Chapter 25
Now ...
"Charlie, when are we going to get Essie her surprise?" Becky whispered excitedly.
Charles shook his head fondly at his sister-in-law, very grateful that Elsie was out in the garden; Becky had the loudest whisper in the world and if Elsie had been indoors she would surely have heard her younger sister.
"We are going into Ripon this afternoon, Essie thinks we are collecting my new suit ... remember Becky ... not a word," he said cheerfully, taping his nose with his finger and giving Becky an exaggerated wink.
"I won't say a word Charlie ... I did tell Beryl and Bill this morning ... oh ... and I told Sylvia before I left ... but I promise I won't tell anyone else," she replied seriously, as Charles spluttered with laughter.
It will take a miracle to keep this a surprise until tea time, he thought happily.
The younger woman giggled heartily, bouncing up and down with excitement. She felt so grown-up to be included in this secret. Becky loved her sister more than words and the thought of being part of a lovely surprise for Elsie was almost too much.
"And what's got you so excited young lady?" Elsie asked, as she walked into the kitchen with her laundry basket.
"Ummm ... chocolate!" Becky announced, pleased with herself.
"Chocolate?" Elsie asked.
"I promised to buy Becky a bar of her favourite chocolate in Ripon," Charles quickly added.
Elsie didn't question this explanation, she knew how much her husband and sister loved chocolate. She also knew how much Becky was looking forward to going on the bus to Ripon with Charles. She would have liked to go with them but Anna has asked her to take care of the girls for a couple of hours. Little did Elsie know but Charles has asked Anna to help them with the surprise. They needed to keep Elsie at the cottage so they could collect it.
"You just make sure you don't eat the whole bar before you get home," Elsie smiled, stroking her sister's cheek tenderly and then placing a kiss to her forehead.
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Then ...
"Did I just hear a bark?" Mr Carson exclaimed, as he stood in the corridor with Mrs Cooper.
"A bark? Of course not Mr Carson, unless Horus has come downstairs," the Housekeeper added.
Horus was Lord Grantham's Labrador.
"No it didn't sound like Horus ... it came from the Servant's Hall," he muttered, as he strode towards the room.
As he reached the doorway to the Servant's Hall, there was a sudden scramble of bodies.
"May I ask what is going on?" he bellowed.
"Nothing Mr Carson," they all replied in unison.
He looked at the footmen and maids with impatience.
"Elsie?" he asked, knowing the Head Housemaid would tell him the truth.
"Mr Carson, it is nothing to worry about, we were simply welcoming a guest," she replied steadily.
"A guest?"
Elsie took a deep breath. All of the Staff's wishes rested on her shoulders. She only hoped the Head of Staff was in a kind mood. She spoke at speed so as to make all of her points before she was interrupted.
"Yes, now he's a lovely little thing Mr Carson and he's doing no harm ... Peter found him on the path to the House. He hasn't got a tag and so we thought we might keep him as a House pet ... at Rochester House the servant's had a dog, he lived in the downstairs halls ... we have named this wee fellow Yorkie and we thought perhaps he could stay?" she finished, as she picked up the small Yorkshire terrier from behind Peter. Right on cue, it barked at Mr Carson.
Mr Carson looked astounded, both by the appearance of a dog and such a request. There was no way he was allowing a dog to live downstairs with them. Are they all mad? he wondered. Servants cannot have a pet in a House as grand as Downton.
"That dog will not be staying at Downton. It would prove a distraction to the Staff and could only serve to lower standards. Take it back to the Village at once Peter, and if no one claims it, take it to the pound in Ripon," the Butler said firmly.
"But Mr Carson ..." Elsie began.
"No Elsie ... my word is final," he stated assertively.
The battle was lost and they all knew it. Peter took the dog from Elsie. All of the Staff were saddened, patting the dog on the head and saying goodbye. Mr Carson stood firm, remaining stoic throughout, despite the show of emotion for this little creature. He tried not look at Elsie, she was looking at the dog so fondly and he could see how much she wanted to keep it. She had tears in her eyes as she said goodbye; she looked heartbroken. In fact, he could see that they all wanted to keep the dog. However, it was not going to happen and that was that. Peter finally left via the Servant's entrance and the Staff gradually left the room, feeling overwhelmingly disappointed.
