Okay, I'll not deny it. I'm am really terrible at replying to reviews. like, REEAAALLLLY bad. That's not to say they don't mean a lot to me. They do. You guys are my babes. But, for my Guest reviewer, I normally agree with the whole attention seeking revving of the motorbike. But he did it once to grab her attention. And it's Charlie. On a Triumph. I'd forgive him for running me over repeatedly. This story is slow, yes, but there is so much story to tell. Like, HEAPS! ChelsieSouloftheAbbey knows what these two are gonna do. She approves. Trust her judgement. Enjoy!

~ EC ~

Elsie pushed her sunglasses back up her nose with a subtly polished finger, huffing quietly as she continued to read her textbook out in the courtyard of the campus. The sun was deliciously warm and the breeze gently cool on her skin where she sat on the concrete edging of a garden bed. The music blaring in her ears drowned out the movements of her chatting peers and occasionally, when a particularly good song graced her playlist, she'd bop her head gently and mouth the lyrics. Her hair would fall across her forehead and though she'd repeatedly tuck it back behind her ear, she never changed the song to anything less rhythmic.

It was when she sat, her head slightly bobbing that she jumped at the canvas bag that had be thrown down beside her. One of her earphones fell out and a little squeak escaped her.

It took a moment to recognise the boy that coughed and sat down beside her.

She didn't move, but stared at Thomas Barrow as shook his head and sniffed loudly. He looked a little terrible with his slightly red eyes and pale complexion. His black hair looked quite greasy as it stuck to his forehead.

"Hello." She greeted him politely as she pulled her other earphone free, though she was rather confused as to why he'd decided to sit there.

He sighed, laced his fingers lazily in his lap and rolled his head towards her.

"Hi," Thomas coughed, covering his mouth with the back of his hand. Elsie decided to forgo asking what brought him here for the moment.

"Are you alright?"

He coughed again. "Got a bit of a cold."

She could only steeple her eyebrows in sympathy and lean away slightly. "Can I help you?"

He was struggling with the zipper of his jacket, but did turn to look at her for a moment, "Just wanted a bit of company for a moment. That alright by you?"

How rude. Her disapproval must have shown because he once he'd successfully done up his jacket, he looked at her again and had the decency to look sheepish.

"Sorry. I just remembered you."

"You're in my history class."

"And we have an Economics module together too," he nodded, yawning. Elsie frowned at him; she'd never seen him in that class. Thomas noticed and smiled at her- well, it was more of a smirk. He had slight smarminess to him, but when he spoke, she couldn't see anything malicious in his eyes. "I don't go it though- No, wait. I did go to the first class."

Elsie mouthed an 'ah' of understanding. Why on Earth is he talking to me? He cleared his throat and dug through his bag, eventually pulling out a bottle of water which he undid and swallowed greedily.

"So..." she began awkwardly, having forgiven his prior brashness. "I'm Elsie."

Thomas stopped his drinking and put the lid down in the space between them before holding out his hand. She wasn't entirely keen on shaking it, but chose to do so anyway as a sign of peace.

"Thomas."

"I know. I remember you from that argument you had with Mr Carson." She tried inconspicuously to wipe her hand. "That was interesting." Beside her the younger man chuckled and sighed again.

"Yeah. That was a bit ambitious."

"Don't like him?"

"I would say I dislike him. He's a good teacher and all, but... I dunno. He's alright I suppose." He shrugged, tapping his feet on the ground. He scanned the courtyard before them and then unexpectedly chuckled. "Speaking of the old codger," he muttered, dipping his chin at something in his sights.

Elsie frowned slightly and assuming he was referring to Charles, turned and search the bustling crowd for his distinctly lanky figure. She quickly found him standing by a lean but very charming looking woman. Her stomach clenched tightly when she saw not only the warm smile he gave the black-haired lady, but that there was a very young girl holding his hand.

He was obviously engaged in a rather cheery conversation, she deduced by his comfortable stance. He'd not yet stopped smiling at the elegant woman, with her tastefully permed hair and her chic dress. He obliged the little girl who had now taken both of his hands and was trying stand on his feet, with a very affectionate grin.

"Must be his missus," Thomas guessed, also watching the exchange. "I guess that'd be his kid too."

Elsie wasn't sure what to think. She'd heard on the grapevine several months ago that Charles- Mr. Carson, was not married and she'd been led to believe he was single. Perhaps it was a former girlfriend or, she dreaded to think, she'd been wrong in her beliefs.

"I don't know," she offered Thomas quietly, who had seemingly lost interest in their history lecturer. He had pulled out his Smartphone as he rose.

"I'll see you in class, Elsie. You should sit next to me instead of at the back by yourself." He offered politely when he looked up from the screen. Elsie only smiled and nodded before Thomas returned his attention to his phone, gave her a casual half-wave and left her.

Now alone, Elsie frowned deeply and bit her lip and let herself continue to watch Mr. Carson. Despite her determination to control her feelings- she now admitted to having them - for the older teacher, she was determinedly dissecting his body language. How close he stood to the woman; the way he touched her arm before she left him with the girl; how he tolerated said girl's behaviour while he bent down to talk to her.

