Hello all! Just letting you know that updates will be few and far between this week. I'm spending all my efforts battling midterms and presentations. Here's just a short chapter update:
With the memory of the kiss to sustain him, Charles went through the morning like he was on a mission. And he was. With a clear view of what they both wanted for their future, he set about making it happen. After sending Anna up to tend to Elsie, he made a mental list of what needed to be accomplished.
He needed to look into a cottage. He told Elsie he was ready to retire, and that was true, but he wanted to find a home suitable for her, he wanted something they would be proud of, something that was also within his price range. He wasn't too worried; his frugal lifestyle had left him with a sizable savings. He would go into the village and make some inquiries.
He also needed to apply for a marriage license. He brushed his fingers over his mouth and, for a moment, imagined he could still taste her, could feel her lips on his. Yes, he would take advantage of the half days he had neglected over the years, and head into Ripon within the next few days. He did not think the request would be denied, they were two people in good standing after all.
With a plan in mind, he set about completing the work that needed to be done for the day. Thomas was serving the family, giving Charles the opportunity to work on the arrangements for the picnic the family was hosting next week.
They had decided to build new cottages on the estate and the company in charge had finished the new developments. The picnic was their thank you for a job well done.
His nose wrinkled at the thought of it. He certainly would never choose one of those buildings, in his opinion; they were an eyesore, and not at all the sort of place he had pictured them living in.
His expression softened as he pictured their living room. Small, but not cramped. Cozy, with touches of lace adorning tables and the silhouettes that currently resided in Elsie's sitting room on the walls. A photo of his beautiful wife on the mantle. Elsie herself on the settee in front of a roaring fire, hair loose around her shoulders, bright eyes focused on the pages of a book, her brow furrowed at the passage she was reading. How he would kiss her brow, she would studiously pretend to ignore his interruptions but eventually welcome his embrace as he nestled in beside her.
When he eventually snapped out of his musings Charles glanced at the clock and realized he'd been wasting too much time on dreams, and not enough effort on creating the reality. He hurriedly, but carefully, finished his work on the picnic. He would pay Elsie a visit and then head into the village. Hopefully he could surprise her with his efforts and locate some possibilities this very afternoon. They may need to wait for her to recover more thoroughly before they could look them over, but he would ensure that her wishes were met as soon as humanly possible. She deserved all of the happiness he could provide for her.
There you go! Please let me know your thoughts - will update as soon as I can.
His priorities are now clear - and they're all about Elsie!
Also - loved the developments in this week's episode.:):):)
Thanks for reading!