Here we go! Installment 35 :O. I did delay on this chapter because I didn't quite know how I wanted it to play out. I had an idea, but wasn't sure if it was too soon or not. I think I liked how it turned out in the end. Thanks again for all your support.


Mrs Hughes straightened the last plate that had been placed onto the small buffet table at the rear of the servant's hall. It was decorated with pies, sandwiches, chicken and other wonderful and tasty things. Most of them were humble, what they were used to, with the odd plate of flare nestled between pork pies and meat. They had put bunting around the table, and it hung delicately from the edges where an occasional gust from a moving person would send waves down the string. It was as if even those were ready to celebrate the return of their illustrious Butler. The rest of the bunting had lined the room in a quaint little fashion. They had wanted to do something, but not make it too excessive as they all knew that Carson especially did not like a fuss. It was order, rigidity and awareness that he liked. Mrs Hughes knew that he would be a little taken aback by the show for him and that he would feel like he didn't deserve it because he was just doing what he could. Mrs Hughes wanted to give him the world if she could.

"They're coming," Mrs Hughes heard someone say, and she moved her way to the doorway so she could stand at the front and see his face properly when he entered. It felt nice to be able to do something for him. A few sandwiches and the like were not really equal to risking a life, but the sentiment was there and it was a nice gesture nonetheless.

Edith, Cora, Tom, Violet, Isabel and then the rest of the staff were all stood excitedly in little groups waiting. The Dowager's face didn't look like she was best pleased, but then often her face never showed her cards, and it was no doubt the rattling of Isabel Crawley in her ear that was giving her a face like she had been sucking lemons.

Voices echoed down the stairs and into the servant's hall, and as if God had taken away their voices, the room turned eerily quiet. They all seemed to be holding their breath. You could hear a pin drop or a mouse scurry around because it was so silent. Not that you would find a mouse in the kitchen, because it seemed that sometimes even they feared the wrath of Mrs Patmore.

Leading at the front was Robert, who was smirking like a Cheshire cat as he prattled on about made-up things that he wanted to talk to Carson about. It was so obvious that it hurt almost. Earlier in the day, he had expressed that Carson be left alone for a while, but instead, he had been the one to natter on about work and the like. It was a rouse of course, but no doubt Carson was being agreeable and being loyal as he always was.

Mary walked quietly behind her Father, her eyes peering curiously at the room at the bottom of the stairs. It looked like she could see something unusual, but she didn't press and instead walked at pace behind Robert. Apparently, dinner had been delayed, and her Papa wanted to show them something that he had found when they had been gone. There was a warm smell of pastry in the air that was mixed with the smell of freshly cooked meat. Mrs Patmore must be fuming that she is running behind, as it wasn't like her at all. Maybe things had indeed fallen behind without Carson at the helm? But then that didn't seem likely.

Carson took the last step at the bottom of the staircase, oblivious to the room full of people that was right ahead of him. In his mind, he was processing what his Lordship was saying, and at the same time trying to put a plan together on the best way to go about telling him about his intentions with Mrs Hughes. It was distracting him and this couldn't continue. It might be different when he got back into work, as his mind would be full of tasks and decisions that he had to make. For now, whilst his mind was still idle enough to be filled with everything and anything, he couldn't help but think about her and link her into anything in his mind. He did love her so much.

As Carson lifted his head and entered the room, he was greeted with many pairs of eyes and smiling mouths. It took him a moment to scour the room, looking at the bunting, the table of food and then finally to a beaming Robert Crawley. They all started clapping, and he smiled, so happy to see so many of the people in his life in one room.

"Mary! Carson!" Robert shouted cheerily. "We wanted to do something small for you, as a gesture of happiness from us that you are both home safe and sound. And to you, Carson, our Butler who helped keep our family together."

Cora moved forward and took Mary's hand, smiling at her, and then to Carson who looked bewildered. "We wondered where to have it, but we thought that it would be nice to have it down here for you, Carson. We felt you would feel more comfortable about celebrating, so to speak, if you were down here."

