A/N Thank you for all your kind responses. I love all your comments! Your encouraging words keep me writing.
I had not originally intended to include Mrs. Patmore in this chapter, but she knocked on my door unexpectedly, and of course I had to let her in.
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Chapter 16
Elsie was still in shock. She could hardly believe that Charles had just declared his love and had asked her to marry him. And now she was supposed to behave as if nothing out of the ordinary were happening!
She sat next to him at breakfast and couldn't stop grinning. He, for his part, seemed just as deliriously happy. For so many years, the housekeeper of Downton Abbey had sat next to her butler. Today, Elsie Hughes, bride-to-be, sat next to Charles Carson, her intended husband.
As discreet as they tried to be, they couldn't completely contain their mirth; they could only try, unsuccessfully, for the most part, to subdue their responses. The pair attracted some curious looks from the others at the table, and Mrs. Patmore gave Elsie a suspicious, sideways glance every time she caught her eye, but everyone was prudent enough not to inquire.
At one point, Charles rested his leg lightly against Elsie's under the table and gave her a shy smile. Elsie smiled back at him, dropped her hand casually to her lap, and covertly reached over to squeeze his knee.
Before today, any such contact - a stray swipe of their fingers against each other as they passed a dish, an unintended brush of their knees as one or the other sat down or stood up - while thrilling, had been accidental. This morning, Charles had deliberately placed his leg next to hers, and Elsie had purposely touched his knee. The unspoken confirmation of their affection delighted her to no end, and the secret they shared made it all the more exciting.
When breakfast was over, and the rest of the staff were heading off to their various morning tasks, Charles said to Elsie, "Oh, Mrs. Hughes. I was wondering if I might speak to you about a certain matter. Do you have a moment?"
"Certainly, Mr. Carson," she replied. "Why don't you come to my sitting room?"
He followed her down the corridor and into her sitting room and closed the door behind them. She hadn't even had time to turn around before she felt Charles standing against her back. He placed his hands on her shoulders and leaned in to kiss her cheek from behind. Elsie purred in contentment before turning around to kiss him in return.
"Now, what is it you wanted to talk about, Charles?" she asked.
"How soon will you marry me, Elsie?" he wanted to know.
She was surprised at the forthrightness of his question, but answered just as directly, "I would have married you any day for the last two decades, and I will marry you any day during the next two, but I would prefer that it be sooner rather than later."
He looked overjoyed, beaming at her enthusiastic response.
"Oh, Elsie," sighed Charles. "I know I said that we should talk this evening before we tell anyone, but I can't wait. The way I see it, there are only two questions we need to discuss: how soon we can be wed, and whether to ask the family for a cottage or our own room in the house. It seems we both want to marry as soon as possible, and I'm fairly certain we'll agree on our living arrangements, but I'll not presume to speak for you. That would be rather an inauspicious beginning for a marriage, I think."
"You're a wise man, my Dear," Elsie remarked with a smirk. "You'll make an excellent husband, I'm sure."
"I certainly mean to try," he assured her. "But now the other matter. Where are we to live?"
"I think you're right when you say that we'll agree. As nice as it might be to have our own cottage, I can't see you ever living away from the house, and to be honest, I don't think I'd be happy, either. But do you really think the family would arrange a room in the house for us?" Elsie wondered.
"I don't see why not. There are whole wings of this house that are entirely vacant. We could occupy one of the rooms quite conveniently. We'd be far enough away from others to have some privacy, yet near enough to be reached quickly if we're needed," he reasoned.
"Then I suppose it's all settled," she said.
"Shall we ask to speak to Her Ladyship and His Lordship right away? If they are agreeable, we can see Mr. Travis this afternoon. It occurs to me that tomorrow is Sunday, and if we speak with him today, the first banns can be read at tomorrow morning's services," he pointed out.
She couldn't resist teasing him a bit, saying, "My goodness, Charles! For a man who has always moved forward so cautiously, you seem to be in quite a hurry now!"
"I'll not deny it, Love. I am very eager to make you my wife," he declared.
"Oh, Charles," Elsie said, lifting her hand to his face. "I'm rather impatient myself. I can't regret a single day of the past twenty years. I have had the privilege of working every day alongside my best friend, my trusted confidant, my loyal supporter, and my true love. Even if we have not been man and wife, I have spent every day loving you and being loved in return, though I may not have known that until now. The days I have spent with you have been the happiest I've known. However, I look forward to happier days still, when I am your wife. And so, yes, I would like to speak to the family and Mr. Travis right away."
"I do have one small request, before we see them," Charles said. "Will you mind terribly if I tell Lady Mary before we speak to the rest of the family? She's guessed at my feelings for you and has been very encouraging. And I do believe a certain red-headed cook will be very angry if you don't let her in on our little secret before we announce it to the rest of the staff."
"She will indeed," laughed Elsie. "In fact, I'm afraid she'll have my head!"
"Good. I'll go and find Lady Mary, you tell Mrs. Patmore, and then we'll speak to the family. Now, come here and let me give you a proper kiss," he said, drawing her near.
"Mmmm … I do rather like this new arrangement," she mused, melting into his embrace and kissing him sweetly.
"I quite agree," he concurred, returning her kiss.
Just then, there was a knock at her parlor door, and the amorous couple had no time to spring apart before Mrs. Patmore entered, beginning, "Mrs. Hughes, I - " before she realized that the butler and housekeeper were standing before her holding each other affectionately.
"I'm sorry. I didn't - But you're - Oh, for the love of Pete! If the two of you are going to carry on like this in the middle of the day, at least lock the door!" cried an exasperated Mrs. Patmore, throwing up her arms in frustration and turning to leave.
Red-faced as they were, Elsie and Charles had to laugh at the cook's reaction.
"Wait, Mrs. Patmore," Elsie called, between giggles. "Mr. Carson and I have something to tell you."
"Do you now? And what might that be? That the two of you have been madly in love for the past two centuries and are just now bothering to do something about it? I already know!" Mrs. Patmore huffed.
"Perhaps you do," Elsie responded, "but do you know also that we are to be married?"
That did it. Mrs. Patmore was well and truly shocked. Apparently, while finding her two friends in a loving embrace had not fazed her in the least, the fact that they were to be wed left her with nothing to say.
"Well! Had I known it would leave you speechless, I would have married Mr. Carson years ago!" Elsie joked.
Still lost for words, the cook thrust herself at the other two, trying to wrap them both up in her arms. Finding that she couldn't satisfactorily embrace them both at the same time, she hugged Elsie first and then squeezed Charles's face between her hands and kissed him noisily on the lips.
"Thank you, Mrs. Patmore. I gather from your reaction that you approve?" asked Charles good-naturedly.
"Approve!? I've been praying for it for years!" she answered.
"Well, then, I thank you for your assistance in that regard. I'll leave you ladies to it. I'm going to go and find Lady Mary. Mrs. Hughes, I will ask Her Ladyship and His Lordship to meet with us in half an hour or so. Will you be ready then?" Charles asked.
"I certainly will, Mr. Carson," she answered.
He kissed her cheek and started towards the door before pausing and returning to kiss Mrs. Patmore on the cheek as well.
"Oh, you cheeky devil! Be off with you now!" Mrs. Patmore blustered at Charles. Then turning to Elsie, she commented, "You certainly have lit a fire under that one!"