A/N: I'm easing back into this story a year since the last chapter was published. This is a small chapter following Elsie's surgery. I'd suggest that you go back and read that or several chapters to refresh. I hope to update regularly now. I have always had this story mapped out and known where it would go. When this one finishes, there will be epilogues into the character's futures. Thank you for your patience. Chapter Title: Only You, sung by the Platters which can be found on the music platform of your choice.
When Charles pushes through the doorway and into Elsie's hospital room, he finds her out of bed and sitting in a nearby chair with the lunch trolley pulled close. She's still dressed in a gown but she's not looking quite so pale and a hint of color has returned to her cheeks. This does Charles's heart as much good as anything and helps him to forget the sight of Alice and Charlie leaving the hospital with their little bundle of joy.
Charles's heart is full of love for Elsie and relief that she's going to be alright. And though they are going home to her flat, he is increasingly beginning to think of it as their home. He now spends more time there than he does at his own. Hers is so warm, classic, smooth, and inviting, just like the woman herself. He hopes that she'll not mind that he made space in her closet for some of his shirts and trousers; that he took a nearly empty drawer in the bureau for his underthings.
For the first time in days, she's not picking at her food or just pushing it around the plate, but she's tucked into a dish of something that doesn't look or smell like hospital food at all. In fact, the closer Charles looks he sees that the tray with what appears to be something rather unappetizing is pushed to the side and Elsie is enjoying something altogether different. Charles suspects that Beryl has dropped by and brought some of her favorites. As Elsie dredges a thick slice of bread through what remains of her lunch, she chuckles at something that is said on the television program that she is watching. Her laughter is a sound that Charles hasn't heard in a while, not since they were told she'd need surgery, and he smiles.
"I thought you'd sworn off that silly show" he questions as he sits on the edge of the bed and sits her overnight bag next to him.
"You shouldn't sneak up on a woman like that," she replies with mock sternness as she reaches out to tap his knee with her forefinger.
"Hmm, I'll remember that. Did you leave any of that for me?" he asks, pointing to the stew and the bag of goodies that Beryl brought.
"No. Beryl said that I am to eat every bite so that I can regain my strength," she replies with a sigh. "She acts as if I have one foot in the grave," she adds with a dramatic roll of the eyes.
"Well, she's right," Charles adds emphatically. When she looks up sharply in his direction he quickly adds a disclaimer. "You need to regain your strength."
After a sharp glare from his fiancée Charles is relieved when he hears a knock at the door and sees a young nurse sweep into the room. She's a young woman they've not seen before and Charles is aghast at how young she appears. Since he's passed his fortieth birthday it is difficult for him to judge exactly how old young people actually are and for a moment he wonders if she's there on work experience. Quickly though he realizes that she isn't and that she's carrying a handful of paperwork that he presumes must be Elsie's release papers and he muses over who is happier that she is leaving hospital today, Elsie or himself.
"Mrs. Hughes, everything is in order for your discharge," the nurse announces all too brightly as if she's trying just a bit too hard to be cheerful. She begins rattling off instructions for Elsie to follow at home. How to clean the wound, dress it, what to do and what not to do. Charles listens but busies himself with emptying the contents of Elsie's overnight bag onto the bed.
"Do you need help changing into your clothing or will your husband attend to that?"
Charles continues his task, carefully laying out Elsie's clothing out onto the bed and her shoes onto the floor. He's interested to hear Elsie's response to the nurse's question. Not that it matters much or really at all. They are engaged and they are as good as married in most respects, but for some reason he's interested in how she answers, to see if she corrects the woman. The strong urge to be married to Elsie, tugs at him with overwhelming force. The cancer scare has frightened him and he wants to start their life properly as husband and wife, bound together, no matter what befalls them.
"My husband will help. Thank you," Elsie assures that young woman. Charles notices the warmth when the words "my husband" tumble so effortlessly from her lips. A soft smiles tugs at his lips and he turns to catch Elsie's eyes as she winks at him. The nurse finishes her instructions and tells them that she will send a porter around to help Elsie downstairs to Charles's awaiting car. Once the young woman leaves, Charles helps Elsie from her chair and to her feet. He reaches into his waistcoat pocket to retrieve a platinum and diamond ring.
"First things first," he says as he replaces her engagement ring. "I suppose that I am Mr. Hughes now?"
"Mr. Carson-Hughes, has a certain ring to it," she replies with a chuckle as she kisses his cheek and then turns so that he can loosen the tie that holds her gown together.
"Hmmphf," he groans in horror as he tells her that he has waited too long to hear them called 'Mr. and Mrs. Carson' and to have her take his last name even if only privately.
Thank you for reading. Christmas is just around the corner in the next chapter and we will see a grand party at Grantham House with all the characters we know and love. If you are inclined, a review is most appreciated.