Ella walked out on to the gallery and looked down into the entrance hall, as the band played another reel and the staff all began to gather for the party, greeted by each of the family. She watched as her family greeted each staff member and they reciprocated the greeting politely, before helping themselves to some of the punch prepared by Daisy and Mrs Patmore, which was laid out on a table next to some sandwiches and plates.
Just as he was greeting Anna and Mr Bates, Robert happened to glance up to where Ella was standing and caught her eye; she smiled happily at him and smiled even wider when she saw him excuse himself and walk towards her.
'You've caused quite a stir with your change of entertainment.' He said once he joined her at the top of the stairs, but his tone wasn't angry, in fact, he was quite enjoying the change from their usual quartet.
'I do hope you don't mind Papa; I know that we don't usually have a ceilidh band, but I wanted this day to be really special for Mrs Hughes….I mean, Mrs Carson, and for Mr Carson too.' She explained.
'No, I don't mind my little one; it makes for a pleasant change.' He replied with a smile before his brow creased. 'You've made quite a life for yourself with Mrs Hughes, haven't you?' He said and something in his eyes touched Ella in a way that she hadn't expected. There was an element of sadness behind his comment, something she had never noticed before.
'I guess you could say that Papa; but I hope you know that I do love you and Mama too. It's been such an awful year for the four of us, how we ever got through it I will never know, but I do love and adore you and Mama, very much.' She explained with genuine love as she took a step towards her father and he enveloped her into a warm, tight hug and he deeply felt every ounce of love he had for his little girl.
'I know I don't say this often my little one, but you are so very much loved by your mother and me. I am so proud of all that you have achieved this year, even after everything that you have been put through, you've managed so well.' He whispered and Ella was truly touched by his words and by how much he clearly loved her; she only hoped that she conveyed to him just how much she loved him too.
'I know that I now have two lives Papa, this beautiful one that I share with you and mama and the lovely one that I now share with Mrs Hughes; but I do hope you know, that I never take you and Mama for granted and what we have. I value you both so much and your love for me, even more so than I probably did before.' She whispered in response as tears began to pool in her eyes.
As they stood holding on tightly to each other, Henry walked on to the gallery with his parents and he smiled slightly as he watched his wife with her father. Over the last few months he had watched how her relationship with her parents had changed; for a short time, Henry had been a little concerned that Ella's relationship with Robert and Cora may have been tarnished after Richard's arrival and after the events that had unfolded, but Ella had worked hard to ensure that that hadn't happened and she built back that trust, loyalty and love that she had always felt for them.
He coughed slightly to indicate his presence and father and daughter parted slightly, their tender moment at an end, but never the less meaningful for it.
'I will see you both downstairs,' Robert said as he gripped his daughter's hand, gave it a gentle squeeze and then excused himself.
Henry then stepped into where Robert had been standing, wrapped his wife tightly into his arms and smiled lovingly at her.
'Are you alright my darling?' He asked her in a gentle whisper.
'Yes, thank you; I'm just a little tired.' Ella replied as she stifled a yawn and she smirked as her husband raised his eyebrows at her.
'You must take it easy Ella,' he said with a concerned tone 'perhaps you should take the opportunity to lie down for a while before you come downstairs.' He added as a suggestion, but Ella was having none of it.
'Certainly not! This is mam's day and I will not spoil it for her. Besides, I'm pregnant Henry, not an invalid.' She said sternly, but with a smile, as she gently cupped his cheek. 'Actually, I wanted to talk to you about that. I know that we agreed to tell everyone tomorrow at dinner, but would you mind if we didn't? The thing is, if we announce it at dinner, then Mr Carson will over hear it and since he is my dad now I would prefer to tell him in person, rather than have him find out like that.'
'I am sure I can agree to that,' Henry responded as he gave Ella a gentle, loving kiss.
'Thank you, although my next request you might not be so keen to agree to.' She replied a little shyly as she glanced back down into the entrance hall, which was now full of staff and family alike and she saw Robert and Cora mingling. 'I'd really like to tell Mama and Papa on their own; I know that, ideally, we should tell them at the same time as telling your parents, but I'd really like to make them feel a little bit special. I worry a little about them, that they may be feeling a little, I don't know, pushed out, I guess, by my relationship with Mam. I fear that I may have been so desperate to make it up to Mam for all her years of hurt that I forgot about my parents. Does any of that make any sense?'
