A/N: I think I'm just about meeting my self-imposed deadline to get this up before episode 2 airs. Spoilers for the first episode abound, so beware.

They stood embracing for a few moments before the sound of footsteps and laughter outside the door brought them back to reality and they reluctantly stepped back from each other.

Not wishing to lose the contact between them, Elsie reached for his hand, lacing their fingers together.

"Do you think perhaps we could settle the date now?" he enquired timidly, not wanting to push her or ruin their newfound understanding.

He had no need to worry. "Did you have a particular date in mind?" she asked, and the smile she gave him eased his worries.

"I was thinking sometime around Whitsun, if you're agreeable of course? That should give us enough time to make the necessary preparations and the weather may be better."

"The end of May sounds… perfect. But I shan't pin my hopes on the British weather!"

"We shall need to consult with Reverend Travis of course," he added. "Ensure the church is free and make the necessary arrangements."

"Perhaps we could take our next half day together and pay him a visit," Elsie suggested.

Charles nodded in agreement. "We can speak with him after the service on Sunday and arrange a meeting."

"That's settled then," replied Elsie. "Now we should probably re-join the others before they send out a search party." She hated being the one to burst their little bubble of intimacy but she knew that it wouldn't be long before they were missed.

Charles sighed; he was enjoying this newfound tenderness between them. "You are right of course, although I'd much rather stay in here with you."

"That's a little risqué for you, isn't it, Mr Carson?"

"Compared to the conversation I had to endure with Mrs Patmore, I'd say it's positively prudish."

Elsie blushed. "I am sorry about that," she said contritely; she knew how uncomfortable it had been for Beryl and could only imagine what Charles had thought about it all! "I just didn't know how to broach the subject with you. I promise, it won't happen again. Next time I shall just grasp the nettle and to hell with the consequences."

"That's reassuring to hear." He wanted her to be able to come to him; to share any concerns or worries she may have. "Now," he continued, stepping towards the door, "I wonder if you'd allow me the honour of a dance with my fiancée?"

At her nod, he opened the door and he escorted her out of his pantry… straight into the path of Anna. "Ah there you are. Do you have a moment, Mrs Hughes?" the younger woman asked.

Elsie had so been looking forward to her dance with Charles, but given the events of earlier in the evening, she found she couldn't deny Anna's request.

Glancing apologetically at Charles, who smiled back reassuringly, she gestured toward her sitting room door and led Anna inside.

"Is everything alright?" Elsie asked as the two women took their seats either side of the small table in Elsie's sitting room.

"Yes. It hasn't quite sunk in yet that it's over; that's we're finally free of this nightmare, but it will in time."

"I knew it would all come right in the end." It might be a little white lie; in private she had certainly wondered, but to Anna's face she had always maintained the hopeful façade.

"And that's what I wanted to see you about… to say thank you."

"You don't need to thank me," protested Elsie, but Anna wouldn't hear it.

"I do. For your unwavering support. Even when you disagreed with my decisions you supported me. And I know that keeping my secret put you at odds with Mr Carson."

Elsie flinched slightly at the memory. It was not a pleasant one.

Shortly after Anna had been arrested, Elsie had been unable to keep Charles in the dark any longer; he'd known that she'd known more that she had been letting on and had forced her to confess the details of the whole sordid event.

Unsurprisingly, Charles had been none too pleased at being kept in the dark.

They'd had a scathing argument, both saying things they didn't mean. They'd gone days without speaking – mainly due to Charles avoiding her - and there had even been a point that Elsie had feared that their dream of a joint business venture would be over.

In the end, she had cornered him in the wine cellar, standing between him and the exit, and confronted him. He'd admitted that his reaction had come from a mixture of disgust that something like that should happen to someone as sweet as Anna, shock that it could happen at Downton, hurt that he had been kept in the dark, and fear that something could have happened to Elsie when she confronted Green in the Boot Room. She'd squeezed his hand as he admitted the latter reason and had apologised for keeping Anna's secret and for putting herself in danger. He'd returned the sentiment, apologising for the hurtful things he'd said during their disagreement.

"Don't you worry about Mr Carson and I," she assured the young maid. "We're fine."

