Chapter 25
After the excitement of their announcement and their discussion with the Family, Charles and Elsie had settled back into their normal routine. Their romance had initially caused a flurry amongst the staff with whispered conversations and gentle, teasing taunts from the downstairs team; however two days later things had calmed.
What had not calmed was Charles and Elsie's delight at their newfound love. As they went about their daily tasks they took every opportunity to tenderly show their affection, to gently touch the other; stroking fingers as they passed in the corridor, sharing a sweet smile across the Great Hall, a squeeze of their sweetheart's knee as they sat at the staff table. They were both utterly content. However, there was an unspoken anticipation in the air as Charles was eager to plan a wonderful and surprise proposal, despite the sentiments he had already made publicly to his future bride. Elsie was also on tenterhooks in expectation of this proposal; a proposal that she had been assured would take place within the week. She found that whenever Charles asked to speak to her privately or whenever he invited her to share a sherry or a cup of tea; she was nervously anticipating some sort of grand gesture. Yet with just five days to go; it still had not transpired.
######
"Any news?" Beryl whispered, as she popped her head into Elsie's sitting room.
"Nothing yet … you don't think he has changed his mind do you?" Elsie asked, only half-joking.
"Never … he is just waiting for the right moment!" Beryl reassured.
"It is a slightly bizarre situation you must admit … he announced our marriage before proposing and he was then coerced into proposing to me within the week … do you think I should tell him that there is no need to propose? He already knows my answer …" Elsie said, looking at Beryl anxiously.
"No of course not … events overtook him and he defended your honour by admitting his intentions … but believe me, Charles Carson is as eager to propose properly to you as any young man … he just needs time to think it all through before forging ahead … he never was what you would call an impulsive man …" Beryl laughed gently.
Elsie chuckled too; she knew that Beryl was right. Poor Charles would be over-thinking his proposal, evaluating all possibilities. She just wished he was not under such pressure. Although she could not lie; she had dreamed of the Butler proposing to her for almost twenty years. The idea had become like a fairytale to her. However, she had never thought that this dream would come true. Now that it was a reality, she was beside herself with excitement. She also did not need something 'breath-taking' as Mrs Crawley had suggested, she would be happy with a simple and lovely moment between herself and Charles.
######
"Elsie is there something wrong?" Charles asked, having noticed that the Housekeeper seemed a little on edge as they arrived back at the House.
They had just returned from a short walk around the grounds; a brief respite from the daily grind of their roles. Unbeknownst to Charles; Elsie had thought that this might be the moment; the moment when her beloved Butler finally popped the question. She had held her breath for virtually the entire walk.
"I am fine Charles … thank you for the walk …" she smiled, although not very convincingly.
"Are you sure? I haven't upset you?" he asked hesitantly.
"Not at all … now … I should get back to my invoices … and then I may head into the village to complete a few chores …" she smiled again, reaching up to kiss him on the cheek.
Elsie left Charles in the doorway as she headed inside. He stood for a few minutes pondering Elsie's disposition. She had barely said a word as they walked through the grounds. He knew something was wrong although he realised that he had also been less than chatty; his thoughts consumed by his looming proposal. He was so worried that his proposal would not live up to expectations; worried that it would not be the romantic, awe-inspiring proposal that his wonderful Elsie deserved. He wished Mrs Crawley had not announced to Elsie and the entire Family that he needed to organise a breath-taking proposal within the week! The strain was too much.
######
"So the entire Family were there … questioning you about your bedroom arrangements!" Richard laughed, as he brought the tea tray through to his sitting-room, with Elsie walking behind him.
"Yes! And the Dowager was appalled … she thinks we are too old to share a bed!" Elsie explained.
"Oh my goodness … how mortifying … but at least it proves how much Charles loves you Elsie … it must have taken all of his courage to stand up to the Family like that … he is rather hopelessly devoted to them …" Richard added kindly.
"I know … Charles was wonderful … I was so proud of him … and to think that we were discussing marriage … it was as if all of my dreams had come true …" Elsie smiled.
"Well that is marvellous …" he replied happily.
"It would be even more marvellous if he would actually propose … my heart cannot cope with the anticipation!" she joked, sipping her tea.
