Chapter 28
"Are you feeling better now Elsie?" James asked her. He continued to hold her as they stood in the corridor. Elsie had at least stopped crying now. She gently pulled away from James.
"Yes thank you James. I do apologise. What must you think of me? Sobbing on you like that." Elsie was very embarrassed by her actions.
"Not at all. I seem to have that effect on women!" James joked.
Elsie, despite the situation, laughed.
"Now, that's more like the Elsie I knew. It really is lovely to see you," James smiled warmly.
"It is lovely to see you too," Elsie said honestly.
"And I am presuming this Charles Carson is behind those tears?" James asked.
Elsie was surprised at that comment but did not have the energy to deny this, "Yes he is," she said matter-of-factly.
"Well, Elsie, you'll just have to marry me instead," James said with a wink.
Elsie laughed lightly, whilst shaking her head at James, and then a weariness overtook her again.
"What were you doing down here anyway? Were you lost?" Elsie asked.
"No, not lost. I was looking for you. I am only here for one night and … … I hoped to spend some time with you," James explained.
"James, as pleasant as that would be, we are not back at Hadforth House now, and you must realise that it is highly improper for a Lord to spend time with a Housekeeper. It really would not be right," Elsie reasoned.
"Well, as I remember, a young housemaid and a young Lord did not care whether it was right or wrong when they spent every possible spare moment together, all of those years ago," James reminded her.
"That was then James, much time had passed. And may I remind you that spending time together got us into all sorts of trouble, even then!" Elsie said.
James laughed at that, a broad smile across his face, and added, "And I do not regret a single second!"
Elsie smiled but rolled her eyes at him, "I am also engaged to be married James, it would not be proper for me to spend time alone with another man." Elsie said with certainty.
"Elsie, just 5 minutes ago, you were in floods of tears over that blasted man," James exclaimed.
"James Gilfellon, don't you dare talk about Charles in that way! Charles Carson is a wonderful man, a truly wonderful man. I love him with all of my heart. He may infuriate me and he may have behaved quite poorly today but that is only because he cares. He cares so much and sometimes he does not know how to cope with his feelings … and in fact, you were partly to blame for his behaviour today! You shamelessly flirting with me and flattering me in front of all of our friends and employers. Honestly James, what were you thinking? No, in fact, you weren't thinking! You never do James Gilfellon! You always were a dangerous flirt; you haven't changed one bit!" Elsie finished, taking a deep breath.
"Well, Elsie Hughes, you haven't lost any of your fire!" James said good-humouredly.
"No, I have not," Elsie replied. They both laughed out loud.
"And I can see that, yet again, I am going to get nowhere with you. You would think after 30 years I might have stood a chance. Most women find me irresistible yet you keep turning me down! What am I doing wrong? And what is Charles Carson doing right?" James said, in mock amazement.
"It's the sexy Butler uniform. I can't resist it!" Elsie joked with glee. James laughed heartily at that.
"Right then Elsie Hughes, well at least come and join me for a cup of tea and then I'll let you get back to your Butler!" James said happily.
"It would be a pleasure, Lord Gilfellon," Elsie replied with jest, feeling much brighter.
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'What have I done?' Charles asked himself; shouting at Elsie like that, interrogating her about her past. The things I said to her, the questions I asked. I was unbelievably jealous, the thought of losing her too much to bear. Elsie is my world. Yet now she will think I don't trust her; but, of course, I trust her. It is that arrogant man I don't trust. And yet I encouraged her to go and seek him out! What was I thinking? She was absolutely furious when she left me and for all I know she may well have fallen into his arms. He certainly wants her; he made no attempt to disguise that fact. And how can I compete with a Lord; with all of his wealth and privilege? Yet, I know Elsie isn't impressed by such things. I know Elsie loves me, goodness she tried her best to reassure me of that. Hopefully I can still put this right, Charles thought. I need to find Elsie.
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Elsie had enjoyed catching up with James. He had not changed at all really; still as carefree and happy as when he was young. He had never married but had enjoyed an exciting life, had travelled the world. After his father's death, he had taken over the estate and although he had no children himself, was obviously very close to his nephew, Lord Marlborough. They sat in companionable silence, having talked non-stop for the last hour. They were in the sitting room, adjoining James' guest room. Tiredness was creeping over Elsie; having been up and about since dawn and having had such an emotion-filled day. She knew she needed to speak to Charles but she could feel her eyes drooping, and tried hard to shake herself awake.
Eventually, James watched as she drifted off to sleep in her chair. I really have lost my touch, he thought. She looked so exhausted. He immediately felt guilty as he knew he had played a part in this fatigue, having caused tension between Elsie and her husband-to-be. He cared very much for Elsie, he had never forgotten her, and he knew that he needed to help make things right between her and Charles Carson. First things first, he thought, as he gently lifted Elsie out of her chair, being very careful not to wake her, and carried her through to his bedroom. He lowered her softly on the bed. She didn't stir at all. He covered her with a blanket and headed downstairs.
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"You have only got yourself to blame, Charles Carson!" Beryl stated clearly.
"I know. I know Beryl. This is all my fault," Charles acknowledged, sitting with his head in his hands at his desk.
"I mean what were you thinking? That woman worships the ground you walk on. You are everything to her. And so what do you do? Chase her into the arms of the nearest Lord!" Beryl said.
"Beryl, please," Charles pleaded.
"Please what? You have taken 20 years to tell her how you feel and just 2 days to mess things up completely!" Beryl concluded.
"Beryl don't say that. God, where is she? She has been gone for hours. Do you think she is with him?" Charles asked worriedly.
"I doubt it very much. She has probably just gone for a walk, to clear her head," Beryl tried to reassure him.
"I need to find her …" Charles stated as he headed towards the door, Beryl followed closely behind him. As he entered the corridor, he came face to face with Lord Gilfellon.
'Oh no!' Beryl thought to herself, as the two men sized-up to each other.
"Lord Gilfellon," Charles stated, as politely as he could muster.
"Mr Carson, I need to speak to you about Elsie," Lord Gilfellon replied.
Charles' hackles started to rise again; why must he persist in calling her Elsie?
"I cannot imagine why I would need to speak to you about Elsie. My future wife, my dear Elsie, should be no concern of yours," Charles added for good measure.
James Gilfellon now began to get irked. Charles Carson is very pompous, he thought.
"Well Mr Carson, if Elsie is so dear to you, I would suggest you try to avoid hurting her, upsetting her so much that she had been sobbing for most of the afternoon," James finished smugly. He watched Charles falter at that. He knew it was a low blow and he knew how much Elsie loved this man yet he could not help riling him a little.
Charles felt sick to the pit of his stomach; firstly, because the last thing he would ever want to do was hurt or upset Elsie; and secondly because she had obviously felt the need to confide in this man.
"I love Elsie very much Lord Gilfellon and I would never, ever wish to hurt her. Now, please kindly tell me where Elsie is so that I can speak to her myself," Charles demanded. Beryl stood unusually silent, watching this tense conversation unfold.
James couldn't help himself, there was something in his nature, a mischievousness, that rose to the surface in such moments. Therefore, with a roguish grin, he said,
"Elsie is upstairs Mr Carson, in my bed."
Charles felt the fury rise within him, the pain caused by those words ripping through his heart. He raised his fist without a second thought and, with a strength he did not know he possessed, punched Lord Gilfellon so hard that he reeled across the corridor. He watched as the Lord fell against the wall, with blood pouring from his nose. Charles breathed heavily, holding his hand that was throbbing in agony. Beryl, stunned by what had just happened, stared at Charles, shock and worry written across both of their faces.
