AN: I just wanted to say thank you to everyone for reviewing so far. Your feedback has been helping me to steer this story in certain directions. Special thanks to Sheps888 for encouraging me to be irresponsible with my schoolwork so that I would update this again. This chapter is dedicated to you while my poor research paper remains untouched, for I haven't started it and it's due Monday. I also don't know where I would be without my music while writing. The tone and lyrics of the songs I listen to can greatly influence the mood and events of this story as the inspiration hits me. Chapter 8, enjoy! :)
He was on a walk of the grounds, desperately needing the air. Things were most certainly growing out of hand, and he just couldn't seem to stop it. She held major power over him, for he would do anything for her, and she knew it. His heart was aching, and he suddenly found himself very lonely. At his age, he never thought he would regret his decisions, for he had made a good life for himself here at Downton, and he was very happy that he had been so fortunate. However a small seed of disappointment seemed to linger in the back of his mind, and he had thought through this so many times. Marriage just never seemed to suit him after Alice, and he had nearly given up on love in general until the fateful day he met Elsie Hughes. Now he found himself fantasizing about coming home from his duties to a small place of his own to find her as his wife and kiss her, and he imagined children of theirs coming to greet him. Charles had always had a soft spot for children, and although he had never truly desired to be a father, he felt a strange emptiness. He knew that he was too old for children now, but he cast that thought aside for the moment being, and his thoughts returned to that beautiful creature waiting on him back at the big house. She was unconditionally beautiful to him, and he cherished her deeply. Everything about her made him grow weak, but that smile of hers, it took his breath away. It was clear that Elsie was his true love, and he hated himself for all of the times he had hurt her in the past. His body ached with how much he loved her, and he would do absolutely anything to make her happy. As he stared down at his hands, he imagined her small fingers interlocked with his, filling the gaps perfectly, and he smiled down at his hand. He had never been very good at explaining his feelings, and he usually tried to distance himself emotionally from those around him, but she had stolen his heart away. Though he was very fond of her, this game she was playing couldn't go on forever without him losing his sanity, and he knew that it was time that he took action if he didn't want to lose her. His stomach tightened as he grew nervous, thinking about what he was about to try. With a quick check of the time, he stood to begin the journey back, he carefully began to plan. This had to be perfect.
Elsie was pretending to be immersed in her book, but she just kept glancing at the clock, anxiously awaiting his return. He hadn't been gone for very long, but she already missed him desperately. Finally, she heard the back door open, and she froze as she heard him humming softly. The song was very beautiful, and his deep tones washed over her, and she sighed in pleasure. She truly loved his voice, the way it rumbled from deep in his chest. She fondly remembered hearing him sing when he was given the good news about her cancer scare, and as she recalled that memory, she also remembered wishing she could curl up in his arms and listen to him serenading her. As the humming continued, he rounded the corner into the Servant's Hall, and his eyes lit up as he saw her smiling at him. He immediately blushed and smiled back. He looked around, briefly, making sure none of his footmen were up to no good, and he flashed her a loving smile and a nod before getting back to work.
At dinner, he leaned forward with a grave expression, lowering his voice so that only she could hear him, "I have some things of uttermost importance to discuss with you later if you don't mind, Mrs. Hughes."
His tone caught her off guard, and she wasn't sure how to respond. "Has something happened?"
He glanced quickly around the table, and upon noticing that Thomas was eavesdropping, he hastily replied, "You shall have your answer after dinner."
Oh no, is he angry with me, she worried, did I push him too far? Her heart began to pound frantically, and she suddenly seemed to lose her appetite. When dinner ended, she headed for the sitting room, nervously waiting for him to arrive as her mind tried to jump to all possible conclusions. After what seemed like years passed, the door finally opened to reveal his troubled expression. He turned away from her to close the door, and when he turned back around, he was smiling shyly at her. The look of confusion must have been obvious, for he chuckled and walked over to her, sitting across from her.
"Your expression tells me that you are unnerved about something, Mrs. Hughes. Please, do not worry, I am not angry with you or anything" He gave her that lopsided smile and placed his hand on hers, "Quite the contrary actually."
"I'm afraid I don't understand, Mr. Carson," she gasped, feeling the warmth of his hand envelope hers. He smiled happily and gave her a hand another squeeze, just smiling at her for an extended period of time before he finally spoke.
"This Friday, you and I have been given the night off," he began, his tone dripping with excitement. "I wanted to invite you to spend an evening with me… Elsie."
Her eyes grew wide and her stomach flipped, "Are you asking me on a date, Mr. Carson?" Her palms quickly grew sweaty and she held her breath as she awaited his response.
"Only if you really would like to. I would love to squire you around for an evening, perhaps go to dinner and a show, I don't particularly care for how we spend the evening, but I would love it if you would do me the honor of accompanying me."
She smiled wide, her heart fluttering with joy, and she spoke tenderly to him, "How could I possibly refuse such a flattering and gentlemanly request? Of course I'll go with you, Mr. Car-, er, Charles. But how ever did you manage to get us the night off?"
His grin grew even wider as she accepted his invitation, his heart soaring with glee. "I called in a favor from Lady Mary. When I told her of the plan, she immediately convinced His Lordship." He chuckled heartily, and she could have sworn that he looked at least ten years younger. Finally, he sat forward and whispered, "I very much look forward to Friday evening. Good night, sweet Elsie." He placed a loving kiss on her knuckles and stood, his eyes full of his feelings for her.
She was on the verge of crying, so full of joy to feel this admired by the man of her dreams, and she swallowed the emotion hard as she wished him good night. The game of seduction that she had started had suddenly changed rules, and he was now the gamemaker. While she had been counting on things going as she had originally planned, she found that she didn't care, for this wonderful and sweet man had just swept her off her feet and she didn't even realize yet.
He leaned against the wall outside of her sitting room for a few moments as he surrendered to the absolute and pure joy encompassing him at her agreement to go out with him on a date. Sure, they had flirted at the fair, but neither of them had called it a date, and this was different now. It was no longer just innocent flirting, it had a purpose, and they were both trying to find relief for their lonely souls. He straightened and set course for the pantry, closing his door behind him. There were plans to be made, and he counted on them being executed flawlessly, for he would stop at nothing short of perfection for his beautiful Elsie. As he sat down at the desk, he glanced at the locked drawer of his desk, smiling at it before leaning forward to start planning his date. Friday couldn't come soon enough.
