Dedicated to all my loyal reviewers! You guys rockith!
Her doorbell sounded through the house and she rushed downstairs to answer it, still fastening one earring. She opened her door to reveal a very handsome looking Charles Carson who had a light smattering of snow across his shoulders
"Hello love, you look beautiful" he greeted as his eyes roamed her figure. She wore a gold dress that hugged her figure and stopped just above her knees and she'd decided to leave her hair down for the event. They were headed for to the firms Christmas party, and she'd been saving the dress for awhile now. Six months had passed since the funeral and life had gone back to normal. Well almost. Love had suddenly blossomed on every front, with Anna having become Mrs Bates and even Thomas had managed to find himself a chap. Isobel had rung a week ago in a great fit of excitement to tell her that Mathew and Mary were now engaged and at the very end of that lengthy conversation she added that she thought Beryl had a fancy man and then there was Charles. Ever since the funeral their relationship and taken off like a runaway train and it showed no signs of slowing down. They still had spats at work but within an hour one of them would bring the other a cup of tea and all would be forgotten. They still went out for drinks or dinner after work but now he kissed her in the middle of the restaurant and held her hand over the table. Mary often joked that they should just move in with one another and be done with it after she had arrived at Charles's house early one morning to find Elsie there for the sixth time in a row. They had picnics in the park, attended concerts and had movie marathons together, where if she got teary eyed Charles would roll his eyes and hand her a tissue. They through little dinner parties together and helped one another with the cooking (where Elsie had to control herself, who knew he could be so sexy in an apron?). Beryl now called them the teenagers after arriving one afternoon to find them laughing their heads off and covered in cake batter. When asked how that happened Charles had replied 'she started it' (she hadn't. Not really, she was just over zealous in her mixing). They were a team. They were best friends. They were head over heels in love.
"Thank you, you look rather festive yourself with that snow" she grinned before reaching up and dusting it off and kissing him soundly
"Are you ready?" He asked when they finally parted
"Almost" she replied "let me just fix my lipstick and grab a coat"
"Don't bother with the lipstick, you know I'll only mess it up again" he teased and backed off when she swatted him. She disappeared up the stairs and returned a few minutes later wrapped in a royal blue coat, the one he had given her for her birthday.
"I was right." He commented when she reached him
"About?" She asked with a quizzical look on her face
"That coat really does bring out your eyes" he told her with a smile making her roll them and blush. He bent down to kiss her again but she danced out of his reach
"Uh uh uh" she teased "you're not messing it up again so soon"
Charles sighed and stared at the ceiling.
"We better go then." He said once he had finished mentally counting to ten "else I may just grab you and refuse to let you leave"
"I'd like to see you try" she snorted
"Is that a challenge?" He asked with a raised eyebrow
"No. Isobel would never forgive me if I don't pitch." Elsie said
"Isobel? Why is Isobel going to be there?" He asked as they made their way to the car
"Well Mathew is coming up because of Mary and so Robert invited her and Richard as well" Elsie explained "and Thomas is bringing his new fella as well".
"Well I hope Anna uses the opportunity to get back at him, he's been giving her hell since she started dating John" Chuckled Charles. It was true, Thomas always managed to make the most innocent of statements sound shocking and Anna had already lost her stapler after she threw it at him when he asked quite innocently what Mr Bates's bedroom looked like.
"No doubt she will, our Anna has never been slow." Elsie smirked. She always saw a bit of herself in Anna and favored her more than anything.
"How soon do you suppose there'll be a baby?" Charles asked conversationally as they drove
"For heavens sake, they only just got married!" Elsie exclaimed "she can't have one yet, I still need her in the office"
Charles laughed
"I will inform Anna of that fact" he assured her
"Don't you dare".
EHCC
"Mrs Hughes you look lovely!" Cora Crawley said as they stepped into the room "you must tell me where you bought that dress and coat!"
"Oh, the dress I found in a small shop in London and the coat was a present from Charles" Elsie smiled as she shed the coat and hung it up
"Its suits you perfectly! It appears I married the wrong man" she winked making Charles splutter and cough.
"I'm afraid he's spoken for." Elsie laughed "has Isobel arrived yet?"
