Hello dear readers.

Another little story about the film "a new era" this time. There are only two, maybe three chapters and I hope you will like them.

I really enjoyed the film, but I didn't get my fill of bonding or tender scenes between Charles and Elsie, so I wrote them.

The next chapter of "Coming to you" will arrive on Tuesday.

Everything is JF's, nothing is mine.

Chapter 1

"Charlie? Are you sure you won't get too hot in your clothes so... very English? What if we got you some lighter clothes what do you think?"

"My current clothes will do just fine, Elsie. I'll show those Frenchmen what English elegance is all about."

"Very well. But for your hat, perhaps you can find something with less... lining than this."

Elsie closed the suitcase and Charles took it down from their bed.

He was leaving the next day and everyone had very mixed feelings about the trip to France.

Charles was flattered that Lord Grantham had personally asked him to come along to help him feel at home in this frog-eating country. He was not particularly fond of travel, he had had his share when he was Robert's valet. Paris, Rome, Seville, a town in Brittany whose name he couldn't remember... But the older he got, the more he liked his routine and his tranquillity, and above all he remembered very well that he had been sick on the boat.

That was why they had gone no further than Scarborough on their honeymoon. Lord Grantham had suggested a trip to France but Charles had preferred Elsie not to watch him throw up in their first moments as husband and wife.

He wouldn't have much choice this time, he felt he had a mission of great importance. By accompanying Robert he felt that he was representing England and the King and he was very proud of that.

But he was also very anxious, it was the first time since he had married Elsie that he would be separated from her. He had never slept alone since his marriage and he had very quickly become accustomed to his wife's body against his, her cold feet against his legs or calves and the little snores she might make when she was really very tired.

Elsie was excited about the whole movie thing, she would never admit it to anyone, but this Guy Dexter looked pretty good to watch. Even if in her eyes Charles outshone him in charisma and everything else, it would be a welcome distraction for her and the whole staff.

She was also relieved that she and Lady Mary had come up with this plan to keep Charles away from the house during the shoot. Hell, Elsie was sure he would have stood outside the big door armed with a spear to keep them out.

But God, she was going to miss him. She'd quickly learned to love sharing her bed with Charles, loved having him wrap his arms around her when he turned to her in sleep. Sometimes he would make a little purr of pleasure when he felt her against him. She even liked it when he talked in his sleep, and she had learned to put up with his huge snores when he had drunk more alcohol than usual.

But now he was leaving. Not for very long, fortunately. When he came back the film would be over and they would be happy to be together again.

When they went to bed, Elsie thought about the big day ahead of them both. She would have liked Charles to rest and cuddle a bit before going to sleep, especially before saying goodbye. But he was still reading his guidebook on France and making insulting comments about the French.

She turned off the light on her side, turned around on the other side to face her husband. She took the book from his hands, almost climbed on top of him to put the book on Charles' bedside, and stayed with her hands on his chest, her face very close to his.

"I thought we could... you know? As we'll be apart for a long time. Just to have a really good memory to look back on when I'm alone here, in this big bed without you."

If he had at first looked outraged that Elsie had snatched his book from his hands, he was now very happy about it.

"Will you miss me? Don't you think you'll be relieved not to hear me grump about everything anymore?"

"Idiot! Of course I'll miss you. I've gotten used to sharing my bed, having you against me. And...you know I'm not totally comfortable leaving you alone with all those flirty French girls around?" She said, placing kisses just where she had undone the first buttons of his pyjamas.

He laughed outright at this remark and held her close, letting her snog him and finish unbuttoning his pyjama top. When she had finished she looked at him again before leaning over and kissing him deeply.

Charles responded with fervour and love. He was going to leave, he wouldn't see her for days, she would be alone with these movie stars... He wasn't naturally jealous, but he knew he was old and that these "actors" were usually young or middle-aged men, still dashing and charming. He knew this, he had been on stage himself and yes, he had enjoyed it a little.

A pang of anxiety gripped him as the kiss intensified and he had unconsciously started to pull up Elsie's nightdress.

He stopped his action and his kiss and took a deep breath.

"Charlie? Are you all right?"

He then looked at her sharply and said:

"I will miss you, Elsie, I will miss you more than I can say. I don't think I'll be able to sleep without you by my side. And... I'm not at peace with the thought of you being here alone, and at the same time I wouldn't be at peace either, with the thought of you sleeping in the Abbey again with all those... actors." He had dropped the last word with obvious contempt, making Elsie laugh in turn.

"Oh my Charlie. I love you and I'll miss you so much. And I promise you I won't sleep with any actor until you sleep with a French woman. Or any other woman for that matter."

He rolled his eyes, as if that were possible. Sharing a bed with any other woman than her... Ridiculous! Especially with a French woman!

"It's a deal, my dear," and they picked up where they had left off, enjoying their last night before Charles left to become Mr. Carson the butler again for a few days.

They finally fell asleep naked and tangled in their unravelled sheets, which Charlie would not like the next morning. Elsie brought her cold feet up against her husband's warm body and Charles muttered in his sleep:

"Quite so, My Lord" before snoring loudly.

oOo

They had made love again in the early hours of the morning, slowly, taking the time to burn the other into skin. Then they got up and got cleaned up. Charles had put on his Sunday best, Elsie her housekeeper' outfit. They had finally emerged from their cottage and shared one last long, sweet kiss before setting off for the abbey, Elsie's hand warm in the crook of her husband's arm.

