Three for the price of one- this is one long-ass chapter, but I couldn't find obvious ending points, so here you go.

Thank you for your patience and lovely support. It means the absolute world :)

Simply setting foot into Isobel's spacious, but bright and modern flat brought Elsie a sense of peace after such an upsetting afternoon. Daisy having been shown to the smaller of the two guest rooms on their way through the home, Isobel opened the door to the familiar room Elsie and Charles had occupied five years before on their first trip together to London.

Pete asleep in her arms, the girls were both heavy eyed as they made their way towards the large bed on the far side of the room.

"Would you like me to put the girls in the other guest room with Daisy, or the sofa?" Isobel asked in a whisper as she watched Elsie gently pull Pete's arms from his coat and remove his little shoes before tucking him beneath the covers of the large bed.

"I'll keep them here with me, if you don't mind, Isobel. I just…"

Isobel raised her hand in a gesture to assure her no explanation was necessary. "Of course."

"I'll just stay with them for a bit and then call Charles."

Her friend nodded as she helped the sleepy little girls out of their coats and shoes. "I'll call Mr. Pettigrew about your dinner. Is there anything specific you want me to tell him?"

Elsie took a deep breath, unsure exactly how to explain to her editor why she had to postpone their dinner. "Please tell him I'm sorry but that the children are under the weather and I'll call him in the morning. His number is in the little black book in my handbag."

"Very good."

Isobel gently placed Livy in the middle of the bed as Elsie helped Poppy slide into the far side, gently tucking Tildy in next to the little girl. A gentle pat on Livy's tummy, the little girl practically asleep before her head hit the pillow, Isobel blew Poppy a kiss and wished her, "Sweet dreams."

Elsie followed her to the door. "Thank you, Isobel. Thank you for everything."

"Just have a nice cuddle and I'll make a pot of tea."

Left alone with her children, the totality of the day's events seemed to hit her all at once and with heavy limbs, not to mention heart, she climbed into the far side of the bed next to Poppy and Tildy.

Turning to look at her mother with a sweet smile, Poppy whispered, "Will you tickly my lips please, Mumma?"

She nodded before leaning over and kissing her child's head. "Of course. Close your eyes, baby."

She was just about to lightly sweep the pad of her index finger over Poppy's plump bottom lip when the little one opened her eyes.

"It wasn't nice what she called us was it?"

"What, baby?"

"What that mean lady said. She said I was a bastard, that the girls are, me and Livy."

Bitter anger began to bubble back up inside of her as she heard her child repeat the hateful word. "It's a very ugly word, baby. A word that no one should ever use, especially when talking to children, and she was very wrong. You and Livy are not what she said. You absolutely are not. You are good, sweet, clever, wonderful little girls who make Daddy and Mumma so proud and happy and so many people love you very, very much. What happened today was not right and not fair and I promise you that Daddy and I will do everything we possibly can to make sure that no one ever scares or tries to hurt you like that awful lady did today. I promise, promise, promise you."

Her mother's explanation and pledge soothing her curious mind, Poppy smiled and nodded, "Okay, Mumma."

"Now close your eyes, sweetheart, and I'll tickle your lips until you fall asleep."

It took only a few minutes of gentle caresses before the child's deep, steady breathing joined that of her brother and sister. Elsie studied the peaceful faces of her children, all care and confusion now absent from their smooth brows and soft pink lips. How anyone could show such callousness, direct such deliberate malice and spite at such innocents was beyond their mother and the fact that the woman's actions were rooted in prejudice sickened her even more. The Golden Rule had been a leading principle in the way they were raising their children, and now, at such tender ages, they had been subjected to treatment completely contrary to it.

Carefully moving off the bed, Elsie paused at the door and took another look at her slumbering children, her only solace the fact that they were innately kind and compassionate beings, and that perhaps time and their tender ages would allow them to forget the awful experience, although she knew she never would.

"My precious four year old just asked me why that woman called her and her sister bastards."

Isobel passed Elsie a steaming cup of tea, shaking her head as she took the seat across the table. "I am not a violent woman, Elsie, but I have never felt more inclined to beat the hell out of someone. It's beyond comprehension how someone could be so cruel."

"I know. There's nothing I'd like more than to give her a few whacks upside the head with Charles' uncle's cricket bat." She bit her bottom lip before her left eyebrow arched sharply. "I want to know where she got her so-called information."

"We met that awful O'Brien woman coming out of the nursery, remember? I wouldn't put such unkindness past her for a moment."

Elsie let out a little growl. "Ugghhh! What is wrong with people?"

"Pettiness. Jealousy. Some people are so unhappy with their own lives that they have to disparage others' in an effort to make themselves feel less terrible."

"You can't get more pathetic than that."

Isobel nodded. "I think you should talk to Robert about it."

"I'll let Charles. He knows more about the whole servant-employer relationship than I do. I'm afraid my temper is just going to get the better of me if I am the one who brings it up."

"Speaking of…"

Elsie took a sip of her tea. "He's going to insist on missing school tomorrow and driving down tonight."

"Would it make you feel better to have him here?"

"Of course, but I don't want him to be driving when he is upset and it really isn't necessary, and besides, I think you are right. I need to do the reading at the hospital and have dinner with Mr. Pettigrew if he's available tomorrow night, and then we can take a morning train on Friday and hopefully forget this whole awful experience ever happened."

"You think you will be able to talk him into staying home?"

Elsie shook her head. "No. Not in a million years, but I'm certainly going to try."

Having been joined by Daisy shortly after, the three women shared the pot of tea and then moved on to a bottle of wine as they waited an hour to assure Charles would be home to receive Elsie's call.

Supportive smiles being offered by her friends, her heart began beating rapidly as the line started ringing.

"Carson residence."

"Hello, sweetheart."

Charles sat on the edge of the telephone table, his face instantly breaking into a smile at the sound of the light Scottish accent on the other end of the line.

"Darling! How was your day? How is everyone?"

The slight pause followed by a whispered "Well…"immediately set a flutter of worry loose in his gut. "What is it? What happened?"

"It was awful, but it's alright now. It's been dealt with so there's no reason for you to…"

"You're scaring the hell out of me, Elsie. What is it? Is everyone alright?"

She knew this conversation would be a difficult one, but hearing the worry in Charles' voice only intensified her dread of sharing with him the events of the afternoon.

"We're at Isobel's now and the children are sleeping. They're alright, but it was Mary's new nanny. She...she obviously resented the fact that our children are of a different class so she refused to let them play with Mary's toys and told them they were grubby. She took Tildy away from Pop and then she hit Pete's…"

"SHE HIT PETE?" Charles leapt from the table.

