Violence and references to rape and abuse in this chapter (all things that have been referred to in earlier chapters).

This is the chapter I have been dying to write. Hope you enjoy it.

Charles' hand was warm as it cupped her cheek, his soft lips pressed to her forehead. Blinking a few times, Elsie lifted her hand to his chest.

"Charles?"

"There you are. Hello, sweetheart." Charles leaned down and kissed her lips lightly. "You gave us a bit of a scare, madam."

Elsie turned her head to find Isobel standing near the door to the sitting room, a smile on her face as she held a glass of water. "Here, Elsie. Take a few sips."

Carefully pushing herself up against the cushion of the couch, she gratefully took the glass, the water refreshing and cool as it hit her mouth.

"Do you remember what happened before you passed out?" Isobel reached over and took Elsie's wrist and began clocking her pulse.

"We were in the kitchen and Charles was on the phone..and…" Elsie turned her face towards her husband, her voice a whisper as she asked, "He's dead? He's really dead?"

Charles took the water glass, placing it on the coffee table before taking her hand in his. "He really is."

"In the gaol? But didn't you mentioned Daisy and Mr. Mason?"

Charles nodded, his expression tinged with guilt. "He wasn't in gaol. He had been in the hospital still recovering from where I broke his arm and knee cap, but the nurse from Becky's home helped him escape and they stole a car. They went to the old flat and got the postman to tell them where our mail had been forwarded. They were breaking into the cottage when Mr. Mason noticed lights on in the house. He took his gun and fired a warning shot which sent them fleeing to the car. No one is sure what happened next, but the woman must have panicked and put the car in drive instead of reverse because she drove through the fence and into the meadow and then crashed into that big elm at the edge of the woods. They both went through the windshield of the car. They were dead before Mr. Mason reached them."

Elsie stared at him in bewilderment. "They were at our cottage? What about Daisy and Barley? Did they hurt them?"

Charles swallowed hard. "The only one hurt besides the two of them was Pickle. He didn't get out of the way of the car in time. I had called and asked Mr. Mason to take Daisy and Barley in at his house after I went to Robert's room when we got here yesterday. They are fine. Barley did get loose during the ruckus, but Daisy found him curled up next to Pickle in the meadow."

Elsie pulled her hand from his. "You knew? You knew he had escaped?"

Charles ran his hand through his hair. "Murray called Robert and told him and he told me. The man had a broken arm and a shattered knee cap, honey, so we thought they would catch him in no time. I was going to tell you if they hadn't found him by the wedding."

Elsie rolled onto her side and faced the couch. "I need to not be in the same room with you right now."

Her words were like a sharp slap to his face. Placing his hand on her hip, he leaned forward and whispered, "I'm sorry, sweetheart. I'm so sorry. I should have told you. I know I should…"

"Please." Elsie gently pushed his hand from her hip. "Please just go away."

Charles pulled his hand back, his entire body burning with despair and regret. "Okay." He tried to smile at Isobel who gave a sympathetic look, but found he couldn't manage as tears brimmed his eyes. He stopped at the door, not looking, but offering the words over his shoulder, "I love you."

No bullet or blade had ever pierced him as painfully as her silence now did.

Elsie declined the offer of food, but did allow Isobel to help her up to the bedroom. She was removing her blouse as she asked, "Would you please tell Cora that I don't feel up to the rehearsal and dinner. I'm sorry and it is probably very selfish of me, but I can't sit there and play happy families right now."

Isobel nodded. "Of course. You have had a quite a shock. Everyone will understand. We will miss you, of course." She passed an undressed Elsie her night gown from where it hung behind the door. "You know he thought he was protecting you."

"I don't need his protection, Isobel. I need his respect. We agreed there would be no more secrets."

Isobel took a deep breath. "I see. Just don't stew too long. It isn't good for you or the sweet pea and Charles' heart is breaking a little more with each second that passes. Get it out of you system, love." Isobel crossed to the door, "Oh, and if it would make you feel better to break something, feel free to throw that ugly little vase." She pointed towards an ornate tchotchke on the bedside table. "Violet gave it to me for my birthday two years ago. I am fairly certain someone gave it to her and she thought it was ugly so she passed it on to me."

Elsie couldn't help but smile at her friend's obvious attempt to cheer her. "Thank you."

Isobel was almost out the door, "And you will be quite happy to know that a certain Scottish doctor is on his way here to check on you. Robert and Charles insisted I call and he just so happened to be free."

"You're a fool if you don't snatch him up, Isobel." Elsie surprised them both with her frankness.

"I think you might be right. I find I don't like waking up alone. See if you feel the same way in few hours, my dear."