They said goodbye and she dusted off his suit jacket. He didn't need it, Charles was always impeccable, but it gave her a good reason to touch him a little more. Then, without warning, he had suddenly moved away from her to go and shout at the valets who, according to him, were doing a bad job with the luggage.

Finally, just before getting into the car, he had come back to her to steal a very discreet kiss and to slip an "I love you" in her ear.

And he was gone.

oOo

"Here, Mr. Carson, some soup will do you good. "

Miss Baxter certainly meant well, but all Carson wanted was to be left alone. Why did the boats have to rock so much? He ran back to his cabin, he was sick as a dog, and he wanted his Elsie with him. She would know what to do to make him feel better.

When he had emptied what little was in his stomach, he lay down on his little bed and finally fell asleep.

The whole trip on this bloody ship went like that. When he set foot in France, he always felt as if the earth was rocking.

And to think that there is the return journey to be made.

The train to his destination was more relaxing for him, his motion sickness passed quickly once he had eaten some of the biscuits Elsie had baked for his trip. The sugar did him a world of good and he felt refreshed.

The heat hit him hard. How on earth could people live here in the middle of summer?

His woollen suit was sticking to his body, his shirt was soaked and his trousers were sticking on his legs.

He couldn't wait to get to his room so he could freshen up and put on his perfectly starched and, above all, clean livery.

When he was settled he gave his suit to be cleaned and was able to wash himself before putting on his service suit. It was not much less hot than the other one, but at least it was clean.

After that he was determined to call Downton Abbey and talk to Elsie for a few minutes.

oOo

"Downton Abbey, who am I speaking to? "

"Mr. Barrow, it's Mr. Carson here, how are things at home? "

"Perfectly well, Mr. Carson, everything is under control. "

"How is Lady Grantham?"

"Her Ladyship is as well as can be expected and none of the film crew are going anywhere near her, we're taking great care of that. "

"Very well... well, well, well... Mr. Barrow I won't take up any more of your time, can you fetch Mrs. Hughes please?"

"Very good Mr. Carson, stay on the line."

Thomas had finally gained Mr. Carson's trust by trying to live up to the training he had given him. It had not been easy to suppress all the venom he had in him but he had been forced to admit that the servants respected him, that no mutiny had taken place and even Mrs. Hughes had helped him to get his bearings. But playing messenger to the old butler did not please him much.

He quickly left his pantry and went to find the housekeeper working on organising the menus and bed linen rotation in her office. Thomas simply poked his head through the doorway:

"A call for you Mrs. Hughes, you will not be disturbed, take your time."

Elsie smiled at the message, her Charlie had arrived in France in one piece and she would be able to hear his voice.

"Charlie? Is everything alright?"

"Oh Elsie, at last I can hear you. It's hell here. The heat, the people... none of the servants here speak English, Elsie. I'll try my best to teach them how to serve properly but honestly I'm afraid it's mission impossible."

Always that dramatic, theatrical tone that made her laugh.

"I'm sorry to hear that, darling. How was the trip?"

"The trip? Ah uh, yes very well, it went perfectly well."

"Charlie?"

" Yes? "

"How long were you ill?"

She heard him mutter something on the other end of the line before he answered:

"A little. Why do you have to know me so well? I never told you I was seasick. "

"We'll talk about it when you get back. You're going to try to visit a little, aren't you? Try to see the sights, the colours and I want you to tell me all about it when you get back, okay Charlie? "

"Yes, I'll go as soon as I get the chance, I'll probably have to find something edible anyway. The French are crazy."

Elsie rolled her eyes.

"Try to make the most of it and get yourself a lighter hat and then maybe an outfit more suited to the heat too."

"OK with the hat, but the rest I can't promise you. What's the weather like in Yorkshire?"

"We're in England Charlie, it's raining!"

"Oh the rain... I think I'm getting homesick Elsie."

"You'll be home soon my love, and I'll be glad to have you back. And I promise I'll show you."

"Hush, Elsie! What if someone hears you?"

"Well, he'll think my husband's lucky to have a wife who loves him. "

"Ask Mrs. Patmore to prepare a basket with as many English specialities as she can for us, please. I tell you Elsie, I'm in danger of losing a lot of weight here. I must leave you, I have work to do. I thought about writing you a letter, but by the time you get it I'll be home. I love you, Elsie and I want you to be with me. Or better still, I want to be with you, in England, in Yorkshire. "

He sighed sadly.

"Go to work Charlie, I promise you the days will fly by. Keep busy, enjoy yourself, don't be afraid to taste the food and… think of me. "

"I'm always thinking of you."

"Good. I'm always thinking of you too."

"Goodbye my love"

"Goodbye my darling"

She hung up shaking her head with a smug smile on her face. She was so in love with her curmudgeon !

TBC...

I don't know about you, but I like the sulky, offended side that Carson can sometimes have. and Jim Carter plays him so well