Charlie 9 months, Elsie 5 months
Why the bloody hell is it so bright in here? Oh, right. Elsie attempted to sit up and look for a clock only to collapse from the sharp pain in her chest. She fingered her bandaged chest and was relieved that nothing felt noticeably different. She felt a little silly worrying over what her breasts would look like following the surgery, considering just one month ago she didn't know if she would live or not.
Elsie closed her eyes and wondered what her breasts now looked like. There would be an angry, red scar for sure that would fade over time. The sagging but smooth skin would be disrupted by a tough, hard and lumpy line to forever remind her of this scare. And then there was Charles and his reaction to the scar. Would it finally turn him away from her? She was more confident he would accept her as she is now. He had accepted her flawed, aging body and told her he still loved her regardless, but still… one could never be completely sure. She just couldn't help but wonder if he would see her differently compared to when he left her at the hospital this morning.
She looked out the window to the clearing skies as her fingers moved from the swelling of her breast to stroke the growing bump below it. That was when she felt it, the gentle flutter and tap from within her. "Hello little one, is everything okay in there?" She asked, not even trying to suppress her soppy smile. There was life in her, a life that she and Charles created that was now demanding attention. "Your mummy had a little operation, nothing serious so don't you worry. Pretty soon we will go home, and you can hear daddy too…."
"Bollocks!" Charles cursed as he dropped the soup ladle for the third time. "Thomas! William! Quit fooling around and help me polish this silver right away!" He bellowed down the hall and into the kitchen where his footmen were chatting away.
It was nearly time for his own lunch and Charles had been on edge all day worrying about Elsie. He was nowhere near done with the polishing and severely behind on all his usual duties.
"Sorry Mr. Carson!" William said as he filed into the pantry after Thomas. The boys grabbed gloves, towels, and polish and began buffing away at the utensils.
"You think Mrs. Carson's come out of surgery by now?" Thomas asked after several moments of silence.
Charles, already on edge, put down his ladle to respond to the often glib footman. "That is to remain unknown for now, though I know she appreciates your inquiry."
This was pointless. Taking off his apron and throwing it down with more force that he intended, Charles stalked down to the wine cellar for something to calm his nerves. A Bordeaux, this would pair well with tonight's stuffed lamb.
Now normally he would take the bottle upstairs to check for color and clarity, but the cool darkness of the cellar fit his mood. With that in mind, he plucked a clean tasting glass from his cabinet and poured himself a small mouthful of the liquid. Black currant, plum, cedar. Bold earthy flavors washed across his tongue leaving just a hint of tartness behind that would complement Mrs. Patmore's almond fig sauce. Yes, 1895 was indeed a good year for French Bordeaux's.
Pouring himself another taster, he leaned back in his chair and contemplated him and Elsie. They had come a long way in the 3+ weeks they've been married. Relations were slowly getting better, and they were warming to each other until that trip to Doctor Clarkson's. Things changed once Charles was made aware of the jelly, and not for the better. He was angry, no, disillusioned – perhaps a combination of both and a little bit more with her for hiding this silly tube, and now things were icier than ever between them. They haven't had sex since the night with the bear grease, mainly due to Elsie's infection, but even after the smoke had cleared enough for them to go home and she showed him the jelly, he still had his doubts about trusting her.
Still, he played the part. He tended to her and kept her off her feet as much as possible, warmed through their suppers, rubbed her feet for as long as they could stay awake and escorted her to the hospital for her surgery. It was early enough that he could kiss her goodbye without feeling on display and reassured her everything would be well, and he would see her this evening. A nurse came to collect her, and he hustled back to their little cottage to search for anything else she could be hiding from him. He'd found naught which was no relief for his aching knees and did little for his mind.
Was this glass four or five he had tasted? Either way, the wine was now clouded with sediment and was in no way fit for the family to drink. Easy enough fix, he would inform his lordship at an appropriate time that one of the bottles had gone off and mark the bottle as lost in his ledger. Charles detested lying, but it was the first time in his career he had done anything of this nature and, to be honest, he needed this right now. Marriage was a complicated business, a statement he was sure Lord Grantham would wholeheartedly agree with.
"Are you well?" Elsie could smell wine on his breath. He'd clearly been enjoying a nip at the bottle while she was away, but she didn't mind too much. She just wanted to share her news with her husband.