"She hit his hand when he picked up one of Mary's balls and then Poppy screamed and Lily and Purley and Daisy ran in just as that woman was raising her hand to hit her. She had grabbed Livy's arm when she tried to get Tildy back for Poppy and she has some light bruises, and," her voice broke as she forced herself to continue, "she called them all trash and said the girls were bastards."

"She…Jesus Christ! Robert let this happen?! He let this monster near his child, near our children?"

"He didn't know. She came with impeccable references. He didn't know, honey."

He shoved his hand into his hair, his pacing increasing in speed with every word she said.

"He fired her and Violet is calling everyone under the sun to let them know not to hire her."

"I can be there by eight…"

"Sweetheart," she glanced over at Isobel, giving her a knowing, but frustrated nod. "You don't need to. You have school…"

"You think I can stay away from my babies, from you, knowing this happened? I'm coming."

"It'll be dark soon and you're too upset to be driving. Please, honey, please listen to me."

He heard her words, but their logic were no match to the fury that pulsed through his veins. "I'll be there in a few hours."

"If you won't listen to me, listen to Isobel."

She was pulling the phone from her ear when she heard him say, "I love you. See you soon," which was followed by a dial tone.

"Oh, Charles!" Elsie let out a deep sigh as she returned the phone to its cradle.

"So that went well."

She shook her head. "I don't blame him. I'd do the same if I was there and he was here."

"Of course."

"I want him to be careful, but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't grateful he's on his way."

Isobel wrapped her arm around Elsie's shoulder as the two began to make their way into the sitting room, Daisy close behind, all three surprised to see the three children standing in the doorway.

"Hi, babies! Did you have a good nap?"

Livy nodded her head, but quickly added, "Pete's doing the potty dance."

Elsie crossed the room and quickly gathered her wiggling son into her arms. "Oh! Let's hurry, bird!"

The girls giggled as their mother made funny zooming noises as she rushed their brother into the loo down the corridor.

"We need to potty, too, but Bird really needed to potty." Poppy informed her as the girls leaned against the nearby bathtub as their mother held onto the Pete as he perched on the toilet.

Isobel appeared in the doorway and noticed Livy's fascination with a canister of bath beads and a pearly pink bottle shaped like a cat. "When you sweet peas want to take a bath, we can put some of that kitty cat bubble bath in the water."

Elsie started laughing as Livy began pulling her arms out of her dress. "Oh, you silly girl. Let's eat supper before we take a bath." Her laughter ceased, however, as she noticed the now dark reddish purple marks that dotted her daughter's uncovered upper arm.

Poppy let out a gasp. "Livy, look at your owies! Do they hurt?"

Livy glanced down at her arm, but quickly tried to soothe her sister by insisting, "Not very much. It's okay, Poppy."

The older sister leaned over and kissed the bruises lightly. "Too make it better."

Having observed Elsie's eyes beginning to fill with tears, Isobel did her best to keep her own emotion in check as she announced, "I am going to need some help making supper. Do you three think you could help me make some sandwiches and maybe help Daisy make some biscuits? I bought all the ingredients."

The girls both nodded happily as Peter cried out, "I'll help! I'll help!"

Quickly dabbing at the corner of her eyes with a square of toilet tissue, she managed a smile as she looked up at Isobel and mouthed a silent, "Thank you."

After a dinner of sandwiches, fruit, and biscuits, the bathtub was filled with both children and bubbles, as well as shrieks of laughter. All three were giving hearty "ho ho ho's" from beneath Father Christmas-like bubble beards when Isobel's door buzzer sounded. The children were so caught up in their merriment they paid no attention when she slipped from the room.

"There is far too much fun going on in here!"

The deep, booming voice of their father shocked all three of the children who immediately stood up, their mother reaching out to make sure no one slipped.

"Daddy!"

"Hurry up and rinse off! I need lots and lots of kisses," Charles insisted as he pulled his coat off and began rolling up his sleeves as Elsie pulled each child from the tub, wrapping their wiggly, wet bodies in towels.

"Daddy, you surprised us!" Livy cried as she managed to be the first to make it to him, pursing her little lips in want of a kiss.

"I just couldn't wait until Friday to see you! Mmm! A kiss from a mermaid." He gave the little one a quick peck on her lips and a smile before lifting the towel away from her body to dry her hair, but froze as his eyes landed on the series of dark fingertip sized marks ringing her upper arm.

Drying Pete's hair, Elsie glanced up just in time to catch Charles looking over at her, his mouth drawn into a straight line as he looked down at Livy's arm and then back to her. She could only nod in recognition, not wanting to bring the matter back up in front of the children.

"Daddy, hurry, I'm cold!"

He took a deep breath and returned her nod before forcing a bright smile onto his face as he looked back at the younger twin and wrapped her up in the towel before cradling her in his arms. "We can't have that! You need to be snug as a bug in a rug."

He had cuddled and kissed each child by the time the family reached the guest room, Isobel and Daisy retreating to the kitchen to put together a plate of sandwiches and fruit for the weary traveler.

The children all dressed in pajamas and bouncing on the bed as the adrenaline surge from the surprise of their father's unexpected arrival still pumped through their little systems, Elsie finally had her chance to greet her husband, "Mumma needs a hug and a kiss, too, please."

Pulling her into a warm embrace, he whispered, "I hope you aren't too mad I came."

"Of course not. I'm so glad you are here. I just worried you wouldn't drive safely after what I told you."

Charles leaned down and gave her a deep kiss. "I won't pretend that didn't exceed the posted limit a time or two, but I'm here in one piece."

"This has been a terrible day," she murmured as she rested her head against his chest.

"It's going to get better. I promise."

"Your being here has already accomplished that."

Isobel knocked on the door, "Daisy's made you a plate, Charles, if you're hungry, and whenever you like, the sofa pulls out into a bed and I can make it up for the children."

Elsie opened her mouth to speak, but Charles' sudden turn back to the bed and directive of, "Climb on, monkeys!" caught her off-guard and she was soon left alone in the room as they squealed and giggled their way to the other end of the flat.

Poppy leaned up from the pillow and wrapped her arms around Elsie's neck as she and Charles set to putting the children to bed on the fold-out in Isobel's sitting room.

"Daddy and I are just down the hall. I'm going to leave the door open if you need anything, alright?"

"Alright."

"You've got Miss Tildy?"

The little one reached down and squeezed her doll tightly as she gave her head a vigorous shake.

Elsie leaned back and looked at all three children. "Pete, wake up one of the big girls if you need to potty and then you girls come and get me, okay?"

"Okay, Mumma." Livy answered on behalf of the group.

