Robert Crawley, 5th Earl of Grantham observed the crowd coldly. This was his family's village. These were his tenants, his servants, his family, and they were looking at him as though he did not belong here. Rosamund had finally convinced him that he should be here, even if he was not prepared to apologize to Mr. Carson, his absence from this event would be an irrevocable insult. And so he was here. For Duty. For Downton.

He had handed off his hat and gloves to a vaguely familiar footman upon entering the church, but no one else would approach him or make eye contact with him. He scanned the crowd, looking for Cora. He saw Mary at the front of the church. She looked at him briefly before joining her mother and the rest of the Downton ladies five rows back on the bride's side.

Five rows back? They should be in the second row, at least. He was troubled by this obvious slight against his family. But he set these thoughts aside as Rosamund took his arm and led him down the aisle.

Robert saw that his mother was on the groom's side. She was in the prestigious second row along with several people he did not recognize. At least she had been properly respected. Carson would have seen to that.

Speaking of Carson, the man himself was leaning into the second row, talking to a middle aged man with a slight build. The man then turned and instructed the rest of the row to shift down two seats. This must be the cousin, Robert thought. The rest of the row consisted of two young girls and two tall women that he also did not recognize. They bumped down quickly and efficiently, leaving room for Robert and Rosamund beside the Dowager Countess.

Carson greeted them both as they reached their rightful place. Robert noted sourly that Carson's suit was crisper and newer than his own. Cora had sent his clothing to the Dowager House and he had changed there hastily just after their train arrived. Lady Violet's butler had dressed him, but Reynolds was almost eighty now and did not have the eye for detail that Mr. Bates did. Robert felt second rate beside his butler. This did not improve his mood.

Carson extended his hand to Robert, but seemed unsure of what to say. Rosamund spoke for them all, "Mr. Carson, I am sure Lady Grantham told you we were ill and would not be attending."

"She did mention that you would not be coming, My Lady." Carson chose his words carefully.

"But we both felt so much better last night, we resolved to be here. Did we not, Robert?"

Keeping up appearances, Robert took Carson's hand and smiled what he thought of as his 'official' smile. "Yes, it was quite a miraculous recovery. I am pleased we were able to attend, Mr. Carson." He replied, grandly.

Carson was not fooled by the official smile, but he played along admirably. "I am glad that you are both feeling so much better." It was a huge step just to have His Lordship here. Charles would not cause a scene. "It is such an unexpected honor to see you today, Lady Rosamund." He kissed her hand gallantly and seated her next to Lady Violet. "The day would not have felt complete without the two of you here." He told her honestly.

Witnessing the exchange, Violet could not help but feel ashamed of her son in that moment. Not for the first time, she wondered… No, now is not the time for such thoughts. She simply vowed to keep a close watch on Robert so that he could not have occasion to disturb Mr. Carson and Mrs. Hughes' day.

Robert looked around at the crowd now that he was seated. People smiled at him now. They seemed to be more accepting of him after his exchange with Mr. Carson. This thought also did nothing to improve his mood. Cora caught his eye and gave him a warning look. If you ruin this… He did not want to consider the consequences her glare implied. He would behave today, as long as Mr. Carson and Mrs. Hughes played along.

CE—

The steeple clock had just begun to ring the noon hour when the people in the back rows of the church began to turn towards the doors. People were packed into every corner of the building. Children sat on their mother's laps, husbands stood against the wall next to the benches that held their families. The room was warm despite the winter weather outside.

Charles and Nathan stood up from their front row seats and stepped to their appointed places. Charles forced himself to breath normally, he had heard of grooms passing out at the altar and was determined he would not be one of their number, though now he felt he could sympathize. He focused on Mr. Travis' shoes. His conversation with Lady Mary returned to him and he thought absurdly about what vicars might wear under their vestments.

That is hardly something a man about to marry the love of his life should be concerned with, his inner voice reminded him. Charles heard the great doors open. He heard the shifting of the people as they stood in her honor. He heard sighs and murmurs and even a few gasps. He heard someone already weeping openly. He wondered if it was Tom.

Charles wanted to look up the aisle, he wanted to see her, but he was afraid he might die on the spot. Finally, he could stand it no more. He turned his head to look over his left shoulder. Thankfully, Nathan was on his right to steady him.

CE—

Elsie Hughes, daughter of Argyll, housekeeper of Downton, beloved of Charles Carson glided down the aisle on faerie wings. May and Beryl had proceeded her, but they had reached their row well before she started her journey. The aisle stretched out before her, a soft, carpeted, straight path to be followed to Him.

