A/N- Thank you for the thoughtful critical comments and reviews. I've responded to some specific comments at the end of this chapter but let's get right back into the story for now.
When Charles and Elsie emerged from the butler's pantry, a bit flushed, word of their dismissal had already spread downstairs. Ivy had overheard the entire exchange and had broadcast the news with surprising efficiency.
All of Charles' personal effects from his pantry were now packed into one of the wine crates. Elsie took the empty crate to her office. Charles saw Anna and Bates hovering uncomfortably in the servant's hall where everyone seemed suddenly to have a reason to be.
"Anna, Mrs. Carson would be grateful for your help." It was all the invitation that Anna needed. She rushed after Elsie, the uninvited Mrs. Patmore in her wake.
"Mr. Bates, would you please help me upstairs? There are many things to discuss and time is short." The two men headed up to the men's side of the attic. Carson pulled a large suitcase out from under the bed. This suitcase usually accompanied him to London each season. He had never dreamed he would be packing it with no thought of ever returning to Downton.
He began to empty the dresser contents into the suitcase. "I feel terrible doing this to you, John. But the situation here is not what I had hoped. In short, it has become untenable." Charles wanted to know if His Lordship had ever discussed the quarrel with the valet, but he could not ask John to betray the office of valet. "Mrs. Carson and I have decided to leave Downton."
"So we all heard."
"Really? How?" That explained the crowd in the servant's hall.
"Poor Ivy was stuck in the library front room through the whole exchange. She was stocking the wood piles and couldn't sneak out before the three of you came into the main library."
"Poor girl, indeed." Carson commiserated. "And she has told you everything she heard?" Carson did not want the unsubstantiated rumor about Jane to get about. He would feel terrible if Lady Cora were to become an object of humiliation because of this. It was a line he wished Elsie had not crossed.
"Thankfully, she came to Mrs. Patmore first, who brought her to Anna. They've encouraged her to edit her story. She didn't fully understand the parts about Jane, anyway." John and Charles exchanged a look here. They had never discussed the topic between them and John had never mentioned the African prostitutes. Lord Grantham had resisted visiting the brothels longer than his fellow officers, but had eventually succumbed after a suggestion from command that was practically an order. He had assuaged his conscious by being loyal to only one 'lady' for as long as possible. And his visits were not frequent. There had even been a few suspenseful months near the end of the war. Robert had been prepared to do the right thing, but when the child was born, the father was proven to be one of the native scouts. John had some suspicions about Jane, but understood Robert probably still felt guilty about Africa. "She's agreed to leave that part out of her telling."
"Well, that is something at least. You will keep an eye on that, I should hope."
John nodded solemnly, "Yes, of course."
"Regarding other matters, based on the lessons learned the last time I left, I have some suggestions that I hope will take some of the burden off of you, but will still protect the staff from Mr. Barrow's ego."
"Anything you can offer would be most welcome, Charles, but before we discuss that, is there no way to convince you to stay?"
Charles' voice was low as he finally removed a small, framed poem from the wall. He considered it for a few moments. "I think the decision is no longer in my power."
"I could speak to him..."
"No! That would be disastrous at this point. Mrs. Carson and I have a plan for leaving. We will be fine. You and Anna are not ready to leave Downton. Not yet." He placed the poem on top of the neatly folded items on the left side of the case and covered it with his spare dress shirt. "And we should not abandon the staff completely to Mr. Barrow." He smiled at Bates.
"I suppose not." John tried to smile as well. "Very well, if there is nothing to be done, tell me how we are to manage without you both."
CE—
Twenty minutes later, Bates understood the plan and agreed that it could work. The suitcase was packed and was quite heavy, but that was to be expected, considering it held almost all the earthly belongings of two people. This suitcase and the two crates downstairs represented everything Charles and Elsie could call theirs. Charles and John left the attics together. Charles left the case on the ground floor landing and went downstairs to find his wife.
He found her in the housekeeper's sitting room. She was hugging Beryl and Anna, alternately. They were not tearful, but they seemed unlikely to ever willingly release her. There was a pang in his heart to know this was his fault. It made no sense that they were leaving, and yet, it was happening. If he'd just faced Lord Grantham himself when this all started... but he'd let too many other people get involved and now it was too big for any of them.
Over his shoulder he saw that the staff were still gathered loosely downstairs. Had it really only been a few days since their triumphant return? Life is a funny business. Looking at the staff, Charles felt the need to settle the nervous discomfort that he saw. He walked into the hall and stood just inside the door. It was just where he'd stood when he'd broken the news of Lady Sybil's death. Elsie had followed him into the hall and now stood beside him.
