Hello all, I should be able to get up to date on my replies this week. Also, I believe my updates will be more consistent. Hope you enjoy reading:

Elsie wrung her hands as she paced, glancing every so often at the clock on his pantry wall. Every muscle tense, posture stiff, worry radiated from her every pore.

When it had started to creep into the afternoon, a bit of worry crossed her mind but she brushed it away, telling herself the events of earlier in the week were making her paranoid. With each hour that passed, her unease grew. Thomas had seamlessly taken over the Butler's duties as he had done the previous day, supper had gone smoothly, and no one seemed to notice that Charles wasn't there. No one but Elsie.

Now everyone had gone up and she was left alone to stew in silence. She was tempted to head to the village to search for him, even after what had happened. Her ankle was almost fully healed, and his safety was more important than her fears after all.

She continued pacing; each minute conjured up a darker and more horrifying explanation for his absence then the last. Determination infused her and she took steps towards the hallway, planning on grabbing her jacket and heading out on the path. Just before she reached the door to the hall, she froze as she heard the door being swung open and familiar footsteps coming closer.

Charles could not be more thrilled at the results of his day. He stepped off the bus, back in the village with a marriage license in hand. He almost couldn't believe his good fortune. Not only that, but as he took his first steps towards home, he ran into Mr. Gifford, a man selling a cottage he was very interested in looking at. Upon the man's insistence he went to inspect the place that very moment.

It was everything he'd dreamed of. Cozy, sturdy and comfortable. With a lovely fireplace, a simple kitchen and a bedroom with a large window overlooking a garden. The location was perfect as well, close to the Abbey, not far from the village, but secluded. Their own little paradise. And it would be, as long as he could spend every moment with his Elsie. He hoped she would like it as well; they could perhaps sneak away tomorrow so she could take a look.

He was in such a good mood that he began whistling a tune as he approached the abbey, though he quieted once he opened the door. The others must have gone up by now, he smiled as he thought of how darling Elsie must look tucked up in her bed. He was only sorry he'd have to wait until tomorrow to see her. He walked down the hall intent on placing the license in a safe place and heading up to bed. He opened the door and startled at the sight of his beloved in a most agitated state just inside the door. Immediately he went to her, his mind going into overdrive.

"What is it? What's happened? What's wrong?" He slid his hands up and down her arms as he spoke.

Elsie felt a moment of relief as she felt him touch her, as she felt that he was here and he was alright, but only for a moment, then she tensed and stepped out of his arms.

"Where on earth were you?!"

He reached for her again, "Darling, I said I had—"

"Errands yes, but I also heard 'I'll be back before you know it.' Well you weren't and I certainly knew it. Do you even know what time it is?" Charles tried to hold her once more, but her arms were waving in the air, emphasizing her words. She was getting louder with every word; he tried to quell her fears."

"I'm so sorry sweetheart, things took longer than I expected, then something else came up, in fact—"

"What? What could possibly have been so important it had to happen today? At this time -so late?" Elsie knew she was being overly harsh, but having worried so all day, only for him to come waltzing in, it was too much. "Do you know what you put me through? I thought… I thought…" She couldn't finish as she began to shake with tears, her shoulders dropped in defeat.

At the sight of his normally strong fiancée looking so defeated, Charles snapped into action. He pulled her into his arms and kept repeating his apologies whilst placing kisses in her hair. "Oh God love, I'm so sorry, I love you, I would never want to make you worry, I'm fine darling…" he was cursing himself inwardly. He should have anticipated she would be on edge from before. He knew what he needed to do.

He pulled back slightly and gently wiped the tears from her face.

"Darling I am so sorry for being so callous with your feelings, it was never my intention to be gone that long, but I had an opportunity I could not turn down."

His eyes were boring into hers, and she could see the sincerity in them. She nodded her acceptance of his apology. "What was it then, this opportunity?"

"A cottage. Elsie I think I've found our home. Of course I'd never make a decision like that without you, but I ran into Mr. Gifford, and he said it would be gone so quickly, I had to see it, to show him we're interested. Oh its perfect darling, the fireplace we'll cuddle up to on cold nights, the kitchen where we can eat our meals, and the bathroom has such a large bathtub, you can soak and read your books, and the bedroom Elsie, the view from the bedroom, if you could only see it, we should try to get away tomorrow." He stopped his rambling as he heard her laughter.

"It sounds perfect. I'm sure I'll love it as much is you. But aren't you putting the cart before the horse? What did you tell him? It's not entirely proper for unmarried people to be looking at real estate together, don't you think?"

Relieved at her happy grin, he could hear her teasing had a hint of sincerity to it. He pulled the paper out of his pocket, the object that was a key to much of their happiness.

"Ahhh, fear not my dear, the horse is already in hand, waiting to be driven."

Elsie quirked her eyebrow in question and took the paper from his hand. Charles watched her eyes widen as she read its contents.

"Charles."

"Yes darling?"

"Is this what I believe it to be? Is this truly real?"

"Hmm, I cannot answer that question as I don't know what you believe it to be, but I can confirm that it is truly real."

"How? I don't understand?"

Charles placed his hands on her shoulders; she was still clutching the paper tightly in her hands.

"Elsie, now that I know that we both want the same things from each other, for our future, I want this to happen as quickly as possible. This, you are my priority. You are my life." He took the paper from her trembling hands and placed it safely on his desk.

"If you are agreeable, I was hoping –rather, I was desperately hoping, that you will agree to becoming Mrs. Carson within the next day or two."

Elsie could almost not believe her eyes. She was speechless with her affection for this man, this incredibly wonderful man. She answered in the only way she could. She took his face in her hands and kissed him senseless.

Charles' mind went absolutely blank as her tongue plundered, seeming to stroke every bit of his mouth, tasting, searching, savouring him. His hands slid up and down her body, at first only feeling the harsh lines of the corset, but soon settled on stroking her thighs and bottom.

She revelled in his taste and touch. Eventually they broke apart, and she was able to vocalize her thoughts.

"Oh God, Charles, yes. Tomorrow. Please."

There it is. Reviews please - if you have the time.

Thanks for reading!