Well well well. It is time for me to upload the 36th chapter of this little story. I've been working on this on and off for two weeks now and finally, I properly sat down and wrote it during the last of hours of my Saturday evening and the small hours of Sunday. And my flow of words seemed to be very slow this time round but luckily I got there eventually, sigh. I very much hope you'll enjoy this chapter - let me know with a little review if you've got a second! Well then, I wish you happy reading and I'll be back with new updates as soon as I can! Thanks :)

Thursday 1st of September 1929, Buckingham Palace, London

Charles eyed the documents before him carefully, a hand behind his back whilst the other supported his weight as he leaned over the table.

"I'm afraid there is not much to work with, your highness." He was pulled back to present by the other man beside him."I cannot guarantee any results."

"But you will be able to look into it, correct?" Charles looked at the head of police, straightening his back.

"Certainly, your highness!"

"Good, good. Should you need any assistance with the documents or another account of the events, I'm sure his majesty will be available to meet with you on a scheduled day, perhaps."

"That is generous of you, your highness, though, I doubt it'll come to that."

"I should hope. I do not wish for this to bring any trouble to this household. And I advise you to keep a low profile, sir. I want this business out of the papers. Understood?"

"Very good, your highness."

The head of police, a small man with combed back hair, moved swiftly as he gathered the papers laid on the table. He was half done when the door to the room opened and a familiar voice filled the room.

"Oh I do apologise, I didn't know you had company."

The man turned around and at the sight of her royal highness the Princess of Scotland, instantly bowed down.

"Your highness, what an honour."

Charles instead moved towards his wife and kissed her on the cheek, much to her delightful surprise:

"Hello, love."

The princess smiled at him and then turned her attention towards the unfamiliar man who still had his head tilted towards the carpeted floor.

"I don't think we've had the chance to meet, sir?"

The head of police lifted his gaze to meet hers, coughing slightly before speaking.

"I daresay not, your highness."

"Elsie, I would like for you to meet the head of England's police and detective Sir Alexander Chapman," Charles said politely whilst gesturing towards the said man - this earned an amused look from his wife.

"Oh, I am delighted to make your acquaintance, Sir Chapman. May I ask what brings you here?"

"Perhaps his highness would be able to explain that, your highness?"

Elsie thought the little man was utterly odd, but instead of questioning him about it, she turned towards her husband.

"Uhm well, that is, I wrote to Sir Chapman when we returned to London and asked him to see me today. I've hired him to look into your title."

"My title?"

Charles nodded and explained further:

"How it all came to be, what happened so you were left to live with your parents in Argyle."

Elsie looked confused for a while until she registered his words.

"Oh."

"I thought I could surprise you later today, and besides, I wouldn't want you to stress it in vain. You don't mind, do you?"

"Mind, oh no." Elsie dismissed the line of thought immediately.

Charles looked relieved at this.

Elsie was about to open her mouth to say something - thank him - but she realised the detective was still standing and watching them intently, so she turned to address him instead:

"Sir Chapman, I wish you success in this challenge. I trust we'll be meeting again soon."

They said their goodbyes and a footman came in to see Sir Chapman out. The couple was left alone in the study.

Elsie let out a giggle as the door closed behind them:

"What an odd man."

Charles showed her a smile in return, but one that didn't quite reach his eyes. Elsie noticed this and stepped closer.

"What is it, Charlie?"

He shook his head.

"I'm just being silly."

"Oh, I doubt that. That word doesn't really suit you, darling." Elsie said gently and went on."Because whether you are doubting my thoughts on you hiring a detective-"

"Yes?"

Her gaze softened and she brought her arms around his middle, pulling him against her. She had suspected that had been what was on his mind. His arms instinctively curled up around her. She looked into his eyes as she spoke:

"You being willing to search for answers to my questions from where they very likely won't be found, makes my love for you so incredibly stronger, Charlie."

Now he did smile properly.

"I did give you my permission to hire a detective before, I believe. You needn't worry quite so much."

"Still. I should have told you about it before I went and wrote to Chapman."

"You did tell me just now, and besides, you are just as entitled to answers as I am. Why shouldn't you hire a detective if you like?" Elsie reasoned, smiling.

"Well, trust me, my darling, I had your best interest at heart."

"Oh, I trust you, Charlie. But now, won't you ring for some tea? I'm parched. And you must tell me more about this Chapman fellow."

"You'll be disappointed when I tell you nothing is interesting about him."

"Well, it's much more interesting than my tea with Queen Mary. Which is all I've got, I'm afraid." Elsie said firmly.

"Fair enough." He agreed after a moment.

...

It had been a busy few days, what with both Elsie and Charles returning to their duties as parts of the Royal family. When they got back from Downton, the next day was spent getting back up to date with all that's been happening whilst they were gone. Although nothing had really happened, they still had a lot to catch up on.

Much to the Princess' irritation, Woodley surprised her with a fitting appointment the very next day upon their return for herself and Elsie for new outerwear, for the summer season was quickly coming to end and the days would soon start to get chillier. Though, Elsie didn't feel the need for yet another set of clothes but supposed it would be in vain to fight anyone on the matter. She would surely lose. And besides, if she was quite honest with herself, she enjoyed being able to live more freely now that she didn't have to worry about money, and buying clothes was a new liberty she now dared to take. But still, she didn't need a new coat - not to mention three, as Madam Redgate, the royal fashion designer and seamstress, had insisted during her fitting about the necessity of having options. Tea with Queen Mary seemed to be the least time-consuming and unnerving of her duties. Although the Queen did have a lot to say and ask - mainly about her sister-in-law and her husband's few days away. On top of all that jazz, Elsie had worked on sorting through the tens of letters piled up on her desk, waiting for her when she would first step into her sitting room Tuesday morning. How did one get so many letters in a few short days, she wondered.

