Ciao! Time for another NERWAC update after FOUR WEEKS! Eeek! It's been ages since I've last published to this story, and I feel extremely guilty about that. Life has been very hectic and busy and what with the new Downton Abbey movie coming out…*Sigh* But anyways! I am here now with the 28th chapter and I hope you enjoy. I'll be back to this story when life allows it…But until then- enjoy! :)

P.S. Let me know if you'd still like me to continue this Chelsie adventure! And thanks for all the lovely reviews on the latest chapters, they always make my day and I love you all for them!

The next morning, Monday 23rd of August 1929

"Ah- they said you'd be in here."

The king of England entered the southern drawing room and pulled the door closed after him, smiling at the woman writing a letter at the small desk.

Elsie turned her head to greet him;

"Good morning."

"Good morning, Elsie. What are you doing up so early when you should be resting?", Geroge asked, stepping closer.

"That was what Mabel said too.", Elsie flashed him a smile at his caring."But I told her that if I was to remain in that bed for another moment, I'd probably go mad-"

He laughed slightly.

"-and I thought, why not get up and actually do something."

"Well, if you are feeling well enough to be out of bed then I am glad."

"I am still a bit worn out and the very mention of food makes my stomach twist, but I am slowly getting there."

"Good."

A short silence followed until Elsie spoke up again;

"Has breakfast finished?"

"It has."

"I'm sorry I didn't join you, but as I said, the very mention of food makes me nauseous."

"Of course, everyone understands. And besides, you are a married woman; you are allowed to eat breakfast in bed."

"I suppose.", Elsie shrugged, turning back to face the desk in order to fold the letter and secure it in an envelope.

George took a seat on a chair next to the window, watching her sign the envelope with her neat handwriting, adding the royal seal as a finishing touch. His eyes soon found the pile of sealed envelopes on the corner of her desk.

"You've kept yourself busy.", he stated, motioning to the pile of letters."What is it that you're doing?"

"I'm writing a letter to every guest we had over at the ball on Friday. They've all sent flowers, which I saw were a great many flowers, and I am very grateful for that, and everyone's support. I wanted to thank them."

"That is very kind of you. I'm sure everyone appreciates what you are doing."

"I should hope so, all this writing has made my fingers cramp.", she joked, adding the envelope from her hands on the top of the stack."Where is everyone this morning?"

"I'm not entirely sure…Mary has been downstairs for the past hour or so, discussing how we are to navigate through everything without a butler or a housekeeper…"

"I'm afraid my husband played a very significant part in their dismissal yesterday. And now you don't have a butler or a housekeeper for the matter."

"He was only trying to protect you; I see that now. I've come to realize that the man would do anything to keep you safe…And there's nothing wrong in that."

"I know.", she smiled at the thought of her loving husband.

"We've not had the chance to talk since last night. How is he? When I last saw him, he was quite shaken up by it all.", George asked.

The scene that had unfolded before them yesterday after the two men had come back upstairs from the servants' quarters was still bright on their minds…

"He's- he's alright, I think. We both need a bit of time to process everything, but we'll be fine.", she said."I won't let this ghastly business keep me down for long."

The king nodded, absentmindedly studying her face.

If he didn't know better, he'd say nothing had happened at all. She looked perfectly fine to him, although the little wound on her right wrist gave it away…It must have come from the broken glass, George noted, the one that- He chose not to give that another thought. The wound, however, would remain a memory of the past few days for a long time to come…

He watched her seal yet another envelope, adding it to the stack, then moving to the next one. She showed no sign that anything was amiss…But the truth was, he worried for her. He worried for them both.

"How are you, truly?"

His question surprised her and she abruptly stopped what she was doing, slowly turning to face him as if he'd said something utterly stupid.

"I know everyone must keep asking that from you, and you've probably grown tired of it, but…"

"But?"

He let out a little sigh before continuing;

"But I worry about you, both of you. The truth is…I feel responsible. If I had not been so blind to whatever was going on under my roof, we could have prevented- this…from happening. I don't think I'd ever forgive myself if something worse had happened and I was the cause of that…"

She couldn't help but smile at him at his words…They'd not known each other for a long time but it was clear that he meant what he had said…

"Thank you."

"Whatever for?", he lifted his gaze to meet hers.

Elsie shook her head, looking into her brother's eyes.

"I do not blame you…Mrs. Webb might have been wrong…About me and of you. But now she's paying the price for her foolishness…", Elsie said calmly, fidgeting with the ring on her finger."Believe me when I say I'd like to give that woman a piece of my mind, but I don't think it would do anyone any good."

"But are you not hurt? Because she wanted to do such a thing?", George asked in awe for his sister.

"Of course I am. Every time I'm left alone with my thoughts it all comes back and…And it hurts…"

His face softened at that.

"I've been here for a month and something, and someone has already tried to k-", she paused, her voice catching in her throat as she struggled to say the word; a rush of emotions boiling inside of her."-and, I believe that is enough to make anyone question where they stand with their feelings..."

She cleared her throat, glancing out of the window as she tried to keep her emotions at bay.

