Ch 6 - Mrs.

"Hmmm I wish we didn't have to do this Mr. Carson." She mumbled and he kissed her cheek.

The next morning's sun shone through the tightly shut curtains, waking the new couple against their will. It'd been some time since morning's first light but the two had resisted it, taking their time together. She sighed, her breath tickling his bare chest and smiled deeply, feeling the low rumble of his laughter reverberate through his entire being.

She smiled, getting on her hands and crawling up toward him. He took her in his arms and hugged her tight. She looked up into his eyes as he leaned down, brushing her lips with his own. They'd taken their time that morning, making love and falling back asleep in each other's comfortable embrace time and time again. Elsie sighed, laying her head on his shoulder this time, her hand over his heart, noting that his embrace felt more like home to her than anywhere she'd ever been.

"Elsie." He whispered, his breath tickling her cheek. He ran his fingers all the way up her arm, taking her hand in his own as he leaned down to kiss her.

Charles Carson was a man obsessed. Since he'd met her, Elsie constituted every waking thought, breath and beat of the heart, and now that she was in his arms, his beautiful, young, nude bride she was so much more than that: she was his everything now. Elsie sighed rolling over in is close embrace, skin-on-skin. She enjoyed the feeling of his soft skin brushing hers, melding into it: the feeling of being one.

Elsie was wholly in love and didn't want to move from that spot in his arms, his chest her pillow. She ached in ways and places she hadn't known one could ache. But it was a satisfactory pain, one that had quieted a mysterious, unacknowledged longing and left her deeply craving more.

"I'm afraid we have to get up." He told her, patting her side and kissing her lips ever so softly.

Elsie's heart sank when he climbed out of bed, a feeling of loss coming over her as he pulled away. She sat up, blushing because it was fully light out and took the bed sheet, pulling it up over her. She watched with young, innocent eyes as he crossed to the restroom, she thought, to find his clothes.

"I will draw us a bath." He said, poking his head out the washroom door.

…

"I wish we didn't have to go back." Elsie admitted sadly.

After their bath the two scrambled down to breakfast and back to the train station. Both knew that too much time had passed and they'd be missed at Downton by now. Charlie squeezed his wife's hand as they stared up at the train.

"So do I, my love."

"My love, I like it." She smiled. "Charlie what if people realize we were gone… how do we explain?"

"I must admit I do not know…"

Elsie was nervous. So many questions remained unanswered. How would they live and where?

"Charlie… we didn't discuss this, did we?"

"You're referring to the fact that butlers and housemaids and cooks cannot be wed?"

"Y-yes."

"Oh my Elsie, I do not care about that. I'd have given up everything in order to be with you." He said, taking both her hands in his. She blushed, putting her head down. He took her chin and brought her eyes back up to his gaze. "Nothing's ever made me so happy as the promise of a life with you."

"Nor I you." She whispered as he kissed her softly and took her hand again.

"I don't know what our life will be just yet… but I know that I don't care as long as it's a life with you." He said as they walked toward the train.

"Nor do I, Mr. Carson…. You're all I've ever wanted." She commented and he smiled so deeply he could've cried.

"Come along Mrs. Carson, let's go home."

…..

Carson and Elsie didn't sit together on the train, not wanting anyone who might be from the village to catch on to the fact that they were traveling together and had clearly spent the night in York. Neither knew what the state of their marriage was or was to be be, only that they were deeply and wholly in love and that that alone would carry them through.

Carson sat several rows and an aisle away from his bride, facing her. The train sped along far too fast for their tastes, and the whole time, the new couple found themselves unable to take their eyes off of each other. In particular, Carson stared back at his wife, his flirtatious gaze almost drilling into her in a way that made her feel like a silly lass who was just ready to go into service. She blushed as he stared back confidently, practically undressing her with his eyes.