Elsie watched the door close, her friend's words sitting heavy on her heart.

The rehearsal had gone smoothly despite the best man's dampened spirits. Returning to Grantham House all attempts to cheer him by Robert and JoMo failed until he was dragged down to the kitchen.

"You remind me of a man." The jolly voice of a familiar cook greeted him.

Charles couldn't help but grin as he countered, "What man?"

"The man with the power..."

They managed one full cycle before he found himself wrapped in Lily's plump, comforting arms. "What did you do to my Little Mother, Mr. Charles?"

Charles sighed, "I hurt her by not telling her something I should have."

"And she is angry with you?"

"Very. And she has every right to be because I was a fool and she deserves better."

"No she doesn't because there is no one better than you, Charles Carson."

Charles almost knocked the formidable Lily over as he spun around to find his wife standing in the doorway behind him.

"Well, don't just stand there. Kiss the girl!" Lily chuckled before waddling back towards the stove.

"Hello." Elsie barely had the word out before her husband was in front of her, his arms wrapping around her in a tight embrace.

A surge of servants bearing platters and plates began brushing against the couple. "Come on, honey. Let's get out of their way." Charles led Elsie away from the bustling kitchen and into the butler's pantry.

"I'm sorry. I will say it until I am blue in the face, but I am so sorry, Elsie. I shouldn't have kept it from you."

"You were worried about me and didn't want to upset me. I know that, Charles. You love me. I don't trust in much, but I do trust in that and I trust in you."

He pulled her into a deep kiss which left them both breathless. "I'll never keep anything from you. Never, ever again," he promised as he planted kisses in her hair.

"Neither will I, which I why I have to tell you about my visit with Dr. Clarkson."

Charles searched her face, "You're alright? Is everything alright with sweet pea?"

"Peas. Sweet peas."

"What?"

Elsie let out a teary giggle, "He listened with his stethoscope and there are two heart beats. He wants me to come to his office on Monday for a full exam, but he says it sounds like two babies."

Charles' eyes widened with shock. "Two? Two babies? Two babies as in twins as in two babies not one?"

Elsie laughed, "Yes, honey. Two babies. Twins. Our two sweet peas in a pod."

"May I help you, Mr. Carson?" A perturbed butler stood in the doorway of his pantry staring at the couple.

"You can shake my hand, Pratt, er Spratt, I'm going to be two fathers!"

Elsie laughed, "You're going to be one father to two babies."

"Oh! Right! I am going to have two babies!"

The man's dry demeanor changed not an iota as he added, "Ah, well. Science. Remarkable. Now if you would kindly follow me to the dining room, everyone is waiting."

A myriad of smiles greeted the couple as they entered the dining room.

"Our apologies." Charles offered the room as he walked Elsie to her seat between Dr. Clarkson and Lord Merton, an old friend of the Crawley family. "If you need me, I'll be the grinning idiot over there," Charles whispered into her ear as he pointed towards an empty chair between Cora and a fairly unattractive woman whom Elsie assumed was Cousin Constance.

Dinner was delicious and beautifully presented with Russian service, a custom which was quite foreign to Elsie. While both Dr. Clarkson and Lord Merton were pleasant dinner companions, the mother to be couldn't help but look over at her husband repeatedly throughout the meal, never failing to find him gazing back at her.

Isobel's smile was warm as she tapped Elsie on the shoulder, "If you can stop mooning over your husband for two minutes, perhaps you would care to make a trip to the ladies with me?"

"Gladly! And I have some news for you."

Both men quickly stood as Elsie began to rise, each fixating on Isobel which did not go unnoticed by the woman standing between them.

"Goodness! What was that?" Elsie grabbed Isobel's arm as they cleared the dining room door. "Do you have a history with Lord Merton because I have seen hungry dogs look at a piece of meat with less interest than that man just showed you."

Isobel shook her head, although her embarrassed smile betrayed her. "He is a nice man who has escorted me to dinner once or twice…"

"The good doctor has some competition?"

They were almost to the door when Isobel opened her mouth to speak, only to be caught off-guard by the voice of Dickie Merton from the down the hall. "Isobel, I'm sorry, but could I steal you for a moment?"

Elsie gave her friend a wink. "I'll go first. See you in a minute."

Isobel's attention fixed on the man crossing into the library, she failed to notice the sudden movement behind her which included the lavatory door being jerked open before Elsie had a chance to lock it.

"You're her aren't you?"

Elsie stared at the stranger who quickly flipped the lock above the door handle. Backing to the far corner of the spacious room, Elsie instinctually placed her hands in front of her abdomen. "Who are you?"

