Peek-a-boo, the 9th chapter is officially here! And I'm wondering what's with these weird greetings…Never mind that now. I am back with a new chapter after about a week of a break. Life just came in the way, but now I am here. In this chapter Lady Mary, the queen of (Excuse my bad language.) bith*es gets put to her right place by our beloved bear of a butler. I've been waiting for this one! But anyways, I hope you enjoy. Don't mind the possible typos. I'll be back soon with a new chapter! I still got a lot more to give to this story! Stay safe! ;-)

Sunday 15th, Downton Abbey, the library

Lady Mary stared at the couple, clearly a disapproving look on her face.

"Now, Mar-", Lord Grantham tried to calm his daughter, but was interrupted before he could say more.

"Why didn't anyone tell me?", Mary said angrily.

"We were going to tell everyone soon, milady. But not before things would be settled.", that was the housekeeper's calm voice. Oh, how she always managed to save a situation, thought her husband, clearly too soon.

"I think I have every right to know that if something like this big is happening in this house, I am supposed to be informed about it! Our housekeeper will be leaving to be pampered with her own staff, at a palace, richer than any of us…Oh, how pathetic!"

"I beg your pardon!"

The retired butler, who had just now gathered himself, puffed his chest out and regained his full height. He would not tolerate anyone behaving disrespectfully towards his wife, not today or ever again for the matter. He had finally had enough…

"I think if someone in this situation is pathetic, it is you, milady! Even though I have always had your back, I can too get enough of your immature behaviour. My wife, nor anyone else, deserve you acting like that. You've changed, and not for the better. I am sorry to tell you this, but someone must, and it might as well be me.", Charles told the young lady firmly, making everyone else in the room grimace a bit, and he wrapped his arm securely around his wife's waist."And now, if you'll excuse me, I will take my wife downstairs to get some rest. Have a good day."

Guiding her out of the room, he slammed the door behind them. The family stood in place, not daring to move.

"Are you going to sack her? I should think such behaviour could cost one a job."

"Lady Mary Crawley!", shouted her father."I am so disappointed in you. How dare you act like that!"

"Oh, papa, someone had to tell them."

"Tell them what? That my eldest daughter is clearly not mature enough?"

"Surely, what Carson said was quite immature? Even for him."

"Mary, everything he said has proved to be true over the last few months.", stated Cora Crawley.

The young lady was going to say something when the words hit her straight on her face. No one was going to back her up on this…The next thing she realized was that she was left to stand alone in the, now quiet, library. The only sound came when the door was slammed shut again, not by the retired butler, but by the lord of the house himself.

Elsie was still in a daze over what had happened in the library. It was utterly rare for her husband to stand his ground over Lady Mary, but he had made her so enormously proud. Now she was hurrying after him in the stairs, praying for him to stop for even a second. She needed to talk with him.

"Charles. Stop it!", she said, raising her voice.

She never heard any reply.

"Can't you at least slow down?", Elsie had a hard time following him, his long legs carrying him down the steps quicker than hers ever could.

They reached the bottom, her husband still not slowing down. The whole staff was having lunch in the servant's hall, and everyone turned their heads at the voice of the housekeeper.

"Mr. Carson stop! Where on earth are you going?", Elsie tried again, sensing the others watching them from afar, but she didn't find herself caring in the moment.

She heard no reply once again…

Quickening her pace, she grabbed his arm and he stopped. Finally.

"Now that I got you to stop…Can you tell me what is wrong?", she said, her voice caring and soft. She was worried about him.

"Nothing is wrong."

"Yes, there is, you never talk back at Lady Mary. And you certainly never defend me when she is concerned. What happened?"

"She was so disrespectful. That's all.", said Charles quietly.

"That she was.", Elsie agreed, nodding her head quickly."And do you know how proud of you I was? I would have kissed you right there if I could've!"

"You were proud of me?"

"Of course, I was, you ol' booby! Everything has been so chaotic these past days that the feeling of being defended by my own husband simply thrills me.", his wife beamed, her voice dancing in the hall."And certainly after today…"

She lifted her right wrist up for him to see. The white bandage covered almost half of her arm. Charles gently took a hold of it, rubbing his fingers against hers.

"Did he do this to you?", he asked worriedly.

"Well, things happen. Lord Grantham luckily came on time.", Elsie smiled.

"I'm thanking God that he did."

Her husband lifted her sprained wrist to his lips and laid a gentle kiss on the bandage.

