*Brushes away a droplet of sweat from her eyebrow* Phew! You seriously cannot guess what a challenge writing this chapter has been…But now it's finally finished!
My summer break started a while back and the first weeks have just been sort of resting and getting used to a new routine for me. Also, the symptoms of a slight burnout have been present lately. So, because of that and various other reasons, getting back to the swing of writing has been awfully hard! Hopefully the rest of my summer break goes well on the writing front…Fingers crossed!
But now I shan't keep you away from today's chapter any longer! I hope at least some of you enjoy this chapter, please let me know what you think with a little review because I feel like I need a little reassurance right now…I hope you enjoy! Stay safe and I'll be back with a new chapter as soon as possible :)
Tuesday 24th of August 1929, after breakfast
It was the first sunny day in a while, and everyone were quite cheerful at the palace. It was the calm after the storm.
Gloomy faces were rare that day, but of course not everyone felt the joy the sun up in the bright blue skies brought. And one of those people was the Queen of England.
Queen Mary stepped into the library with a long sigh as the footman pulled the door shut after her. Her husband turned his attention towards her.
"Everything alright, my dear?", the king asked, taking a sip of his freshly poured tea.
"I'm afraid there's been a mix up with the date of our visit to princess Mary."
"How so?"
"Someone has mistaken the date for today and now Courbet has been given the day off and he's visiting his family in Warwick because they thought we'd be away for the day."
"What?", huffed her husband.
"I know."
"But surely, he can come back in time to make us lunch and dinner?"
"I'm afraid not.", sighed Mary."We're left to our own devices for the day."
"That's very unfortunate. What are we to eat then?"
"I'm not entirely sure but Lawton said she'd figure out something."
"But she's not a chef-"
"I know that but it's the best we can manage right now! Unless you'd rather eat somewhere else of course?", she stated with a frown.
"I'd rather not. Well, we'll make do with what we have."
"I'm afraid we must."
The queen took a seat next to her husband, taking a sip of her tea to calm her nerves. Nothing had gone her way that day, but she would not dwell on that too much.
"Have you seen Bagshaw somewhere? I meant to ask her about something.", she asked after a while when the thought crossed her mind.
"Didn't you say she was going to be organizing Ms. Smith and Mr. Branson's wedding today?"
Mary looked baffled at that;
"Wasn't that meant to be tomorrow?"
The day was certainly not going according to plan. The queen wouldn't want to admit it, but she did miss having the housekeeper and butler around. If only just for things to run smoothly.
The prince and princess' bedroom
Elsie pulled the dressing gown tighter around her, her hands tying the ribbon on the front to close the gown around her middle. Her gaze followed the doctor who walked to close his bag in the corner.
"Everything seems to be fixing itself, your highness.", explained the royal doctor.
"What does that mean?", asked her worried husband from his place on one of the chairs by the window.
The doctor's bag closed with a 'click' that echoed in the otherwise quiet room.
"It means her highness can continue her normal life very soon. Her appetite, also, should return fully when she's up and about more."
Elsie heard her husband let out a relieved sigh.
"So, there is nothing to worry about?", Elsie decided to ask, searching for more reassurance.
"You've healed very well, your highness.", the doctor flashed a smile."But you mustn't forget that healing completely is a long process. Both physically and emotionally."
"Of course.", she nodded.
"Take it easy for a few more days. Maybe take a walk in the gardens to stretch your legs but do not over do it."
"I will personally take care of that, doctor, do not worry."
The doctor seemed to be slightly taken aback by the prince's words but recovered quickly.
"Well, if you have no more questions, your highness, I think I shall head out. And if there is any change in your health, don't hesitate to give me a call."
"We will, of course."
"Would you like to stay for tea, doctor? To pay you back for everything you've done for us these past days?", Elsie offered politely; ever the well-mannered woman that she was- while walking to pull the cord hanging beside the bed.
