DOUBLE ANNIVERSARY
Hello all. I had a spring holiday from writing. Whole three weeks, I'm not sure if you missed me, but if you did, I'm happy ;-) This is another one of my celebrations, as this story will be the 80th story that I've written so far. I really can't believe, that I managed to write so many stories. As a special way of celebrating it, I decided that once more, I will get out of my comfort zone and do something new and here is my nod to Cobert fans, because this will be the first story not only about Chelsie, but also about Cobert. Sorry in advance for my clumsy way of writing about Cobert- please remember, that it's my first one.
Story summary: Summer of 1930 is approaching. Carson and Elsie are finally both retiring and they are celebrating their 5th wedding anniversary. Robert and Cora are giving them a unique gift.
Legal note: I do not own any of the DA characters, they just live rent free in my mind. Always.
Cora & Robert
As the summer of 1930 was approaching, Robert was anxious to know, if any members of his family are willing to continue the short but constant tradition, of visiting their villa in the south of France. Ever since Violet inherited the villa, Robert, Cora, their children and grandchildren were visiting the villa every summer. It was the only time during the year, when they were able to gather all the family together.
Mary and Edith had their own families now, they were busy with their own problems and since Tom moved out of Downton, they didn't see a lot of him. He was busy with his own family and taking care of Brompton estate. Robert loved those summer weeks, when he had his all family in one place, enjoying the untypical inheritance after their mother.
This year he was particularly enjoying the thought, about spending this time with his beloved ones, because this was the year, when he and Cora were celebrating 40th anniversary of their marriage. Thanks to the treatment from Dr Clarkson, Cora was feeling much better now and there were no contradictions for her to travel to France.
Robert was looking forward to this time. This year they knew for sure, that Tom won't be joining them, as he and Lucy were expecting their second baby and Lucy's due date was in the end of June. Robert was very happy about this news, but at the same time rather disappointed, that he will not see little Sybbie this summer.
He was still hoping, that Mary and Edith will join them, so they could all be together.
However that night, Cora joining him in bed after dinner, has resolved his doubts about their summer holidays...
"So Edith will not go either? Everyone is backing down on us this year? What happened?"- Robert was disappointed with the news, that his wife gave him.
"I just spoke to ther on the phone. She has problems in the magazine and she will be in London, while Bertie is expected to accompany the King, during Trooping the Colour in London. They will both be staying in Edith's flat for few weeks."
"I'm very disappointed with this...I thought, that it's going to be the same way, as it was last year and two years before. I thought that we will all be together..."
"Seems that we are not..."
"What about Mary and Henry?"
"I'm afraid that they will not come too...Henry is coming back in the mid June and they have planned a trip to Italy. They want to spend their a month or longer, they will leave the children with Henry's mother, so they can enjoy a little bit of privacy...You know what Mary told me Robert?"
"What?"
"That it's their last chance trip...Etiher they will find a way how to stay married, or they will divorce..So we need to support them in this difficult time..."
"I really do hope, that they will work it out somehow...I wouldn't want Mary to be divorced with two children.."
"You really think that she wouldn't make it? Because I'm sure, that our Mary is capable of taking care of herself..."
"Still, I hope that they will reconcile...Tom won't be joining us either, because of Lucy's due date..."
"What's the matter Robert? Aren't you happy that he has a good marriage?"
"Of course I am, it's just that...It's seems that we will go alone this year..."
"We don't have to go, it's not an obligation..."
"But it's a tradition..."
"Robert, we only did it two years in a row...I could hardly describe it as tradition..."
"Well, maybe not exactly tradition, but it's such a nice time for the family...But it looks like we will be the only one to go..."
"We don't have to..."
"I want us to...Very much Cora...We are celebrating 40th wedding anniversary, have you forgotten that already?"- Robert drew Cora closer and kissed her temples..."I want this time to be special for us..."
Cora nestled closer to Robert..."It will be special Robert...Our marriage is something special...At least for me, I'm hoping that it's the same with you..."
"My love, how can you even ask that?...Being married gives me the greatest happiness in my life...I love you so much..."
"And I love you..."-they kissed gently and Cora put her head on his shoulder...They both enjoyed the uniqueness of this moment...
"Before we even go there...There are still few things to take care of...I don't want to go for a romantic holiday, leaving things unfinished...You remember, that we are saying goodbye to Carson and Mrs Hughes in June? They are both retiring..."
"Of course that I remember Robert...Poor Carson...Mary asked him to help her train the new butler and we all thought, that he will just be here for few months and he spend almost two years here..."
"You know Carson...Just like me, he doesn't like to leave things unfinished..."