"She went to have a word with the caterer I think" Cora said vaguely as she took a glass of champagne from a passing waiter
"Your caterer wouldn't happen to be Beryl Patmore would it?" Charles asked shrewdly
"That's the one! Do you know her?" Asked Cora with a smile
"But what happened to the other one? Alfred someone or other?" Elsie asked, slightly confused
"Poor dear has been dreadfully ill" Cora explained "please excuse me, I have something I need to talk to Edith about." And with that she sauntered away. No sooner had she left when they were pounced on by Thomas who grabbed Elsie's hand and dragged her off to meet 'Tony'
"Elsie looks radiant tonight" commented Isobel as she and Beryl came up to Charles
"No doubt because-" began Beryl but Isobel cut her of with a low warning
"Its a surprise to see you here Beryl, we didn't know there had been a change of arrangments" Charles said with a smile
"I meant to call, but as it was last minute I completely ran out of time." Beryl explained "luckily most of its done, because Daisy is absolutely useless tonight" she added in an amused tone. Charles looked over to where she was looking to see Daisy and William engaged in a rather animated discussion.
"Williams not a bad lad" he chuckled but the only response he got was a disgruntled 'hmmph'
"By the way there's something I wanted to ask you two ladies..."
EHCC
By the time Elsie had managed to distangle herself from Thomas and Tony and make her way back to Charles he had been joined by the Bateses and all five of them were in a heated discussion over cake.
"I'm telling you chocolate is the best" she heard John say before Isobel jumped in
"No no no coffee is."
"Really guys? You're all adults and that's what you choose to argue over?" Asked Elsie as she joined them
"We got bored discussing world peace." Charles explained with a grin
"Before this it was pie" Beryl said wryly and Elsie burst out laughing
"So Anna what are you doing for Christmas this year?" She eventually asked
"Oh we're going to Johns mums place for lunch. We were supposed to go this evening but delayed it because of the party" Anna explained
"Yes why is your office party on Christmas eve?" Asked Isobel
"It was the only free evening the Crawleys had." Explained Elsie "I'm actually surprised so many people pitched"
"Care to dance?" Charles suddenly said, holding his hand out to her
"Sure" she said slightly surprised and he led her out onto the dance floor
"What was that?" She asked as they glided along
"Its a nice song" he said innocently with a twinkle in his eye
"I see" she laughed
It was a long time before either of them got off the dance floor. Elsie was sure she had danced with every man in the room and she was sure Charles had danced with every woman.
"I think we can leave" Charles said once they found their way back to one another "else soon it'll just be us and Thomas"
Elsie glanced round and shuddered.
"You're right" she said "let's go" and dragged him off to get there coats. Elsie fell asleep in the car on the way home, so Charles carefully carried her to her bed and gently removed her shoes before removing his jacket and lying down next to her.
EHCC
Something was poking her. That something was going to die if it didn't stop. She grumbled something into her pillow as she buried down further under the covers
"Elsie please wake up." Charles said, still poking her arm "I want to give you your present"
She turned over and opened one eye
"Can't it wait?" She asked eyeing his excited face
"Not really" he insisted. She sighed and sat up, rubbing her eyes as she did so. She looked around her room to discover a vase of roses on every single surface and a tea tray on top of her dresser.
"What time did you get up?" She asked in amazement
He ignored her question completely
"Elsie I have something to ask you" he said seriously. She shot him a suspicious glance and sat back and waited. He took a deep breath and took her hand
"Elizabeth Hughes, will you marry me?"
"What?!" She yelped in surprise as he withdrew a box from his dressing gown pocket and opened it to reveal a beautiful yet simple ring
"Oh my god" she breathed "yes Charles! Yes I will marry you!" She all but shouted before flinging herself into his arms and hugging him tightly. He held her back slightly as he slipped the ring on her finger before drawing her in and giving her a searing kiss
"Oh I must phone Isobel and Beryl!" She said with tears of happiness pouring down her face
"They already know" he told her. Seeing her bemused expression he added "I asked their permission"
"Oh Charles" Elsie whispered before kissing him again.
...And I think we'll leave our two lawyer love birds there in peace. They've asked for reviews as wedding gifts...;)