Hello my dear readers! After several hectic days behind me, I finally managed to stay up late and write some more fanfiction for you! I've been so excited about this fic and the way that you welcomed it, thank you for that, and I want to write more as soon as I get the time. Don't mind the possible typos! I hope you enjoy. Until next time! ;)

Saturday 14th of July, Downton Abbey

The day had started like any other. Elsie Hughes-Carson rushed to work- after her husband had been very distracting and delayed her departure...She had her usual tea before lunch and did her morning routine, checking on her maids and going the menu for tonight's dinner over with Mrs. Patmore, not forgetting to check if the upstairs rooms needed a going over before the family would wake. She made sure that everything was as it was supposed to be.

The day was just as hectic as every single one before. Now the housekeeper was sitting in her sitting room, pouring herself and Mrs. Patmore some tea. The family had just gone for lunch at the Dower house, so the Abbey was empty for the time being.

"It's nice of you to spare the time. Daisy is driving me mad…"

"You can't really blame her. I heard from Anna that the morning sickness is starting to kick in.", Elsie handed her friend the tea.

Daisy and Andrew had married not long after the king and queen's visit and they were now expecting their first bairn. Elsie always wondered how far the young kitchen maid had gotten…

"Oh, but of course not. It's not her fault, but she should take some time off, at least in the mornings.", Mrs. Patmore stated.

"Well, I quite agree with you.", Elsie smiled slightly, sipping her tea.

"You don't think she'll leave service after the baby is born?"

"Are you afraid you'll lose another kitchen maid?"

"Daisy is not a kitchen maid anymore, Mrs. Hughes, but yes. It will be hard with no one to help me.", the cook admitted with a heavy sigh."And I suppose you'll be leaving soon too…"

The housekeeper's eyebrows arched at her words.

"What on earth do you mean?"

"Well, I don't think Mr. Carson wouldn't want to wait long till you retire. He must be lonely.", she shrugged and took a sip of her tea.

"Mr. Carson will have to hold his horses in this. I won't be going quite yet. I still got a few good years in me, don't I?"

"Well, I'm ever so glad about that!", beamed Mrs. Patmore.

They both went silent for a while, before Elsie decided to ask;

"I could ask the same from you…Have you had any word from Mr. Mason recently?"

"Yes, why do you as- Oh you cheeky devil! What are you implying?"

"Nothing exactly! I was just wondering if…Uhm, your relationship…Is processing, like I hope it is?"

"And how, pray tell, do you hope our relationship is processing Elsie Hughes?", Mrs. Patmore asked, rising her eyebrow.

"Well…"

The housekeeper couldn't really find the right words, not without embarrassing her friend, so she just lifted her left hand to show the cook the ring on her finger.

"Oh…", the cook mumbled.

"I don't wish to impose, but I only want the best for you. Heaven knows I owe you.", Elsie laughed, Mrs. Patmore soon joining her.

"That you do, but no. Nothing had happened. Still nothing...If there every will be."

"I, if someone, know that a proposal can come as a surprise."

"I know.", nodded the cook absentmindedly.

It was the shout from the kitchen that managed to turn their heads towards the closed door.

"Oh dear, I think our dear Daisy has gotten a hold on someone…I'd better go see before a hell breaks loose."

"You do that. Make sure to call me for help if you need any!", Elsie said after the cook, who had already walked to the door.

She could hear Mrs. Patmore's voice from her sitting room, as the cook tried to calm down Daisy and the unfortune maid that had crossed her way with her. The housekeeper let out a sigh, when would they have a peaceful day? She placed her teacup on the tray, the tea in the cup already cold. Elsie made her way to her desk and sat down. She only had the time to relax her shoulders when there was another knock on her sitting room's door…A knock that she would know in her sleep.

"Come in!", Elsie shouted softy from the desk, turning around at the sound of the door opening."Well hello. What do I owe the opportunity for your visit, Charlie?"

"There's a telegram for you.", he said, panting in the loss of air.

"You should say…´Good evening my dearest', but I shall forgive you this time."

At her words he grew agitated, she could see that from his face as well as hear from the way he was breathing. Letting out a sigh, she asked;

"Did you walk all the way here to give me a telegram that could surely wait till I get home in just a couple of hours?", she shook her head at him.

