Thank you all for the feedback - I have heard and will try to update this story regularly. Which is ridiculous because I am supposed to be working on my apps for law school! Who knew writing would be so addictive?
And thanks for the welcomes - you really give a person encouragement to keep at it.
I own nothing!
Charles furrowed his brow as the ledgers blurred in front of him. He sighed and dropped his pencil, taking a moment to check the time. It was only 3:00pm, but it felt much later. And he knew why - not only did he have a difficult and early start dealing with an out of sorts Lord Grantham, but he hadn't seen Elsie all day.
His first instinct was to chastise himself for addressing her in such a casual manner - even if it was merely in his thoughts. However he couldn't find it in his heart to do so. The fiery Scottish housekeeper had captured his heart years ago, but it was her actions in the surf last year that had helped him understand his own feelings. It was so like her, bravely holding out her hand, guiding him to the next step of their relationship. He knew he had been moving at a slow pace, but every moment he spent with her filled him with such happiness he could feel it in his very soul.
He knew this pace would change. With his birthday soon approaching he had made up his mind. He was getting older, no matter how much he denied it; he was quickly becoming an old man. Years ago, Elsie asked him his thoughts on the future and of course - being the fool that he was he blustered on about responsibilities and walking the halls of the abbey until the grave. Every day he watched her lovely form weave her calming magic through the house, he knew he wanted to spend the rest of his years treasuring her as she deserved. She needed to come first and be treated like the lady she was. He had decided to leave his cherished post to cherish the woman he loved.
He just needed to work up the courage to ask her. He was confident that she was fond of him, but there were still doubts niggling at the back of his mind. Did she love him in the same ways that he loved her? Truly, madly and deeply with a foundation of friendship and trust that spanned the years? He smiled and shook his head at his sentimentality. Once he had held her delicate hand in his, his emotions raced ahead of him while he desperately tried to hold them back. There was nothing for it but to take the leap. She was a woman of courage and that is what she deserved from him.
He glanced at the clock again. 3:15. Elsie would be gone all day taking her time off away from the abbey, she had left a message for him with Mrs. Patmore. What a shame, the family had left this morning; it was a rare day when they both had some free time.
He was struck with an idea. Why couldn't they spend time together today? She was only in the village and he could treat her to tea and a treat at the local shop. Shoving back from his desk he stood and made his way to the pantry door, only to be met on the other side by Mr. Molesley. He sighed inwardly and waited for the man to speak.
"Mr., uh, Mr. Carson, I was wondering, that is, well-"
"Oh for goodness sakes man. Come inside and get on with it." He stepped aside and let the man pass. When it became clear that this would be a long conversation, he retook his position behind his desk.
When Molesley finally spoke his piece and left the office, he had rattled on so long that Mr. Carson still wasn't entirely sure what it was the footman had wanted. He took a deep breath to contain his anger. A surprising amount of time had passed so he quickly left the house before he encountered further delays.
What he found in the village was a series of further frustrations amounting to a train wreck. Every person he spoke to had just seen Elsie and every establishment he'd entered he managed to just miss her. In the last place he'd ventured, widow Parker was closing up shop and kept him for a half hour at least. That woman was an insufferable gossip.
He left the shop and took in the darkened skies, knowing that Elsie would have returned home long ago he began the walk back to the abbey, the heavy air adding to his dark mood. As he reached the edge of the village, he noticed a group of rowdy men walking ahead of him on his regular path. Wanting to avoid all interactions with people after the events of the day he changed directions to take the long way home.
Bit of a cliffhanger I know, but I want you to keep coming back:) Chapter three is in progress now so it won't be long.
Let me know what you think. Too much time on his thoughts? Need a change of pace?
Thanks for reading!