"However much I would like to take you on that offer, your highness, I'm afraid I will have to refuse and be on my way. I hope you don't think me too unkind.", the doctor said, clearing his throat awkwardly.
"Not at all, doctor. We understand. And thank you for taking your time to see me today, we both appreciate it. I wouldn't be here today if it wasn't for you."
"I was only doing my job, your highness."
"Well, I am thankful nonetheless."
"Of course.", the doctor nodded.
Elsie showed the doctor a faint smile as a way of giving the man permission to leave their company. One of the privileges of being a royal; you had the power to end a conversation whenever you felt like it.
The man made it to leave the room slowly, bowing his head at both the prince and princess before doing so. However, before he could reach the door he was stopped by Charles' extended hand. He lifted his gaze to meet the prince's, taking his offered hand and shook it.
"Thank you…Truly. You saved my wife's life and I will never be able to repay you that.", Charles spoke, squeezing the doctor's right hand with his before releasing his hold."I will be forever grateful."
"Your highness- there is no need to thank me, the pleasure is all mine. I was simply doing my job.", he said kindly, smiling up at the prince."I wish you and your wife all the best, your highness."
"Thank you, doctor."
And with those words the doctor moved to leave the room as Mabel appeared in the doorway to see him out. They disappeared behind a closed-door mere seconds later, leaving the couple alone in their bedroom.
Charles turned towards his wife, a smile worn on his face. His smile however faded when he saw her holding back tears.
"Elsie? My dearest darling, whatever is the matter?", he rushed to her, taking her hands in his."My darling, what's made you cry?"
"Nothing's the matter, Charlie, I'm just-", she squeezed his hands, letting him bring them against his chest."I'm just being silly."
"Now we both know that's not true, darling. Did I say something?"
"Of course not-", she sniffled."- you're being amazing, as you always are."
"How could I ever be anything else when you are concerned, my beautiful wife?"
A smile forced its way to her lips at his words of endearment. Her husband could truly be a romantic sometimes. Sniffing again, she pulled her other hand away from him, wiping at the tears on her cheeks.
"What is it, Elsie, truly? I only want to help.", he whispered so quietly she could barely hear as he planted a kiss to her palm.
"It's just that- it's overwhelming how much more I fall in love with you every day. And I keep thinking how unfair it is that they tried to break us apart."
He never said anything, just pulled her against his chest and brought his arms around her to draw soothing circles around her back.
"I'm so sorry you've had to go through all this. You don't deserve it.", he said, caressing her back through her clothes."You've done nothing to deserve it."
"It's not been very fun for you either.", She said; something they both knew to be true however they might say aloud."I know it hasn't."
"You know me so well.", he pulled away so he could place a loving kiss to her forehead, his arms still spread around her middle to hold her at an arm's length.
"How could I not? After all this time?"
He hummed his content reply.
"Charlie?"
"Yes, Els?"
"Would you mind it terribly if we went away for a while?", she asked him, looking up to stare into his eyes.
"What do you mean?", he looked baffled, her question had surprised him.
She took a slightly shaking breath before speaking up again; her voice uncertain.
"I feel like I- we both, could use a bit of alone time, just the two of us. We could go to Downton, live in our cottage for a while."
He took a moment to take in what she had told him, but the silence between them wasn't long.
"If that's what you'd like, of course I'm alright with it.", he smiled at her; a brilliant smile that seemed to dry all the tears inside of her."We best stay here until the business with Mrs. Webb and Mr. Wilson is over and done with. But then we'll go to Downton, to our cottage."
He looked at her with pure love in his eyes and for a minute she felt like her legs would give up under her. His eyes; one of the many things Elsie loved about her husband the most.
"We'll spent the days in each other's company, talking and cuddling, and the nights, also, together…in bed."
Charles leaned to kiss her lips, lingering against them for a moment longer than absolutely necessary. With his mouth close to her ear, he whispered;
"Or did you have something else…in mind, my dear?"
His seductive voice made shivers run across her back.