She had chosen to walk the aisle alone, as she had walked the path of her life; a path that had been anything but soft and straight. And she knew it would continue to have its bumps and twists, but as of today, she was no longer walking it alone. As she looked down the rows of people, she saw that Tom Branson was indeed crying. Charles knew that boy pretty well. She smiled at him kindly, though he probably could not see it through her veil.

She did not have to look up to know that Charles had not yet turned to her. When she did look up, she could tell by his posture that he was concentrating on not falling down. His broad back was rigid and his head was held high. Anyone else would have thought he stood solid as the Rock of Gibraltar, but she knew better.

Finally, he did turn. She saw Nathan place a hand on his elbow to keep him upright. That's when she knew. She knew all the clichés were true. She could not hear the music, she could not smell the flowers, she could not feel the carpet beneath her feet. All she could see was him. As she approached the front rows, she wrenched her gaze from his and forced herself to acknowledge the Crawley family and May and Beryl and Anna and John on the left hand side of the aisle. But she could still feel his eyes on her.

She turned to smile at Suzanne and Nathan and Fredrick and Emily and Brittany and Annette and her step faltered imperceptibly. Lord Grantham was here. The Earl stood dutifully beside Rosamund and Lady Violet, but he did not look happy.

Well, to hell with him, Elsie thought lightly and did not spare another second dwelling on this development. Judging by the look on Charles' face, he was not thinking about Robert Crawley either. Elsie exchanged smiles with Lady Violet before turning her attention finally and completely to Charles.

She now stood beside him. He seemed taller than usual. He had trimmed his beard and looked like royalty. She felt like a princess in a storybook, complete with tiara. Mr. Travis was saying something. She was not listening. She leaned towards Charles and whispered. "I've come for my kiss."

CE—

Though he could barely feel Nathan's hand on his arm, he was grateful for the support. For a brief second, his vision narrowed and he thought he would faint. No. The voice said. Men of your size do not faint, Charles, they collapse in an ungodly heap. BREATHE!

Her dress was the same ivory as the roses in the two large arrangements at the front of the church. The neckline was much lower than any dress she owned, barely covering her corset, but above the low neckline, she wore a tasteful, sheer ivory lace which connected the top of the dress with an intricate lace collar that hugged her neck. The sleeves were made of the same sheer material and ended in the more detailed lace at the delicate cuffs. The dress was perfectly tailored and accented her age defying figure. Charles was a bit disheartened by the sheer number of buttons that seemed to be involved; tiny buttons that were sure to require button hooks to unfasten. This dress was likely to take a very long time to remove.

She wore a tartan sash pinned to her right shoulder and draped across her back where one length was pinned, just visible, at her left hip with simple silver brooch. The shorter length hung behind her. Where the sash gathered at her right shoulder, she wore a sprig of white heather. There were small stripes of white and red in the pattern, but the main color was an almost violet indigo. Charles was not sure if it was the tartan of the Hughes clan or if they had chosen this particular tartan to accent her eyes and match the flowers.

The color also highlighted the necklace she wore. She was wearing a floral motif choker over the lace. The necklace was composed of tiny diamonds with three teardrops of sapphire. Many of the gasps amongst the guests were brought on by the sight of the Downton housekeeper wearing such an extravagant necklace. He could not be certain, but it looked like the tiara she wore under her veil was of the same motif and contained more precious jewels. He thought he had seen this design before, but was too overwhelmed by her to place it at the moment.

Her hair was loosely gathered behind the tiara. From the little he could see, though her hair was indeed pinned up, the curls were larger and softer than her usual style. He could not wait to lift that veil and touch that hair.

He saw her tear her eyes from him to acknowledge her family and friends gathered on her left. He had a moment of apprehension when he thought of how she might react to Lord Grantham's presence, but his fears were silenced as he saw her recognize and dismiss the Earl in one fleeting glance. He had to fight to keep his smile from growing even larger. That's my Elsie. She had such a pragmatic way of focusing on what mattered at any given moment. For her, Robert was not relevant at this time. Charles wondered absently if he was the only man who found pragmatism to be such an alluring quality in a woman.

She was only a few steps away now. Every few seconds still the voice in his head screamed, BREATHE! He struggled to obey.

She stood next to him now. His breathing calmed, his heart still raced, but he felt peaceful for the first time that day. "I've come for my kiss," he heard her say.

