A.N.: No excuses for not updating ... because there are none. I have a new Beta, inordertolivelife, who helped me a lot with this short chapter and my new oneshots. I feel enriched by her comments and input and hope my work gets better because of it. This is a shorty so that I may get back in the swing and keep the story moving, but rest assured I'm already working on more and also Honourable. Hope you leave a review and let me know what you think.
Thank you for your patience with me, too. :)
CHAPTER 29
Glenna's steely eyes bored deeply into Charles' soft brown orbs. She was highly amused to see this big, commanding man squirm under her gaze. He must be very worried what she would do to him, making her wonder what her sister had told him about her or what Elsie had done to the man herself. Then she noticed his loving gaze fall on her sister and he seemed to draw strength from her peacefully sleeping form. He must really love her, if he was willing to face her fire.
"I want to thank you for looking after my sister, Mr Carson," she said, getting the ball rolling and apparently surprising the sturdy butler with her gentle approach. It was clearly something he hadn't anticipated. She had to chuckle, wondering what her sister had shared with Mr Carson about her. It was apparent that Mr Carson seemed to think that she would reprimand him or, at the very least, question his intentions. Glenna has to admit that she most definitely wanted to know, but she also knew her younger sister. Elsie wouldn't thank her for scaring her man away when it had taken him near 20 years to admit his love for her. A small smile played across her lips.
Charles couldn't resist the urge to look at Elsie's face again, checking her colour and even breathing, as well as drawing strength from her. "There is no need to thank me, Mrs Murray. It was my pleasure to repay her kindness to me over the years. She is a dear friend." He decided to approach cautiously, in case Glenna had objections to their loving each other.
Glenna snorted most un-lady-like, but refrained from saying anything just yet. She wasn't sure how she felt about a possible understanding between Elsie and Mr Carson. Her sister had always talked about Mr Carson this and Mr Carson that while visiting and even her letters had been full of that man's name, opinions and funny little anecdotes. Once Glenna would have encouraged such an understanding just for the sake of seeing her sister's safely married and on the way of starting a family. Now, though, it seemed superfluous. Elsie was past her prime, couldn't bear children any longer. Besides how many years now had Elsie exclaimed that she didn't need a man in her life? A heavy sigh escaped Glenna. There was a time when you just had to realized that your little sister was all grown up and capable of making her own decisions. A weary smile quirked her lips, as she said, "I don't know what you expected, Mr Carson, but my Elsie is old enough to know what she wants and to keep her own counsel. What I want from you – the only thing I want from you is that you promise me never to break her heart."
Charles raised his gaze slowly up to meet Glenna's, but once he did he never flinched or blinked. "You have my word, Mrs Murray. She means far more to me than I'm able to put into words." His voice was solemn and held great conviction.
Glenna nodded silently. She felt the butler's words had satisfied her concern. Her own eyes drifted over her sleeping sister and came to rest on the interlinked hands of the housekeeper and butler. Elsie clung to his hand as if he was her anchor in the rough sea of her fever-induced nightmares. Elsie's white knuckles showed her fear more clearly than any words she might have spoken. Glenna was comforted by Charles's steady stroking of her sister's hand with his. His dedication was evident in this action of deep devotion and tenderness toward colleague, his friend, his love.