"Auntie Izzy is going to leave the light on in the kitchen." Charles assured them as he stood up from the side of the bed. "Night-night, sleep tight, see you in the morning light. Love you."

"Love you, Daddy."

Elsie remained seated, reaching over and pulling the blankets up and giving each of the children another kiss. "Mumma loves you, too, and just come and get me if you need anything."

"Honey." Charles' smile was sweet as he offered his hand. "They're fine. Let's let them sleep."

She sighed as she took his proffered hand, turning her head to look back at them a few more times as they made their way from the room.

"Don't worry. Poppy or Livy can find their way down the corridor if they need anything."

"They've never spent the night here before and Pete's not in a crib."

"They'll be fine. Poppy will see to that and we need to talk."

She was in her gown, sitting on the bed and staring into space when he returned from the lav.

"Darling?"

"Sorry. Off with the faeries."

"Come here. I need to hold you."

Curling up on the bed and wrapped in his arms, she felt the tension in her neck and shoulders release for the first time since returning to Grantham House that afternoon.

"They seem…alright. Considering."

"Children, it seems, are far more resilient than their parents," Elsie responded with a sigh.

"Livy's arm."

She pressed her face against his chest. "I wanted to find that woman and mark her like she marked our baby."

"I know, sweetheart. Me, too. Me, too."

"And the words. Poppy already asked me about bastard. God help me if she remembers the part about her mother coming from murderers."

Charles shot up in bed. "What?!"

"Shhh…." She sat up next to him, her hand patting his chest.

"What did she say? Exactly."

"She said the staff had told her I came from murderers and scum and the children didn't deserve to be in the same room as Mary. Lily said she also told Robert, 'And from what I hear, those girls are bastards,' in front of them."

"Bloody bitch."

"Shhh…" Elsie was caught off-guard by his employment of the slur as she was usually the more forked tongued of the two, but she quite understood his anger. "She is. She is absolutely is, but Isobel was right. There is nothing we can do but just love on our children and reinforce the fact that the bloody bitch was wrong. I just hope the rest of her life is full of ingrown toenails, hemorrhoids, thrush, and sciatica."

Charles chuckled. "Did you just put a curse on her?"

"Perhaps. I am sure there was a highland witch somewhere in my past. You know, to go along with the murderers and scum."

Charles let out another low laugh as he eased them back down into the bed.

She stared at the edge of the duvet, her mind drifting back to earlier in the afternoon when she had cuddled Poppy where they now lay. "I shouldn't have left them. I had a niggling feeling, but I pushed it away. I shouldn't…"

"Stop, honey. We can't change it. I was so angry at Robert all the way here, but I know he never would have hired someone like her had he known she was capable of this. You aren't to blame and neither is he."

"They're only little. It's eating me alive."

"I know, sweetheart. I know."

He listened to her sniffle for a few moments before abruptly climbing from the bed.

"Where are you going?"

He walked around to her side, leaning over and kissing her lightly before answering, "I know what you need."

He was gone for less than a minute before suddenly appearing with a sleeping Livy on his shoulder.

"Oh, honey." She gave him a grateful smile as he went around to the far side and tucked their second oldest into the middle of the bed.

Sliding down next to her little girl, she was gently stroking her soft cheek when he returned with Pete in his arms whom he placed next to Livy before repeating his trip to fetch Poppy.

"Scoot closer to Livy and I'll tuck Pop in next to you."

Elsie reached up and gently touched his cheek before she moved closer to the center of the bed, her arms wrapping around the elder twin whose eyes fluttered open briefly for a moment, a little smile crossing her face as she snuggled up against her mother's chest.

Turning off the bedside lamp, Charles pulled Pete up onto his chest as he slid into the bed with the rest of his family.

As Elsie reached over to pull the covers up over Livy's tummy, he caught her hand and gave it a squeeze.

"Better, Mumma?"

She took a deep breath and returned the squeeze. "Much better."

The bedroom was dim as a dreary autumn morning broke across London but the light that was creeping in from the small bit of window not covered by the shade was still an unwelcome sensation as Charles' eyelid was pried open by toddler fingers.

"Daddy, I need to potty."

He blinked a few times after Pete moved his fingers and whispered, "Okay, bird."

Lifting the little boy and placing him on the floor, he swallowed a groan before swinging his own legs over the side, several muscles in his body complaining from the awkward position in which he had been sleeping. Glancing over his shoulder, he struggled not to laugh at the sight of Livy's right foot resting in the crook between Elsie's neck and shoulder while the little girl's head rested on her sister's thigh as Poppy sprawled like a starfish across her mother's body. He was reaching to move Livy when Pete suddenly tugged on his pajama pants.

"Hurry, Daddy."

Noting the little boy's dance, he quickly scooped him up and made his way to the loo.

When they returned, all three of their bedmates were awake, Elsie turning her neck gently back and forth as the little girls were now side by side in the warm spot their father had left, both giggling as he gave them a playful scowl from the end of the bed.

"You little toots stole Daddy's side of the bed!"

Pete having stopped at Elsie's side was soon pulled up against his mother, a shower of kisses received before he climbed over to join the big girls under the covers.

"Et, tu, baby bird? Ugh. I guess I'm forced to cuddle with Mumma."

"Forced? What if Mumma won't let you cuddle?" She teased, pulling the covers up around her neck.

Charles wiggled his eyebrows twice before suddenly yanking the blankets up from the end of the bed, growling as he crawled up the length of his wife's body, the bed springs creaking as the children squealed and laughed.

"Shhhhh! Shhhh!" Elsie warmly chided them all through her own laughter. "We're going to wake Aunt Izzy and Daisy."

Isobel's head suddenly appeared from around the doorframe. "No fear of that. Daisy's in the kitchen getting the kettle going and I am here to recruit some orange juice makers."

"Me! Me!" The girls cried, their brother joining soon after.

"I'll be in to help," Elsie called out as the children were helped from the bed by their father.

"No need," Isobel assured her. "Daisy and I have everything in hand. You two just relax. Go back to sleep if you want. We've plenty of time before we have to even think about heading out."

"Thank you, Isobel." Charles quickly answered, fearful his wife would insist on getting up.

Pulling Pete onto her hip, she gave them a wink as she noted, "This door does lock."

The door's latch catching, Charles slid his hand over Elsie's stomach. "Do you want to sleep a bit, Mrs. Carson, or…"

"Oh, honey. I don't know. This isn't that big of a flat." Elsie whispered, although the shift of her body against his side contradicted her reasoning.

"I'll be quick," Charles offered, his hand now under the hem of her gown.

"Be still my heart," she teased.

"You know what I mean."

She halted his efforts by placing her hand over his. "What if one of the children needs us?"

