I'm finally getting back into the swing of writing. Sorry it's been so long between updates. I'll finish soon.

Disclaimer: Don't own them earn nothing from them.

"So the earliest date would be the 19th ?" Charles was asking Mr. Travis when Elsie stepped into the office.

The vicar jumped to his feet at her entrance and greeted her with only the faintest tinge of pink to his cheeks, "May I be the first to offer you the very best of wishes, Miss Hughes?"

She nodded speechlessly, surprised by how embarrassed she felt to be discussing plans for marrying Charles with a man who may or may not have seen her clinging to her lover like a brazen hussy this morning and very nearly caught them in an even more delicate situation just a few minutes ago. She glanced at Charles who was smiling smugly. Silly man. He needed to rein in that cat that got the cream smile before Mr. Travis guessed something. Vicar or not, he wasn't completely dense.

"Did you have a nice walk from the cottage, dear?" Charles asked in a voice that was just a little too casual.

She glared at him when Mr. Travis's head was turned, "Oh yes, the weather is turning lovely, isn't it?"

After a few awkward moments of everyone agreeing that the weather was indeed lovely although they perhaps could do with a bit more rain and some worry that the coming winter would be not be as mild as their last, they settled down once again to discuss the wedding.

The vicar explained, "Mr. Carson and I were just discussing dates. With the banns 19 June would be the earliest date. A Monday might not be the most usual day for a wedding, but the church would be free that morning if you wished it."

She nodded thoughtfully and wondered if her sister could make it on such short notice. While she was composing the shortest and most inexpensive telegram in her mind that would not cause Sarah to fall in a dead faint at the news, she nearly missed the vicar's next statement. He cleared his throat and repeated himself with a small smile and twinkling eyes, "I was saying, Miss Hughes, that I hope you weren't too chilly on your walk from the village since you must have left your coat and hat here yesterday."

She struggled to keep her mouth from gaping and in the moment that she was gathering her wits to comment, Charles, horrid liar that he was, unfortunately felt the need to fill the silence, "I have no idea what you mean."

Mr. Travis fixed his gaze on Charles, obviously singling him out as the weak link, "Mr. Carson, I saw Miss Hughes's coat as I came through the kitchen."

Charles coughed and the tips of his ears turned pink. Elsie wondered if Mr. Travis would notice if she brought her heel down on Charles's toe or elbowed him in the side to get him to shut up for goodness sake. She contented herself with glaring at him fixedly. He apparently didn't notice since he continued to dig a deeper hole, "Miss Hughes owns many coats. I'm sure she could have…"

She cut him off before he made the situation impossible, "Charles, dear, I'm afraid we're caught." Now it was Charles's turn to glare at her while she continued, "Mr. Travis, Mr. Carson was simply showing me his furniture so that we could make plans for the future. I have to admit that we were a bit embarrassed since technically we weren't chaperoned, but I'm sure you can see that at our age we felt that we might take the liberty."

Charles's eyes had grown progressively wider as she spoke and his mouth was nearly gaping by the end of her speech. Thankfully, he still had enough sense to snap the fly trap closed before the vicar turned back to him to look for confirmation. He merely smiled his assent and nodded ruefully, wisely for once remaining speechless.

Mr. Travis looked slowly from Charles back to her, but she merely maintained the most innocent and open expression she could manage. Charles swallowed convulsively and tugged at his collar but managed to do it only when the vicar's attention was on her.

After what seemed an eternity, the vicar moved on to discussing their plans for the wedding. She certainly wanted nothing special, just the vicar and the necessary witnesses were all they needed. Hearing and speaking the vows meant only for them after she had heard them so many other times for others was joy enough for her. If the truth were told, she didn't even want to close the tea shop that day, but Beryl would likely insist.

Charles was thinking aloud, "I certainly don't want to delay, but that will only give two weeks to plan a trip."

"Trip?" she asked, looking at him in surprise, "Where were you planning to go?"

He returned her look with the same surprise, "I just assumed that we'd go away, alone, together for a few days, dear." He emphasized the last word sharply.

She must have missed hearing the back door open because at that moment Beryl entered the office.

"Well, I certainly hope you two will be married before you go away together."

Elsie cringed and out of the corner of her eye she saw Charles's face flush scarlet. "Beryl, we were discussing our wedding plans with Mr. Travis."

"Oh, I see. Good morning Mr. Travis," Beryl said, slightly mollified before turning back toward her, "Well, when's it to be? I must start planning the cake, and I suppose you'll want a breakfast as well."

Elsie's eyes climbed to her hairline; she most certainly wanted no such thing. "That really won't be necessary…," she began but Beryl cut her off.

"Nonsense, it won't be a bit of trouble," she said, "I couldn't let my partner have a shoddy wedding could I?"

Charles seemed to pick up on how Elsie felt and said, "I don't think you understand, Miss Patmore…"

Then Sally came into the room and asked, "Did I hear Miss Patmore say wedding? Does that mean you and Miss Hughes are finally going to be married Mr. Carson? That's wonderful! Miss Hughes! I'm so happy for you! My sister is a fair hand with a needle and thread. You have to let us help you with your dress."

Elsie's mouth gaped, "But, we don't want…"

"That sounds lovely, Sally," Beryl cut her off again, "And I am sure that Molly and Anna won't mind helping with flowers. Little Gwen will look precious as your flower girl."

Mr. Travis rose at that point and excused himself, "I must be on my way. I am sure that we'll meet before then, but I'll put the 19th on my calendar."

"The 19th?" Beryl asked in surprise, "That won't leave me much time, will it? I need to start planning."

She and Sally followed the vicar through the door, leaving Charles and Elsie behind in the office to contemplate their fate.

Charles glanced over at her with an apologetic smile, "Things are getting rather out of hand, aren't they?"

"They are," she nodded, "I suppose it's too late to run to Gretna Green?"

He laughed, "I think it would be, and we'd still have to wait for the banns. Besides, Beryl would never forgive us."

"There is one consolation, of course," she said thoughtfully.

He narrowed his eyes at her, "And that would be?"

"Beryl will marry after us," she said, "Whatever she does; we can return double-fold."

Reviews are welcome as always.