Hello hello, my dear Downton freaks! This is your favourite girl posting historical writings with her phone! Hah. As I mentioned in the last chapter and on Tumblr as well, I won't be able to write/use my laptop for a week (true he*l, I know). I tried to write two chapters for me to upload during this week, and I managed to do just that! I will be uploading the next chapter soon, and I hope you will like it! Excuse any possible typos and do leave me a little review to let me know what you think. Stay safe, I'll see you soon! 3
Thursday 19th, Buckingham Palace, London
"Mr. and Mrs. Carson, the prince and princess of Scotland, your majesty."
With a last glance at Charles, Elsie whispered;
"It's now or never, you can still escape."
"Why would I do that? I married you for who you are, not what you would become."
And without saying anything else, Elsie stepped into the library, Charles following right after her. The door was the portal to the new life, with all it's flaws and virtues, everything that it involved. There was no turning back now.
They stood there, facing the Royal family of England, their king and queen. The royals were sitting on two armchairs, next to a wide window from which you could see the city life of London, with Lady Bagshaw hovering next to the huge bookshelves that covered the room's walls. They all stared at them, not quite sure as to what to say. Elsie felt her husband gently tug at her hand, in attempt to hold it. She took his hand, glad for the support. The silence in the room was disturbed when the guard closed the room, but after that everything went quiet again. How she wished the floor would just swallow her and the awkward meeting would be over.
"Your royal highnesses."
It took her everything to blurt out those words. It was a hint for her husband that they've forgotten to bow or curtsy. They both stumbled, trying to show at least a bit of respect, as they leaned down to honour their king and queen.
"Please.", the voice belonged to the queen."It is an honour that you made time to come see us."
She thought they had any say in the matter in the end?
"Your majesty.", Elsie said with a quiet voice.
"I must say that this was the last thing one could expect. We've met before, I believe?", the king spoke, ever so confidently.
"Not quite, your majesty. You visited Downton Abbey during your Yorkshire tour last year. I- that is me and Mr. Carson worked there during that time."
"Oh, well of course. I remember Mr. Carson quite well.", the king nodded his head approvingly.
"Your royal highness.", Charles spoke, bowing his head.
The room fell into uncomfortable silence once again. It was for Lady Bagshaw to save the situation.
"Would you like some tea?"
"Uhm- yes, that would be lovely, milady."
The lady in waiting pulled the cord next to the fireplace and it wasn't even two minutes when they had a fresh pot of tea in the library. Two boys, who Elsie predicted to be hall boys, were ready to attend to their majesties needs, but the queen dismissed them shortly after they brought the tea, saying they would manage on their own this time. Lady Bagshaw was the one who poured them all cups of tea, before she dismissed herself too and let them have their privacy.
"Do sit down. It is only proper.", the queen said kindly, gesturing to the two armchairs next to theirs.
Without another word, the couple hesitantly sat down.
"It must have been a surprise to you, to receive such news."
The attempt of small talk seemed horrible in the moment, but they could hardly stay quiet when the queen was speaking to them.
"Well, that's on putting it lightly, your majesty.", Elsie agreed and sipped her tea.
"I must say that the report we received through the court, didn't tell us a lot about you. And I admit that I was surprised it was someone from so nearby.", murmured the queen absentmindedly."But, heavens! I am being terribly impolite. You must be craving for answers yourself."
"Your highness, I won't beat around the bush, I have wondered. The news came as a huge surprise, and I would like to know the secret behind it. How am I the princess of Scotland, your majesty? It doesn't exactly make any sense to me."
"You are of course entitled to the truth…Mrs. Carso- Is it alright if we are to address you as such, for the time being at least?", at Mrs. Carson's timid nod, the king continued."During my childhood, the court was quite a different place from what it is nowadays. I was never spoken to about you, nor did anyone ever bring up the matter after you were born. It seems that at the time of your birth, I was, according to the just found records, almost three years old, I don't remember anything from that time though. There was, an attack, at the castle. From what I gather, it was the German government, trying to make the British court collapse and take the throne. One part of the castle is still under the endless repairs from that said event, although the attempt was never a success. My mother, the queen at the time, and the just born baby, that is you, were both brought to Scotland in hopes to keep you safe."