Carson cleared his throat and looked happily around, his eyes catching Mrs Hughes' as he did, and the excitement bubbled in his voice as he spoke. "This is ever so kind, My Lady. My Lord. I don't quite know what to say."

Robert slapped his hand on Carson's shoulder before squeezing it. "You don't have to say anything. Now please," he said, as he lifted both of his hands and turned to look at the people around him. "I want everyone to enjoy themselves. We have wine," he said with a grin on his face as he connected eyes with Carson. "And it's a good one." Robert nodded knowingly and reached out to take a glass. "Now please enjoy!"

Carson stood as people walked over to him and told him how happy they were that he was well, how they were glad he was back. Even Thomas gave some sort of semblance of a smile from the other side of the room. Inside he was feeling the bloating of happiness in his chest. It felt so unbelievably good to be back within the walls of the Abbey. In fact, it felt like he hadn't really left. It was strange how, no matter how long you were away from it, as soon as you walked back behind the walls you felt comforted by their presence. Everything was familiar. Everything was easily navigated, and in all honesty, he couldn't wait to get back to work. Being still for so long had left him feeling restless. It was probably the longest he had not worked in succession for a very long time, and his body craved the normality and structure of a working day. That, and he couldn't wait to move forward with his life. As he stood there, peering at the people around him, he couldn't help but feel pride. Yes, some of them likely were not as sincere as others, but he knew that people cared. It was always nice to see and feel, even if he hadn't really done much to deserve it. He was home. Now his life with Mrs Hughes could begin, and that was one of the main things he had to address.

Carson stood quietly, watching as people began to talk and laugh and he smiled. In his head, he was sure that there were things that they were due to do, but he had to remind himself that it wasn't his decision at the moment and he needed to enjoy the evening. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a glass move forward and he shifted on his feet so he could turn to see who it was. Mrs Hughes was smiling sheepishly up at him, two wine glasses in her hand. She looked beautiful. "I thought you might like one. Are you allowed to drink?" She suddenly realised, pulling the glass backwards as if worried it might do him harm. "I'm sorry. I didn't even think to check."

Carson chuckled under his breath. "I've not been told otherwise, Mrs Hughes," he said coyly, reaching out to take the glass from her hand. As he did, his hand brushed hers and he involuntarily swallowed. It was astounding that just the smallest of touches from her could make him react. It made him want to hold her hand and feel her as close to him as space could allow. He took a brief moment to just look at her, stare at her and wonder at her beauty. The time in the hospital suddenly seemed so long ago. It dawned on him that he should have appreciated that time together just that little bit more. The freedom was retreating like the sun in an evening. It wouldn't be forever, and he had to remind himself of that. They would get their time together one day soon. In a way, them working together without it being official, so to speak, would be like absence making the heart grow fonder. Although it would be agony at the same time. It would be sweeter when it all came together for them, he had told himself, but he hadn't realised just how hard. Even standing next to her and not being able to take her hand seemed like one of the hardest things he had ever done. The temptation was strong, the urge so hard to ignore. He had to try.

Mrs Hughes smiled as she stared up at him. It was obvious he was taken aback by it all like she knew that he would be. Staring into his eyes she felt the heat burn in her cheeks so she carried on with the conversation. "I think it's a lovely gesture," she said quietly, taking a nervous sip from her glass. "They wanted to make it more about you."

Carson nodded his head. "Yes. Yes, it is. This wine is also like silk on my taste buds. I don't feel as if I deserve such an evening, but it doesn't mean I don't appreciate it nonetheless."

"I knew you'd say that," she chuckled heartily. "Seriously," she whispered. "We are ALL glad that you are home. This place isn't the same without you."

Carson smiled. "Thank you."

"'Ere 'e is!" Mrs Patmore said loudly, walking over to where they stood. "Oh, Mr Carson. What a sight for sore eyes you are. We've certainly missed having you here I can tell you that. We were all so worried when we got the news that you were in the hospital."

"She's not wrong," Bates said happily, stepping into the small circle that was slowly being formed. "Downton Abbey just isn't the same without your presence."

