A/N: Thank you for all of your suggestions and encouragement to keep writing. Let's see how it goes!
Chapter 21
Lord Grantham made a deliberate and loud coughing noise. When his Housekeeper and Butler still didn't break apart, he coughed loudly again. It was Elsie that first realised that they were being given a hint to stop kissing and so she began to pull away from Charles. Charles, after twenty years of reticence, seemed to have forgotten himself entirely and drew Elsie close again, this time starting to nuzzle her neck.
"Charles!" Elsie said with mock frustration, although secretly delighted. Still he continued to kiss Elsie, seemingly oblivious to the crowds gathered around them, mouths gaping open at the smooching couple before them.
"Charles!" Elsie repeated, this was getting a little embarrassing now she thought,
"Charles, His Lordship wants to speak to us," Elsie declared. That seemed to do the trick, with Charles immediately snapping out of his trance and realising where he was. Charles virtually jumped back, two feet away from Elsie.
"Oh … … yes … … of course … … I beg your pardon Lord Grantham … … I do beg your pardon … … I think I got a little carried away there," Charles muttered, looking around at the many familiar faces staring back at him. Elsie smiled at him, noticing the pink that tinged his cheeks. She really did love him very much.
"A little!" Lord Grantham stated. Charles and Elsie's eyes widened in disbelief at that comment; they both looked towards the ground, mortified that his Lordship was commenting on them getting carried away! When they eventually had the courage to raise their heads, they witnessed a little smirk on the face of Lord Grantham.
"Well, I think we have one or two things to discuss Mr Carson, Mrs Hughes, and so perhaps the rest of the staff should head back inside," Lord Grantham suggested. The staff immediately looked disappointed, the last thing they wanted was to miss out on what happened next. However, Mr Carson quickly intervened,
"Yes of course, My Lord", Charles said, then turning his attention to the staff, "Go on and head back downstairs, this evening's dinner won't prepare itself." Charles Carson said this with as much authority as he could muster, not quite as easy now that the entire staff had seen him declare his love, propose to Elsie and then kiss her senseless. The staff all headed back inside, not before Beryl had given Elsie and Charles an excited peck on the cheek. She was so pleased for them! Even Charles grinned at her genuine happiness for them both.
"Perhaps you should also go inside girls? Your mother and I would like to speak to Mr Carson and Mrs Hughes," Lord Grantham stated.
"We are not going anywhere. If there's to be a firing squad, we are staying to help them!" Lady Mary asserted.
Elsie and Charles looked at each other after hearing that comment, they both suddenly felt very anxious. Lord Grantham shook his head at his daughter and turned his attention back to Elsie and Charles.
"So, what are we to do now then?" Lord Grantham asked.
Suddenly, Elsie felt very fearful. This would be their true test. She was overwhelmed by Charles' declaration of love for her, his proposal, the way he had literally swept her off her feet. He had seemed so carefree and happy; and for the first time in all of the years she had known him, he had acted with his heart and not with his head. However, as they stood before the family, now a couple of feet apart from one another, she suddenly panicked that Charles would retreat into Butler mode, regretting his actions of the past few moments. She looked up at Charles, hoping with every fibre of her being, that he wouldn't backtrack, that he wouldn't abandon her.
From beside her, Charles sensed Elsie's apprehension. He knew exactly what she was thinking. She was thinking that, as usual, he would start to blether and bluster about propriety and honour; that he would put the family first yet again; that he would deny his true feelings for her; that he would return to be the proper and righteous Butler of Downton Abbey. So, before he answered Lord Grantham, he took hold of Elsie's hand, squeezing it reassuringly and he bent to look Elsie directly in the eyes, giving her the most loving smile. He gazed into those beautiful blue eyes and gave her the lightest kiss on the forehead and whispered 'I love you Elsie'. She smiled in joy and relief. This was not just a fleeting moment; a perfect moment that would then be reversed. This was for keeps.
"My Lord, I fully understand that it is highly unusual for a Butler and a Housekeeper to be in a relationship, to be married. Mrs Hughes and I know that only too well and have spent the last 20 years denying our feelings for one another because of this. I can assure you that we have never acted on those feelings … … until now," He looked happily at Elsie. She beamed in reply, thinking her heart might actually burst from her chest. She gripped his hand even more tightly.
Charles continued, "I need you to understand, My Lord, that I am going to marry Elsie Hughes. There is nothing I want more than to make this beautiful woman my wife. And if that means we have to leave Downton, then so be it. We will leave this House with great sadness, but we will leave nevertheless; because the truth is My Lord, I cannot live without her and I don't want to waste another second of my life, without Elsie at my side. She is everything to me," Charles finished with great sincerity.
Elsie's eyes filled with tears, and as she looked towards the Ladies standing beside Lord Grantham, they too looked close to weeping. All of the women were gazing endearingly at the lovely Butler before them, mesmerised by his testimony of love to Mrs Hughes. The three Ladies then turned to His Lordship, glowering at him to say the right thing.
"Well, unusual it may be, but I think Mrs Carson, Housekeeper of Downton, has a nice ring to it!" Lord Grantham smiled.