I have been so wrapped up in Ella & that look i had left this un-posted! I hope you all like it!

Three weeks had passed quickly. She had gotten a dress. A light cream color with a lace everywhere and a dropped waist. Her sister, Nora, had brought their grandmothers veil, a running tradition. It had been her grandmother's mother's veil before that. Only her mother hadn't worn it, which made it easier for Elsie to accept the veil as the final part of her outfit. Her sister and her brood had arrived yesterday.

Her family was at the Grantham Arms for the night, but she and her sister. were cuddled up in one of the rooms in the Abbey. Lady Grantham had insisted that she stay in a fancy room the night before he wedding.

"Well, look at my wee sister getting married. I never thought I'd see the day!" Nora joked.

"Neither did I, really. But I think I love him. I know I feel safe with him. He knows about mother and father." Elsie said shyly.

"Els, have you...well have you slept with the man? You can tell me, I won't be mad, and I won't say a thing. I promise." Nora looked at her sister kindly.

Elsie nodded, "He wouldn't know about mother and father if he hadn't seen the scars. You know, I couldn't pick the dress I wanted because the lace over the shoulders was too thin and showed my scars! The lady who helped me try them on just barley stifled her gasp. I was so ashamed Sis." Tears sprung to Elsie's eyes. "That's why I didn't want mother to know about the wedding, I don't want her here. She'll ruin everything, and I'm afraid Charles would hit father."

Nora chuckled, "You have my word that Henry and I didn't tell her. She was saying how she hadn't heard from you in a while, and asked if I had. I lied, said I imagined you were busy at the big house."

A knock sounded on the door and Nora got up to answer it. As the door swung open it revealed a young maid carrying a box. Nora took the box, thanked the maid with a smile and dashed back to the bed. She plopped the box on Elsie's lap.

"Open it Els! Open it!" Nora said, sounding too much like a little girl for her own good.

Elsie opened it and trembled. A lovely strand of pearls. The note nestled inside said:

See you tomorrow, I'll be the man at the front of the church. -CC

A tear slipped down her cheek as she put the box on the stand and snuggled into her sisters embrace.

"Sweet dreams Els, you deserve nothing but." Nora whispered into Elsie's hair.

-/-/-/-/-/-

Her sister was finishing the buttons on the back of her dress. It really was a stunning gown. All lace and a dropped waist. Long lace sleeves. It's hard to imagine what Els had paid for it, but Nora knew it was probably paid for with the money she got when their grandparents died. She sat Elsie on the vanity stool and started with her hair. Curls tumbled down onto her sisters shoulders as she took out the pins holing the curls in place. She braided the top and pined it so the curls were hanging just above the lace collar. She put the comb that held the veil in place and put her hands on Elsie's shoulder signal in her to look in the mirror. Elsie smiled up at her sister and thanked her. She put on the pearl necklace and put a sixpence in her shoe. She had everything she needed. And they were right on descended the staircase, where Lady Grantham and her brother in law were standing.

Henry smiled and led her to the carriage, along with her sister, and Lady Grantham.

The church was filled with people for the house, and village. Everyone wanting to see the fairytale for themselves. She was kissed on the cheek by her sister, and Lady Grantham took her hands and squeezed them. As they both took there places, the organ started the first strands of the wedding march.

Elsie took Henry's arm and as she glided down the aisle, she noticed her sisters pale face and panicked look. She look to Charles, who was looking at her and smiled. But soon her smile vanished when she got to the front of the church. There in the second pew stood her mother in father, and it took Elsie everything she had not to faint or run back down the aisle.

Cliffhanger! sorry, but i think it needed a little angst. Let me know what you think!

Much love
Samantha