The first time she woke was because of Charles' weeping.
Switching on the light before turning over, Elsie found her husband sitting in the wing back chair on the other side of the bed, his body wracked with sobs as he held his face in his hands.
"Honey? Oh, honey, don't cry. Come here." She climbed to the edge of the bed, stretching her arm towards him. "Everything is alright. You heard Dr. Clarkson. I'm fine. The babies are fine."
Charles shook his head, a sad smile on his face as he wiped away tears in order to look at his wife. "I'm sorry. I should have gone to another room, but I didn't want to wake anyone up."
"Don't be silly. You should have woken me up. Let's talk about it. It isn't good to hold it in."
Charles leaned forward as he wiped his eyes with his sleeves. "How are you doing it?"
"Doing what?"
Shaking his head, Charles gazed into her eyes, "I should be the one comforting you. How are you staying so calm about this whole thing?"
Elsie took a deep breath as she sat up, "While it was happening I felt it. For the very first time, I felt like a mother. She was going to hurt our babies and, I…I don't even know how to describe it. This sense of…surety just suddenly came over me and I wasn't scared of her anymore. I knew that no matter what I was going to protect them. Time seemed to slow down and it was so clear, almost like I knew what was going to happen before it happened. I just picked up the chair and went for her. I don't remember making conscious choices, my body just did what it needed to in order to keep them safe." Elsie lost her battle with the lump that was building in her throat as she continued, "I'm not worried any more. Joe is dead and Lawrence will never get out of prison, Grigg is locked up and she is going to go to prison or an asylum, so we're free, honey. We're finally free to just live our lives and have our babies. I'm calm because I am happy."
Charles shook his head, a smile finally filling his tear stained face. "Amazing Elsie. You are my amazing Elsie."
"Come here, sweetheart. I need you." Elsie stretched her arm back out towards him. "I need you.
Charles pushed himself from the chair, pulling his pajama top over his head and wiping his face with the fabric before dropping it to the floor, followed by his bottoms. "Will you take off your gown? I need to feel you. I need to feel your skin against mine."
Nodding with a serious, but understanding expression on her face, Elsie pulled her light flannel gown over her head as her husband climbed into bed next to her, his hands reverently stroking every inch of her warm, soft skin.
The next time she woke was because of Charles' absence.
Turning from looking at his empty side of the bed, she reached for a folded piece of paper which rested against the lamp on the side table.
You,
I know you will understand why I am doing what I have to do.
I have to meet Robert at the hotel after I am through, but I will see you to the church a little before two.
Is killing me not to simply hold you all day. Only Robert and this wedding could keep me from you.
I love you. Those three words aren't enough. There will never be enough words, my sweet girl.
-Me
Wrapped in her dressing gown, Elsie found Isobel, Phyllis and Dr. Clarkson sharing tea and scones at the small table in the kitchen.
"Good morning."
Isobel was out of her seat, quickly fetching a glass of milk at the appearance of the expectant mother. "Good morning! How are you feeling?"
Elsie smiled, "I am feeling quite well, thank you," she turned to the doctor, "but if you think I need a poke or a prod, please feel free."
"I will take your blood pressure in a little while, if you don't mind?" the handsome doctor remarked, rising and pulling back a chair for her. "But your color looks good."
Elsie nodded. "Did anyone see him leave?"
Phyllis managed a small, sad smile as she nodded. "I met him on the stairs almost two hours ago. He said he left you a note."
"He did," Elsie nodded. "I hate the thought of him going alone. I wish he would have taken me with him."
"He isn't alone," Isobel assured her. "I saw Violet in the Bentley when it stopped to pick him up."
Elsie smiled, "At least I know he has reinforcements."
"Do you want me to go in with you or would you prefer I stay out here?"
Violet and Charles stood outside a heavy wooden door in a quiet corridor of the station where they had been asked to wait.
"I think I should go in alone, but I am grateful you are here." Charles patted the hand that was resting in the crook of his arm, an appreciative smile offered to the woman who stood at his side.
"Very well. Do you know what you want to say?"
Charles shook his head. "I know what I would like to do. I would like to rip her to pieces."
"I think they might frown upon that."
"I suppose I will just say what I feel."
"I have a suggestion. Take it for what it is worth, but when you see her, don't think about what she did. Think about what she didn't get to do. Your wife took this tactic when we met with Grigg and it worked beautifully."
"I don't know if that was the tactic as much as it was my wonderful wife."
Violet smiled, "Her husband is no slouch is the wonderful department. Make her proud, Charles, and find your own peace." Her advice was halted as the detective who had met with Charles, Elsie, Violet, Lily and Isobel the night before suddenly appeared from behind the closed door.
"Good morning, Mr. Carson. I hope you know this is quite irregular. You won't have long to speak with her. She refuses to speak to us so you may have wasted your time in coming here this morning."
"I'm glad she isn't speaking. I only want her to listen."
Violet squeezed Charles' arm as the detective opened the door wider. "Elsie. Think of your sweet Elsie, Charles."
