I have read the Valentine's Day challenge over at LJ and then decided to make Valentine's Day the topic of this story. Maybe I will take part in the challenge. Don't know yet. But it inspired me!

A/N the characters are not mine. They belong to Julian Fellowes and ITV.

Again... Charles and Elsie

Lady Sybil was running along the corridors of the upstairs gallery in such a hurry that she almost knocked over Elsie who was about to check if the guest rooms were ready for tonight.

"Oh I'm sorry Mrs. Hughes." She stopped and caught her breath.

"Is something the matter, Lady Sybil? You look exhausted. Can I help you with anything?" The girl's face was flushed, her cheeks red and her eyes sparkled. No, Elsie corrected herself: Lady Sybil was not exhausted she was excited.

"I'm fine Mrs. Hughes. It's just so exciting!" She turned around and went further down the corridor in a more appropriate pace but still with a bounce in her steps like a little girl. Elsie smiled at the sight. Though she would never tell Lady Sybil directly, the young woman was still so much like the young girl she once was. She was always excited about everything that happened around her and content to play in her sitting room with some crayons and a piece of paper in the afternoons instead of spending time with her older sisters. Her mother had not liked the thought of her youngest offspring spending so much time downstairs next to the kitchen and among the servants. But Sybil had always been as stubborn as she was cute and would not let her mama forbid her to come to Elsie's sitting room.

Now she was about to turn sixteen soon and Lord and Lady Grantham had decided to host an extravagant ball tonight in their daughters honour. Downstairs everyone was so busy with the preparations that she had decided to escape the hustle and bustle for just a moment to make sure that the maids had finished the guest rooms in time. Besides, it was Valentines Day and she could not stand the giggling of the young housemaids anymore. Give them one day in a year were they were allowed to flirt with the male staff and they were sure to forget their duties or to maintain discipline.

She checked the last room and was relieved that despite the hectic and chaos downstairs the girls were still able to do their work properly. Elsie closed the door to the blue room on the bachelors corridor and descended the main staircase to have a look at the drawing room. Anna and Gwen were supposed to prepare it for tonight with the help of the hallboys. They would need more chairs and an additional settee in the room to accommodate the female guests tonight.

When she opened the door it was her now who almost accidentally bumped into someone.

"Oh, Mr. Carson I'm sorry." She became aware of the tray he was still balancing in his left hand. That was close. "I was not expecting you up here."

"Never mind, Mrs. Hughes. Anna and Gwen had sent one of the boys downstairs to ask for help. They were unable to carry the large settee." he explained.

"I'm sure they managed with your assistance?" Elsie looked up to, smiling contentedly.

"Everything is ready and in order now, Mrs. Hughes." He passed her on his way out. Tray in one hand, the other brushing her hand gently.

"Very well Mr. Carson. I'll think of an adequate reward for your help later." She cast a smile at him over her shoulder before he left.

ooooo

Mrs. Patmore was shouting at Daisy for the umpteenth time today. It was a wonder that Elsie had not yet carried off a headache from the noise the cook was making since the early morning hours and besides it was astonishing that Daisy actually managed to get her work done. Despite the rants Mrs. Patmore let off. Calling her to order was certainly necessary because Daisy was often absent-minded. Though threatening the poor kitchen maid was not an option. Not as long as Elsie Hughes was housekeeper of Downton Abbey.

Elsie had planned to stay in her sitting room until luncheon to get some work done before the guests arrive but now Mrs. Patmore had overdone things.

"Mrs. Patmore!" her raised voice could easily compete with the cooks if necessary. "Stop bullying Daisy at once! You do not decide who's to be fired. Daisy is under my jurisdiction."

"But you don't have to work with her!" Mrs. Patmore snapped.

"I'm sure she has done everything that was in her power to get her work done. You must allow her to learn." They were facing each other now, Elsie furiously chewing on her lower lip and Mrs. Patmore with arms akimbo.

"She will never learn!"

"Then I'm afraid you are not a good teacher."

Mrs. Patmore gaped at her, obviously unable to come up with a fitting retort. "So, will you please stop shouting now and let Daisy do her work." Elsie straightened herself and left the kitchen to return to her sitting room. To avoid any further disturbance she closed the door behind her. The best idea would be to also lock it, she thought but she could not do that during the day.

