I added an "s"- I hope you will forgive my addition :)
Companion(s)
"I thought you would be pleased." Elsie didn't look up as she prepared Charles' tea. Her husband had woken with a toothache and his disposition was none the better for his pain.
"It wasn't proper for you to ask them." Charles held a hand to his lower left jaw, wincing in pain. "It just isn't done."
"Well, Lady Edith seemed very pleased and Lady Mary, well, she was Lady Mary, but I don't think she was insulted by my invitation."
Charles pursed his lips at her slight of Lady Mary, but was too distracted by his tooth to voice a defense. "And today of all days."
"How could I know you would have a toothache when I made the plans yesterday?"
Charles raised an eyebrow, "But only mentioned it this morning."
Sighing, she set his tea in front of him. "I wanted it to be a surprise. I thought you would be delighted. I am sorry you aren't. You can stay upstairs. I will attend to them myself."
Charles gingerly lifted the cup to his lips, "No you won't. I am going to see Mr. Pigeon about this tooth, but will be back in plenty of time."
"But what if you have to have it pulled? He'll use his nitrous oxide, won't he? Surely you will need to go straight to bed?"
"I am sure it won't come to that." Taking a sip, he howled with pain as the hot tea hit the tooth's nerve.
Elsie shook her head, "Yes. I am sure it won't come to that."
It did come to that. Charles was given a fairly large dosage of the laughing gas, as well as an injection of Novocain into his gum before Mr. Pigeon pulled the offending tooth. Dr. Clarkson happened to be passing by as a loopy Charles emerged from the dentistry office. "Are you all right, Mr. Carson?"
"Hullo, Dar Clarson. Ah em quah ah rye. Ah ha juh haw uh ooth puh." The injection of Novocain had not worn off, its effects carrying over to Charles' tongue.
Dr. Clarkson watched the large man weave slightly as he stepped onto the pavement. "Would you allow me to join you on your walk home? I am headed that way as it happens."
"Tha woo bih duhlahfuh." Charles offered a silly smile.
Dr. Clarkson quickly intervened as Charles took a few wobbly steps in the wrong direction.
O)O)O)O)O)O)O
Elsie had stepped out the front door to look for Charles when the car pulled up. The driver had barely opened the door when two small feet hit the ground and started running towards her.
"George! Wait!" Lady Edith stepped out of the car, looking over her shoulder as her nephew sprinted away.
"I've got him, milady." Elsie was met with a warm embrace around her knees. "Hello, laddie. I am very happy to see you." She patted the blonde head as Lady Edith and a skipping Marigold made their way up the path.
"You see what a disciplinarian I am. If his mother were here he would still be waiting for permission to get out of the car."
"He is happy and that is what matters. And hello to you, Miss Marigold!" Elsie reached out and patted the curly head of the small girl. "You look awfully pretty in your pink dress." The little girl let go of her Lady Edith's hand and stepped next to George, basking in Elsie's attention. "Would you like to come in for a cup of tea, milady? Mr. Carson has gone to see the dentist, but will be shortly."
"Actually, I am due at a meeting of the committee of the church fete. I will get quite the snake eye from Granny if I am late." She held out a basket to Elsie, "You are so kind to have them. They have both been quite excited about playing away from the Abbey and Nanny. There are toys and some extra clothes just in case you need them. They are both very good about letting you know if they need a trip to the lavatory and I will be back in time to take them home for lunch, but I won't tell if you sneak them a biscuit or two."
Taking the basket, Elsie smiled at the young woman. It had never been acknowledged by either of them, but Elsie was quite sure Lady Edith was aware that she knew about Marigold's true identity. Elsie would never embarrass the young mother by bringing it up. She greatly admired Lady Edith's obvious love and devotion to the child.
"Be very good and I will see you in a little while." Having kissed Marigold's head and squeezed George's hand, the young woman returned to the car, exchanging waves with Elsie and the children as the car backed down the drive.
"Now! Would you like to go inside and play? I have some toys and biscuits waiting for you."
"Yes! Yes!" Two little heads nodded energetically as the trio made their way into the house.
Elsie took them into the dining room where she had placed a large basket filled with various toys and stuffed animals on the floor. Another basket of old hats and gloves sat on the table, a last minute idea of Elsie's to let the children play dress up.