"Isobel would give us plenty of warning."

"Mmm…" she groaned as she turned onto her back, she staring at the ceiling.

He answered with a sigh, easing onto his own back and staring at the same spot. "It's alright. We can wait…"he stopped mid-sentence as Elsie suddenly moved to her knees and pulled her nightgown over her head.

"Quick?"

"So quick." His eyes danced as he reached up and let his large hand sweep along the curve of her waist to her hip, but stopped and asked, "You're sure."

"Very."

Moving to his knees, he joined her in the middle of the bed, a wide smile on his face as she reached out and began unbuttoning his top, but he abruptly stilled her hands and left the bed.

"Where are you going?"

"The lock," he whispered as he turned the button on the knob.

Pulling off her knickers, she climbed under the covers and waited for him to remove his clothes and join her.

"Turn on your side, sweetheart," he whispered, sliding beneath the covers and scooting down to spoon her.

His hand fondling her breast, his mouth began kissing up her neck as she pushed out her bottom, gently, but effectively moving against his eager erection.

"Mmmm...that feels good."

His words spurred on her actions and he gasped as he felt her hand wrap around his shaft, her movements so firm and fast he feared he wouldn't be able to hold on much longer if she kept stroking him at such a pace.

Reaching down and grabbing her hand he whispered, "You're too good. I won't last much longer if you keep that up."

Still holding his hand, she turned to face him, nipping his bottom lip as she guided his fingers so that they brushed between her legs.

"I'm quite far along myself, Mr. Carson."

"Well then," he responded with a chuckle before maneuvering himself on top of her, but the creaking of the bedsprings alarmed them both and she stared up at his face as he turned to look at the door.

"I don't hear anything."

"Me, either," she agreed, a wide smile greeting him as he looked back down.

Lowering himself, he waited until she had guided their joining before making a few slow thrusts until the exaggerated sound of the bedsprings led him to pause in his efforts once again and turn to look at the door.

"I'm sorry. I just have this vision of three curly heads standing just on the other side of the door."

She patted his chest. "Want me on top?"

He shook his head, "I think it would be just as noisy."

"Isobel said she'd keep them busy so I'm sure they are in the kitchen."

"Really?"

"Really."

He leaned down and kissed her, his hands sliding under her shoulders as he began to move once more, albeit without much force in an effort to keep the creaking at a minimum.

She appreciated his sense of caution, but she wasn't deriving much pleasure from his efforts. Running her fingers through his hair, she gave a gentle tug and murmured, "Faster, honey, faster please."

A low growl escaped his throat as he increased his speed, the bed creaking and complaining with every push and pull.

While she wanted desperately to be connected to him, the grimace on his face in tandem with the squeaky bed springs suddenly struck her as ludicrous and burst into a fit of giggles.

He stopped abruptly, his face red from exertion as he looked down at her. "Why are you laughing? You said to go faster."

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry," she reached up and caressed his cheek. "It isn't anything you're doing. It's just this silly bed and…"

"And the fact that everyone is just down the hall," he added with a deep sigh.

She curled her bottom lip and nodded her head.

Rolling off of her, he let out a deep sigh. "Three times in a row. This is officially ridiculous."

"Well, I should get my monthly in the next few days. It probably wouldn't happen now anyway."

He turned on his side, his head propped up by his hand. "There was a time we did this because we enjoyed it."

"Oh, honey, that's not…Of course I want to do it because I enjoy it, enjoy you."

"I was teasing you."

They remained looking at one another for a moment, gentle smiles of shared surrender on their faces.

"You want to close your eyes for a bit while I take a shower?" She asked, reaching up and wrapping her finger with the errant curl near his temple.

"I'd rather shower with you."

Leaning forward, she kissed the tip of his nose. "I was hoping you'd say that."

"Everything smells wonderful!"

Elsie glided into the kitchen, quickly kissing her three children who sat on the far counter eating orange slices. "Mmmm…sweet and sticky children! Yum!"

Charles had just entered the room when Livy announced, "We were going to bring you some juice, but you were too busy jumping on the bed so Auntie Izzy said not to bother you."

Isobel shot both Charles and Elsie a knowing smile, their pink cheeks amusing her greatly.

"But I hit my head so we had to stop," he announced, earning a playfully reproachful look from his wife.

"Oh dear." Isobel looked back and forth between the two of them which earned her a wink from Elsie which she took as a promise an explanation at a later date.

They were midway through breakfast when the door buzzer sounded.

"Who on earth might that be?" The hostess rose from the table and glanced up at the clock. "It's ten til eight."

"Sit, sit, Isobel. I'll go," Charles offered, rising from the table.

He had been gone for several minutes when Elsie's curiosity got the better of her and promising she'd be right back, she slipped to the sitting room where her husband stood amid half a dozen delivery boxes.

"What on earth?"

"Toys."

"Toys?" She walked over and lifted the lid off of a deep box which she soon found was filled with a myriad of stuffed animals of all shapes and sizes. "Animals." She announced as she pulled out a tiger and a polar bear.

"This one is full of blocks." Charles pointed at a rectangle box at his feet. "And that one over there has two of them most beautiful baby dolls I've ever seen. There is also a tea set and a magic set and a set of racing cars."

"Where did they come from?" She asked, noting the labels on the box read Harrod's. "I mean from whom did they come?"

Charles looked around for a moment and finally spotted a card on a small box which he read aloud:

I can't change yesterday, but can make today a little more fun-

All my love,

Lady V

"She's ridiculous." Elsie announced, but then added, "Ridiculous and quite generous."

"What on earth are we going to do with all this?"

Before Elsie could answer him, Livy and Poppy's cries filled the room.

"Is that a tiger, Mumma?" Livy ran to her mother while Poppy headed for the box with the baby's ruffled gown hanging over the side.

"This one has babies, Livy!"

Daisy and Isobel who held Peter on her hip soon appeared in the doorway, their mouths falling open as they took in the large delivery.

"What on-"

Charles cut Isobel off. "One guess."

"She didn't."

"She did," Elsie assured her.

Pete and the girls excitedly exploring, Elsie made her way over to Charles and whispered in his ear. Having received a nod of agreement, she cut through the children's cacophony by calling, "Come here, sweet peas. Come here for a moment, please."

Sitting on the edge of the sofa, she waited until all three children were in front of her before she began to speak. "Lady sent these toys because she loves you and she feels bad that Mary's nanny was unkind to you yesterday and she thought these would make you happy."

The girls' eyes grew big and Livy asked, "All of these are toys? All for us?"

"Well, that's what we need to talk about. You have lots and lots of toys at home, don't you?"