She sat down at her desk, took her pen and started to concentrate on the linen book a task that usually absorbed her so much that she could not think of anything else. But today she could not find distraction. Her thoughts wandered back to their encounter in the blue room earlier. She had promised him a reward for his effort and could think of nothing else but the small box she had stored in the back of the top drawer of her desk.

ooooo

"Why is it raining?" Lady Mary stood in front of the glass doors that led from the library to the patio. The rain had not stopped all day. It was pouring down since the early morning hours. Charles was awake since five in the morning because the raindrops had drummed against his bedroom window.

"It's February milady. It will either snow or rain." He answered seriously.

"I know that Carson, but it's Valentine's Day. Can't we have a more romantic weather?" she turned around to face the butler.

"What, if I may ask milady, is a romantic weather?"

"Oh Carson, I think you will never understand this," she sighed obviously believing that a butler could not have romantic feelings at all and would therefore not know what she meant. "Snow is romantic. A sundown is romantic, anything but pouring rain."

For him, the rain was the most romantic thing he could wish for today. It meant that he had an excuse to go over to Elsie's sitting room later at night and take her into his arms to cuddle her. She was always feeling exceptionally cold when it rained. He almost smiled at the thought but he was not alone in the room.

"Carson, can you tell Anna that I will wear my red dress tonight? I think it needs to get pressed." She bowed her head a bit and looked up at him with a most heart-melting look. Charles was reminded of the young Lady Mary that would always climb on his lap and listen to the stories he had made up for her. She had the same pleading look on her face back then.

"Of course, milady."

ooooo

Outside in the great hall the hallboys were busy with the preparations for the ball. All the chairs, settees, carpets needed to be removed until tonight. So far only half of the work had been done. There were still so many tasks he had to delegate and oversee.

"Thomas," the footman came rushing into the hall. "I need you to arrange the dinner in the large dining room later. Finish whatever you have to do now and get William to help you!"

"Sure Mr. Carson."

The large carpet in the middle of the hall had already been rolled up and it took four of the young boys to carry it downstairs. To the untrained eye the large hall looked ready but Charles still saw thousand little things that needed to be taken care of. He sighed. He would not see much of Elsie during the day.

ooooo

"Mrs. Hughes?" she had not heard her voice around the downstairs corridors for a long time. It was accompanied by a knock on her door.

"Lady Sybil. What brings you here?" The young woman stood in the doorframe unsure whether to remain there or enter the room. Although it was her parent's house and she had every right to come into her sitting room whenever she liked without having to ask for permission. "You may come in."

"Mrs. Hughes," she asked again.

"What is bothering you, milady?" A small girl stood in front of her not the almost sixteen year old Lady Sybil.

She bit her lip. "There is this ball tonight and I'm supposed to open it with the first dance. Mama has just told me."

"That is a great honour, milady." She was sure Lady Sybil would make a wonderful debutante tonight. She was elegant in her moves yet still a little childish sometimes. Elsie could already see her dancing with her father across the large hall, admired by all the guests. But obviously Lady Sybil was not so sure of her abilities.

"See, I can dance but I've never been good at the waltz."

Now Elsie fully understood Lady Sybil's concern and could not hide her smile. "And now you are asking me for help?"

She nodded. "Well, I'm not a good dancer but I will try my best to help you."

Lady Sybil's face brightened up and Elsie let out a small sigh. On top of the preparations for tonight she was now also giving dance lessons to the youngest daughter of the house. Her skills and knowledge concerning this matter were certainly insufficient but if she was able to give Lady Sybil some support then she had to. She tried to remember the last time when she had actually danced. Once a year, his Lordship hosted the annual servant's ball. She only ever danced the first waltz and then returned either to her seat or remained standing in one of the corners of the large hall, observing the others. Last year she had taken the liberty and accepted Charles' offer for a second dance. But apart from this annual event she had no time to think of dancing.

"Thank you Mrs. Hughes. Can I come downstairs again after luncheon then?"

"Of course."

So this is the first idea of it. Let me know what you think about it. And PLEASE if anyone can come up with a good title - let me know!