S –is for Snow
Charles poured his second cup of tea and nibbled on a slice of buttered toast as he sat at the small kitchen table at their cottage and looked out of the window. Thick, heavy, grey clouds filled the skies, and there was most definitely a feeling of dampness in the air. Elsie had predicted that there would be snow by the weekend, and she was right. She usually was in most matters, he thought to himself with a smile.
"Started breakfast without me, I see," she teased, her voice still a little hoarse from sleep. She wrapped her arms around his neck from behind and nuzzled her cold nose against his neck. "I reached out for you but you weren't in bed. That was rather disappointing."
He brought her hands to his lips and kissed them before tugging on her arm and encouraging her to sit on his lap. "I couldn't sleep, and I didn't want to wake you, either. I thought I'd let you have a bit of a lie in before we needed to get dressed and head to work."
She carded her fingers through his hair and rested her forehead against his cheek. "I appreciate that, but I would rather spend a quiet morning with you than sleeping it away." Her warm lips found his in a light but lingering kiss to his lips. When she pulled back, she rested her forehead against his. "I'll go make us some breakfast and we can enjoy the morning … or what's left of it."
He followed her into their small kitchen and tried to help with breakfast preparations. "You know you were right about the weather. The clouds look like they're going to drop a large snowfall on us sometime today. I thought, after breakfast, I'd go outside and bring in more firewood and get the fireplaces ready to go for tonight."
"You know, it is always days like this when I wish we were retired and able to do whatever we wanted with our time. If we didn't have to go to work, I'd stay in my nightgown and curl up on our sofa with a good book and a cup of tea with you snuggled against me."
He wrapped his arm around her waist and pressed several teasing kisses to her neck and ear. "Soon, love, and we do have a full day off coming to us. We can spend it any way you'd like. You have my word on it."
"I know, and we'll discuss our plans for that and the near future later. I'll have breakfast on the table by the time you're done with the firewood. But, if you don't let me go, we'll never get anything accomplished before we have to leave the house." She teased him but really, she didn't mind his loving affections and the ease with which they'd slipped into their happy married life.
"Yes, Mrs. Hughes! Anything you say, Mrs. Hughes. Right away, Mrs. Hughes." He gave her bottom a pat before gathering his hat and coat and going to tend to the firewood.
As they sat and ate breakfast, their banter was light and filled with a wide variety of topics: a few last minute gifts they wanted to purchase, a trip to the village for some groceries for the cottage, work duties, and then the weather.
"It hasn't started snowing yet, but it won't be long, Charlie. Do you think we'd better go to the house earlier than we'd planned so we're not stuck walking during the worst of it?"
"You might be right, but the bigger problem will be walking home, if it's going to be as bad as you expect."
She pulled back the curtains from the large window and pointed up at the clouds. "They're full, and we're going to get a large amount before tomorrow. Trust me. If we go to work today, we won't be walking home tonight … or maybe even tomorrow night."
"Right! That settles it. I'll call the house and ask them to send a car to get us. We'll pack a bag for a few days so we'll have everything we need in case we get stuck at the house."
She turned and placed her hands on his chest and smiled when he wrapped her up in his warm arms. "And, my darling husband, just where do you think we're going to sleep? I hope you aren't suggesting we revert back to our old rooms, sleeping separately in the cold attics. I think I'd rather brave the mountains of snow and walk back here, if that's the case."
His laughter rumbled through his chest and settled in her heart. "I have it on good authority that the housekeeper is rather kind and generous up at the house. I'm sure, if she asked nicely and explained the predicament, our employers would grant us permission to use one of the other rooms. It might not hurt to make similar arrangements for the Bates's since they'll be in a similar predicament."
"You know, I used to dream of being snowed in somewhere with the man I love and who loves me. I just never realized we'd be at work when it happened and that I'd be leaving the comforts of my own home to brave the snow and cold to get there."
"I'm sure next year will be different, love, but as you said … another discussion for a different day." He kissed her cheek then went to make the call to the house while she dressed and packed their bags.
By the time the car arrived to drive them to the house, the roads were nearly impassable. Her Ladyship had asked Miss Baxter to prepare a room for the Carsons for which Elsie was very grateful. She hadn't relished the idea of asking for such an accommodation but was very pleased to know that their needs had been met.
As the day wore on, the snow continued to fall. Sometimes, there would be heavy showers with large white flakes gently floating down to earth. At other times, the snowfall would be so heavy that you could barely see the bicycle shed from the servants' door or much beyond the front door. Throughout the day and well into the night, there was no break in the weather, leaving everything buried under a thick blanket of cold and white.
It was mid-morning when Sybbie, accompanied by George and Marigold, appeared in Elsie's sitting room door. "Can you help us, Mrs. Hughes?"
She looked up to see the bright young faces of the three children of the household … and without their nanny. "What are you three doing down here, and where is your nanny? Does she know you're all running about the house?"
"I told her I was bringing them down to see you. We want to go outside and play in the snow."
Elsie crooked her index finger and beckoned the three children further into her office. "And, would you kindly tell me what that has to do with me? I'm afraid I can't go outside to play, if that's what you're after."
"Well, it would have been nice if you could, and Mr. Carson, too, but if you can't, then could you help us find some old clothes to take with us?"
"I'm still not following you, lass. Tell me exactly what it is you're planning to do and that will make it a lot easier to help."