"I hope that doesn't mean you wish to leave.", the king forced a smile.

Of course, he would understand if she wanted to; heavens, the last few days must have been true hell to her! She might be the princess to his people and things were expected from her now, but no one deserves what she had gone through…No one, George shuddered.

"No.", her voice brought him back to present.

She wouldn't let all this keep her down for long; she was much stronger than that.

"I don't wish to leave.", Elsie replied, a sort of determination in her voice; for the first time in days, she noted.

He didn't say anything in reply, but she knew what he was thinking.

"I don't believe leaving is a choice for me.", she simply stated.

Meanwhile at Downton Abbey

"The housekeeper and butler for the king and queen of England have been arrested for the attempted murder or the princess of Scotland!-", read Robert Crawley from the paper before him and quickly lifted his gaze to look at his family."Good heavens!"

"What?", his eldest daughter looked at him in awe."Can that be true?"

"I can't believe it.", gasped lady Grantham from her seat on one of the library's couches.

"It's outrageous!"

"I agree. What on earth were they thinking?"

"What a ghastly business. The king and queen must be feeling terrible to learn it was their servants' doing…"

"Mama, the two almost killed Mrs. Hu- no, the princess, of course they ought to feel terrible!", Mary said, her voice much louder than necessary.

"And to think they stayed here just a while ago- oh I can't put my head around it!", Robert shook his head, tossing the newspaper onto the couch.

"Well, you must, papa. But now I'm afraid the royals will be the talk of the century because of this…", Mary shrugged, standing up from her seat to walk to the table by the window to pour herself more tea.

A short silence followed until Mary spoke up again;

"Luckily they didn't try to poison us."

"Really Mary.", Cora scolded.

"What? I'm only facing facts."

~ Flashback; yesterday, late in the evening, Buckingham Palace, the Carsons' bedroom ~

She turned to lay on her side, her right arm stretching over his stomach.

"I wish to see Mabel before we go to sleep.", Elsie whispered, pulling the blanket higher against her neck.

Charles kissed her hair, inhaling her smell;

"Oh?"

His voice was still slightly hoarse as he said this, and his eyes red from his earlier tears.

"Mhm. I want to thank her for everything she has done."

It was now almost four hours since the housekeeper and butler had been taken away from the palace…A bit less from the moment Charles had collapsed into his wife's arms and cried.

No one had told her what had happened, and Elsie hated to be the one that didn't know what was going on. When her husband's tears eventually subdued after a long while, she took him up to their room; hoping that the privacy would grant her answers. He was weary and so was she- the trek downstairs had been too much- and she led him to their bed. Carefully, she got rid of his jacket, vest and removed his shoes; his trousers came off last. Fetching his pyjamas, she helped him get dressed in them; she had noted that his tremors were quite bad right now but supposed it came with his agitated state and thought nothing more of it.

She was herself already in her nightgown, only having to take off her dressing gown and she draped it over the bed's footboard. They both got into bed next, not a word exchanged between them. And they didn't talk for at least an hour after that…They just held each other.

But then she couldn't stand the ignorance dooming over her any longer and decided to ask him what had happened downstairs that had gotten him so unsettled. And he hesitantly explained it to her…Told her everything.

It had been a shock to her, of course it had. She'd, in turn, cried against his chest, her tears staining his shirt as he held her tight.

How could Mrs. Webb do such a thing? She couldn't believe it. She had a twisted mind, so bloody twisted; Elsie had cursed the woman with hot tears stinging her cheeks. She didn't deserve what the vile woman had done. She had done nothing to deserve such fate…

Elsie Carsons wasn't quick to form a negative opinion about someone, but now she had. She hated that woman. She could shout it from the rooftops and doubted it would even make her bat an eyelash. She hated her with burning passion.

But then again- who wouldn't hate the person who had tried to kill you?

But the woman had not been successful in her attempt, no, and the princess got to live another day and many more to come after that. At least they could be thankful for that, and that the monster had been taken away from their lives. That was a mercy, they both knew it. Things could have gone much worse for them but neither wanted to give that another thought.

They were tired and hurt…But it was over now. They were safe.

And now as they were laying in bed, tangled together under the sheets, they gathered their thoughts and could only pray that things would get better form here…

"She'll feel as if what happened today is her fault.", Elsie said gently, breaking the silence once again.

"She would, I think."

"Hmm- But I won't hear of it. She's done us a favour and I won't forget it.", his wife sniffed.

"I'm not sure how wise it was to tell me about it, only to have me storm downstairs and almost strangle that- that bloody bitch-"

"Don't talk like that, Charlie, please.", she had interrupted him before he could continue.

She didn't want to talk about that woman in their bed and doubted he wanted that any more than she did.

"I'm sorry."

"No, don't be. We've both had quite the day."

They could both agree on that without a doubt.

"Quite.", he whispered, brushing a loose hair from her forehead.

They fell into a comfortable silence, letting their thoughts wander…

"What happens next, you think?", she asked after a moment.

"I'm not entirely sure.", her husband planted a quick kiss to her hair."Something better, I should hope."