"You're all very kind," Carson said, suddenly feeling a little lost for words.

"Do you want me to get you a chair?" Anna said from behind them with a smile on her face. "You've been told to take it easy."

Carson scrunched his face up and straightened his back. "Thank you, Anna, but I think I can manage to stand up and talk," he scoffed gently.

Anna laughed and gave him a brief touch on the arm. "We're just glad you're back."

"I'm sure you can't wait to get back to work, can you, Mr Carson?" Bates said with a smirk on his face. "I'm sure the quietness has been rather unsettling."

"Well," Carson paused. "I can most certainly attest to the fact that sitting down doing nothing does not fit me well. I am looking forward to getting back into the swing of things."

They all smiled around him before Bates offered his arm to Anna and they went over to the buffet in the corner. Mrs Patmore watched as Daisy spilt something and she automatically went over to give her some sort of verbal reprimand. So then Mrs Hughes and Carson were alone once more. They both stood in the same predicament. They both wanted to show each other some affection like they had been able to. Like the kindling of an unquenchable fire, it had been ignited in them, and it was hard to ignore. So very hard.

Carson moved himself a little further back so he could see the whole room, and he watched admirably once more. Almost as if she was giving out a force from her very core, he could feel her next to him, like magnets they were trying to pull into each other. It was torture in itself. "I hope everything went smoothly for you in my absence," Carson said quietly, wanting to talk to her about anything and everything.

Mrs Hughes smiled and nodded. "I shan't lie to you and tell you that it was easy. Of course. Lots going on, lots to think about, but we managed. I'm sure you'll be pleased with the result."

Carson turned his head ever so slightly so he could look at her. "Oh, I'm very pleased with the result."

Mrs Hughes turned so she was on an angle, her body pointed towards him ever so slightly so she could look up at him properly. In her mind she was conscious of how she was standing, thinking about how she would act in times when they were nothing more than work colleagues. As she looked up at him, she could see the smallest of smiles etched onto his perfect face. The side-eyed glance he was giving her was laced with knowing, and it made her stomach twist like something had it wrapped in a vice. Everything about him was making her feel a little stir crazy. It was intense. That look though he was giving her was ever so slight to anyone else that might be looking, but to her, it was as obvious as a candle in a midnight black room. He knew what he had said, and she knew what he had meant. As if someone had attached a valve to her heart and pumped it full of air, she felt it swell like a balloon in her chest. It felt as if everything around her had faded away, her eyes focusing on him with an intense adoration. Like the colour had drained from the room as if someone had poured water on a newly painted watercolour picture, and the only thing that was left was him. These things only happened in books she had thought, and yet there she was, her eyes and ears only focused on him so she could only hear the sound of her own breath and anything that passed his lips. The man was perfect. So unbelievably and undeniably perfect.

Mrs Hughes suddenly felt warm. A blush started in the central point of her cheeks, and like a bushfire, it radiated out through her face at a ferocious speed. It felt like her face was the exact same shade as the freshly cut tomatoes on the table. This man was her everything, and although it had been brought about by a horrendous situation that had left her feeling terrible, she was glad that it had happened. If Lady Mary hadn't acted as she had done, would Mrs Hughes, without being faced with Carson's mortality and the threat to the man she loved, have acted and pushed herself to truly acknowledge and address her feelings? Maybe not. Maybe it would have happened in years to come? Maybe it would have never have happened? As if the anvil that had weighted down her chest for years had been removed, it had been replaced with something else. Something warm. Something unbelievably powerful that she was beginning to find it hard to control. Life had to move on. Their life had to move on.

