Happy Saturday afternoon, darlings! It's been quite a while since we've last heard of this story. And I apologise for that, it's just that this adventure is draining every fibre of inspiration from me after each update!
But now, ten hours of writing behind me, it's finished. And as always, I'd love to know what you think- don't forget to leave me a review! I hope you enjoy. Now, stay safe and I'll let you scroll down to the story :)
Friday 26th of August 1929, Downton Abbey
"Papa, what's going on?"
Mary had stepped into the hall, only to see her father there with Dr. Clarkson, a forlorn look worn on both the men's faces.
"Lady Mary.", the doctor tipped his hat politely.
"What's going on?"
"I'm afraid your grandmother has taken to her bed."
"What?", the young woman was aghast at her father's words.
"I have given Lady Grantham some medicine, but I fear it might not have much of an effect.", the doctor explained.
"But she's been getting better since she moved to live here at the Abbey, I don't understand."
"Rest will be of help, but there is not much else anyone can do."
Mary brought her hand to cover her mouth as she tried to digest what the doctor had said. It was all so very sudden. Her father placed a soothing hand on her arm.
"I'll stop by before dinner, lord Grantham."
The lord nodded his approval as the doctor took his leave.
"I can hardly believe it."
"I think you should give Edith a call.", her father said, his own voice full of emotion."I've let Rosamund know already. She'll be here tomorrow."
"And Tom will want to be here too."
"What about the honeymoon? We shouldn't impose on them-"
After the Bransons had married two days ago, they had left for their honeymoon to France.
"They'll understand, papa. Granny is what matters now."
He nodded absentmindedly;
"Of course. I'll send a telegram."
Next morning, Saturday 27th of August 1929, the Carsons' cottage
Charles watched as his wife, only in her nightgown and morning coat, made her way to the bed with two cups of warm tea. He smiled as she sat on the edge of the bed.
"Here we are.", Elsie said, handing him one of the cups.
"Thank you. It smells heavenly.", he replied, taking a sip."Let me hold yours while you climb under the covers."
She did as he suggested and soon, they were sitting up against the headboard with the sheets spread over their legs and both holding a cup of tea between their palms.
"I had a hard time convincing Mabel that I'd be more than able to make the tea myself."
He laughed at her words;
"Did you manage eventually?"
"I did, as you might have guessed.", she smiled.
"Of course."
They took a moment to sip their tea, enjoying as it warmed them in the early hours of the morning.
"Speaking of Mabel…I don't see the point with her having to come with us. I'm very much capable of dressing myself without a maid even if I'm a royal now.", she fussed."Not to mention the four guards downstairs."
They had arrived at Downton after five last night and settled into their cottage with, indeed, four guards and the princess' lady's maid with them. The king had insisted they'd come too and who was the princess, or the prince, to argue. It was a miracle they'd even been allowed to go in the first place.
The other two guards had spent the night in the village, in disguise of course, while two remained to keep watch. Mabel had taken residence in the spare room upstairs. She had been reluctant to impose on the couple like that, but after being reassured that it was the best they could manage, the maid had accepted the situation as it was. It was not ideal, they all knew that, but both Elsie and Charles enjoyed being away from the palace at least for a while.
"I think the king and queen only want us to be safe. And I don't blame them, after all that's happened.", Charles said, caressing his wife's fingers with his own.
"I know, but I'd very much like to be all alone, as risqué as it sounds. Knowing there is other people in this cottage spoils all the fun."
"Not all, my darling."
She had to smile at that.
Last night, at Mabel's insistence, the couple had been left alone for their dinner. She had said the guards and herself could easily spent the evening at the local pub and eat there, while the couple could have a moment for themselves. Nothing bad could happen in two hours, she had told the reluctant guards…Although, eating had been a second priority for them, the Carsons had truly enjoyed their alone time.
And now, Elsie could hardly think about last night without a furious blush on her cheeks.