Henry gave a deep sigh, 'yes it does, as it happens; but I don't want my parents to be the last ones to know' it seems most unfair to them you know.'
'I know and you are right it does. It's hard trying to keep everyone happy, isn't it?' Ella said with a despondent small laugh as she placed her hand to her forehead.
'I tell you what; when you feel the time is right, why don't you take Robert and Cora aside and tell them and I'll do the same with my parents, and whilst you're at it I suppose you might want to tell Mr Carson as well, we can't have him feeling left out. They'll have to keep it quiet though until we can tell everyone else; how does that sound?' He replied to the delight of his wife who threw her arms around his neck and kissed him passionately, which took him a little by surprise. She returned from her tiptoes back to her feet, just as Mable and Arthur came out from their room.
'It's so lovely to see you both; I'm so glad that you could join us for Christmas.' Ella said as she greeted them.
'It was lovely for your parents to invite us.' Mable said as she greeted her daughter-in-law with a kiss to the cheek. 'And what a party it is going to be; do you usually have a ceilidh?'
'Not usually, but today is a very special day and I wanted to arrange a very special surprise for my birth mother.' Ella explained. 'Come on downstairs, Papa's ready to make the announcement.' She added as they all made their way down into the entrance hall, where the party was about to start properly.
Robert cleared his throat to welcome the guests and open the party, which he usually did with Mrs Hughes, but, this time, he was going to do things a little differently.
'Ladies and gentlemen, if I could have your attention for a moment; first of all I would like to welcome you to this year's ball and to thank you all for coming. Now as you all know, it is usually customary for Lady Grantham and me to open the ball with Mr Carson and Mrs Hughes, but this year is going to be very different; Mr Carson and Mrs Hughes, if I might ask that you come forward please?' Robert said as he beckoned them both toward him from the back of the room and they shyly did as they were instructed. 'This year I would like to ask you to open the ball together, in your first dance…well ladies and gentlemen, in their first dance together as Mr and Mrs Carson.' Robert finished with broad delight and there was excited chatter all around the room and gasps of joy as everyone realised what Robert had just said and they all joined him in clapping their congratulations to the stoic couple.
The band struck up a slow waltz, a familiar Celtic tune that Elsie recognised from when she was a young girl and she felt herself sway in time as she was clasped tightly to her husband's side, who proudly guided them both round the room. After a few moments they were joined on the dance floor by Robert and Cora and then others followed suit. Ella happened to glance up towards her mam and dad, who were completely oblivious to everyone else and completely lost in each other and she smiled with utter delight at them.
Once the dance had concluded and the band struck up another song, Elsie and Charlie were surrounded by their friends and colleagues who wanted to congratulate them and not least of all by Mrs Patmore.
'Mr Carson, you old rogue you!' She said mischievously. 'I always said that you two ought to be together, but I never thought for one moment that you actually would.' She added.
'Well thank you Mrs Patmore; I think it may have come as quite a shock to a few people.' Elsie said with a large smile to her friend who left the newlyweds as Ella then approached them.
'Mr and Mrs Carson, I do hope you are having a good time.' She said formally, both to keep up appearances and to have a little laugh with her parents, who smiled knowingly at her.
'Yes thank you Milady, this really is lovely.' Elsie said with a smile at her daughter and a glint in her eye.
Ella then quickly glanced around her to make sure that no one else was listening and was glad to see that everyone was far too preoccupied notice what she was up to.
'Do you think it would be possible to have a word with you both later? There's something that I'd like to talk to you about, but only when you're ready.' She whispered with a smile before they were interrupted by Anna and Mr Bates, who wanted to offer their words of congratulations, which meant that Ella then had to vacate the area to go in search of her mama and papa, who were still dancing together.
'Might I interrupt you for a moment?' She whispered to them as they stopped dancing for a few moments. 'In private if that is alright; perhaps we could go into the drawing room.' She explained as she led them away without anyone noticing the interruption.
Cora and Robert followed her, a little concerned by this sudden interruption to their otherwise pleasant evening and they genuinely had no idea about what joy Ella was about to give them.
'Is everything alright my darling?' Cora asked once they were in the privacy of the drawing room as she held her daughter tight around the shoulders.
