A/N Coming down the homestretch. Only a few more chapters to go. Hope you're all still with me! Thank you - again, as always, very much, and from the bottom of my heart - for reviewing, following, and "favoriting." (Is that a word?) Please keep lending your support and encouragement! I couldn't keep going without it!

Chapter 19

Charles was on top of the world. He had had a wonderful evening last night with Elsie, and after numerous, prolonged goodnight kisses, he had gone to his room, changed, and collapsed into a contented heap on his bed. Exhausted from lack of sleep the previous night and from the excitement of the day, he had fallen fast asleep. Sweet as his dreams had been, he had now touched, held, kissed the real Elsie, and the night's dreams had been but a small foretaste of what he could expect upon seeing her in the morning.

He had risen early this morning and readied himself, hoping that Elsie, too, might be up and about early. She was. He found her at her desk in her sitting room, looking over some menus.

"Good morning," he greeted her and entered the room, closing the door behind him.

"Good morning," she returned, standing and smiling up at him. "How are you today?"

"Very well, thank you," he said, pulling her into his arms and kissing her chastely but enthusiastically. "Even better now. And you?"

"I've never been happier, Charles," she told him earnestly, grinning broadly.

"Neither have I, Elsie," he responded, emphasizing her name.

He loved to hear her call him by his given name. He supposed the novelty would wear off at some point, but it had been hardly twenty-four hours since the first time he had heard her utter his Christian name in her charming Scottish tones, and he still went weak at the knees when she addressed him in so personal a manner. No one had called him Charles since he had been a young footman, and now he would allow only one person in the world this privilege.

Similarly, he loved calling her Elsie. After having addressed her for twenty years as Mrs. Hughes, calling her Elsie didn't come naturally yet; he still had to think about it. The name felt strange, yet thrilling, coming out of his mouth. It was like a secret, something private and precious between just the two of them. Even Mrs. Patmore still called her Mrs. Hughes.

"You know, I think that I shall allow you to call me Elsie only until we are married," she informed him.

"Oh?" he asked, raising his eyebrows. "And why is that?"

"Because then I shall be Mrs. Carson, and I should like to be reminded of that fact at every opportunity," she explained reasonably.

"So I am to call my own wife Mrs. Carson? All the time? Really, Love, I've no intention of letting you forget that you are mine. But should your memory fail you, I'm sure I shall be able to find better ways to remind you," he said, kissing her hand and eyeing her mischievously.

"Oh, go on, then!" she chuckled. "Mrs. Patmore was right. You are a cheeky devil! Now, how may I help you, Mr. Carson? Was there something you wanted, or have you come just to distract me?"

"Actually, I have come to ask my intended if she will allow me to escort her to services this morning," he replied.

"Your intended would like that very much," she said.

"Wonderful!" Charles exclaimed happily. "I shall come to collect you when it's time to leave."

"I look forward to it," she returned, just as cheerfully.

"Well, then, I'll let you get back to your work," he said. "Although, I do believe you were distracted even before I arrived."

Elsie looked at him, puzzled.

"Why do you say that? I was reviewing the menus for the coming week," she told him.

He picked up the papers from her desk and handed them to her.

"These are last week's menus, Love," he advised her before kissing her cheek, which had tinted a lovely shade of pink, and departing.

A short while later, Charles found himself walking to church with his beloved on his arm. Every Sunday since her arrival at Downton, he had walked this same path with her, and every Sunday he had longed to feel her next to him, squeezing his arm lovingly, and to place his hand on top of hers in the crook of his elbow. Today, not only was he strolling along with his Elsie on his arm, but they were headed to church to hear Mr. Travis read the banns for their marriage.

They walked slowly enough to fall behind the other servants in the group and afford themselves a bit of privacy. They chatted about this and that, nothing of any consequence, and soon they arrived at the church. Charles placed his hand on the small of Elsie's back as he guided her up the steps and through the door. He even dared to lace pinkies with her as they sat in the pew during the service. When their names were read, he squeezed her hand and beamed joyfully at her, perceiving his own elation mirrored in her expression.

Charles could hardly believe the joy he felt at finally being able to express his love for Elsie openly. The small touches, the meaningful smiles, the knowing looks … Surely, the younger lot would find it ridiculous to get so excited over something so seemingly mild, but what did they know? He had loved her longer than some of them had been alive.

After the service, Charles and Elsie received the congratulations and best wishes of many of the villagers. Everyone seemed so genuinely pleased for them, and Charles's heart swelled with pride.

On the way back to the house, they found themselves walking alongside the other couple in the group, Anna and Mr. Bates.

"This is so perfect!" Anna declared excitedly. "We're all so happy for you both!"

"Thank you, Anna," said Elsie. "We appreciate everyone's kind wishes."

The two women drifted apart from the men, engaging in conversation that Charles could only assume involved womanly matters. That left Charles and Mr. Bates to talk about other concerns.

"Mr. Carson, if I may, I'd like to share with you something I've learned about marriage," said Mr. Bates.

"By all means, please, Mr. Bates," said Charles.

"Well, in my experience," continued Mr. Bates, "I've found that two words can go a long way to ensuring a happy marriage."

"Only two? That sounds rather too easy. What are these magic words?" asked Charles.

"'Yes, Dear,'" answered Mr. Bates.

"Thank you, Mr. Bates. I shall remember that," laughed Charles.