Well well well…Guess who's back! It's me again everyone and I am here with a new idea for a story! I am so excited to be back to the world of the lovely Downton Abbey, and especially Chelsie. Today I am presenting the first chapter of this little story. I hope you enjoy it! Please let me know what you think and if I should continue writing it. I literally have the whole concept in my head already, so no worries! Don't mind the typos. I'll see you again later! Stay safe! ;-)
Saturday 14th of July 1929, Downton Abbey
There was a soft knock on the door of her sitting room, a certain knock that she would recognize even if she were wakened up in the middle of the night.
"Come in!", Elsie shouted softy from the desk, turning around at the sound of the door opening."Well hello. What do I owe the opportunity for your sudden visit, Charlie?"
"There's a telegram for you.", he said, panting in the loss of air.
"You should say…Good evening my dearest', but I shall forgive you this time."
At her words he grew agitated, she could see that from his face as well as hear from the way he was breathing. Letting out a sigh, she asked;
"Did you walk all the way here to give me a telegram that could surely wait till I get home in just a couple of hours?", she shook her head at him.
"Well…Well, yes. I did.", Charles told, holding onto the small piece of paper in his hands." It's…Really important."
"I do doubt tha-"
"Elsie!"
Her eyes shot up to meet his gaze. The use of her Christian name caught her attention, as he rarely used it outside of the walls of their cottage.
"…Forgive me, I didn't mean to sound so angry.", he said gently.
"All is forgiven.", Elsie nodded, giving him a small smile."But about the telegram…Who would want to get my attention so? It's not about the flowers I ordered for the party next week, is it? They should be sending them here and not the cottage."
"Well…"
"Who's it from?"
At that her husband took a few steps towards her and handed her the telegram. Elsie took a glance at the piece of paper in her hands. The small smile on her face disappeared in a nano second. It was the last thing she could have ever expected…Because on the corner of the telegram was The Royal Seal.
Two weeks ago, Thursday 1st of July, Downton Abbey
"Is it true what they say?"
The Dowager Countess of Grantham stepped inside the library of Downton Abbey, where the family was having tea.
"Mama.", Lord Grantham stood up to greet his mother.
"I can't believe the Royal household could be scandalized like this.", The dowager said.
The ladies in the room rolled their eyes at the old lady's words.
"There's hardly any scandal into it, granny. I think it's a relief if they do find the princess.", Lady Edith said from the corner of the room, where she was playing with Marigold.
"Who knows what she's like.", huffed the dowager."I mean, she hasn't got any training!"
"I think you can hardly expect much from the situation, Mama. It is what it is.", Robert told her.
Albert (the footman) made it to hand the dowager a fresh cup of tea. She took it, although not very gratefully.
"And where on earth was Barrow? He should be greeting me when I arrive."
"I've sent him to London. It seems that a wine delivery has been stuck there for the last week or so. And Cora didn't see a problem in Mrs. Hughes accompanying him there, as she had something for her to collect too.", Robert explained.
"You are telling me there is no senior member of staff in this building? What has this world come to?"
"Mrs. Patmore's down in the kitchen, isn't she?", commented Mrs. Crawley, smiling into her cup of tea.
Downstairs the staff had sat down for tea. Mr. and Mrs. Bates, Daisy, Andrew, Mrs. Patmore and Ms. Baxter were all seated around the table in the servants' hall, all of them in a need for a break.
"The papers are all full of the Royal situation.", Mr. Bates says to his wife as he lowers the newspaper onto the table.
"Well, I don't doubt that. It's a big news."
"I don't understand how they didn't know about the princess before. It just doesn't make any sense to me.", Andrew said.
"If the former king and queen wanted to keep her a secret, I'm sure they if someone had the power to do it.", Ms. Baxter sipped her tea and continued fixing one of Lady Grantham's hats.
"I don't even think it's true. The whole business. Doesn't it sound a bit made up to you?", Daisy stood from her place at the table.
"I don't think the Royals could made up such a lie from out of nowhere Daisy."
"Well, I don't think it's true."
At this Daisy walked back to the kitchen, her empty teacup in her hand.
They all turned their heads to the bell board, to see and hear, three of the bells ringing. One of the bells was the one of Lady Mary's bedroom, one to the library and one to the nursery. The servants all left the table and the tea to get cold and went to attend to the family. No rest for the wicked, as the saying goes.
On the table there was left a newspaper that Mr. Bates was reading. He was correct, the situation of the Royal household has captured the interest of the writers.
' The Royal Household of England has recently discovered that King George V, has a long-lost sister, the Princess of Scotland her title would be. It is being ordered that every woman in the age between 60-70 should be questioned as the lost Princess of Scotland. Without any further discoveries, the Royal Household of England has asked for everyone at that age to report themselves to the Police. '
And what would the news cause to happen at Downton?