LIFE IS THE ART OF CHOICE-6
Hello everyone...I finally caught a free moment and I decided to give an update to the story. This chapter will be shorter than the others, but I really feel a great need of writing today. As you may remember, Charles has to go through a difficult conversation with His Lordship..Let's see how that will go...
Charles had a true test of patience that day...He was planning to speak with His Lordship, right after breakfast, but it was not possible, because the family has made a sudden decision to spent the day outside the house. They hurried through the breakfast and soon they were all gone...The hastiness, was a result of a message, that His Lordship received unexpectedly-that his old friend from the army- Chester Cunnings, who lived in the estate nearby, has paid a visit in his parents house and he was to go back to London in the afternoon. His Lordship told Carson, that they will be spending most of the day there and back somewhere around dinner time.
As soon as they left, Charles hurried downstairs to tell Elsie about it. He was very nervous, he wanted to have this conversation behind him and that was now impossible. She soothed his anxieties, calmed him down with a kiss and they both went along with their daily routines. The family might have been away, but the duties were still to be done..
The day passed rather quickly and soon enough, Charles was serving them by the dinner table. They were all in good moods, as he noticed with relief. That gave him hope that the conversation with His Lordship will go well and when the Ladies went to the drawing room, to have their coffee and His Lordship went to the library, to have his evening drink, Carson followed him, commending William and Thomas to stay in the drawing room and take care of the ladies.
When he already poured a drink, he noticed that he lost his usual composure...There was a difficult task ahead of him, but he knew that he had to do what needed to be done...He was grateful that the occasion arrived and that he was all alone in the room with His Lordship.
"My Lord, I was wondering if I might take a moment of your time...There is one important question that I would like to discuss with you.."
"Of course Carson. What can I do for you?"
"The thing is My Lord...I'm not sure how to start the subject..."
"I believe that the best way would be to do it from the beginning"
"My Lord...There are some changes in my life that you ought to know about.."
"Sounds rather serious Carson...I just hope that you are not planning to leave me and Downton. I'm not sure that I would be able to handle the estate without your assistance. You are the glue that holds everything together.."
"Thank you very much for those words...I'm not planning on leaving my Lord...It's more of the question of my personal life..."
"Oh golly Carson! Did you got yourself into trouble? Have you seduced some beautiful girl from the village and she is now in hot water?"- His Lordship laughed at his own joke and Charles felt more comfortable..Obviously his mood was a good one, to receive the news, that he was about to give him...
"No My Lord...That's not a thing...You know me...I'm not a type of a man, who would get women into trouble...Although this matter concerns a woman, a woman that I intend to marry soon. I would like to know your opinion regarding this question..."
"To marry a woman? Are you mad Carson?! Have you ever heard about a married butler? Because I haven't and I live on this world long enough, to see things that I'm not fond of, but this! How can you even ask me that? What's gotten into you?"
"My Lord..Please let me explain...There is a woman that I love dearly, in fact I have for a very long time and we would like to..."
"In love? For a long time? Do you want to tell me, that this is going on for a while? That you were taking part in those shenanigans? This is not a kind of behavior that I would expect from you! You know that you are a butler in one of the finest houses of our country. You don't have a personal life and you shouldn't have! That's how it always was and that's how it should be!"
"My Lord..I know that it may sound strange, coming from me, but the world is changing now...Whether we like it or not...Things that were unthinkable few years ago, are now becoming normal...My tremendous feeling for this lady is..."
"Crikey Carson! I can see that some clever woman has made a mess in your head! So much mess, that you are willing to ruin your life! Who is she? Tell me, because I'm curious, what kind of a devil has possessed you!"
"Actually My Lord, you know this woman and you know her very well...It's Mrs Hughes"
"Mrs Hughes?! Our housekeeper-Mrs Hughes?! I don't believe that! What is that? How dare you come here with such revelations? Am I to understand, that you were both living in some kind of indecent relation under my roof?! Who do you think you are?!"
"My Lord we have not had any indecent relation. Mrs Hughes is a respectable woman and she would never.."