"I suppose you're right. But even so, this is not quite what I had in mind for our little getaway."
"I know, and I'm sorry."
"Don't be.", she said, looking up at his face."I know it's not your fault, Charlie."
"Still, I would have liked it too."
They gazed at each other, lost in the moment for a while as they reminisced last night with all it's good and bad sides. They could, and would, make most of the situation they've been granted.
"On a happier note- would you like to go for a walk, Mrs. Carson?"
His voice shook her out of her reverie and once recovered, she replied with a smile;
"I'd love to."
…
They got changed. Elsie to a simple day dress, white gloves that came just to her wrists and a hat with a little veil to protect her face from the sun, and Charles to a brown suit and matching hat. Nothing too extravagant in order to keep themselves well hidden from everyone else.
"Oh, there's no need for you to come with us. It's only a walk.", Elsie insisted, trying to convince the head guard to let her and Charles go alone.
"Pardon, your highness, but his majesty made it perfectly clear that we are to be with you at all times-"
"Surely you can make an exception for once. I could go with their highnesses, make sure everything goes well.", Mabel jumped in.
God bless Mabel, their ally in all this. Elsie often wondered how she had managed to get such an angel as her lady's maid.
"But-"
"I promise we won't be going far and that Ms. Rutt will be with us at all times. If something happens, she'll come to fetch you right away.", Elsie explained, starting to feel agitated over the situation.
Really, wasn't she supposed to be the one to give orders, not the other way around? Luckily, the guard finally gave in;
"Very well, your highness."
"Good."
"We'll be back before you know it.", Charles grinned, pulling his wife closer to his side.
"Let me just fetch my hat, your highness.", Mabel said, rushing off.
Not more than five minutes later, the three set off into the forest. For once, the Carsons appreciated their cottage being on the very far side of the estate, giving them the much-needed privacy. It had been a nuisance back in the day, but now the story was different.
They walked along the small gravel path- the couple arm in arm while Mabel followed in a respectable distance. And really, the guards had been wrong in worrying someone might cross paths with the royals while on a walk; the forest was deserted, always had been. Everyone else were too busy to bother going on a walk in the morning.
"This is nice.", she could hear the smile in her husband's voice as he said this, breaking the silence settled between them.
"It reminds me of our old life.", the wife told him.
"In a good or bad way?"
"Well, what do you think?"
She was teasing him; of course he knew.
"I only feel bad having to drag poor Mabel with us. It's not much of a break for her. She's earned as much."
"Oh, I think she's enjoying herself well enough as it is."
They cast a look behind, only to see the said girl picking flowers from the bushes with a bright smile on her face.
"Hmm- maybe you're right.", Elsie giggles, turning her attention back to the path ahead."Should I be worried you're not going to make be a bouquet?"
"Would you like one?", he asked, looking down at her.
"I think every lady enjoys a beautiful bouquet every now and then, don't you?"
"Well, in that case-"
He let go of her arm, a wave of shivers flashing through her at the loss of contact. The next thing she did was smile at his back as he knelt down on the ground to pick up flowers from the side of the pathway.
"You'll get your trousers dirty.", her words went to deaf ears.
They had stopped on their way and as Elsie stood there, she let the summer breeze caress her pinned hair- a strand of hair falling from behind her ear.
"Here we are-", he stood up."A bouquet of wildflowers for her majesty."
He held out his hand, a little bouquet of forget-me-nots and daisies in his grasp.
"Oh- Charlie! Thank you, they're beautiful."
The said flowers now held between her fingers; they continued their stroll arm in arm.
"Anything for you, dearest."
"You're spoiling me."
"A husband should spoil his wife. Else he'd be in trouble."
His words erupted a hearty laugh from her.
"You sound as if you've experience."
He gave a look and they both burst into a laugh. Behind them Mabel smiled, delighted to see the couple so light-hearted. She felt like she was seeing behind the curtain that had been covering the real people these past weeks.
