Hello dear readers.

The next part of this story is finally here, and I hope you enjoy it.

This chapter is dedicated to Chelsieobsessed1980 because with a PM she put my foot down and got the inspiration I was lacking back into action. Thanks to you.

Thanks to Pixie for the time spent proofreading my mistakes.

Thanks to you for your reviews, your messages...

Some rated M passages in this chapter and angst.

Loving you

1904

Going into service meant mostly saying goodbye to a life of one's own. It meant suffocating the man or woman to make room for a mere shadow. It meant becoming a shadow of the employers so that they would not lack anything, forgetting oneself, one's desires and needs. Charles and Elsie had realised this very quickly, but as long as they had a roof over their heads, a full belly and a respectable position they had been satisfied.

But now, to hell with the shadows they had become. For the first time in what seemed like centuries they felt what it was like to be touched by someone other than themselves. What it was like to receive tenderness and love. They didn't know until they actually found each other when Charles returned. Touching each other with desire, with desire, in unison. Touching to please, to make their lover come, to make them laugh, they didn't want to do without it anymore.

Their bodies had awakened, and now demanded more and more contact.

It had been a month since Charles had returned from London, so it had been a month that he and Elsie had met up whenever they had the chance. They did their best to be careful, but their need for each other was too intense, too visceral, and they had almost gotten caught more than once.

Neither Charles nor Elsie cared, they were too absorbed in each other.

When they weren't together in that loving, sensual, sexual way, when they had to go back to being butler and housekeeper, they brushed against each other, stroked each other under the table, glanced at each other in corners.

A week after his return, he had cornered Elsie in an alcove on the bedroom level in the middle of the day. Oh she had not complained, she had responded fervently, returned caress for caress, kiss for kiss, until they could take no more, and forced themselves apart only to meet again a few hours later with more freedom to love each other.

They were driven by something much stronger than themselves that demanded that they touch each other, as often as possible, that they kiss, that they love each other. And when they couldn't give in, they shut down. Their physical encounters had enlightened them, not being able to be with each other was simply blowing out the flame that kept them alive.

That evening, a month after they found each other, they were together, on the mattress on the floor so as not to make the bed creak.

Charles was lying on his back, Elsie was moving on top of him. It was simple but that was everything. They couldn't express their pleasure out loud so it was all through their looks, their caresses, their kisses, and their lovemaking that they did so well.

Elsie had wanted to see Charles undress. Up until this day everything had been rushed, they knew they had little time. But Elsie had wanted to take her time, to savour Charles slowly. First with her eyes as he removed his clothes one by one under Elsie's excited gaze. Then with her hands as she placed them on Charles' broad chest and gently took the time to caress him all over, revelling in the skin of her man which was awakening under her touch, and finally with her tongue, her mouth, her teeth. She had taken the time to taste Charles in every possible way. He had let her, too happy, too impressed, too in love, too excited to stop her.

No one had loved him like that, ever. With Elsie, Charles was learning physical love and the desire of giving pleasure.

Elsie had then made him lie down on his mattress, which he had taken care to put on the floor, and had in turn undressed herself under Charles' amazed gaze. He would have liked her to go faster, her caresses and kisses had really turned him on and his body was asking for her.

But she had taken her time, carefully folding her skirt, her petticoat, her blouse. Unfastening her stockings, loosening her corset. And Charles looked at her while absentmindedly stroking himself, maintaining his erection.

At last she was standing naked before him, the first time she had shown herself without modesty. It was not what a Lady would have done, but she was not a Lady. She was a farm girl, with generous hips, a slightly rounded belly, heavy breasts, and for the first time in her life she had not been ashamed of what she was. Because under Charles' gaze she was perfect, she could just be herself.

She had climbed on top of Charles, kissed him voraciously with all her might before starting to stroke him again which made him moan and then she had grabbed his sex and guided it into her. For the first time. She didn't know it was possible, what she knew about mating between a man and a woman she had learned on the farm from listening to the women talk to each other or when Joe had introduced her to some stealthy kissing and caressing. But to move on her man in this way, to wiggle shamelessly on him, to decide the rhythm, the depth. No, she didn't know she could do that, that it could be that good and that Charles would like it.

Charles watched her move on top of him, watched her pelvis undulate, her breasts bounce beautifully. This was the first time Elsie had taken the lead, he wasn't sure if it was right for a man to let himself be taken but may he be killed on the spot if she had to stop. It was too good, she was too beautiful, he wanted to see her riding him, to feel her moving around him forever. When he felt his orgasm approaching he grunted, it was happening too fast.

He got up, sat on the bed and took control. He guided Elsie to put her legs around him, so they were skin to skin, her chest against his chest, their pelvises together. Even they didn't know where they started and where they ended. In this position the sensations were less strong, but this way it would last longer.

Elsie and Charles moved together, still in unison. For her the position was not enough to make her come, but she had Charles' body against hers and his grunts of pleasure in her ear and it felt so good.