She was quickly frustrated when her phone vibrated in her lap. Perhaps a little too roughly, she pulled her phone out and unlocked the screen. A text message from Anna.

'Not going to be in for tea.
John asked me out :-D'

Elsie only sighed. Well, she knew that was inevitable; Anna had been spending a lot of time out lately and talking more and more about the former Army Corporal turned bartender that had won her affections. In all honesty, Elsie didn't really mind; she just wanted Anna to be treated well. Thinking before she typed, she quickly tapped in,

'That's fine. Have fun. Don't stay out too late.'

The reply was almost instantaneous. Too quick for Elsie to look up and see Charles approaching her.

'Yes Muuuuum LOL'

Elsie grinned at her phone and was about to check her Tumblr blog, but was instantly distracted by a set of pressed black slacks and a pair of dark, curious eyes peeking out from behind one leg. She looked up, craning her neck actually, to lock her gaze with Charles'. She gulped obviously and pushed her sunglasses up, nesting them above her fringe.

"Hello," she greeted him awkwardly, though by his grin, he took little notice. "How are you, Mr Carson?"

"Ah, quite well, thank you. You?"

Elsie only nodded, biting the inside of her bottom lip. Beside him, the young girl kept moving around behind Charles. Up close, Elsie could take in her carefully brushed hair and her little frown. She was perhaps nine or ten.

"I'm sorry." Charles started, looking down beside him. "This is Mary Crawley." He addressed the girl, "Mary this is Miss Hughes. She's a friend."

Her attention was initially lost to the his classification of her as a friend, but Elsie snapped her attention up to him. "As in Robert Crawley? The chairman of the board?"

"His daughter. Well, his eldest; he has one other. But I'm looking after Mary for an hour or so while her mother attends an appointment," he was subtly trying to pull Mary more to his side, though she was putting up a more obvious fight. So he must have been talking to Mary's mother. Or at least, that was what Elsie would prefer to be the case.

Elsie finally stood, unwillingly to continue to look up so far to simply converse with him. "So that lady wasn't..." She let the question drift off, instantly regretting it slip from her tongue and hoping he wouldn't answer it. Charles frowned for a brief moment before he understood and grinned in amusement.

"Um, no," He chuckled, thrusting a hand into his pocket. "Cora is a dear friend, but no. I'm unfortunately rather single."

'I wouldn't call it unfortunate,' Elsie thought, her eyebrows lifting. She left Charles' scrutinising stare on her and wondered, hoped, he was doing so to gauge her reaction to this delightful revelation. It may have been improper, but she wanted him to see that this information pleased her. Would it be too forward to say, or even indicate, that it did?

She could only summon enough bravery to give him a tiny, but coy, smirk. Her stomach flipped at the way his eyes briefly dropped to her lips then back up to her. Again. It was the second time she'd caught him doing this. He wasn't necessarily smiling, but he was giving her a look of... she wasn't sure. His gaze was unusually intense. She felt like a dear to his wolfish glare. It sent a sharp tingle up her spine.

"Do you have a class soon, Elsie?"

Oh, so it's Elsie now?

"Not til this afternoon. I have a few hours to kill."

Charles shifted from one foot to the other and looked down at Mary, who was still regarding her with an oddly disapproving frown.

"I was thinking of taking Mary for the park down the road. Perhaps you would like to join us? It'll only be for half an hour or so..."

A stiff breeze could have knocked Elsie down in that moment. What was the meaning of this? He wanted to walk down the street with her? Outside the campus? It was a bona fide offer of his company and she'd be admonishing herself for weeks about wishing for such things. She took too long to think of an answer and by the time Mary piped up from her place beside Charles, Elsie still hadn't formulated a response.

"I don't want to go to the Park!" Mary frowned deeply, almost glaring at Elsie. She'd never felt so obviously criticised. And by a child no less!

Charles seemed at a loss for words, though Elsie could easily read disappointment in his distinct features and that gave her courage. He wanted to spend time with her. Maybe his intentions were friendly rather than romantic, but she'd take whatever this man would give her. Her stomach turned and she opened her mouth to speak, but the words were lost in a little breathless gasp when he looked back to her. Taking a breath, she tried again.

"Maybe not today, but perhaps I could bring you your coffee to class one day." The light in his eyes strengthened her resolve. "I'd like it if you could tell me more about some of country houses. You know, Chatsworth, Lyme, Hardwick Hall..."

The corner of his lip twitched with a smile. Her company gave him pleasure. She took a sharp intake of breath as scene of more intimate company flashed before her mind's eye.

"Whatever you would like, Elsie."

Oh, Charles, If only I could take you up on that offer.

~ EC ~

Okay, now to go write smut. Oh it's not gonna be that quick but I'll probably write some eye-sex, (in)appropriate touching and 'accidental' brushes of body parts for next chapter. Just cos I need to maintain my Christmas Special high. Love you chickadees :-*