Charles woke as the sun shone brightly into his spartan room. Rolling from one side to the other he sighed and started to mentally prepare for the day ahead. The only perk to his London quarters was the Double bed. At the beginning of the season new beds had been ordered for the staff quarters. At his lordship's insistence Carson had ordered himself something 'more comfortable than standard' and truth be told it had indeed made a great difference in his quality of sleep. 'I must have new beds ordered for the staff quarters at the Abbey' he thought. As he became fully aware he jolted up right. "Blast and bother!" he spat out looking to his clock and knowing he had indeed slept through his alarm. He had wanted to see off the staff that was headed back to the abbey this morning, on the milk train. Mrs. Hughes was included in that group and he had missed their departure to be sure as the clock on his night table already read 6:45. He sighed and began to dress for the day. Walking down stairs he perked up as he had decided that he would just have to telephone the Abbey later this morning to ensure everyone had arrived safely.
Charles walked to the back door to collect the morning papers and post and headed back towards his pantry. Rounding the corner he ran directly into Elsie……
LATER THAT DAY
Elsie was excited, there was no other way to describe it. Charles had just come to inform her that his lordship and her ladyship were going to be gone from the London house for the next two nights. He also brought the news that for this evening at least the house was going to be empty except for the staff as the family was all occupied out of the house or back at the Abbey. He had asked if she minded leaving sooner for the concert, to to dinner first. Of course she didn't she would just run up to change and meet him back downstairs in 40 minutes.
Charles smiled heading across to his pantry to make a call for a dining reservation. After that had been settled he skipped upstairs to change. Excitedly he picked up the two jewelry boxes that sat in his top dresser drawer. They hadn't talked properly yet, not since the train and he didn't want to get too far ahead of himself. He hoped these gifts would reassure her, show the strength of his feelings for her and help ease the conversation in the right direction. Charles wanted to be with Elsie, He wanted to marry her, he loved her. When Mrs. Bute had unexpectedly left in the middle of the season he had called Elsie to join them in London; he felt a huge weight lift from him, hearing her voice always relaxed him,she reassured him reminding him to relax and that all would be well she would be on the morning train. He was all nerves and excitement the morning of her arrival and Mrs. Patmore had shooed him outside to wait for her as he was "getting under foot". While he was pacing the front walk a car unexpectedly containing Mrs. Levinson and Mr Levinson pulled up and just behind it parked another car, the the one he had been waiting on he saw Elsie and their eyes met, it took all his energy to keep his focus on Mrs. Levonson. He had wanted to be the first to welcome her to the London season unfortunately it was, as usual, all steam ahead for the day already and he hadn't seen her again until dinner. Tonight will be better he thought, no interruptions, no work just us. He smiled and went down to wait for Elsie.