"A respectable woman Carson knows her place and she knows what it's right and what is wrong..Are you telling me that you are planning to marry?"
"Yes we are My Lord...We were hoping to get your permission to stay and still work for you, being married..."
"Permission not granted! You can both stay and still work for me, if you will forget about that ridiculous idea. If not, you must both go away from this house...What is your decision then Carson?"
Charles lower his head and looked in the carpet...His heart was beating wildly in his chest...So the worst has happened...He didn't expect it to go that wrong...He knew that His Lordship must have been disappointed with what he has heard, but he would not expected, that he will have to make such a difficult decision-to choose between the life that he lead so far and his love for Elsie... If he was a coward, he would have chosen to stay, to forget about the whole thing and go on, as nothing happened. But it was no longer possible...He could live without this house, but he couldn't live without Elsie...
"My Lord..I'm very sorry to say this, but I'm afraid, that I will not change my decision regarding marrying Mrs Hughes...If that means I will have to go from this house, so be it.."
"Well Carson, in that case-you can prepare yourself for leaving...Because you served the family for so long, I will behave properly and I won't force you to go away at once..I will give you and Mrs Hughes some time to find a place to live and a new job...As soon, as you will do it, you must leave the house...Both of you...Nobody has ever disappointed me as much as you did...That is all Carson. Good night."
"Good night My Lord"
His Lordship left and Charles went downstairs, to his pantry, with a heavy heart...He heard noises from the servants hall, where the staff just had their dinner and he went to his pantry and locked the door behind him...He sit by his desk and buried his face in his hands...He made the decision, but he now fully realized, what that meant...He was to leave Downton, end his glorious career and never look back...He started to wonder, if it was not too high price to pay, but that kind of thoughts swiftly left him, as soon as Elsie walked into the room, closing the door behind her...
One look at him and she didn't need to ask any questions...She already knew, that the sentence had been made...That they were to leave the house..Both of them...Charles's face told her that...She approached him and without asking anything, she wrapped her arms around him, drawing him near her...He put his arms around her waist and he put his head on her chest...She gently stroked his hair and placed few kisses onto it...She felt how he clung to her and how lost he felt...Just the very thought, that he did it for her, that he ruined all his life, he turned everything upside down, just to be with her...That caused a wave of tenderness in her heart and a feeling that she wants to show him, how grateful she was for what he has done...She took his face in her hands and placed sweet, loving kisses all over it...He closed his eyes and surrendered to her tender ministrations...Before he even realized it, she sat on his laps and started to kiss him on the lips...He reciprocated her kisses..Soft ones, soon transferred into passionate ones...
There were no words needed at the moment...Everything was clear now...They knew they love each other very much and that they were ready to oppose the whole world, to show everyone how strong their love is..Elsie caressed Charles, she was running her hands down his body...Led by an impulse, she started to unbutton his shirt...
"Elsie"-Charles breathed..."We can't, we shouldn't...This isn't right..."
"This is so very right Charles...We waited long enough...I want this...I want you...I love you..."
"I love you too...So much...I want you too...We are in this together...We will be together...I won't let anybody to destroy our happiness...Not His Lordship, not anyone..."
"I won't let it either...I don't care about Downton, rules or anything..."-Elsie felt a second wave of passion, going through her body and she captured Charles's lips, indulging him with her affection...Charles was mad with desire for her...Nothing mattered now...There were only they and nothing else...
"Elsie...If you..If we won't stop, I won't be able to remain a gentleman..."
"About time Charles!...You don't have to be one..."
"But Elsie..We can't..Here...Now...If we want to..We have to find another place..."
"Yes Charles...There is a place when nobody ever goes and I have a spare key..Blue room...Now..."
TO BE CONTINUED...
That's all my friends...So...In the next one we will visit Blue Room ;-) Heck, it's going to be an interesting visit...Once again Robert behaved like an a...ole...He is not a bad guy, but his temper often influences his decisions...It looks like Charles and Elsie will have to find out how to live outside Downton...Sorry for any errors...There might be a lot more of them today, because I'm really tired...Hope you liked this chapter and you still are interested with the story...Stay safe and see you soon!