His simple gaze was so much more now than what it'd been just the previous evening. Before it was a flirtation, an attraction that drew one of them to the other like magnets. But now it was so much more and all encompassing: a knowing of things unspoken. The gaze of his eyes and the flash of his smile once made her stomach do flips, but now it called her back to a dark, intimate world all their own, one embodied by nothing but shared whispers in the dark, the brush of skin on skin, and the powerful notion that they were man and wife and would never be separated by anything but death… or so they thought.

Elsie blushed almost wishing he would stop staring, but his eyes drilled into her now just as they had all last night. He wouldn't deprive himself the joy of gazing upon his wife especially when he knew that he'd have to control himself from here on out.

"I love you." She mouthed silently from across the train.

"I love you more." He replied in the same fashion.

…

When the train stopped, Charlie and Elsie went their separate ways, blending into the crowd as fast as they could. It would be scandal, after all, if they were caught. Neither knew exactly how to announce their marriage, all they were sure of was that they didn't want to start it off with a scandal. A second train arrived just on he heals of theirs, coming to a halt just as each of them got off the platform. That, however, didn't keep them from hearing the urgent news: Lord and Lady Grantham were on the train.

Charlie panicked inside, knowing that his absence (and Elsie's) would be conspicuous now that the house was expecting Lord Grantham. Elsie understood this as well and so the two took off in separate directions, rushing back to Downton as fast as their feet would carry them, both grateful to have a small head start on the employers whose coach likely wouldn't be ready for several minutes.

The butler and his wife snuck into the house, each scurrying up separate hidden stairs and back to their perspective quarters to change. Elsie quickly put on another dress, knowing Mrs. Patmore would notice if she wore the same one she left in. Elsie dressed quickly, overwhelmed at the notion that her life had been so fundamentally different the last time she'd been in that room. It'd changed forever and yet she wondered what that really meant. After all, they would live apart: she'd still sleep in this room cold and alone; she'd still be Hughes, not Carson.

Breathless, Elsie scrambled downstairs arriving just in time to greet Lord and Lady Grantham and their two little girls. She and her new husband stood at attention as the large staff greeted the family. Elsie watched Beryl out of the corner of her eye, taking note of the fact that she seemed to realize something was different. Years would pass before Elsie would discover that Mrs. Patmore knew that she and Carson had snuck away together that night.

The rest of the staff disbursed but Carson and Elsie stood at attention as the family came into the foyer. Lord and Lady Grantham came first, followed by the five year old Lady Mary and tiny Lady Edith, accompanied by their nannies. Elsie was a bit intimidated by the family and their dynamics, which her husband was so at ease with. She watched as the Lord and Lady kissed their little girls good-bye and the two were swiftly carried away. Elsie didn't know how they did that or why they would choose to. For her part, she knew she could never be away from her children and let them be raised by someone else. She would never guess, now that her own children would be part of Downton's nursery many years from then.

"Ms. Hughes." Cora smiled, turning to Elsie who almost jumped in surprise. It'd been a couple of weeks since she'd seen her, weeks that had contributed to the Lady's now very pregnant state.

'I could be pregnant…' She considered, the thought overwhelming her.

"Miss Hughes, I really do need to speak with you right away, do you suppose that we could talk in the sitting room?"

"Oh um... of course m'lady."

Elsie looked back at her new husband for guidance, wondering what it was the Lady would want to speak of. She was nervous now, what if they wanted to fire her? Would Charlie then end it with her too? What would Charlie say to Lord Grantham, would he tell them of their sudden elopement?

What Elsie didn't understand, was that the family had taken a liking to her. Cora, in particular was very kind to her, something Elsie found almost perplexing, given that the master and mistress of the first house where she'd been in service had not been particularly amiable or very kind.

Cora smiled as the two sat down together and a footman brought in tea. "Please." She said, "I'd like you to have some with me."

"O… oh!" She was surprised.

Cora continued to talk and despite her nervousness, Elsie found herself transfixed with Cora's condition suddenly realizing that she wished, more than anything that she were expecting too.