Poppy and Peter nodded their heads, but Livy remained still as she eyed her mother suspiciously.

"And do you remember where we are going today?"

"To see the children at Aunt Izzy's hospital."

"That's right, Pop."

Noting Livy's ever furrowing brow, Charles lowered himself next Elsie as a reinforcement.

"I think it would be a very nice and a very nice kind thing if we gave the toys to the hospital. The children don't feel very good and they are away from their homes and their own toys. I think you could make them all very happy if we took them these toys."

"All of them?!" Livy's face held a look of horror.

"No, no." Elsie assured her. "You may each pick out the toy you like best to keep."

"Only one?" Livy was still unhappy with her mother's idea.

"Livy." Her father's voice was stern as he pulled the little one to him.

"How about two?" She asked hopefully.

"Olivia."

"We may already have some of the toys. We already have a tiger. Can we look at all the toys, Mumma?" Poppy asked, ever the little diplomat. "Livy might see something she likes best that way."

Elsie leaned down and kissed Poppy's head. "I think that is a very good idea."

With Daisy and Isobel's help, twelve stuffed animals, the two beautiful baby dolls, a set of play pots and pans, a small cricket bat and ball, a beautiful and intricate fairy tale pop-up book, the blocks, magic and tea sets, a wind up tin robot, race cars, a pirate costume, and two ornate princess fancy dress costumes were soon on display in Isobel's sitting room.

Charles and Elsie stepped back out of the way, as did Isobel and Daisy as the children quietly surveyed the treasure for a few minutes.

The choice took little deliberation on Pete's part and much to his father's glee, he quickly picked up the wee cricket bat and ball. Poppy never made it past the two baby dolls, although it took her a few minutes to choose the doll in the pale blue gown over the one in lavender. Olivia on the other hand, was quite distraught, her affections captured by the magic set, the ornate princess dresses, the puffy-sleeved pirate costume complete with wooden hook and a stuffed parrot, and the pop-up book.

"Anything but the magic set," Elsie whispered to Charles. "God help us if she picks that."

He poked her in the ribs and countered, "I had a magic set when I was little. I can even juggle. Like father, like daughter."

"Like I said, God help us if she picks the magic set," she teased, squeezing his hand as they watched their daughter pick up and put down each item repeatedly.

"Can I try on the princess dress?"

"May I." her father corrected. "May I try on the princess dress."

Livy fought a smile as she looked straight up into her father's eyes and said, "I don't think it will fit you, Daddy."

Isobel, Daisy, and Elsie laughed while Charles just shook his head and relented with a smile.

"Alright, Miss Smarty Go To a Party, try it on."

It only took three spins of the full skirt for her to decide she couldn't live without the sequin and lace decked gown.

"I am the most beautifulest. Can I," she corrected herself as she glanced up at her father with a grin before turning to her mother. "May I wear it to the hospital?"

"You are the most beautifulest, Livy Loo, but no. You have to dress like your regular beautifulest self in public." Her mother answered.

With Daisy's assistance, Poppy fed, burped, and changed the new baby doll, as well as introduced her to her "sister" Tildy while Charles and Pete occupied the corridor, spending most of their time chasing the ball as they practiced the cricket while Livy entertained her Aunt Izzy in the kitchen by singing every song she could remember while fancifully twirling around the floor in her new gown. The rest of the house occupied, Elsie excused herself to Isobel's room to call Violet and her publisher, Mr. Pettigrew.

"Good morning…"

Elsie barely got the words out before Violet cut her off. "Don't fuss about the toys."

"I'm not calling to fuss about the toys. I'm calling to thank you and then plead for your mercy when I tell you the deal we made with the children regarding the toys."

Violet was quiet as Elsie praised her for her generosity, but explained how the children had been (mostly) good natured about sharing the toys with the hospital.

"I'll make sure they know you are the benefactor, and besides being thankful for your generosity, I would appreciate you letting us do this for the lesson it teaches the children about how important giving is."

The line remained quiet which made Elsie's stomach turn.

"Lady Grantham?"

"Oh, Elsie, my dear, I've told you to call me Violet!" An exasperated sigh was exhaled before she continued, "And, of course, I am happy for the toys to be donated, although I am relieved to know the children's silly parents let them keep at least one toy. Let me guess. Peter chose the cricket bat, Penelope a doll, and Olivia...hmmm…she's a wild card. I'd say a magic set or a fancy dress costume."

"In her words the most beautifulest princess dress which I am going to have to personally remove from her body before we leave for the hospital she loves it so much, although the magic set was a close second."

Violet smiled on the other end of the line, but her voice was soft as she asked, "How is her little arm?"

"She says it doesn't hurt, but I think that was to sooth Poppy's worries. The bruises are dark purple."

"That bloody woman. I should have had Lily push her head in the toilet a few times."

Elsie laughed, although she didn't disagree.

"I knew Charles would come down once you called him."

"So did I, and I am very grateful he is here."

"How is he taking it?"

"Much like I am, we both want to beat her black and blue, but our sweet children are keeping us from doing something stupid."

"Tell him there is a queue for people wanting to throttle her. I would like to see him and I know Robert wants to, desperately. I don't think he slept a wink last night, he feels so guilty, as do I."

Elsie quickly assured her, "We both know it wasn't Robert's fault, or yours."

"Thank you. Would it be alright if Robert and I brought Mary along to the hospital? I think it would be good for her and it would give him a chance to speak with Charles, to apologize."

"Of course. We would love that. We are supposed to be there around one."

"I'll send Davies over to get you and the toys. We'll take another car and meet you there."

"That's very generous. Thank you."

"Nonsense. It's nothing. See you soon."

Returning the phone to the receiver, Elsie found her editor, Mr. Pettigrew's number in her little black book, her stomach giving another little twist as she gave the operator the number.

He wasn't a nasty man, but rather brusque and impatient she had found over the last four years of working with him. His assistant, however, was a lovely and plucky young woman named Laura Edmunds with whom Elsie adored working and it was her kind voice that answered the call.

"Would you be available to meet over tea this afternoon, Mrs. Carson?"

"It would be late. I don't know how long the event at the hospital will take."

"Mr. Pettigrew's available until four. What if we meet you at the hospital at say two-thirty? It isn't far from the Savoy."

Elsie was pleased to hear the young woman would be joining the meeting. "That sounds wonderful, Laura. Thank you."

Having been assured that the publishing house had already sent over to the hospital enough copies of each of the Barley books for each child to receive a set, Elsie finished her calls just in time to get herself and the children dressed for the outing.

Traffic was heavy as Davies pulled within one block of the hospital.

"We'll get out here and walk so we aren't late."

