Just a little update. I know I've said it before, but thank you so much to all of you who have read and reviewed. Keep doing it, please!


Morning found him alone. There was no indentation in his pillow to assure him she'd been there. He had only his memories of the previous night. And he could not dwell long on those because he found that he had slept ten minutes longer than he usually did. Hurriedly, he dressed for the day, cutting out non-essentials in order to be down on time.

Contrary to his will, his steps dragged once he hit the stairwell. She would be down already. Probably waiting for him at the table with the rest of them. Would she regret everything that they had done? She had certainly shown doubt before today. Suddenly, he dreaded the verdict her expression would pass down. He would be able to tell in a single glance where her thoughts lay. With one look, she had to power to destroy him.

After stepping into the servants' hall, his eyes quickly searched for her. Her back was to him. He held his breath. Took a step into the room. At his footfall, he could see her back straighten and she turned to look at him. If he had been breathing, her look would have taken his breath away. Everyone and everything in the room fell away. Her eyes were clear and shining. Her chin tilted up slightly as her head tipped to one side. She looked at nothing but him. The corner of one side of her mouth was turned up just a shade. Enough to let him know everything that was in her mind, but not enough that anyone else would suspect a thing.

His breath came back in a rush and he gave the bottom of his livery a straightening tug. With a smile that was a hair too smug, he went to the table. Her relief as they sat down to the breakfast table was almost a physical thing inside her chest. Every minute that ticked by as he'd been late had increased her torment. She was sure he'd be full of nothing but remorse. There was no room in his starched, polished life for a mess such as the one they'd created together. But then she'd seen his face. So worried. Searching for her approval. She let him know immediately that he had it. The look on her face would tell him. She knew it.

The cheerful mood of the day before still pervaded the breakfast table. Both wanted to reach for hands and thighs under the table, but the most they dared was the pressing of their feet together. It would have to be enough for now. When the bells started calling them to duty, Mr. Carson simply looked at his housekeeper and asked,

"Mrs. Hughes?"

"Of course," she answered, knowing what he was asking without needing the words.

They stepped into his pantry. In what seemed to be one motion, he shut the door, leaned on it heavily, jammed his heel against the bottom, and held out his arms to her. She ran into them. He held her so tightly and lifted her so high that if she hadn't stretched up to the very tips of her toes, she would have been in midair. Her head fell back as he began kissing her neck, something he knew she loved. Fairly vibrating with the pleasure of knowing what drove the noises out of her, he pushed and slid his tongue along the sensitive ridge on the side of her neck.

"Charles," she whispered, eyes shining with unshed tears. She kissed his mouth, trying to distract him from her neck so that she might not do something foolish. It wasn't the best plan, as his mouth on hers made her wild as well. She made valiant efforts not to crease his shirtfront or muss his hair. After only a few seconds, since both of them knew their time now was brief, she rested her head against his chest and sighed mournfully.

"Oh, Charles. What are we going to do?"

"I don't know," he replied sadly, serious now. His hands moved along her back as he continued. "If I'm going to have any hope of getting this thing off with any speed, I'm going to need practice," he said gravely. "Perhaps you could do me a drawing? Maybe highlight the areas with hooks or ties?" He was craning his neck to try and see over her back and making fumbling movements with his hands at the bottom of her corset.

She looked at him as though he'd lost his mind until she realized that he was actually making a joke. Right now. When she was trying to discuss their situation seriously. She gave him a shove at his shoulder while she tried not to snort with laughter. His chest rumbled with laughter as he smiled, delighted.

"Mr. Carson!" she scolded, not being able to help her own smile. Until now, she'd been able to count the times Mr. Carson and she had joked together on her two hands. And she was utterly charmed.

"I know, I'm sorry," he answered, clearly not. "I've a few thoughts, but we haven't time to discuss it now," he kissed her lightly. "You give it some thought today, as I will, and we'll talk about it later tonight. In your pantry." He kissed her again, then again, hardly able to stop.

"Yes, all right," she replied, slightly breathless, unaware of how relieved she was as his levity. She struggled for a moment, thinking of how to repay him for his earlier joke. Decision made in a flash, she took one of her legs out from between his and placed it so that she was, in effect, straddling his thigh. She leaned in to kiss him again and firmly pressed her pelvis against his upper leg. He moaned into her mouth and she could feel his body respond as she slid, slowly, just the barest of movements, up and down his hard thigh.

He made a grab for her as she stepped away suddenly and chirped, "Off to work!"

"You minx!" His head was leaning back on the door and he gave every impression of having just run a mile. She smiled seductively as this high compliment and went about her day.


All right, tell me what you think they should do! And tell me how much you love me and how you've never been as happy as when you're reading my little Chelsie story...you know. Normal stuff.