'Oh yes Mama, everything is just, well it's simply marvellous!' Ella exclaimed, barely able to contain herself and Cora and Robert looked at her with anticipation. 'Perhaps you should both sit down.' She added and watched as her parents sat.
'What is it my little one?' Robert asked with his brow furrowed.
'Well I wanted to tell you both first before I told anyone else,' she said, hoping that she might be forgiven for her white lie, 'and you must swear not to tell anyone else until Henry and I are ready.' She explained as she saw the look of excitement form on Cora's face as she realised what it was Ella was about to tell them.
'Is it really true my darling?' She exclaimed, barely able to control herself and contain her excitement.
'It is Mama; I'm pregnant!' Ella said quietly, but with as much delight and excitement as if she was saying the words for the very first time and both Robert and Cora felt elated.
'Oh my baby this really is wonderful; I'm to be a grandmother, our first grandchild!' She said as she held her daughter close and had tears of joy threatening to spill down her cheeks.
'Congratulations my little one; this news truly is cause for celebration!' Robert added as he smiled from ear to ear.
'Thank you Papa; oh you are both going to be such wonderful grandparents!' Ella said with a happy, teary smile. 'There is just one thing I would like to speak to you both about though, and perhaps now isn't the best time, but I wanted to discuss it with you both sooner rather than later. You see, I've made the decision that I would like Mr and Mrs Carson to be actively involved in my child's life and I don't mean in the background. I would like my child to know that they are its grandparents and I would like them to be allowed to play that role to him or her. I don't want my child to be placed in the same position I was; to be lied to, even though it was for my own good, I don't want my child to one day suddenly discover that the reason our butler and housekeeper were so invested in them, was because they are their grandparents too.' Ella explained and she hoped she managed to explain it in a way that didn't sound bitter or angry about what had happened between her, her parents and her mam, but so that they could understand that she wanted things to be very different.
'Of course you want things to be different…' Cora began to say, but Robert interrupted her.
'Perhaps you are right Ella and we should discuss this in more detail another time.' He said with all the happiness he had felt a few moments ago gone from his voice.
'Certainly Papa; but I am so very happy that I could share this with you tonight, it's going to make tomorrow all the more special!' Ella said with a slightly despondent tone at first, but it soon grew back to conveying her delight.
'I think we should re-join the party before we are missed; but this really is the most wonderful news my little one, most wonderful.' Robert said as they all stood and began to make their way towards the door, just as the band began to play one of the more energetic Scottish ceilidh dances.
'Oh it's the dashing white sergeant; this is one of my favourites!' Ella exclaimed with excitement as they walked back into the room and towards Elsie and Charlie, who looked a little uncertain about himself, but Elsie looked to be in her element.
'Ella make sure you take care, we don't want you over tiring yourself, especially not now.' Robert warned.
'Don't worry Papa, I promise you that I will take extra special care of myself.' She replied as she gave her papa a gentle kiss to the cheek before leaving them to join in the fun.
'I'm afraid I'm not so familiar with this one.' She heard Charlie say to Elsie as she approached them.
'Oh this one is easy enough to do Mr Carson; I'm most certain that Mrs Hugh…I mean, Mrs Carson and I can show you how; if you're willing that is?' Ella said and she gave a small laugh as she corrected herself to use the housekeeper's new title.
'Well, anything for you Milady; although I may live to regret this.' He replied with a smile as he took a hold of his wife's and daughter's hands and moved forward to form a set with Jimmy, Daisy and Alfred.
Robert stood next to Cora as they watched their youngest daughter laughing and smiling as she danced and he felt the grip of Cora's hand on his arm tighten slightly.
'What is it darling?' She asked with concern as she looked up at him and he gave a big sigh.
'I was just thinking about our situation with Ella and about her relationship with Mrs Hughes; is it silly of me to worry that we might be getting pushed aside by her affection for her natural mother?' He asked in silent whispers and Cora took a few moments to truly look at her daughter.
'I don't think Ella would ever let that be the case Robert, but we have to understand that it's natural for her to want to find some form of normality in her relationship with Mrs Hughes and for her to want to Mrs Hughes to be a part of her child's life with as little complication as possible.' Cora explained.
'Perhaps you are right, but I still can't help but feel that we are losing her in some way.' He replied despondently.