"Miss Hughes. We hired you as a new maid."

"Yes, m'lady." She said, called to attention at once.

"You've never met our housekeeper, Mrs. Smith?"

"No, m'lady, Mr. Carson and Mrs. Patmore have been the ones to train me and show me the way."

"Although you're good at what you do already." Cora smiled kindly.

"Thank you, m'lady."

"Mrs. Smith has given her notice, she's moving to Lytham St. Anne's to care for her ill sister I'm afraid." Elsie frowned.

Mrs. Smith was getting on in years and Cora had known this was coming for quite some time. The older woman had started there when Robert's father was a young man. What she wasn't going to broadcast was that she'd also run off with Chambers… the butler before Carson.

"Oh. I'm sorry to hear that." Elsie paused.

"Honestly, I hired you with her situation in mind."

"Oh?"

"Miss Hughes? Would you like the job? I think you'd make a wonderful head housekeeper."

"Me? I'm very flattered m'lady I…" Elsie paused, about to say she had to check with her husband but then she realized she couldn't do that. "Yes, I accept."

Elsie was floored. For many years to come, this would be the biggest two days of her life. Married. A promotion she could only dream of as a farmer's daughter. On one hand she was ecstatic and on the other sad as she watched Lady Grantham walk away. Without even thinking much about it, she knew what she wanted most in the world: a baby.

"I hear congratulations are in order, Mrs. Hughes." Her husband said, as he came back into the room where she was now alone, sneaking a bit of flirtation into a very formal sentence spoken not by a lover but by Carson the imposing butler. "You've become a Mrs. twice in not twenty-four hours."

"That's right." She reflected.

"I think that's what I shall call you." He smiled.

"Hmmm?"

"Mrs. Hughes. My Mrs. Hughes." He said and she blushed.

"That sounds wonderful, my Mr. Carson."

…

"Thank you." Elsie said as Mrs. Patmore shut the door, leaving her all alone in the sitting room, her sitting room.

Elsie looked around in wonder, it was the first place she'd ever really had to call her own and she could barely believe she'd been given the place, in addition she'd been given a new private bedroom upstairs and would no longer have to share with another girl. She almost squealed, wondering how she could possibly have two rooms of her own! But then it hit her, there were other rooms she longed for… one with a marriage bed, one with a warm kitchen all her own… one with a cot…

Elsie turned when there was a knock on the door and opened her mouth in surprise to find her standing there. He closed the door and ducked down, kissing her deeply before she had the chance to speak.

"Hello Charlie." She said, wonderment in her eyes when he pulled away.

"Congratulations my love." His eyes sparkled, but he seemed sad.

"What's wrong?" She asked instantly.

He sighed. "We must discuss Mrs. Smith."

"Oh?" She raised an eyebrow.

"Yes… it seems our predecessors reached the end of their employ here, both in time… and in tolerance."

"What do you mean?"

"Elspeth they… well their relationship was discovered… and considered, inappropriate."

Elsie gasped. "Charlie they…"

"I know. We have a number of choices, my love. We could confess… and quit. We could stay and keep our love a secret, that us until we have our first baby." Elsie smiled deeply at the idea of her first baby, her shyness about it coming off as flirtation.

"So… what would you choose? I don't wish to keep my love for you a secret but I feel it… unwise for us to leave our posts."

"I feel the same."

"And I don't think it too long before we've our first babe…" He considered. "We could put some money away and find a new life in the meantime."

She sighed. "I don't like the idea of living apart but I agree it's for the best."

"Besides. I am proud of my wife, only a few weeks here and she's risen to the top of her profession! I wouldn't want her to give that up on my account not right away."

"Thank you Charlie." She blushed, not realizing that he would be so supportive of her in that way. She'd been told a husband would be anything but.

"And who says we've got to live apart?" He asked.