"Well…Well, yes. I did.", Charles told, holding onto the small piece of paper in his hands." It's…Really important."

"I do doubt tha-"

"Elsie!"

Her eyes shot up to meet his gaze. The use of her Christian name caught her attention, as he rarely used it outside of the walls of their cottage.

"…Forgive me, I didn't mean to sound so angry.", he said gently.

"All is forgiven.", Elsie nodded, giving him a small smile."But about the telegram…Who would want to get my attention so? It's not about the flowers I ordered for the party next week, is it? They should be sending them here and not the cottage."

"Well…"

"Who's it from?"

At that her husband took a few steps towards her and handed her the telegram. Elsie took a glance at the piece of paper in her hands. The small smile on her face disappeared in a nano second. It was the last thing she could have ever expected…Because on the corner of the telegram was The Royal Seal.'

Standing up, she stared at the telegram in her hands. What, why, how? With a quick glance at her husband, who looked just as confused, she saw him slowly nod his head. Elsie turned back to the paper in her hands and carefully made it to tear it open. The Royal Seal got cut from the middle as she tore the paper open in her hands. She certainly was interested to know what would be written on the page, and she thought so must Charles too. With one swift movement the telegram was bare to her eyes…

Her eyes scanned the text that was written on the paper. There wasn't a lot written, but the little that there was, worried her, even before she had finished reading the telegram. Charles could see her biting her lower lip intensely, a habit of hers that he found so adorable. He watched her gasp for air, and the next second -before he had the time to react- collapse on her desk chair, clearly in shock. He, of course, rushed to her side.

"Elsie, whatever is the matter? What was on the telegram?", he worried.

His wife looked rather aghast, sitting disturbed on her chair. She usually never showed any emotions, aside from their nights alone in their cottage, and the way that she looked right now made him worried.

"Elsie?"

"It's from the Royal court.", she blurted out after another long silence.

"I know that, but whatever was written on the telegram that made you so…So aghast?"

She hesitated just a bit before she handed the telegram into her husband's strong hands. He glanced at her face before looking back at the paper and started to read what was written on it;

' With high regards to Mrs. Elsie Carson, form Downton Abbey.

It was a pleasure to receive your status through the police. The Royal court has inspected the information, and it seems that you are indeed the lost princess of Scotland, the sister to King George V of England. We will ask you to run up to London to a blood test, where we will be confirmed about your position. Further information will be sent to you on mail.

Royal Court of England.

With the utmost respect, King George V '

There it was…The news that the world had been waiting for…The news that would eventually change the Royal Family of England in public's eyes.

The couple stayed silent. Both shocked to the core…She couldn't breathe, as if the walls were closing in on her. How could such thing be possible? What would happen next? Would she have to give everything up? It wasn't long until she had to let out all the fear and shock and the worry, that lie in her heart, as she started to weep against the palm of her hand. Big, heavy tears streamed down her cheeks…

"Oh, my darling…", Charles managed to whisper, before he dropped the telegram on the table and swept her into his arms.

It took everything in him to be able to hide his worry in the moment when she needed him…

"How is this possible?", she mumbled against his chest.

"I don't know Elsie, but we'll manage."

"Do you think so?"

"I know so, my darling.", he told her as he gently pulled away from her.

They both turned their heads to the door, which was still a bit ajar from the way that her husband rushed inside, to see Mrs. Patmore looking rather perplexed.

"What's going on? Has someone died?", the cook asked rather sarcastically, but worry in her voice.

A silence fell between the couple and the cook, but Elsie managed to answer her after a moment;

"No, Mrs. Patmore. No one has died.", Elsie gently wiped away the last of her tears with her husband's handkerchief.

"Then what on earth are you weeping about? You are not ill?

The housekeeper's health scare was well in their minds. And no one could blame her for worrying, they all knew that.

"No. I'm not ill. It's just that…Uhm, well.", the housekeeper hesitated before continuing."A telegram arrived just now at the cottage…"

"And?"

"It's from the Royal Court.", Charles finished for his wife.

"Wha-", the cook stumbled.

"I am the lost princess of Scotland, it seems."