A/N: I was overwhelmed by all of the lovely reviews for the last chapter- both from those I can thank personally and guest reviewers- thank you very much. It seems we all love some Chelsie fluff. I plan to write maybe 2 more chapters after this one but who knows, there may be more 'Missing Moments' from the Christmas Special once it airs. I have avoided writing anything about the whole 'cooking debacle' as I did not enjoy that storyline at all but I felt I needed to reference it at least once so here it is ...

Chapter 10

They lay in bed, Mr Carson snuggled against his wife's back, his strong arm draped around her waist as she leant back against his chest. The room was in darkness, only the faintest light from the moon casting shadows around the room. It had been a long day with the Family's arrival home and all of the work that entailed for the Servants. Although the arrival of the new Labrador pup for Lord Grantham had been a welcome respite. Mr Carson had already slept for a couple of hours but as he woke he could sense his wife was awake and restless in his arms.

"Are you ok Elsie? Can't sleep?" he rumbled, against her hair.

"I am fine Charles, you go back to sleep love," she replied.

Now he knew that something was wrong, despite her efforts to sound positive there was a brittleness to his wife's words.

"Hey now, what's wrong?" he whispered, pulling her even more tightly to his chest as their bodies spooned lovingly. He kissed the top of her head.

"Nothing, nothing's wrong Charles. I am just having difficulty sleeping tonight that is all ... I am sure I'll fall asleep soon," she said, aiming to sound cheerful.

You know exactly what is wrong Elsie Carson. You have not been entirely truthful with your husband. You once told him you don't lie. Well you have lied. She had thought Mrs Patmore's plan was a good idea at first. There was no doubt her husband had been an old sourpuss over her cooking; his expectations of his wife as 'cook and bottle washer' were exceptionally and unreasonably high and he had not even tried to hide his discontent at her failings. Doesn't he realise that I have a full-time job as well? She had thought so many times. I am Housekeeper of Downton Abbey and yet he still expects the cooking and every aspect of the housekeeping and cleaning of the cottage to be the very same standards as if we had a team of Servant's taking care of our needs.

There was no doubt that Charles Carson had not acted in a very supportive or understanding way when it came to the cooking and upkeep of their cottage, criticising his wife harshly at times. However, the Housekeeper knew that it was just his way; that he had not meant to be so hurtful. And however he has behaved, at least he has been honest, she reflected for the tenth time that night. Unknowingly, she let out a small groan as this thought pained her.

"Right, come on ..." Charles exclaimed, as he loosened his hold on his wife, turning around in their bed to switch his bedside lamp on.

He sat upwards against the pillows. She looked over her shoulder at him and realised she had no choice; she needed to talk to him, to be truthful. She sat upright too, looking at him apprehensively.

"Elsie you are worrying me now, whatever's wrong?" he asked, taking her hands in his to offer comfort.

"I lied to you and I feel absolutely dreadful about it," she whispered.

"Lied?" he asked quietly, his eyes never leaving hers as fear took hold of his heart. What has she lied about? Oh god, she's not ill? She doesn't love me? She isn't happy? What? What has she lied about? he panicked.

"I didn't hurt my hand ..." she offered.

He was utterly confused.

"You didn't hurt your hand but I don't understand ..." he began, feeling bewildered.

"I wanted to teach you a lesson I suppose ..." she said sadly, cutting him off as he spoke.

He continued to gaze at her in puzzlement and so she decided it would be best just to get the whole sorry mess off her chest. She squeezed his hands tightly in her own before proceeding, hoping he would not think too poorly of her.

"I wanted you to know how difficult it is to prepare and cook a first class meal, to then clear away and wash-up ... all after a very long day at the House when you've barely an ounce of energy left in you ..." she said anxiously yet truthfully.

The Butler gulped as the truth began to dawn on him.

"I shouldn't have lied Charles and I am very, very sorry ... but it has been very difficult these last few weeks ... knowing that I don't live up to your expectations as a wife ... knowing that I cannot cook and clean to your standards ... and I just wanted to show you that's it's not easy to take care of a home, to be an accomplished Housewife and to run an Abbey, as silly as that may sound ... but despite all of that ... there's still no excuse for me lying to you and I've been tossing and turning all night wrestling with my conscience ... I am sorry Charles and I hope you can forgive me," she said, looking at her husband with glistening eyes.

