Chapter 10

Charles stood wincing in his pantry as he listened to Elsie, bawling at one of the maids in the corridor. It was early in the morning and he had not been able to get her alone to speak to her since their confrontation the previous evening. She had already screamed at the newspaper delivery boy; for what reason he did not know. She had been marching about in the foulest temper since daybreak and Charles felt dreadful knowing that this was entirely his fault. He had not slept a wink, pacing the floor of his bedroom all night long, wondering how on earth he could put things right.

He knew it was time for breakfast and so he gingerly ventured outside into the hallway. As he reached the dining room, the other staff, including Elsie, were already there. They rose to greet him and as he sat down at the table, the tension in the air was palpable. Charles wished Elsie 'good morning'. She replied stiffly but did not look in his direction for even a second. They sat in an uncomfortable silence for what seemed like hours until Charles realised that he would have to speak to her as he needed the butter for his toast and it was out of his reach. He hoped this might break the ice.

"Mrs Hughes ... could you possibly pass me the butter?" he asked kindly.

All eyes were on the Butler, following this brave move.

She picked up the butter, virtually launching it at him, and slammed it down on the table.

Charles gulped as the other staff tried and failed to withhold their giggles. Even Thomas shot a sympathetic look at his superior. It was clear to all of them that Mr Carson was well and truly in the doghouse.

"Thank you ... thank you Mrs Hughes ..." he stuttered.

She huffed in reply, sipping her tea with a steely look in her eyes. Beryl decided it was time to intervene before Elsie committed grievous bodily harm on the Butler.

"Umm Mrs Hughes ... may I have a word in your sitting room? It's about Lady Rose's party on Saturday ... " she said.

"Do we really need to discuss that now Mrs Patmore?" Elsie replied sharply.

"Yes ... I think we do ..." Beryl replied just as firmly.

Elsie stood up in a strop; she knew that her friend was trying to ease the situation but at present she was quite content to wallow in her fury. However, she did as she was asked and stomped off down the corridor.

Charles mouthed 'thank you' towards Beryl, as she shook her head with a smile and followed Elsie to her sitting room.

######

"You big idiot ... what kind of proposal was that?" Beryl railed at Charles, as she stood in his pantry. Elsie had now fully updated her.

"Oh Mrs Patmore ... I know ... I love her and I want us to be together ... and I had given so much thought to what I would say to Lord Grantham ... that I had overlooked the part about actually asking Mrs Hughes ..." he whimpered.

"Well that's a bloody big thing to overlook Mr Carson! Heaven knows Mrs Hughes realises that neither of you are in your first flush of youth ... and she is not expecting hearts and flowers ... but it would have been nice for you to actually ask her to marry you!" the Cook continued.

"Oh please stop ... I know ... I am a complete idiot and I feel terrible ..." he said, as he buried his face in his hands.

"Well so you should ... I wish I'd let her launch that butter dish at your head now!" Beryl stated seriously.

She then looked at Charles and could not help but feel sorry for him. There was no doubt how much he loved Elsie and she knew that it was an enormous step for him to propose the idea of marriage; even if he had not quite managed to propose properly to Elsie.

Charles looked up from where he sat at his desk.

"Is she still very angry?" he asked, knowing the answer.

"Well ... let's just say that the staff wont go within a hundred yards of her in case they get ripped apart limb from limb ..." she replied dryly.

######

Charles stood outside Elsie's sitting room later in the day, willing himself to have the courage to go inside. However, his hesitancy had made things worse, as he could hear her mumbling profanities from where he stood, and she sounded like she was slamming and hurling things around her room. He needed to be brave to win his girl and so he knocked on the door and entered, without waiting for a response.

Elsie glared at him as he walked into the room. He wavered for a second and then found his inner strength, raising himself up to his full height, determined to put things right.

"Mrs Hughes ... would you please accompany me for a walk?" he asked firmly.

"Would you not like to ask Lord Grantham if we can go for a walk rather than asking me?" she responded defiantly.

Charles raised his eyebrows to high heaven. My goodness, I have fallen in love with a fiery one, he thought. He smiled happily; realising that he was totally and utterly in love with the woman before him and her 'fire' was one of the things he loved most. His life would certainly never be dull.

"Elsie ..." he began, using her given name for the first time in his life. He delighted in the sound of her name on his tongue. She was his Elsie; at least he hoped with all of his heart that she was still his girl.

Elsie could not help but be touched by this, despite her resolution to stay mad at him.

"Elsie ... please come for a walk with me ..." he said lovingly, reaching out to her and hoping she would take his hand.

As she looked into his puppy dog eyes she realised that she was defeated; she found it impossible to retain her anger as he reached out to her. He looked so unsure and anxious. She had done so well until now but his use of her first name had broken down any final reserve. She reached out to take his hand, after all she had promised to hold his hand whenever he needed to feel steady.

Charles was clueless at times and he annoyed her like no other man she had ever met but she could not have loved him more than in this moment. She also knew, deep down, what a significant step it was for Charles to even consider marriage; a few days ago he had been embarrassed about simply holding her hand. She had perhaps been too harsh.

As Elsie took his hand, Charles beamed at her and, still holding her hand, he gently guided her along the hallway to go outside.

"Charles ... someone will see us ..." she said, looking down at their clasped hands.

"I don't care ..." he replied cheerfully, his voice catching with emotion as he noted that she had used his first name. Nothing had ever sounded more perfect.

They walked hand in hand in silence. Charles seemed to know where he was headed and Elsie was happy to follow. It was dusk and the sun was setting as they walked happily through the grounds of Downton. As he guided her down the gentle slope, Elsie realised where they were going and as they neared the stream, Elsie gasped as she saw an array of twinkling lights on the grass at either side of the water. As they got closer, she could see hundreds of candles, lighting up the scene of their first kiss.

"Charles ... how did you ..." Elsie began, and then her words trailed off as she took in the fairytale scene before her. She had never viewed a more beautiful sight; she twirled full-circle to find herself standing amongst the glistening candles, lighting up the ground as the sparkling stars lit up the sky above. The soothing sounds of the stream only added to the magic; this feels like heaven on earth, Elsie thought. She turned to face Charles, who took both of her hands in his.

"I love you Elsie ... I know that I am an old fool and I know that you deserve so much better than me ... but if you will have me ... I promise to love, honour and cherish you for the rest of my days ... and so ..." he paused, as he kneeled on the grass, still holding her hands in his.

Elsie brought one hand to her mouth as she gasped in shock. She could not stop the tears that began to fall, as she cried with joy.

"Will you marry me Elsie?" he beamed.

"Yes I will ..." she replied, taking her future husband utterly by surprise, as she dived on him, wrapping her arms around him and hugging him so forcefully that she knocked him backwards to the ground. They both laughed wildly as they tumbled onto the grass, as they settled, lying on their sides and facing each other with the most joyous smiles adorning their faces. They held each other tightly, foreheads gently touching, as Elsie caressed Charles's face and he gazed adoringly at his future wife.

"I love you Elsie ..." Charles whispered, as he leant across to kiss his beautiful girl sweetly.

"I love you too Charles ... so much ..." she breathed against his lips.

They lay like that, side by side under the stars, surrounded by twinkling lights, for quite some time, dreaming of the future and their blissful new life together.

The End.

A/N: Thank you so much for all of your reviews, likes, reblogs and kind words for this story. This is my little prediction for Series 5 and so here's hoping at least some of it comes true x