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"I want you to touch me."

Shocked by her statement, Charles immediately withdrew his hand from hers and recoiled in his chair. "You what?"

Trembling from his physical rejection of her words, her tears began to fall in earnest. She wrapped her arms around herself and brought her knees to her chest, curling up for comfort. In this moment, she wanted to disappear, she didn't understand him.

Charles watched as she fell apart in front of him. Startled by her earlier proclamation and sudden change in demeanor, he moved his chair closer and began softly stroking her back, attempting to sooth her.

At the feel of his hand on her back she voiced the thoughts tumbling through her mind. She pushed her words out through the tears and sobs that had taken over.

"What is it then? You've thought about what they did to me? No longer want something so damaged, something that's been soiled by another man's touch? I'm just an unfortunate old woman to be taken care of now, is that it?" Even as the words poured out of her, she knew they weren't true. That's not the man that he was, but she was in no mood to play his silly games. She thought they had gotten past them last night.

Charles was completely and utterly astonished. How had this happened? How had he managed to hurt her before she'd even eaten breakfast? He was overcome by the need to explain himself. He slid quickly onto the bed and pulled her to his chest, frantic in his explanations.

"No, my god, no Elsie. That's not it at all. How could you possible think- oh god I'm so sorry love. I just, I feel so much, I want you so much. I'm afraid, that is – I don't want you to feel afraid, that is - there's no possible way I could see you as soiled, you must know that!"

Through his ramblings, Elsie began to understand. The daft man. She still needed him to understand where her fears were coming from. Lifting her head from her knees she looked him directly in the eyes as she spoke.

"Charles Carson, I told you last night and I'll tell you again now, in no circumstance would I ever feel unsafe with you. The only thing I'm afraid of is that you will withdraw from me, again, like you have done over and over in the past. I just couldn't take it, not after what we've said to each other, after what has happened. I need you."

When she finished he hung his head in shame, knowing the truth of her words. He still felt the need to explain.

"I don't want to rush you. Not after what happened."

She couldn't help the laugh that bubbled out of her at that statement.

"If there's one thing that can be said of our relationship, it's that it hasn't been rushed." She placed her hand on his cheek; lifting his face so he could see her expression, see what she was trying to tell him.

"Charles I have never been a wilting flower and what's happened isn't going to change that. I am a woman who knows her mind, knows what she wants. I want you by my side helping me through this, and I need to know that you can talk to me about what you're feeling. I can't live with the constant fear that you will retreat into yourself, and you need to know that you can freely express your emotions and that I will accept you no matter what they are. We need to communicate what we are thinking. What I want is you. I want to feel a touch motivated by love, from the man that I love very much. But only if he feels the same way."

His spirits lifted with every word of her speech. A tender smile crept onto his face before he spoke.

"Never doubt that the man you love, loves you. And desires you very much."

Shout out to Julian Fellowes for that last line.

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