Chapter 5

"We would like to inform you that Mrs Hughes intends to join me after my retirement in January. We will be married at the first convenient opportunity."

He stood there so tall and dignified as he conveyed what was possible the most important message of his life Elsie mussed as she stood beside him, just as tall and collected and took in the various looks of surprise on the faces surrounding them. Her Ladyship and Lady Mary's eyes were both wide with surprise, Mr Crawley was looking genuinely pleased for them while his Lordship simply gaped at them as if they both had grown an extra head.

Really, Elsie thought fleetingly, after everything that had happened over the years, a daughter marrying the chauffer, a daughter getting involved in a scandal with a Turkish ambassador, after his own questionable behaviour towards a certain maid, he was still rooted in shock at the thought of the two of them marrying at their ancient age.

"But how is that even possible?" he managed at last, earning him an eye-roll form his daughter and a "Darling, please!" from his wife.

"I mean to say," he covered up quickly. "I never knew you had any desire to get married, Carson."

"I was never in the position to marry her, your Lordship," Charles answered pointedly. "Not until now."

Elsie experienced a small jolt as his words and it were Mary's eyes that widened in understanding.

"Very well," Lord Grantham gave in fairly easily. "I'd hate to lose both my butler and my housekeeper on the same day, but…" his face soften a fraction. "I can understand how this will make the both of you very happy."

Their courtship fell simultaneously with their brief engagement. To anyone else hardly anything changed between them. They'd been acting like an old married couple for the past decade after all. But for her the changes were rather significant. During the first week of their engagement he had taken to kissing her forehead when she left for her bed in the evenings. Gradually those kisses strayed to her cheek and on one memorable evening even her lips and she was surprised by the tingle it send down her spine. And now that he was her betrothed, she was at liberty to be more familiar around him. To speak his name or hear him speak hers in that low, grumbling voice of his was pure heaven and she found it surprisingly easy to brush her hand over his arm or shoulder regularly.

But more than anything she basked in the knowledge that from now on they would never be apart again. No more long seasons in London, no more fear of him leaving to serve Lady Mary or because he was to retire alone. Instead she got to decorate their new home and prepare for their wedding.

Once she learned that Anna would return to Downton to take over her position she found it easy to give it all up. Anna would make a wonderful housekeeper. So she handed over her keys, her desk, her parlour and her account books and concentrated on her new life.

They were going to be very happy together.

They married on the first Sunday of January. She wore a new blouse and skirt and as a surprise, the downstairs staff had given her a new hat, one that Anna had trimmed prettily with flowers and a bit of veil. Charles, in his dark-grey suit looked more handsome than she'd ever remembered seeing him.

They managed, with considerable difficulty to keep the wedding the small, quiet event they both wanted. If it were up to the family it would have become a much grander affair, but surprisingly enough it had been Matthew Crawley who had been sensitive enough to understand where their wishes lay and he had kindly but firmly directed all the enthusiasm into a lovely reception, only for those who stood near the couple.
Elsie now agreed whole-heartily with her husband that one day he would make a fine master of Downton.

Early afternoon the car drove them to their new home and it was with a little flutter of anticipation and delight that Elsie stood on the short, brick path leading up to the front door, still clutching her wedding bouquet. She had been over here countless of times in the last few weeks, arranging furniture, moving their personal possessions and so on. But now it was real. Only now they were truly coming home.

"I really ought to pick you up and carry you over the threshold, Mrs Carson," he whispered in her ear, his voice warm and content.

She shot him a look, barely able to contain her happiness. "Don't you start getting any ideas, Charles Carson," she admonished him, before the grin spilled over her face.

He took her hand and his and let her up to the front door, slowly turning the key and opening the door.

"Oh Charles, look!" she suddenly breathed, distracted by something near her feet. He followed her gaze to the small boarder of ground underneath the window. There, in the dark, barren winter ground grew one single snowdrop.

"That's an early herald for spring," he commented, bending down with some difficulty to pluck it and presenting it to her with a small flourish, never letting go of her hand in the progress.

She took the flower from him and stood on her tiptoes to press her lips to his briefly. "Let's get in, shall we?"

With their hands firmly clasped and her head resting on his shoulder, they passed the threshold together.

This was supposed to be the end, but I couldn´t resist to write another chapter about their life as a married couple. Hopefully it will be up tomorrow.