I'm sorry I'm late! I know I promised a wedding story last night and I had it written...my internet was down and I could not upload it! Boo! So here it is and I hope to have wedding night completed tonight.

A bit about writing true to the times. I understand that Robert and Cora being so supportive and loving toward their servants was rare in the days of those grand houses and their servants. BUT in all my research(I'm a stickler for getting it right and do a lot of research) I have read that there were SOME..not many accounts...but some "masters" who treated their servants exactly the way the Crawley's have treated their service staff. I like to think, as English as JF is, he probably has heard and read some of those accounts and that is why he has written the story this way. I'm believing that if Lord and Lady Grantham were real, they would have treated their servants in the very same manner.

Chapter 10

"I need that ring, my love." Charles smiled and held his hand out to his soon to be bride. His bags were packed and he was headed to the Grantham Arms to spend the night. It was late afternoon and while he would rather spend the evening in her company, he knew that would come soon and tonight he would sleep, knowing tomorrow, Elsie Hughes would be his...forever.

Elsie gently pulled the special ring from her finger and looked at it lovingly. "Take good care of it." She gave him a doleful look and placed it into his palm and folded her hands around it.

"Do you realize this time tomorrow, our lives will be vastly different?!" Charles questioned softly.

She laced her fingers between his and lays her head on his shoulder. "It's like a dream." She says. They start to walk toward the back door, he carrying his bag in one hand. He starts to put it down but she stops him. "No...I'd like to walk a little ways with you."

He nods and smiles and pulls her along with him as they ascend the few stairs to the door and into the sunlight. The afternoon shadows from the giant trees cast long shadows across the lawn and they both take in the air like it is essential.

"It's nice..." Elsie says. She feels like she is seeing him off on a long journey and her heart is melancholy. There are no words to explain how happy she is...has been this last week yet there is a pending dread inside and she knows why. The closer she and Charles became, the more fearful she was of her health and her future. She had laid awake nearly every night, crying, praying, considering that he is going to such great lengths to make her happy, to secure a future with her, and what if...there was to be no future. The thought crosses her mind now and she cannot stop the tears from rushing forward, mainly because she was exhausted and anxious and had become powerless over her emotions of late.

Charles turns to face her and tilts his head with a look of empathy. "My sweet Elsie." He enfolds her in his arms. "Your tears make me afraid to leave you."

"Oh this crying thing has become old hat with me, apparently it's what I do now!" She chuckled and wrapped her arm around his waist and nudged him forward toward his destination. She fought back those horrid thoughts and silently vowed to be strong for them.

They walked as far as the fork in the graveled that leads toward the village. They make small talk about the ceremony and the staff that will be there. Her Ladyship and Lady Mary had informed him that arrangements had been made for them in London and they needn't worry about a thing. Carson was particularly glad when he learned they would have 2 days and nights off and everything had been planned for their short honeymoon. It wasn't easy planning anything further than the village when you were in service so he was grateful for their thoughtfulness.

"I will miss you tonight." Charles lowers his bag to the ground and envelops her in his arms. He squeezes her tight and kisses her hair. "But I will see you at ten o'clock, at the church. I'll be the handsome guy down front."

She pulls back and looks at him. "I wouldn't miss it for anything in the world." She smiles and reaches up to kiss him longingly. She runs her slender finger over his bottom lip and deepens the kiss, her tongue finding his.

They part and just look at one another for the longest moment. "I love you Elsie Hughes." Charles' voice was deep and soft and it made her stomach flip with sheer desire for him.

"I love you Charles Carson." She answers.

She watched him walk until she could no longer see him, her handsome, soon to be husband. She smiled with tears in her eyes watching that slow saunter, his derby hat slightly to one side. "He's mine." she thought as she turned back and bit her bottom lip trying to stifle the joy welling up inside her.

"Now Mrs. Hughes, I will be here no later than 7. I will go over the invoicing with you and then we'll start to get ready. I have to add the buttons tonight but that won't take long." Anna goes over last details in Elsie's sitting room.

"Okay and you know we plan to leave from the village to catch the train to London by noon." Elsie thought they were going to London after their wedding, Charles had been secretive about his plan to take her back to Scotland.

"Yes, Mr. Bates told me that plan. He and His Lordship are going to have a drink with Mr. Carson at the Grantham Arms after dinner. I'll deal with the maids after dinner service. You go ahead and rest. Take your supper now, there's no need for you here."

Elsie sighs heavily. "Oh Anna, can you believe this?! ME! Getting MARRIED!" she laughs.

"I really can't believe this is truly happening and so quickly Mrs. Hughes, but I can't think of anyone who deserves it more than you and Mr. Carson." She smiles sweetly. "Do you have everything packed for Sc….?" Anna silently chastised herself for nearly slipping. "…for London. Thankfully Elsie was none the wiser.

"I think so. Anna, you've been such a great help to me. I can't thank you enough." She stands and brings her most beloved employee to her. "You truly are a blessing."

"Thank you Mrs. Hughes." Anna hugs her back. "Now go. I'll take care of everything and I'll see you here first thing in the morning."

