The rest of their afternoon was spent talking about their future, after Charlie had returned downstairs, as Elsie and Ella talked about the baby and about family life. Ella was so very excited about becoming a mother and Elsie was delighted to become a grandmother. It was the perfect way for them to spend their afternoon and evening together.

'I'll have to get my needles out and start knitting the baby some clothes,' Elsie said casually but Ella looked delighted.

'I didn't realise that you could knit Mam,' she said with surprise.

'I always have done; my mother and grandmother taught me. They used to make many of our clothes as children. My father kept sheep for the wool and my mother was very skilled at spinning and used to make lovely yarn, which she would then turn into the most stunning cardigans, jumpers and shawls too,' Elsie explained fondly. 'I remember when I first started to learn how to knit and sew, I was very little at the time, perhaps six or seven years old, but my grandmother decided that it was time I learned, so she sat me down every day and taught me various types of stitches. We knitted a square a day until we had enough to make a patchwork blanket.'

'That isn't the blanket that's on your bed is it?'

'The very same one; so that blanket is twice your age,' Elsie laughed, 'it's a little frayed and I've had to darn it in a couple of places, but it's still in very good condition.'

Ella smiled; she loved learning more about her extended family and about the life that she might have led, had Robert and Cora not taken her on as their own. Her mam had described to her in detail about the farmhouse in which she had grown up, out in the middle of the countryside, several miles away from the nearest town or village in Argyll.

'Were you close to your grandmother?' She asked.

'Well she was very old fashioned and believed that children should be seen and not heard; but she mellowed a bit in her later years, when she moved in with us, although I think she sometimes found Becky very hard to deal with. She didn't understand her; Becky couldn't or wouldn't speak until she was nearly five or she would start screaming at the top of her voice, for no apparent reason. Other times she would just sit at the window and stare into the middle distance,' Elsie explained with sadness. It was very clear that she felt a great deal of love for her younger sister.

'Do you miss her? Working away from her all the time, it must be hard,' Ella said sadly.

'Och I'm used to being away from my family; I practically left home when I was twelve, to start as a scullery maid in one of the big houses, before I then moved on and became a house maid in another house,' Elsie explained with a hint of sadness, but there was also a fond warmth to her tone. 'Anyway, you're my family, you and your dad and soon your wee one too. Actually, your dad and I were talking about him or her last night and any future grandchildren we may have,' she explained with a smile and a small laugh.

'Oh were you now?' Ella replied playfully.

'We were indeed and it just made me even more excited for its arrival; your dad even suggested that, when it's a little older, you might let them stay with us over night, in the cottage.'

'I can guarantee, that when my baby is born, you will not be able to keep them away from your door; they'll have you both wrapped around their little finger,'

'Certainly they will, just as it should be,' Elsie smiled with glee and she really did mean it. She couldn't wait to hold her grandchild in her arms and to know that she wasn't going be keeping any secrets from this little one.

They chatted happily for the rest of the afternoon until late evening, when Henry returned home from the hospital. Elsie then left them alone, so that they could spend time together. Ella was looking much brighter than Henry had seen her in a long time; more relaxed and more at peace, which was having a more positive influence on her blood pressure.

'Obviously your afternoon with Elsie has done you wonders; your blood pressure is only just a fraction above what it should be,' he said as he sat beside her on the bed and wrapped his arms around her.

'We had such a lovely afternoon together; she's promised to teach me how to knit, which will be an interesting education for our relationship,' Ella replied with a giggle.

'Were you never taught how to knit Ella? I thought it was something that all women were taught,' Henry said, which received a small glare from his wife, which was only lightened by the smirk playing on her lips.

'Very droll Doctor Forbes, very droll; our governess did try to teach me, but she used to get very frustrated with me because I just couldn't grasp it. Mam thinks it may be because I am left handed, so she's decided to take up the challenge and is determined to have me knitting before the baby is born. Actually, she wants us to make a blanket, the same as the one she made with her grandmother,' Ella explained and it delighted Henry to hear how close his wife was becoming to her natural mother. 'I also told her about our plans to move into the village and she's really supportive of the idea.'

'Well it just seems to make a lot more sense; I want my patients to have easy access to me and find me approachable, which I don't feel they find when I'm stuck up here,' he justified, which received no objections from Ella.

'I couldn't agree more darling and it will be so wonderful to have our own little place. It'll need some renovating though and decorating, but we can take our time with all of that, can't we?'

'Well, I can do all of that, you will still be resting,' Henry replied with playful sternness.

'But you just said that my blood pressure is back to normal!' Ella said with frustration.

'No, what I said was that your blood pressure is a fraction above what it should be; you still need to get plenty of rest. Besides, you should enjoy it whilst you can, you won't get much of a chance when the baby arrives,' he smiled.

'I can't wait,' she whispered as she kissed him happily, as they soon drifted off to sleep, content with their lives and with their futures.

The next morning they agreed to tell Robert and Cora of their plans, which Ella knew wouldn't go down too well with them, but realised that it would be a lot easier on them all if they had time to get used to the idea, before they actually moved out.

They sat them in the drawing room and had tea served to them shortly after breakfast. Ella felt nervous, thought she may have been better telling her mama first. In a way, she felt like she was betraying them and throwing their gift back into their faces, but she hoped that they didn't feel like that.