"The poor man must be terrified … what with you and all of Downton awaiting the happy event … typical Isobel to set expectations high!" he laughed cheerfully, his eyes glazing over a little.
"She asked about you and I …" Elsie started gently. She did not want to cause her friend further upset but she still hoped, despite Isobel's engagement to Lord Merton, that Richard might still get his happy ending.
"She did? In front of the Family?" he asked, amazed.
"Yes … she said that she thought you and I were courting … I made it very clear that we were simply good friends … she looked very happy to hear that Richard …" Elsie continued.
"Ummm … I don't think Isobel would care either way Elsie … she loves Lord Merton not me …" he said sadly.
"But Richard … what if she accepted Lord Merton's proposal because she thought that you and I were involved …" Elsie said tentatively.
She did not want to build up her friend's hopes, only for these hopes to be dashed. However, she really did believe that Isobel and Richard were meant to be together. Lord Merton seemed a nice fellow but, to Elsie at least, the Lord and Isobel did not seem particularly well suited.
"I don't think so Elsie … they were together long before you and I became friends …" he added sensibly.
"Yes but they weren't engaged …" she added.
"No but … oh I don't know … if your wonderful optimism is proved right … and I very much doubt it will be … I will know soon enough … now that she knows that you and I are only friends and that you are happily betrothed to Charles …" he said.
Elsie nodded happily, as she sipped her tea. A knock at the front door then interrupted their conversation.
"It's her! It's Isobel …" Elsie shrieked.
"Hardly!" Richard laughed, as he made his way to the hallway. He could see the silhouette of his visitor through the glass.
"Oh my goodness … it is Isobel …" he said in wonder, briefly returning to the sitting-room. He suddenly felt like a teenage boy about to speak to his first crush; get a grip Richard, he thought.
"I knew it … now … don't tell her that I am here … we don't want any false rumours to start again!" Elsie said, as she straightened his tie, and brushed down his hair. She then quickly brushed his jacket with her hands. Richard looked at her with an exasperated but tender smile on his face.
"Elsie … honestly! And what if she wants to come in?" he asked, shaking his head with a smile.
"Take her through to the kitchen … now … all done … go get your girl!" she joked.
Richard shook his head again, as he walked off down the hallway, his hands shaking with nerves as he opened the door. She is engaged to be married for heavens sake, he thought to himself as he tried to remain calm.
"Mrs Crawley … how lovely to see you," he smiled.
"And you Dr Clarkson … have you a minute?" she smiled.
"Yes … yes of course … do come in …" he said, as he closed the front door behind them and motioned for Mrs Crawley to walk through to the kitchen.
However, she instead turned left to walk into the sitting-room.
"Mrs Crawley!" he shrieked, not sure of what to say to stop her.
"Yes?" she said, as she turned to look at the doctor.
"I was thinking we would go into the kitchen … if that is ok… then I could make us a pot of tea …" he added, as an after-thought.
"Oh thank you Dr Clarkson but there is no need … as lovely as that would be I really cannot stay for long ... I have to be at the Abbey very soon … in fact I should be there now …" she smiled, a beautiful smile that warmed Richard's heart.
She then walked directly into the sitting-room. Richard gasped as he followed her; preparing to offer a hasty explanation as to why he had not previously mentioned that Elsie was in his home. Just as he was about to speak; he realised that Elsie was nowhere to be seen. He scanned the room; wondering where on earth she was hiding.
"So Dr Clarkson … I wanted to ask … that is … I wondered … I wondered if you would like to join me for dinner tomorrow evening?" she finished and if Richard was not mistaken, she was blushing a little.
"Dinner? With yourself and Lord Merton?" he asked, presuming that this is what Isobel had meant.
"No … no … I actually just meant you and I … if that would be agreeable … we are colleagues … and friends I hope … I thought it might be nice … it has been some time since we caught up properly …" she smiled shyly.
"Oh I see … just you and I … for dinner … tomorrow …" he mumbled.
"Yes that's right … so … would you like to come to dinner?" she asked again, apprehensive that the doctor might be about to say no.
Richard realised that he had not actually said yes.
"Oh yes ... of course … that would be delightful …" he spluttered.
