The 'On Air' light went dark.

"Thanks, fellows." Charles Carson removed his headphones and pushed back from the microphone with a heavy sigh. He cast a rueful look to his broadcasting partner, Robert Crawley, Earl of Grantham. He cast a darker look at their show's producer, Thomas Barrow. "Thanks a ton."

"We have to maintain our journalistic integrity, old boy," Robert chirped merrily.

"Journalistic integrity?" Charles questioned incredulously. "You own this station and almost every company that advertises on this station, not to mention most of Downton."

Robert shrugged as if to say, How is that my fault? Charles turned his ire on the smugly smiling Thomas. "I told you I wasn't ready to review 'The Rose and Thistle'."

"We had to fill the hour somehow," Thomas claimed insincerely.

"I could have filled the time," Charles growled. "I could give you four hours on wine varietals without any preparation."

"I'm sorry, you do want people to actually listen to your show, don't you?"

"Don't worry, chap, she won't hold it against you," Robert insisted.

"If only I were so sure," Charles frowned.

-00-

One hour earlier on Radio Downton 97.2 FM…

"Well, hopefully the Downton Oktoberfest committee learned their lesson last year," Robert opined.

"They assure me they did," Charles confirmed. "So don't be afraid to bring the family out for a rollicking weekend of Oompa bands and frothy steins."

"And speaking of goats…" Robert laughed, hitting a button to cue the sound of bleating. "Next on the Crawley and Carson Culinary Corner, Charles reviews the newest restaurant in Downton…"

"Actually, no, I won't be offering a review today," Charles interrupted. "I thought we could discuss the improved wine cellar at 'The Dog and Duck'."

"Didn't you go to 'The Rose and Thistle' Thursday night?"

"Yes, but… there were… circumstances. I don't think it would be fair to review them based on that particular experience," Charles stammered. "I'm planning to go back this week and I'll have a review next Saturday."

"Circumstances? Nonsense, man, did you eat a meal there or not?"

"Yes, but it was their launch night and there are difficulties inherent to any opening night. I don't think it was indicative of the service one should expect in future, so I'm waiting," Charles explained. "Next week's review will include my notes from both experiences, which I think will be more balanced and will give our listeners a clearer picture."

"For those listeners out there who are confused by this little lover's tiff," Thomas broke in from the producer's booth. "According to our show plan, Mr. Carson was supposed to give us a review of 'The Rose and Thistle', a new collaboration from local restaurateurs Elsie Hughes and Beryl Patmore."

"Their other properties in Yorkshire are 'Patmore's' in York and 'Hughes'' in Harrogate," Robert added. "Both of those establishments have earned top ratings from Carson in the past. You must have had high hopes for this new offering, Charles."

"Yes, I did," Charles admitted. "Which is why I know that Thursday's experience was an anomaly."

"Full disclosure requires us to note that Mrs. Hughes and Mrs. Patmore are longtime friends with Mr. Carson and Mr. Crawley," Thomas interjected.

"That is true," Charles agreed. "I have known them for decades. The three of us have worked together at Downton right out of university and we were roommates in London long, long ago."

"Yes, I've known them both almost as long as Charles has. Elsie is a logistical genius almost as fastidious as our own Mr. Carson and Beryl…well…" Robert chuckled. "Let's just say that when it comes to keeping kitchen staff on their toes, she'd give Gordon Ramsay a run for his money."

"I'm sure she could teach even him a few new colorful phrases," Thomas added gleefully.

"Yes, she is very inventive," Charles allowed. "But, while Mrs. Patmore designed the menu at 'The Rose and Thistle', she is not the executive chef there. That distinction belongs to her protégé, a Mrs. Daisy Mason. Unfortunately, Mrs. Mason had a family emergency and could not participate in opening night. Mrs. Hughes was left running both the front of the house and the kitchens."

"I shouldn't think that would be a problem for Elsie," Robert commented.

"In an established… establishment it wouldn't have been," Charles stammered. "An experienced staff working with a tried and true menu could weather a night without their leader in the kitchen. Still, I think it is unfair to judge a new restaurant when the executive chef is absent."

"They might have been better off closing their doors," Robert suggested.