Elsie winced in pain as she shuffled into a more upright position so they could talk. "As well as one could be expected in my condition." She opened her mouth to tell him she felt the baby kick this morning hoping it would ease some of the frost between them.
"Ah, Mrs. Carson, I'm glad to find you awake." Matthew Crawley greeted "I, er, hope I'm not interrupting anything, Mother told me you were in surgery today. Please, sit Carson, I'm here a visitor as much as you." He gestured to Charles who had risen from his chair out of reflex. Mr Crawley was still in his traveling clothes with his briefcase in hand suggesting he had headed for the hospital straight from the train. "I have some extraordinary news for you." He announced.
"Is it about Charlie? Did you get him back?" Elsie asked, unable to stop the smile on her face. This month had been absolutely hell on her and overshadowed all her momentous memories since then.
Matthew froze for a moment then began fiddling with his hat, running the brim between his fingers. "I'm afraid my news is not that extraordinary, but it is the next best thing to having Charlie in hand."
"What's the next best thing?" Charles asked placing his hand on the bed with only his fingertips touching the back of her hand as an attempt to comfort his wife in a fitting manner before the Viscount.
"Well, since Mr. Burns initiated, the hearing regarding your nephew would normally take place in Scotland. Via your pregnancy, I was able to have the case hearing moved from Argyll to Manchester."
"Oh," Elsie was deflated, but was determined not to let Mr. Crawley feel as if he'd let her down. She was his pro bono Downton case after all. "I suppose Manchester is significantly closer than Argyll. You'll have saved us quite a bit on the train."
"You misunderstand me, Mrs. Carson. Getting the hearing moved to Manchester had nothing to do with the train. Scotland's custody laws tend to favor the father as he will be the more financially stable parent. Things are the reverse in England. And not only does Mum stand a chance of keeping her children, Charlie's case will be heard by Judge Grimsby." Matthew finished with a smile.
"And you're certain this Judge Grimsby will see our side of things?" Charles asked.
"Judge Grimsby is someone I know pretty well and, while he wouldn't want this tidbit being flaunted around, I know he was raised by a single mother and aunt."
The corners of her mouth twitched. "That is very good news indeed. Thank you so much Mr. Crawley."
"I'm happy to do it Mrs. Carson. I like to feel I'm doing right by the servants."
For a brief moment there were smiles all around before Mr. Crawley popped his hat back on. "I should let you get your rest then. Carson, if you're heading back to the house, I don't mind having a chat with Branson while you say good night."
Charles looked at Elsie for a moment, she was wide awake and seemed eager to talk. "Thank you for the offer Sir, but I'd like to stay with my wife just a bit longer. Thomas will be there to see you in."
"Right you are, good night to you both."
They waited until he was well out of earshot before either of them spoke.
"See, I told you we would get him back." Charles said, taking her hand fully in his.
"Let's not go counting our chicks before they've hatched. We've still got a long way before Charlie is safe at home with us." Counting our chicks. Charlie safe at home. Motherhood was quite an infectious feeling. And speaking of feeling, a little fluttering was telling her that their other chick was awake.
"I felt the baby move."
Charles' eyebrows shot up so high they were at risk of disappearing into his hair. "You.."
"Yes." Elsie nodded. Joy seemed to be emanating from every corner of this starched, bland room.
"We've done it Els, we made a little person." Charles shifts so he is now perched on the edge of the thin hospital mattress with one hand on Elsie's belly.
"It's just a little fluttering now. I will have to remember to ask Dr. Clarkson when you will be able to feel it."
"Does it feel... " Charles searched for the right word "more real now that you can feel it move?"
"It does. Almost like the clock is ticking faster than ever. Baby will be here before we know it and we still have so many things to do and buy."
"We could start by agreeing upon a name. How about Marie?"
Elsie wrinkled her nose in response. It was too similar to Mary for her liking. "Hazel?"
"We are not naming our child after a color. Edward?"
Edward Carson. Elsie rolled it around in her head a bit. "You don't suppose Elmer would be a stronger name for a boy?"
"I don't see Elmer Carson sticking, not like Lester. Wait, no that won't work, I don't want people confusing him with the city."
Elsie rolled her eyes. Deciding on a name with Charles might actually be more arduous than labor.
Yes this is still alive! Thank you SSDDAChelsie for checking in on me and being totally awesome. All the love was very much appreciated.