A/N: Sorry I didn't update yesterday. I just ran out of hours, right? Here is a bit longer installment for your trouble. Thanks for the amazing reviews! They really inspire me to greater...fluff? But thanks, they really do mean the world.

Chapter 28

Mo gradh,

By the time you read this, I will have gone to bed. I am perfectly well. I just felt in need of an early night. I hope you'll understand.

Know that I will be thinking of you before I fall asleep and that as I sleep I shall be dreaming of you and our new life together.

All my love

Charles smiled at the note, in spite of his disappointment. Now that they finally had an understanding, he found himself impatient, irritable. He did not want to miss a single moment he could spend with her. He found he took less delight in his position and its attendant duties and responsibilities. There was only one position he longed to hold: that of Elsie's husband. He sighed and folded the note carefully. She had been acting rather odd at dinner. She made a point not to make eye contact with him (much) and he noticed Anna giving her sympathetic looks. What on earth could have happened? Well, he would have to wait until tomorrow. She would not lie to him; he must simply take her letter at face value and content himself with talking to her at the earliest possible moment tomorrow morning.

*CE*

Perhaps it was cowardly to hide away in your room, lass. Elsie admonished herself whenever she felt a twinge of guilt at depriving them both of a few private moments. You know how he looks forward to your evening chats. She glanced in her mirror. As do you. She scowled at the book on her dresser. Married Love. Whatever could Mrs. Crawley have been thinking, giving me a book like that? For heaven's sake. She must have assumed I have no knowledge at all! She picked up the book with a sigh and carried it to her bed. She turned down the covers, turned up the lamp, and settled in to read. *

CE*

Elsie closed the book thoughtfully. She had expected to feel deeply embarrassed, even ashamed after having read it, but most of it made such good sense. She unequivocally disagreed with all that nonsense about celibacy creating a nervous, irritable woman. Lack of necessary, important work was a more realistic culprit. Elsie had never been troubled by insomnia in spite of her celibacy. She grumbled half-heartedly. Give those women meaningful work to do and they'd be so tired by the end of the day that their celibacy would be the last thing on their minds.

Several aspects were rather more detailed than she thought exactly necessary, but knowledge is power, as Sir Francis Bacon said. She definitely had a more thorough knowledge of her own anatomy after reading this little book. She chuckled to think of her mother giving her such advice, or, even more humorous, her dispensing such advice to the army of maids she'd trained over the years. She knew it was irreverent and childish, but she couldn't help it. She sank down in her bed and laughed and laughed, eventually covering her face with her pillow. Who would have thought that she would be learning such things now! Love-making, the author had called it. The thought sobered her.

She had loved Charles for more years than she realized. She hadn't begun to hope until she'd heard him sing that foolish song over her and even then he'd had to backpedal. Predictable. She smiled. That was one of the reasons she loved him, perhaps the very reason that she could love him. He was predictability, routine, order. Protocol was so very important to him. He could bend, but only in situations he felt completely at home. She would have to tread very lightly that first night. She would be nervous as well, of course, but she knew her greatest strength was her ruthless pragmatism. He was like, like crème brulee, she thought wickedly. Once you pierced the hard exterior, you discovered the deliciously soft custard inside. She had definitely pierced his shell, and now only one intimacy remained between them.

She considered their wedding night. She had known there would likely be pain at first, but now she had information that would ease their union for both herself and Charles. It would upset him terribly to cause her even the slightest pain; she would have to conceal as much of the possible discomfort as she could. She laughed again. Of course she'd been indignant upon receiving such a book from Mrs. Crawley, but after having read it, she understood precisely why the woman had given it to her. As usual, Mrs. Crawley's heart was in the right place, though perhaps her manner of bringing it about could be deemed indelicate. Elsie smiled and settled herself more comfortably in her bed. In the morning, she would rise and ready herself to meet with Charles. After she had hidden the book, of course.

*CE*

Charles was up earlier than usual. He was nearly finished dressing by the time he heard Ivy stirring. He smiled. He still had enough time to make his way to the kitchen and wheedle a pot of tea and a biscuit or two from Mrs. Patmore. He grinned. He felt light at heart, as though he could almost dance down the stairs and into the kitchen. He chuckled as he imagined the astonished faces of the staff. Perhaps it was time to retire, he mused, if he had begun to enjoy such unprofessional thoughts. But no, he couldn't do that to Elsie. She was several years younger than he, too young by far to be confined to a small cottage with a cantankerous former butler. Of course, after having read the most salient parts of that little book several times, he could think of several methods for occupying their time. He shook himself mentally. He had a few moments to spend with Elsie this morning, then he should and would concentrate solely on his work. He bounded into the kitchen.

"You're quite spry this morning."

"I am, Mrs. Patmore. I was hoping to inquire as to the possibility of obtaining a pot of tea and a few biscuits."

"A pot of tea and some biscuits? I think we can manage that. Two cups and four biscuits?"

Charles smiled broadly. "Two cups would be perfect. Perhaps six biscuits?"

"Get away with you, you cheeky bugger! Go along to your pantry. Your tea'll be ready shortly."

"Thank you, Mrs. Patmore. His lordship says it often, and I quite agree. You're a gem!"