The children nibbled shortbread cookies as they pulled toys from the basket. George busied himself with a box of soldiers as Marigold pulled cups and saucers and a teapot from a small velvet box. "Are you going to have a tea party, Miss Marigold?"
The little girl smiled, "With biscuits and sweeties."
"Very good, " Elsie smiled as she lowered herself to the floor. George quickly eased himself against her lap, marching the small wooden soldiers up her skirt draped leg and knees.
She had just accepted a cup and saucer from Marigold as she heard the front door open. "We're in the dining room, Charles!" Elsie watched the door for her husband, but was surprised to see Dr. Clarkson appear.
"Good morning! Why, I see you have some companions. Hello George, Marigold."
The children politely responded with "Hellos" before returning to their playing.
"I am afraid Mr. Carson is a little worse from wear after his dental appointment, but I see you have your hands full. Would you mind if I put him to bed?"
Elsie looked at Dr. Clarkson with alarm, "Is he all right? Is he ill?"
"He is fine. He is still a little foggy from the gas and his mouth is still quite numb. He just needs a lie down, I think."
"Thank you, Dr. Clarkson. If you wouldn't mind seeing him upstairs, I would be most appreciative."
"Not at all, Mrs. Carson. I will let myself out."
Hearing the plodding steps of the men on the stairs, Elsie returned her attention to the children.
Forty-five minutes of tea party, war, I spy and roll the ball passed quickly. Elsie felt her back stiffening and decided she should rise from the floor while she was still able. It was a slightly arduous process, but she managed to get to her feet without disturbing the children. She was arching her back when she heard steps coming down the stairs. "Charles? Are you up?"
A slightly dazed, but happy Charles suddenly appeared in the doorway, dressed in his suit, his tie slightly askew. "Are you having fun without me?" The Novocain had thankfully worn off for the most part, but he still seemed to be floating on the happy cloud that was nitrous oxide.
"Are you sure you want to be up? You might want to stay in bed for a while yet."
"And miss playtime, Mrs. Hughes? I think not."
Elsie took his arm as he lumbered into the room. "Would you like to have a seat? The children have lots of toys."
Bracing herself, she managed to get Charles onto the floor without falling herself. Marigold and George delighted at the presence of the large bear like man with the funny grin.
"I will step into the kitchen and get more biscuits and milk if you are all right with them for a moment?"
Charles nodded happily, "We will be quite all right, Mrs. Hughes. Mmmmm….biscuits and milk." He giggled and wiggled his eyebrows at the children, eliciting peals of laughter from his tiny companions.
Elsie couldn't help but giggle herself as she made a quick trip to the kitchen. She had just deposited the tray of shortbread and milk on the table when she heard a knock at the door. "I'll be right back."
She smiled at the sound of laughter as she made her way to the entry. Opening the door, she found a smiling Lady Edith.
"I am happy to see the house still stands."
Elsie ushered her in, offering to take her coat. "They have been wonderful. We have had quite a fun time. Charles is with them now in the dining room. Do you have to leave right away or could I offer you a cup of tea?"
Lady Edith nodded eagerly, "Tea would be wonderful. Thank you, Mrs. Hu-Carson. I am sorry."
"Don't worry, milady. Even Mr. Carson slips and calls me 'Mrs. Hughes' on occasion."
They had almost reached the dining room when they suddenly heard a strange, high pitched voice. "My dear, but isn't this tea lovely? Are you quite enjoying it?"
"Oh, yes!" Marigold chimed.
The high pitched voice had a certain familiar cadence as it continued, "It is splendid. I say, wasn't there a masked ball in Paris when cholera broke out? Half the guests were dead before they left the ballroom."
Elsie threw her hand over her mouth and froze in place as she listened to her husband obviously mimicking the Dowager Countess. Lady Edith let out a giggle, stepping around her to look into the dining room. Elsie was startled as the young woman grabbed her hand and pulled her into the doorway to reveal the scene on the floor. The three companions held tiny tea cups in each of their hands; Marigold wore a cloche hat, George an old bowler and Charles a navy blue woman's hat trimmed with posies, complete with a veil.
Taking an imaginary sip of his tea from the small cup, Charles glanced up at the women in the doorway. His reactions were a little delayed by the lingering effects of the gas, but the presence of Lady Edith was eventually registered and resulted in an open mouthed look of shock.
Lady Edith gave Elsie a quick smile before returning her attention to Charles, "My, Granny, what big eyes you have…"