A/N: Hi! Here's another chapter! Thank you again for the reviews! They really do mean so much!

Merry reading!

Charles now sat alone in his pantry. He stared in bewilderment at the wine glass that Elsie had slammed onto the table. Why was the whole situation getting to her so much? He knew that she cared, as a friend, for his well-being but it was a decision that he had to make.

"Silly man!" Elsie grumbled as she took the pins from her hair, wincing when she accidentally pulled out a few strands. She slammed the pins onto the vanity and walked over to the window. She opened it and breathed in the fresh air, hoping that it would calm her.

She ran her hand over one of the curtains as she thought about what a scene she had made in Charles' pantry. The poor man was probably wondering what on Earth her problem. Elsie blushed as she thought about exactly what that was. "Oh, Elsie…" She sighed. "You're too old for those sorts of feelings."

Charles laughed at himself as he knew all too well that he'd gone to her for advice. Elsie was his closest friend, not just at Downton but the closest friend that he'd ever had. He confided in her things that he'd never dream of telling anyone else but not once did she judge him, or so she never seemed. However, this was the time when he needed her the most, to understand why he had to go and therefore support him, but she was upstairs, away from him, and undoubtedly angry.

Charles, being as blind as he was, couldn't figure out where her anger came from and so sighed, "She never did like Lady Mary."

Elsie walked over to her beside table to have a sip of water but realised that she'd left her glass in the kitchen. She tutted at herself in frustration before heading downstairs to get it. Luckily, she hadn't already changed into her nightclothes. Not that it mattered much anyway as the rest of the staff had long retired before her and Charles had shared the leftover wine and he would have followed shortly after she had stormed out of his pantry. That also meant that she wouldn't have to avoid him whilst getting her glass. Elsie let out a short, dry laugh. At least something was going right.

Or not.

She stopped dead in her tracks, a few drops of water spilling over the edge of her glass. "What is he still doing up?" She asked the light that was leaking from under Charles' pantry door. Maybe he had just forgotten to blow the candle out. It wouldn't be the first time (no matter how much he denied it).

She moved over to the door and put her hand on the handle, ready to open it, but stopped again when she heard him speaking.

The door flew open and Charles soon found himself in the presence of a very infuriated housekeeper.

"She never did like Lady Mary?" She spat.

Charles tried his best to remain calm, "Mrs Hugh-"

"Don't you dare 'Mrs Hughes' me!"

He started blankly at her. He didn't know what quite else to say.

"I know you fail to see what is right in front of your eyes, Mr Carson," She said his name sarcastically. "But I thought that you would at least hold me in greater esteem rather than believe that I wouldn't want you to leave with someone purely for the fact that I do not like them!"

"I…" He struggled for words.

"Do you honestly think me so selfish? Do you?" Her anger was constantly rising.

"N-"

"Do not get me wrong, I sometimes do have thoughts that I would never care to admit but don't we all?" She took a deep breath. "Is it so difficult for you to believe that I was only thinking of you through all of this? Not Lady Mary and not even mys…" She trailed off before her emotion caused her to say too much. It was making quite the habit of doing that recently.

"Yes." He simply said. It wasn't a lie. It was indeed difficult for him to imagine that she'd worry so much solely for him. Of course, she misunderstood entirely.

"Right. I see." Elsie nodded. "I'm just that bitter, old housekeeper, am I?"

Charles couldn't make himself speak.

She laughed bitterly although he could see the hurt in her eyes, "You know, I always thought you saw me in a different light to everybody else." Her gaze fell to the floor and her tone became softer, "I always thought you were the only one who did but the silly thing was that I wouldn't have asked for it to be anyone else."

Charles cleared his throat and tried to speak.

Elsie shook her head, "There's no need to say anything. Goodnight, Mr Carson. I shall see you in the morning."