Chapter 2 - Wake Up Call

The fire was a wake up call for Charles Carson. He couldn't remember ever being so afraid, until the moment he saw her walking down the stairs his heart didn't beat. No one would have known of course, on the outside he was the picture of calm as he made certain everyone made it out of the house to safety. On the inside he was completely out of control. When he was finally able to speak with her afterwards, his voice was shaky and his knees wobbly. He held her for a long time that night in her pantry, not wanting to let go, trying to convince himself that she was really safe. She'd cried in his arms, admitting she had felt much the same.

A week after the fire Charles and Elsie had their shared half day. They'd always had the same half day off but usually went different directions. But this day he'd asked her to accompany him somewhere and he wouldn't say where they were going. He was being quite mysterious about it really but she was just thrilled to be spending the day in his company. After luncheon he told her to wear something comfortable, nothing dressy, and perhaps some boots, and meet him in his pantry when she was ready. She stood in front of her armoire trying to figure out what to wear. Nothing dressy, something comfortable...she didn't own anything comfortable except her dressing gown and that certainly wouldn't be acceptable. She settled for an old, dark brown skirt she hadn't worn in years. It was long and full, flowing around her ankles and a beige cotton blouse with blue and brown flowers on it. She tugged on her brown boots, found out a hat that matched and was ready to go. When she entered his pantry and he looked up at her and took her in from head to toe.

"Will I do, Mr. Carson?" she asked sweetly.

"Yes, very nicely." he replied smiling back at her. He had changed as well into a more casual suit with a lovely gray tweed jacket.

"You've got my curiosity up Mr. Carson."

"Yes, well, I want it to be surprise Mrs. Hughes." he smiled back at her. He stopped by the kitchen and picked up a small basket containing some snacks that Mrs. Patmore had prepared for them.

Mrs. Patmore winked at her and whispered. "Don't do anything I wouldn't do!"

Mrs. Hughes just rolled her eyes and followed Mr. Carson out the door. They walked down the gravel driveway and then instead of heading into town they turned and headed down toward the stables, near the pond. She was very curious now but stayed quiet, holding onto his arm. He walked them right up to the stables and greeted the stable boy.

"Hello lad. Are they ready?"

"Yes Mr. Carson, Edward is just bringing them out now."

"Bringing what out?" she asked curiously.

"The horses of course." he said, looking at her happily.

"The horses?!"

"Yes, Mrs. Hughes, we're going riding." he said proudly.

"Riding?!"

He turned to her, trying to gage her reaction. He couldn't tell if she was excited or horrified or a combination of both. "Is that ok? I mean, surely you know how to ride?"

"Well...of course I know how to ride, I'm a farm girl after all but…"

"But?"

"Well, I'd say it's been a good thirty years since I've been on a horse!"

"Come now, it's like riding a bicycle. Once you learn, you never forget."

"I cannot ride a bicycle Mr. Carson."

"So, do you not want to go?"

She stood there looking at his stricken face. He was obviously going to be very upset if she refused and come to think of it, why should she? Surely she could still ride. It was a bit exciting and a little terrifying to be honest, but why not? She took a deep breath and smiled at him.

"Of course...of course I want to go Mr. Carson"

He let of the breath he'd been holding. He so wanted this turn out well. He'd thought and thought about where they should go on their first official outing together. He didn't want it to just be a walk around the grounds or going to tea. They'd done those things before and he wanted her to always remember this day. Edward came out guiding two horses. One was a small, black mare and the other a large, dapple stag. Charles led Mrs. Hughes around to the side of the mare and helped her up. She was so thankful she'd worn the long, full skirt. He climbed up on his horse and Edward handed him the basket. "Off we go." he said, smiling over at her. She nodded, her eyes wide with excitement.

"Where are we going exactly?"

"Follow me!" he called back to her as they began to ride. They cantered up the road and out into a large field, through a small wood and stopped at the river's edge. Mr. Carson dismounted, helping Mrs. Hughes down. He then laid out the blanket he'd asked the stable boys to tuck in his saddlebag and helped her to sit then sat down beside her, opening up the basket to see what goodies Mrs. Patmore had included.

"That was quite nice!" she proclaimed as she took a bite of the chocolate tarte he handed her. "I'd forgotten how free one feels on a horse. It's a bit like flying."

