A little shorty but I gotta get in bed! Wedding tomorrow I promise!

Chapter 9

The week went by quickly; the servant's hall was abuzz with talk of the Butler and the House Keeper of Downton getting married. For the most part everyone was happy for them. Thomas, of course, lashed out with rude and inappropriate jabs. But deep down he was mostly jealous and sad, so his behavior was a cover for all that he pushed back and refused to deal with.

Anna and Mrs. Patmore worked together on a wedding reception and they all three traveled to Ripon to help Elsie find a dress, suitable for a bride. Charles worked with Bates and Jimmy and the other 2nd footmen to prepare the house for a temporary changing of the guard. He chose to let Bates fill Thomas in on what his duties would be. He didn't have the patience or tolerance for him right now. Carson secured a time with the Vicar of Downton to actually marry his beloved and was well on his way to being a married man.

Charles and Elsie had found pockets of time to steal away with each other; not nearly enough for either of them but there was so much to be done. Elsie was tired, he could tell and he just prayed for Friday to come quickly. He was nervous and elated. There was a pensiveness within him but he was determined to steady his nerves when he was with her as he wanted nothing more than to be everything she needed right now.

It was Thursday morning and Charles took to his pantry early. There were many last minutes things to approve, sign off on and be done with. It was his half day and his plan was to leave the castle in the afternoon and stay in the village overnight. He knew Elsie would be well cared for and he couldn't see her anyhow. He was startled a bit at the footsteps coming down the stairs. It was well too early for anyone to be up but he quickly knew who that cadence belonged to. When she appeared in the door way she looked pale and weak. He jumped immediately from his chair and went to her.

"Elsie my darling, what is it?" He held her.

"Oh…I'm fine. Just weary." She pats his arm and moves to the soft arm chair near his desk. "Don't let me keep you from your duties. I know you're trying to get a lot done so you can have your half day." She sits and leans her head back and closes her eyes.

Charles slowly moves back to his desk, concerned for her. He watches her for a long while. "Are you sure you're okay? Did you sleep?"

"Not much." She sighed with her eyes still closed.

"Elsie, I know it's been a busy week but I want you to slow down today. I don't want you doing too…."

She opens one eye and gives him a sly grin. "Oh shush! I'm getting married tomorrow to one handsome lad. I have a lot to do to get ready for him!"

He smiles wide. "What a coincidence. I'm getting married tomorrow as well to the most beautiful lass you've ever seen!"

They both sit in the warm silence for a long moment. "Are you happy?" he questions quietly. "Is this what you truly want?"

She gets up and goes to him and sits in his lap, wrapping one arm around his shoulder. "If I have made you doubt that at all this week, please forgive me." Her blue orbs search his eyes. "Do you forget how long we've waited for this moment? Unless death takes me, I wouldn't change this for anything in the world. I want to be Mrs. Charles Carson…and the sooner the better." She leaned down and kissed him whole heartedly on the mouth.

He responded in kind and soon they were kissing and fumbling and gasping for air and tugging, kneading at each other. The clothes were frustrating and too much and Charles was sweating and his hair was tousled from her hands running through it over and over. Their lips were swollen with heat and love and whispers of passion.

"Oh God Elsie!" Charles lifted her to the desk, her legs wrapped around his back, he buried his face at her exposed flesh where he had unbuttoned her dress in the back just enough to pull it down below her upper arms. Her shift falling away from her shoulder, Carson nipped gently at her shoulder, placed kisses across her collar bone, leaving a trail of fire where his lips once was.

Elsie's skirts had risen up above her thighs, his body, heavily nestled between them, his hands wandering under her skirts, as far back as he would let himself go. "Cha….Charles….love…." she gasped into his neck after each pet of her lips. "We should…." She threw her head back in overwhelming pleasure. "Oh…."

The sound of bounding footsteps, several of them, on the stairs jolted them quickly back to reality. She kissed him and smiled, knowing how hard it was each time to pull away. "It won't be long." She cooed.

He hurriedly straightened his waistcoat and smoothed his hair back then kissed her back. "Oh…I cannot wait….to make love to you." He growled. He offered his hand and she jumped from his desk and turned to him to let him button her back up. "Now remember….you take it easy today. Let Anna do things…she needs to get in the habit."

Elsie smiled as she opened his door. "I will. Let me see you before you go this afternoon." She puckered her lips and blew him a kiss into the air and he reached out as if to catch it.

TBC….WEDDING DAY! WOOT!