'Is everything alright Ella?' Cora whispered to her daughter sat next to her, tightly clasping her hands whilst Robert and Henry chatted on the other side of the room.

'Everything is fine Mama, it's just…well perhaps I should tell you before we break it to Papa, but I fear you will both be very disappointed in me when I do,' Ella replied nervously.

'Now you must tell me,' Cora said with worry, her stomach clenched in fear.

'Well it's good news, in a way, well for Henry and me at least. Doctor Clarkson wants Henry to take a more active role in the running of the hospital, which will mean more responsibility for him and they both want to expand on the services that we already offer,'

'Well that's wonderful news darling,' Cora replied with a smile, as she glanced over to the two men, who were oblivious to their respective wives' conversation.

'Yes it is rather and he is ever so happy; but he feels that, if he is to take on such an important role in the hospital and in the community, that he should be a part of that community, which he doesn't feel he is here at the house. He feels that his patients don't have the same access to him or find him as approachable, as they would do if we lived in the village,' she explained and was relieved that Cora didn't look angry, but she did look very saddened.

'So you and Henry are planning to move out and into the village?' She asked tearfully.

'That's right Mama; we thought we would move into the cottage in Muses Lane, so that it's still close to the house, but it's just outside the village. I would still come up to the house every day and you would be more than welcome to come and visit,' Ella said, with tears starting to form in her own eyes.

'Is this what you really want?'

'Yes it is, but I want to make everyone happy, including you and Papa; I know you must feel very betrayed though, after everything that you have done for me and now I'm planning to leave…'

'Ella, my baby, everything that your father and I have done for you has come from love, not out of duty. We want you to be happy,' Cora said tearfully but with a smile as Ella also smiled back, just as Henry and Robert approached them.

'Henry's just given me his news about the hospital; it will a mean a lot of positive changes for the village,' Robert said with a happy smile, which was soon to change when Ella gave him the other half of their news.

'It will indeed bring a lot of changes to the village Papa, but also to us,' she explained slowly as she braced herself for what she knew was about to come. 'Henry and I have decided to make some changes ourselves Papa; but I fear you will not approve,' she continued cautiously and watched as Robert's face fell and became very stern.

'Well then, I better hear them anyway, hadn't I?'

Henry moved a little closer to his wife and placed his hand on her shoulder for comfort and for support. He knew that Robert would find Ella leaving the family home a real wrench, he did understand that they had all been through a lot together; but it was no their turn to make new memories and a new life for themselves and their family.

'Henry and I have been talking about our future and what this change means for him, well, for the both of us. We feel that a community doctor needs to be seen by his community and to do that, he needs to be living in his community, which Henry can't do living here Papa; so we've made the decision, to move into the village, into the cottage on Muses Lane,' she explained, but she'd barely finished her explanation before Robert blew his top.

'Absolutely not! You are a Lady Ella, you cannot move into the village just like that!' He shouted, causing Cora to sigh and close her eyes in disbelief.

'And why not Papa? Both Granny and Cousin Isobel live in the village and they are very respected!' She replied with a raised, defensive voice. 'The cottage on Muse Lane is perfect for us and for our child. We can still come here every day, anyone who wishes to visit us can do and Henry can be more accessible to the village and to his patients!'

'After everything we have done for you Ella, everything, you throw it back at us by wanting to MOVE OUT!' He fumed at Cora decided that it was time she stepped in.

'Robert that's enough! This isn't about Ella and our past, in fact, I don't think it has anything to do with us at all; Henry and Ella want to make a respectable life for themselves, that doesn't involve them living here, at the house. However, it is like Ella said; they would just be a mile or so from here, so we can all still see each other as often as we choose, but we have to respect their wishes,' Cora said calmly.

'Papa, I love and adore you for what you have done for me; you and Mama mean more than the world to me, but Downton Abbey is no longer where I am meant to be. I am meant to be with Henry, at his side as his wife and mother to his children, which means that I have to do what is best for us. I do not wish to hurt you or cause you upset and being separated from you and from home will be heart breaking, but I will only be down the road,' Ella explained tearfully. 'I do want my baby, your grandchild, to be born here, at the house and do want us to be welcome here, as you will be in my home.'

Robert sighed angrily, he could see that he was beaten and the indignant look from his wife told him, that it would not be worth the bashing he would get from her of he continued down this line. Regardless though, he was not happy or impressed by his daughter's actions.

'Might I suggest we continue this discussion later? I fear that any further stress placed on Ella at this time could harm her and the baby,' Henry said after a few moments, with authoritive concern. 'I think Ella, you should rest for a while; you look exhausted,' he added.

On this occasion, Ella didn't need telling twice; she was exhausted and she didn't want to wage war with her father. She did love and adore him and she didn't want to hurt him or fight with him, so she knew, that the best thing she could do, was leave him to Cora. She was very feisty when the mood took her and Ella could tell from the looks she was giving him, that Cora intended to have it out with him for the way he'd behaved; but Ella felt guilty, as she thought that, perhaps, Cora wouldn't be quite as understanding if she knew one of the other reasons for influencing Ella's decision.