B OF LOVE AND FUN-44
Hi everyone. Nice to be with you again. We all live in the shadow of great Downton loss this weekend and I think, that the sadness will be reflected in today's chapter. But don't worry, nothing tragic, just a slight, yet unexpected obstacle on the way. Hope that you will like it.
The echoes of Elsie's jealousy attack, was present in the B for a while. After some time, they were all able to transfer it into a joke, which they liked to tease Elsie with. Bill was joking, that he was jealous of Charles, having such a possessive wife and he hoped, that Beryl would behave the same, in similar situation.
Beryl was fully supporting Elsie, telling her in secret, that next time she can count on her help, if such situation was to be repeated. Even quiet and usually shy Katie, was joking, that she should do all her duties correctly, otherwise she may risk a meeting with Elsie's broom.
Other than this little tease, everything went rather smoothly. Even Oscar and Oliver got used to their mutual presence and from time to time, they were falling asleep next to each other, on colder days, when the fire was being lighten in the evenings.
As always, there was a lot of work to do, guestes coming and going, usual everyday hustle and bustle. They all knew the drill perfectly by now and each of them were aware of their duties, which helped them to create perfectly working team.
One day, unexpectedly, they've received the message, which electrified them, especially Charles, who became very pale, after receving a phone call from Lord Grantham, informing him, that two of his old friends from London- Lord Blackwell and Lord Auckland- the former mayor of London, with their wives, are going to visit Downton and because they are dreaming about having holidays, which would allowed them to enjoy true country life, they decided to stay in the B , personally encouraged by Lord Grantham, who assured them, that it was the most suitable place in the neighborhood.
Of course they were all very happy about that opportunity, it was not often, that people of that calibre were guests in their B , but each of them received this message in a different way.
Beryl was pretty much indifferent-for her, they were just people who she needed to feed. Bill who almost never took part in the work of the B , unless he was asked to join, had the same attitude. Katie simply knew, that she must really try to do her job the best way possible. It felt like an honor for her, to serve such people.
Elsie was on Beryl's side, she was resilient to people's ranks, she was that way in Downton and she was that way here. She knew, that she had to do what was needed, but she wasn't going to be too excited about it.
Unfortunately, knowing her husband as well as she did, she was afraid, that this will turn his world upside down and she wasn't mistaken. Ever since they got this news, Charles behaved like a tyrant, constantly preaching everyone, about the importance of the visit.
He was demanding, that the B would be cleaned, from the attic to the basement. Everything had to be in perfect order, he was consulting menu with Beryl, he was constantly nagging Katie, reminding her what to do during the visit.
Elsie was rolling her eyes, reminding herself the routine, that she already knew from Downton. Yes, her husband was definitely in the place which he adored- standing before the opportunity to host such people, this time not as the butler, but as the host.
Bill was staying out of the mess and Charles was barking orders from dawn till dusk. It was not that he was lazy himself, on the contrary. He was working tirelessly, working so hard, that Elsie had to ask him few times, to eat a meal, or go to sleep.
She saw how exhausted he was and she was worried about him, but when she tried to persuade him to stop a bit, he didn't want to listen to her.
On the day of the guests arrival, he was so nervous, that Elsie was seriously afraid, that he might get a heart attack or something.
He asked everyone to stand in line, to greet the guests, just like they did it in Downton, even though Elsie and Beryl thought, that it was an exaggeration.
There was really no need to be so uptight, as two Lords and their wives, have turned out to be very nice people, enchanted with the place, the surroundings and everything.
Everyone knew what to do and there was no need to be boss around, but Charles once again felt like a butler, running the house all by himself.
When the guests went to an afternoon walk, Charles was fluffing the pillows in the living room, making sure, that every little detail was immaculate.
"Charles, for heavens sake, will you come down? I was fluffing the pillows half an hour ago."
"I know Elsie, but this on the left side didn't look tidy enough..."
"Charlie, they are nice people, I'm sure they wouldn't mind"
"Elsie you don't understand, we need to have the highest possible standards here. Do you realize, what kind of advantages we can have after their visit? They can tell their friends that they were happy here and more guests of that sort can come here..."
"I hope that you are not expecting the king!"
"Not the king, but who knows, maybe..."
Charles didn't have the time to finish, because they heard a huge noise in the kitchen...They both went there, to find Mrs Patmore collecting the chicken from the floor. The chicken which she was suppose to serve for dinner. It fell down, when she was taking it out of the oven.
"Oliver...Shoo! It's not for you, neither for you Oscar!"
"We need to get the pets out of here! They can't be here during dinner. They might disturb. Katie, will you please take them to the barn?"-Charles referred to Katie...
"No Charles, the pets will stay here...They are living here and our guests need to accept it...We've been through this before and they are not going anywhere..."