"Shouldn't you be laying down? We can ask Mr. Branson to drive us to the cottage. I'll make you a warm bat-"

"I'm alright Charles. It's just a bit sore.", Elsie reassured.

"Well, if you're sure.", he mumbled.

"I am. Thank you."

Charles or Elsie both, didn't realize that most of the staff had walked over and were now glancing at them. Mr. Barrow cleared his throat, drawing all attention to him.

"Would now be a good time to explain everything to us, Mrs. Hughes?"

And this would be lovely.

A lot later, Sunday 15th, Downton Abbey

Hours later the staff had finished their supper and went upstairs to serve the family. And the whole family was in some sort of daze, and no wonder, so were the servants themselves. The Carsons wandered home, with their dinner in a basket, made by Mrs. Patmore, after they'd spread the news of her new status to the whole household. Their pace was a slow one, both needing steadying from time to time. The warm summer air caressed their faces as they made their way to their warm and welcoming cottage. The only time they stopped was when Elsie kneeled beside the gravel path and made a bouquet of the wildflowers that grow there. And to her great surprise it wasn't her own idea, but Charles'. She couldn't do but wonder what had happened to her curmudgeon of a husband…They finally made it safely home and Elsie moved to their sitting room to find a vase for the flowers, while her husband prepared her a bath. He was not going to let her do anything herself today, nor tomorrow, because of the slight sprain in her wrist.

"I've got the bath running for you."

"Thank you, darling. What do you think of this vase?", she gently lifted the vase with the flowers, with her left hand, to show it to him.

"It looks lovely, just like you. The flowers match the colour of your eyes.", Charles smiled lovingly, watching as his wife placed the flowers on the mantelpiece.

"You flatter me.", Elsie grinned.

The slight light of the late evening sun shone through the open curtains…And he thought how a woman can be so incredibly beautiful as his wife was in the moment.

"Today was quite the day.", sighed Elsie.

"At least it's coming to an end soon.", Charles reassured, stepping closer to her.

"Hm.", she hummed, starting to unpin her hair.

"Let me do that for you."

"I can do it-"

"I want to.", Charles smiled.

"Alright then, go on."

"Let's sit down so were a bit more comfortable, shall we?"

They sat down on the couch, Charles pulling her on his lap.

"Won't I crush you?", Elsie insisted.

"Stuff and nonsense! You're light as a feather.", he pulled strands of hair out of the tidy updo she always made.

It wasn't long until her long, greyish- brown curls fell over her shoulders. He rested his forehead against the back of her head, smelling her shampoo, lavender and lemon and a bit of salt…Placing a lingering kiss on her neck, he pulled away to look into her eyes. They were full of tears that threatened to fall.

"Hey, now what's this, Elsie?", he whispered, pulling her closer.

"It's nothing…I'm fine. I just need a moment…"

"No, you're not fine. I won't have you crying alone. Tell me what's wrong, and we'll see if I can help."

And the tears fell down her cheeks. Charles instantly hugged her against his chest, soothing her.

"Is this about today? Did I do something?"

She only shook her head.

"Hmm…Well, is this about the news?"

Elsie nodded her head against his chest. Charles' heart broke for her. His always so strong wife, now so broken and fragile. Perhaps they were both too old to adjust to change too well…He would of course, never say that to her. His wife was quite a young, beautiful woman.

"Do you know what?", Charles said, figuring out a way to calm her."When we received the telegram, it came as a shock to me too, I mean who knew we, out of all people, would receive news like that? Firstly, I thought it would just need adjusting and that soon everything would be normal again. Well, a new normal to say at least, but a normal in some odd way. So, you see, you're not alone. I am here, as frightful as you, my dear. I realized that you might not want me anymore, to come there with you. You would have a family of your own and you'd be rich and live in a castle. My small fortune is nothing to compared to that I'm su-"

"What?", Elsie quickly turned her head to face him."What did you say? That I wouldn't want you?"

"Mhm."

"Are you completely daft!", not minding her own sadness anymore, she rushed to reassure her husband."You out of all people should know me better than that."

Instead of saying that to him like it was obvious, she said it with a bright smile playing on her lips, her eyes full of love.

"No money could ever make out the emptiness in my heart if I didn't have you."

And the sadness, and the tears, from a moment before, were both gone when his lips crashed against hers. They both knew everything would be alright in the end. As Elsie had said, no money can ever fix the crack in your heart, which breaks when you lose someone dear. They were both afraid, scared of the unknown future, but they had each other. And that made all the difference.