I've changed the rank from Marchioness to Duchess because I want to play around with it some more.
Elsie was in the kitchen with Tom, making dinner, and Charles was in the sitting room, playing with Sybbie.
"I'm so glad that you let me move in. It was like a part of me was missing, but now I'm home." Tom said, setting the table. Elsie smiled and nodded.
"I know what you mean. When I married Charles, I felt like I was home. I'm so happy to be Mrs. Carson, not Mrs. Hughes, and we love having you here." They smiled at each other and continued making dinner.
Charles and Sybbie walked in, smiles on their faces.
"What can we do to help?" Sybbie asked, standing next to Charles, looking happy.
"How about setting the table?" Elsie asked. Charles nodded and showed Sybbie how to set the table properly. Elsie smiled at them, happy with their life. She and Tom brought the food over and they ate happily, conversation flowing easily. After dinner, they did the dishes, Sybbie helping Tom wash them, Elsie and Charles putting them away, and went to the sitting room to relax when they heard a knock at the door.
"I wonder who that could be," Elsie said, standing up to get the door. Tom and Charles stood as well, Charles picking Sybbie up, going to put her bed. A man in a suit stood at the door, a smile on his face.
"Good evening. Does an Elsie Hughes live here?" The man asked.
"Who's asking?" Elsie asked, Tom walking up behind her. The man took out his card.
"I'm Jackson Simmons, a solicitor. I'm here to inform Elsie Hughes of her inheritance." Mr. Simmons said, holding out his card. Elsie took it and opened the door wider to let Mr. Simmons in.
"I'm Elsie Hughes, although I don't use Hughes anymore," Elsie said, showing the man into the sitting room. Mr. Simmons sat down on the sofa, pulling some papers out of his briefcase.
"What do you go by?" The man asked. Elsie smiled sitting next to Tom across from Mr. Simmons.
"I go by Elsie Carson. My husband, Charles, is upstairs putting our granddaughter to bed. This is our son, Tom." Elsie told him. Tom nodded to the man.
"How do you do?" Tom asked. Charles walked back in, sitting in his chair next to the fireplace.
"I'm well, thank you. Good evening, Mr. Carson. I'm Jackson Simmons, a solicitor. I'm here to inform your wife of her inheritance." Mr. Simmons told Charles. He turned back to Elsie.
"You had a great aunt, Her Grace, Rowena Fairchild, Duchess of Eland. When she died, the estate was inherited by her son, a nice man who never married. He didn't have any children, therefore no direct heir. He died last month. After some thorough research, it has been found that you are the closest relative." Mr. Simmons told her. Elsie gasped, her hand covering her mouth.
"Are you telling me that I've inherited Eland Castle?" Elsie asked, her hand moving to rest over her heart.
"The castle, the land, the money, the title. Everything." Mr. Simmons said. Elsie looked to Charles, unsure of what to say.
"How much land is there?" Charles asked, taking Elsie's hand. Mr. Simmons looked through his papers.
"About 10,000 acres. The estate comes fully staffed, and they are very excited to meet the new Marchioness, I can tell you. They all seem very nice." Mr. Simmons said.
"How do we know we can trust you, that everything you're saying is true?" Tom asked. Mr. Simmons nodded, agreeing with Tom.
"Because I have no reason to lie. I get nothing out of this. I've already been paid, as soon as everything is settled, you'll hear no more from unless absolutely necessary." Mr. Simmons replied. Tom nodded, settling back into the sofa.
"What do I need to do?" Elsie asked. Mr. Simmons went through his papers once more and handed her a paper along with a pen.
"Read this and sign when you're finished. If you have any questions, I'll be here." Mr. Simmons said, leaning back in his chair. Elsie nodded and turned to Charles, who nodded in agreement.
"What about my family?" Elsie asked, uncapping the pen. She looked up at him.
"Your husband can become Duke of Eland, and your son can become the heir if you so choose." Mr. Simmons said. Elsie nodded and looked down at the paper, a small smile on her face, and signed the paper.
Should I add a chapter of "The Carsons" where Charles, Elsie, and Tom tell the Crawleys about Elsie's inheritance?