'Alright how about this idea,' Sybil said as she tried to come up with yet another suggestion as to how they could get into the linen cupboard without Elsie knowing about it. 'Do you remember, when we were children, Mr Carson used to teach us magic tricks? There used to be one where he could take something from our pockets without us knowing, do you remember?'
'I do, but we were never good at it; besides, mam would notice that her keys were missing. She's got the eyes and ears of a hawk that woman.' Ella replied with a giggle and she was enjoying colluding with her sister again, just like they used to do as children and it reminded her of the times when they used to sit and talk about how they would trick the butler and housekeeper into a relationship and now, all these years later, their wish to see the stoic couple together, had finally come true.
However, all talk was cut short at that moment by the arrival of the woman herself, carrying a large tray with a bowl of soup and some bread, closely followed by one of the other maids carrying a tray with tea, milk and cups.
'Just put it over there Beth,' she said quietly as she indicated the small table in the centre of the room and the nervous looking maid did as she was instructed, whilst Elsie put the tray with the soup on the bed. 'Thank you Beth, you may go back downstairs now.' She added as she dismissed the young woman and all three women waited until she was gone and the door was firmly closed before they spoke.
'Is she new, that maid, I don't seem to recognise her?' Ella asked.
'Yes, Beth Holmes; we took her on last week, but I'm not sure how long she'll survive this way of life. She's so home sick, poor wee lamb and terribly nervous, but I can only do my best with her.' Elsie replied.
'And I'm sure she'll do just fine with your guidance and care Mam.' Ella replied with a smile as Elsie fussed over her, tucking a napkin under her chin and pulling the bed clothes round her a little tighter.
'I thought you might like something brought up to you since you're not feeling well; so Mrs Patmore made some vegetable soup especially for you.'
'That was nice of her and nice of you to think of me.' Ella replied as she broke off some of the still warm crusty bread and dipped it into the steaming bowl of soup.
'Well of course I think of you; someone has to look after my bairn.' Elsie replied with a broad smile as she placed a very delicate kiss to Ella's forehead.
'Are you going to join us Elsie?' Sybil said as she moved over and made some space for Elsie to sit.
'I can, but only for a short while mind; unfortunately there's still a lot to be done before tomorrow evening.' She replied as she poured them all a cup of freshly brewed tea and was glad that she'd had the sense to cater for three of them, but she always knew that, usually, wherever Ella was, Sybil was never too far away and vice versa.
'Well, any time with you is better than no time at all Mam,' Ella said with a warm and loving smile as she took her cup from Elsie, who then handed a cup to Sybil and then poured one for herself.
'How are things downstairs? I hope they're not too stressful for you. The last thing we want is for you to be stressed for your big day tomorrow.' Sybil said with a smile and Elsie couldn't help but laugh at how excited both Sybil and Ella looked. If it was possible, she thought that the two girls were possibly more excited about their pending marriage than she and Charlie were.
'Don't you worry about that Sybil, I'm quite used to dealing with downstairs; I've had plenty of practice and between myself, Mr Carson and Mrs Patmore, we can have that ball put together in no time at all.' And that was the truth.
'Are you excited about tomorrow?' Sybil asked.
'I think I am a little too old now to be classed as the excitable kind, but I am certainly looking forward to it.' Elsie replied with glee. Despite her words, secretly, she was very excited, about so many things; her wedding, her first Christmas with her husband and her daughter and her first grandchild. She had so many lovely things to be excited and happy about.
'You are many things Mam, but too old certainly isn't one of them.' Ella replied as she finished her soup and was delighted to have something in her stomach, whether or not it stayed there was going to be a different story.
'Thank you Ella,' Elsie replied with a doubtful smile before putting their empty cups onto the tray and taking Ella's empty bowl. 'I need to go back down now, but just ring if there is anything you need Ella.' She said as she carried the trays out of the room.
Ella waited until she was certain Elsie was as far away from her room as possible before she chose to speak again, but she still spoke it slight whispers, just in case.
'I think I've had an idea about getting into the linen cupboard, but we'll have to wait until tonight, once everyone has gone to bed.' She whispered mysteriously.
In the meantime, the two girls collected flowers, candles and decorations throughout the day and anything else that they thought made the room look particularly nice. They were even able to make up the fire without causing too much chaos, so at least that was one less thing for them to worry about, the following day.
They had chosen one of the nicest guest rooms in the house, but because it was so far away from the main living areas, it very rarely got used. It was decorated in rich red coloured wallpaper, with golden leaves climbing their way up and there was a glorious four poster bed in the centre of the room, an en suit bathroom and a dressing room.
