A/N Here's Chapter 23, Charles just before the wedding. I hope to post the next chapter - Elsie just before the wedding - tonight.
Thank you again for all the reviews. You've been remarkable in your support. Please continue and help me get through to the end!
Chapter 23
Charles was a bundle of nerves. Mr. Bates was doing his best to calm him, but his efforts were largely unsuccessful. Mr. Bates had spent the night in his old room at the Abbey and, having already dressed the Earl, was now with Charles in his room, helping him prepare for the wedding.
"Please, Mr. Carson!" implored the valet, chuckling. "Do stop pacing about the room. You'll wear a track in the floor!"
"Well, what else am I to do? I'm completely ready, and it's still much too early to leave for church!" cried Charles, exasperated. "Perhaps I should find Mr. Barrow and go over his instructions again."
"No, you most certainly should not!" insisted Mr. Bates, firmly yet kindly. "Mr. Carson, if you can't calm yourself a bit, I shall be forced to fetch Mrs. Patmore and ask her to have a word with you."
Charles sat down on his bed immediately, the threat of being by chastised the cook just before his wedding striking fear in his heart.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Bates," Charles apologized. "I shall try to relax myself somewhat; only, it's difficult. I've never done this before."
"Well, I have done. Twice, as a matter of fact, though I try to my best forget the first time and think only of the second. There's no need to worry, Mr. Carson. You are simply going to church to promise yourself to the person you hold most dear in the world. But have you not already been hers for all these years?" asked Mr. Bates.
"Yes, I suppose I have been," answered Charles.
"And even if you were not to be married today, would you not still belong to her in all the years to come?" Mr. Bates continued.
"Yes, I certainly would," replied the butler.
"Then why should you be even the least bit nervous about promising your heart to someone who already holds it?" the younger man finished logically.
"You're right, of course, Mr. Bates, but it's not that that's troubling me," Charles admitted. "It's all the rest of it - getting through the ceremony, and the luncheon, and ... well, tonight ... " - here Charles averted his eyes and cleared his throat - "and tomorrow, and the next day. I'm afraid I know nothing about being married. Before I became a butler, I had training, preparation. I had experience as a footman and valet. But there's no training for marriage, no prior experience. I won't even know how to behave."
"You'll learn, Mr. Carson. You and Mrs. Hughes will learn together. You can't possibly know everything beforehand, and figuring it out together is all part of the process," Mr. Bates pointed out.
Charles sighed, "I'm sure that's true. Thank you, Mr. Bates. I do feel more at ease now."
Just then, there was a knock at the door. Mr. Bates answered it to find Mr. Barrow, apparently wanting a word with the butler.
"May I come in, Mr. Carson?" asked Mr. Barrow.
"Yes, of course, Mr. Barrow," Charles answered, rising from the bed, and Mr. Bates admitted the under-butler.
"I just wanted to assure you that I have everything well in hand, and that I intend to do my best while you're gone. I certainly don't have your wisdom or experience, but I do promise not to let the house burn down in your absence. Mr. Bates will be sure to keep me in check. I hope you can enjoy your time with Mrs. Hughes without worrying too much about the house," said Mr. Barrow with a candor that both surprised and pleased Charles, and Charles found his words unexpectedly reassuring.
"Thank you for that, Mr. Barrow. It's kind of you to say," Charles responded with equal frankness. "I'm sure you'll get along admirably. I have every confidence that I shall indeed find the house still standing upon my return."
"Thank you, Mr. Carson. I'll be on my way. I'll see you both at church," said Mr. Barrow, nodding and excusing himself.
As the under-butler was leaving, another visitor appeared at the door, one who caused Charles's face to light up with joy.
"M'Lady!" cried Charles, walking toward her.
"Good morning, Carson, Bates. I hope I'm not intruding," Lady Mary greeted them.
"No, not at all! It's so good of you to come!" exclaimed Charles, beaming.
"If you'll excuse me, M'Lady, Mr. Carson, I'll just go and make sure that Anna's got Mrs. Hughes sequestered in her room. We'll be leaving soon, and we wouldn't want you to run into her on your way out," said Mr. Bates, grinning.
With that, the valet withdrew, leaving Charles alone with Lady Mary.
"Now," said Lady Mary, "let's have a proper look at you."
Charles drew himself up to his full height, stuck out his chin, and asked, "Will I do, M'Lady?"
"Very nicely, Carson," she answered as a single tear rolled down her cheek.
Recalling a similar exchange that the two had had on the day of her wedding, and realizing that the same recollection might upset her, he apologized, "Oh, M'Lady, I'm sorry! I'm ever so pleased that you should want to come to the wedding, but if it's too painful for you ... "
"Nonsense, Carson. I wouldn't miss it," she replied, smiling. "Now, then," she went on, "it seems there's only one more thing you need."
"And what would that be, M'Lady?" he asked.
"Only this," she answered, gracing him with another kiss on the cheek. "All my love."
Charles couldn't speak. All his years of training and experience as butler were woefully inadequate to prepare him to react dispassionately to this. When finally he regained some of his faculties, he pulled a sixpence from his pocket and offered it to her.
"If you intend to keep honoring me with your affections, might I ask that you have a word with His Lordship about compensating me more adequately?" he joked, trying to bring a little levity. "At this rate, I shall be penniless in very short order. Happy, but penniless!"
Lady Mary laughed, taking the coin from him. "I've told you: there's no charge for the kisses. But I shall accept this sixpence, only on condition that I may give it away directly. I intend to pay a visit to your lovely bride. Perhaps she'd like to put it in her shoe."
"Then I shall be very grateful if you'll pass it on to her, along with my love," said Charles.
"I certainly shall," she promised, squeezing his hand and beginning to walk away. When she reached the door, however, she paused with her hand on the knob and turned back to say, "You do look exceptionally handsome today, Carson. Mrs. Hughes will be the envy of every woman in church. I, for one, am already jealous."
Lady Mary smiled warmly at him, and Charles blushed profusely, but found he no longer felt anxious.