"If we won't keep it quiet, they'll hear us all the way up in London!", Elsie snorted, bringing her hand up to cover her mouth as she tried her best to suppress her laughter."Oh- I've not laughed this well in ages!"
They took a moment to regulate their breathing, their laughter finally wearing off.
"How I've missed your laugh.", Charles sighed, feeling her rest her head against his shoulder- her hat bending to an awkward position but neither cared."Your beautiful laugh."
"It does feel good to laugh again."
He leaned to plant a sweet kiss to her forehead, having to lift the little veil that was sheltering her face.
"You've got your spark back, my darling.", he whispered, his breath tickling her skin."And you can't possibly know how happy that makes me."
She smiled.
"If it's anything to compare with my happiness, I might have some idea."
Meanwhile at Downton Abbey
Cora and Robert are there greeting her when the car drives to the front doors of the Abbey and a footman walks up to open the car door.
"Hello, Rosamund.", Cora is the first one to greet the visitor."It's good the see you."
"Hello, Cora.", the other woman leans forward to kiss her sister-in-law's cheek.
"I'm glad you could make it so soon.", the lord of the house spoke up, his voice pulling the two women apart.
"Robert dear…"
She envelopes her brother in an embrace without hesitation.
"How is mama?"
He sighed;
"Not very well, I'm afraid…"
"But wasn't she getting better? When she moved here?", Rosamund couldn't understand the drastic change in her mother's health.
"So, it seemed."
Everyone appeared to be at a loss for words that would fit the situation.
"Let's go have some tea.", Lady Grantham suggested, and they did just that.
…
"I can hardly believe it."
Daisy lifted her gaze from the sink.
"Believe what?", she'd been daydreaming and had lost the meaning behind her superior's words.
"The Dowager, you silly girl. What else could it be?", Mrs. Patmore shook her head."What's the matter with you today?"
The younger woman simply shrugged.
The cook was about to say something- wanting to get the almost five months pregnant girl out of her kitchen if all she was going to do was not listen-, but she was stopped when Mrs. Baxter appeared in the doorway.
"Mrs. Baxter, what can I do for you?", the cook smiled.
"I've just come to tell you Lady Rosamund's arrived and they want tea in the library."
"Very good. Daisy, get a tray ready."
"Yes, Mrs. Patmore.", Daisy mumbled, heading to the cupboard to fetch the supplies.
"What's wrong with her?"
The cook turned her gaze to the housekeeper at the question.
"I've no idea."
Mrs. Baxter, as she was called these days, looked worried as she walked out of the kitchen.
Mrs. Patmore remained in her place and let out a sigh. She really didn't want to start preparing for a funeral right now. And heaven forbid, she wasn't looking forward to the old bat's death either. In her friend's words- she was an old bat, but a good woman, nonetheless.
The Carsons' cottage, later that evening
It was well past their usual dining hour while at the palace, but since they had to send either Mabel or the guards for their food, it took some time. Meanwhile they took their time bathing and changing into their sleeping attire, kissing here and there, and pulling on their morning coats. Charles would have wanted to take their innocent kissing further, but his wife's grumbling stomach was a sign that it had to wait. Thought, she did promise to let him execute what he had in mind later that night.
"You are being very risqué, my darling."
"Not until I've had something to eat. I'm starving.", she had argued gently, making him chuckle.
They made their way into the kitchen- getting greeted with a welcoming sight before them. Someone, obviously Mabel, had set the table with two plates and glasses, a few candles lighting the room with their glow and Elsie's bouquet placed in a vase. In the middle of it all rested a delicious looking meal and a bottle of a fine wine.
"Oh- this is beautiful.", Elsie's hand had come to rest on her husband's chest as they took in what was laid before them.
"I believe Ms. Rutt is behind all this. I've got a feeling."
"You think?", she smiled.
"I hope I've not overstepped, your highness."
