Hello, my little sunshines! Already uploading the 10th chapter? My my…But before I say anything else, I must apologize for the delay in publishing. I've been busy. Again. But now I am here, and I hope you enjoy this, rather long, chapter of 'Not Every Royal Wears A Crown'. Don't mind the possible typos. I hope you squeeze in the time to leave me a review after you've finished reading! Thank you! I'll see you again soon. ;-)
Wednesday 18th, Downton Abbey, the library
A couple of days had passed since their encounter in the library. Three days ago, they stood in the exact same spot, the same worried and tiresome looks worn on their faces. Now they were all dressed in their traveling clothes. The train would be leaving from the station in two hours.
Elsie had managed to write to the Royal Court, and she had sent the letter there last Sunday. Now they had gotten their answer and were on their way to meet the Royal family. It had been quite the odd couple days, she had to admit. Nothing much had changed when staff and the family got to know about the news, they all kept living their own lives, maybe with more caution than before. They had all sworn not to tell anyone else in the village or anyone outside it, but Charles told her the looks he received on his walk yesterday told a tale of clear difference. She shook herself out of her thoughts, returning to the present. There was no time to dwell on the past…And there she stood, in the library, facing lord and lady Grantham, who had kindly offered to accompany the couple to London. They would be opening the London house for one week and would be staying there until things are a bit clearer.
"Everything is ready, milady, milord. The car will be brought around shortly."
"Thank you, Barrow. We'll be there in a moment.", replied the lord of the house.
"Milord.", the butler left the room, leaving the older people alone.
Ms. Baxter came along soon, she came in to bring her ladyship her coat and hat, but she didn't stay for long and left after she had done her work. They had arranged that they would be taking no servants with them (except for the Carsons). After Lady Rosamund had moved to live in the Granthams' London apartment, they could save some money with the arrangement, she had hired a few servants of her own. They would be able to help with everything needed. Elsie had suggested she could easily take care of Lady Grantham herself, even if she was told not to worry about it, and they all knew Lord Grantham could easily manage without assistance. They didn't want to have to take Bates with them.
They went outside, Charles imposing on Mr. Barrow to make sure they had everything they could possibly be needing on the upcoming week. Mr. Branson had volunteered to drive them to the station and wish them goodbye, and luck. He was sure they were going to need it, if he was honest.
"You seem to be off with the fairies today, Mrs. Hughes."
Elsie turned her head to meet the gaze of Tom Branson, who was walking towards her.
"Mr. Branson.", Elsie smiled slightly, still lost in thought.
"I wish you have a pleasant stay in London. I hope you will get things settled and you'll be back rather sooner than later.", the young man said."It must have been a few rather tiring days, hasn't it?"
"You could say so, Mr. Branson. And I doubt it will get any easier in the days to come."
"I suppose, but if anyone manages, it's you, Mrs. Hughes. And I have every trust in you that you'll manage to pull this around to a victory in the end."
"That is very kind of you.", Elsie stated.
"It's nothing compared to everything you've done for me through the years, Mrs. Hughes. I wish you well."
The housekeeper had to chuckle at that. Mr. Branson looked at her with a confused face.
"You do realize this is not a goodbye, Mr. Branson? I will be back in a week the latest.", she laughed.
Their laughter was interrupted when young Sybbie ran to them.
"Well, hello Ms. Sybbie. Did you escape from nanny again?", Elsie smiled warmly, kneeling down to meet the girl's eyes.
"No, Mrs. Hughes! I came to say goodbye. Daddy said you and Mr. Carson would be leaving. Is it true?", Sybbie asked, her eyebrows tightly together.
"We are just going to visit London with your grandparents, and we'll be back in a week."
"But why do you have to go? Can't someone else go, so you could stay here?"
"I'm afraid that won't be possible, my dear. You see, there is something particularly important that I have to do.", Elsie explained.
"What is it?", Sybbie beamed."I don't want you to leave."
Elsie knew the children had not been told about the reason of their visit to London and she seeked help from the girl's father.
"Sybbie, what if you come with us to the train station, so you can say proper goodbye and then we'll come home, and I'll explain it to you? Hm, would that be nice?", Tom suggested to his daughter who looked a bit sceptical."We wouldn't want them to miss their train, now would we?"
"Alright, that's fine!", the girl rushed off without saying anything else.
"She's such a darling girl.", Elsie said to the man beside her."Reminds me a lot of her mother."
"More each and every day.", agreed Tom Branson.
"We're ready now! Shall we be off, we don't want to miss our train?", shouted Lord Grantham.
The men helped their ladies into the car. They would be riding in the same car on their way to the train station, but when they'd arrive in London, there would be two cars waiting for them to take them to the London house. Lord and Lady Grantham started their own conversation, both talking quietly about the coming week and how Master George had just learned how to juggle from his father. The Carsons stayed both quiet for the time of the drive to the station, which took only a few minutes. They arrived at the station, Mr. Branson and Miss Sybbie saying their goodbyes and leaving. Robert Crawley suggested they'd go have some tea before the train arrives, but Elsie kindly refused, saying they had already done so much. The lord and lady went for tea in the small tearoom alone and Charles took his wife to the loading dock to see about their suitcases, and if he was honest, he wanted a moment alone with her.