"I asked first, but I think I know. Borrowed dress, ugly accent and the freckles of a farmer's daughter. You are Charles' little wife. Up the duff, I have no doubt."

"Alice." Elsie stared at the attractive, but unremarkably so, woman whose steely stare caused a chill to climb up her spine. "You aren't supposed to be here. You need to leave." Elsie had taken a few steps towards the door when the woman suddenly produced a knife from behind her back.

"Unless you want this pushed into your belly, you will keep quiet and do as I say."

Elsie rushed to the far corner of the room, her arms crossing over her abdomen. "You're insane."

"Hardly. You just have what I want. I warn you now, I am quick and have very little to lose, so don't fuck with me. We are going to walk out of here and go directly up the stairs and down the corridor to the left and into the third door on the right side. You don't make a sound. Not a goddamn sound. You understand?"

Elsie shook her head in bewilderment, "Why are you doing this? No good can come to you from this."

"I'll get his attention. That's all I want. All I ever really wanted. Now move."

Elsie kept her hands over her tummy as the woman jerked her roughly by the arm.

"Not a bloody sound."

Unlocking the door and looking both ways to make sure the entry was clear, Alice shoved Elsie in the direction of the stairs. Not a servant or guest was to be seen as the women ascended, Alice repeatedly pushing Elsie in an effort to make her walk faster. Shoving a key in the third door on the right side of the corridor, she pushed Elsie into the dark space, closing and locking the door before switching on the light.

The far wall of the room was filled with a colorful mural of an English garden in front of which sat an elegant rocking horse, a table with an electric train set which was surrounded by four wooden chairs, a menagerie of large stuffed animals, and a toy box.

"Seems apropos given your current condition." Alice stepped into the middle of a large rug as Elsie backed up to the train table.

She blinked away hot tears as she stared at the deranged woman. "Where did you get those keys?"

"You forget I am familiar with the servants. Unlike you, I paid my dues sitting through dull dinner parties in this house where everyone worships Violet to her face and talks shit behind her back and Robert drinks too much and sadsack Joseph knocks over his water and Charles…Charles pretends he is grateful to be included. They are all pathetic and the staff knows it, but I was smart. You pass out a few cigarettes and palm a few pounds and suddenly you know all the secrets and you are given copies of all the keys."

"You said you want Charles' attention? That's why you are doing this?"

The woman offered a cold nod.

"Then why aren't you trying to be his friend, rather than sending psychotic letters and breaking into houses and threatening his wife with a knife?"

"I don't want to be his friend!" Alice spat the words at her. "He's got money, you fool. He's got money and connections and that sonofabitch Grigg is rotting in jail. I want him back, you little idiot. I have to get rid of you first, but I will get him back."

Elsie tightened her hold on her abdomen as she glanced towards the windows on the far wall.

"You wouldn't survive the jump and anyway, I would gut you before you even reached the window if you did try to open it."

The expectant mother blinked back more tears as the direness of her circumstance set in.

"Now, I am curious about you, Elsie Hughes. That's your name right? I managed to glean that from my conversation with Mr. Murray's secretary, as well as the sordid little story of your uncle and all those dead girls and their babies. Again, it pays to know people. Argyle is an ugly place in winter. I suppose I don't have to tell you that, it's where you grew up. Your uncle was more than happy to receive a visit from a pretty face, but he certainly doesn't care much for you. He didn't care much for your idiot sister, either. Said he made a pretty penny off of her, though. I guess men will screw anything."

"Shut up! Just shut your mouth right now!"

"Ooh! Feisty! I was hoping you might show some spirit. This would be boring if you just sat and blubbered all night."

Elsie rode this sudden surge of adrenaline, her posture straightening as she asked, "Who damaged you, Alice? Who mistreated you? Your father? A brother?"

"Fuck you."

"Both?"

Alice narrowed her eyes at Elsie, "At least my uncle didn't tie me up and pimp me out to anyone willing to pay a pound."

"You are fortunate that you weren't subjected to such horrors. Very fortunate. But the sad thing is I don't think you had someone who loved you like my sister did. She had me and I did love her. Has anyone ever really loved you Alice? Do you have a clue what love even is?"

"Charles loves me."

"After tonight, Charles would be hard pressed to spit on you if you were on fire. He doesn't love you, Alice. Neither one of us knew what romantic love was until we met and now we have a wonderful life together. And not only do we have this life, but we have created life. And nothing is going to endanger or harm what we have. Not you and not your pitiful little knife." Elsie reached down and picked up one of the sturdy and fairly heavy wooden chairs that surrounded the small table.

"You think you can protect your precious baby with a child's chair?"