Ella and Sybil had decorated the bed posts with some of the garlands that had already been delivered to the house and had placed candle sticks round the room, ready to be lit just before the arrival of the newly married couple. All that was left for them to do was to make up the bed, but that would have to wait until after everyone had gone to bed.
For now, everything would have to wait until after dinner, as the dressing gong was rung in the hall and the two girls made their way towards their bedrooms.
'It'll seem strange to think of Mr Carson as your new dad.' Sybil whispered as they walked.
'It will seem a little strange I suppose; but I'm so glad that he is going to be. He and mam have been in love with each other since the first day mam arrived at Downton and after everything that she's been put through, I do want to see her happy and I want to know that she's being looked after. She deserves so much happiness and I fear I robbed her of a lot of that.' Ella explained sadly.
'Oh Aurie, how could you possibly think that?' Sybil replied with a small frown. 'I know that the arrangement wasn't great and I'm sure she must have found it very difficult to watch you growing up as another's child, but I remember how happy she used to be with us, in the early days I mean and I remember that wherever we were, she never seemed to be too far away. She was always there to look out for us both.'
'I know Sybbie and I do look back on those days with great fondness and I know she does too. We have sat and talked about everything, so often, when we're alone together and especially after I first found out. I just wish things had been different for her sometimes, that's all.' Ella explained. 'But that's why it's so important that she now gets to be a part of my baby's…' She added but stopped herself from finishing the sentence, but it was too late for her to take it back as Sybil suddenly stopped and had the most gleeful look in her eyes.
'Oh Aurie! Are you really pregnant?' She gasped and Ella couldn't deny her.
'Yes, I am; but you can't say anything to anyone, understand? I haven't even told Henry yet that he's going to be a father and I really wanted him to be the next person to know.' Ella said and even though she was a little bit angry with herself for telling yet another person before her husband, she was glad that Sybil was the next person she told.
'I won't say anything to anyone, but Aurie you have no idea how fantastic this is!' Sybil exclaimed.
'Oh I think I do darling sister, given that I am to be a mother!' Ella replied with a giggle and was confused when Sybil slowly shook her head.
'No, you're not understanding me; this is such fantastic news because, well, because I'm pregnant too!' She whispered and Ella felt stunned, but delighted.
'You're kidding?! Sybbie this is fantastic!' She whispered ecstatically as she hugged her sister tightly.
'But you can't say anything to anyone, not even to Henry….or your mother.' Whispered Sybil but with a broad smile.
'I promise, I won't say anything as long as you promise not to say anything about mine.' Ella replied. 'Come one, we need to get dressed before they start sending out a search party for us.'
They walked towards their rooms quickly, still discussing their pregnancies and Christmas and how extra special the wedding was going to be, before they had to go their separate ways into their own rooms, where Ella found Henry sat waiting for her, half dressed.
'Where on earth have you been? When I asked about you downstairs no one seemed to have a clue where you were!' He asked with concern as he shot up from his seat and went to her, placing his arms around her waist and pulling her in tightly, where she contentedly placed her hands on his bare chest.
'Oh I'm sorry darling; I didn't mean to worry you. Sybbie and I were, well, we're planning a little surprise for Mam and Mr Carson for tomorrow night.' She explained as she looked lovingly into his eyes and suddenly she felt as if this was the right moment to give him their news. She had been waiting for the right time to tell him, but never seemed to feel like the right moment; but now, as she looked up into his eyes and his loving smile, it felt like the best time to tell him.
She stood on her tip toes and kissed him and allowed him to develop the kiss into something much more passionate, before she pulled slightly away from him and glanced up at him once more, with their arms still wrapped around each other.
'Before you go any further with that kiss and go getting any ideas; I have something that I need to tell you.' She said firmly, but with that mischievous grin she so often got. 'You know that I've not exactly been feeling myself lately?' She asked and suddenly Henry found that he was stealing himself for bad news.
'Is everything alright my darling?' He asked urgently.
'Honestly, I would have thought that, with you being a doctor, you would have worked it out long ago.' She teased, but still received a blank, worried look back from her husband. 'I'm pregnant!' She replied at last and was delighted by the look of joy on his face and joined him in laughing hysterically.
'I'm going to be a father?! You're…you're going to be a mother?! We're going to be parents?!' He stammered as he ran his hands through his hair in delighted disbelief. Having been trying to start a family for six months, he had been starting to think that something was wrong; but now it had finally happened for them.
He was so delighted that he wrapped his arms around her waist again and lifted her into the air, kissing her passionately once more, before carefully putting her back down as she broke the kiss with a happy giggle.
'Wow! You have no idea how happy you have made me!' He whispered as he placed his hand on her stomach and she placed her hand over his as they stared happily and lovingly at each other.