This is not new, just augmented a little at the end. A very faithful reviewer felt that it ended a little abruptly. When I looked back at it I thought it did, too. I just felt that I had to add this as a thank you to her and in my own OCD need to have it right. (I'm having to restrain myself from going back to correct spelling mistakes in other completed fics.)

With their new found freedom to explore their feelings for each other, they both found it surprisingly difficult to do so. After five years of forceful restraint on his actions toward her, he needed to find a way to let her know how he felt without coming on too strongly. His strongest desire was to throw her over his shoulder, carry her up to his room, and make love to her all night. Chuckling to himself, he wondered if that would be considered "too strong". Somehow, he would have to find a happy middle road. None of this was helped by the fact that he just did not have that much experience at romance.

On her part, she was still somewhat frazzled by learning her new position and exerting her authority without being too overbearing. Of course, Mrs. Patmore was not being at all helpful. Somehow, she seemed to think that just because Mrs. Hughes was new to her position, she would gladly relinquish control of the store closet to her. Really, did she think she'd just fallen off the turnip cart yesterday? Add to that the sudden ability to be more open about her feelings for Mr. Carson and her increased interaction with him, and she was exhausted by the end of her first month as the housekeeper of Downton Abbey.

Thankfully, on February 14, it seemed that she was going to have an evening to herself. The family was out. Most of the staff had gone down to the village to spend time either with each other or town sweethearts. She was just as strict about gentlemen callers as Mr. Carson was with his rule. Young people were young people, however, and there was a certain degree of pairing off. She didn't mind really. Not everyone was cut out for a life in service and even those who were could often find positions that would allow them to be married. For her part though, she had never seen the point of Valentine's Day. It seemed just an arbitrary date picked out of thin air. Surely, it would be much more important for a couple to celebrate their love on a day special to just them. That attitude was what found her to be sitting in her parlor with her feet in a pan of hot water, a whiskey and soda in one hand and a book in the other when Mr. Carson chose that moment to call on her romantically for the first time.

She jumped at the knock on the door, splashing whiskey and soda on her dress and water on the floor. "Mrs. Hughes—Elsie-I wonder if I might speak to you for a moment," Charles called through the door. "One moment, please", she answered as she hurried around the room stowing her whiskey tumbler behind a picture of her mother and pushing the pan of water under her sofa. "Blast it all, why oh why did he have to come tonight of all nights?" she muttered to herself as she struggled to get back into her stockings and shoes. He probably just wanted to ask her what candlesticks he should use tomorrow night or some other such nonsense. Blasted, frustrating, lovely man.

She opened the door to find him starting to turn away, flowers in his hand. He turned to her with such a hopeful expression that she forgot to be astonished. "Might I come in? I'm feeling a bit exposed out here in the hall." he almost whispered, rumbled really. Smiling, she opened the door wider in an unspoken invitation.

Once the door was closed, they turned to each other rather awkwardly. Taking a deep breath as though he was about to jump into deep water, he plunged in, "Mrs. Hughes, I-" "Elsie" she corrected with a smile, "you called me Elsie earlier, please continue to do so."

He smiled broadly then and relaxing noticeably, he continued, "Elsie, I have come to ask that you would allow me to call on you. I have found myself to be attracted to you for quite some time and am determined that I would like to explore that attraction. I have been trying to find a way to tell you, but I'm afraid I'm not too good at this sort of thing. I don't know any other way than to be straight forward, and so I am here. If you would rather that I not bother you in this way, then you only have to say so, and I will not trouble you again. You don't need to worry that your decision will affect your position here in any way."

Having got through his speech without receiving a sound smack across the face and noticing that her eyes were shining and she seemed to be biting back a smile, he began to be rather hopeful. He hadn't realized he was holding his breath until she said one word "Yes".

"Beg pardon?" he asked.

"Yes, I wish that you would bother me in this way."

He unfortunately dropped the lovely bouquet of flowers on the floor as he wrapped his arms around her shoulders and pulled her to him. After they both enjoyed this embrace for a few moments, she began to laugh softly. "What is it?" he asked. "Elsie, please tell me"

"You are very wrong about one thing Mr. Carson"

"Charles", he corrected.

"Charles," she began again, "you are quite good at this sort of thing."

Bending then, he began their first kiss which he intended to be a gentlemanly, light kiss. When his lips touched hers, he felt her respond and the kiss quickly deepened. Then he felt other parts of her, soft, lovely round parts, pressed tightly against his chest. Naturally, part of him responded as well, and the gentlemanly, light kiss turned into a prolonged session ending in a little breathlessness on both their parts.

When the kiss had ended, he continued to hold her tightly in his arms and kissed her forehead beginning to chuckle just a little. "Obviously, I'm not too good at this sort of thing. I've dropped your flowers on the floor."

Looking down, she said, "They're lovely flowers. We should put them in some water," not making any move to leave his embrace.

"We probably should," he agreed, tightening his arms around her just a little.

"Where did you get them?" she asked, tilting her head to kiss the side of his neck.

Distracted, he said, "Um, I asked the gardener."

"Really? He usually doesn't like anyone taking flowers," she said working her way from the side of his neck to just below his right ear.

"Well, I did maybe, just a little, deceive him," he answered, kissing her temple lightly.

"You lied?"

"No, not exactly; I told him I needed them to apologize to the housekeeper, who I was afraid I'd offended. I did bring them as an apology to you for bothering you," then continuing with a smile, he said, "You've apparently impressed him with your temper. He offered me cartloads."

Choosing not to be offended, Elsie pulled him to her for another kiss.