The couple turned around in the doorway upon hearing her words.
"I can clear it away if you wish-"
"Mabel, it's wonderful. Thank you.", Elsie spoke first, looking warmly at the maid."You're being very thoughtful."
That brought a smile to Mabel's face.
"Indeed, very thoughtful."
"Have you had anything to eat yet?"
"Not yet, your highness. I was thinking I'd walk down to the pub with the others once you've sat down for yours.", Mabel said.
Others, meaning the guards, Elsie thought. What a dreadful sort of company.
"Oh, but that won't do."
Elsie was surprised to see her husband head to the table and grab one of the plates.
"Your highness-"
Despite the maid's protests, Charles swiftly filled a plate with some of their dinner. Lamb- Elsie's favourite, he noticed with a smile.
"There's more than enough for two."
"But-"
"I insist. Think of it as a thank you for everything you've done.", he moved his hand about, trying to emphasize the meaning.
He then handed the plate to his wife's maid.
"You've earned it. Enjoy."
And Elsie sent the girl away to enjoy her meal with a kind smile.
"That was kind of you.", she said as Charles pulled back her chair and helped her sit down.
"Nonsense.", he brushed it off and took a seat next to her, pulling his chair close to hers."We couldn't have finished it all anyways."
"You're right.", she let him pour them some of the wine."It all smells delicious."
"Here you are."
"Thank you.", she took the glass from his extended hand and glanced at the wine bottle."You can't get this from the village."
"I brought it from London.", Charles said."A treat to have with our dinner."
"Mmm- well, I'm glad you did, it's lovely."
"Do we have any more plates anywhere?", he rose from his seat, searching through the cabinets.
He had given his plate to Mabel mere minutes ago.
"Top left cabinet, on the bottom shelf.", came her quick answer.
He wasn't surprised when he found what he was looking for exactly where his wife said he would. He came back to the table and took a seat with a clean plate with him.
"I've not had lamb in a while.", she smiled.
"It's one of your favourites."
"It is. Do you think it's from Mrs. Lambert? I so do love her lamb."
"Let's taste and see.", Charles replied, starting to lift pieces of the said meat onto their plates.
"Thank you."
The lamb was found to be delicious, and for a while they ate in a profound silence.
"You know, I've been thinking…", she trailed off, taking a sip of her wine.
"Yes?", Charles lifted his gaze from his plate to her face.
"About what I might do with my time."
He smiled, glad that she's given his ideas more thought;
"And?"
"Well. I read an article about fallen women- now I know, you think I shouldn't concern myself with such things, but I can't help but do just that."
She stopped for a while, waiting for some sort of approval from him. After a moment he nodded.
"And I thought- I think, I might be able to do something to help them. And I've always admired Mrs. Crawley, that is, Lady Merton, for what she's done for the women in need. I'd like to think I could make a difference like her. Maybe I'm just being silly, but I'd like to give it a go.", Elsie explained, looking at him intently.
She knew he didn't approve but she had really hoped he'd be supportive of her choice. His silence, however, made her think otherwise.
"And…What do you wish to do, exactly?", he finally asked, wearing a doubtful look on his face.
"I'm not sure yet. I think I'll write to Lady Merton; she'll likely be able to give me an idea."
He nodded absentmindedly.
"Well?"
"Well, what?"
She sighed.
"Do you approve?"
Charles took a sip of wine to hide his amusement.
"You don't need my approval, Elsie."
"But I'd very much like to have it.", she pleaded, her eyebrows scrunched together.
"Well I-", he mumbled, then cleared his throat before he continued."I won't pretend to be glad when I say I don't want you to be working with that sort of people."
She looked disappointed at his words.
"But. If that's what you desire to do, then of course you have my approval."
"Really?"
He looked at her with a smile.
"Darling, I can hardly keep you from doing things you want to do. And truly, I don't mind in the least. If you promise to keep time in your busy schedule for me too."