"We want to go outside and play in the snow. Nanny said it was too cold and we might get sick, but George said we could put on our coats and hats and scarves. We begged her until she finally said we could, but we had to play in front of the house. She could sit in one of the windowsills and watch us without having to get out in the cold herself."
"Fair enough. Go on. I still don't see what this has to do with old clothes, unless you mean some of our older things that you wouldn't mind getting wet and dirty."
"Mrs. Hughes, we need them for our snowman." The timid voice of Marigold surprised them all. She rarely spoke to anyone aside from her mother, cousins, and the nanny.
"Ah, a snowman sounds like a lovely idea. So, you'll be needing a few things to take outside for that. Now, I understand completely." She stood and offered her hands to Sybbie and Marigold. "Master George, please lead the way to the kitchens. We'll see if Mrs. Patmore has a slice of cake for each of you, and while you wait, I'll send up one of the maids to the attics to see about finding a few things for you. I'll have her bring what she finds to the nursery. You're not to go outside or bother nanny again until the maid arrives with the items. Understood?"
Sybbie wrapped her arms around Elsie's legs and gave her a big hug. "I knew you'd have the answers. You always do." Sybbie hopped up on a chair and waited patiently for the promised slice of cake and a glass of milk.
While the children were busy snacking in the kitchen under the supervision of Mrs. Patmore, Elsie climbed the endless staircases to the storage attics with a particular clothing chest in mind. It didn't take her long to find the few articles of clothing and a few odds and ends that she thought the children might enjoy using on their snowman.
On her way back from her scavenger hunt, she ran into Charles who was more than a little puzzled by the bundle she had in her arms. "The short answer is these are for the snowman the children are going to build. The longer answer is they're growing restless being cooped up in the house and nanny doesn't want to go outside. She's going to watch them from the window while they wear themselves out."
"Is that wise? Surely, she should be out there supervising them." His concern for their well-being touched her heart and she knew he had only their best interests in mind.
"Mr. Carson, we were young once, remember. I'm sure you loved to play in the snow as much as I did, and children haven't changed that much since we were little. It will do them some good to get some fresh air, a little chilly, and work off a lot of energy. I'm sure if she didn't think it wise, the nanny wouldn't have agreed."
"Hmm, very well, but she should stay close in case they need her."
"I'm sure they'll be fine." She kissed his cheek quickly then went on her way to the nursery with the bundle of old items.
It was much later in the day as Elsie was making her rounds through the family rooms that she noticed Charles standing at the window looking out over the grounds. Deciding to steal a few minutes alone with her husband, she walked up behind him and wrapped her arm around his waist. Immediately, he lifted his right arm and drew her into his side.
"What are you doing, love?" She looked up into his face but he never returned her gaze.
"Watching them," he said, as he nodded towards the children who were laughing and giggling as they played in the snow. "They're having a grand snowball fight, it seems, and our little Sybbie is besting them all. Though, don't tell anyone that I have a favorite in this game."
"Your secret is safe with me," she whispered, "but only if you don't tell that even a housekeeper has her favorite, too."
"Did you see the snowman they made? He's quite impressive, but there's something about him that I can't quite put my finger on. He looks … not familiar, but not quite at the same time. It must be the clothes he's wearing."
Elsie didn't have the heart to tell him that she snowman in question bore a striking resemblance to her husband. The children had made him as tall as they could, given him a large nose, dressed him with a black scarf, added little bits of coal for buttons and eyes, and two small broken sticks for impressive eyebrows.
"I think we should go downstairs and inspect their handiwork and offer them some hot chocolate if they'll come inside for a bit to warm up."
"Shouldn't that be nanny's job? They'll need hot baths and warm, dry clothes after being out there all this time."
"Come along, Mr. Carson. We'll give her time to run their baths while we entertain the little ones for a bit. It'll be fun, and besides, we can find out more about this familiar snowman who … I might add … happens to be standing in just the very spot where you usually stand when we have visitors."
His mouth opened and closed once or twice as the realization began to dawn on him. "Surely, you don't think that snowman is supposed to be me, do you?"
"Only one way to find out, and I'm sure she'll give you an honest answer if you ask."
"Hmm, wonder if she'll create a snowwoman for me, if I ask nicely and find a lovely bit of tartan to wrap around her pretty little neck?"
She pinched his side and burst into laughter. "I don't think it would take much convincing and from the amount of snow still left and the way those clouds look, we'll be here for at least two more days. Plenty of time for them to build you a perfect snow wife."
He turned and wrapped his arms around her waist and lowered his lips to her ear. "I already have the perfect winter wife … and her feet are ice cold every single night, but by morning, she's nice and toasty warm."
"You're a terrible flirt, Mr. Carson. Come on, let's get our coats and go outside. I'd like to see this Snow Carson up close and personal."
"You sound just as excited as Miss Sybbie whenever she is about to get her way."
"What can I say other than snow brings out the little child in all of us. I'm feeling much lighter and more carefree than I did yesterday when the clouds were looking so ominous."
Elsie winked and tugged on his hand so he would follow her down the staircase. She wouldn't dare tell him that Mrs. Patmore often accused her and the little girl of having Mr. Carson wrapped around their little fingers. That would be their little secret … along with the fact that Sybbie had specifically asked for clothing to make a Snow Carson of her very own and Elsie had willingly obliged.
A/N: I know some of you are buried under piles and piles of snow. So, what are you waiting for … go build a Snow Carson! Hope you enjoyed this chapter and thanks so much for the reviews. We are nearing the end of the alphabet and the tale of Charles, Elsie, and Sybbie. See ya tomorrow!