Love Letters

My Darling Charles,

Saying that I miss you would be an injustice to my heart. I find myself longing to hear your footsteps in the corridor outside my sitting room door. I ache to feel my cheek against your bare chest at night while listening to your deep breaths as you slip into slumber. I crave the warmth of your hands on my skin and your lips brushing against mine. I am not complete without you here, though I know the separation is only temporary. How many more days and nights until you're back on the train, racing home to hearth and family, to my waiting arms and our warm bed? Too many, for certain.

The children all send their love. They miss you, too. I cannot tell you the number of times I've been told that I do not read stories like Papa and that the voices I use for their characters don't sound exactly right. Your little Edward even went so far as to blame it on my Scottish upbringing. I reminded him that we Scots have our own stories and fables and he might do well to learn those along with those of his English heritage. The next day he was in the library for hours searching for such a book. And before you ask, yes, he apologized for his rudeness.

Elisabeth is coming along well with her baking lessons with Mrs. Patmore. She presented me with biscuits for my tea today and they were quite tasty. I wish you were here to sample them with me. I wish you were here to sample wine in the evenings, too. I miss having that quiet end to the day, just us in your pantry sipping a glass of wine before heading upstairs to close out our day, see our children off to sleep. Elisabeth has been a great help in that department. She has helped make sure everyone is bathed and in night clothes by the time I turn out the lights downstairs. If you could find a little something nice for her in one of the shops in London, I think it would be a nice surprise. Perhaps a little cookbook with some basic recipes? I will leave that up to you, love. You are always a master of choosing the perfect gifts for us.

Charlie has been learning to ride the horses down at the stables. He is truly a son in whom you could be proud. He takes his chores seriously and plays just as hard when he has the free time. He's mentioned going fishing with you when you return, though I am staking a claim on your first free day when you return. Call me selfish but there it is.

Little Victoria, our sweet little lass, has been doing me a favor, or so she says. She came to me a few nights ago and asked if she could sleep with me in our bed. I saw no harm in it and it did help me sleep better. I don't sleep well at all when you're not there to hold me. It's simply not the same. Still, she said she didn't want me to forget that I am only supposed to sleep on half the bed and with you being away, she was afraid I might not remember that the right side of the bed belongs to you. So, she and her bear have been sleeping with me ever since. Elisabeth told me that she thought Victoria heard me crying the other night, which I am sad to say is true. I was reading your last letter and couldn't help myself. You write so beautifully and your words touched my heart, making me miss you even more than I already do, if that's possible. But, I have told Victoria that she may sleep with me until you return and then it's back to her own bed. From the look of things, though, I'm going to be occupying the middle of the bed. Edward wanted to know if he could cuddle with me this evening, and you know me. I can never say no to our babies.

It feels like it's going to be a chilly summer evening. I've had the windows opened to air out the rooms upstairs but the slight breeze is giving me goose bumps. I wish you were here to hold me, to run your hands up and down my bare arms to get me warm. I'm wearing that pale pink nightgown you brought me from London last year. I couldn't help but think of the way I thanked you for it when you gave it to me. Other parts of me grew quite warm as I relived that memory, though I don't need fancy gifts or trinkets when you return. I only need you, my love.

Come home to me soon, please. I miss you terribly. Until then, I will see you in my dreams … and in the faces of our four beautiful babies. They so remind me of you, Charles, and they remind me of our love and happiness.

With all my love and longing,

Forever yours,

Elsie

My Dearest Elsie,

It feels like months since I last saw you, last held you in my arms, last tasted your sweet kisses before we retire to our bed. In truth, it has only been a week, a very long, tedious week in which I find myself homesick for the comforts of our home and your welcoming arms.

I received your letter this morning, and I could not wait to find a quiet spot in the house so I could devour every word of it. I miss being there to share little moments with you throughout the day. I find myself searching for you from time to time so I can share a thought, an amusing story, an item we must order for a particular party or event. But then I remember that I am not at Downton and you are not here. While Mrs. Robinson is a very capable housekeeper, she cannot hold a candle to you, my darling Elsie. The house runs well, but then again, it is a smaller house with a much smaller staff, less duties to oversee. But you know all of this and have heard me say it more times than we can count. I apologize for wasting so much of this letter on these tedious things.