"Many of you will have heard of recent developments upstairs and of angry words that were spoken." Elsie lowered her eyes abashedly at this. The exhilaration of giving Lord Grantham the what for was beginning to wear off. Charles had prolonged the euphoria with their forbidden liaison, but reality had patiently waited for her to come back down from her high. And now, she had.
Elsie turned to face the staff. "Ivy, the words you overheard were said in anger and frustration. I ask you to forget the rant of a few moments and remember how proud we both are to have worked for this household with all of you."
Charles took her hand and addressed everyone. "Mrs. Carson and I have new opportunities outside of service that we plan to pursue. I wish we could have resigned with more dignity, but life is not always cooperative." That was certainly an understatement. "As much as we might have hoped otherwise, our relationship would have affected the level of service in this house. We shall never forget your kindness to us the past few weeks.
"I know you will all continue to serve Downton with pride and professionalism. We are leaving Downton to you now." Elsie had reached out to Anna and taken her hand; Anna had taken John's. Soon, to Carson's amazement, the whole staff were holding hands in a rough circle. Some could only reach and touch the shoulder of the person in front of them, but everyone was connected. No one stood alone or apart.
Charles became vaguely aware that Thomas was holding his right hand. He was acutely aware that they were all waiting for him to say something. The air was still. The house was as silent as the space between heartbeats. "God bless this house and all that dwell here."
"Amen," came the collective answer. And then the moment was gone. Everyone rushed off in their own direction to tend to their heretofore neglected responsibilities. The heart of the house began to beat once more. Charles and Elsie were left with John, Anna and Beryl.
Charles was determined to leave Downton by the front door. Not only was it symbolic and dignified, but it meant they would not have to pass the pathway that led to the cottages. The cottage closest to the main house sat furnished, waiting to welcome inhabitants that would now never come. Charles had not visited the cottage yet, but he had sent a hall boy to time how quickly an urgent message could be carried from the main house to the cottage. Charles had been gratified to know that it was less than two minutes there and back. But that path was no longer his to take and Charles did not have the strength to walk past it.
CE—
Elsie saw the car before Charles did, but there was nothing to be done. There was nowhere to hide. They were on the gravel road that ran through the great lawn. They had hoped to reach the gatehouse before the women returned home.
"Blast." Charles had seen the car. They stepped to the side of the road. Charles removed his hat as the car passed.
There was a spray of gravel and calls of "Stop!" as Mary almost jumped out of the still moving car. Lowell managed to stop just in time. She stumbled upon landing, but found her feet quickly and hurried towards the waiting couple.
"What is the meaning of this?" She saw the suitcase. "No, you mustn't leave. You can't!" Heedless of propriety, Mary grasped Carson violently, both arms wrapped fully around him. Slowly, Charles patted her back, trying to calm her, but mindful of the eyes that were on them. "I am sorry, My Lady. We have to go. You will see that it is for the best, in the end."
"No, I shall not. That is a ridiculous thing to say." Her tears spilled freely.
"Perhaps," he acknowledged, "but it is the best I can do. Please, you must let us go."
This cannot be happening, her mind told her. "But I was going to tell my grandchildren about the ghosts of Downton Abbey. I would tell them how the heavy steps that roamed the house on quiet nights belonged to the benevolent spirit that would always look after them." She pulled away from him to smile at Elsie through her tears.
"And I would tell them the soft jingle of keys they heard on the stormy nights belonged to his wife who looked after him and kept him company." Sybil and Matthew had been terrible losses, but they had been taken by death, something that could not be reasoned with or explained. She was sure Carson was leaving because her father had driven him out. Her look hardened. "I shall never forgive him." She spat.
"Then I am sorry for you both, My Lady." Carson pulled her back into his embrace gently. He spoke softly. "I know it will be difficult, but he needs you and you need him." He's in more pain than I ever imagined or he never could have acted like this. "And it was our decision to leave. If you must be angry with anyone, you should be angry with me."
She pushed him back to look seriously into his face. "Carson, how could I ever be angry with you?"
He raised his eyebrows at her in mocking disbelief. "I seem to recall a few instances…" She sniffed a half laugh. He removed his handkerchief and wiped her eyes gently. He leaned down and whispered so only she could hear. "If you ever truly need me, child, know that I will be there. Always. You've only to ask." Her hat had flown off and he pressed a kiss into her hair.