######
Now ...
"What shall we call him?" Becky asked excitedly, as she patted the small pup's head.
Becky and Charles were on the bus travelling back from Ripon.
"I am not sure ... perhaps we should let Essie name the little tyke ... unless you had an idea?" he asked.
"Umm ... Chicken! We could call him Chicken," Becky suggested earnestly.
"We can't call a dog Chicken! The little scamp will get confused ... he might start clucking and laying eggs," Charles joked fondly, as Becky laughed at this silly thought.
"Let's let Essie choose," Becky added with a beaming smile.
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As the pair approached the cottage, Charles became uncharacteristically nervous. He hoped they had chosen well. He knew Elsie had always wanted a dog of her own. It simply had not been possible when they had lived at the House and since they had moved into the cottage, they had had so much to do to settle in, not to mention welcoming so many guests and visitors to their home. However, over the last few months Charles had been thinking of this surprise more and more. He would never forget the look on Elsie's face when he had said 'no' to the Staff keeping the abandoned pup at Downton. Elsie had since told him that she knew it was unrealistic to ask such a thing of the Butler and that her sadness stemmed from an earlier memory rather than the loss of that particular dog; the Yorkshire terrier had reminded her of a small terrier named Georgie that had lived on the farm with her family when she was young. Since Elsie had shared that story, Charles had been determined to surprise her with her very own pup and Becky had been only too delighted to help him choose a suitable little dog.
As they entered the cottage, Elsie shouted from the kitchen,
"Just in time, Anna left not ten minutes ago with the girls and I have made us some tea and scones,"
"Lovely my dear ... could you come through here ... we have a little gift for you," Charles replied, as he and Becky waited excitedly in the sitting-room.
Elsie came through, her apron still tied around her waist.
"A gift for me?" she asked.
"Yes Essie, yes! A gift for you. Look in the basket," Becky cried, barely able to contain her eagerness.
Elsie stepped forward, looking at Charles for a clue but her husband simply smiled lovingly at her. She lifted the blanket that covered the basket and out popped an energetic little Yorkshire terrier, yapping away happily as it bounded onto the floor, running in circles around Elsie's legs.
"Oh my!" she cried delightedly, as she scooped the little bundle from the floor.
"Is this really for me? Our own dog?" she asked, feeling quite overcome and the not quite believing this was true.
"Our own dog my love, if you like him that is?" Charles said in anticipation.
"Like him? Oh, I love him Charles! What a dear, sweet thing. He's perfect. I cannot believe you did this ... oh my ... thank you my love and thank you my sweet girl ..." Elsie said, her voice wavering as she kissed her husband and then her sister on the cheek.
Charles and Becky looked thrilled.
"How ever did you keep this a secret?" she added.
"It wasn't easy Essie but I kept it a secret for a whole day! Charlie let me choose him. Isn't he lovely Essie? And he talks even more than me ... he would not stop yapping on the bus ... people were staring at us! And he ate some of my chocolate," Becky exclaimed with joy.
Elsie and Charles laughed, as the former Butler cuddled his wife to his side. The little dog remained in Elsie's arms, as Becky stood in front of them, gently stroking the pup's head. Elsie had tears in her eyes as she looked down at her precious gift, surrounded by the love of her family. She didn't think she had ever felt happier.
"Well you could not have chosen a more perfect dog my sweetheart, thank you," Elsie said lovingly, stroking Becky's face.
Becky beamed with pride.
"And does this wee thing have a name?" Elsie asked sweetly.
It looks just like Georgie, she thought, as she tried to hold back her tears.
"We thought you should choose Essie ... but not Chicken ... we decided that Chicken might not be the best name for a dog," Becky replied innocently, as both Elsie and Charles chuckled fondly.
"Well then ... what shall we call you my lovely ... umm ... how about ... Whisky? Yes Whisky ... I think that suits him," she declared with a smile, holding the dog high in the air.
Charles and Becky smiled too, both liking the Scottish theme to the name.
"Welcome to the family Whisky ..." Charles whispered to the small dog.
Whisky barked in reply to Charles, as they all dissolved into laughter.
A/N: Thank you for all of your reviews- they are a treat to read x