A/N Well, here it is, Chapter 14! I hope it lives up to everyone's expectation. I'd hate to disappoint. Please review and let me know what you think!

Thank you for all the reviews of previous chapters; they really do mean so much to me.

Chapter 14

Elsie was on pins and needles. She had come down early to find Mr. Carson, hoping to speak to him alone before anyone else was up and about. She hadn't expected to find him with Lady Mary and Master George, but fortunately, Lady Mary had had the good grace to excuse herself quickly. Elsie now found herself face to face with Mr. Carson, mentally preparing herself for the most important conversation of her life.

Deciding it was best to get right to the point, she began earnestly, "I'm so sorry, Mr. Carson. I - "

"No, Mrs. Hughes, please," he interrupted her. "You have no need to apologize. It's I who owe you an apology. I have something to say, and I'd be grateful if you would just hear me out. Please?"

"Very well," she consented.

Mr. Carson took a deep breath and began, "There's something I've wanted to tell you for such a long time, but I've been too afraid of losing your friendship. Your companionship means the world to me, and I don't know how I would live without it. I don't think I can live without it, but I fear that last night, I ruined everything."

"Mr. Carson - " Elsie tried to explain, but he cut her off again.

"Please, Mrs. Hughes. Just let me say my piece. I need to say this," he insisted, looking at her with a solemn expression. "I can't possibly make things any worse, so I may as well come right out and tell you. I love you, Mrs. Hughes. I've loved you since you first arrived here, and no matter what else happens, I will love you for the rest of my days."

Elsie found herself overwhelmed by his words. She covered her mouth with her hand and began to cry softly while Mr. Carson continued.

"I shouldn't have kissed you like that last night, and I'm sorry. I couldn't help myself. I know that you don't feel the same way about me, but I think you value our friendship as much as I do. I regret making things uncomfortable between us, and I hope we can go back to the way things were. I will be content just to spend time talking with you and enjoying your company. I can't stop loving you, but I promise I'll be a gentleman and refrain from any more romantic overtures. I just can't bear losing my dearest friend," he said, and with his last words, Mr. Carson's voice cracked, his eyes became moist, and he looked down at the floor.

Sensing that he would now let her have her say, Elsie reached out to put her hand on his cheek and tried to speak through her tears and sobs.

"Mr. Carson, I do value our friendship, but I can't go back to the way things used to be, not now that I know you love me," she said.

He was still looking down and nodded his head as if resigning himself to some terrible fate.

Elsie moved her hand from his cheek, placed it under his chin, gently lifted his face so that she was looking him squarely in the eyes, and finally revealed her heart to him.

"I love you, too, Mr. Carson," she confessed. "You are my most precious friend and respected colleague, but you are much more than that, as well. I don't want to go back to our previous dealings. I'd like to continue moving ahead."

Mr. Carson looked stunned. His eyes were wide, and his jaw was slack.

"But … when I kissed you … " he stuttered.

"When you kissed me, I couldn't think properly. You may be surprised to know the effect your kisses had on me; I was quite overcome," admitted Elsie.

Mr. Carson blushed and smiled.

"I thought you had left because you hadn't wanted me to kiss you, because you hadn't wanted to kiss me," he said. "I was afraid I had frightened you away."

"Quite the reverse, actually," Elsie corrected him. "I had wanted very badly to kiss you, and I was afraid that if I had kissed you the way I would have liked, I would have frightened you away."

"What?" asked Mr. Carson, looking confused.

Now it was Elsie's turn to go red in the face and avert her eyes.

"Oh, Mr. Carson. It took twenty years for you to ask to hold my hand. It took months more before you put your arm round me and kissed my cheek. And then finally, you … kissed me. And I went to pieces. You were being so gentle and tender, but all I wanted to do was to throw my arms about you, pull you close, kiss you senseless, and tell you how much I love you. I almost couldn't stop myself, but I knew that I would scare you off if I did," she explained.

"I can assure you, Mrs. Hughes, should you ever grant me the favor of kissing me like that, I shan't be going anywhere. I'm sure I shall collapse into a heap on the floor."

At that, they both laughed nervously. Mr. Carson reached out, carefully situated his hands on Elsie's hips, and slowly drew her close. Elsie raised her hands and settled them on his chest. He leaned his head down and rested his forehead and nose against hers. When he spoke again, his breath tickled her lips.

"Mrs. Hughes, will you do me the honor of calling me Charles and permit me the privilege of calling you Elsie?" Mr. Carson asked gallantly.

"Yes … Charles," she answered happily, savoring the way his name felt rolling off her tongue and lips.

"Thank you … Elsie," said Charles, grinning. "Of course, I'll still call you Mrs. Hughes around the staff and the family, at least temporarily, but I'd like to discuss that, too."

"Oh?" Elsie questioned, hoping with all her heart that he was indeed implying what she thought he might be. She played along. "And what else would you like to call me?"

"What I've wanted to call you all along – my wife," he answered simply, fixing his gaze on her intently. He took her hands in his, dropped to one knee, and looked up at her before continuing, "Elsie … my Love … Would you consider marrying this sad, old fool and making him the happiest, luckiest, old fool who ever lived?"

"Oh, Charles!" Elsie said, through choked sobs. "You know I would never marry a fool! But if this dear, sweet, lovely man I see before me is asking, then my answer can only be, 'Yes!'"

Charles stood and gathered Elsie in his arms as she wound her arms around his neck. Amid tears and sobs, smiles and laughter, he showered her face with delicate kisses. Finally, when the frenzy subsided, he pulled his face back to stare into her eyes.

"And now, I believe there's only one more matter we have left to resolve," he said, his eyes twinkling merrily.

"And what might that be?" she asked.

"I would very much like for you to kiss me senseless," Charles replied cheekily.

Elsie was only too happy to oblige him.