He barely recognized the wretched creature sitting at a small table in the corner of the large empty room. The hair color was right, but the face seemed decades older with remnants of black kohl resting in the lines and hollows under the woman's eyes, as well as a considerable goose egg and bruise under her left cheek. She lifted her face, blinking a few times as though she couldn't believe who she was seeing.
"You came. I knew you would. I just knew it."
He stopped in his tracks, glancing over at the surprised detective and guard who exchanged looks.
"I am so happy you came alone."
"I didn't." He pulled the chair back, keeping a considerable distance from the table as he took a seat. "Lady Grantham accompanied me. She pulled the strings that got me in here."
"Really? Well, perhaps she isn't a complete bitch. I suppose she'll pay my bail?"
Charles stared at her with bewilderment. "I'm not here to get you out, Alice!"
"Of course you are! Why else would you be here?"
"My God, you truly are mad. Why would I want to help you when you tried to destroy everything I love most in this world?"
"You're joking! That…that trash? That pathetic waif? That baby probably isn't even yours…"
Charles shook his head. "I want to pity you. I want to be able to find some kernel of understanding as to why you did what you did, but I can't. I will never forgive you, but promise you I will do my absolute best to find a way to forget you. None of my memories of you are worth keeping and you don't deserve a place in my life. I have too many wonderful people to love and appreciate to waste even one more minute of it thinking about you."
Alice jumped from her chair only to be subdued by the forceful hands of the guard as she cried, "You love me!"
"You are nothing to me and it is impossible to love nothing. Elsie, the mother of my children and my best friend is the love of my life. She is a blessing to anyone whose life she graces, while you are nothing but a blight and a burden, Alice, not to mention a failure. You don't have me and you didn't hurt her or our babies. We are stronger and happier than ever."
"I broke your heart when I chose Grigg over you! You can't deny it. You were heartbroken!"
"I was only devastated at the thought of the time I wasted sharing a lie of a life with you, Alice. That was the only anguish I felt when you went with him. It is so obvious you were meant for each other because you will have each other in hell. I just now figured out why I came here today. I just wanted to say goodbye and good riddance, Alice Neale."
Charles rose from the chair, his head held high and his posture straight as he turned his back on her.
"I could love you…"
He didn't bother turning around as he sharply cut her off, "You don't know the meaning of the word."
Violet's eyes found his as soon as he opened the door. "Are you alright?"
The door closing with a thud, Charles managed his first genuine smile since hearing the news of Elsie's attack the night before. "I am, thank you. I am quite alright." Offering his arm, he reminded her, "Now, I believe we have a wedding to attend."
Per their arrangement, Joseph met Elsie's taxi at the back of the church a little after one. Helping her and her large parcel from the car, he gave her a careful smile. "How are you feeling?"
"I am fine, JoMo. Please don't feel like you have to walk on egg shells around me because of last night. I really am quite fine." She patted his shoulder as they entered the church. "Are they in the room?"
He shook his head. "The coast is clear. They are greeting people at the front door."
"How is he?" Elsie couldn't hide her worry as she looked over at JoMo on their way down a carpeted corridor.
"I wouldn't say he is one hundred percent, but he did look much better than when we left Grantham House last night."
"I hope his visit was healthy and not a hindrance."
"So you know where he went." He was relieved to find out she already knew about Charles' visit to the jail.
"He left me a note. So he does seem alright?"
JoMo smiled and nodded, "Yes, although I know he will feel even better when he has laid eyes on you."
"You are sweet."
Having made their way into the large, comfortable room reserved for the groom and his groomsmen, Elsie waited for him to lean the large package against the wall before pulling off the paper. "What do you think?"
"Oh, Elsie. It's…oh, it's perfect. It's absolutely perfect."
"It's Cora's gift to Robert. She asked me to make it a week ago. I worked on it in bits and pieces in Mr. Mason's barn so it would be a surprise for Charles, too, and then Beryl shipped it over for me the day before we left."
"It's…I don't know what else to say other than it's perfect."
"Thank you. Do you think you might sneak my husband and the groom back here for a moment?"
Waiting for JoMo to return with his friends, Elsie pulled off her coat and searched for a mirror. Finding a full length looking glass on the back of the door, she was unseen as the three men entered the room.
"Oh my God! It's…oh my God! Look…it's the photo, it's the photo Papa took at the beach, but it's…" Robert's face was filled with amazement and delight as he stared at the large canvas.
"Elsie." Charles' gaze fell upon the small signature in the corner, his eyes filling with tears as he recognized her curled E which was followed by Carson.
"She did this? Elsie? She's incredible! It is absolutely amazing!" Robert leaned over, his hands on his knees as he took in the beautiful depiction of three young boys and a Labrador frolicking on the Whitby shore.
"It's perfect." JoMo turned to find Elsie peaking from behind the door, giving her a wink as she raised her finger over her lips.
"Tell me she is a lousy cook or that she snores, Charles. Beautiful, clever, funny, great in bed and an artist?"
"How would Robert know I was great in bed!?" Elsie could no longer stay hidden after hearing Robert's remark.
