The next day Charlie and Elsie walked back to the Abbey together. It was a lovely, fresh morning, which made their walk to work all the more pleasurable and certainly blew away their cobwebs. They walked slowly, each in step with the other, with Elsie's arm linked through Charlie's.

Although it had been lovely for Elsie to wake in her new cottage and next to her husband, she couldn't deny that she was looking forward to getting back to the big house, to see her daughter. She was yearning for her daughter's company, except she felt rather silly for doing so; they'd only been separated for one night and she wished that she didn't feel so torn and she prayed that it would get easier in time.

When they arrived downstairs, the kitchens were busy and the staff were running around as normal. Neither Charlie nor Elsie were going to get the opportunity to visit Ella before the afternoon; as much as she wanted to spend every second with her daughter after their night apart, she knew that she had to get her own work finished first, before she could spend the afternoon with her.

'I'll make sure no one disturbs you so that you can complete it all before this afternoon. I thought I might join you both later, if you don't mind that is?' Charlie asked once they were in the sanctuary of her sitting room.

'Thank you, that is appreciated; I'm rather looking forward to this afternoon and of course you would be welcome to join us. You don't need to ask to spend time with our daughter and I know that she would appreciate it as much as I would.' She replied with a smile, just as a knock came to her door, cutting their conversation short, but it was only Mrs Patmore, a friend and ally in their secret.

'Lady Aurelia has asked me to make up some sandwiches and cakes for you both this afternoon; I was just wondering if there was anything in particular that you might like?' She asked kindly.

'Oh that is thoughtful of you Mrs Patmore; nothing too fancy mind, some simple egg, cheese and ham sandwiches would be ideal and if you are able to make those truffles I would be very grateful. Those seem to be Ella's favourites.' Elsie replied with a smile.

'I can do that for you both; I've also put a sponge in the oven for you.' Mrs Patmore replied.

The cook and butler then left the housekeeper to her work, which she reluctantly started to do. All she really wanted was to go and see her daughter and to hold her tight and she cursed herself for feeling so silly, until finally, at half past one, she took the tray of sandwiches, tea and cakes up to Ella's room. Ella was finally out of bed and was sitting by the fire, dressed in a simple skirt and shirt. She was delighted to be up and about more, but she knew that Elsie wouldn't let her do much.

'Should you be out if bed young lady?' Elsie said as she placed the tray onto Ella's desk.

'Yes I can be out of bed. As long as I am resting then Henry doesn't mind where I do it. I was a little sick this morning, which I haven't felt for a few weeks, but he reassured me that it was perfectly normal and that everything was still alright. He was quite excited this morning actually, because I shall be starting to show soon, although I feel as if I'm starting to show already. It took me a few attempts this morning to find some clothing that fit me properly.' Ella laughed as she warmed herself by the fire whilst Elsie poured the tea.

'You will need some new dresses soon; perhaps yourself and Sybil can go to Ripon or York together to buy some, but only if Henry says that you can venture out mind.' Elsie said with delight at being able to mother her daughter.

'Perhaps you might like to come with us?' Ella suggested with a smile as she took one of the cups of tea from her mam's hands.

'Perhaps I shall.' Elsie replied with delight. 'Your dad and I spent the night at the cottage last night.' She added casually, but without looking at her daughter.

'Oh that is really lovely to hear mam. I know that you were anxious about it, but I do hope everything was lovely for you, well for both of you.' Ella said with genuine excitement.

'It was hard, I won't deny it and I'm not sure it is something that I will be able to do again for a few days at least, but I don't know why I find it so difficult. I knew I was going to see you today, so I knew that we would only be separated for a while, but it was still hard.'

'Well I was thinking about you last night and I wondered why myself. I think that, subconsciously, you feel that it's an element of control that is being taken away from you. Heaven knows that you have had very little control over any of this situation, but one of the things that you controlled, even if it was only slightly, was when you saw me. From when I was very little up until last year, you could always feign some excuse to talk to me and to see me whenever you wished; but with us separated you don't have that same control and I think, in part, it makes you nervous.' Ella explained quietly and Elsie nodded her head slightly.

'You could be right.' Elsie whispered tearfully, which made Ella quickly change the subject as she didn't want any tears. She wanted to celebrate her being with her mam today and not to think of all the awfulness.

'Anyway Mam, I have some news for you that may make our situation much better and may make you feel more comfortable about being in your cottage.' She started and smiled broadly at the thought. 'Doctor Clarkson has asked Henry to make an investment into the hospital and wants him to take a more active role in its running. He's intending to make all sorts of expansions, which means that Henry is to be much busier. We were talking about it last night and it turns out that he had been considering it for some time, but he wants us to move into the village. He needs to be closer to the clinic, which he struggles with out here in the Abbey and I think he also wants us to be able to start our own lives together.' She explained calmly.

'You mean that you would be willing to leave Downton Abbey Ella? Your home, your parents and your sisters?' Elsie asked with surprise at Ella's suggestion.

'We would only be moving to the village, well, just outside of it actually. We have a cottage in mind that has a little land to it for our children and it's still very close to here. Of course I would still come up every day to see Mama and Papa and to be with Sybbie, but the best part of all is that the cottage is at the bottom of Muses Lane, which is literally a stone throw away from your cottage. In fact, from that house you can see the roof of your cottage. We would be able to visit each other openly, since there is no one else for miles, but we're much closer to the village for Henry to have much easier access to his patients.' Ella explained with delight.

She would finally get to be Mrs Forbes, without being waited on hand and foot without servants to do things for her or other people's expectations of how she should behave. But the best thing was that she could be with her Mam and her son or daughter would be able to run between their home and their grandparents, without Ella fearing that she had to keep it a secret, skulking around like a thief in the night. They could all be a family together and it was such a lovely thought.

Elsie was stunned. A year ago she could never have imagined that any of this would have happened to her; that her daughter had cleverly come up with a way for them to be together, openly and without secret or scandal, or, in fact, that she would be with her daughter at all and the lovely thoughts brought tears to her eyes and streaming down her cheeks.