May was finally sleeping. Elsie had procured them a suite with two bedrooms and a parlor. She'd had to lay out all the cash she'd brought with her, but money was not a concern in the face of events.

Though Elsie wished Charles weren't so far away, she was grateful for Beryl who had been an absolute blessing. Beryl had her rebellious side and could be cheeky on inappropriate occasions, but when things really mattered, there was no one better for getting things done.

It had been Beryl's idea to change hotels and it was Beryl who had thought to ask for ice for May's face when they arrived at the hotel. Now, she was downstairs ordering tea. Beryl refused to use the in-room phone to call the front desk. She thought that was indulgent.

"It's bad enough that people use phones to call between houses that are practically next door, but calling from one room to another in the same building? That's just madness."

"It's just like a bell, but with a voice," Elsie had tried to explain to her indignant friend, thankful for the silly distraction.

"Well, I won't touch the thing. I'd probably end up calling someone in Timbuktu." And with that, she'd disappeared out the suite door.

Now that things were settling and she was alone, Elise could not help but dwell on May's accusations. 'This is your fault. You can't just let things be.'

There was truth in those words. Elsie knew rationally that it wasn't her fault, but she still felt culpable. She was the match that lit the blue paper. She should have expected fireworks. She should have anticipated this. She should have asked Charles to come with her from the start. He was on his way now. The thought comforted her. Elsie knew he would probably not be here until tomorrow, but she hoped he might find some way to get here faster. She had no idea how far it was from Kirby Hall to Blackpool. Even if he could hire a car, which would not be cheap, it would be four hours or more.

There was a knock on the door. Maybe Beryl had forgotten to take a key. Elsie opened the door. Charles stood there. But he can't be here. But he was. How didn't matter. She lunged forward and collapsed into his arms. "Charles!"

His love encircled her. She felt the weight lift from her shoulders; not gone, but lighter. He was here to share her burdens and to be her helpmate. She was sobbing. A part of her was embarrassed by this display of weakness, but then she remembered how foolish it was for her to ever be embarrassed in front of him.

"Shh, shh, love," he soothed. "It's going to be alright. We're going to make it alright."

His confident words roused her and rallied her spirits. She pulled him into the room. He dropped his bag and shut the door. They sat on the settee. She dried her eyes with his handkerchief and told him of the past two days.

"May says he didn't hit her; not directly. She was trying to talk to him about moving to Hull. He was still drunk from the night before or had started again, she's not sure which. He went to leave. She blocked the door and he pushed her out of the way. She fell into a chair and hit her face on the chair. I'm not sure if I believe her or not."

"It doesn't matter," Charles said, his face dark with anger. "Whether it was a chair or his fist, he is responsible."

"But she's worried about him. She won't leave Lancashire until she's sure he's alright. We need to find him so she'll come with us.

"There's something else, Beryl and I left our things at the inn. We need to get them."

"It sounds like the inn is a good place to start looking for Colin. Beryl and I will go there right now. She'll bring back your things and I'll find Colin. He won't have gone far."

Elsie didn't have words to thank him, so she just took his kind and gentle face in her hands and kissed him.

"What the hell?" Beryl had finally returned with the tea. Thankfully, it was on a rolling cart, because she would have dropped a tray. Charles and Elsie broke apart and Beryl realized who Elsie was kissing. "Charles Carson! How the bloody hell did you get here so fast? Elsie couldn't have called you much more than an hour ago. It must be two hundred miles from Northamptonshire to here!"

"Give or take," Charles agreed.

Elsie realized that Beryl was right. "How did you get here, Charles?"

He smiled mischievously. "'On, love's light wings did I o'erstep' the distance between us. To misquote Romeo."

"Love's light wings?" Elsie was perplexed.

"Oh my God!" Beryl exclaimed. "You flew!"

Despite the somber reason for his flight, Charles could not help but beam at the memory. He'd been apprehensive at first, but once he'd found the courage to open his eyes, the flight had been very enjoyable. He nodded enthusiastically. "Guy has the cutest little pip of a plane. It can land or take off on land or water. He's going to enter it into the Venice race next year. It took us only forty-five minutes to cover one hundred and eighty miles! That's over two hundred miles an hour! Guy landed her just by the South Pier and drove right up as neat as you please. He dropped me off, fueled up and then turned right 'round and took off again."

Elsie was staring at him. She didn't know whether she was appalled or impressed. What was he thinking; risking his life like that? He was thinking he needed to get to you, lass.

"'Pip of a plane?'" Beryl mocked. "Since when do you talk like that, Charles Carson. Just because they let you dine with 'em don't make you one of 'em."

"It's not like I'm considering buying one, Beryl," Charles shrugged off her ridicule.

"As if you could afford it," Beryl scoffed.

"Charles?" May stood in the doorway in the hotel's thick robe. "I thought I heard your voice."

All merriment at the memory of his flight was wiped away as Charles saw the reason for it. The lower half of May's face was a spectacular bruise and her lip was swollen.

"He flew here!" Beryl announced. "Literally! In a plane!"

"Goodness, that sounds dangerous," May looked impressed, but then winced as the expression proved painful.

"It's perfectly safe. My other option was a car and they're slower and not necessarily any safer." Charles stood up and hurried to her. He escorted her to the settee and into Elsie's arms. "You should be resting, May."

"I can't rest easy until I know he's alright."

"I understand," Charles said gently. "In fact, Beryl and I are about to go find Colin right now. You and Elsie have a spot of tea and then you try to rest. I'll come back when I have something to report."

He kissed the top of May's head and then Elsie's before turning to Beryl. "Are you ready?"

Beryl nodded. She rolled the cart in front of the sisters and stepped back. She had already prepared two cups of tea.

"I'll be back soon," Beryl promised.

"Thank you," Elsie smiled at her two greatest friends. She knew she was fortunate to have them both. Tears of gratitude prickled in her eyes, but she would not let them fall. She needed to be strong for her sister. Thankfully, Charles and Beryl would be strong for her.

TBC…


AN/ Just a shorty today, more of what became/ will become of Colin very soon.

Thank you for the reviews, I didn't have time to respond yet, but I hope to. Your input is highly valued and does influence the story.