Carson stood as tall and proud as he ever had as he stood there watching the people around him. Mrs Hughes watched him. She watched everything. The way his eyes moved gracefully from side to side as he watched people having a good time. The way his eyebrows shifted in little waves as his mind worked through various thoughts and feelings about what he was seeing. The way his shoulders pulled back so his chest was high, and the way he cradled the wine glass in his hand. Mrs Hughes knew that he wanted to drink it at a normal and steady pace, but he was holding back. They had been holding back for far too long, and like the wine that was being swilled around the glass waiting so desperately to be drunk, Mrs Hughes tried not to chuckle to herself about relating to a glass of red wine. She wanted to be drank from. The redness in her cheeks intensified. It was like a craving that could not be fulfilled by anything but him. It seemed completely impossible to care for him any more than she did, but then something happened, and she did. It was as if the love and desires she had for him were constantly trying to outdo one another, and in all honesty, it left her feeling a little frazzled. The compulsions, desires and niggles to be near him, touch him and make sure that he was ok was as intense as the heat in the Sahara desert. In a way, it was suffocating. The only way to make it go away was to be near him. He was her oxygen. He was the way for her to breathe again, to push the suffocating feeling away, and the dose of him that was required seemed to be more and more often.

Mrs Hughes took a step back so she was back at his side. The muscles in her arms moved almost involuntarily and her arm moved upwards. The compulsion to touch him in any way possible was strong. Very strong. The corner of his elbow was the closest thing that she could reach and she moved her hand so that she could touch it with just two of her fingers. Was it harder to be so close to him and to not touch him because they were in an environment that seemed to forbid it? Was the temptation so great because being caught was such a risk? Or was it just that she loved him so very much that she needed to. Wanted to. Craved even the most finite contact with him? Whatever it was, it made her ache. All of the years of wanting to love him, wanting to tell him the true feelings in her heart and to care for him seemed to have compressed and become more powerful. Like the strongest of magnets, the feeling reached out to him like the licks of a roaring fire. The way the fingers reached out from the main body, tickling and caressing the air around it as it absorbed the very fuel to keep it going. He was her fuel and it was agony.

"Mr Carson," she said weakly, trying to push down the desire that was crushing her resolve. "Could I borrow you for a second?" In her mind, she wanted just a brief moment where she could be with him on their own.

"Carson!" Robert said, walking over with Mary in tow. "I hope you're having a good time."

Mary looked at Mrs Hughes who looked like she had been punched in the stomach. Moving her eyes to the older woman she could see her hand that had just moved away from Carson's arm. Mary knew why she looked so pained. It was obvious to her because she knew what was going on between them. They had interrupted something.

Carson nodded. "Yes. This is a wonderful gesture, My Lord. I am very appreciative. I did not expect this in the slightest." He curiously looked at Mrs Hughes, who had wanted his attention but had been interrupted.

"Yes. Good." Robert said happily. "Would you like another drink?"

Carson looked at his half-drunk glass and shook his head. "I think I need to take it easy, My Lord."

Robert chuckled. "Yes. Yes, you're right. Sorry, I'm a bad influence. I'm just so pleased that things are going to be moving back to normal now. "

"Papa. I just want to borrow Carson and Mrs Hughes for a second. There's something that I want to run by them before Mr Carson is back at his post." Mary smiled at her Papa, who was happily taking a large mouthful from his glass. It was at least the third glass of wine she had seen him drink.

"Don't keep them too long, Mary. This is meant to be a party!" Robert's cheeks had flushed red and his eyes had a glassy look to them.

Mary smirked a little. It seemed her Papa had taken advantage of the wine. It usually took a lot for him to get to that sort of level, but maybe he hadn't eaten, or maybe the happiness, wine and lack of food had pushed him into a premature state of inebriation. "No, I won't."

"We can use my pantry, Lady Mary," Carson said curiously. Wondering what it was that she was going to talk to them about.

They walked down the corridor and into Carson's pantry. When he walked in, he looked around and smiled. It was immaculate. Of course, he didn't expect anything less. The familiarity and warmth of the room made him smile. Walking into this room made him feel so very at home, and it seemed at that moment that he hadn't been away for more than a second.

When everyone was inside, he closed the door and pulled a chair out for Mary. "Please, My Lady, take a seat."

"Oh," Mary said quietly. "I don't need a seat, Carson. I just wanted to give you two some breathing room and ask if you could both accompany me tomorrow?"