"Yes. I'm tired of this."

"You ought to have stayed in bed today.", he pointed out, worrying for her.

"I know, but I was worried…"

Charles knew what she meant…Worry had been a big part of their lives as of late.

Memories of the past few days filled his mind again as a silence fell upon them. He kept thinking how he could have lost her. Laying in their bed now, he might not have his beautiful, wonderful wife, had the housekeeper been successful in her attempt. That thought alone could make his heart crumble into million little pieces inside his chest…

He squeezed her tired body against his as he turned her face towards him in attempt to kiss her lips soundly, lingering against them until they were both breathless. He held his forehead against hers and quietly whispered;

"How I thank God every day for allowing me to have you as my wife, my dearest love. I love you so you much, Elsie Carson."

"And I love you too, Charlie.", his wife whispered, tears clouding her sight as she leaned to kiss him again."Till the day I die."

~ End of flashback ~

Elsie pushed the door to her and Charles' bedroom open, stepping in and closing the door behind her. The clock on the mantle just struck eleven in the morning and she wouldn't want to say it aloud, but she was already so worn out. She cursed herself for even thinking of getting out of bed and writing those letters that very morning. She clearly needed more rest to get her strength back and right now a lie in sounded absolutely heavenly.

She walked through the sunlight filled room, taking a look out of the large windows that showed a beautiful view of the palace's gardens. She was just about to pull the curtains to cover the light, when she realized the door between their bedroom and the sitting room was slightly ajar, which it never was unless someone was using the room. But Charles had gone for a walk to clear his head; what was he doing here?

Elsie walked to the door, peeking inside the other room, only to see her husband sitting on one of the armchairs in the middle of the room with his back turned towards her. He hadn't gone for that walk then?

"Charlie?", she said into the quiet of the room, startling him as she did so."I'm sorry."

He then turned to face her, his hand on his chest from his earlier scare.

"What are you doing here? I thought you'd gone for a walk-", Elsie asked, stepping properly into the room through the open door."-I was surprised to find you here."

He looked at her with an apologetic smile, reaching his hand out as an invitation for her to join him. His wife took his offered hand gladly but not without a certain worry.

"Is something the matter?", she asked, letting him guide her to sit on his lap."Are you alright?"

"Mhm-", he nuzzled her neck; her skin smelling of lavender and a bit of lemon like it always did."I'm missing you of course."

"Ever the flatterer.", Elsie smiled lovingly."But really, Charlie, it's not like you to be away with the fairies…I wish you'd tell me if something's wrong."

"I've only been thinking."

"Of what?", she asked gently, feeling him stretch his arm around her waist to keep her close.

"Just…things, I suppose."

"Very mysterious."

"Even if you act like you don't, I know you know exactly what is going on in my head right now, my darling.", he said, not a hint of tease in his voice like usually.

"I know.", his wife sighed, looking him in the eye."I'm sorry."

"It's not your fault, we can both be sure of that at least."

She forced a smile, planting a quick peck of a kiss on his nose.

"I know you feel awful about yesterday.", she then replied quietly."But you mustn't worry about it, Charlie. You were angry."

"Angry beyond limits and very protective of you, my darling, I'm afraid."

"But nothing happened. And because of you, that cruel woman is now getting punished for what she did, and for that I am utterly grateful to you."

"It was Mabel really…She was the one who put the pieces together.", he said as a matter of fact.

"I know…But you acted upon your knowledge."

"But not very sensibly, did I?"

She showed him a scolding look;

"Do not bathe in self-pity, my darling, I hate to see you like that. We went through that yesterday, don't go there again."

"I don't mean to, but things could have ended very badly yesterday, had the king not intervened."

"But he did intervene, and it all turned for the better in the end.", the wife told him, caressing his ring finger with her own smaller one.

"And you are right of course, as you so often are."

"I know I am.", she teased.

"Hmm."

"What is it?"

"I was just thinking how lucky I am to have you. I don't know what I would do if that vile woman had been successful, and I'd have lost you…"

"Well, luckily you don't need to find out for a long time to come because I am not going anywhere."

Elsie smiled at him genuinely then, but soon felt a yawn try to break through and she tried her best to suppress it; however, her attempt was not successful.

"You're tired, love.", Charles said and pulled her closer against his chest.

"I came upstairs to have a lie in but then I found you here and we both know how that ended.", she smiled against his shoulder, bringing her arms around his middle.

"You should have stayed in bed, Elsie. If you want to get better, you need rest."

"I know, but I'm getting so sick of that room I might as well go mad."

Her husband let out a laugh at that.

"Let's get you to bed, young lady."

"Only if you join me."

"You managed to make that sound rather risqué, Mrs. Carson…", he smirked, giving her bottom a gentle squeeze with his left hand.

"For a lie in.", she emphasized firmly but with a bright smile on her face."But you must promise to cuddle me very close so that I can fall asleep and get my strength back."

"Your wish is my command, Mrs. Carson."

Not five minutes later they were both already fast asleep, safely cuddled together in their bed.