Two red faces turned to look at her, although their embarrassment soon turned to awe as they took in the vision of the woman in the curve hugging plum dress.
"You look so beautiful, darling." Charles shook his head as he walked towards her, his arms outstretched.
Elsie couldn't help but smile, "Thank you." Wrapped in his embrace, she tipped her head back. "You look pretty stunning yourself."
"Just to clarify, I was being a cheeky git once- I know a concept that is hard to fathom- and asked your husband about your nocturnal prowess and he simply said you were perfect. And I quite agree with him that you look beautiful, Mrs. Carson. And speaking of beautiful, oh my God, this painting…it is quite extraordinary, Elsie. I am overwhelmed."
"Thank you," she blushed, but quickly corrected, "but it was your bride's idea. She asked me to create something for you as a gift and Charles has this snap framed and sitting on his desk. I described it to her and she agreed that it would make a lovely painting."
"It is breathtaking and wonderful and is going over my desk in the library at Downton."
Elsie shook her head and laughed. "You're joking. Charles said you have a della Francesca and a Monet in there."
And now I shall have an Elsie Carson in there, as well."
Elsie blushed, "You really don't have to. Cora just wanted something for your dressing room."
"I doubt I spend much time there and I want it where I can enjoy it. Over my desk. Decision made. Now let me make you husband jealous by showing my gratitude."
Pulling her into a tight embrace, Robert was kissing her cheek and playfully moved to her jaw and then her neck, eliciting a loud, "Alright! Alright! Break it up!" from Charles as his wife giggled.
Six hours later, just after the happy groom and gorgeous bride made their departure amid of shower of rice and applause, an exhausted Elsie and a tipsy Charles made the rounds of the reception, kissing cheeks and offering embraces of goodbye; Charles accepting compliments for the heartfelt and funny toast he had made and Elsie collecting telephone numbers from potential clients who were interested in commissioning paintings having seen Robert's gift which had been moved to an easel near the cake table.
Having been given the key to her flat by Isobel, the couple met Davies and the Bentley outside the hotel which was housing the elegant reception. Climbing into the car, Elsie placed her hand on her husband's thigh, "Do you mind taking the late train? I just want to get back to our cottage and sleep in our own bed."
"Of course not. We'll just run in and change clothes and grab our things. The station will be less crowded this time of the evening."
His arm wrapped around her shoulder, Elsie leaned her head against his chest. "How was it this morning?"
"If by it you mean the monster, she was pathetic and deranged, but like your visit to Grigg, what I had to say didn't end up being for her, but for me and for us and for our sweet peas. No matter what they have done or tried to do to us, they don't determine our happiness. We do. And I, for one, don't know if there is a happier person than myself on the whole of God's green earth."
"I'm afraid you'll have to share the title with me, my sweetheart." Elsie leaned up and kissed his cheek.
Charles reached over and squeezed her hand. "As you said, the goodies won and the baddies lost."
"A fitting end to our own fairy tale."
Charles lifted her chin with his finger, "Ah, but we are only beginning…"
A fierce wind was blowing as Charles pulled the car into the drive. "If the temperatures stay low enough, we may find ourselves in a winter wonderland for Christmas."
"Lovely! I just hope it isn't so deep that we can't get to town for provisions tomorrow. Remember, to take off your shoes inside the door. I don't want to wake Beryl. She said she'd be upstairs, but I still don't want to startle her."
Charles had just closed the trunk of the car when Elsie suddenly ran from the house, a shivering Barley in her arms. "Leave the bags and follow me! You won't believe this!"
Tiptoeing down the hall towards their bedroom it didn't take Charles long to spy what had sent his wife fleeing from the house. There amid a tangle of bed clothes lay a very naked Mr. Mason, his arm wrapped over the quilt that covered a loudly snoring Beryl Patmore.
Motioning her shocked husband back into the sitting room, she whispered, "Do we let them sleep or do we get her back for the day she found you under the bed?"
"Oh, we must get even, Mrs. Carson."
"Alright, I have an idea."
Turning on the lamps around the room, Elsie and Charles made themselves comfortable, cuddling on the couch as they turned to face the corridor leading to the bedroom. Setting Barley on the floor, Elsie lifted her hands and swung her head madly as she commanded, "Go crazy!"
The barking and yipping pup tearing madly through the room and down the corridor, it was only a matter of seconds before the quilt wrapped cook came barreling down the hall shouting, "Barley! Knock it…" She froze mid-sentence as she came upon the couple staring at her from the sofa.
Charles smiled brightly as he called out, "Enjoying your slumber party, Mrs. Patmore?"
The appearance of a long john clad Mr. Mason capped off the moment, his cheeks quite red as he softly offered, "Good evening."
Barley still barking and running around like mad, the little farmer turned in an effort to catch the small dog, only to earn a quick gasp from the cook as she turned to look at where her friends on the couch were suddenly pointing. Reaching down, she gently lifted the open flap of farmer's pajama seat, buttoning it back in place. "I don't suppose we could just pretend that this never happened?"
Charles shook his head, a wide grin on his face, "Oh, not in a million years, me lassie."