears filled his eyes. He had been trying to remain positive but he had now given up hope. He was absolutely devastated. It was all he could do not to crumple to the floor in despair. He could only pray that the damage could be limited, maybe she had experienced cold feet about meeting her mystery admirer; maybe she still did not know it was him. He should leave, he thought, he should get a taxi and head back to Downton. She was not going to arrive now. The disappointment he felt, the rejection, was so painful. He had hoped tonight would be perfect; he had dreamed of sweeping Elsie into his arms and declaring his love. Yet, he seemed to have well and truly blown it. He should have had the courage to tell her, to declare his love face to face rather than putting this stupid plan into action, he thought. Now, he would never know if she could have loved him like he loved her.
The last of the Opera goers were heading inside. Charles felt inconsolable. He loved Elsie fiercely and he wanted to spend his life with her. Yet he had lost her, he had taken too long to realise what she meant to him. This was all his own fault. He did not deserve her. Charles gloomily made his way down the steps, weaving in and out of what seemed liked hundreds of Opera lovers walking in the opposite direction.
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"Mr Barnes, are we nearly there?" Elsie said, alarm growing in her voice.
"It's just around the corner Mrs Hughes … but there is a bit of traffic … it's always busy when a performance is about to start … we won't be long …" he said calmly.
However, as Elsie stared ahead, out of the front window of the car, all she could see was a line of cars that did not seem to be moving. She felt nauseous. She was going to miss him; she could not bear it. She had come so close to discovering her secret love and now she was going to miss him. They weren't moving at all; in a flash Elsie knew what she had to do. She flung the car door open and jumped out.
"Mrs Hughes!" Mr Barnes shouted.
"Wish me luck Mr Barnes … wish me luck …" Elsie said, as she bunched her dress and started sprinting towards the Opera Hall.
It was the least ladylike display you could imagine but she really did not care. She ran as fast as she possibly could, a trail of blue silk swishing passed people as she snaked in and out to avoid colliding with anyone. As she darted for the steps of the Opera Hall, her breath was heaving in her chest. She had not ran like this since she was a young girl. She reach the Opera, racing up to the highest steps to get a clear view. She frantically scanned the steps right and left, desperate to recognise someone she knew, desperate to see him. There were so many people, she could not make anyone out. She felt so frightened; she had missed him, she knew she had. An overwhelming sadness overcame her as she stood alone on the steps. She would never know; she had missed him.
Just as she had given up all hope, and tears were forming in her eyes, she looked down the steps and, through a gap in the throng of people, she thought she saw him. She then lost sight of him. Was it him? Was she imagining things? Oh my goodness! She began hurrying down the steps; she thought she saw him again. Oh dear, there were too many people. She had lost him again. She could not see anything. She then spotted him again, well it looked like him but he had his back to her. Could it be him? He was about to get in a taxi. Oh my god, was it him? She realised she had nothing to lose and so she began to shout his name.
"Charles! Charles! Charles Carson!" Elsie shouted, as she sped down the steps, bumping into people and apologising as she leapt down the steps, two at a time.
Elsie stopped suddenly as he turned around. It was him. She gazed down at her Butler, tears streaming down her face. It was Charles. She had never felt happier or more relieved in her entire life. She beamed at him, radiant as she stood, holding her hands to her mouth in shock and delight.
Charles gasped loudly, exuberant at the sight before him. She had come; Elsie had come to meet him and she looked thrilled to see him. His face lit up with pure happiness. She smiled and laughed happily in return.
"Elsie!" he exclaimed, his heart filled with joy; perhaps dreams really do come true.