Carson let go of the chair and straightened himself out. "Of course, My Lady. What is it you wanted us to do?" He didn't press about the breathing room, because he had felt the touch of Mrs Hughes' fingers on his elbow. The desire he had had at that moment to take her hand in his had been excruciatingly hard to ignore. But he had. He had had to.

Mrs Hughes could still feel the burning feeling in her cheeks and had noted the main reason that Mary had taken them away from the room. It was nice. It must have been written so clearly on her face that she had been so desperate to touch Carson. Well, it would have been obvious for Mary because she knew, and nobody else would have realised. She hoped.

"I would just like you to accompany me for a walk. I promised you an explanation, Carson, and I would like Mrs Hughes to be there too. I think you could both do with some time away from prying eyes. I would also like her to understand too because she is very much a part of your life now. I know it won't be out there in the open until you decide it to be, but I want you to both understand. I feel that is the right thing."

"What time, My Lady?" Mrs Hughes had gone through the mental list of things that she needed to do in her head and was trying to figure out a way to getaway. "I'll have to make sure that it is ok with his Lordship that I step out for a moment tomorrow."

Mary nodded. "I'll get that covered, Mrs Hughes. Don't worry about that. I'll make something up so nobody asks any questions. I know people may wonder why I'm taking the pair of you away with me. Frankly, though, I care very little about their wonder. It is my prerogative after all."

"I will of course be there, My Lady."

Mary moved her hand to the door and took a hold of the handle. "I know you'll want to talk to his Lordship soon about your situation. Maybe you will want to sooner than you had anticipated." Mary's eyes moved to Mrs Hughes. "Do not fear the result. I've said it to the pair of you that I will do whatever is in my power to ensure that you receive no repercussions. We would be lost without you. I would be lost without you, and that holds merit unto itself."

Carson nodded. "We appreciate that, My Lady."

"Yes," Mrs Hughes concurred. "Thank you."

"Now," Mary said in a firm tone. "I'm going back out there. I'll leave you two in here for a short while. Don't worry, you won't be disturbed." Mary grinned and left the room with nothing else to be said.

When the door closed behind them Mrs Hughes seemed to deflate as she let out a huge billow of air. "I wonder what it is she wants to say?"

"I have a fair idea," Carson said quietly. "Where I found her there was a tree. She was in a frightful state, Elsie. A truly frightful state. That tree had some significant meaning to her and was why she gravitated there. When the time was right, she said, she would tell me what it meant. So I assume that it is something to do with that." Carson's eyes glazed over as he thought back to the time in the woods and it left him feeling momentarily sad. The vision of her in the distress that she had been in would haunt him for a very long time it felt.

Mrs Hughes, seeing his face drop slightly, reached out to take his hand and comfort him. "But she's back now," she whispered, lifting her other hand so she could rub his arm. "She is back and she is well, all thanks to you."

Carson could feel the warmth from her hands on his body and he turned to look into her eyes and smiled. "I suppose there has been something wonderful out of such a bad situation," he said coyly.

Mrs Hughes looked away and smirked. Not wanting to seem like she was stirring away from his words, she returned her eyes to him. "And I couldn't be more thankful about that," she said happily.

Carson smiled. As she stood there before him, her cheeks a little flushed and her eyes sparkling in his dimly lit office he let out a sigh. The luck he felt at having her before him, her hands touching his arms and her giving him her full attention, was indescribable. There was not a woman on the planet that he found more beautiful, more daring, more caring and more breathtaking than her. The beauty she had was natural, untouched by anything but time itself and even that seemed to have held back where it could. The hair on her head was tight, the skin on her face smooth and the look in her eyes was warm. This woman was everything to him and the fact that Mary had given them some time away from everyone had dawned on him. Obviously, she had seen something that he may hadn't. "Is everything ok?" he said curiously.

Mrs Hughes smiled. "Oh, I'm fine. I just...I can't believe how lucky I am," she said bashfully.

"I feel like the luckiest man in the world," Carson said proudly, lifting her hand to kiss the skin on top. "I am so happy, Elsie. So unbelievably happy."

