Okay, i hope i did this chapter justice! thank y'all for the support! it means sooo much! (thanks Hogwarts Duo! you are awesome)
Ella stood in her dressing gown watching as her mama closed the last suitcase. All of her belongings had been packed, and after her wedding reception it would be taken her and Robb's cottage.
Her mama smiled at her as she motioned for Ella to sit down at the vanity. Elsie started on her hair brushing the mass of curls into bigger more defined curls. She started to pin it up in the latest style. Elsie left the room briefly and came back with a small box. She sat it on her girls opened the box and tears sprang to her eyes as she lifted the beautiful hair clip. It was stunningly engraved with roses and vines. She handed it to her mama who secured the veil to it. Ella stood and untied her dressing gown. She slipped on the dress over the fine corset and turned for her mama. Elsie stood behind her and did up the buttons. She sat back down at the vanity for Elsie to put the clip and veil into her perfectly done up hair.
She had everything she needed. Her veil had been her mama's mothers, it was very old. Her dress was new. Her mama had let her borrow the clip, and her ring was blue. Her papa had given her a sixpence to slip into her shoe this morning right after breakfast.
Ella stood and looked at her mama and then went over and took in her appearance in the full length mirror. She smiled serenely and Elsie came up behind her to fiddle with the veil. Elsie was dressed in a pretty blue dress that set off her eyes. She smiled at her girl and they heard a tentative knock at the door. Elsie hugged her girl briefly and then went to open the door. Charles stood with his hand over his eyes, just as he had been told. Elsie guided him in and stood him in front of Ella and then took his hand away.
When he opened his eyes, the vision in front of him made tears spring to his eyes. Ella looked absolutely perfect in her dress. The dress, that Elsie had painstakingly put money away for. The dress that looked as if it were made just for her. It was perfect. He lifted his hand to cup her cheek.
"Do I look okay, papa? Do you like the dress?" Ella asked, craving approval from her papa.
"I've never seen anything more beautiful in my life. The dress looks perfect because it's on you." He finished the statement with a kiss to her forehead. Elsie came into the room carting Ella's bouquet, hurrying them along. They had a wedding to get to! No need for Robb to think Ella had done a runner! Elsie brought the veil over Ella's face and fixed it to hang perfectly. Charles offered his little girl (not so little any more) his arm as the motor waited out front. (a generous loan from the Dowager, who had loved the sketch Ella had done and was officially sitting for a portrait before the season started.)
Elsie huddled with Ella in the back while Charles sat up front. As they pulled up to the church they saw how crowded it was. Most people from the village showed up. They hustled out of the motor and Elsie fixed Ella's veil once more. She hugged her girl tightly before making her way into the front of the church. Elsie and Glenna shared watery smiles as Maggie made her way up front. Then the music for Ella and Charles's procession started. He smiled proudly and Elsie heard people gasping at the vision that that Ella proved to be.
Ella smiled demurely and Greer grabbed Elsie's hand from the next pew. Elsie smiled and squeezed the hand as she watched Robb finally turn and catch it first glimpse of Ella.
Robb was stunned. His jaw dropped and Elsie fought a giggle, but she could faintly hear Ella's. Lady Sybil sighed happily from three rows back and Elsie only then noticed that the whole upstairs family was there. She tore her gaze away as the ceremony started and Charles lifted Ella's veil to reveal her happy face.
Charles kissed her cheek and joined Elsie in the pew. He grabbed Elsie's hand in support as they watched their girl exchange her vows. They watched as she steadily became Ella Alexandra Bradley. Elsie wept, and caught a glimpse to see that Glenna was weeping as well. The ceremony had ended and everyone was going over to the village hall for the meal, and send off.
Ella and Robb smiled at their guests, laughing and giving their genuine thanks to everyone. People had come up to Elsie and told her how beautiful Ella had looked, how happy she looked. Elsie had nodded and been friendly. Elsie had watched Ella be whisked around the dance floor by her father, father in law, brother in laws, and her husband. She hadn't noticed the Dowager coming over to her until it was too late.
"Ella looks very beautiful, Mrs. Carson." The imperious lady said .
"Yes, Milady, she does." Elsie said distractedly.
The Dowager's eyes narrowed as she tried to find the source of the twinge of sorrow that laced the housekeepers voice. She picked it up fairly quickly.
"That feeling will dull with time." She said sagely. Proud of catching the younger woman off guard.
"Pardon, Milady?" Elsie asked, not quite understanding.
"The feeling of loss, and emptiness you can't quite get rid of. It will dull. Especially with the addition of grandchildren." Violet advised.
"How did you know?" Elsie asked feeling as if she were talking woman to woman, not involving class distinctions.
"I felt quite that way when Rosamund married. And then Robert. It was hard not to be the most important person to them anymore. But time heals all. Even this hurt." The Dowager patted Elsie's hand and then walked off.
Elsie stood there pondering the woman's words, as she watched her husband come over to collect her for a dance. She smiled at him and grasped his hand. She leaned on him and noticed it was almost time for Ella to change and then catch her train.
They went into a spare room and the newlywed changed with her mama's help. Ella chattered on about the trip and how the wedding had been beautiful. Elsie was quiet as she handed Ella her hat to place on her head.
Ella turned as soon as she secured her hat and hugged her mama fiercely.
"Thank you. For everything you have done, today, and all the days before that. I love you, mama." Ella said with a mist of tears in her eyes.
"Oh, a stór. I love you. And if you need anything I'll always be around." Elsie said as they hugged once more.
-/-/-/-
Elsie and Charles watched the train disappear in the distance before heading to the cottage. They changed for bed early and laid in bed. Charles held Elsie as she cried. She stopped crying, and looked up at him relaying the talk she had with the Dowager. He chuckled, and then he seriously asked how long she thought it would be until Ella and Robb started a family.
Elsie had told him maybe a year or two, not long at all. Elsie smiled at him and he smiled at her as they both drifted into sleep with dreams of wee babes filling the cottage.
Thanks for reading, and let me know what you think!
Much love
Samantha