'Robert have you not realised yet how clever Ella has been? She has managed to create two very separate lives for herself to deal with this situation and she does manage to keep them apart. When you look at her with us and with her sisters, she's the Ella that we have always known and loved; but when she's with Mrs Hughes she becomes a very different person. Perhaps she becomes the person she would have been had Mrs Hughes been the one to raise her, I don't know, but either way, she is still our little girl who loves and respects us; surly that is the most important thing?' Cora explained wisely, having forced herself months ago to come to terms with her relationship with her daughter and the knowledge of the relationship Ella shared with Elsie.
Robert felt unable to reply to his wife, but nodded his head slightly as he continued to watch their daughter and smiled slightly as he thought about their first grandchild, which did at least put his mind slightly at ease.
Halfway through the night Sybil and Ella presented Charlie and Elsie with the cake they had made them, which had been beautifully decorated by Daisy, pieces of which were passed around everyone, until, eventually, as the night wore on, more and more people departed for their beds. As Charlie and Elsie went to bid everyone goodnight themselves, Ella approached them to deliver a couple of final surprises.
'Ella, we're going to head up to bed; no doubt we'll have an early start in the morning and if I don't go to bed now I'll never make it up.' Elsie whispered to her daughter as they sheltered in a corner away from everyone else, as Charlie then approached them as well.
'Well before you go up, there's something I would like to tell you.' She replied as she stifled a yawn and led them slightly further away from the remaining few.
'What's this?' Charlie asked as he looked at her with paternal tenderness.
'Well, Mam actually already knows, but I wanted to tell you tonight Dad before Henry and I don't the rest of our family…well, we've already told our parents, but I wanted to tell you just now. Not only have you gained a wife and a daughter today, but you are soon to be a granddaddy too.' She whispered and watched as Charlie sighed deeply and embraced his daughter tightly.
'Oh Ella I don't know what to say, except you are going to be a wonderful mother.' He whispered to her and he happened to glance at Elsie, who was once again on the verge of happy tears as she heard Ella deliver the news again.
Now that everyone knew, as Henry had managed to tell his parents during the night as well, Ella could rest easy, that the most important people in her life knew her most wonderful news. It was now time for just one last surprise for her mam and dad.
'Before you both go to bed, Sybbie and I have one very last surprise for you.' She said as Sybil appeared by her side.
'We need you both to close your eyes tightly and no peeking!' Sybil ordered with a hint of sleep deprivation evident in her voice, as she took a hold of Charlie's hand and Ella took a hold of Elsie's and they led them down the corridor.
'Ella, what on earth are you girls up to?' Elsie asked hesitantly as she did as her daughter had instructed her and allowed herself to be guided.
'You will see in a moment.' Ella replied as they finally came to a stop and Elsie heard a door handle turn and a door creek open, before they were led a few more steps before stopping again. Ella waited for Sybil and Charlie to enter the room before she spoke again. 'Alright you can both open your eyes now.' She whispered as she stood next to her mam with her hands resting on her shoulders.
'We didn't think it was right that you should be made to sleep apart on your first night as husband and wife, so we made this room up for you.' Sybil explained as was relieved to see the look of surprise and delight appear on both Charlie's and Elsie's faces.
Elsie looked around the room, which was filled with the warm, soft glow from the dozens of candles around the room, the only light available, and the sweet scent of the cut flowers that were placed strategically placed around the room.
'Oh Ella this is lovely!' She exclaimed.
'Well it's yours from now until you move into your cottage, so that you can be together.' Ella explained and then inclined her head to her twin. 'Right, now I truly am exhausted and in need of sleep, so we will bid you goodnight.' She said as she kissed her dad on the cheek. 'Goodnight Dad, sleep well.' She whispered, which made Charlie inhale deeply and puff out his chest with pride.
'Goodnight my darling daughter; sweet dreams and thank you for everything.' He whispered as he embraced her tightly.
As Sybil stepped forward to then say goodnight to Charlie, Ella took the chance to say a couple of final words to her mam, who now held her in a tight embrace.
'I hope this is alright for you mam, I just wanted things to be really special for you; but if…well if…if it all proves to be too much for you, I made up the bed in the dressing room.' Ella explained a little awkwardly, unsure of how to approach the subject and Elsie couldn't respond but nodded silently, before kissing her daughter on the head.
The two sisters then walked out of the room and headed for their own bedrooms down the hall, delighted to be getting there at last and leaving the newlyweds to enjoy their wedding night.