When Carson's lips touched her hand she felt her insides burn more ferociously than she had ever felt. It was like everything had been consumed by a force more powerful than that of a bomb. It made her shake, everything inside of her seeming to culminate until she could not control her own muscles. Having his lips on her hand was not enough. What she wanted was to be taken in by him, to have every part of her touched by a part of him. To have his musky smell fill her nostrils, to have his body warmth on her skin, to have the pressure of his body on hers. The corners of her eyes burnt with tears of both happiness and frustration at not being able to do what she wanted and as openly as she desired. It had been a kind gesture from Mary to give them some space, the desperation must have been so blatant on her face. Acting on the impulse, Mrs Hughes pulled her hand away and pushed her body into his, wrapping her arms around his back and pressing her face into his broad chest. Then she took in the deepest breath, the suffocation easing now she was able to take from him what she needed. At the back, her hands locked together and she pulled gently. He was warm. It was probably completely out of character of her in her own eyes, let alone his, but it had been a horrible time. This was the greatest thing to happen to her, and she wanted to make the most of it and act upon what she desired when she could. It had been a perfect opportunity. "Oh, Charlie," she whispered.

Carson looked down at her, feeling her shake against him as she pulled him as close as she could. It seemed a little out of sorts, but then he couldn't do anything to stop it. Of course, he had wanted to hold her, touch her and have her close to him and he thought that they would both be able to resist that. If they hadn't come into this room they would have had to so he had to be thankful for this moment. His long arms came up and he wrapped her as close into him as he could. The warmth made him sigh with happiness, and he leant down and gave her a gentle kiss on the head. "I think I should talk to his Lordship tomorrow," he whispered.

Mrs Hughes lifted her head so she could look up at him, the corners of her eyes were filled with tears. "Are you sure?" she said happily.

"I don't think I can wait much longer to have you by my side in every sense of the word," he whispered. "Every second is agony. Every time we have to hold back, every time I have to deny myself time with you is going to be too much. I want to get the ball rolling as soon as I can. Else," he said gently, taking his hand from the back so he could gently use his thumb to wipe away a tear that had fallen down her cheek. "You are my everything. I would talk to him this evening if it wasn't for the excessive amount of wine he has already consumed. Although his temperament is most advantageous this evening, it would not be right. I have to do this properly."

Mrs Hughes felt another tear roll down her cheek and now she could feel him wiping them away as fast as they were coming. "I love you, Charlie," she choked. "With everything."

Carson pressed his lips against her forehead, holding her cheeks with his hands as he did. Although he was a big broad man, he was so gentle, and he noted just how soft the skin on her face really was now that he was able to touch it in so many different places. Mrs Hughes closed her eyes and took in a deep breath, so content at that moment that she couldn't help but cry. Resting her hands against his chest, she leant back when she felt him move his lips away from her and she stared at him with a grin on her face.

"I love you, Elsie. I love you very much," he whispered, moving his hands down to the tops of her arms.

Mrs Hughes could see the corners of his eyes begin to water, and she lifted her hand from his chest to his cheek. It hadn't been long since he had shaved, the skin was as smooth as the finest silk. The redness of his cheeks had intensified now that she was touching him, and she felt herself stir. Taking a moment to scan his face she focused her eyes on his lips. They were plump, much more than she had ever taken the time to realise. Every time she looked at him she could appreciate who he was that so much more. There was so much more to discover.

Carson could feel her thumb rub against his cheek and he could feel his heart beating in the quickest and hardest rhythm he had ever felt. Then he caught her looking at his mouth and he couldn't help but look down to hers. As if he was about to take a bite of the sweetest cake he felt his stomach come alive in anticipation. The butterflies fluttered aggressively, and he felt the deepest part of him come to life. It wasn't right, he knew, but she was right. This was right. Compelled by the most primitive of desires, Carson moved his head towards her so that he could kiss her.