Beryl and Elsie sit at the large wooden table in the servant's hall and Elsie barely nibbles at a plate of food. Beryl talks a mile a minute and Elsie is grateful for it. She loved Beryl's ability to always make her laugh. They talked about the whirlwind week and what it might be like when the newlyweds return as well as the pending trip to America; a topic that Elsie would just soon forget.

Soon Elsie hugged her friend and thanked her for the small reception they had last evening with just the staff. Charles and Elsie decided it best to catch the noon train to London after their nuptials rather than returning to Downton to celebrate. They only had a short time alone and they wanted to make the most of it.

"Carson, here's to a wonderful new chapter in your life!" Lord Grantham raises his glass in the air and clinks his glass with Carson and then Bates.

"Here here!" Bates resounds.

"Thank you Milord. I certainly could never repair you for your kindness." Carson gestures toward Lord Grantham with his glass of scotch.

"We should head back Bates; we don't want to get Carson drunk on the eve of his wedding!" Robert chuckles and downs the rest of his scotch as does Bates. "Until tomorrow ol chap! Sleep well!" The trio stood and claps one another on the shoulders and bid each other adieu for the night.

Charles retires to his room, undresses and lies atop the blankets, the scotch had warmed his body sufficiently and he didn't need a blanket. He bent his arms behind his head and closed his eyes, thinking of the only thing he wanted….her.

Elsie stood, naked, in front of the full length mirror in her room. She smoothed her hands over her full breasts and stops abruptly when she feels the source of all her angst. It wasn't sore, it wasn't feverish, it didn't affect her….except it was the most omnipotent thing to ever rule over her. She cursed it under her breath and prayed to God to take it away. She turned and observed her figure from the side and wondered if Charles would think she was beautiful…really. He said she was beautiful but she wondered how he would feel to see her…this way. These thoughts plagued her mind, not just this week, but for many years. In her fantasies of them he adored her body, her breasts, her high waist and strong calves. Years of stairs and hard labor had kept her body amazingly toned and firm, even at nearly 60 years old.

She pulled a peach colored, silk, envelope chemise from a box she kept in the top of her closet and held it up to her. She smiled for she knew what this would do to Charles. She ordered this chemise from a mail order catalog from Paris, almost 2 years ago. It was a time when her desire was so heavy and overwhelming for him that she was certain she would have to tell him how she felt. She had gone through seasons of wanting him so badly, the nightly meetings in her sitting room, the one too many glasses of wine on evenings they were fed up and exhausted. She was sure there would come a day when she would break and blurt out all of her lustful passion and desire to have him so she ordered the slip and after getting it, she was filled with shame and put it away. It was delicate and nearly sheer with fine lace and ribbon lining the open neck line and the bottom hem. She tried it on and it made her feel desirable and that is exactly what she needed right now.

The church began to fill up with the family and most of the staff. Everyone was happy and smiling as it felt like a new day was dawning. The Butler and the Housekeeper, marrying and retaining their position in such a grand house was unheard of yet the Crawley women were eternally grateful for Robert's position on this. "Oh Robert, it's lovely isn't it?"

Robert looked around the church, the flowers were simple and a few candles lit the altar and yet he did consider it lovely. He patted Cora's hand that was wrapped around his upper arm. "It is darling."

"I'm so happy for them…I just pray that Mrs. Hughes is okay." Cora's voice was laced with deep concern.

"I know sweetheart but today we won't think on those things. We will remain hopeful and joyful." They jerked to attention as the organ began to play.

Carson was in his place at the altar. He checked his pocket again for the ring and closed his eyes taking in a deep breath. His bride would be walking down the aisle any minute and he would be married to the woman he had dreamed about for the better part of 20 years.

The church stood as Elsie entered the back of the tiny church. There was a collective gasp throughout the room, many tear filled eyes. Elsie wasn't nervous but proud to be standing here, in this moment; a moment she never thought would come. Her eyes were locked on Charles as he turned.

His mouth stood agape as she slowly proceeded down the aisle. Her dress was a beautiful yet simple lace and silk gown with bead and lace work at the back and neck. Anna had down exquisite work on it and she had put Elsie's hair up in pin curls and a lovely silver clip holding a veil in front of her face.

Charles thought his heart might stop. He had never seen a more breathtaking sight. His heart was bursting with pride and the biggest smile anyone had ever witnessed from the staunch and resolute butler, spread across his face. It was as if the world had been locked out of this moment and it was just Charles and Elsie.

The vows were short and sweet yet fraught with emotion and meaning. He placed his mother's ring on her finger once again. Tears escaped down both of their cheeks All of the Crawley girls were crying and most of the women staff members. Lord Grantham smiled and squeezed Cora's hand in his. Charles had written some of his thoughts on paper the night before but he felt they were far too personal for him to share with those who congregated with them. He would share those after they were in London with his beloved bride.

"You may kiss your bride." The Vicar announced.

Charles slowly moved the veil away and her eyes were shimmering blue lakes. They had kissed a lot in this last week but this kiss…this kiss sealed the deal. It signaled the end of years of wanting and waiting. It had finally come to pass and Charles and Elsie turned to the congregation as husband and wife.

TBC…Wedding night tomorrow…Tonight! YEEHAW!