He felt like he could not breath, like a vice was clamped around his chest.

"I've hurt you, oh god, I've hurt you Elsie," he gasped, shame and remorse crippling his body.

He could see it; he could see it in her eyes. Yes she looked desperately regretful but she also looked hurt and saddened and it completely broke his heart.

She began to shake her head, to try to comfort him; she wasn't trying to make him feel guilty, she was trying to apologise because of her contrition.

"I have ... I'm a boorish old oaf and I have hurt you ... oh Elsie ... I am so sorry ..." he exclaimed, wrapping her up tightly in his arms.

She clung to him, relief filling her soul as uncontrollable sobs escaped her. She hadn't expected to react like this but cossetted against his chest, the truth out in the open at last, she finally felt at ease after weeks of unacknowledged tension between the pair.

"Charles it's fine ... I am the one that is sorry ..." she sniffled, as her tears finally eased and she sat back a little to look at him. His arms were still would around her, holding her closely.

"I am meant to be supporting you, cherishing you as your husband and instead I have done quite the opposite ... Elsie, you exceed my expectations as my wife every single day, I could never be disappointed in you, you are the most wonderful wife," he said sincerely, kissing the last remaining tears tenderly from her cheeks.

She knew he meant those words; he had made her feel loved, appreciated, in every other way.

"And you are the most loving husband Charles, I know you did not mean to be harsh, to be unkind," she returned just as honestly.

"And yet I have been ..." he said sadly.

"No ... you've been honest ... and heaven knows I'm fully aware that my cooking skills are a little rusty," she smiled, attempting a little humour.

He smiled despite himself.

"Not as rusty as mine ... did you see those potatoes? They nearly broke my teeth," he joked, still shaken but finding strength from his wife.

They both chuckled.

"I should have told you how I felt, I shouldn't have plodded on letting things fester ... and I certainly shouldn't have let Mrs Patmore bandage up my hand," she said calmly, with a weary smile.

"And I shouldn't have been so insensitive ... I feel dreadful that I've upset you ... the irony is, I've been tickled pink to be enjoying dinner at the cottage, just the two of us ... it's made me so happy ... and yet I've managed to make you unhappy, being critical of ridiculous things such as ... umm ... cold plates ..." Charles winced, recalling his earlier comment.

"Yes ... ooh those plates ... and underdone meat ... bubble and squeak with lamb ... heavens ... unsharpened knives ... substandard creases on the bedsheets ..." she offered gently.

There was no edge to her voice, she was teasing now and he knew it.

"God I am a horror!" he gasped, however his guilt was easing as his wife's gentle fingers caressed his face to reassure him.

Charles knew that she understood him like no-one else ever had. And thank goodness for that, he reasoned, or my actions may have caused irreparable damage. He was confident that she believed he had not meant any harm; yes he was inconsiderate and disparaging at times but he was never deliberately cruel, certainly not where Elsie was concerned.

"We both made mistakes Charles but surely that's what marriage is about ... making mistakes and learning together, trying to be a better person and find the right path," she said wisely.

He smiled adoringly at his wife; relieved he was forgiven.

"You are absolutely right my love, thank goodness this old grump married such an intelligent and beautiful woman," he flirted, leaning over his wife as she slid lower in their bed.

He bussed her nose with his and then kissed her passionately on the lips. She happily responded and giggled blissfully as he made exaggerated kissing noises against her lips, her neck and then across her collar bone.

"What are you doing Charles Carson?" she asked innocently, as his lips moved even lower.

Of course she knew exactly what he was doing, as she exhaled a long, shallow breath feeling blessed.

"I am about to show my wife exactly how much I cherish her," he whispered, his voice muffled as his lips caressed her chest through her nightgown.

"Ummmm ..." she exhaled.

A/N: Thank you for your kind support. If you have time, a review would be lovely x