"Good … very good … see you at 7 o'clock tomorrow then Dr Clarkson ... I will see myself out ..." she beamed, and then left as swiftly as she had arrived.
Richard stood motionless until he heard the front door click shut.
"Well I am glad that you finally remembered to say yes!" Elsie teased happily.
This awakened Richard from his trance.
"Elsie … where are you?" he asked in disbelief, as he began to chuckle heartily.
"I am behind here …" she giggled, raising her hand above his armchair to identify her whereabouts.
He continued to laugh as he strode across the room to help Elsie get up. He held both of her arms gently as she clambered up from the floor.
"Well that was exciting!" she giggled, as she grasped both of Richard's hands in hers. He reached forward and kissed her on the cheek.
"She asked me to dinner Elsie! To dinner!" he exclaimed.
"I always knew that my lovely friend, the dashing doctor, would prove irresistible!" Elsie said joyously, hugging Richard as he beamed with happiness.
######
"Oh Elsie … you are back …" Charles said happily. He was relieved; he had not expected her to be away so long. He was also still anxious that he had upset her; she had seemed a little distant earlier.
"I am … " Elsie said, reaching up to kiss him on the cheek. She then whispered, "… I love you Charles Carson."
Elsie's mood had brightened considerably on seeing Richard so happy. She had decided not to worry any further about Charles's proposal; what mattered was that he loved her and she had no doubt about that. She had decided to try her best to forget about the impending event and she hoped that, in this way, his proposal when it did come, might prove to be a genuine surprise to her. Charles was thrilled and he responded by wrapping Elsie up in his arms.
"I love you too Elsie … so very much … I missed you …" he said lovingly, as he kissed her hair.
"Charles … someone will see us!" she warned, although he noted happily that she did not let go, continuing to gently caress the back of his neck.
"I don't care! Let them watch!" he grinned cheekily.
Charles felt such relief and reassurance; Elsie seemed happy, relaxed and back to her normal self. He hugged her tightly as he continued to place tiny kisses to her hair. He decided it might be a good time to put his plan into action; there were only two days left after all. However, he must act naturally, he did not want to raise her suspicions, and he would need to invent some sort of story to explain himself.
"Elsie … are you busy tomorrow … do you have a lot of tasks to complete?" he asked.
Despite her best intentions of moments earlier; Elsie felt her hopes rise again. Perhaps he was going to take her out for the day? Perhaps tomorrow was the day Charles Carson would finally propose?
"No … it is not a particularly busy day … the Family will be at Aster House for most of the day …" she replied levelly, trying not to let her enthusiasm show. She was so happy; Charles was going to propose to her tomorrow, she just knew it.
Charles released her and smiled lovingly at Elsie.
"Good … that is very good news … I was thinking of taking a long overdue day off tomorrow … there is a Butler friend of mine in York who I haven't seen in ages … I thought I might meet him for lunch and perhaps enjoy a few drinks with him and some other pals …" he said confidently.
"I see … and you will be gone all day?" she asked, trying to hide her disappointment. He didn't want to spend the day with her, she thought sadly. He wanted to spend the day with some old cronies.
Charles could see the sadness in Elsie's eyes; it broke his heart. Charles had never been the most astute man; particularly when it came to women. However, he realised that Elsie thought that he was suggesting taking her out for the day. She also probably presumed that he was planning to propose. However, somehow, he had to push her obvious upset and hurt to one side; he hoped that it would all be worth it in the end. He needed to remain strong and stick to his plan.
"Yes … it seems silly to go all of that way for a few hours … I don't often have time to relax with my old chums … you don't mind do you? And if you haven't got too much on tomorrow … I thought you could hold the fort here?" he said happily.
"Yes fine …" she said bluntly. Only two days to go and he planned to spend the entire day drinking with some acquaintances rather than spending the day with her. The proposal was obviously the last thing on his mind.
"That's wonderful … thank you Elsie …" he said, bending to kiss her on the cheek as he walked, with a spring in his step, to his pantry.
Elsie stood dejectedly in the corridor as Charles disappeared out of sight.
A/N: Thank you for your continued reviews and lovely thoughts xxx