One or two lines here were shamelessly stolen from the movie Quartet. I regret nothing! Thank you all for your lovely reviews, follows and favorites. Someday I'll get around to replying to you all. Hope you enjoy :)
"Oh my god, Mrs Hughes are you alright?"
"What happened?"
"The tent just sorta hit her."
"Max! He's escaped from his cage, Phyllis, can you help me catch him?"
"Of course."
"Out of the way please"
"You heard the man, Tom get out the way!"
"Alright Mr Carson, calm down!"
"It would be appreciated" Elsie groaned, keeping her eyes closed "if you could all shut the hell up."
"How do you feel Elsie?" Dr Clarkson asked, kneeling down next to her and checking her pulse. She opened her eyes and gave him an exasperated look
"I just got hit over the head by a tent leg, how do you think I bloody well feel?"
She heard Beryl chuckle from somewhere behind her
"Alright she'll live." She said "all of you clear out."
"Does it hurt anywhere other than your head?" Dr Clarkson asked
"No."
"Follow my finger please" He ordered, moving his finger from left to right.
"Should I drive her to hospital?" Charles asked
"I don't think that'll be nessacary" Dr Clarkson said "Beryl could you fetch some ice please? Mosley has kindly lent us his camp cot, so I think we'll let her lie down for awhile with some ice. Give her some aspirin, she'll be fine."
"Who's she, the cats mother?" Elsie grumbled as the two men pulled her to her feet. A wave of dizziness washed over her as she stood, causing her to lean quite heavily onto Charles. Richard shot him an 'I told you so' look before helping her over and letting her lie down.
"Is this really necessary? I'm perfectly fine."
"Ms Hughes, I would prefer it if you lay down for a while. That was quite a knock." Charles coaxed
"Oh very well then" she sighed "but what about my dogs?"
"Isobel and I will see to them." Dr Clarkson assured her "Charles can stay here with you"
Elsie opened her mouth to reply that she was not a three year old and didn't require anyone to sit with her when she thought the better of it. It would be quite nice to be fussed over by Charles even if she was lying down and had no excuse to lean on him.
"Very well" she huffed "but only for a little while."
Beryl came back into the tent and handed the Doctor a bag of ice which he placed on Elsie's head.
"I'm really sorry that I can't sit with you" Beryl fussed "but I'm in the ring in ten minutes."
"I'm staying with her." Charles told her "don't you worry."
Beryl raised her eyebrows in surprise but dutifully left when Charles calmly met her gaze. He then picked up a camp chair and plonked it next to her.
"Are you sure you're alright?" He asked as he sat down.
"Perfectly. No doubt I'll have a lump the size of an egg but I'm fine."
"And you'll tell me if you're feeling un well?" Charles asked, melting her heart with his worried expression.
"If you insist." She smiled, hoping that they could change the subject.
"Good" he said, returning her smile "I don't want you to hurt yourself."
Elsie playfully rolled her eyes at him and patted his hand before closing her eyes and leaving her hand resting lightly on his. A few minutes later she heard him start to hum, something that sounded suspiciously like a love song from the 19th century. His deep, melodic voice relaxed her and she enjoyed listening to him and the chatter of the people gossiping like housewives.
"What are you thinking?" Elsie asked him quietly.
"Nothing worth mentioning" he told her and continued to hum.
"Thank you for the renta crowd you and Ivy made up outside the ring earlier" he added a while later "its always nice to have support."
Elsie chuckled
"I think the judge thought we were completely off our heads, but it was worth it."
"I think he found it entertaining. No one ever shows support for anyone else these days."
"That's true" she agreed
"Elsie, would you like to have dinner with me sometime?" Charles suddenly asked. Elsie's eyes flew open in surprise
'Did...did he just ask me out?' She wondered
"What?" She asked stupidly
"Nothing...nevermind. Its not important." He stuttered, getting up from his chair and backing away "listen, I've just remembered I said I'd help Mary hold dogs...I have to go."
"Charles wait!" She called after him but he had already vanished from sight. Elsie swore loudly and thumped her fist on his vacated chair.
"What on earth was that about?" Anna asked, as she came into the tent
"I think Mr Carson just asked me out" Elsie said with a frown
"He did?" Anna asked excitedly
"Only I'm not too sure because he left."
"He asked you out and then walked away?" Anna confirmed, raising one eyebrow
"He ran." Elsie exclaimed "oh Anna, what do I do?"
Anna sat down in the chair that he had left.
"Well do you want to go out with him?" She asked
"I don't know...maybe...oh alright! Yes I do." Elsie muttered as she squirmed slightly. Finally the man she'd been in love with for god knows how long asks her out and she goes and mucks it up by sounding like an idiot. Why on earth didn't she just say yes?
"Well then the solution is simple" Anna stated trying, and failing, to hide her grin "when Dr Clarkson gives you the all clear to get up go and find him and explain. It might help if you pretended to be dizzy."
"You're a little minx you know that?" Elsie teased "I may have to lean on you."
"Lean on Mr Carson, you'll be much safer." Anna replied "and he'll love it because he adores you."
"He said that did he?" Elsie asked.
"Who said what?" Dr Clarkson asked, returning and tossing a rosette towards Elsie. "I got you reserve best of breed. You're welcome."
"Oscar give you hell did he?" She asked cheerfully. Oscar, her champion dog was a menace to show. Some days he went like a dream and others he pulled you along and barked at everything in sight. Elsie had long given up trying to install some manners into him.
"Hell is putting it mildly." He sighed "how are you feeling?"
"Perfectly fine thank you. Can I get up now? I do have a show to run." She asked, batting her eyelids.
"Very well" he said, rolling his eyes "but if you feel dizzy or ill I want you lie down again."
"Deal!" She said happily causing Anna to laugh.
Elsie carefully stood up, not wanting to show any sort of dizziness to the doctor
"Now don't over do it." He advised, "if I see you dashing around like mad I'll get Beryl to lock you in the kitchen."
"Alright alright" she muttered "I'll behave."
"I'll believe that when I see it" he teased. Elsie ignored him and walked out of the tent. She had a chairman to find.
Our show season has come to an end. So now I go crazy and stalk my friends on Facebook for the next 3 months. Ahh well. All reviews are most welcomed! Only one chapter after this one :) :)