Mrs. Patmore grinned at his retreating back. Admitting himself a lovesick fool was the best thing that could've happened for his personality.

*CE*

The handle turned smartly in his hand before the key even had time to turn in the lock. He took a deep breath as he charged through the door, ready to do battle with whoever had the temerity to enter his sanctuary without permission. He stopped abruptly. Elsie was arranging the tea things on a low table that she had placed between two chairs. She looked up at him and smiled. His fury evaporated and he hurried toward her to gather her into his arms.

"Charles, the door!"

"What? Oh, yes." He released her reluctantly and turned to shut the door. "How long have you been up?"

"Not long."

Charles walked toward Elsie."Long enough. I was sure I would be downstairs before you." He took her in his arms. "Do you know I asked Mrs. Patmore for tea and biscuits? I wondered what I'd said to make her grin so saucily." He nuzzled her neck. "I missed you last night."

"Did you now."

"You knew that I would." He paused to look into her eyes. "Are you alright?"

Elsie laughed merrily. "Of course I am, Charles. I just thought it best to turn in early."

"I noticed Anna watching you at dinner last night."

"Was she?"

"Yes, and you know why."

"And so shall you in just a few weeks' time, my dear." Charles' eyebrows rose to his hairline and Elsie laughed again. "Nothing like that." Exactly.

"Well. I will be very glad when we are married." Charles kissed her neck.

"So shall I." She sighed. Reading that book had given her all sorts of ideas. Ideas that oughtn't be considered during working hours, especially at a time when they could be interrupted at any moment. She pushed him away reluctantly. "Charles, we musn't. Not here."

He kissed her cheek and her mouth tenderly. "You're right, my love. It's only, well, I find it much more difficult to resist your charms now that we are to be married."

Elsie stroked his cheek tenderly. "So do I, mo gradh."

He took her hand and kissed it. "It's even more difficult when you speak to me in the Gaelic." He waggled his eyebrows. She laughed and batted him away.

He settled her into a chair. "As you procured the tea for us, the least I can do is pour."

She nodded prettily at him and he served her as though she were the Dowager Countess. "You are so good to me, Charles."

"I haven't always been."

"Nonsense."

"It isn't nonsense, Elsie. I've not always been kind to you and you know it."

"That was in the past Charles. I've always understood."

"Have you?"

Elsie sipped her tea thoughtfully. "If you're asking whether I was always certain that you loved me, then no. I wasn't always." She smiled gently at him. "But I was always certain of your kindness, your loyalty and honor. I had the opportunity to observe those qualities quite closely over the years."

Charles ducked his head bashfully. "But you, of all people, Elsie, I should have been kinder to you."

"But why?

"If only because of the kindness you showed to others. We could have-"

"Charles." Elsie was beginning to be annoyed. She loved him dearly, but he was capable of becoming sentimental, even maudlin if you let him get going.

"But children. You might have, we could have-"

"Suppose we married earlier? Suppose you'd died of the Spanish flu? Suppose a bomb goes off? Listen to me. Listen." She leaned forward and there was a fierce bright light in her eyes. "I have no regrets, none. I am perfectly content to be drinking tea and eating biscuits with you right now, happily contemplating a new future that we will share. I don't look back and nor should you." She exhaled loudly. "Besides, why look back when there are so many wonderful things to experience right here in front of us. And as far as Mr. Gillingham is concerned, I think of him not at all. He didn't hurt me," she finished firmly. "Besides, my knight in shining armor came to my rescue."

Charles smiled briefly. "I never think of you in distress."

"No? Well, that's as may be, but you are my knight in shining armor and don't you forget it."

Charles was silent for a moment. "I don't deserve you."

"Of course you don't," said Elsie briskly. "You wouldn't want me if you did." She rose abruptly. "I must be about my work this morning, and I daresay you have things that require your attention as well." She smiled down at him fondly. "I'll see you at breakfast."

He pulled her into his lap and stifled her shriek with a kiss. "You shall indeed, but not before I've had another kiss or two in payment."

"In payment of what?" Elsie arched back indignantly.

"I'll think of something." He kissed her once, twice, three times, pressing her to him as close as he dared. He pulled away from her and contemplated her dazed look with a certain degree of satisfaction, completely unbecoming to a butler, but very becoming to a fiancé.

"You'll be the death of me, Charles Carson," she whispered.

"Not if you kill me first, my pretty lass. But what a way to go!"

She looked askance at him as he released his grip on her. She stood, automatically smoothed her dress and hair and made her way to the door. "I'll see you at breakfast."

"Indeed you will, my love."

"I'll send in a maid to clear the tray."

"No need. I'll return it to the kitchen myself."

"You will not! Whatever would people say?"

He smirked. "They'll say, look at that, Mr. Carson carrying a tea tray. What a lucky woman that Mrs. Hughes is."

Elsie rolled her eyes. "I'll send in a maid. And I really must be going before anymore…"

"Anymore what?"

"Anymore you know what happens." She blushed furiously and backed out the door.

Charles smiled broadly. He didn't care what she called it or if she called it nothing, so long as they did as much of it as possible once they were safely married.