"Very good, Mr. Carson," Davies answered, skillfully pulling the large car up to the curb before making his way around to help his passengers disembark.

"I can have someone meet you at the front to take the boxes of toys," Isobel assured him as the group assembled on the pavement.

"Very good, Mrs. Crawley."

Elsie, ever grateful to the man who she felt had rescued her all those years ago on her first solo trip to London, reached out and gave his arm a squeeze. "Thank you, Davies. You are a blessing."

Charles grinned as he watched the older man blush, and reaching out to unburden her from her large portfolio, he teased, "Be careful, Mrs. Carson. You might make your husband jealous if you keep flirting like that."

"Oh hush, you." Elsie chided, a smile on her lips as she reached for Poppy's hand.

"Is Tildy in there, Mumma?" Poppy asked as she looked over at the woven bag of all sorts Elsie carried in her other hand.

"She is, but you've got your new baby." She nodded at the doll tucked in her daughter's other arm.

"We can't leave Tildy by herself. She might get lonely."

Elsie gave her an understanding nod and smile before glancing around to find Daisy holding Livy's hand and Isobel carrying Pete.

"Okay, troops. Straight ahead!"

They had made it to almost the end of the block when Livy caught sight of a toy shop window display full of every sort of baby doll one could imagine.

"Poppy, look at all those babies!"

The little one pulled on her mother's hand, her eyes big as she tried to get closer to the window.

"Maybe we can stop and look after we finish at the hospital, Pop," Charles offered, glancing at his watch to see that they would be late if they were delayed now.

Giving her father a nod, she continued to look over her shoulder at the display until it was out of sight.

A brightly colored sign featuring the logo Elsie had designed which included an illustrated house and a group of smiling children of all different races, two in push chairs and one on crutches along with the words "Matthew's House" signaled they had reached their destination.

Charles moved to one knee and beckoned the children over. "Now remember, inside voices and please and thank you."

The little ones all nodded.

Elsie joined them and added, "Some of these children don't feel very good, and some won't be able to get out of their beds, and some may be in push chairs, but they are all just good, sweet little children like you so we just need to be kind and quiet and give them lots of smiles."

Another nod received, Charles and Elsie took the children's hands and followed Isobel and Daisy into the ward.

There were twelve beds total in the room, although only one of them was visibly occupied while the bed in the farthest corner remained unseen as it was separated from the rest of the area by a white partition.

Isobel, a friendly and familiar face, received smiles from the four children gathered in the play area near the door which featured a set of bookshelves half filled with books, boxed games, and puzzles, as well as a small play kitchen and two tables with four chairs each.

She pointed out the occupied bed. "That is Raj and he has two broken legs, bless his heart. He has to stay in bed, but I think they will wheel him over for the reading."

She proceeded to introduce a tall boy with glasses who appeared to be eight or nine playing with a puzzle at the far table as Colin, while Julia, a dark haired little girl a little older than the twins played Chutes and Ladders with a boy sporting a wild head of ginger hair of about the same age named Arthur at the other table. She then introduced a sandy haired boy named Jack, who looked to be around seven and was in a push chair, his pajamas tucked and pinned up around his partially missing leg.

Charles and Elsie held their breath as they watched their little girls' eyes land on the child, but were relieved when Poppy leaned over to Livy and simply whispered, "They don't have as many toys as we do."

Livy nodded, "I don't see any dress up clothes or dolls."

Relieved looks exchanged by the parents, they were saying hello to the children when a plump, jolly looking woman in a starched kerchief and blue nursing togs soon appeared.

"Welcome to Matthew's House! I'm Sister Carrie."

Isobel set to introductions: "Sister, I'd like you to meet Charles and Elsie Carson, their friend Daisy, and their children Poppy, Livy, and Pete."

"Hello, hello!" The nurse shook each of the adults' hands before smiling brightly at the children. "We are so happy you are here. Everyone is looking forward to the reading."

"Is this everyone?" Elsie asked, glancing around the fairly empty room.

The woman smiled. "This is one of five rooms we have. Our friends in here are age five to eleven, and then there is a room for the children aged two to four, a boy's room for those twelve to fifteen, and another for the girls that age, and then of course, the nursery for the babies who aren't part of the maternity ward.

As if on cue, three nurses appeared with three little boys and two little girls who were between Pete and the twins' ages.

"Come in, come in!" Sister Carrie waited until the children and their carers were all settled before giving a nod to two orderlies just outside the door who began handing out little gift bags each containing copies of all three Barley and the Babies books before maneuvering a brightly smiling Raj's bed closer to the center of the room as Charles, Daisy, and Isobel, took the children to some empty chairs that had been set up on the side opposite the play area.

"We are very fortunate that Mrs. Carson and her family have joined us here today and she has very kindly brought us all copies of the books she has written about a very clever little dog named Barley and the little children who live at his house."

Elsie gave the woman an appreciative smile. It was clear she had read the book beforehand and had given a very apt description.

"Let's give her a nice welcome."

"Welcome, Mrs. Carson!" the children who had clearly been rehearsing the greeting called out.

"Hello. What a lovely welcome. I am so happy to be here with you today." Elsie smiled brightly as she looked around the room. "I usually go around and read to children by myself, but we are in luck today because that big fellow over there with the bushy eyebrows," she pointed at Charles who wiggled the aforementioned features which earned a giggle from the group, "is very good at doing the voice of Barley so he is going to join me today."

A smattering of applause was offered as he made his way to her side, which happened to coincide with Violet, Robert, and Mary slipping in towards the back.

"…and although they had chewed on his ears and pulled on his tail, and woken him up with their cries, Barley gave each baby girl a kiss on the cheek, his way of saying I love you and night-night."

Dreamy looks and smiles met the couple as they lowered their books and accepted a nice round of applause.

Elsie smiled brightly and was about to speak when she saw the orderlies appear with several familiar boxes.

"So now that we've read our book, we've a bit of a surprise. In addition to the Barley books in your little bag, Lady Violet Crawley, my very nice friend over there," Elsie pointed Violet out and received a bit of scowl which was soon replaced by a warm smile. "…has sent a collection of toys that are very much in need of playing with."

The children's eyes lit up as they watched the boxes be emptied onto an unoccupied bed.

Sister Carrie set to organizing the children into a line as Isobel and Elsie moved to assist the children in picking a toy.

The youngest children cuddled stuffed animals as little Julia oohed and ahhed over her new baby doll and Arthur raced his new cars around the legs of the table. Raj tried to get his tin robot to walk along his cast while Colin was engrossed in the back of the magic set's box.