Meanwhile, Charles had been busy with a fitting of his own, though one of much smaller scale, and he'd spent the early morning in a meeting with Sir Alexander Chapman. He had met with the king upon his insistence on keeping on track with the detective's work and afterwards corresponding with multiple organizations. He hadn't fully realised how many people desired his opinions and participation, no matter the subject or event. Upon glancing at his calendar, Charles noted that the next few weeks would have him partially running from one place to another.

But now, as he was sat down for lunch and listening to his wife talk to the Queen about something she'd read on the paper this very morning, Charles couldn't help but feel relaxed. The absence of the King left them all feeling a bit less formal and they were enjoying a simple pudding with a side of cold ham and bread.

"I knew the duchess' son once upon a time," Charles heard Queen Mary tell his wife, "Although I never truly spoke with him."

"I dare say you haven't missed out on anything," He said and the Queen let out a laugh, "I hear he's quite the handful."

"No, indeed I haven't."

Charles and Elsie fell into a conversation of their own as the Queen returned her attention to her plate of savoury pudding. Mary watched the couple and smiled at herself. The Princess looked utterly drawn to her husband's words as she spoke. Mary cleared her throat before speaking:

"I'm sorry to interrupt, what looks like a very interesting conversation, but I hear we've managed to found a new butler and housekeeper as of this very morning. I thought you'd best be informed."

The Prince and Princess both turned their attention towards Mary as she spoke and she couldn't help but notice the slight disappointment in the other woman's eyes.

"Oh, that's good news. It'll be nice to get back to normal," Elsie said and lifted her glass to her lips to sip at the red liquid.

"Good servants are hard to come by these days."

Elsie eyed her husband at his disguised questioning.

"I don't know the details but apparently Mr Trethewey, the butler, is from Northern England although he has worked abroad for most of his life," Informed Queen Mary.

"I am familiar with the name. His father was a friend of a friend of mine when I started as a butler myself."

Queen Mary proceeded to delve deeper into the former butler's knowledge and Charles was more than happy to talk about it. Elsie even thought he sounded almost smug, but let the thought slip as she formed a question of her own.

"And is he to be trusted?"

It was as if he hadn't been listening to his exchange of words with Mary as he immediately turned his attention towards his wife and her expecting glance. With two simple, short words he managed to reassure her:

"Of course."

I wouldn't let any harm come your way - not again, he wanted to add, but relented as he remembered their company.

The Queen's gaze softened with regret.

"We do feel terribly responsible for what happened the last time."

Elsie shook her head, "It's of no use to dwell on the past. It was a sorry outcome, yes, but we survived."

"And we shan't make the same mistake again. The king and I shall make sure of that."

"Thank you for that."

The Queen then emptied her glass and wiped her mouth with the white napkin on her lap.

"And speaking of him, I best take my leave. He asked me to come to see him when he gets back from his meeting," She made it to stand up, dragging Charles up with her as she did so.

"Of course."

"I'll see you for tea," And with that the other woman took her leave, leaving the couple alone.

Charles sat back down and motioned for the footman to pour him some more wine. Elsie casually talked on as the footman stepped back to his spot beside the wall.

"Let's hope this housekeeper will be an improvement over the previous one...Perhaps she'd like to push me down the stairs."

Her husband almost spit out the wine he had just sipped from his freshly filled glass and looked well horrified. Elsie was far too amused for her own good.

"Oh Charlie, heavens, I'm only joking around. No need to spit that wine all over me or Mabel will have your head for ruining a perfectly good dress," She was dapping at the tablecloth with her napkin - soaking up the little droplets of wine from his lips.

"Honestly Elsie, one day I'll think you mean it. Don't say such things!"

"Well you know I don't mean it," She told him - her words were true but her husband didn't seem to be completely sold.

"If you're not ready to have a new housekeeper around that's completely understandable. You've every right to feel apprehensive. I can talk-"

"Don't be silly, Charlie," she tilted her head to the side as she contemplated her words, "You and I both know they need a proper butler and housekeeper to run a house like this. And I'm fine, I promise."

Charles thought this wouldn't be the last of this conversation but he held his tongue - for now.

"You shouldn't worry about me so much. I'm made of much sterner stuff than one might think," Elsie tried to reassure him and used her napkin to wipe her mouth and set it next to her plate on the table as she stood up.

She closed the distance between them, as he repeated her actions from seconds ago, and leaned down to plant a kiss on his temple, "I've got the afternoon free till dinner. Let's go take a nap, love. Use our time wisely."

He was thoughtful for a moment.

"Hmm?" She repeated.

"A nap, you say?"

"I do."

Once he understood her line of thought and the direction this conversation would be heading towards, he pretended to contemplate his options.

"Well, it has been a busy morning."

"It has, rather."

She couldn't fight the giggle from leaving her lips at their silly game.

"I'm sure they won't notice us disappearing for a few hours, I don't think."

"I'll ask Woodley to cover for us," Elsie whispered in turn, emphasizing her words, "Letter writing."

"It does sound like a solid plan, my dear. And I could really use a lie in myself."

"Could you?"

Charles stood up from his chair, smiling, and the chair let out a little creak as his weight shifted from it.

"Well then - up we go, milady."

As they left the room, the two footmen left to clean the table fell into a fit of whispers: a nap was hardly anything scandalous, why make such a fuss? The King and Queen had lie-ins all the time.

Although...hardly together. That was the important factor in the act of napping.