"Mr. Carson, shall we…walk back together?" Elsie scurried to catch up to him when he paused to consider her question, smiling to herself when he shuffled to place her to the inside, the way any gentleman would for his lady. They walked along in companionable silence until the Abbey came into view from a small rise in the road. Turning to look down, he studied her with unabashed curiosity, causing her to blush and turn her own gaze to study the tips of their shoes between them. What happens next?

"You meddle far too much."

She raised her eyebrows, this was not what she'd been expecting to hear.

"I will not argue about it again. It had to be done."

"Yes, it did." He'd stopped walking all together at this point, so she turned to face him.

"My my, you agree with me now?" She took his silence to mean he did. "Well, you got there in the end."

"I know I snapped at you, and was rather harsh at first but, truly, thank you, for what you did."

A small smile graced her lips and she stepped towards him.

"I know, I act on what I believe is the right thing, and will occasionally refuse to admit it if I'm wrong, but I only ever have your best interests at heart. I didn't do this to purposely hurt you, I knew it was for the best."

"And you were right. It just took me a while to see that."

"Say that again."

"You were right."

He could have sworn he saw her eyes sparkle, and her lips twitch upwards slightly before pursing and her face returning to its neutral housekeeper expression.

"Thank you Mr Carson, I appreciate that. But I'm just glad you parted in a more civil manner than before."

He gave a small nod in agreement and they began walking again.

"He informed me before he left, Grigg, that he and Alice hadn't worked out, they separated long ago."

Silently she was listening, but she waited for him to continue.

"And she wanted him to tell me she'd loved me instead."

Her features softened. After seeing the longing looks he'd given the photograph he'd found, she could well believe this was something of a comfort.

But instead he sighed, "She died five years ago." His voice wavering as he told her.

Biting her lip she glanced at him for a moment, he wore the same forlorn expression he had as he'd made his way along the platform before she'd scurried after him.

"But he wanted me to know, he never intended to steal her away. It was entirely her choice to leave me. Therefore, I cannot know if her words are of any comfort."

She turned as they reached the entrance to the servant's hall.

"I take it it's wine this evening then?"

And finally, something had brought a smile to his face.

I wrote something canon that was platonic and accurate with no hint of romance ;_; Something of a first.

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