"Have you had a chance to talk to His Lordship about us yet?" Elsie asks as they walk slowly through the snow.
"I thought I'd talk to His Lordship tomorrow when the house is quiet so we have more time to talk about any particulars he would like to discuss." Charles tells Elsie.
"Would you like me to come with you? His Lordship may want to talk to me as well." Elsie asks Charles. She knows Charles is nervous about talking to His Lordship.
"I'd love for you to come with me. You are a part of this conversation too. Men like to pretend that these conversations should only involve men when really women should be a part of the conversation too. It's your life and you should be able to have an opinion on your own future." Charles looks into the house where the electric lights are shining out onto the snow leaving beautiful shapes on the diamond white snow in a warm, yellow glow.
Elsie smiles and leans her head on Charles' shoulder. This moment is so perfect. She and Charles so rarely get time to themselves that any time they can spend like this feels extra special. "I'm nervous about telling His Lordship about our relationship. I don't want him to think less of us because of this." Elsie whispers in the dark.
"I know you're nervous, but His Lordship has changed his mind about a great many things in recent times. He wouldn't deny any of his staff the chance to be happy with anyone they choose. He cares about all of his staff and us especially." Charles reassures Elsie.
"You have a very high opinion of how far his opinions have come. I'm not sure I have the same faith. I hope this New Year holds great promise for our future. I don't want to spend another moment without being able to tell this whole town that I love you. The Dowager Countess was right; we deserve a little romance in our life even if no one else knows right now. I'd love to shout my love for you from the rooftops, but I don't have to to be okay. I love you Charles Carson. Thank you so much for a lovely evening. I haven't had this much fun at the Servants' Ball in many years. I haven't danced as much at a Servants' Ball in many years. Normally I'm just in the shadows." Elsie says as she and Charles walk under a snow covered tree.
"This estate is so beautiful when it snows and I'm so glad I get to share all this with you. There is no one else I would want to share this with." Charles sighs contentedly.
"Tonight couldn't have been more perfect." Elsie says as she looks back towards the house.
Charles smiles in the dark. He knows just what will cap off the evening. He's been waiting for the right moment since Christmas. "I may be able to make tonight even more perfect." Charles says as he kneels carefully in the snow. "Marry me, Elsie. You are so special to me and I don't want either of us to be worrying that we can't get information about each other if either of us gets ill."
"What about His Lordship, Charles? Doesn't he have to approve this first?" Elsie asks gently.
"My employer doesn't dictate my life decisions anymore. I want to marry you, Elsie, and I don't care what His Lordship says. He doesn't tell me how to live my life." Charles says firmly.
"Then yes, I will marry you, Charles. I never thought this would happen." Elsie says quietly. Charles stands up and puts the ring on Elsie's finger.
"I hope you like the ring. It was my mother's. It was one of the few things she left me." Charles says quietly.
"What I can see of it is beautiful, but I can't see it very well. It's very dark out here." Elsie teases gently.
"Let's go inside and you can look better."