Joey had been fussy all morning and after Elsie had finally lulled him to sleep and laid him back in his cradle, she was sleepy herself and dozed off. She wasn't sure how long she had been sleeping when Sarah bustled into the room with a tea tray, but she was thankful for the previous week's trip to York. She certainly would have been much more uncomfortable after a nap sitting up had she been wearing her corset. Elsie was wondering now if she'd ever be able to go back to wearing it, but she decided that it was a concern best left for another day. She blushed a little at the memory of the morning after their trip to York. Charles had been keen to take off the brassiere almost as soon as she had put it on and he had also managed to surprise her with another new way of making love that worked with her ever-increasing size. Whether or not she would keep wearing the brassiere after the child was born, Elsie had every intention of continuing with some of these 'new ways.' She had a feeling Charles would not object. Returning to the present moment, she took the cup that Sarah handed her and sipped slowly.

"How do you feel, Mrs. Carson?" Sarah asked quietly, hoping little Joey would not awaken.

Elsie sighed. "I'm well," she answered. "But I feel enormous."

"That sounds about right."

"I am a little worried," the older woman admitted.

"Are you?" Sarah furrowed her brow. "Has something happened?"

"No, but I sometimes fear I'm rather old to be a mother, especially for the first time. I dismissed the possibility of having my own children quite some time ago, but now it's happening and I don't know how I'll go about being a mother."

Sarah smiled. "I'm sure you've nothing to worry about, Mrs. Carson. You're already the favorite aunt to all of my children and you're so natural with Joey."

"I suppose so."

"I think you've been a mother for quite a while, actually. From the way you speak of your time at Downton, I think you were a mother to many of the young men and women there, though quite a strict one, I expect, given your profession and theirs."

Elsie smiled. "I hadn't thought of it quite like that."

"You should. There are many ways to be a mother." Sarah put some biscuits on a small plate. "Now eat these, Mrs. Carson."

"You spoil me, my dear."

"It's the least I can do."

Elsie did not try to argue. She simply took the plate of biscuits and ate them as she drank her tea.

#####

As she walked home, Elsie thought she might soon reduce the frequency of her visits to the village and to her neighbors. She was starting to become uncomfortable, and walking was more of a chore now, though she had always enjoyed it before. When she reached home, she went right to the settee and sat down with a heavy sigh. The house was quiet; she was alone. Elsie was glad that Charles had made some friends in the village. He sometimes met for lunch with a group of men who shared some of his interests and they discussed all manner of things - things they had read, their families, the price of household items, the war. She closed her eyes and her body relaxed, but after a few seconds, she realized that she was not alone after all. She heard a thump coming from the kitchen, followed by her husband's voice.

"Come back here, you little…"

Elsie did not have long to wonder what was happening, because tiny orange ball of fur suddenly darted out of the kitchen and jumped up on the settee beside her, hiding up against her side, and Charles appeared soon after, looking aggravated.

"What's this, Charles?" she asked him.

"It was supposed to be a surprise," he grumbled. "I got you a kitten."

"I can assure you, it is quite a surprise!" She smiled. "A very pleasant surprise. I thought you were against our getting a cat."

"I was, but as I thought about it more, it didn't seem like such a bad thing," he explained. "I'm beginning to doubt the wisdom of that idea, though."

"Why, what's he done?"

"He's not done anything, except repeatedly escape my grasp like a bit of ginger-colored quicksilver!"

Elsie smiled. The kitten was still curled up against her side and she reached down and lifted it from its hiding place. "Hello, you," she greeted the animal. "What's your name?"

"He doesn't have a name yet. I thought I'd allow you that honor."

"Quite an honor!" Elsie lifted the cat up in front of her face, turning it this way and that, surprised that it tolerated her inspection so calmly. "He looks like an Oliver."

"Does he?"

"Did you know that Oliver Cromwell was ginger-haired?"

"No, I didn't." Charles scratched the kitten's head. "Hello, Oliver."

"Charles, do sit down."

He did as she asked and sat beside her. The kitten studied Charles carefully from his perch on Elsie's shoulder. After a few seconds, it jumped to his shoulder, crawled into his lap, and fell asleep. Charles was bemused.

Elsie couldn't help laughing. "He knows you're a sweetheart under all that bluster."

He blushed. "If you say so."

"I do." She kissed his cheek.

"Elsie, I've been meaning to talk to you about something.

"Yes?"

"Now that we're going to have a child, this cottage will be too small for us. There's no place for a nursery. Now that I've had my salary increased and and a stipend from his lordship, we can afford to move to a larger cottage. Nothing extravagant, mind, but something with a second bedroom."

"I had been thinking about that," Elsie said. "I knew we would manage somehow, even if we had to stay here. But are you sure we can afford it?"

He nodded. "I've looked into several cottages in this neighborhood and the rents are not a great deal higher than what we pay here."

"That's good."

"I'm only worried about moving house while you're in your present condition."

"I agree that it won't be ideal, but it won't be any better if we wait until after the child is born. If we do it now, I will still be able to help pack up the small items. And we can ask our neighbors for help."

Charles relaxed. "You're right, of course. When you put it like that it doesn't sound so terrible." He stroked her cheek with his fingers. "Would you like to visit some cottages with me tomorrow, Elsie?"

She nodded. "I certainly would. Can you arrange it so soon?"

"I'll certainly do my best. I have a few connections that should help us find what we need fairly quickly."

"Perfect! I'll go to bed early tonight, so I'm ready for a busy day."

"You don't have to go if it will make you too tired, Elsie."

"Charles, don't make me stay at home."

"I only want you to be comfortable and healthy."

Elsie tried to be patient. She knew her husband's motives were pure and she didn't want to punish him for trying to take care of her. "What if I promise to have you take me home if I get too tired? Will that make you feel better?"

"If you promise," he replied.

She took her husband's hand between both of hers and kissed the back of it. "I give you my solemn pledge," she told him.

He leaned in and kissed her smiling lips. "I love you, my darling."

To be continued…

A/N: I had decided I wanted an orange cat for Elsie and Charles, so I went looking for names of famous redheads. I found a list on Huffington Post that included Oliver Cromwell, which I thought was the perfect name. :-)

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