Joe Burns Part one (part two will of course happen when I get to 01x04)
This chapter was difficult to write because for the story to work I needed to change what is one of my favourite scenes. I hope it's worked and I haven't ruined it completely.
Standing at the entrance to the servant's dinning hall Charlie frowned at the look on Elsie's face, he'd been back at Downton for almost a month and in that time he and the housemaid had friendship. One that he was starting to rely on, he still hadn't confided in her about his past and she hadn't asked again something he was grateful for but he knew the time was coming. Right now though his concerns lay with her, she looked upset about something and he assumed the crumbled letter in her hand was the cause.
"Elsie," she looked up giving him a small smile. "What is it?"
"I received a letter off an old friend," she tapped her fingers against the folded paper. "Joe Burns, we were. Are," she trailed off keeping her eyes on the table not understanding why it was so difficult to tell Charlie about Joe. Since he'd been back at Downton she'd found herself able to tell the footman most things. She didn't speak of her sister but nobody knew about Becky, she had told him about her childhood and the death of her father which was more than she'd told anyone else. So why was this so hard, her decision had already been made Charlie's opinion wouldn't change that.
"Elsie," crossing the room he sat down beside her. "Whatever it is, I'm on your side."
She looked up quicky their eyes meeting, nobody had ever said that to her. Nobody had ever been on her side. Seeing the look of shock on her face Charlie turned his head away, he'd overstepped offended her.
"I'm sorry," he whispered keeping his gaze on the table.
"No it's," she worried her bottom lip. "It's ok. Thank you for that."
Turning back he smiled his eyes soft, "well?"
"Joe Burns, before I came here we were walking out." Charlie couldn't help feeling uncomfortable they'd never spoken about this. About relationships, love. "He's a farmer and I know that life."
"Of course you were a farmer's daughter." They shared a quick smile.
"Yes," her smile faded and she looked back down to the letter curling the corner with her fingers. "He's a nice man, he really is." She paused her teeth once again biting her lip, "he asked me to marry him."
Charlie felt his heart clench and he sank back against his chair something he would never usually do but he felt lost. Fearful. Elsie was his closest friend, his only friend really. Richard was wary of him convinced he had his eye on the first footman position and Beryl was too loud for him to spend a lot of time with. Not that they had a lot of spare time but any he did have he spent with Elsie, what would he do without her. He had other feelings about her as well, of course but he couldn't acknowledge them. Wouldn't, it was too soon. Too soon after Alice, too soon after his return. He swallowed, he might never get a chance now. She would become just another regret.
Clearing his throat he sat up wishing he was standing so he tug his livery, his own nervous habit. "You said yes?"
"I wanted to but I'm doing well here, I dont want to be a farmer's wife."
"But you do want to be someone's wife?" The words fell from his mouth before he'd realised. "I ... um ... I apologise, that was a very intrusive question that I had no right. No right what so ever to ask."
"Charlie," her voice was soft almost amused. "It's ok. I do, one day want to get married just not to a farmer. I left that life behind, I'm not that person anymore."
"Life has changed you," she nodded. "Like it's changed me."
"Yes," she reached out squeezing his arm allowing her hand to linger. "Thank you. For listening."
"We're friends, are we not?"
"We are Charlie, we are." Standing she picked up the letter, Joe was her past, life on a farm was her past. She wasn't sure what her future held, she didn't want to think about it. Not yet it was too soon, too many people relied on her to keep working that's what she needed to think about right now. "Good night."
"Good night," he stood and watched her walk away a small smile playing on his lips. She was staying, there was still hope when he was ready. If he was ever ready.
Please review if you can - thanks.