The grounds of Downton were surrounded by people from the village, stalls and various amusements. There were children laughing and people talking loudly and the sounds of stall holders shouting for people's custom. It was the first church fete Elsie had been to in Downton and she was quite enjoying being there, even if she was working on the refreshment stall with Mrs Niven and had to put up with Mrs Pembroke's constant interfering.

She surreptitiously watched as Mr Carson skilfully lifted several boxes of wine glasses into one of the tents, but she didn't think that he had noticed her. She knew it was silly to think of him, he had his whole career ahead of him, so why on earth would he think about her? But she still found her mind wandering often when she saw him. Had she not been thinking about Mr Carson and had she been watching more of the events around her, she would have noticed that she had in fact caught the eye of another gentleman, a young farmer named Joe Burns.

Joe had first seen her when she had served him some ginger beer and he thought about the wonderful smile she had. He didn't know much about the Abbey, but he certainly knew enough to know that she was new to the area.

'I arrived here just under a month ago Mr Burns.' She'd said when he asked how long she'd been in Downton.

'Well you're certainly not from around here, that's for sure.' He'd replied with a broad Yorkshire accent.

'Oh really? What makes you think that?' She'd asked rhetorically with one eyebrow arched in amusement which he had laughed nervously at. He had then walked away to look at the other amusements, but he always stayed nearby and took any opportunity he could to speak to her.

At the end of the day, as everyone else was leaving, Elsie began to pack away all of the preserves and drinks things that they had taken from the house. She was just about to lift one of the boxes from the table and put it on the ground when Joe ran over to her.

'I'll do that for you; can't have you putting your back out.' He said and she felt a little put out by his comment.

'Why? You think just because I'm a woman I can't manage any heavy lifting?' She joked feistily and then watched as Joe squirmed.

'No, it was just an excuse to come over here and talk to you actually.' He replied honestly.

'Oh? And what exactly is it that you wanted to speak to me about?' She asked as she continued her tidying.

'Well I wanted to know if you would come out with me some time. Perhaps I could buy you dinner in the Grantham Arms?' He asked as he fiddled with his cap held in his hands.

Elsie felt a little taken aback by his request and she glanced behind Joe to Mr Carson, who had been watching them only a few minutes earlier, as he stacked several of the chairs that had been laid out. She thought about it for a few moments, which felt like an embarrassing eternity to Joe; really it was Mr Carson that she wanted to be having this conversation with, but as she watched him working hard and ordering some of the footmen to do some of the heavier lifting, she realised that it was a dream, just a silly dream that would never come true as he was married to his job and to the family he served. He would never want to be stuck with her, a feisty Scottish Lady's Maid with no other prospects other than that.

'Alright, you may take me out; I have my afternoon off on Thursday. You can meet me in the courtyard at six o'clock and walk me into the village.' She said a little reluctantly.

He was a very handsome young man and he did seem very kind, so she shouldn't have been giving him a hard time already, not before she'd really gotten to know him. So she did just that; she allowed him to take her to dinner on the Thursday night, where they chatted about their life and compared notes on English farming verses Scottish farming. He was impressed by her farming knowledge and she was impressed by his kind nature. He didn't seem chauvinistic like most men she'd met in her lifetime and he seemed genuinely very interested in her life, so she'd allowed him to take her out on a second date on her next day off and then a third and then a fourth. Soon they were stepping out together regularly and their courtship led to wedding speculation from Matilda.

'So when do you think he'll propose?'

'Who says he intends to? Don't get me wrong, there's nothing improper in his behaviour, he has always been a gentleman to me, but perhaps he'll find some other, more suitable, girl to marry?' Elsie said as she fixed her hair in front of the mirror as she got herself ready to go out on another date with Joe.

'Don't be thick Elsie, he's mad about you, and any fool can see that. Unless it is that you've got your heart set on someone else; a certain Under Butler perhaps?' Matilda said cheekily which made Elsie spin round sharply.

'Whatever do you mean? My friendship with Mr Carson is strictly platonic thank you very much. He is a very kind man with high standards and expectations and he raises the tone of this house considerably. He will, one day, make a very good butler, but his ambition means that he has no place in his life for me or any other woman for that matter.' She chastised, with a strong and definite tone, which left Matilda in no doubt that she'd crossed a line.

Elsie had now been at Downton for a couple of months and in that time she had built a good reputation for herself as a hard worker and loyal employee, but as someone not afraid to put you in your place if it required it. She was firm but fair.

As she walked down the corridor towards the backdoor, Mrs Pembroke appeared at the doorway of her sitting room. As usual she looked most disapproving that Elsie was going out, but then again she seemed to disapprove of everything that Elsie did, even if there was no wrong in it.

'I want you back here for ten o'clock and no later Miss Hughes. If you are not back by then, this door will get locked and you will have to sleep in the yard. Do you understand? We have to start preparations tomorrow for this hunt; his Lordship's brother and cousin will be arriving by train from Oxford tomorrow afternoon.' She explained before turning on her heel and marching back inside.

Elsie shook her head at the crabby old woman and slipped out through the backdoor where Joe was already waiting for her in the yard. It was a lot cooler that it had been in months, as the summer began to give way to the autumn.

'You took your time?' He said cheekily as his way of greeting her as they began to walk down the lane towards the village.

'Well it's a woman's prerogative to be late.' She replied with a smile.

They had another pleasant evening together, as she expected they would, and he did indeed return her to the house before ten o'clock, but he hesitated nervously before he bid her goodnight and she wondered at his hesitation.

'What is it?' She asked.

'Well, I've got something I'd like to ask you, but I don't want you to feel like you're under any obligation to answer me now.' He said as he gazed lovingly at her and she felt herself take a sharp gasp of air as she realised what was about to come. 'Elsie, will you be my wife?'

She was stunned by his question, even if she had been expecting it for a while, but she still didn't know how to answer him.

'I will certainly give it every consideration Joe; that I do promise.' She said and she really did mean it.