"In retrospect, I dare say they wish they had," Charles admitted. "Even if it was their opening night. All told, Mrs. Hughes did remarkably well launching a restaurant without a chef! They served every table and no one paid for anything that was not up to standard."

"Sounds as if they gave out a lot of free food," Thomas snarked.

"Well, I hope those people, like myself, will use the money they saved to return and give 'The Rose and Thistle' another try," Charles said defiantly. "I know it will soon be up to the standards of their other two establishments. And I am not just saying that because I am friends with the proprietor."

"Let's be honest, old boy, I'd say you are more than friends with Mrs. Hughes," Robert countered flippantly.

"We are very good friends," Charles stated stubbornly.

"Which is why I think it's important to give an honest review," Thomas chimed in before Charles could object. "Otherwise, it will seem that you are giving a friend a second chance as a favor."

"I will give an honest review next week, as promised," Charles claimed obstinately.

"Why don't you give us the review now and you can update it next week?" Robert prompted.

"They did launch. They knew you were there and they served you food, which makes them responsible for their product and open to criticism," Thomas argued. "I have your notes here… cold plates, dull knives, raw lamb chops, mismatched sides…"

"Where did you get those?" Charles demanded.

"Did you write that?" Robert pressed.

"Yes, but…"

"I've never known you to write something that wasn't true…"

"No, but…"

"Was the wine list at least up to snuff?" Robert said hopefully.

"Yes, the list is quite good, but they weren't serving," Charles admitted. "Their license had not cleared yet."

"It sounds like they opened before they were prepared," Thomas interjected.

"That's not like Elsie," Robert noted.

"Mrs. Hughes was more focused on the business side of things and the front of the shop. I believe she was prevented from securing the license by Mrs. Mason's unexpected departure," Charles explained with an air of exasperation. "To be fair, I have no idea the last time Mrs. Hughes ran a kitchen. Not recently, I would venture."

"Judging by the results, you mean?" Thomas clarified.

"There were some positive notes…" Charles said defensively.

"'Comfortable chairs and nice carpets,'" Thomas quoted. "I know that's what I look for in a restaurant."

"I was noting that the décor was very welcoming; relaxing without being boring; casual without being cheap," Charles critiqued. "And if you don't think having comfortable chairs is important for a restaurant…"

"You weren't impressed by the table linens," Thomas pressed. "'Table linens wrinkled and not properly starched; napkins uninspiring.'"

"Oh, I do like the crisp tablecloths with those sharp corners," Robert gushed.

"I'm sure the crisis in the kitchen took staff away from pressing the linens properly," Charles offered lamely. "Oh look, we're out of time for this week."

"Join us next week when Charles will give us an update on the saga of 'The Rose and Thistle'," Robert teased.

The 'On Air' light went dark.

Outside the studio, Charles winced as he took out his phone to take it off mute. There was a message from Elsie. It only read 'Call me'; no punctuation.

That's a bad sign, Charles thought. He looked around and saw Thomas laughing and talking to the station manager, Sarah O'Brien. They both glanced his way and laughed even harder. This was not the ideal place from which to call Elsie.

Walking out to the parking garage, Charles worried over what he could say to Elsie. They'd been friends long enough that he didn't worry about her forgiving him. He did worry that his criticism might have hurt her. He had attacked her professionally, something she would take more seriously than if he had attacked her personally.

On top of everything, the uncertain status of their personal relationship complicated matters.

Charles sighed. A very good friend, indeed. This public argument could not have come at a worse time. Though things were going well between Charles and Elsie, it still wasn't clear what they were to each other. Twenty years earlier, in London, they'd been on again/ off again friends with benefits, but they both had careers to consider at the time.

And I was young and stupid, Charles remembered.

-00-

London, 1995

"Moving back to Downton?" Elsie looked at him in shock. When they'd met in Yorkshire, all Charles Carson could talk about was escaping the county and making it big in London. They'd been here less than a year. Why was Charles giving up so quickly? That wasn't the man she knew.

"There's a good opportunity for me at the Abbey," he shrugged. "I'll be taking dad's position as butler." He couldn't tell her that his father had been forced into early retirement by the family palsy. He was needed to help his parents financially, which he could not accomplish tending bar in London. Robert's father, the then Earl of Grantham, was willing to take a chance on the young Carson for the benefit of the elder Carson. By inheriting his father's place as butler at the Crawley's ancestral estate, Downton Abbey, Charles could ensure that his parents could spend their retirement years in the home in which they'd lived since before Charles was born.

