A/N I had been trying to include both the wedding day and the wedding night in a single chapter, but it became too long and too unwieldy. So I broke it in two. Here's Chapter 25, The Wedding. Chapter 26, The Wedding Night is nearly done, and I'll post it soon.
A great, big thank you to all of you who have been with me from the start and to those of you who have joined the rest of us along the way. Your devotion has been invaluable! Thank you for all the reviews, favorites, and follows. It's gratifying to still keep getting new reviewers, favorites, and followers this far into a story.
Chapter 25
Charles stood at the front of the church, shuffling his feet, wringing his hands, and waiting impatiently. He pulled out his pocket watch to check the time; it was exactly one minute later than last time he had looked.
"Mr. Carson, checking your watch once a minute will not make the hands move any faster," Mr. Bates pointed out with an amused grin.
Charles grudgingly put his watch back in his waistcoat pocket. There were still ten minutes left before the wedding would start, and they would be the longest ten minutes of his life!
Elsie stood outside the church, just a few minutes before she was to walk down the aisle. Everyone else was in place inside, except Mrs. Patmore, who was still primping and preening the bride, for lack of anything better to do before the ceremony started. Finally, it was time. Elsie grasped Mrs. Patmore by her elbows and regarded her affectionately.
"Oh, you ridiculous, troublesome, darling, old hen, you!" exclaimed Elsie, shaking her head.
"And you! You impossible, stubborn, loveable, old hinny!" replied Mrs. Patmore.
After one last embrace and many more tears, Mrs. Patmore went inside to take her place, and Mr. Bates arrived to escort Elsie down the aisle. She had asked him to give her away. She entered the back of the church on his arm, and the music began.
He leaned down, smiling, and asked, "Are you ready, Mrs. Hughes?"
"Well, I'm not getting any younger standing here, so let's get on with it!" she answered, returning his smile.
They began the slow walk down the aisle, and Elsie fixed her gaze on her bridegroom. He cut a striking figure: tall, broad, and imposing. His hair was as perfectly coiffed as ever, and his handsome face wore a smile as broad as her own. He had never looked finer, and she had never felt prouder.
When Charles caught his first glimpse of his bride, he thought his heart might fail him. She looked so beautiful that tears sprang to his eyes at the mere sight of her. With her lovely face, dark hair, and shapely frame, she was perfect. Better still, she was his.
Finally, Elsie arrived at the front of the church on Mr. Bates's arm. He squeezed both of Elsie's hands, shook Charles's hand, and retreated to his spot. Charles and Elsie stood simply beaming at each other for a few seconds before they joined hands and turned to the vicar.
"Dearly Beloved ... " began Mr. Travis, and with that, the ceremony was underway.
No one (with the possible exception of his bride) could have imagined that the self-possessed, imperturbable Charles Carson, butler of Downton Abbey, would have difficulty in speaking his vows. His voice, normally so powerful and resonant, was quiet and unsteady, fraught with an emotion completely uncharacteristic of him. It came as no great surprise, however, that the calm, steady Elsie Hughes, Downton's beloved housekeeper, voiced her vows in strong, clear tones, showing her emotion only by the tears streaming relentlessly down her cheeks. But it was Beryl Patmore, the Abbey's endearing cook, who made everyone smile with her barely stifled sobs and periodic uncontrollable wailing. Her unreserved outbursts of joy had the enchanting effect of magnifying everyone else's delight, as well.
When the ceremony was over, the couple walked down the aisle happier than anyone had ever seen them. As soon as they stepped outside, the maids and footmen pelted them energetically with rice. They received the warm congratulations of the family, Lady Mary, in particular, and heartfelt sentiments of good will from the staff. A few photographs were taken, and soon Mr. and Mrs. Carson were on their way back to the house for their wedding luncheon.
The luncheon in the servants' hall was a magnificent affair. Mrs. Patmore and the girls had been preparing for days, and the fruits of their labor were most impressive. The food was exquisite, the champagne was delightful, and the atmosphere was merry. All the while, the happy couple sat in their usual seats, holding hands and staring blissfully into each other's eyes.
After the luncheon, Charles and Elsie went to their respective rooms to change their clothes and get their things. When they came back downstairs, everyone wished them well once more. Anna, Mr. Bates, and Mr. Barrow assured them one last time that the house would be left in good hands. Mrs. Patmore presented them with a hamper of food to take with them. And with that, the newlyweds found themselves in the back of His Lordship's car, on their way to the Grantham Arms.