"Elsie, these are not regular guests, these are Lord and Ladies..."
"The pets are staying Charles..."
Charles angrily turned around and left the kitchen...Elsie knew, that he was mad, but she had to defend her opinion...She knew, that once she will let him get rid of the pets, it will become his constant habit...
"You really need to calm the man down...He is too exhausted and that's why he behaves that way..."- Beryl said...
"Tell me about it...If only he would listen...I'm glad that it's only two days..."
Somehow they managed to get to dinner, where Charles and Katie were serving the table and Bill just came back from the farm, jokingly asking, if the coast was clear...
Everything seemed to be rather well, until the moment, when there was a noise of the broken glass and Charles came back to the kitchen, red and flustered, followed by frightened Katie...
Elsie wanted to ask what happened, but one look at Charles was enough, to know what was going on- he had a palsy attack...That has not happened for a longer while. When he stopped working in Downton and they started to run the B , the attacks which earlier were the constant routine, has vanished, but Elsie knew, that in such huge stress moments, it was possible that they might come back.
"I...I broke the bottle...Spilled some wine on the table...The tablecloth is dirty now...I have to change it and bring new wine..."-Charles was frightened, embarrassed and devastated...
"You will do no such thing Charles...You will go to our room and lie down..."
"But Elsie, the dinner, the guests..."
"Katie and I will finish serving...Bill you will help Beryl in the kitchen, right?"-now Elsie suddenly became the boss, whose orders everyone listened to...
Charles was no longer protesting. He marched into their room, with resigned steps. Elsie indeed took the lead and she went back to the dinner room, apologizing guests, for that slight disruption. She swiftly changed the tablectloth and finished serving dinner, along with Katie.
The guests were very understanding and even Elsie who didn't care about people's rank, had to admit, that they showed class in such situation.
When the dinner was finished, Elsie helped Beryl and Katie to clean up and she hurried to the bedroom, to check on Charles...She was very worried about him.
He was lying in bed, with his hair tousled, with still slightly shaky hand and with despair on his face. When she neared him, she saw, that he must have been crying recently, which broke her heart.
"Oh Charlie..."-She lied next to him, wiping the lonely tear, which was flowing freely in his face..."It's all right sweetie..."
"It's not Elsie...I failed and in such moment...With two Lords present and their wives...I'm a failure...I hate this tricky disease...I thought, that it was over and again..."
"It's never going to be over...Remember what Dr Clarkson told us? It can be dormant, but may show itself in the moment of great stress and let's face it Charlie...You were giving yourself a very hard time in those recent days and to all of us..."
"I wanted everything to be special and now it's all ruined..."
"Nothing is ruined...I apologized our guestes for that and I can assure you, that they were very understanding...They are really people with class, so you see, there is no reason to be devastated..."
"It won't happened again tomorrow, I promise...Even if I had to cut that damn hand off..."
"Well I wouldn't recommend it Charlie...You would not be helpful in the future for us, with one hand..."- Elsie smiled to Charles...
"Elsie...I think..."
"And you know what I think? That it's time for Elsie cuddle..."
Charles's face lightened up instantly, as she said those words...Few years ago, when Charless palsy started and he was experiencing very often and very severe attacks, he and Elsie have worked a routine, which they were doing every time, when Charles was having a difficult moment. Elsie called it "Elsie cuddle time" and Charles adored it. It helped him to survive some of the hardest moments.
She wrapped her arms around his neck and he nestled so tightly into her, closing his eyes, letting her rock him, in a way, that could chase all his sadness and fears...
She was giving him small, loving kisses in his hair and his temples and he felt like warmth was filling his body, from his head to his toes... Shaking has subsided and once again, he knew, that there was no better place in the world, than loving arms of his wife...
"Elsie...I...Thank you...I love you...I'm sorry for being such an asshole to you and the others..."
"I'm forgiving you my love...Don't know about the others, but I think, that they are use to you by now... I love you too...My big, wonderful host...You did a great job and the guests appreciated this..."
"You think?"
"I know, because they told me...They will come back here yet and they will bring their friends...So you see, your dream about having more guests of that sort, will come true..."
"I will thank them personally tomorrow..."
"Oh no, you won't...Tomorrow you will stay in bed..."
"But Elsie!"
"No but Elsie...You will stay and we will take care of the guests...You will rest, eat good food, read..I will bring you a hot bottle, to keep you warm..."
"I prefer when you are keeping me warm Elsie..."
"Don't I know it by now? Sleep my love...You've earned it..."
"You will be here, with me?"
"All the time...There is no other place in the world, that I would want to be right now..."
That's all for this chapter...Palsy has came back, but Elsie once again rescued the situation...As always.. She has that great ability to do that...Hope it wasn't too sad...Thank you for reading and have a very good week!