He stopped there, staring at the floor.
"And?", Elsie found herself asking. She needed to hear everything.
"The only prove of this, is that the queen used to write. Not books, but she kept a diary. There was not much written around the time of your birth, but she had written of a plan to keep you living in Scotland, safe from all the commotion that was happening in London. I was living with my aunt during the time so I was safe, but I was brought back as soon as things calmed down a bit. My father had of course thought the plan stupid, but she kept her mind. So, you were left there after the queen had recovered, living with what I presume were the people you thought were your family. I suppose the plan included coming to retrieve you when the right time came, but things never went the way they had planned for. It was six years later when the queen died suddenly, for what reason I do not know, and slowly the secret of the lost princess was forgotten as the only people that knew about it, passed away soon after her."
Elsie found herself holding back tears. The truth, which she needed to hear, was slowly becoming the new reality. She was forgotten so easily, just like that. Charles was just as shocked, but he put it aside and took the teacup, the tea gone cold ages ago, from her and placed it on a small table nearby. He gently took her hand in his, squeezing it gently. He would not be leaving her, his gaze told her.
"I'm so sorry, you must excuse me. I-I need a moment to gather myself…", was what she kept repeating in a low, quiet voice.
"Don't worry, Mrs. Carson. We never thought the truth would be easily received.", reassured the queen, with a soft and understanding voice.
"Is it true that absolutely no one else knew? It wasn't their idea to leave me there and never have to see me again?"
"Of course, we can't be sure of anything, but without further information, it seems so. The only people, according to my- that is, our mother's diary, were the king and queen themselves, the lady in waiting and the housekeeper of the time. She wrote that not even close relatives were ever told about the princess. That's where the diary ended."
"And how did Mrs. Carson come to live at the Hughes family exactly, your majesty?", it was Charles' turn to ask all the questions.
"I have no clue, but I suppose they lived far enough from all the society, and no one would suspect a newly born girl, as I've heard people at the countryside do have a lot of children. And it has worked, it seems. No one ever thought more of it."
"Is it wrong of me to hope they did suspect something wrong?", Elsie asked in a whisper.
"Of course not, but what has happened, cannot be changed."
The king rose and went to the wide window and looked outside. He seemed to wear a worried look on his, usually so unreadable, face. Elsie took a moment to gather her thoughts and contain the tears from falling.
"I'm afraid this new turn of events will be a drastic change for you. I do hope you don't feel it will be too much.", it warmed both of the Carsons' hearts to know how caring the queen could really be.
"We'll survive. Just like we always do, your majesty.", Charles forced a smile.
"That's good to hear. I've not known either of you for long, and I hope you don't think me impolite, but I must ask; how long have you been married?"
Charles didn't have to think of his answer for long, he had counted the happiest years of his life with extra caution.
"Four and half years, your majesty."
"I rather thought you were one of the couples who have been together for ages.", her majesty stated with a smile.
"In service things are a bit different you see, your highness. And for the matter, I have been rather blind as to what was right under my nose.", the retired butler explained, glad of a topic to discuss. A much nicer topic to discuss.
The queen tried to keep up the awkward small talk with Mr. Carson, but it was hard not to fall into uncomfortable silence when half of the people in the room were as nervous and quiet as ever.
They didn't even realize when one of the servants came to retrieve the tea tray, leaving without a sound after they've done that. Minutes passed slowly. Too slowly for Elsie's liking. She just wanted to get out of the grand palace, back to their lovely cottage in Yorkshire. She felt bad for herself, she didn't mind admitting it. She was so angry about the way things turned out. Even though it was not her place to judge other people's decisions, she couldn't just let it past her; she never even met her…Biological parents…And she never would meet them. She had made herself a respected life in one of the finest houses in the land of England, she was now a married and loved woman, with a house of her own, a happy life that was worth living. She was thankful of it all. Now was the time to be thankful of her newfound family. Her biological family. She had loved Becky like a sister and loved her parents like a daughter should. In the end that meant more to her than she even realized. This would be a game changer and it was going to be a different life for sure.