This Chapter has now sent my story from a K+ to an M rating so please be advised.
Elsie couldn't believe what she had just heard. He said my love and reassured her that he will always support her. What was happening. She raised her head from his shoulder and looked up at him a bit awe stuck from what had just been said. She held his gaze and then slowly brought her lips to his just barely touching. She waited to see if he would pull away but he didn't. She could feel his warm breath on her lips. She pressed a little closer and spoke while their lips were touching and breathlessly said "I have loved you for so long", upon hearing these words Charles closed his eyes and inhaled in disbelief. Elsie kissed him softly, she ran her tongue across his lips and their kiss grew deeper. Charles let go of her hand and moved his arms around her and embraced Elsie. A heat was building between them. Charles caressed Elsie's back. Mrs. Hughes took Charles' face into her hands and began kissing him with more purpose and passion. This was what she had wanted for so long. She traced her hands around to the back of his head and ran her fingers through his hair. Elsie was becoming more aroused. She wanted him. She wanted to get lost in him and forget, even if it were for a brief moment, what she has been told what she had seen. Charles nipped at Elsie's lips and he became more aroused by Elsie and lost in her sweet kisses. He moved his mouth down to the side of her jaw and whispered into her ear. I want you , now here. His hands moved to the buttons of her dress while she began to take off his coat and undo his buttons on his shirt and vest. The kisses grew hungrier. They grasped at each others flesh. Charles was kissing any bare skin he could see. He nipped and sucked at her shoulder lightly with his teeth, while his hand was finding his way under her skirt feeling her soft silky thigh. Elsie hissed at the delightful pain of his bites. She frantically removed the rest of her dress and corset. Charles let out a moan. She was perfect. He put his hands on her shoulders to rest her down onto the bed. He hovered over her admiring her body Elsie spoke breathlessly now "Charles please now... I need you." Quickly in one quick swoop he removed the rest of his clothing and they began their dance. He entered her swiftly and let out a groan at the same time Elsie gasped as her body adjusted to him. He was slow at first but Elsie begged , she begged for more, she wanted to forget even if it were just for a moment. "Oh yes Charles...more...harder Charles, harder..." her breathing was falling in rhythm with his movements. Charles kissed her breasts and teased her nipples with his teeth causing Elsie to buck up against him and become even more excited. Charles could feel his release approaching and Elsie was grasping at his shoulders digging her nails into his back as she could feel her own release coming now and she let Charles know. "Yes, yes, oh Charles, yes." she was pressing her face into his shoulder. Her moans and release were muffled by his muscles as she bit him. Charles spilled into her and panted into her chest "oh, God Elsie, this feels so good." Elsie was still trying to catch her breath as the tears began to form in her eyes. "My God what have we done", she thought to herself. "What have I done." Charles moved to Elsie's side holding his head up with his hand and was watching her, he ran his other hand down the side of her breast and to her hip where he drew little circles on her. He watched her. He was confused, he thought it was what she wanted. He whispered to her" Elsie, why the tears? " She looked away from him and he took her face into his hand and turned it so she would look at him."tell me what you are thinking love?" That's all she needed to hear. With that sentence she knew this was love this wasn't just a brief distraction from the burden of that terrible secret. "I'm happy Charles, even if it's for a brief moment and I never get this again with you I'm happy, now. It's all I needed."
-CECECE-
The days were passing quickly. Anna was becoming more and more distant. Mr. Bates was wearing his heart on his sleeve. He was sad and confused. He desperately wanted to know to understand why has Anna closed her self off to everyone. She was jittery, jumpy and short with everyone that spoke to her. The changes were obvious to everyone. She kept busy and even took on other chores. She was desperate to keep herself busy and distracted in the hopes of trying to find some normalcy again. Days have passed since Charles and Elsie made love, Charles did not press Elsie for a confession about the secret she was keeping. She still seemed distracted but she wasn't pushing Charles away from her. If anything she was reaching out to him more. She would look for him to steal a kiss or to feel his touch even if it we're for a brief moment. It helped her. As the days went on she wanted to tell Charles what had happened but what she had hoped for was that with time Anna would heal or she would find comfort in John or confess. Elsie hoped so, because she felt that the more time that passed it felt as though she was lying to Charles. Anna was assisting lady Mary when she was informed that they would be visiting Lord Gillingham in London and staying on his estate. Anna froze and instantly became nauseous and dizzy. She excused herself quickly from lady Mary and made her way to Mrs. Hughes' parlor. She knocked frantically at her door and Mrs. Hughes opened the door ready to scold whom ever it was for being obnoxious. When she realized it was Anna she immediately let her in glancing outside the door quickly to make sure none of the other servants were lurking around. Anna grabbed Mrs. Hughes' hands and began hyperventilating. It hurt Mrs Hughes so much to see this once sweet confident, feisty girl turn into a paranoid scared person. Between each deep breath Anna could only let out a few words as she was fighting back tears. " Mrs. Hughes...how am I supposed to do this...She ...is planning a visit to his estate...I will...have to see him again...I can't...I can't bare it...I can't go...What if he hurts me again...I don't want to go...What do I do? Mrs. Hughes was saddened by this news and began brainstorming about how she could spare Anna this pain. She guided Anna over to her settee and poured her a glass of water, handing it to her she explains "Anna, we will tell them your mother has fallen I'll, you can tell Mr. Bates that as well. I think it would be good for you to get away a bit, surely lady Mary will understand" Anna was sobbing with relief and began asking " who will go in my place?" She didn't want to send another maid in Anna's place but she had to keep all the maids away from Green. I will go Anna. I will go in your place." "But how Mrs. Hughes, lady Mary will wonder why you haven't assigned her another maid." " Well, we will wait until the very last minute to inform lady Mary you can not attend to her and I will find excuses and jobs to keep the others so busy they can't be spared and I will go instead. It will be fine. Anna, I can't imagine what this is like for you, but the reality is, is that we can't keep making excuses. Eventually a decision must be made. Don't you see what's happening to Mr. Bates? He is so distraught he thinks he's done something wrong..." This angered Anna, she snapped at Mrs. Hughes and the tears began to flow from Anna's eyes and her sobs grew louder. She stood up and slammed her glass on Mrs. Hughes desk, this made Elsie nervous, afraid that Anna was losing control. She won't be able to hide this much longer. Mr. Bates was blaming himself for her sadness. "Of course I see what this is doing to him, I see him everyday. I don't know how to feel, what to say, how to act. Every time he comes near me or approaches me I'm reminded of that dreadful man that bastard." With this Mrs. Hughes moved to help Anna who was now holding on to the desk to stop herself from falling to the floor. Elsie held her and let her cry. It was the first human contact Anna had since that horrific night and it was the only touch that was comforting.
TBC