"Well, that I can do.", she replied happily and extended her hand to him, him gripping onto it gladly.
"Now that you've got yourself a hobby, what am I to do in my spare time?"
"What about gardening?", she teased.
"Ha-ha, very funny."
His wife let out a giggle;
"I'm sure we'll figure something out. Don't we always?"
"Indeed, I believe we do.", Charles agreed, lifting her hand to his lips to plant a kiss to her palm."But, now, my beautiful wife, shall we enjoy this delicious dinner before it gets completely cold?"
"I think we should."
With one last smile to the other's direction, they returned to their meals. The rest of the dinner was one of quiet manner; the couple simply holding hands across the table and stealing looks from the other. Once plates emptied, wines drunk, they set to do the washing up. Something that was very out of ordinary for them these days.
"Do you think us selfish to be here at Downton without anyone knowing?"
Her sudden question had caught him off guard and it took him a moment to figure out an answer.
"Not especially, why? Do you?", Charles said, putting away the dried plates.
"I suppose I do, a bit."
"And does it bother you?"
He heard her let out a sigh;
"You'll think me silly."
"As I've said before- I never could think that.", he told her, leaning against the counter to watch her.
She looked so lovely in the candlelight, strands of hair falling from the carefully pinned bun behind her head.
"Well…Even so.", Elsie stated, feeling his eyes on her."I just feel like we should pay them a visit, or something. Being here at the cottage has made me miss our old friends."
"I like to think they are still our friends even after all this."
"Of course, but it's not quite the same. We could hardly be in the same room as Mrs. Patmore, or heaven forbid, Daisy, without it being improper."
He had to agree with that. It was the truth. And he missed those friends as well. Nowadays, the only company he had was the king and queen and his darling wife. Of course, her company was as lovely as ever. But he missed having a big family around him.
"And I'd like to apologize to the Granthams for ruining their evening at the ball."
That seemed to catch his attention. He brough his hand to her chin, pulling her face towards him.
"Never, ever, feel the need to apologize for that night. Never, my darling. Do you hear me?", he said firmly, staring into her eyes.
"I didn't mean to, but the thought has just been stuck in the back of my head all this time."
"Then get it out and forget it."
She stepped closer to him as she felt his lips on her forehead.
"I will. But perhaps…with a bit of…help."
"Oh?", he hummed as he leaned back to look into her eyes.
"I did promise to let you execute your ideas later tonight."
He smirked;
"Oh, you mean that."
"I do.", his wife purred."And I'm sure Mabel is already fast asleep by now…"
And so, the dishes were forgotten.
…
It was exactly thirty-seven minutes later when they both collapsed on the wrinkled sheets, sweat dripping from their skin.
He had made love to her, slowly and gently and first- savouring the feeling. But as they both neared their release, the pace quickened, skin slapping against skin in desperate need.
Their clothes were scattered on the floor, the dying fire in the fireplace lighting up the room after the sun had set behind the horizon.
And now, lying under the covers- feeling spent and whole -the couple embraced each other and let the cool air fill their lungs after it had been drained from them in search of fulfilment.
"I do love you so much, Charlie."
She was resting her head on his chest and had her arm stretched across his bare chest, whilst he held her close by her hip.
"I'm sorry if I was too rough. I hope I didn't hurt you.", he kissed her hair, which was now sprawled on the pillow, as he whispered this in her ear.
"You could never hurt me. Not when you love me the way you do."
Charles smiled against her hair. He let her pull away from him- the sheet falling from her body and revealing her beautiful naked chest to him-, allowing him to place a sweet kiss to her swollen lips.
"Good night, Charlie.", his wife whispered once they pulled apart.
"Good night, my love. Sweet dreams."
He pulled the covers up to keep them warm and cuddled her tightly against his chest.
Relaxing into his embrace, she sighed contently;
"Sweet dreams indeed."