Hopefully, more regular updates now. Life is starting to settle back to its usual mildly hectic pace.
Disclaimer: Not owned by me, but I will sue for custody if JF continues to neglect them.
Charles was walking to the church from the Abbey in order to calm his nerves and his stomach. He'd only managed a cup of tea and half of his porridge this morning. He was exceedingly grateful that they'd managed to ensure a very small wedding; himself and Mr. Bates, Elsie and Mrs. Johnstone. The vicar would complete their party. Then there would be a wedding breakfast with the other servants. His shoulders shifted uncomfortably at the thought of Mrs. Crawley and the other members of the family mingling with the servants, but they had all insisted. Mrs. Crawley had grown fond of Elsie over the past few weeks and Elsie had grown equally fond of her new position. She had been glad at the thought of Mrs. Crawley celebrating with them, and Elsie's happiness was his chief concern. Of course, if the mother of the future Earl was present, he could hardly object to the rest of the family being guests.
The only thing he knew for certain was that he wouldn't be completely calm until he and Elsie were safely behind the door of their new cottage. If he had his way, he and Elsie wouldn't see sunlight except through the window for the next three days. Elsie didn't seem opposed to the idea herself. A smile tugged at the corners of his lips when he thought of her teasing banter last night. He would be eternally grateful that she seemed to able to enjoy their teasing and lovemaking. A cloud formed over his thoughts at what that man had done to her. How he had scarred her body and her spirit. He would spend the rest of his life helping her to heal if needed.
As he turned these thoughts over in his mind, he noticed the approach of a motor car. It looked somewhat like Inspector Lewis' vehicle, and he stopped walking as his mind raced over what that might mean.
The car slowed as it approached and before he could acknowledge them, Mr. Crawley leaned out of the rear window, "Was she with you?"
A fist of panic tightened around his heart, and he leaned heavily on the car, "You know very well that I left her on your step last night. It was you who interrupted us."
The young solicitor's frown deepened, "I had hoped perhaps you came back. Her bed's not been slept in."
He was vaguely aware of the car door opening and the Inspector stepping out, taking hold of his arm, and guiding him to the rear seat of the vehicle.
"Mr. Carson, we came here today because we believe," he began but Charles cut him off, focused on only one thing at this point.
"She wouldn't have run away. We had discussed this. Together we said. No matter what in the future it would be together." He watched Mr. Crawley's face carefully, but it was the Inspector who answered him.
"Mr. Carson, none of her clothes are missing. We don't believe she left of her own accord. If you'll just allow me to explain…"
He nearly exploded off the seat, "You don't need to explain anything. You need to find her. If she's out there and harm has come to her, I'll hold it to your account. You should have done something."
The Inspector spoke in a commanding voice, the kind of voice that Charles reserved for misbehaving footmen, "Sit down, Mr. Carson. We are doing something. My sergeant is already searching the village along with your constable. We had to rule out the possibility that she had merely come to you. Now we will find her. That is a promise."
Charles didn't sit down, but he did focus in on the fact that the Inspector had not promised to find her well. With an effort, he tamped down his panic and tried to order his thoughts, "Why are you here? Have you arrested someone?"
The two men darted glances at each other and then the Inspector turned his gaze on him, "Not arrested. No. But we do believe we know who and why. Unfortunately, we just don't know where he is."
Charles's hands clenched into fists, "Perhaps you should tell me."
"Perhaps you should get in the car. We can just as well tell you on the way back to the village," Mr. Crawley took his arm and guided him toward the rear seat.
"Mr. Burns had been married before," the Inspector began after he had set the car in motion and turned back toward the village, "And his first wife died somewhat unexpectedly."
"Nothing too suspicious," Mr. Crawley was quick to add, "She'd been ill, but everyone thought she'd get better, and then she took a turn for the worse."
Charles hesitated for only a moment, Elsie had wanted to keep him out of it, but if it would help… "Elsie told me. Apparently, the woman's son was suspicious and had no love for Mr. Burns."
Mr. Crawley scowled at him, "And just when where you planning on revealing this fact?"
Charles shook his head, "Elsie didn't want him to be involved. She thought he could have nothing to do with it."
The Inspector's hands tightened on the wheel and gave him a severe look in the rear view mirror, "You should have let me decide what was important or not. What she didn't know was that the boy had been dishonorably discharged from the Army. He was desperate for money."
"And he met with an old friend of his mother's. A man who had his own suspicions about what happened years ago," Mr. Crawley turned in his seat so he could see Charles's face.
His confusion must have shown even in the rear view mirror because the Inspector supplied the answer, "Mr. Joseph Tufton of Thirsk."
Charles blanched, "I can see that they have an excellent motive, but surely they would know the way Elsie was treated. She could have had nothing to do with it."
"Peter might believe that, but we don't know about the other fellow," the Inspector said, "And there is another motive."
Here Mr. Crawley spoke again, "Mr. Burns had no will. His property passed entirely to Mrs. Burns on his death. If she in turn has no will, it will go to her heir upon her," he broke off at the fierce look on Charles's face, "well, if anything were to happen to her. Until she is married, that heir is her stepson. After, of course, he would receive nothing."
Charles began to understand more now, "And if she had been convicted of murder or even of being an accessory, then she couldn't have profited by it."
Mr. Crawley nodded, "And the property would have gone to Peter."
"But if she was well clear of any real suspicion," Charles was thinking out loud, "then the only way for Peter to receive the property would be… Won't this thing go any faster?"
"It will," the Inspector said grimly, "But there's no point in getting ourselves killed if we have no idea where she could be."
Charles was gripping the rear of the seat so tightly that his knuckles were white. "Why didn't he act before now? Why wait until just before the wedding? Elsie even saw him when she went to bury Joe. She didn't suspect," his voice wavered slightly and he cleared his throat, "She felt sorry for him. She made me feel sorry for him too."
"Think, Carson," Mr. Crawley said, "Had she ever really been alone since coming to Downton? She was always either with Mother at our home or with you. Maybe she stepped out to clear her mind, and they seized the opportunity of finding her alone."
A thought dawned on him, "The cottage. She might have gone to the cottage. She hinted that she might have a surprise for me after the wedding. I," he blushed and stammered, "well, I thought she meant other things, but perhaps it was something she could have left at the cottage."
As he was speaking, the Inspector turned the car in the direction of the cottages, and Charles noticed that the speed increased considerably.
The Inspector half-smiled at him in the rearview mirror, "Now we have some idea of where we're going. No need to tarry."
Charles agreed and his resolve hardened to do anything possible to find Elsie and punish the men responsible for harming her.
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