"That is the truth...But what his, or rather their retirement, has to do with our departure?"
"We should give them some great goodbye present...God knows they deserved it...Both of them..They have served us faithfully for so many years and now they can finally enjoy their retirement and they can do it together...We owe them some really great present and I still have no idea what could it be..."
"You are right Robert...We didn't give them any gift, when they were getting married five years ago...Oh, I just realized, that they are celebrating too this year, just like we do...Five years of marriage.. Plus retirement...They really deserve a special gift from us...Robert! I just had an idea!"
"What idea? I will take anything..."
"How about they will come with us to France for holiday?"
"I don't get it...As servants?"
"No Robert! They can come with us, us our guests...For a holiday! Isn't that great idea? We will pay for the trip..."
"Cora, you can't be serious? You want them to go with us? The servants?"
"Robert...They are more than a servants...Carson worked in Downton for so long and Mrs Hughes have been keeping this house together for all those years...Don't you think, that they deserve this from us? Just imagine how they will value this...An opportunity to go with us, besides, they will be retired by then...They will not be our servants anymore...They will be more like old friends..."
"Well...If you put it that way, it doesn't sound that bad...But I have one condition...You will talk to them about it...I would feel very awkward..."
"Not a problem Robert...I will talk to Mrs Hughes...It's better if she will tell that to Carson...He may have a heart attack, when he hears this..."
Robert and Cora looked at each other and burst with laughter...
Elsie & Charles
Few days later...
"Do what?! Go to France with the Crawleys?! Elsie, are you sure, that you understood her correctly?"
"Yes Charlie...Her Ladyship told me, that they wish to go to France with us..."
"But how, when, why?"
"It seems that nobody from the family will be coming with them this year. Mr Branson will be busy with the new arrival in his family, Lady Mary and Mr Talbot are going away to Italy together and Lady Edith and her husband have some important engagements in London and they can't come..."
"But Elsie, this is not right, how come they want us there?"
"Well, Her Ladyship explained it to me- it looks like this , we are having a double anniversary- they are celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary and we are celebrating our 5th anniversary, plus they wish to celebrate the fact, that we are both retiring in June-this will be like a double gift for us from them..."
"I still think that it's not right...It would be inappropriate...We are servants..."
"We will not be servants anymore, starting from June Charlie...Her Ladyship told me, that we will be like old friends going away together..."
"This is unbelieveble...I do not think that it is a good idea at all..."
"What about me Charlie? Doesn't my opinion count?"
"Dodn't tell me, that you would want to do it..."
"As a matter fact I would Charlie, very much...You've been with them to France two years ago and I was not...Besides, it would be my first trip abroad...I always wanted to visit another country...This may be my only chance..."
"Elsie...We can go together if you like, but not..."
"Charlie...We have been married five years now, when did we ever go somewhere besides Scarborough for our honeymoon? And it was only for four days, because you were so hurry to go back to the Abbey..."
"We were busy, we had jobs to do..."
"But we will not have jobs anymore Charlie...Don't you think it's high time to live a little? Because I certainly do...I want to celebrate our 5th wedding anniversary...I really do...You didn't offer anything special to me...Just like it didn't matter to you at all..."
Elsie's face was sad and Charles understood, that she might have been hurt by his actions, or rather by his lack of actions...
"Oh, I'm sorry Elsie...So sorry...Will you forgive the old fool that I am, neglecting his wife like that? Don't think, that I haven't thought about our anniversary, because I certainly have...A lot..."
"Really? And what were you thinking exactly?"
"I was thinking for a thousand time, that I'm the happiest man in Downton...Because the loveliest woman of this village wanted to marry such an old grump like me..."
"I couldn't put it any better myself..."- Elsie smiled to her husband warmly, gently caressing his cheek...
Charles captured her lips in a tender kiss...She stroke his hair with love...
"So will you forgive me this faux pas?"
"Of course I will my love, but on one condition...That you will agree to go with the Crawleys and me to the south of France..."
"I guess I have no other option, although it will certainly be the awkward trip if you ask me..."
"Maybe in the beginning Charlie, but once you will get used to, I will make sure, that this will be one of the most beautiful memories that we share..."
"Elsie...Every moment with you is beautiful and precious..."
"And so will be this trip, just wait and see..."
That's all for first chapter...Writing Cobert was like a foreign territory...Hope that I haven't disappointed Cobert fans too much...So, looks like an interesting trip will take place...Chelsie and Cobert are going away together for holiday. Hope you liked this chapter and if so, I always want to know your opinion, whether it's worth to continue the story...Have a great week!