They are both lying in their bed. Elsie resting her head on his chest.
"You're using a new shampoo, aren't you?"Charles whispers.
"I am. I didn't think you'd notice it."She smiles against his chest.
"Lemon isn't it?"He asks.
"Yes. You got a good nose."Elsie moves a bit to look into his eyes."A very good one indeed."
She places a small kiss on his big nose. They fell silent for a moment. Only the quiet sounds of the fire can be heard.
"When did you first fell in love with me?"Suddenly Charles asks with a soft voice.
"What brought this on?"She wonders.
"Nothing particular."He answers.
She thought for a moment.
"I gathet it was when the flu hit the Abbey."Elsie tolds as she moved back to rest her head on his chest.
"The spanish flu."He whispers.
"When I found you in your pantry, more that unwell..."She slightly shakes her head."I'm glad you're alright now."
"More than alright. I am happy and bursting with pride...And I got you."Charles kisses her hair.
"Flatterer."She smiles."Well when was that, you fell in love with me?"
"Hmm...Let me think."He fakes to be thinking hard."I would say..The first time I saw you. You were wearing that old dress and looked so short-..."
"And that's why you fell in love with me? I was short."Elsie laughed hard.
"Well not really. Your blue eyes shone like the stars at night or the sun by day."Charles continues."And the beautiful auburn hair..Any man would have fallen for that."
"Charles Carson. You are a very much like a flatterer."She looked at his eyes."Just how you should."
They both lean in, and soon their lips were touching in a brief kiss.
"I gather this has come a night of questions and answers."She smiles.
"Sounds like fun to me."He pulls her closer."Now is your turn."
"My turn?"Elsie looked at him, in surprise and questioning.
"To ask your question, my dear."Charles says.
"Ah that. Very well."She nods.
"So do you have any questions?"He asks.
"Actually I have..."She bites her upper lip, before continuing."When I had the...Cancer scare. Would you have married me even if I had cancer? Even if I propably had died...Not long after we would have been married."
"I would have."He says plainly.
His wife turns to look into his eyes.
"You really would have?"She
"Yes. Do you really think I could leave you on your own? I would have married you when I first saw you, if it was possible then."Charles cups her cheek with his hand.
"You see only Mrs. Patmore was supposed to know about it, but in the end...You and even her ladyship knew about it."She says.
"I would have married you, any day, any hour or minute if I just could have had the courage, my love."He was now softly storking her cheek.
"Even if I was going to die?"Elsie whisper and it's barely a whisper.
"Now you won't talk like that, darling. You weren't going to die. Nor will you die in a long time."Charles tolds.
He leans to kiss her lips.
"I love you, Charles. So terribly much."Elsie pulls herself closer to him.
"And I love you too, Mrs. Carson."He smiles.
She shows him warm smile. Adoring and soft.
"What about some sleep now?"She suggests.
"Sounds good. But only if you sleep with me."He says.
"Always..."Her voice is taken off when they reach each other's lips for a kiss.
They both drift off to the dream land...Safely in each other's arms.