He had certainly set very high expectations for this kiss and not just in her eyes. All their friends who could remember last night had heard him wax poetic about a kiss. Did he dare kiss her as passionately as he wanted to in front of the entire village? He did not want to embarrass her, but he did not want to leave her in any doubt of his feelings. He would only have one chance at this kiss.

As he had drifted off into his booze softened sleep last night, he had played the possible scenarios in his mind. He had quickly dismissed the chaste peck on the cheek. If he tried to get away with such a weak display, she'd throttle him here in front of God and the entire congregation; and rightfully so.

The other end of the spectrum was out as well. He could hardly bend her over backwards over the altar itself, lustily grasping her bottom and pulling her to him. That was for later.

But where in between these extremes was the right mix of reverence and desire? Though he hated to leave anything to chance, especially something of this magnitude, he was going to have to play this one by ear.

All morning, Charles had prayed for time to speed up. Finally, it obliged him. For Charles, the ceremony itself passed in a haze of hymns and words. Now, the congregation was singing the hymn. He was asked a question. He answered, "I will." He heard Elsie answer the same. Then Anna was reading something familiar, "Love is patient, Love is kind…"

Now they were facing each other. Somehow, he managed to deliver the vows he'd been taught. There were a few twitters of laughter, but he ignored them. He heard the same words returned from her lips, but more than anything, he saw the vow in her eyes."…to love, cherish and obey till death us do part, according to God's holy ordinance; and thereto I give thee my troth." On the 'obey' she squeezed his hand and tilted her head wickedly as if to say, 'I'll never disobey you so long as you never order me to do anything'. As if he would ever be such a fool.

And Travis was talking again. And Nathan pressed a ring into his hand; her ring which he had not wanted her to remove at all, but they had insisted. Now it was going back where it belonged. He was being told to repeat something, so he did, "With my body, I thee worship."

There were a few more giggles from the assembly. She smiled at him and whispered. "You already said that part." He was trying to focus, but the Kiss was looming larger with every word.

"And with all my worldly goods I thee endow."

She was placing a large ring upon his finger. It was platinum; Charles could tell by the weight of it. She had not let him see the ring before the ceremony. Travis was making them release their hands and turn to face the congregation. All he heard was "Man and Wife."

Then Travis gave him his wife's hand for the first time. "Those whom God has joined together let no one put asunder." Amen.

Now was the moment. The first kiss as man and wife was not always part of the traditional ceremony, but they had both insisted. "You may now kiss your bride." Charles had her veil lifted before Travis even began to speak. Both his hands lingered behind her shoulders briefly, along with the veil. He did caress one curl of her hair, but resisted doing anything more.

Faced now with her uncloaked beauty, he thought he would weep. He saw that there were tears in her eyes, a few of which had escaped. He brushed one lightly away with his thumb as he cupped his hand behind her jaw, just below her ear. Her hand was in his hair. They were alone in all the world.

He thought of the words from last night, tasting another's soul on their lips. But their souls were one now. He would be tasting his soul on her lips as she was tasting hers on his. He did weep now, though she was the only one who could see the tears. With an enormous smile, he leaned down to renew his vows to her; not the vows they had just spoken, but the silent promise he had made to her in the form of their first kiss. A pledge whispered to the lips rather than the ear. The only oath that truly mattered.

After an eternity, they parted, still smiling through their happy tears. The church was silent around them. Several people sniffled quietly and then someone started clapping. Thomas, Mrs. Patmore and Lady Mary would later fight for the honor of having been the first, but Mr. Travis could have told them the truth; it all started with the Dowager Countess.

Soon the whole congregation was standing and clapping. This was not how it was traditionally done, but no one seemed to care. After several minutes, Mr. Travis gamely ushered them through the remaining rights as quickly as possible, foregoing half the blessing and rushing through the dismissal in record time. Finally, he sent them back down the aisle together and breathed a sigh of relief.

As the organ blasted a processional hymn, Mr. and Mrs. Carson walked back up the aisle arm in arm, surrounded by and completely unaware of the joy of their friends and family.

A/N- It almost was Tamara (with her twenty-year old Prussian lover who takes a fancy to Daisy), but that took things off in a very odd direction and does not fit this story at this time. Maybe later…For today, I just want Elsie to be happy on her day. Don't we all?

Next few chapters...After the Wedding...AFTER after the wedding...More of AFTER after the wedding. T rating alert.