"You know that isn't really your job nowadays, darling?", Elsie teased her husband when he started to go through the many suitcases on the floor to see if they had forgotten anything.
"Well, I can't see you doing anything about it, my dear, so I'd better cover up.", Charles said, making his wife chuckle slightly.
"Don't you worry, they didn't forget anything. Ms. Baxter and Mr. Bates are top of the class servants. And do you think I wouldn't check if somethings were missing?"
"No, I certainly do not.", he smiled at her, seeing her bite her lower lip.
"Good."
"Are you nervous?"
"Are you?", Elsie turned to ask.
"I am rather. It's a new experience.", Charles stated.
"A new experience? Really Charles."
She had to shake her head at him, he was really being exasperating. And he must've sensed that himself.
"I didn't mean to sound so…Emotionless…"
"It's alright, don't worry. We're both on the edge right now, I know that.", Elsie rushed to reassure."It must be hard for you. You don't take to change well. Although, I have to admit, I am rather surprised you have been this calm when you know we are going to meet the Royal Highness himself."
"And I would have thought you'd be more…Panicked, yourself.", he told.
"I'm just hiding it well."
She was teasing him, Charles guessed. But he knew, she could hide the storm inside her so well no one could see it. Not even she herself.
"I know you are, darling. But we'll get through.", he didn't even remember when he had stepped closer to her, but he grabbed her hand in his, in a way no one could see it."And I know I can always count on you to hold my hand when I need it. You can count on me too."
He could see from her face that she was, indeed, grateful. Her eyes expressed more than words ever could.
"I know I can.", was all she said as the train arrived at the station, covering the whole platform with steam from its engine.
Little did the couple know, Lord and Lady Grantham had come out just in time to see their exchange, watching them with respectful smiles on their faces.
A long while later, Wednesday 18th, Downton Abbey, London train station
Elsie stepped out into the London air, her hand hovering over her hat to keep it in place in the wind. The platform was full of people, businessmen and great ladies, nannies and parents with their children. The steam blocked everything from their sight, before it quickly disappeared with the wind. She and Charles parted ways to make sure their luggage had arrived safely and he went to find Lord and Lady Grantham's chauffeurs, who would be taking them to Grantham house.
"You know Cora, we won't be surviving without Carson and Mrs. Hughes for more than a week."
"We'll survive. We did manage to run the estate for a couple of years without Carson, and now we just have to learn to live without Mrs. Hughes.", Cora reassured, although she too was sad the housekeeper was leaving.
Elsie walked to her employers, after she had tipped a young boy who worked on the train to help her with their luggage.
"Milord, milady."
"If we have everything, I think we shall go look for the cars. Where has Carson gotten himself?", Lord Grantham looked around the platform, looking for the former butler.
"I sent him to look for the cars. I knew the station would be crowded and I'm sure you would rather leave sooner than later."
"You really are a life saver, Mrs. Hughes.", Cora sighed."I'm starting to think we should pray for the royals to give you back."
Making their way over to the two cars, where Charles was already waiting, and packing the luggage with them, they finally left the busy station. London was busiest at this time of day and their journey up to Grantham house took quite a while. But they finally got there.
"You've made yourself at home!", Lady Grantham greeted her sister-in-law when she climbed out of the car.
"Cora, Robert dear.", Rosamund stepped to place a kiss on her brother's cheek, then on the another.
"Rosamund, how are you?"
At the side, Elsie was instructing for a hall boy where to take every suitcase. Her husband was carrying their own luggage.
"You were Matt, weren't you?", the housekeeper asked the boy.
"Yes, Mrs. Carson."
The use of her name caught her off guard and a wide smile spread on her lips. She always forgot the London staff had grown used to call her that in London.
"Very good Matt. Take these three downstairs and the rest of the luggage can be brought to Lord and Lady Grantham's bedroom. Do you know where that is?", she instructed.
"No, I don't think I do, ma'am. Lady Rosamund said you would be giving further instructions."
"Well, I expected that. Take them up the Duchess -bedroom. It should be already made. I'll ask for a maid to unpack them."
The hall boy took the luggage and rushed off to do as he was told. The Carsons turned to head downstairs.
"Carson, Mrs. Hughes! How lovely to see both of you.", Rosamund interrupted, making the couple stop by."Robert told me about the news. I was rather surprised to hear you are the woman in question."
"Milady.", Elsie replied. If she was honest, she hadn't known Lady Rosamund knew…
"It's absolutely brilliant! I made sure they prepared you two a room upstairs.", upon seeing hesitation on both of the Carsons' faces, she rushed to say;"I insist. It's only fair now that you are to join the Royal family."
And she was off, Robert and Cora following her suit.
"Well, we knew Lady Rosamund would be forthright if nothing less.", Charles grimaced."We're in London alright."
"Ach, this is going to be an interesting trip."