Mrs Hughes could see the slow movement of his head as he bent down into her personal space in a slow and agonising motion. Like a dream, everything blurred around her and then she disappeared into him as she felt his warm mouth close over hers like soft pillows. The grip he had intensified just slightly as he pulled her in and her whole world exploded with shooting stars. A hunger and desire erupted inside of her that she had never felt before, and she didn't know what to do with it. So she took her other hand and placed it gently on his other cheek, becoming very aware of every single point that their body was touching. They adjusted themselves, and she felt his lips take hers again and she could taste the wine on his mouth, but now it tasted so much sweeter than from the glass. It seemed to steal her breath, but give it her back all in one motion. After all, he was her oxygen, and it felt like she could breathe as freely as she had for a very long time. It was sweet, it was warm and it made every nerve inside of her sing the same unadulterated tune.

Carson felt as if the world was spinning as her hands rested on his face, her lips pressed gently over his. The noises from the distant rooms had zoned out into nothing, and all he could hear was the fervent beating of his hammering heart. They were close to each other, and his lips felt like they were on fire as she returned the kiss. Never in his whole life had he felt anything so amazing. It was if every birthday, Christmas, happy feeling and moment had amalgamated into one. Then her hand moved to the side of his head, brushing his hair and his ear with the tips of her fingers sending shocks down the back of his neck. Then her hand moved again and her fingers travelled to the back of his neck making him need to part from her and take a deep breath. It would be wrong to get carried away. The kiss had taken place for likely just a few seconds, but it seemed as if hours had moved as he stood so stuck in her presence.

When he looked down at her she was smiling. The smile was pure, it was beaming like the rays of the sunshine on the clearest of days. Taking a moment, he gave her another quick kiss on the lips before straightening himself out. The way her eyes sparkled up at him. The way her mouth stretched as wide as he had ever seen it. It all made him love her so much more than he ever thought he could.

Mrs Hughes reached up to straighten the piece of hair she had touched at the side of his head. There were no words that she could muster at that moment. It was as if her body was surging with electricity, compelling her to kiss him again and again until there was nothing left of them. It felt as if her lips were on fire. It felt like everything was on fire. There, at that moment, she began to understand so much as to what made people make bad decisions. It was then that she understood how people could be so madly in love. It was like an addiction, a poison and a tonic all wrapped into one. This was only the beginning of their journey, and she was in awe of where it would move to. It could only get better.

"Elsie," Carson said quietly. Perhaps it had been too bold a move on his part, but he hadn't been able to stop himself. "I'm sorry if I-"

"Don't," Mrs Hughes said quietly. "Do not apologise. If you hadn't, I would have," she said sheepishly. Then she leant forward and gave him a swift peck on the lips before taking his hand. "I could stay here all day with you," she said happily.

"Yes," Carson agreed. "But we better get out there."

Mrs Hughes didn't want to, she wanted to stay in there in their own little bubble for as long as she possibly could. However, knowing that Carson was going to make a move and inform his Lordship about his intentions made her feel calm. Everything was going to be ok. It had dawned on her that the kiss had ignited something incredibly primal inside of her and she knew that she was going to crave him like no other thing in the world. It was going to be even harder than she thought possible. They were going to get there though. If she had pictured her life just a few weeks before, she would never have thought that she would be standing here having just kissed him. It was like the sweetest most realistic dream, and yet it wasn't a dream at all. As they parted, Mrs Hughes reached out to take his hand once more before they had to go back out into the other room.

Carson squeezed her hand, before leaning to give her another quick kiss. Then he straightened his jacket and opened the door. Both of them were smiling. Both of them were singing inside. As they entered the room Mrs Hughes caught the eye of Lady Mary, who nodded and smiled and so she returned the gesture. Whether she could tell what had happened or not, she was thankful that the moment had happened. Everything seemed bright for them, and regardless of the outcome of the conversation with Robert Crawley, she knew that she would be fine. If she could create that moment over and over again for eternity, it would be the happiest form of repetition a person could ever have. Elsie Hughes loved Charlie Carson, and Charlie Carson loved Elsie Hughes. What more did she ever need?