"I love that sweet little Jack wanted the pirate outfit," Elsie whispered to Isobel as they looked at the little boy who now wore a tricorn hat and patch on his eye as a bright green stuffed parrot sat perched on his shoulder. "He was so quiet when we came in and now he's swinging his hook and saying, 'Argh, Matey!"

Isobel nodded in agreement. "Sister Carrie burst into tears, she was so grateful. Most of the toys they get are second hand. These are all so lovely."

Elsie glanced up just in time to catch Charles follow Robert into the corridor to have a conversation she knew neither was looking forward to.

Violet and Mary engrossed in the pop-up book that would be added to the library, Elsie looked around for her own children. Noticing Pete on the floor with Arthur and the race cars, she asked Daisy to keep an eye on him as she caught Livy motioning for Poppy to come look at whomever was behind the partition.

"Pop?"

She heard her mother call her name just as she reached Livy, but didn't turn around as she took in the face of the girl in the bed.

"She's a pirate princess," Livy whispered as she pointed at the ten year old little girl's white eye patch which was decorated with a set of eyelashes made of yarn and trimmed in lace, her other eye remaining closed as the two four year olds stared at her. She had thin blonde hair tied back with a red ribbon which allowed a web of blistered skin to be seen which was creeping out from under the patch and towards her ear.

"Girls," Elsie whispered as she reached the twins, but didn't continue as the child in the bed suddenly called out, "Hello?"

"Hello, sweetheart. I'm Mrs. Carson. I'm afraid they didn't tell us you were back here. I'm going to get you some books and a toy."

The little girl stiffened, but her voice remained calm as she spoke. "No, thank you."

Elsie reached down and took her daughters' hands as she took a step back. "Alright. If you change your mind, there are some lovely stuffed animals and a tea set…"

"I don't need them because I can't see them. I'm blind."

The directness of the child's statement startled Elsie.

"I'm…I'm so sorry. Is there anything else you need? I can get a nurse."

"No, thank you."

"Alright. I'm sorry we bothered you."

The little girl failing to respond further, Elsie gently pulled the children towards the other end of the room as she tried to prepare herself for the questions she was sure they were soon to ask.

"She didn't want a toy?" Livy asked, dumfounded that anyone would turn down such an offer.

"What happened to her eyes, Mumma?"

Isobel, who had caught the trio retreating from behind the partition quickly met them in the center of the room.

"I see you met Mary Ann."

"We did. She didn't tell us her name, but I am terribly sorry we disturbed her."

Isobel shook her head. "Don't worry about that. I'm sure you didn't. She's just very quiet and shy. They offered to bring her over for the reading, but she said she'd rather listen from over there. She can't see them, but she assumes the other children stare at her when she is out in the open."

"Do you know what happened to her?" Elsie asked, glancing down at the girls briefly in case it wasn't something they should hear.

"There was an accident involving the gas heater at her house. She was hit in the eyes with exploding glass and a very hot piece of metal that landed on her face when she fell. She and her parents were all home at the time." Isobel stopped speaking, but her look was understood by Elsie who glanced back over her shoulder in the direction of the parentless child they had just met.

"She doesn't have many visitors so I try to talk to her and have offered to read to her, but she doesn't let me stay long."

"She didn't even want an stuffed animal," Livy noted as she looked up between her mother and Isobel.

"We'll be sure and leave the tiger and the polar bear just in case she changes her mind," Elsie promised just as she felt a tug on her skirt.

"Hi, baby bird." She pulled the little boy into her arms. "Did you have fun playing with the cars?"

Livy followed her mother and brother back towards the toy area as Isobel was called away by Sister Carrie, but Poppy stayed put, her little head turning back towards the direction from which they had just come.

While Livy was usually the more forthright of the two of them, the elder twin found herself wanting to know more about the little girl behind the screen. Skipping quickly, she ducked behind the partition unseen only to gasp as she looked at the odd white colored iris of the little girl's now opened eye.

"Who's there?"

The four year old's voice shook as she answered, "Penelope Joan Carson."

"You were just over here with your mother? She's the one who read the book?"

Poppy swallowed hard, but nodded. "With my Daddy."

"What do you want?"

The child's question wasn't rude, but there was a tinge of impatience about it.

"I'm sorry about the owies on your eyes, Mary Ann."

"Who told you my name?"

"Auntie Izzy."

Mary Ann sighed. "Isobel. She's nice, but I know she just feels sorry for me."

"She's very nice. She let us make orange juice and help make biscuits." Poppy waited for the little girl to respond, but after a few uncomfortable seconds she found herself asking, "Are you sure you don't want a toy?"

"I can't play with a toy. I can't see it."

"But you could hold it and cuddle it."

Mary Ann was quiet for a moment, but eventually asked, "What kind of toys do you like?"

"Babies."

For the first time since she laid eyes on her, Poppy saw a smile cross Mary Ann's face.

"I had two babies at my house but I think they got burned up in the fire."

Poppy took a few steps closer so that she was standing at the little girl's side as she asked, "What did they look like?"

"Betty had brown hair and eyes that opened and closed and Sadie had blonde hair and she said "Mama" when you pulled a string on her back."

"I have a baby at home who says Mama like that." Lifting her new doll to the edge of the bed, she asked, "Do you want to hold this baby? She doesn't have a name yet because she is new."

Mary Ann's thin fingers stretched until she felt the doll's soft cornsilk hair.

"What color is her hair?"

"Yellow. Like sunshine. And she has blue eyes like the sky." Poppy pushed the doll fully onto the bed so Mary Ann could reach the whole body.

Lifting the doll to her shoulder, Mary Ann gently stroked the sateen dress. "What is she wearing?"

"A blue dress that is the same color as her eyes. It has white frillies and she has little black shoes and little white socks."

The girl's smile widened as she ran her hand down the length of the gown until her fingers caressed the white lace trim.

"She's beautiful."

Poppy was about to agree when she felt her mother's hand on her shoulder.

"Poppy, we need to let Mary Ann get some rest."

Grabbing her mother's hand, she shook her head as she insisted, "It's okay, Mumma. She's my friend."

"Oh, that's nice." She squeezed Poppy's hand in approval. "What are you girls doing?"

Poppy looked up at Elsie and then back at the now smiling Mary Ann who was resting her head against the baby doll's. Swallowing hard, the four year old looked up at her mother with tears in her eyes. "Mary Ann's playing with her new baby."

Bending down and wrapping her arms around Poppy, Elsie blinked away her own tears as she whispered, "You are such a good, sweet girl, Popsydaisy. That was a very kind thing to do."

Wrapping her arms around her mother's neck the little one whispered, "Remember, Mumma, caring is sharing and sharing is loving and loving is caring."

"That's right, baby. That's right."

