Chapter 25
Elsie looked back over her shoulder. Charles clearly didn't like Mr. Henderson. There was a story there. Something told her she would have to wait for him to come to her to hear it though.
At the door of the house, she set her case down, unlocked the door and entered the house. She made her way to the parlor which would now be hers and placed her case inside the door. Hopefully there would be time this week to reorganize the space.
Turning away from her parlor she made her way to his pantry. Opening the door she stepped inside. Smiling she looked around his space. Much like his pantry at Downton, this space embodied the man. His scent filled the air. She walked through the space on her way to his desk.
Her fingers trailed over the leather chair in front of the fireplace. It had fascinated her when she'd first seen it. It was over-sized, much like the man himself. It was slightly worn, yet solid, comforting. She wanted to sit in it, bury her face in the leather she knew would smell of him.
Forcing herself, she turned away from the chair. At his desk, she sat and placed her call to the Abbey.
Charles entered the kitchen door and placed the basket on the table. He looked around for Elsie wanting to make sure she wasn't upset he had pushed her away. She'd said she needed to call Downton so he made his way to his office.
He lingered in the doorway listening to her conversation with her ladyship. He wasn't sure what they were speaking of but Elsie seemed to be thanking her. Leaning against the doorframe he watched her take notes. She was smiling as she wrote. It would be nice to have her here each season, not to be separated.
She ended the calling placing the phone back in the correct spot on his desk. Returning her attention to her notes, she continued to write a few last things, "Did you have a good call with Lady Grantham?"
Elsie didn't start when he spoke. She'd known he was standing there before he even leaned against the doorframe. Smiling up at him she placed the pen on his desk, picked up her notes and stood, "It was a very good call. She found a few vendors she would like me to speak with while we are here. Also, she made a recommendation."
He smiled as she walked across the room toward him, "And what might that be?"
Stopping in front of him she looked up and smiled, "Since the boiler is out, she suggested we sleep in two of the guest rooms rather than in the attics."
"That would be…we couldn't possibly…it would be unacceptable."
"Why wouldn't it be possible? It's not as if the family is here or as if we would be staying in one of their rooms. There won't be any heat in the attics. I'm not sure about you Charles but I have no intention of freezing tonight. So unless you have some other way we would stay warm in the attics, I am taking her ladyship up on her offer."
Pulling himself to his full height he looked down at her, "Well I can't stop you from doing what you please but I will not be sleeping anywhere but in the attics. It is inappropriate."
Bristling at his tone she pushed past him, "Do as you please? I'll make sure you have extra blankets to keep you warm."
He watched as she grabbed her bag and headed up the stairs toward the family's part of the house. Surely she wasn't serious. She wouldn't sleep in a guest room, she didn't expect him to as well.
Picking up his own bag he headed for the stairs leading to the attics. He shook his head, impossible woman. As he climbed the stairs his mind flashed on what she'd said, "So unless you have some other way we would stay warm in the attics." He could think of at least one way they could stay warm. He shook his head trying to clear the mental image from his head. Perhaps it was best she would be far away.