Lots of dialogue here, this is sort of an 'inbetween' chapter!

ooo

Protests sprang to his lips, and he wanted nothing more than to prostrate himself upon her feet and beg for forgiveness. The look of satisfaction on her face, however, gave him pause.

Elsie obviously didn't realize the gravity of the situation, not only were they not yet married, but for him to ravish her so blatantly, so utterly without respect or restraint…it didn't even bear thinking.

Dropping her ankles from where they were crossed at his waist, Elsie allowed him to back up a few steps. Holding onto his shoulders she slid from the desk, bending down smoothly to pick up her knickers and stick them in one of the hidden pockets in the fold of her dress.

Putting himself back in his trousers, he noticed a streak of blood on his flesh.

"Oh, Elsie, I could have hurt you." He said, anguished at the very thought. He knew in theory that she was still a virgin, but it was shocking to know he had caused her to bleed.

"You didn't though." Elsie said softly, a half-smile on her face as she stood in front of him, straightening his lapels with her hand. "It was lovely. Now we really ought to be going to bed, Mr. Carson. Our wedding is in just a couple days and it won't do to appear tired."

Giving his hand one last squeeze, Elsie headed out of her setting room, leaving him befuddled and speechless in her wake.

ooo

"Are you nervous?" Charles asked, the two of them standing in the center of Elsie's sitting room.

He had managed to distract himself throughout the morning, letting the routine keep thoughts of last night at bay. But now it was late afternoon, and the pull to check on Elsie was simply too strong to ignore.

"A bit," she said softly, her blue eyes sparkling.

Unable to help himself, especially standing in the place where it had happened, Charles had to ask.

"Are you sure you're quite…quite well, Mrs. Hughes?"

"Of course, Mr. Carson." Elsie said, looking up into his face in confusion. "Why ever would I not be?"

Refusing to meet her eyes, Charles cleared his throat meaningfully instead of answering her with words.

Finally grasping his concern, Elsie rolled her eyes before closing the distance between them to place her hand on his arm.

"Heavens, one would think you were the blushing bride, what with all these virginal theatrics, Mr. Carson. There's nothing to be concerned about."

"I behaved in an absolutely appalling manner, I…"

Widening her eyes and raising her hand, Elsie cut him off. "Making love to me was appalling?"

"It…we aren't yet wed, Mrs. Hughes. It isn't proper, and you are worthy of so much better."

"Oh, pish tosh. We've did the whole thing backwards anyway, Mr. Carson. I don't see why the wedding night should be different."

"Backwards?" Charles said, his eyebrows raising nearly to his hairline in confusion.

"Well, yes." Elsie said, chuckling at his expression.

"Most couples are practically strangers to each other on their wedding day. Us, on the other hand, well we've spent nearly every day together for greater than twenty years! We've seen each other through sickness and injury, births and deaths, war and happy times. We've shared thousands of meals, and even more conversations. And instead of being wed and then growing old together…"

"We've grown old and then wed. Backwards." Charles finished for her, realization dawning on him as he finally understood.

Elsie smiled brightly, proud of her man for finally getting there.

Determined to continue wallowing in his guilt, Charles tried another tack. "It's because of my age I should have had better control over my behavior, I should have…"

Shaking her head in frustration, Elsie laughed.

"It needed to happen because of your bloody perfect behavior! How else was I to know…well, to know that you wanted me?"

Her voice had lowered with the saying of it, and Charles found himself distracted by the blush on her cheeks.

"I did tell you so, Elsie." He said softly, his uncertainty falling away at her unexpected vulnerability.

"I know you did, Charlie." Elsie said, meeting his eyes. "But there is hearing, and there is knowing."

Lifting her shoulders in a small shrug, she said simply, "Now I know."