A./N.: A rather short chapter for this story, but I need to find my way back to the heart of Elsie's story. I had to bring Elsie's sister into the plot and then focus on the happier aspects of the future with Charles. I don't have a sister, but I have a dear friend who is always there when I need her. Since we know each other for 20 years now, she has become a sort of adoptive sister. Hope you enjoy reading this chapter. Please leave a review and tell me what you think.

Overcoming Distances

Dearest Glenna,

I know that I haven't corresponded with you in weeks. The reason for that is, that I haven't felt myself lately. Even now I can barely bring myself to write to you.

It has nothing to do with not trusting you, but I'm afraid to disappoint you, to appear altered and unworthy in your eyes. You are the only family I have left and your approval means the world to me. When we were children, it was so easy to talk to each other. Then I went into service and you married and suddenly we seemed to speak different languages. You always told me that to be married and having children were the highest aims of any woman.

That may be, but in service you hear differently. The housekeepers I worked for always told us to be wary of men, to not let pretty words fool us, and to never allow a man to take advantage of us. It is a speech I myself have given to countless girls. I know well that they have mocked me for it, calling me a bitter, old spinster behind my back. It had hurt, I admit that, but with time it became part of my mantel as housekeeper.

Everything has changed now. Suddenly I understand what you have been telling me for years, but my words have also come back to haunt my every waking hour.

There is no gentle way of broaching this subject; there is only the hard truth. Three months ago I have been attacked by a vile and cruel man. Please do not hold the Family responsible for not informing you earlier. I have begged them not to send word to you. I couldn't bear the thought of you knowing about my shame, but now I can no longer hide it from the world.

Glenna, I am with child … and I am terrified.

Mr Carson has asked me to marry him to protect my honour and to give my child a name. He is my dearest friend and I believe I may have fallen in love with him. His care for me and my unborn child suggests that he loves me, more than his words could.

I pray that this won't alter your feelings for me and that I can count on your advice and help in my hour of need.

Your devoted sister,

Elsie

oOoOoOo

Elsie had trembled from head to toe when she had posted the letter. Beryl had stood beside her and had silently given her support, touching her arm with warm fingers and lending her sturdy bulk for Elsie to lean against. It had been the closest the two friends had been since Beryl's admission of her own guilt. For a few days the two women had danced around each other, slowly gravitating back towards one another and building their friendship anew. Both had been acutely aware of the other's feeling of having let down one's friend.

Sending that letter had been the hardest thing Elsie had ever done in her life.

Over the years the two Hughes sisters had mainly communicated through letters. For a simple reason; distance. Glenna lived in Lytham St. Anne's and Elsie in Downton. The only down time Elsie had was during the Season, but even then she couldn't just up and leave the Abbey to visit her sister, since she was the de facto Head of House as the highest ranking member of staff and no family member present.

With each letter it had become more difficult for them both to express their feelings and thoughts to each other. A letter just felt impersonal and cold.

Now Elsie's only means of communication with the person she needed most was a stupid letter, an unfeeling piece of paper, a bloodless vessel of written words. She just prayed it would be enough to convey her regret, her shame, and her need.

oOoOoOo

"Glenna, luv?" Brian's voice rang through the farm house and into the kitchen, where his wife was obviously in the middle of baking bread.

Glenna was standing over the kitchen table with a smirch of flour on her nose and flour-dust sprinkled in her hair. She had her sleeves rolled up and was industriously kneading the dough for another loaf of bread. Her hair had slightly come undone and there were beads of perspiration on her forehead, but her face shone with happiness and laughter. Looking around the room, Brian could see their daughter-in-law sitting at the kitchen table, peeling potatoes for their dinner. She was in the middle of telling an apparently highly amusing story.

Now, though, his wife focussed her attention on him. "No need to shut the house down, my man," she said archly. "What is it?"

Brian chuckled at Glenna's fire. It was one of the reasons why he had married her. He came into the kitchen and stepped behind his wife, wrapping an arm around her waist and pressing a kiss to her cheek. "It's your sister," he said with twinkling eyes. "She's send a letter and here you were getting worried," he teased, laughing as his wife gasped in joy. He raised his hand with the letter high up in the air.

Glenna, as short-built as her sister, tried to snatch it from his, but couldn't reach it. "Give it here, Brian!" she demanded at last, hanging onto his arm.

"I want a kiss for it." Brian's eyes shone mischievously down at her.

"Oh, you," Glenna huffed good-naturedly and made a big show of pursing her lips and leaning in towards her husband. Their lips were barely touching and Brian let his guard down. His arms dropped to encircle her waist, but Glenna quickly grabbed the letter and danced out of his reach, grinning victoriously. "You're still too slow," she laughed. Then she tore open the letter and began to read.

Brian couldn't be really angry at her. He knew from years of marriage how close the two Hughes sisters were, even despite the distance between them. Elsie's letters always meant the world to his wife, the only connection they were able to maintain as their lives drifted apart more and more. Watching Glenna eagerly tearing open the seal and fairly devouring her sister's letter, he smiled indulgently at her and wondered if they might have enough put by to finally afford a trip to Downton. Suddenly Glenna's face drained of all colour and her eyes widened to the size of saucers. He wondered what Elsie might have written. When he caught sight of Glenna swaying softly on the spot and her hand going out to brace herself against the table, Brian lunged towards her. Before he could wrap his arm around his wife, she took a steadying breath and turned towards him. Her eyes swam in unshed tears.

"Oh God, Brian," she whispered, her voice breaking and the tears falling from her eyes and running down her cheeks.

Brian was shell-shocked, seeing his usually cheerful wife this distraught, and quickly wrapped his arms around her. He drew her head to his shoulder and rubbed her back soothingly.

"What is it, a leannan?" he asked softly, kissing her temple gently.

Glenna began sobbing. She wrapped her arms tightly around her husband and pressed her face into his chest, trying to block out what she had read, seeking comfort in his warm presence. Her mind was unable to comprehend what had happened to her Elsie. All her mind produced was an image of Elsie as a five year old girl, crying because she had scraped her knee, or the image of a fourteen year old Elsie, shyly standing beside her at a local ceilidh and nervously observing the boys rough-housing.

She felt her insides clench together and bile rising in her throat, as she tried to wrap her mind around the fact that her little sister had been … she couldn't even think the word.

"Brian", she whispered hoarsely, "I need to get to Downton as soon as possible."

Without a moment's hesitation Brian McKenzie nodded and tightened his arms around his wife. "Ian can manage. We'll be on the first train tomorrow morning." It didn't matter at the moment what had happened. It only mattered to get Glenna to Elsie.