Thanks for the reviews. Here's chapter five.

Elsie felt his arms surround her and wept with relief. She melted into his warm embrace and felt him shake as he wept with her. Neither was sure how long they sat there, entwined in one another. Charles desperately clutched her to him, but felt her wince as they shifted.

He didn't know how, but he knew he needed to stop her from hurting. He decided the first step was to see what injuries she had suffered and began to pull back in an attempt to survey her state. He was prevented from moving by her hands clenching his shirt, knuckles white from the pressure of her grip.

Elsie had buried her face in his chest, the need to feel the safety of his embrace overwhelming any other thoughts at the moment. She felt a hand brush gently through her mussed hair. "Mrs. Hughes." Still not ready to move from her safe place she kept a tight grip on his front.

"Elsie, please, let me look at you. I need to know you're alright." Keeping one arm firmly around her back he stroked his fingers over her knuckles and placed a kiss in her hair, trying to ease the tension out of her body. The sight of his swollen and bruised hand prompted a gasp from her.

Immediately, he stilled his movements. "What? What is it? Have I hurt you?"

"Charles your hand!" She lightly grasped his hand between hers, pulling it in closer for inspection. He couldn't believe his eyes. This darling woman, blood on her face, cheek beginning to swell and god knows what else was hurting, was concerned about the state of his hand.

Completely overwhelmed, he stilled her ministrations with his freehand. Her eyes met his, confusion written across her face. He brought her hands to his lips, pressing kisses to her knuckles, then palms. "You darling woman." Tears welled in her eyes once more, the events of the night bringing out heightened emotions in them both.

He brought his hand to her face, brushing his thumb across her injured cheek. He felt a great need to get her someone where safe. "Are you alright?"

She took in a deep breath, "I will be, thanks to you," she shuddered at the thought of what almost happened. Trying to not let himself think about what would have happened had he continued walking, he sprang into action. He eased her out of his embrace and kneeled before her.

"What hurts?" he asked plainly, needing to know how he could help.

Wanting to spare him as much as possible, Elsie carefully considered her words. "I think it was more the shock than anything. I'll be fine once we're back at the house Mr. Carson." She didn't realize she had dropped gaze until she felt his finger gently tipping her face up to meet his eyes.

"Elsie, I saw that man strike you. I saw how they- how roughly they-handled you. Please. I need to help." The sincerity she saw in his eyes broke her resolve.

"Well, I think I twisted my ankle when he grabbed me. And I'll have bruises- well I'll have bruises elsewhere, but there's not much to be done about that." She reached for him and he pulled her up off the ground, gingerly tucking her tight to his side to keep the weight off her ankle.

"We will go to the hospital now, and to the police right after, once I know you're alright." At this, she halted his movements.

"Charles no, my ankle is just twisted, not broken, and everything else can be tended to once we're back."

"Elsie I will not take chances with your health. I need to be sure-"

"But I am sure, and this is my decision." They were pressed tightly together, faces only inches apart and he knew she wouldn't relent.

"Straight to the police and then home." He watched as she shook her head.

"Elsie the police need to be informed so they can catch these men, so they can be locked up for what they did. For what they tried to do!"

"But don't you see? They won't be. They didn't, well they didn't finish what they tried to do and I was a part of it-walking home this late by myself. Did you recognize any of them? They're not locals they'll be across the county before the police do anything about it, meanwhile, I'll be questioned and scorned by a group of men pretending they don't believe I deserved what I got." She was shaking again, shocked by her words and the emotion behind him, he hugged her to him and rested his chin in her hair.

"Don't you ever think that you deserved any of what happened. You are the most kind, most honourable woman I have ever known. These men need to be punished for their actions"

She leaned back and stroked his cheek. "This is not a fair world Charles Carson, but thanks to you I believe they will think twice before ever trying that again." He leaned into her hand, so soft and gentle. He still disagreed with her. This needed to be reported, but this wasn't the place to have this discussion. She was exhausted, battered, and needed to be cared for.

God, she was beautiful, his eyes flicked to the lips he so desperately wanted to feel against his own. Mortified by his thoughts in the wake of what had just happened, he wrapped an arm around her once more. "Let's get you home."

He missed the disappointment that flashed across her face. For a moment, she thought that he would kiss her. She leaned into his side as they started their journey home. They walked in silence, both lost in thought. The brief thought flashed through her mind that he wouldn't want her after she had been touched by those men. But she knew this wasn't the case, Charles cared for her. In fact, they had touched more tonight than they ever had in the entirety of their relationship. The thought of the events that led to their embraces made her shudder; she allowed her mind to go blank and focused on the scent of the man beside her, and the warmth of his embrace.

As always, please let me know what you think. Too out of character, or on the right track?

Thanks for reading!