She arched her body, leaned back supported by Charles who groaned at seeing her like this, he was so close to cumming. God, he wanted her to cum too.

He leaned her back a little more, kissed her neck, nibbled on her skin and was rewarded with a low moan. She lifted her head to look at him as he continued to play with his tongue on her neck, moving underneath her faster and faster, muffling his moans in her skin.

She took his hand and brought his index and middle fingers to her mouth.

"Touch me," she ordered, releasing his fingers.

He brought his fingers to her sex, found her clitoris and did as she asked with pleasure.

Charles moved faster and faster, Elsie wiggled on him trying to keep up with him but his fingers worked wonders on her and soon she was lost in the twists and turns of her orgasm, she left it to Charles to keep moving for two and it was he who brought himself to orgasm.

Lying on Charles' sleeping body, her thighs tired, aching and still around the butler's hips, Elsie rested with a smile. She listened to Charles's heartbeat, let his breath lull her. She didn't care that they were dirty now, that their mixed fluids were spilled between them.

She wanted to be able to continue touching the man she loved before the morning, before she had to put on her housekeeper's outfit again, before she had to wait hours, maybe days, before she could have him again.

They were perfectly organised for their meetings. It was always in Charles's room, when she arrived the mattress was already on the floor, the alarm clock set to wake them up well before the young cook's assistant and Charles was waiting for her.

Elsie thought back to their first time, awkward but so good. Elsie had felt that being naked under Charles, making love with him, had given her life. She had understood her body.

She thought she would be in pain, that was what she had heard when her mother had vaguely explained what would happen when she got married. But no, there was no pain. A strange feeling at first, but at no time did she feel any pain. Maybe it was because she really loved Charles or maybe because he was so nervous that he had taken his time kissing her, caressing her all over before penetrating her.

Since that first time in that bed that creaked so much that they had been forced to interrupt what they were doing just long enough to put the mattress on the floor, so as not to wake up the whole floor. Since that first time, she had felt so much freer, so much more of a woman.

Charles's love had released something in her that she couldn't name but that had revolutionized her way of understanding love, desire between two people and the general image she had of men.

Charles moved a little, trying to disengage himself from her in his sleep. So in order not to disturb him she moved away from him, her thighs trembling from having stayed in the same position for too long and went to the butler's toiletries.

She filled the basin with water and with a rag, she washed away the traces of their lovemaking, then rinsed the rag and knelt beside Charles and began to wash him conscientiously, reviving the desire in her body.

At the touch of the wet rag, Charles was suddenly awake and instantly calmed when he saw Elsie.

"You shouldn't do that my love, let me do it."

"It's alright darling, I'm not made of sugar. I prefer you clean and you were asleep."

He let himself be cleaned, his body responding to her touch. He wanted her again, he wanted her all the time. How could this be?

He turned his head to his alarm clock, they only had a little over an hour before Elsie had to go to her room. He took her hand, brought it to his lips, retrieved the rag and placed it beside the bed.

"Come," he asked.

She lay down beside him, resting her head on his chest and hugging him as best she could.

"Did you get some sleep?"

"No. I preferred to watch you sleep."

When he didn't answer, she wondered if she was overdoing it with him.

"I'm afraid it's all going to end, you know? I'm afraid that one day you'll understand that you don't want me. That after the desire stage, after the beginning, you'll understand that you don't love me. "

"That's nonsense. It may have taken me a long time to understand my feelings for you, but now that I have you, I won't leave you, I couldn't. I need you to help me. I need you to steady me."

And he turned her so that she was under him and began to cover her with kisses.

"I'm afraid we don't have much time my love."

"I have enough time to make you cum again."

"Oh? Well I'd be stupid to refuse"

"Completely stupid."

And Charles resumed his kisses, titillating her breasts, her nipples, her stomach before kissing her sex and bringing her to orgasm.

Elsie had closed her eyes just afterwards but alas the alarm clock went off fifteen minutes later and she regretfully tore herself away from Charles' embrace, got up from the mattress to get dressed while Charles watched her.

oOo

It was the perfect story. Elsie and Charles had never worked so well, the house was perfectly well run and all the servants were perfectly happy.

They couldn't get together every night, but they were together whenever and wherever the opportunity arose.

Like that afternoon, when Elsie had announced that she would visit her friend Samuel during her half day off to get away from home, while Charles had announced that he was going to the village to do some shopping, so he would be gone for an hour or two. He had left the reins to Mrs Patmore without fear, for he knew that the cook was a real disciplinarian and was feared and respected by everyone, including the family.

Charles and Elsie had found themselves in the woods adjacent to the village, not far from a small stream and lying on a blanket that Elsie had taken care to carry in her basket, they were making love.

This time there was no rush, their movements were soft and slow, their sighs turned to moans. When Charles increased his thrusts, Elsie responded by digging her nails into his back and Charles moaned loudly then bit her shoulder in retaliation and Elsie moved under him harder.