Elsie and Poppy remained with Mary Ann for a few minutes before a nurse suddenly popped her head around the partition.

"It looks like you've made some friends, Mary Ann."

The little girl nodded her head and surprised them all by asking, "Would you ask Sister if it is alright for me to go with Penelope Joan to the play area?"

"Of course!" The nurse began to rush away before turning back and quickly saying, "I'm sorry, Mrs. Carson. The whole reason I came over was to tell you there are some people asking for you."

Certain Poppy was fine with Mary Ann, Elsie quickly dried her eyes and stepped from behind the partition to find her frowning editor and his smiling assistant waiting for her in the middle of the room.

"Hello, Mr. Pettigrew, Laura. I think I'm just about done here if you wanted…"

"Nevermind the tea. Something's come up and I can't stay long, but the hospital was on my way so Laura and I will just take what you have and I'll call you early next week to discuss the new book."

His cavalier attitude about her work set off a spark of anger in the pit of her stomach and she surprised both herself and Mr. Pettigrew by countering, "I'm afraid that won't work. I actually have more to show you than just the Barley book."

"What?"

"I have another book, well a series of paintings, really, and I have the text, but I need to show it to some others…"

"Another house? You have a contract, Mrs. Carson…"

"No, no." She lowered her voice in an attempt to get him to lower his own. "I need to show it to some friends on whom I have based some of the characters. I had hoped to do that before I met with you, but then things came up."

"Sick children."

For a man who dealt primarily in children's books, he had very little tolerance for his audience, and Elsie's own children were no exception; a fact that had baffled and incensed her on more than one occasion.

"I apologize for the inconvenience, but…"

The exchange between his wife and her editor hadn't gone unobserved by Charles who had returned from his chat with Robert not long after Mr. Pettigrew and his assistant had arrived and the scowl on the short man's face inspired him to make his way to them, towering over Pettigrew as he placed a supportive hand on Elsie's shoulder.

"Everything alright?"

Elsie glanced up at Charles, slightly miffed that he had taken it upon himself to intervene. "I was telling Mr. Pettigrew about the little farm book, but I need to show it to Violet first."

"I'm afraid I just don't have much time, Mr. Carson," Mr. Pettigrew explained, his demanding demeanor wilting under the large man's glare. "Perhaps I could just look at it? Do you have it with you?"

"I do, but Violet and Robert…"

Charles offered what seemed to him an obvious solution. "We could read it now for Violet and Mr. Pettigrew and the children. Like we did at home. We could hold up the pictures and I could do the voices and read the text."

Elsie shook her head, "I don't know if Violet…"

"She'll be fine. It won't take five minutes. Sister Carrie," Charles called out to the woman as he took Elsie's hand and led her away from the center of the room.

"Charles, she may hate it and I really don't want her to hate it in front of all these people."

"I promise you there is nothing to worry about. Even if she does hate it she won't say anything. Not if she wants us to do what Robert is asking."

"What does Robert want us to do?"

"Take Mary home with us."

The blood drained from Elsie's face, "He what?"

"Don't worry about it now. I told him we had to discuss it."

"But you told him you thought it would be alright, didn't you?"

"I told him I didn't think it was out of the question."

"Charles!"

Sister Carrie's arrival preempted the tongue lashing she was itching to give him.

Elsie paid little attention to what her husband was saying to the nurse as this new predicament consumed her. There was no one who loved children as much as she did, but there was something about the little girl that set her teeth on edge and the thought of having to care for the child in addition to her own children and the new kittens while trying to get pregnant made her stomach churn. The only thing that kept her steady was looking up to find Poppy grinning brightly as she sat next to Mary Ann in a large push chair, the older little girl holding her baby in one arm as Poppy did Tildy while they clasped hands waiting for the story to begin.

"That would be wonderful! Of course! Of course!"

Charles squeezed Elsie's hand in order to get her attention. "See, it is fine with Sister Carrie. I'll get your portfolio. Robert can hold the paintings and I'll read the text."

He had started to walk away when she grabbed his hand, her face as serious as he had ever seen it.

"I'll go through with this, but don't ever handle me like this again."

"Honey, I didn't…"

She took a deep breath and shook her head. "Just read the story."

Before she knew it she was seated next to Violet with Livy in her lap, Daisy and Pete on her other side.

"I'm Ollie and Poppy's Po and Pete is Pee Wee." Livy whispered in Violet's direction. "Aunt Izzy is the lady duck and Uncle Robert is Bertie the Horse."

Feeling Violet's eyes on her, Elsie managed a small smile as she explained, "It will all make sense in a moment."

The story was three paintings in when Her Majesty made her grand entrance into the story, large wings gliding over the kittens who were sent tumbling as she honked, "Make way, make way! I've no time to stop for such silly things as kittens!"

Attempting to judge the grand lady's reaction, she was shooting her a sideways glance when she suddenly found herself wanting to dig a hole and bury herself in it as Pete leaned forward and pointed at Violet, happily announcing, "Majesty Goose!"

Gently shushing her youngest child, she remained in a state of horror although the room around her was filled with laughter and cheers by the time her husband reached the end.

Her eyes clenched tight, she leaned her head ever so slightly towards Violet. "How many times are you going to have Lily flush my head in the toilet?"

She was relieved to feel Violet's hand gently grasp her own. "It's lovely, Elsie. It's silly and delightful and I get to be the hero. No flushes."

Breathing a sigh of relief, she almost slid out of her chair as she opened her eyes to find a smiling Mr. Pettigrew standing in front of her.

"It's good. It's very good. I'll send the contracts to Mr. Murray for approval. When can you be back in London to discuss all of this?"

Taking a deep breath, she summoned all of her courage and replied, "When can you come to Halifax to discuss all of this?"

Hugs and thanks shared with all of the children and nursing staff, the Carson's, Daisy, Isobel, and the Crawley's made their way to the hospital entrance just as the two cars pulled up out front.

"So you're stopping by for a light supper with us and staying another night at Isobel's?" Violet asked, confirming the tentative plans they had just made upstairs.

Elsie managed a forced smile, but remained silent as Charles quickly answered, "We are."

Reaching over he began to gently rub the small of her back, but his heart sunk as she stepped out of his reach.

"Honey..."

"Later," she said flatly over her shoulder as she began to herd the children towards the second car.

The Crawley's loaded and pulling away from the curb, Davies had just opened the car door when Elsie stepped up and whispered something in his ear. A smile and a nod, he closed the door and returned to his place behind the wheel and pulled away.

"Where's he going?" Isobel asked as they all turned to her with puzzled looks.

"Around the block a few times. We have a bit of shopping to do." She reached down and took Poppy's hand. "Tildy needs a new sister."