"That is exactly what I had in mind.", came her reply before she crashed her lips onto his.
She was going to be fine, and all was right in their little world.
Later that day, dinner time
"I'm very pleased to see you around this table once again, Elsie."
The princess raised her gaze from her plate, smiling at her sister-in-law;
"Well, I'm pleased to be up and about. I was getting sick of that room."
"What did the doctor say? I saw him leaving earlier today.", asked king George.
"Only that I have recovered very well, and he'd expect me to be the picture of health in just a few days."
"Well, that is wonderful news!", beamed the queen."It'll be nice to be back to normal."
"I agree.", Charles smiled, giving his wife's hand a squeeze under the table; a gesture hidden away from the king and queen at the other end of the table.
They all turned to their dinner for a minute until Charles spoke up again.
"I thought they had something else planned for tonight?", he stated, gesturing to the ham and cheese platter and glass of wine before him.
"Not that he's complaining, of course.", interrupted his wife gently, giving her husband a glare.
The king let out an amused laugh.
"Yes-", his wife sighed."I'm afraid they've mixed up Courbet's day off and we're left with no cook today. Luckily they had some leftovers for luncheon but-"
The queen turned to sip her wine, a short silence falling upon the table.
"Are they managing downstairs without a butler and housekeeper?", Elsie then wondered, worry clearly in her voice.
"I'm sure they are.", George said, brushing off his sister's concerns.
"You shouldn't worry about it. I'm sure the situation will clear itself out soon enough."
"I could pop downstairs, see if I could help."
"Of course not! It's not your job anymore.", the queen ignored her suggestion; rightly so, thought George.
"It would not be a problem. After all, it's my fault you do not have a butler and housekeeper right now. I should at least try to do something to make it up for you.", Elsie insisted; she was not going to drop the subject unless she had gotten approval from the king and queen."And if I may say so, I do have the experience of running a household for over twenty years."
Charles looked at his wife with pride in his eyes. His beautiful Elsie truly was an angel. She had barely gotten out of bed and was already offering to help others. He simply didn't know what he had done to deserve such a woman in his life…
"We could not ask that of you, you're part of the family now. It just wouldn't be right."
"But you are not asking, we are offering.", interrupted Charles.
"We?"
"Well, I believe a housekeeper needs a butler by her side.", he stated plainly.
"Well-", the queen seemed to be at a loss for words.
"Wouldn't you agree, my dear?"
Charles turned his attention towards his wife who was looking at him with a rather surprised face. He was glad to be able to surprise her, still, even after all this time…
"Indeed, I would.", came her reply with her hand stretching to grab her wine glass.
"Then, if you approve your majesty, it is settled. We'll pop downstairs and see what needs to be taken care of.", Charles said, in his best butler voice, Elsie noticed.
"I- well, if you insist.", Mary stumbled with her words.
She didn't see the reason for the prince and princess to do such a thing, to lover themselves to be their servants just because they wanted to do them a favour…She shook her head; they were obviously very kind people.
"We do.", Elsie smiled."And besides, it'll be nice to remember the old times."
"Only if you're sure it's no trouble for you.", George agreed.
With the matter now settled, both couples returned to their dinner. The king and queen started a conversation of their own while Elsie turned to address her husband on her right;
"I hope you weren't implying that I would not be capable of taking over the running of the royal household on my own, Mr. Carson?"
Her voice was nothing more than a quiet whisper; she didn't want anyone else to hear her.
"Never that, my dear Mrs. Carson."
"As long as it stays that way.", she warned, obviously teasing him."Shall we go straight down after dinner?"
"Of course- whatever you say, Mrs. Carson.", he pretended to sound very disappointed but they both knew he was more than pleased with himself.
And more than pleased with her. He had missed their playful teasing the past few days…Charles finally felt like he was getting his beloved Elsie back.
"Good.", she let out a little laugh, capturing the attention of the two other people around the table.
But neither seemed to mind. They too were happy to see the princess in good spirits once again.