"I'm glad you enjoyed it."

She chuckled. "I'm just glad I didn't fall off and make a fool of myself."

"As am I...I'd never wish for you to be hurt, Elsie." he said kindly, taking her free hand and kissing it.

"Oh my! You're quite the charmer when you want to be, Charles." she blushed.

"Only when I'm with you." he said, finishing up his piece of apple tarte.

She finished off her ale and handed him the empty bottle. "What shall we do now?" She asked.

Charles packed away the remnants of their snacks and then scooted closer to her. "Would you mind terribly if I did this?" he asked, leaning in and kissing her tenderly. "I've been wanting to do that again since the first time I kissed you."

"Mmmm, no I don't mind one bit if you do."

He leaned in and kissed her firmly and she pulled him to her, laying back on the blanket. He broke the kiss and looked down at her lovingly. "Oh Elsie, I find that I just keep falling deeper and deeper in love with you. I'm afraid my current thoughts are not entirely proper."

"Well, you know what Mrs. Patmore says, "Every woman needs a man to pay her a bit of attention, preferably in a way that is not entirely proper." she giggled.

"Yes, well...I want you to know that I will most definitely not sully your reputation. I want to kiss you, hold you, but I will go no further for now. You can trust me Elsie."

"I know that. Now, kiss me again, please."

After kissing and holding each other for nearly an hour, they decided they definitely needed a distraction before things went too far. They packed up the blanket and mounted their horses and headed toward an open field. As soon as they were in the clear, Elsie kicked her horse and took off as fast as the wind across the field shouting at the top of her lungs "Waaaahooooooo!" her skirt billowing around her legs like a cloud.

Charles just shook his head and took off after her, catching up quickly on his larger, stronger horse. She slowed down and stopped and he came up alongside her and leaning in he kissed her soundly. "Having fun?"

"Yes", she breathed against his lips before taking off again, her laughter echoing down the field.

Once back at the stables, they handed off the horses and walked slowly back down by the pond where they sat on the bench and talked until dark. They talked about everything and anything, from goings on at the house to their childhoods. They stole a few more kisses after making sure no one from the house was about, and then walked back to the servant's entrance at dusk.

"I had the most incredible day, Charles." Elsie gushed.

"So did I Elsie." he said, pulling her to him and kissing her deeply one more time. She nearly melted in his arms.

She blinked up at him. "And on that note, we best be getting inside. Mrs. Patmore promised to save us some dinner. Thank you Charles, it really was wonderful."

"Any day spent with you is wonderful." he replied, smiling at her lovingly.

He opened the door and she went in ahead of him. Anyone seeing them return that night were quite shocked at how they both looked. Mrs. Hughes hair was coming down around her face and neck and her cheeks were flushed, her mouth a bit swollen and red, Mr. Carson's hair windswept and wild, neither of them caring one bit.

The next morning at breakfast, Carson stood awaiting the needs of the family when Lady Mary spoke. "Carson?"

"Yes, Milady?"

"I am curious...you see yesterday I was out walking with Mr. Branson, inspecting a section of land that we're considering farming and I heard the most peculiar sound."

"Really Milady. What sort of sound was that?"

"Well I wasn't sure what it was at first because well, in the area we were exploring there's not usually anyone about. But I was certain I heard a woman's voice calling out."

"Calling out Milady?" He asked, beginning to feel a bit nervous at her questioning.

"Yes well, not really calling out exactly...it's sound more like wahooooo! and then giddy laughter to be specific." she turned, her gaze piercing, trying to ascertain if he was understanding her meaning.

He cleared his throat nervously. "I uh...see...that does sound curious indeed Milady, but I wonder why you are sharing this information with me?"

"Yes, I'm wondering that too Carson, what are you getting at Mary?" her father asked curiously, laying his fork down and picking up his coffee.

"Oh nothing, I just wondered if you and Mrs. Hughes heard anything yesterday when you were out riding?"

Charles' mouth fell open for a moment before he clapped it shut. "N...no Milady. We did not hear anything...unusual."

"Carson? You and Mrs. Hughes went...riding?!" the Earl asked, turning to look at the Butler with a whimsical smile on his lips. "Really?"

