-Elsie Hughes stop eating the cookies!
Mrs. Patmore took the tray of chocolate cookies from the table and placed it on the counter. Elsie sighed and bit the last cookie she had stolen. They were in the kitchen, Mrs. Patmore baking, and Elsie sitting in a chair, chatting. The maids, the footmen and Daisy had been allowed to go to the fair, and Elsie, who had a backache because of her 27 weeks belly, refused to go, and since Charles didn't want to leave her alone he had asked Beryl to stay with her. He was going to town to see a cottage, and if he liked it he would come back to Downton with the keys on his pocket.
-I'm sorry, Baby wants the cookies, and I can't let my little one down, can I?
-Elsie, you've had 23 cookies. You are going to get sick!
-No, I won't. You should ask Charles how many pickles I had yesterday. He stopped counting at 29.
-You are not going to have a child; you are going to have a crusher
-Oh, Beryl, you are no fun. Come on, give me the tray.
-No. From this moment on you are going on a diet.
-You wish. Do you know when Charles will be back?
-He said he would be back before six. It's five thirty.
-I hope he comes soon. - She had a weird look on her face and her hands on her belly.
-Elsie?
-It will be over once the baby moves. – She whispered, closing her eyes, and putting a bit of pressure on her belly. – Come on, move. Move. Move… There. – She took a deep breath and patted her belly lightly. – You've been giving me a hard time lately. You better calm down a bit.
-Elsie, what's wrong?
-Nothing, Baby was just stretching, and he or she sent my stomach upwards, right under my lungs, and it hurt.
-Don't scare me like that. I thought you were going to give birth right here.
– Elsie laughed and stood up, rocking her hips lightly forward and backward.
-When I give birth you will know. Did you want to go to the fair? – Elsie placed one of her hands on the small of her back and with the other one she took her cup of tea from the table.
-Not really. If I had gone I would have ended up watching Daisy, and the poor girl wouldn't be having as much fun as she is having right now.
-I'm sure Thomas is having fun, being away from me, at least for a few hours.
-Don't mind him; he's just a stupid young man.
-Charles has been watching him closely, he's afraid he might… hurt me.
-Hurt you? That boy wouldn't kill a fly. He's manipulative, and he might blackmail people, but he wouldn't hurt anyone.
-Charles is not that sure. He wants to protect me and Baby from him and from everyone he thinks could harm us. He doesn't want to feel guilty if something happens. He still has forgiven himself for not being there when all the Mr. Green incident happen.
-I've heard you talking in the middle of the night.
-Yes, he suddenly wakes up from a nightmare and hugs me. He always has the same nightmare. Mr. Green hurting me and him not being able to do anything. He watches us, but he can't stop it. I don't know when all of this is going to stop.
-Well, I just found out Charles Carson is human. – Elsie laughed and started walking a bit around the kitchen.
-He's more human than what you all think. He has been so protective and supportive since we got married.
-Excuse me if my question seems a bit bold, but have… you know… done that?
-Yes, we have. Just once.
-And?
-He was so sweet and loving all the time that I didn't think of Mr. Green, not even once. No memories of that night came to me. The memories come back mostly when I'm in the shower. When I look down and see all the scars in my arms and legs. But it's over, and I'm not afraid.
-I'm glad you are not afraid.
-I'm not scared anymore. I think it's because I have now a big bear whose arms embrace me and keep me safe.
-Well, Mrs. Bear, I'm very glad, but get away from my tray of cookies. –
Elsie had walked slowly to the counter.
-I'll take just one.
-One after another.
-Oh Beryl, you don't trust me. Tell me, what can I eat?
Suddenly two strong arms covered Elsie's eyes. She smelled wine and cinnamon, and felt a ring in the left hand of the person who had covered her eyes.
-Why don't you stop eating for a bit, and start thinking of possible names for our brand new cottage?
Charles mover his hands from her face and showed her a dark key, smiling. Elsie jumped from happiness and hugged him. They had a house for themselves now.
-Oh Charles, I'm so happy. I'm so so happy. Even Baby is happy. – She took his free hand and placed it on her belly for him to feel Baby's feet against the fabric of her dress. – How does it look like?
-It has a green door, a very big garden, it's made out of stone, and it has plants all over it. It's beautiful.
-Oh Charles. I can imagine you in the garden, and the house. Oh Charles!
-Why don't you take your purse and your coat and we go and see the house? We can take Mrs. Patmore too.
-Mrs. Patmore… And who else?
-Well… perhaps Her Ladyship and Lady Mary would like to come too. It's possible that I said something about the house to them.
-I'll get my purse, you get my coat. – She left the kitchen.
-You might want to take those chocolate cookies. – Beryl pointed at the tray on the counter. – She's been eating them all evening.
-Tell me Mrs. Patmore, how is she?
-She's perfectly alright Mr. Carson. You can stop having those nightmares now. She's not afraid anymore.
-I was worried, now I think I will start sleeping better.