I'm happy to hear that Charlie and Edward are helping out in the stables. It will do both lads good to get out into the sunshine and experience a little hard work. Perhaps we can use this to encourage them in their studies at school. They both have great potential. I would expect nothing less from a child of yours, my dear. And please, tell Elisabeth that I am looking forward to sampling the apple tart she is going to bake for me when I return home. I'll be sure to send her a little note when I know for certain which day I am to return so she won't be disappointed. And don't tell her I said this, but regardless of how it tastes, I promise to have nothing but praises and gratitude fall from my lips to her ears. And last but not least, tell Victoria that her beautiful drawing of our family is hanging on the wall beside my bed. I look at it every night before I say my prayers, thanking God for my beautiful family. If she'd like to send another one, I could put that in my office here, though both will be coming home with me. These little reminders of home make me so happy, but also a little homesick. I hate to think that I'm missing out on any of these little adventures, but I know you are keeping me well informed. It's almost like being there … almost.

And now, to the most important person in my life: you. Have I told you lately how incredibly beautiful you are and how happy I am that you decided marrying me was worth it all? I say my prayers every night and you are always in them. I have been so blessed, Elsie, sometimes more than I think I have ever deserved, and I hate being apart from you, even for a single day. But I know you understand the job, understand the demands placed upon both of us, and you never hold it against me. I adore you for that and for so many other reasons.

It's almost midnight and I find it hard to crawl into bed, a bed without you. It doesn't feel the same at all. It's like part of me is missing and that's true because you are there and I am here. I've dreamed of you almost every night, and you can most likely imagine how those dreams have all ended. Shall I share one with you? I had this one just last night and I woke feeling even more homesick than usual.

We were in a pretty field, not far from the pond behind the house. There were yellow wildflowers blooming all around and the grass was just below your knees. You were wearing a pretty blue dress, light in material and the hem was slightly above your ankle. Remember that white hat we bought you last summer, the one with the wide brim? You were wearing that and the sun was shielded from your eyes and they were the most spectacular shade of blue. There was a light summer breeze and I was carrying a picnic basket. I don't know where the children were, though I'm ashamed to admit it, I'm glad they weren't in my dreams last night. I needed you, Elsie, just you. Anyway, I found us a lovely spot near a tree, and I spread a blanket down so we could rest by the pond. Inside the basket, I had a bottle of wine and some cheese with crackers. It wasn't much but we really didn't need anything but each other. We placed the basket off to the side and I drew you into my arms, holding you gently, caressing your face, neck, arms, hands. I kissed your pretty lips, suckling them as if they were the sweetest candy. I could almost believe I could feel your lips on mine. Must have been the memories I carry with me invading my dreams, too, reminding me of how lucky I truly am. Anyway, you deepened the kiss, drawing me down on the blanket with you, running your hands over my sides and back, slipping beneath my shirt to touch my heated skin. Just the memory of the dream makes me wish I was home, makes me wish I was able to take that picnic adventure with you. I think you can imagine, my love, how the dream ended. Had you been in bed beside me, I'm sure we would have had a glorious start to our day. But alas, you were not there and taking care of things myself didn't appeal to me either. Instead, I made a mental list of all the various wines we have in the cellars here and back home. That worked until I could get into a cold bath before starting my day. But I promise you, my beautiful Elsie, that we will have that picnic when I return. We will find a way to slip away for a few hours and I will make that dream into a reality, for both of us.

I must close this letter now, though I know sleep will be elusive tonight. It's unseasonably warm here and I miss you terribly. My body is in London but my heart and mind are with you, my love. Kiss each of the children for me and tell them how very proud I am of them and how much I love them. And when I return, I promise to repay you for each and every one of those kisses with ones of my own. In fact, I think I could kiss you for hours and still never tire of that pleasure. You have so many lovely features that just beg to be kissed, worshipped, lavished with attention. I promise to do just that upon my return.

Sweet dreams, my love, and know that I miss you terribly. I will visit you in my dreams where I hope you will meet me on a summer's day beneath a tree near the lake.

All my love.

Forever yours,

Charles

A/N: Thanks to everyone still reading and reviewing the story. I have one chapter written, ready to post, and I also have at least one more "suggestion" to write (you know who you are, wink wink). I think I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.