Ya'll (yes I'm an American girl from the South) what I get confused is writing in present or past tense. I will try to clean this up…I'm sorry if it drives anyone crazy! It kinda does me when I write and then re read it so it will change. I just can't decide what way I want to write it! Suggestions? LOL

Chapter 2

"I see. Well, Carson we certainly cannot stand idly by." Lord Grantham nods his head while stalking around the library.

"I hope, M ' Lord you know how important this is to me..how important she is to me?

Charles' employer for the last 30 years stood in wonderment at his words. "To be honest Carson I dont! I've never...it's just you've never said anything, yet I understand you and Mrs. Hughes must be friends, you've certainly been working closely for years..."

"Yes...I know I've not let on about my feelings..." exasperated, the Butler shakes his head! I've been foolish M ' Lord and now that she..." he can't bring himself to go on.

"Carson I will consider your request and give my answer tomorrow morning. Your proposal seems reasonable enough but I am fearful for both of my head staff to be gone for an indeterminate amount of time.

"Thank you M' Lord for your consideration." Carson nods and turns on his heal to leave.

Cora passes Carson as he leaves and she enters. "Good afternoon M'Lady? He offers as they pass.

"Indeed it is Carson!" she couldn't help but notice his worried expression as they passed. "What was that about?" she asks in a concerned tone to her husband.

Robert only smiled at her sensitivity, always on high alert. He reaches over to place a gentle kiss on her cheek. "You never miss a thing do you darling?"

"What is it?" she questions again.

"Well it seems Mrs Hughes is sick and Carson has just told me he loves her and wants to take her to get the best medical treatment he can. In fact he said he wants to marry her. Can you believe that?" Robert chuckles.

"Of course I can!" Cora answers with complete confidence.

Robert jerks his head in her direction as if he heard wrong. "What?"

"Robert? Are you blind? She questions with an indignant tone. "Carson has been pining for Mrs. Hughes for years.

Robert walks to the settee and sits down next to his wife. "You can't be serious?"

"Oh but I am serious! It seems everyone in the house knows it but you!"

"Cora! Don't be silly! I am not that out of tune with what is going on in my own house." He rolls his eyes.

"Well, I will tell you this, whatever Mrs. Hughes needs, we must give it to her. We must take care of her."

"I quite agree but I can't see that letting Carson leave with Mrs. Hughes to receive medical care is in our best interest!" Robert was becoming more exasperated.

"Would you listen to yourself?" Cora stared at her husband. "Darling…this is not about YOU or Downton! This is about someone we care for, we love, that needs our help."

Robert stood and walked to his desk. "Cora, I have a meeting with tenant farmers in 10 minutes. I cannot discuss this now."

"We will discuss it…maybe not now but we will. This is matter of great importance." She stormed out of the room and Robert followed her with his eyes.

'Am I really blind to what is going on around me?' he wondered.

"Now you rest. I don't want you downstairs for any reason. I will send Anna to check on you soon." Charles sat on the side of Elsie's bed and smoothed the blankets across her chest.

"You're making too much fuss over me Mr. Carson." She teased. "I'm not incapable of work." Elsie cocked her head to one side and raised her eyebrows to him.

"I know you're not…" he softens his tone and takes her hand in his and lets out a heavy sigh. "I want you to rest. It's been a difficult morning and I don't want you to have to answer questions or be subject to wonder." He gives her a sweet smile while caressing her hand.

She is moved by his gesture and sudden vigilance to her care. "Charles, we can't hide."

He nods, knowlingly. "I know and we won't. I have no intention of hiding my love for you. I just thought you might need some time to process….everything."

She smiles and reaches to move a piece of his graying hair back from his forehead. "You are right. I do need some time to myself." She expresses quietly. She studies his face, the deep lines in his forehead, his clean, shaven, cheek, the beautiful olive tone of his skin in the lamp light. Her stomach turns a flip and it causes her breath to catch. She blushed.

"What is it?" His eyes follow hers and it worries him when her breath hitches. "Are you okay?"

Elsie laughs slightly. "No…I'm fine. You took my breath away. You're so handsome Charles." She strokes his face with the back of her fingers.

He moves in and takes her face in his hands and brings his lips to hers. Soon they are locked, passionately and feverishly, until their lungs betray them. Charles pulls away finally and struggles to steady his breathing. He stands and turns away, pacing the floor in front of her bed.

She watches him, somewhat amused yet knowing the exact feeling of frustration he was feeling. Her eyes wandered to his trousers which were bulging a little farther than normal. She immediately chastised herself, silently. 'Elsie Hughes! Stop this!' "I'm sorry Charles." She says sheepishly with her eyes lowered to her folded hands.

"Don't apologize! I should be the one apologizing. I didn't mean to be so forward I just…." He sits again on the bed, noticeably adjusting his trousers when he does.

"I know. You don't have to explain." Elsie takes his hand again. "You better go, it will be luncheon before long."

He stared for a long while, at her. "I love you Elsie Hughes." He started in to kiss her but abruptly stopped himself. "No..I'm going to go now." His tone turned back to the Butler. "I will check on you after luncheon and send Anna in between. Please rest my love." He pleads as he headed toward the door.

She smiled sweetly and puckered her lips and kissed the air toward him once he turns around. "Uh dear?"

"Wha? Yes?" he stammered at the opened door.

"You might want to take care of that before you go down." She grinned with one finger over her upper lip and pointed toward the front of his trousers."

Charles glanced down and his face flushed bright red as he moved his arm self-consciously over the placket of his trousers.

Elsie starts to giggle. "I'm sorry…I shouldn't have…. I didn't mean to embarrass you Charles."

Charles raised his eyebrows, "Well this isn't the first time I've had to hide a rise you've given me! You're a little minx!" he teased before leaving her to revel in this new found dialogue, joy. She laid back on her pillow and drifted into a blissful sleep, worlds away from the thoughts of illness…cancer.

TBC….

LOVE the comments and thoughts about plot. I have no idea where this will go, I'm just enjoying putting my daughter to bed and WRITING! It's been too long!