Elsie said nothing and instead lifted up her newly acquired chatelaines, referencing the many keys she held for the men's, and women's very separate quarters.

"Indeed Mrs. Hughes… as housekeeper only you're allowed to turn the lock."

"Y-you're not suggesting…"

"I'd indeed thought of sneaking into your quarters tonight Mrs. Hughes and absconding with you!"

"Charlie!"

"That is how we shall have to do it until…" He stopped looking down at her as she stared up at him. "Until we've a babe to make us a family." He said quickly. "We will sleep in my room, and in yours and wherever we can. We will sneak about…"

"Charlie sneaking…" Elsie's heart sank, and she found herself thinking she was worthless if he felt the need to sneak about with her. "Charlie perhaps we didn't give marriage a …"

"NO!" He cried placing his mammoth hands on her shoulders. "I love thee, my beautiful Mrs. Carson." He said, cupping her cheek in his hand. "I love thee with every breath in my body and every beat of my heart. We may not have the perfect situation at present, but I will do whatever I can to live with you as man and wife, to show you how much I love you and for us to never ever be apart, for as long as we shall live. We will make a way, Mrs. Carson."

"At that we will." She said, biting her lip and beginning to cry.

….

Elsie's heart began to beat rapidly with the first, swift turn of the lock. She shook as she tiptoed into the men's quarters for the first time, careful not to make a sound. If they were caught, it'd be all over with before it even started. Elsie jumped in terror when a door opened on her right and clasped her hand over her mouth so she wouldn't scream.

'Elsie.' Charlie mouthed, and she sighed with relief.

He took her hand and swiftly pulled her inside, quietly shutting his door before taking her in her arms and kissing her as deeply as he could muster. It was a long, slow kiss that caused her to grow weak in his arms as he ran his large hands along her slender middle. She tilted her head, continuing to kiss him deeply despite the need they both had to come up for air. But neither wanted to be first to break their lip lock.

Elsie was lightheaded once she did and rested against his chest as he kissed her forehead.

"You're here." He smiled, grinning from ear to ear.

"Yes Charlie, your Mrs. is really here, she wouldn't miss a moment with you no matter the risk."

He smiled deeply, turning her to show her the little room that would now be theirs. She gasped, surprised to finally notice that he'd lit candles and poured them champagne. The room was small, but Elsie found it enchanting and loved it because unlike the other rooms, it was a world all their own.

"I love it Charlie." She observed. "For the time we have to be, I think you and I shall be very happy here."

"Splendidly happy. I love you Mrs. Hughes, but now it's time for bed."

…

Charlie and Elsie awoke many hours later, fearful they'd been found out. She said nothing and instead lay pressed against his bare chest, her hand over her womb. He lay next to her, a bright smile spread across the whole of his face in satisfaction as he turned to kiss her.

"I must say that was even more marvelous Mrs. Hughes."

Elsie was in shock, not having realized that this intimate activity would not only get more personal, but also feel better and better as time went on.

"Do you think anyone heard us Mr. Carson?" She asked. That was the problem: his little bed squeaked.

"No." He chuckled, leaning down to kiss her again.

"I wonder how long it'll take?" She asked.

"Hmm?" He asked, kissing her neck.

"Making a babe Mr. Carson." She giggled.

He stopped for a moment, surprised at her phrasing. "Hopefully not too long my Mrs. Hughes. Heaven knows that should've done it."

Elsie laughed, rubbing her nose against his as they started to kiss again. "Yes that should've done it." She said, continuing to kiss him.

He deepened the kiss, taking her cheeks in his hands. She smiled deeply, looking up at him as he caressed her face gently. "Oh my Elsie Carson. I'm so sorry."

"What?!"

"That… we've to hide, I'm so, so sorry." He paused as she looked up sadly at him. "But I promise one day, my Mrs. one day, we will tell the world." He started to laugh and she smiled bright, almost screaming when he grabbed her and pulled her under the covers with him.