LIFE IS THE ART OF CHOICE-9

Hello my dear people. I'm happily returned with another chapter. Our love birds have to move on with their lives, because Lord Grantham asked them to leave Downton as soon as possible. How will they manage in this difficult situation? Let's find out...

Next day, in the early morning, Charles was full of energy or he was pretending to be that way, just to hide his true nervous emotions, that were hidden inside him...

"Elsie, I've been thinking about our situation for half of the night. I have a plan"-he said to Elsie, when they were in his pantry, after breakfast.

"And what is the plan?"

"Well, first of all, I plan to go to Ripon today and get a marriage license for us. We should marry as soon as possible. We won't be able to find a cottage to buy right away, so if Lord Grantham asks us to leave, we need a place to stay and I thought that we could stay in Mrs Sanders guest house. You know she is renting rooms, ever since she became a widow. We could live in her house, until we find a place to live of our own. What do you think about that?"

"I'm thinking it's a good plan, but do we have to get married so quickly? Can't we just live at her guest house without being married?"

"Elsie! Of course we can't..That wouldn't be proper!"

"Charles..."-Elsie couldn't help but smile..."I think in the recent days we already crossed the line of propriety..Don't you think so love?..."-Elsie neared Charles and she ran her fingers through his chest, smiling to him warmly...

"Elsie..That's different...That was something private, between us..Something beautiful...I don't want you to loose your good name in the eyes of people and that's how it would be if we lived there, together, unmarried.."

"I don't care about that...You really think it was beautiful?..."

"How can you even ask...? That was the most beautiful moment of my life...And the best part is, that this was just a beginning...From now on, our life will be filled with such beautiful moments..."

"Can't wait for that Charles..."-They've kissed gently and Elsie put her head on his shoulder, enjoying his closeness...

"But why are you so hesitant to get married Elsie? Did you change your mind about us?..."

"Of course I have not! It's just that...I...Promise you won't laugh when I tell you.."

"Cross my heart.."

"I always wanted a church wedding...I know that I'm not a young woman anymore and I shouldn't dream about wedding dress and all the other nonsense, but...I dream that we are together, in the church, dress beautifully and our friends are there with us, listening, as we promise to love each other till the end..Isn't that too silly?"

"It's not silly sweetheart...It's so beautiful...Of course that we will have a church wedding..Don't let anyone tell you, that you are too old for a wedding dress..You will look as pretty as you always are in the wedding dress...I just want us to get marry in the office now, so people won't condemn us for living together at Mrs Sanders...Because if we move in there, unmarried, we will have to live in a separate rooms...You wouldn't want that, would you?"

"Of course not! I would have to sneak into yours in the middle of the night.."

"My naughty woman...How I love you..."-Charles put his arms tightly around Elsie and he kissed her, with a fervor that she remembered from their first night together that they spent as lovers...

"Mmmm...Charles...We better stop now or I won't be able to get any work done...You know how you affect me?..."

"I suspect that pretty much the same as you effect me love and you are right...No time for that now...We have plenty of work to do...I will go to Ripon today...On my way back, I will talk to Mrs Sanders about renting a room"

"Won't His Lordship mind, that you will be gone for the most part of the day?"

"I don't think so...He told me yesterday, that finding a new place to live should be my priority now, so..."-Charles's arms went down and Elsie felt a pain in her heart, because she knew, how much this hurts him, even though he tried to pretend that everything was all right..."

"Charles...Please don't dwell on that now...We will be fine...I know it's hard to believe it for you, but there is life outside Downton Abbey..Our life..It's going to be as good as the one we had here, if not better..."

"I'm sure it will be better, because I no longer have to be separate with you...That's the most important thing for me right now...I'll be off now. Have to inform them, that I'm leaving to Ripon..."

"Have a great day Charlie...I will be waiting for you and the news impatiently..."

"Will I get a goodbye kiss?"

"You can get even two kisses..."

Elsie put his arms around Charles's neck and her lips touched his, with sweet, soothing motions...He felt, like she has given him strength to carry throughout a day... They parted reluctantly...

In the kitchen, later...

"I just can't believe, that he told Mr Carson, that you should leave as soon as possible..How could he do that?"

"Apparently he already found someone who will replace us..."

"Do you know who this is?"

"No. Charles didn't tell me anything about it. To tell you the truth, I don't care about that anymore...I think we should leave this house immediately...The lack of respect, that His Lordship showed to Charles...After so many years of faithful service...I'm telling you Mrs Patmore, there will come a day when he will regret it...I'm sure of that.."

"I believe you...He won't find other two people, so devoted to the service as you are...I can't imagine this house without you...It makes me sad..But we won't loose touch?"

"We won't...We can still meet for coffee, when you have a day off and of course you will all be invited to our wedding at church, once we get to settle the date..."

"Are you happy Mrs Hughes? About this whole situation?"

"I've never been happier...We will be together and that's the most important thing for me...We will manage...I always wanted to be his wife, I think on some level from the first time I met him, I always wanted it..."

"Mr Carson also wanted to be your husband. You two are just made for each other...I know you will be very happy...I wish you all the happiness in the world..."

"I know you do...You are my true friend..."

"As you are mine.."

Tears appeared in the eyes of both women, when they realized, that the changes in Elsie and Charles's life also mean the end of an era...

That's all for today friends. I will update tomorrow and I can already tell you that Charles will come back from Ripon with some really good news. Several of them ;-) Sorry for any errors, I was trying to focus on writing but I got constantly distracted...Hopefully it will be better tomorrow. Thank you for all of you who are still reading, reviewing and liking the story... Stay safe and see you soon!