Swinging the chair with all of her might, Elsie ran and bashed the woman in the shoulder and head so that the knife flew across the room as her body hit the floor. Grabbing the edge of the rug, she managed to get it over Alice before she could get up. Spotting the knife, she quickly grabbed it before sitting heavily on top of the moaning heap in the middle of the floor. "Its precious babies. And I am their mother so I don't just protect, I defend."

The door suddenly burst open, Violet, Lily and Isobel staring at the unusual site in the middle of the floor.

"Who is that?" Violet was the first to step into the room, her eyes wide at the sight of the knife in Elsie's hand.

"Alice. She forced me up here with this."

"Dear God."

Isobel soon followed, a surprised smile on her face, "But now you've got it."

"She threatened my babies."

The massive cook barreled into the room. "Get up, Little Mother." Pulling Elsie up as though she were nothing more than a doll, Lily bent over and threw the rug back to find a disheveled Alice writhing in pain. "I hoped we had seen the last of you, gutter trash." Reaching down with one hand, Lily shoved her strong, thick fingers into the woman's brunette mane. "You mess with my Little Mother, I mess with you."

Before Isobel, Violet or Elsie realized what was happening, Lily was dragging the woman out of the room by her hair.

"Oh shit!" Elsie scrambled after them.

Violet was next out of the room, "Oh shit is right!"

The three women made it to the doorway of the lavatory just as Lily flipped the young woman over and pushed her head into the toilet and pulled the lever. "You remember this nice, clean toilet. They aren't this nice where you're going."

"Lily!" Isobel exclaimed as she watched the large woman lift Alice's sputtering wet head from the bowl.

"Hush, Isobel." Violet placed her hand on her friend's arm before returning her attention to the cook. "I'm going to call the police, Lily. I think you can get at least three or four more flushes in before they get here and then just sit on her."

"You don't think I'll squish her like Miss Rosamunde's cat?"

Violet shook her head, "No, but it's no great loss if you do." She turned towards Elsie and Isobel. "I am going to ask the police to come in the back way and Spratt will bring them up so they won't be seen. They'll want to talk to you, Elsie, but they will wait until the party is over. Now, they are about to serve dessert. Help Elsie dry her eyes and I will meet the two of you downstairs."

Isobel stared at her in awe. "My God, you're calm."

"You think this is the first woman whose head my cook has shoved in a toilet, Isobel? Now hurry up."

Elsie and Isobel exchanged bewildered looks before making their way downstairs, stopping just outside the dining room door.

"Are you alright?" Isobel pulled a hanky from her sleeve and patted the corners of Elsie's eyes.

"I was just held at knife point and then knocked the hell out of someone with a little chair and then I watched a giant shove her head in a toilet."

Isobel stared at her.

"I'm fanfuckingtastic. Let's have dessert."

Isobel couldn't help but laugh wildly in response.

Charles suddenly appeared from around the door, "Where have you two been? I'm about to make a toast."

Elsie pulled him into the hall as Isobel slipped back into the dining room. "Come here." Placing both her hands on either side of Charles' face, she pulled him into a deep kiss.

"What was that for?"

"To celebrate."

"And what exactly are we celebrating?"

"That the baddies lost and the goodies won."

Charles wasn't exactly sure what she meant, but he smiled brightly at her all the same. "I love you."

"I love you more."

"Oh, you young people and your sentimentality. You can't hang about the corridor all night. I believe you have a toast to give, Mr. Carson." Violet folded her arms as she strolled up next to the couple, giving them a small, knowing smile.

Charles stepped back into the room and was followed by Violet until she was stopped by Elsie. "How did you know where I was?"

"You weren't in the bathroom. All the lights were off upstairs. I stepped out front and saw the nursery lit up. It was quite simple."

"You're remarkable."

Violet smiled, "Said the woman carrying twins who just escaped a mad woman with a knife. You did say babies?"

Elsie nodded as she smiled.

"I wouldn't be offended if you named one of them after me."

"What if they are both boys?" Elsie whispered as they entered the dining room.

"Don't be difficult, dear."

"I have another toast to give tomorrow in front of a bigger audience, so I will wait and bore you with a long one then."

The table politely laughed as Charles grinned.

"I just want to raise a glass to celebrate love. Whether you are our madly in love bride and groom, or here tonight with the love of your life, or are loved by a parent or a child sitting near you, remembering a love that is no longer with us, or contemplating the possibility of love in the future, I lift my glass in honor of you and your luck, your courage, your patience, and your trust. May your love always be a source of happiness and joy, as I know Robert and Cora's will be. To love."

Lifting his glass, Charles turned to find his wife smiling as she glanced down at her belly before lifting her head to meet his gaze, mouthing the words: "To love."