A/N: I know a quarantine story isn't very original but I hope some of you will enjoy it. Please review if you have a moment! (I will also one day finish my other stories, I pinky swear!)
Elsie felt exhaustion radiating from every single muscle in her body as she slowly walked home that evening. As the gravel path crunched beneath her heavy footsteps her mind turned over, trying to discern if her current state of exhaustion was due primarily to the trying day she had had or her age beginning to catch up with her.
Certainly it had been a particularly difficult day. She'd spent nearly the entire day walking up and down stairs with hardly fifteen minutes of rest. Her youngest housemaid had come down with some kind of illness and was feeling particularly sorry for herself. Elsie couldn't help but feel bad for the young woman. She'd only been at the house a few months and was sorely missing her family, which Elsie could sympathize with but it had meant maneuvering being both boss and mother to the young girl.
On top of an ill maid, Lady Mary had been particularly demanding. Certainly it had been a while since there had been a grand party at Downton but Lady Mary was acting as though this party was the first and last that the Abbey would ever hold. She had wished to discuss every single detail of the evening with Elsie, however unlike Lady Grantham, she hadn't had the oversight to write all her concerns down. Instead she had simply rung for Elsie every twenty minutes when another concern popped into her head. It had made for a particularly trying day and as usual she was struggling to understand how Lady Mary could still be Charles favorite.
It was this thought that was flicking around her head as she finally reached her front door.
When she stepped inside the delicious smell of stew filled the air and she could hear her husband humming to himself from the kitchen.
"I'm home." Elsie called, taking off her coat and hat.
Charles came out of the kitchen quickly, wiping his hands on his apron as he leaned down to kiss Elsie quickly on the lips.
"I'm afraid I've mismanaged my time today and dinner is running behind schedule."
"Oh," Elsie said, trying to hide the disappointment in her voice, "Do I have enough time for a relaxing bath?"
"Hmm, not that long I don't think, but enough time if you'd like to lay on the sofa for a bit."
"Lovely," Elsie said, pressing another kiss to his lips and squeezing his hand gently before walking towards the living room. Their new cooking arrangement seemed to be working fairy well. Elsie would still cook breakfast every morning but then she would only cook dinner Friday, Saturday and Sunday night. Charles would sort his own lunch and cook dinner the remaining nights of the week. Though his cooking was limited to stews and simple roast chicken with vegetables. Still it gave Elsie a chance to take a break from her domestic duties at home and Charles had found that contrary to what he had expected he rather enjoyed cooking. Certainly it felt like a way to provide something nice for his wife at the end of a long day.
Elsie was vaguely aware of the knocking on their front door as she snuggled closer into the warmth of the sofa. Her sleep addled brain could hear muffled voices followed by the door shutting and her husband stomping into the living room.
"Elsie, Elsie!" He said in an agitated manner, bending down to bring his face level with hers.
"Whatever is the matter Charlie?" She replied, rubbing sleep from her eyes and sitting up on the sofa.
"Billy was just here." He said.
"Billy the hall boy?" She asked.
"Yes of course, it seems that your young housemaid is sicker than you thought. They think it might be flu."
"Flu? No, certainly not. Its just a bit of a cold and some home sickness."
"Yes well Dr. Clarkson seems to disagree."
"Dr. Clarkson?"
"Apparently he came by after you left. He's put the house on lockdown for two weeks for fear of it spreading to the village." He said flatly.
"Lock down? Is that really necessary?" Elsie asked skeptically.
"He seems to think so." Charles said, moving to sit next to Elsie on the sofa.
"Do they want me to return tonight then?" Elsie asked, starting to create a mental list in her head of all the items she would need if she was to stay in her old room for two weeks.
"No. Didn't you hear what I said? Downton Abbey is on lockdown."
"Yes I heard you. But they can't shut down Downton Abbey without a housekeeper, that would be…"
"Lunacy but its what Lord Grantham has decided. He would like us to isolate here. Billy brought a basket of supplies which should see us through for a while and Mrs. Patmore will coordinate sending more next week."
"What? Surely that is an over reaction. I can simply go back-"
"There is no point in arguing Elsie, its all been decided." Charles said getting up and going back to the kitchen. "Dinner is almost ready." He shouted as he walked.
Elsie sat on the sofa in a daze. Flu? It couldn't be, she'd spent most of the day with the young girl. She could have sworn it was little more than a sniffle and some home sickness. But if it wasn't…
And now Elsie had probably been exposed. And if she caught flu she was likely to give it to her husband. Elsie jumped up from the sofa and grabbed her scarf from by the door. Wrapping the grey woolen material around her face she walked to the doorway of the kitchen.
"Charlie." She said, her voice terribly mumbled. "Charlie!" She shouted slightly louder.
He turned from where he was slicing bread for dinner and looked at her in horror. What in heavens name was she doing?
"I think I should go to the spare room. I can take my meals there."
"Why would you do that?" Charles asked as he set two bowls of stew on the table next to the bread.
"I've only just got home, you've likely not been exposed yet. If I isolate in the spare room we could save you catching whatever that young girl has likely given me."
"Elsie, don't be ridiculous. I'm sure you wont catch whatever she had. And besides if you do its likely too late for me." He said sitting down in his usual spot and indicating her across from him.
"I've only been home…" She trailed off, trying to look at the clock on the wall but her eyes refused to focus enough for her to read it.
"Considering we've already kissed twice and I have absolutely no intention of letting you go to bed without kissing you again at least five more times I see little point in staying separate." Charles said taking a sip of his wine.
Elsie thought for a moment before conceding and taking her seat across from him.
"Though, if I may I will make one suggestion." Charles said as he twirled his wine glass in his hand. "Perhaps you should take that silly scarf off your face, it may be rather difficult to eat dinner with it on."
Elsie's hand flew to her mouth, she'd completely forgotten the silly thing was still on her face. She quickly tossed the scarf aside and began laughing as they tucked into their dinner.