He walked her back to the others who had not left their seats. Elsie now stood beside him as he helped Lady Mary back into the car. Elsie handed Lady Mary her hat. She nodded solemnly to Lady Cora. So much needed to be said, but all that came was, "Anna will know how to reach us."
Elsie and Charles stepped back as the car began to pull away. They both stood as they had a thousand times, side by side, and watched the ladies drive away. After a few moments, they turned together back down the road. Charles paused only to pick up the suitcase. He felt his chest tighten as they walked silently on.
CE—
Cora could not resist calling Violet the second she reached the house. Even though the Dowager despised the phone on general principle, this news could not wait and it was not to be relayed by the servants. Cora was surprised by the Dowager's response. There was only silence on the other end of the line. Cora was about to hang up and call again, assuming the connection had been lost or that Violet had accidentally hung up on her, when the answer finally came. One cold and almost inaudible sentence; "How can two, otherwise intelligent men be so collectively stupid?" Then Violet hung up; very much on purpose.
Charles and Elsie spent the night in Thirsk and were in Hull by noon the next day. Fredrick and Emily welcomed them happily into their home. Fredrick immediately began preparations to install them in the rooms above the warehouse.
During the week after the Carson's departure, the house was more like a museum than a home. The staff plugged gamely on, decorating for the holiday, but there was not much Christmas spirit. Bates kept an eye out for discontent, but gave Thomas most of the butler's responsibilities. For his part, Thomas was working hard not to repeat his past mistakes.
Mary refused to come down for any meals. She was back to the state she'd been immediately after Matthew's death. It was as though the four months of healing had never happened.
Robert had begun to sleep in his room in the evenings and was impossible to find during the days. He sat silently through the meals he bothered to attend. His only interactions were with Bates, Tom and Isis. Besides them, he spoke to no one and no one could think of anything to say to him. Cora was at her wit's end, she felt her family pulling apart at the seams.
Finally, she decided to salvage what she could of her family and the holiday season. The family was going to London. All of them, whether they liked it or not. There were too many places to hide in Downton.
A/N- Skip this if you don't care about reviews and replies, etc.
For those of you interested, I would like to address comments that rightfully pointed out that I am being unfair to Robert. Yes. Yes, I am. I freely acknowledge this. I've not been shy about this. I like Robert. More specifically, I like what Hugh has made of Robert with the relatively thin material he's been given. I know Fellowes is going with the whole 'where do I belong in this brave new world?' thing with Robert. I am just not satisfied that he has let him go dark enough, yet. (It may still happen- Fellowes is telling his own story).
I admit I am making him pretty dark here, but I think it would be a legitimate response to Matthew's death for him to become more secluded emotionally and more unpredictable. I think most people are on board with that. If you are not, I am sorry to have wasted 34 chapters of your life. If you give me 5 or so more chapters, I hope it will prove to have a point in the end. I don't think this makes me (or anyone who enjoyed Elsie's rant) a hater.
Admittedly, the confrontation with Elsie was a stretch, but I have my own reasons for wanting them back in Hull. It is a soap opera, after all. I hope you will stick around. I promise, Robert is at the nadir of his character arc.
Also, I agree with the reviewer who said Robert would not be ruined by the Jane revelation and Charles and Elsie would be ruined with no reference. In my mind, Robert is not afraid of being humiliated publicly, but he is afraid of hurting Cora and he is ashamed because he is a man of character who made a mistake. I don't think he cares for the social consequences.
And, yes, Elsie was totally posturing. If their future relied on remaining in service, it would be difficult, though I do believe there would be some nouveau riche who would hire them, even in England. And I think they could get a reference from Cora, if push came to shove. But, they are not staying in service, so it's not an issue and she felt free to unload both barrels. Plus, she was an angry Scot on a roll and making sense was not on her agenda.
In short, I very much like Robert (and Hugh), but I get frustrated with what I see as his passive participation in his life. Writing about everyone yelling at him does rather feel like kicking a puppy; which is not an activity I indulge in or enjoy. I promise I am done kicking this puppy.
That's all, sorry that was so long. I'd have replied privately, but it was a guest review, so we've gone public. I welcome any constructive criticism and the review was mostly constructive. By acknowledging our weaknesses, we grow. That's kind of the point of this story.
I'm not sure if that reviewer is still reading, but hope they are and I hope they will enjoy the resolution of this story. I don't like to think that I've made anyone that upset over fictional characters (though ones that we are all obviously obsessed with). I appreciate all of you who still are reading and I hope you will forgive and enjoy the license I've taken with all the characters (particularly your personal favorite).
BTW, they still belong to Mr. Fellowes and, according to the restraining order, this is as close as I can get.