Together their movements accelerated, building in intensity to bliss. Elsie came first, she tried to stifle her screams by biting Charles' shoulder and clung to his back once more, he would wear the mark of her teeth and nails with pride, and in turn he allowed himself to be overcome by pleasure leaving the mark of his teeth on her collarbone.

Still lying on the blanket, they had put their clothes back on to show some semblance of decency and were side by side, only their hands were intertwined.

"A week was a long time."

"Far too long, Elsie. Don't make me wait like this again."

She laughed at his remark, which sounded desperate.

"I'm not responsible, Charles. You have to blame Lady Grantham, she's the one who insisted on throwing all sorts of parties to celebrate Lady Mary's coming of age. Perhaps you should go and speak to Lord Grantham and explain that the housekeeper needs time off so she can fool around with the butler."

"Oh laugh at me, Elsie. But I might take you up on it. I'll go to Lord Grantham and tell him that I'm very much in love and as such I demand the right to make love to the woman I love and fall asleep in her arms every night. And I will also ask for the right to go away for a few afternoons to make love to you in broad daylight, like today."

"I'm sure he'll be delighted to hear that. He'll love to imagine his stuffy butler and his austere housekeeper together, in every sense of the word."

He gave her a wide-eyed look and she laughed even harder.

Eventually they returned, each separately and half an hour apart. Life was good for Charles and Elsie. Everything was going wonderfully well.

oOo

Two months later, while Elsie was working on the house accounts, she was taken by a severe pain in her stomach.

The pain was so great that Elsie was forced to curl up on the floor and muffle her screams by biting her fist until the tearing sensation passed.

She then felt that she was wet between her legs, lifted her skirt, touched the wetness in her panties and when she pulled her hand up she saw that it was full of blood.

Panicking, she managed to get up and walk somehow to the kitchen where she was able to ask Mrs Patmore for an interview in her sitting room.

When the two women were alone and out of earshot, Elsie collapsed into Beryl's arms in a panic. Her period had never done this to her.

"Sit down, don't move. I'll get the stableman to take us to the hospital. "

And the cook ran to tell the stableman who quickly hitched a carriage.

Beryl helped Elsie into the carriage and sat by her side, never letting go of her hand.

Elsie didn't know what was happening to her, but Beryl had seen this before. Her mother had lost three children this way.

oOo

Dr Clarkson was a charming man who was slowly approaching his fifties and was respected by everyone and was very kind and gentle.

When he saw Mrs Patmore arrive holding Mrs Hughes at arm's length, who was as white as a freshly laundered sheet, he immediately ordered a nurse to attend to the housekeeper.

Elsie was in a complete panic, she thought she was going to die away from Charles.

"Calm down Mrs Hughes. Nurse Davies next to you is going to undress you, and I'll have to examine you. When was your last period?"

As the nurse pulled down Elsie's knickers with the modesty to leave her skirt on, Elsie fought back fear and pain to realise that she had not bled for two months.

She whispered her answer, too ashamed. She had understood.

When the doctor had finished his examination, Elsie was cleaned up and dressed in a hospital gown before being taken to the main dormitory where Beryl was waiting.

"Oh dear, how are you? I'm so sorry for what's happened to you. Now don't cry, Mrs Hughes. "

Beryl patted her hand and stroked her hair in a very motherly way.

Elsie calmed her tears, she had one last favour to ask the cook, but Beryl would not let her speak.

"Tell me Mrs Hughes, did a man rape you? You can tell me, you can tell me who it is and I assure you he will not see the sun rise again. "

Elsie shook her head and looked down and Beryl nodded. She would ask no more questions.

"I need to write a letter. Can you bring me something to write with please?"

"Of course." The cook went off to ask a nurse for paper and a pen and quickly returned to sit beside the housekeeper.

"Thank you, Mrs Patmore. Can you wait while I write my letter? I won't be long."

Beryl nodded and waited patiently, trying not to think about her lateness and the evening meal which was likely to be frugal if the kitchen helpers hadn't done their job properly.

"There, I've finished. I have one last favour to ask of you, please before you go back to Downton Abbey, drop by Mr. Perkins' farm and give him the letter, will you?"

"Of course, dear. I must go now. Have a good rest, I'll tell the family you have an infection or something that needs a few days' rest."

"I don't know how to thank you. I will pay you for the hours you wasted staying with me. You won't lose any pay."

"Don't worry about that, just get over it, forget about it and get back to your job soon. And uh... I hope this Mr. Perkins is a good man."

"He is, don't worry."

Beryl left Elsie alone in her hospital bed.

Elsie had specifically asked Dr. Clarkson not to divulge to anyone the reason for her hospitalization. Once she was sure he would hold his tongue, she was able to get some sleep while silently calling Charles to her bedside.

"Lords, have Samuel tell Charles quickly."

TBC...