A/N the long awaited second chapter. SORRY! I moved flats shortly after I uploaded chapter 01 and then I had no time for writing and no inspiration at all. Don't like this chapter very much but you know, writers always say this ;).

Enjoy reading.

chapter 02


It was impossible to reason with Elsie Hughes. All afternoon he tried to make her stay at Downton, assured her that he was perfectly capable of dealing with Charles Grigg on his own. After all, he had spent a few years with only this man as a companion and confidant. Years he never wanted to be reminded of because in the end, Grigg had abused his confidence, had lied to him, stolen, even went to prison as far as Charles was informed. This man was not someone you could simply talk to. Everything he had ever said in this man's presence was turned into lies later, was used against him.

No, Elsie Hughes should not accompany him. Charles knew already how Grigg would talk to her, that he would without doubt humiliate her. Even a strong woman such as Elsie was not safe from the evil charms of this man. But try as he might, at a quarter to seven she stood outside the Grantham Arms with him, determination written all over her face.

"We are early." Charles pointed out. "Perhaps we should wait, take a walk."

"We just walked here. The earlier you face this, the better." Her logical approach might have made sense if a different person was concerned, with Grigg it only meant that Charles would have to talk to him longer, be confronted with his lies for more time than he had planned. And for Elsie, he didn't even want to think about her.

"Shall we go in?" She looked up at him, an encouraging smile on her lips and how would he ever be able to resist those eyes?

Charles opened the door, ducked his head when he stepped into the dimly lit room. Half the tables were occupied by the usual guests of the local pub. Elsie walked in before him, with long, self-confident strides. She was nonetheless greeted by some whistling from a few of the younger lads at a table close to the bar. Charles straightened to his full height immediately, ready to defend her honour but when he stepped closer, Elsie held up her hand to stop him.

"Ignore them." She hissed. "Let us find a table." As if she was a regular guest of the Grantham Arms, Elsie walked over to a free table and simply sat down. The look she shot him, told Charles to do the same, act as normal as possible. He scanned the room for that one familiar face before he took a seat across from Elsie. Grigg was nowhere to be seen.

"Is he here already?" Elsie asked, curious. After all, she had never before seen the man.

"I haven't seen him yet. But it's been ten years, so he might look different." He took off his hat and then noticed that he had not been a gentleman at all, was not much better than the men sitting here over their ales. Elsie was still wearing her coat.

"Let me help you with that." Charles stood and was rewarded with a warm smile on her face.

"Of course." Elsie turned her back towards him and while he took care of the garment, a hand touched his shoulder. That was when Charles met his past again for the first time in ten years.

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"Helping your missus? A gentleman, as always." He extended his hand, took hers unasked and placed a wet kiss on the back of it. Elsie was startled for a moment, then withdrew her hand quickly. Charles had just removed her coat but still stood behind her, speechless, the green woollen coat in his hands.

"This is not the welcome I had expected." Grigg sat down on the chair previously occupied by Charles. "Ey, are you talking to me or not?" A broad grin showed on his unshaven face. Elsie turned to look at Charles and was shocked by what she saw on his face. He was not simply speechless. The anger in his eyes was real. It exceeded everything she had ever seen on this man's face. The nervousness from earlier had completely disappeared and been replaced by fury. His lips formed a thin line, his fists creased the material of her coat where he was gripping it. Charles was ready to strike out, here, inside a crowded pub, in front of half of the village men.

"I didn't know you got married. Congratulations. Wasn't aware that butlers could marry now." Grigg rambled on, unimpressed.

Elsie tore her eyes away from Charles's face, forced herself to take a seat again. "Mr Grigg, I assume? Elsie Hughes. We haven't met."

She didn't offer him her hand again, kept them folded on the table in front of her. From the corner of her eye she observed Charles, hoped that her interference had calmed him a bit, showed him that she would not let this man take control of the situation.

"I'm not his wife. I'm his colleague." Elsie clarified, her voice icy.

The eyes of her opponent opened wide. "I see." There was still the smirk on his face as if he knew better.

"So Charles won't you sit down again? I have a hard time looking up."

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Grudgingly Charles took a seat, this time next to Elsie on the small bench opposite Grigg. For the moment it didn't matter that they sat too close, her hand on his thigh, squeezing it reassuringly. Grigg must have seen this, because the smile broadened even more. Surprisingly, Charles could not care less.

"Colleagues. I see, well we can discuss this later. For now, it is good to see you again." And then he coughed, loud and hard, almost doubled over in the chair, pressing a handkerchief to his mouth.

If this should impress them, Charles had no problems keeping his composure. The man he had once called a friend was a good actor after all. He waited patiently for Grigg to continue talking but when the coughing did not stop, got even worse, Charles almost lost his patience.

"Something is wrong," he heard Elsie whisper next to him.


TBC