-Until she reaches her eight month of pregnancy. I believe you won't sleep then. Any slight pain, any movement, anything will make you call Dr. Clarkson. If one day I don't see you in Downton it might be because she locked you in a closet. – Beryl gave him the bag of chocolate cookies.
-Her Ladyship is waiting outside with the car, so we better hurry.
Mrs. Patmore took her coat and her hat as Mr. Carson took Elsie's hat and coat. They run upstairs to find Elsie waiting for them on the front door.
-Come on. I want to see my house. Our house. – Charles handed her the coat and the hat and waited for Mrs. Patmore to go out to close the door.
-My Lady, you don't mind if Mrs. Patmore joins us, do you?
-Not at all Carson, but we must hurry; we want to have dinner with Mrs. Crawley today.
She got inside the car and helped Mrs. Hughes into it; Mrs. Patmore refused any help and got inside all by herself, well by herself and with Mr. Carson's' hand on her back, otherwise she would have fallen. When they were all settled the driver drove away.
-I see you are enjoying your new clothes Mrs. Hughes.
-Very much My Lady. They are very comfortable, and beautiful. Baby enjoys them too, mostly the dark blue skirt with the dark blue blouse. It allows him or her to kick and move without being seen by anyone, just me.
-I can't wait until you wear the dark green dress we bought. – Lady Mary smiled at her. – But you are still a few weeks away from that dress. I'm sure it would look beautiful.
-I'm very sure My Lady.
-Have you decided on any names yet?
-We are still arguing about that My Lady. – Charles took Elsie's hand on his.
-We are not arguing. I know very well what names I like; it's you the one who doesn't like them.
-I refuse to call my daughter Lucinda. Sounds horrible.
-We could call her Lucy.
-I prefer Joanna.
-I don't want to call my daughter Jo, or Anna. I would prefer to call her Rose over that.
-Carson, Mrs. Hughes, this is a happy day, don't start arguing.
-I'm sorry Lady Cora.
-Oh look, we are here.
The car stopped in front of a fence, and the driver helped everyone out except Mrs. Patmore, who again refused any help, and who ended up in Lady Mary's arms. There were trees that covered the house, so Elsie couldn't see anything.
-Elsie, close your eyes and take my hands. I will guide you.
-Don't let me fall.
-Never.
She took his hand on hers and closed her eyes. Charles walked to the fence, opened it and walked with Elsie through a path up to the house.
-Open your eyes.
She did as told and gasped. The cottage had a green door, as Charles had told her, and it was made out of bricks, but it was big, and it had four big windows on the front, two of them in the second floor. Plants made their way up to the roof through the walls of the house, giving it a fairytale look. The roof was orange and curvy and the chimney could be seen from the floor.
-Charles, this is the most beautiful cottage in the whole world.
-I thought you would like it. Would you like to go inside?
-Yes. Yes.
He opened the door and held it open for her. Smiling she walked inside, followed by Lady Mary, Lady Cora and Mrs. Patmore. The hall was small, but enough for them, with a white ceiling and cream walls; to the right was the stairs and to the left the living room. She walked inside and placed a hand on the chimney. She looked around the room; it was big, enough for a desk, two sofas and a few things more, with the same cream walls and white big windows. She looked to the right and saw a wooden door that linked the living room with the dining room. She opened the door to find a big room of white walls and the kitchen with a stove, an oven… everything you needed for a kitchen.
-Do you like it so far?
-It's beautiful Charles.
-Then let's go upstairs. – He opened another wooden door that was in the right wall that linked the kitchen with the hall.
They walked upstairs to find a corridor with four doors. Elsie doubted a bit but went for the door that was in the right. It was the Masters bedroom, and it was bigger than the room she had right now in Downton. It had cream walls, a big white window and a chimney. She saw a white door in the left and we she opened it she found the bathroom, with everything in white porcelain, the bathtub, the sink…
-The other bathroom is more or less like this one, and the other two rooms are a bit smaller than the Master bedroom, but enough for a nursery and a guestroom. If you want to see them…
-No. I think I can imagine how they look.
-Then what do you think.
-Charles, I love it. It's perfect. – She kissed him.
-I have something for you, come downstairs. -She followed him to the living room.
-Charlie! – A beautiful metal crib stood in the middle of the room, with a white mattress, a blanket under it that reached the floor and with little pink and blue bows all over the crib's bars.
-Welcome home Mrs. Carson. – He went up to her and hugged her.
-Charlie, this is beautiful. – She placed her hands on the crib feeling the cold metal. – I just… God it's beautiful. – She felt tears in her eyes and running down her cheeks.
-Why are you crying?
-Because it's beautiful, and I want the bag of cookies you have in your pocket.
-Of course Mrs. Carson. You can eat as many cookies as you want in your house.
-We have a house Charlie. This is our house. – He gave her the bag.
-The Carson's Cottage. – She bit a cookie and looked down at the crib.