"Yes MiLord...we umm...we had a shared half day and...we decided to go for a ride." he replied, wishing the floor would open up and swallow him, his ears turning crimson.

"Well, that's wonderful Carson! It's good to hear that my two hardest working head's of staff are finding some time to relax a bit." He picked his fork back up and took a bite of his food, shaking his head. "I didn't think you had it in you to relax and enjoy yourself, Carson." he chuckled. "Good for you!"

Lady Mary raised her eyebrow and looked at Charles suspiciously. "Yes...good for you and Mrs. Hughes." she replied, grinning slyly.

After breakfast was finished Charles practically ran from the dining room to find Elsie. He found her upstairs with Anna, putting some linens away.

"Mrs. Hughes...I have an urgent matter to discuss with you at your earliest convenience." he said, his eyebrows raised and eyes wide.

"Ah...yes, Mr. Carson. Go down to my sitting room. I'll be down in just a moment." she replied, her eyes widening at his distress. He turned and walked briskly away.

"What's got him in such a tizzy?" Anna asked, chuckling lightly.

"I'm...uh...not sure but I bet I'll be finding out soon enough." Elsie replied. "I best get down there. Will you be alright putting the rest of this away?"

"Yes, of course. Go smooth his feathers so he won't try to devour the rest of us at luncheon." she teased.

"Whatever do you mean?" Elsie asked suddenly defensive.

Anna raised her eyebrows at her superior. "Nothing...it's just...well everyone knows you're the only one who can calm him down."

Elsie's eyebrows rose higher. "Oh they do, do they? Well, I'm not so sure you're right, but I'll give it a go." She turned and went quickly after Charles. She found him pacing impatiently in her sitting room. When she walked in, he turned quickly and moved past her to shut the door.

"Charles? What on earth has gotten into ye?" she asked, her scottish brogue coming through.

"Elsie, Lady Mary heard us yesterday!"

She looked at him confused. They'd been gone almost all day. They'd not seen anyone while they were out. "What do you mean? She heard what? When?"

When we were out riding yesterday...she heard you...she heard you...holler!"

"She...she heard me...holler?" she suppressed a giggle.

"Yes...when you were riding and you shouted, wahoooo!" he said as quietly as he could.

"Oh I see...and why has this got you in such a state Charles?"

"It's just...it's just the way she said it...as if she was insinuating we were out hooping and hollering in the fields and...she raised her eyebrow at me Elsie...and smirked...as if she...as if she knows something."

"I see...so you're upset that your precious Lady Mary might possibly know that you and I are courting and this upsets you because...why exactly?" she replied, getting angrier and more hurt by the minute.

Charles recognized the fire in her eyes the second he'd lit it. He took a step back and decided for once in his life to stop and think about what he was saying. Why did he care exactly? He was planning on talking to the Earl anyway. They would know he and Elsie were in love and...and so why was he so upset? He took a deep breath, trying to steady his ragged nerves, then looked up at her. "I...I don't know why it got me so upset. I guess, I guess I was worried she'd out us before I'd had a chance to talk to His Lordship. I guess I was a little embarrassed that Lady Mary might have seen us or heard us when that was...that was a private moment I didn't want to share with anyone else."

Elsie's ire melted immediately. She stepped forward and laid her hand on his arm and gave it a squeeze. "Oh Charles, you are the dearest man. You're right, I wouldn't want anyone else to see that side of me but you. You're the only one I'd ever share it with. I'm sorry I got angry."

"Shhh, no apology needed. I think I will speak to His Lordship now, before anything else can be said." He pulled her into a hug and kissed the top of her head. "I love you. I don't want anyone insinuating that you are anything less than proper."

"Well, I am standing in my sitting room in the arms of my Butler. I don't think I'd have a leg to stand on if they did accuse me of being improper." she chuckled. He leaned down and kissed her chastely and she smiled. "How about we both go speak to His Lordship?"

"Are you sure? If he doesn't take it well…"

"If he doesn't take it well then we'll deal with it, but one thing I know for certain Charles Carson and that is no one is going to come between me and you. So let's hope for his sake he doesn't try." she replied strongly.

"Aye." he replied, mimicking her accent. She swatted at him as they both headed out the door.

TBC