Charles and Elsie sat in silence as the room filled with the things they could not ask of each other. Charles could not ask Elsie to leave her new position at the Criterion and return to the North for him. Elsie could not ask Charles to give up any opportunities for her. After all, he had already accepted the position.

"Robert will be glad to have you back in the county," Elsie finally said.

"Yes, he reminded me that the house team could use a decent bowler," Charles replied dully. "He's promised to let me continue my hobby as a wine enthusiast."

Elsie knew wine was more than a hobby for Charles, but she wouldn't press him to tell more than he was prepared to share.

"Are you sure you'll be happy there?" She questioned. "That's what I want to know."

"Don't tell me you'll miss me," Charles tried to joke.

"I will," she answered immediately. "And it costs me nothing to say it."

"Thank you, that means a lot to me." He tried to smile, but Elsie could read the sadness in his soulful eyes.

"What is it, Charles?"

"You know that I care for you, Elsie," Charles began. Elsie nodded. "But I don't see either of us having time for a long distance relationship."

Elsie nodded again. "We barely have time for our relationship now, and we're roommates."

They both chuckled mirthlessly at this observation.

-00-

Downton 2016

And that was where they'd left things. Charles returned north while Elsie and Beryl conquered London. They'd remained in contact, of course, and even met up every few years or so. When they did meet, they were immediately the best of friends and it was as though no time had passed. Throughout the years, they'd kept their relationship chaste to avoid any confusion, but Charles' heart broke at every parting.

Even after Elsie returned to Yorkshire two years earlier to open 'Patmore's' and 'Hughes'', their friendship remained platonic. Elsie was initially too busy with the restaurants to have time to socialize, but their mutual attraction had finally grown impossible to ignore. After an evening at Beryl's, Charles had driven Elsie home and they had shared a kiss. Elsie still had some suspicions that Beryl had orchestrated the evening hoping to give Charles and Elsie a much needed nudge.

Pleasantly surprised to find their interest returned, Charles and Elsie had agreed to postpone any serious dating until after the launch of 'The Thistle and Rose' when Elsie's time would become more available. Unfortunately, the restaurant had not launched to anyone's satisfaction.

Safely ensconced in his car, Charles took a deep breath before tapping Elsie's name on his phone. Three rings into the call Charles began to think she would not answer. He was about to hang up when he heard her voice.

"Hello." Her voice was flat, but not necessarily hostile.

"Hello," he answered, matching her neutral tone. "I take it you heard?"

"I did."

"You said you don't listen to our show," Charles reminded her somewhat playfully.

"I don't, but Beryl called me and told me to turn it on," Elsie snipped. "She said you were bad mouthing our latest venture."

"So you only heard the end?"

"I heard enough."

"I tried to get out of it, but Thomas and Robert kept pushing."

"Did you have to say such terrible things?"

"Nothing I said was untrue. I could hardly lie. The meal was…"

"Rubbish, you can say it; 'the meal was rubbish'."

"It was not up to your usual standards," he said diplomatically.

She did not try to deny it. "Perhaps, but I do not appreciate having four months of hard work negated because of one night. It's even worse when the person throwing you under the bus is…a very good friend."

"Must we have this conversation over the phone?" Charles pouted. "Wouldn't you rather yell at me in person?"

"Come to mine tonight," Elsie said shortly. "I don't like yelling at people in public."

"Another reason I like you better than Beryl," Charles quipped. "I'll see you tonight."

Elsie hung up before he could hear her laugh. "Daft man," she smiled to herself.

Just then, Beryl came bustling into Elsie's office. "I'm going to wring his neck, that blighter!"

"Calm down, Beryl, I'll handle Charles," Elsie assure her business partner. "Unfortunately, none of what he said was untrue. Let's fix that today and I'll fix Charles tonight."

"What do you have in mind?"

"Just a little life lesson," Elsie smirked.

TBC...

AN/ This is part one of two. I will post the second part next week as a small contribution to the unofficial Series7.