Anna nodded. They had clearly gotten past whatever problems it had caused; they were engaged now after all. "I just want you to know that I appreciate everything you did Mrs Hughes, very much. And I wondered if you'd let me help with the wedding… when you fix a date of course. I could style your hair on the day or help with the flowers… Oh! I could make your dress!" she suggested excitedly.

"Anna-" Elsie began, but her protest died in her throat as she took in the young woman before her. She'd not seen that sparkle in her eyes for so long – she couldn't deprive her of that now. "That… that would be lovely. Thank you."

"It would be my pleasure Mrs Hughes. Right, well I'd better get back to Mr Bates. We are supposed to be celebrating after all."

Elsie stood with Anna. "Before you do…" Anna turned to face her staunchest supporter. "I want you to know how proud I am of you. I've told you before how much everybody here values you but I think… well, let's just say that even though housekeepers shouldn't have favourites, I do."

A second later, Elsie found herself engulfed in a tight embrace as Anna leapt from her chair.

"Ladies' Maids have their favourites too," she admitted as she pulled away. As she reached the door she whispered, "You've been more like a mother to me than my own ever was. Thank you."

Elsie found herself quite overcome following Anna's declaration; she and Charles had discussed how they were like parents to their charges and she felt it more acutely with some, like Anna and William, than with others, but it never occurred to her that they might hold her in a similar regard.

Elsie found herself spending that much time thinking back over those who have come and gone from her charge over the years that by the time she re-entered the servants' hall, it's only inhabitants were Mr Carson, Daisy and Mrs Patmore, all seated around the table, the gramophone still playing softly in the background.

"There you are!" exclaimed Beryl. "Everything okay?"

The two friends share a knowing look and Elsie nodded slightly.

"Fine thank you. I just needed a few moments to myself." She looked around. "Has everyone else gone up?"

"They have, and I'm just about to go too," replied Beryl. Wanting to give her two friends a little bit of time alone together, she turned to Daisy. "Come on Daisy, I'd think it's time you were going up too… especially after the events of today."

Daisy didn't take the hint. "No I'm fine Mrs Patmore. -"

"I really do think it would be best," the cook implored," She gave a slight jerk of her head in the direction of the butler and housekeeper and Daisy finally cottoned on.

"Oh, right. Yes. Maybe it would be. Goodnight Mr Carson, Mrs Hughes."

"Good night Daisy, Mrs Patmore," replied Elsie.

"Mrs Patmore could have been a bit more subtle," huffed Charles, as Elsie sat down beside him at the table.

"Subtlety isn't one of her strong points," reminded Elsie.

"Is that why you asked her for help in your quest to discover if I wanted us to… have a full marriage?"

Fighting down a blush at being reminded of her actions, Elsie nodded. "That, and she's become a good friend over the years. Though I never would have thought that when we used to squabble over the store cupboard key. How times change."

"I've not always been comfortable with change," he admits.

Elsie managed to bit back a scoff. "Really? I'd never noticed," she smirked.

He raised his eyebrow at her cheek. "But… I find that it's not quite as unnerving as it used to be."

"Oh?"

"Perhaps because this time I can see there is a very good reason for things to change. Or perhaps that's just what love does to a man. Because I do love you Mrs Hughes… Elsie."

She gasped as the L-word left his lips. Mrs Patmore had mentioned he'd used it when speaking of her, but to hear it from his lips, twice in quick succession and followed by his first use of her Christian name, was more than she could ever have hoped for.

Her silence, coupled with the way she was wringing her hands in her lap had Charles concerned. "Are you quite alright? Have I said too much? As I said earlier I feel it's better to be honest."

"I'm alright; just a little overcome."

"Your hair is quite tidy if that's what you're worried about," he teased, standing before her. He held out his hand. "Perhaps a dance would help?"

Elsie had tuned out the sound of the gramophone but at Charles' words the lilting strains of a gentle waltz reached her ears once more. She placed her hand in his and stood, allowing him to enfold her in his arms.

As they swayed together to the music, her head resting on his chest and their clasped hands lying over his heart, she finds the courage to return his heartfelt sentiment. "I love you too Charles and I can't wait to become Mrs Carson."