Chapter 10
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Elsie was seated in the carriage. She had spread out her few things on the seats trying to make it look as if other people were joining her. A few people had tried to enter the cart and she had politely but decidedly turned them away.
She knew there likely wouldn't be many people on the train this morning so having a carriage to themselves, at least for the first leg of the trip, should be achievable. She looked out the window in search of him. If he was in a mood because she didn't join him for sherry last night her plan might backfire. Four hours on a train with a grumpy Charles Carson would be a special form of torture.
Her eyes fell to the basket Mrs. Patmore had packed. She had a sneaking suspicion that something in there might calm him if he was too difficult.
People were starting to enter the carriages, no longer standing about. It meant the train would be departing soon. She was almost frantic with worry, perhaps he had decided to take the later train after all. Had her actions last night pushed him further away? Panic began to set in when she finally saw his tall frame striding through the small crowd.
She watched him with hungry eyes. He really was, dare she say, beautiful. Even after all of these years, she wasn't immune to his looks. Her heart beat a little faster, her breathing sped up. She fought a smile of pleasure just watching him stride so confidently along the platform.
Her hand raised unconsciously to draw his attention. She stopped it, remembering her promise to herself to make him come to her. A deep breath calmed her pounding heart, she schooled her features thankful for years of hiding her emotions. He would either see her and join her; or he wouldn't. A sudden thought passed through her mind, what if he saw her and chose not to join her? What if he chose to make the journey alone? He could find her on the platform in London and escort her to the house to honor his obligation.
The spiral of thoughts distracted her to the point she didn't see him open the carriage door. Instinct kicked in and she turned an icy glare on the person, "I'm sorry all of these seats are taken."
He smiled at her, "Do you think you might squeeze one more person in? I'm not that big." He held up the cloth wrapped food, "And I have breakfast."
She blushed, looking away from him, "Please forgive me Mr. Carson."
Still standing on the platform, "There's nothing to forgive Mrs. Hughes. Just tell me I can join you."
She nodded shyly, "You can always join me Mr. Carson. I saved the seats hoping you would."
Climbing into the carriage he put his case away over the seats. He motioned to hers and she nodded that he could put it away as well, "Was there some reason you thought I might not want to join you?"
Raising her eyebrows at him, "As I recall Mr. Carson, you did say you preferred to travel alone."
Smiling at her challenging look he made a simple decision, he sat beside her. "Quite right Mrs. Hughes. But that was before I knew whose company I would be sharing. If my choices are travelling alone or travelling with you, I will always choose the latter."
Smiling to herself, Elsie looked out the window as the trained departed the station. She could feel a heat suffuse her body at his unexpected words. Suddenly she felt quite unsteady and she didn't think it was because of the shaking of the train.