Well, my friends, it's been a long time since we've last heard of this story! Anyways now it's time for another update after my long break from writing. I hope some of you still enjoy reading this! Even if this chapter didn't reach my standards, it's still something, right? So, this chapter is sort of in Elsie's POV, and I'm planning on writing the next one in Charles' POV in turn, at least that is my plan for now. But today we're just going to take a little peek on what life looks like for the Carsons in their new situation…
But before I let you get to reading, I will say one little thing: This is fanfiction, it's not supposed to be real! It is simply written for my own enjoyment, as well as for my fellow Chelsie shippers :) Just thought I'd say that before continuing with the story!
Thank you everyone! Now I'll shut up and let you scroll down to the actual story…Enjoy ;)
P.S If you like, you can give me suggestions on what you'd like to see happen in this story and what kind of scenes etc. you'd want, go ahead! I might or might not make do with them…
One week later
Elsie couldn't help but stare at her reflection against the shining, golden mirror before her.
"Well, what do you think, your highness?"
She was brought back to reality by the kind voice of the much younger woman, who was standing behind her with a kind smile on her face.
"It is…very glamorous.", Elsie replied, still not moving her gaze from her reflection.
"Should we add more lace to the hem? Or maybe a bigger necklace?"
"Wouldn't that make it slightly tacky?", Elsie heard being said behind her.
"Oh but of course not. A diamond necklace would only complete the look, Lady Woodley."
"Whatever you say."
Elsie let out a sigh at the women's bickering.
"Your highness, what do you say? Shall we try on a diamond necklace?"
"I don't quite feel like it's my style. Nonetheless, I doubt it would do any harm."
"Very well. If you just let me fetch it for you, your highness."
With a quick nod Elsie gave the woman her permission to leave the room. Something she still wasn't quite used to. Nowadays, everyone needed her permission to do anything, before it being the exact opposite. And in addition, she still wasn't used to being called "your majesty" or "your highness", it always took her a moment to realise they were talking to her.
Her attention was once again drawn to the voice coming from behind her.
"I hope you don't mind me saying this, your highness, but I think the dress looks very beautiful on you."
A little blush spread across Elsie's cheeks upon hearing the words.
"Thank you, Woodley. I truly appreciate you saying that."
Laura Woodley, Elsie's new lady in waiting. A young woman in her late thirties, one of the most beautiful women the new princess had ever seen. Just a few days from moving to live in the castle, Elsie was assigned the duty of choosing her lady in waiting, as much as she told everyone she wouldn't need one. But looking back now, she was glad to have someone as her companion to accompany her to all the appointments and fittings she was supposed to go to. But to all the other royals around her, except for her husband, Woodley was the last candidate they would have themselves chosen. As she was a married lady with three children of her own, she wouldn't be able to dedicate her whole time to service. And because of that, anyone wouldn't have hired her. Elsie in turn didn't mind. She believes it is only right to give a chance to people who have it harder than anyone else. And the two get along very well. They have a good relationship and value each other. A good foundation for a friendship, Elsie thought happily.
"You wear the colour well and it will certainly draw all the attention to you."
Elsie shook herself out of her thoughts to reply to the younger woman behind her;
"Thank you."
"Here we are, your highness!", came the voice of the approaching madam Redgate, the royal fashion designer and seamstress."This is the necklace I was talking about."
"That is very beautiful.", Elsie replied.
"I believe it will complete the look very well, your highness. Shall we try it on?"
"Of course."
With the fitting finished, the mid-day quickly turned to day and then evening, Elsie was finally done with the fitting for the day. To quote the Queen, "it is the high time we update your wardrobe", was what had kept her occupied for the day. And now when returning to the palace, Elsie couldn't wait to see her husband again over a cup of tea and talk to him about her day and vice versa.
She took a glance out of the car window as it came to a stop by the palace doors. The gates closed behind them, sheltering the royals from the prying eyes of the public.
"Your highness.", one of the footmen opened the car door, lending her a hand to let her out, doing the same with Woodley after that.
"Thank you."
"Would you like a pot of tea in the drawing room, your highness?"
"Of course, that would be lovely. And could you find my husband for me?", Elsie asked, walking up the stairs to enter the palace.
"Your highness.", nodded the footman approvingly.
And not more than fifteen minutes later a tray of steaming hot tea and some freshly baked teacakes were brought to one of the palace's many drawing rooms, where Elsie was waiting, having already taken off her hat upstairs.
Elsie was sitting by the tall windows that were overlooking the beautiful gardens of Buckingham Palace, her new home. She still found it very strange. But it had only been seven days, right? She had every right to feel unfamiliar with the current situation.
Woodley was sitting in the opposite corner of the room, doing some needle work and if Elsie were to listen very carefully, she could hear the younger woman humming something. The footman poured her a cup of tea, as well as one for Woodley, and was out the door to find her husband. Elsie took advantage of the quiet moment and glanced at the gold traced clock on the wall. The hours were ticking by very slowly. Same as yesterday and the days before it, Elsie sighed. She'd have to write a few letters, prepare for tomorrow's tea party with princess Mary, and meet with the queen before dinner, and her whole schedule for the day was filled. Even during her days in service, she could get a few moments to herself or spend half an hour with the butler, but nowadays they would see each other in the morning, then at teatime and when they finally got to bed. As if the king and queen were trying to keep them apart, but of course she was only imagining it, right?
And like everyone had told her in the past few weeks, the first week would be the hardest. Things would get easier with time.
"Your highness."
Elsie was once again brought to reality by the voice of Woodley who rose to greet the prince who only just entered the room. And with the prince being her husband, a brilliant smile was soon adorning Elsie's face.
"Woodley.", Charles gave the younger woman the slightest of smiles, trying to be polite despite the urge to reach his wife.
Woodley seemed to understand his intentions and quickly sat back down, turning back to her unfinished needle work.
And the next thing Elsie knew was her husband's lips against hers as he kissed her; longing and love felt in his touch. When they broke apart, after a few seconds not to make the other woman in the room uncomfortable, they both smiled lovingly at each other.
"I missed you.", Charles simply uttered.
"I know. I missed you too.", she whispered her answer, watching him sit down on the other armchair next to her with a sigh."How has your day been?"
"Well, I took a walk around the gardens and had a fitting for my new suit.", her husband answered, sounding completely unamused."What about you?"
"Oh, the same. As you know, I've been to a dress fitting the whole morning."
"Wonderful. Did you find anything?"
"Well, I can only say I have never had so many clothes in my whole life.", Elsie joked, only they both knew it wasn't really a joke.
They fell into a comfortable conversation until they heard the clock on the wall strike 2pm. Charles turned to face his wife, about to say something when he saw her slight frown.
"I hope that face doesn't mean you have somewhere to go?", Charles questioned hopefully after a few seconds.
"I'm afraid I still have a few duties to finish today."
And Elsie could clearly read from his hurt face that he was, indeed, just as disappointed as she was.
"I guess I'll see you at dinner then.", Charles said in defeat, shrugging his shoulders.
Elsie couldn't help but nod. It just seemed that these days they didn't have time for each other.