I'm like a runaway train with stories! I have 7 started...GAW! HALP! Thanks for all the love ya'll!
Carson stood in his pantry, stunned and worried. The note in his hand, bringing the devastating news of death. Mrs. Hughes beloved sister.
His heart was beating a little faster than normal, his palms were sweaty. He went and sat at his desk. He had to gather his thoughts, his emotions before going to her. He was thankful that her sister's husband had the wherewithal to send the note directly to him. He stated that he would want Mr. Carson there with her when the news was delivered. That alone made his heart pound. He mustered the courage and went to her sitting room.
"Mrs. Hughes? May I come in?"
"Certainly, Mr. Carson. What brings you here so early in the afternoon?" She smiled while tidying her bookcase. "And why such the long face?" She quipped.
"Mrs. Hughes...I think you should sit down."
She looked up and cocked her head in question. The sweet smile diminished slowly. "What is it?"
He stepped toward him. "Come...sit..." He held his hand out and gestured toward to the settee.
Her heart started to pound, she knew something was wrong. "You've got me worried Mr. Carson." She sat and turned her eyes up toward him.
He sat gently beside her and took her hand in his and covered it with his other one. "Mrs. Hughes I have some very sad news."
Her face flushed and she felt a rush of adrenaline go through her, that feeling when something scares you so that your whole body reacts. She looked at their hands and again back at him.
"Your sister has died." Charles thought his heart might break in two having to utter those words to her...this woman that he loved so dearly.
The room grew silent, his words were muffled and she thought she had probably heard him wrong. "What?" she muttered.
He squeezed her hand a little tighter. "Elsie..." he cocked his head to one side and wanted to take her in his arms, wanted to not be saying this to her. "Your sister has passed away. I got a letter a little while ago from your brother in law."
Elsie thought she might fall over. The room was spinning and she felt light headed. She pulled her hand away and got up, walked to the front of her desk and slumped a little, bracing herself with her hands and begin to cry. Her shoulders began to shake, she brought her hand to her mouth to stifle the cries.
Charles got up and went to her. She was his closest friend, he was hers. They had shared everything the last 20 plus years, sorrow, grief, happiness, encouragement, intimacy in it's most benign form. They both knew they loved each other, they had shared affectionate moments but nothing over the line of propriety. They didn't talk of their feelings for one another, what would be the point now? They were neither ready to retire and there was an unspoken understanding that they would likely one day marry and retire together. Everyone knew it.
He cautiously puts a hand on her shoulder. Physical affection was difficult for anyone English but especially him. He had never had affection shown to him until this beautiful Scottish Lass came into his life but he wasn't good at it. He felt offish and incompetent when it came to a woman...loving a woman. He tentatively raised his other arm to steady her but shied away yet only momentarily. 'Do it you old fool! She needs you now.' He berated himself silently.
When she turned, he swallowed hard and enveloped her. She fit perfectly into the breadth between his arms. Her arms wrapped comfortable around his back, his head perched just so at the crown of hers. He pulled her in as close as he could. He closed his eyes when he longingly took in a deep breath of her lavender scented hair. "Oh Elsie...I'm sorry...so very sorry."
She eventually pulled away from him, wiped her eyes. "What did the letter say? May I see it?"
"Of course, I have it just here." Her reached into his pocket and pulled the note out and handed it to her. He kept his hand on her elbow while she read it. Fresh tears poured down her cheeks.
"Oh Mr. Carson..." she shook her head and covered her mouth again. He took her in his arms more easily this time, his own eyes filled with tears, knowing the weight of this loss. He had listened to many stories of her childhood and knew everything there was to know about her sister and her life in Argyll. He had met her and her husband on a number of occasions when they had visited the area and come to Downton to visit Elsie. He definitely felt a connection to them. He knew her sister was the last of her immediate family and Elsie had talked about what it would be like when her sister was gone. That made him sad. He certainly knew the pain of being alone, no real family any more. He pulled her close. "I know love...I know..."
###
The afternoon passed and Elsie made arrangements to travel back to Argyll. Her brother in law said he would wait until she could come to have a memorial service. She packed her things in a small valise that night and was to leave on the morning train. She spent a restless night but awakened eager to get on. She hurried downstairs and was startled when she rounded the corner of the stairs. There stood Mr. Carson, in his traveling coat and his own valise. "I'm going with you."
Elsie had cried so much in the last few hours she didn't think she had anything left but she burst into tears and dropped her bag and threw her arms around him, giving no thought to who might be up and watching. "Oh Mr. Carson..."
"Well I couldn't let you go alone." He gruffed, taken aback by her sudden fervor. Truth be known, he wanted to go, wanted to be with her as much as he had ever wanted anything. "Now we better get on so we don't miss the train."
Elsie was so relieved, so joyful to have him by her side. She never even imagined having him with her but it gave her a great deal of peace. She fought the urge to reach out and take his hand on their walk to the car.
TBC...
