A/N: We have left Anna in bed, sick with the flu. Edith is already plotting and planning something for Anna, but Edith herself has just had her very first proper snog! In Chapter 5 we left Mr Carson and Mrs Hughes in their 'tent', with a letter, a gramophone and a bottle of champagne. Let find out how they get on, shall we?

(yes, you are right... this may not be safe for work/school/library, though i have tried to keep things... subdued...)

"You worry too much." she said and leaned in to kiss him. He could feel his muscles tense under her hands as she placed them from his cheeks on his shoulders.

"There is nobody here." she whispered with her lips on his. "Nobody knows. We have always been utterly discreet. Though, if one person knows, everyone knows and we would have been told and since nobody has ever come to us to say: "We know what you're up to in that parlour." I think we had best not worry about it and enjoy this picnic." She got up from the bench and opened the hamper. She placed the letter carefully on a plaid and put a jar of honey partially on the corner of the envelope, so it wouldn't fly away in a gust of wind.

He observed her as she busied herself with sandwiches. After all these years she was still so beautiful. Charles had often wondered what it was that made Elsie Hughes being the only woman who could make his heart beat faster and his thoughts turn to only her. She was not pretty in any conventional sense. Elsie was tall and stood her ground. She was confident and caring. She had a very shapely figure that for unknown reasons was kept hidden under dark dresses and countless skirts. Though all of these were assets Charles was very pleased about, it was her gentle grace that did it for him. While Elsie would never dress herself up in a frock made for a lady, Charles knew she would be as beautiful, as graceful and as elegant as her ladyship. Though Elsie, it had to be said, was a little more... stacked.

And he wouldn't want it any other way.

She got up from the floor and picked up two plates.

"What are you looking at?" she asked, handing him a plate, filled with sandwiches, some cold cuts and pickles.

"You. I was looking at you." he said, being truthful. She smiled at him. "You never change." she said. She sat down next to him and started on a sandwich.

"I did not even know i was this hungry until i opened that basket and found all this food. There are strawberries and cream too. Anna outdid herself with all of this."

"Don't you want to read the letter?" he asked.

"I will read it when you have opened that bottle of champagne." Elsie replied. Her tone was carefree and teasing. He could feel her leg pressed up against his. There were so many layers of cloth between them, but the touch tingled. Trying not to think about that, he grabbed the fork and put a slice of cold roast beef in his mouth. He turned to face her and smiled with his mouth closed. He swiftly picked up the bottle and with a soft 'pop' he pulled the stopper from the neck. He poured Elsie a glass and handed it to her. "You letter awaits..."

"Alright, you nosy old thing!" Elsie exclaimed and she pecked him on the nose. "I will read that letter. I doubt there will be anything in there that i wouldn't have told you about anyway." Elsie leaned forward to put her plate on the floor and as she got up, he could not help himself. He reached out and stroked her magnificent bottom. She turned to him and bend over his head, pressing his head against her chest. He heard her voice in his ear, softer than a whisper: "That's more like it..."

When she felt his hand on her bottom, a rush of blood ran through her body. She remembered rushing through the halls, getting a wrap from the hook by the door and running over the lawn to the pond and seeing him standing here in the folly, tall and broad and solid. The things she had allowed him to do to her, the things she had allowed herself to do; if she had ever caught a maid do the same, she would have fired her on the spot.

She felt almost overwhelmed with desire... Not now... first she had to read the letter. She was curious. What could Anna have written to her that she did not already know from the note? She picked up the envelope and opened it. Still standing next to the hamper, Elsie began to read.

"Dear Mrs Hughes,

I hope you and Mr Carson are enjoying the picnic. It was hard thinking of a surprise for the both of you and i wanted to thank you both for your kindness while John was in York.

I will not pretend it was an easy time, but you kept me busy, you listened when i wanted to talk and when i wanted to hand in my notice, you held me when i cried.

It is wonderful to have someone who will hold you and dries your tears when you can't find it within yourself to do it.

You supported us when we decided to get married and you stood by me all this time when we were in such uncertainty. You gave me time off so i could see John whenever you could and i know you undertook some of the tasks that were mine to do.

Mrs Hughes, i know why you have protected and comforted me so.

I have seen how you sometimes look at Mr Carson. I know you love him. I know you never will do anything about it, but perhaps you should consider telling him. You may be pleasantly surprised. Maybe you haven't noticed it, but he looks at you in much the same way. When the two of you stand together, you lean towards each other. Like John and i do when we stand anywhere. I know i am speaking out of term, but i just want you to be as happy as i am. I think you really deserve it. Remember it is never too late to take a chance on happiness. Look at me: i have John with me, a good place and a house of my own to care for.

It could happen to you.

With much love,

Anna"

"Oh Anna..." she started, her words choking in her throat. She turned to Charles, who was looking worried.

"She is just... so sweet, Charles. So sweet." Elsie could not say out loud what she truly thought. That Anna was the girl she looked upon as a daughter. Of course she would never cross the line and tell Anna this, but the letter and surprise meant a lot to Elsie. The letter was filled with unsaid things, she could read them so well between the lines. There was nothing about Anna's dream of having a family of her own. Elsie wanted Anna to have that dream. Elsie was the perfect housekeeper. She knew what everyone wanted, usually before they knew it themselves.

And who was she fooling? Wasn't it something happening often: mothers wanting their daughters to have all the things they didn't have? For them not to worry about having food on the table, or to have the chance to become a prima ballerina? Elsie wanted Anna to have the family she didn't have herself. Of course the circumstances for Anna and John were very different from Charles and hers. Anna did not have to sneak around for a quick kiss in a deserted corridor or hasted, frantic lovemaking in the wine cellar.

Not that there was anything wrong with making love against the wall in the wine cellar.

The thought alone brought her back to where she was. She looked over at Charles who had gotten off the bench and was fidgeting with the records. He took one out of a sleeve and placed it on the turntable. He cranked the handle and the first notes of 'Let me call you sweetheart' drifted through the air. He was so handsome in his shirtsleeves and his hair messy from his run earlier. Anna's letter stumbled to the back of Elsie's mind, her thoughts on Charles, how they were alone, far away from the house.

"May i... ?" he asked and she took his hand. He pulled her close and she shut her eyes as she rested her head against his chest. His arms were around her and he hummed along with the words of the song.

Oh god... he smelled nice... She pressed herself closer to him, tilting her head upwards, hoping he would take the hint. He did. Charles was a fantastic butler and Elsie knew it. He too was very much aware of the needs of the people he served. At this given moment, Elsie needed his lips on hers, his arms around her, his hands touching her bare skin. He bent over and kissed her softly.

Not letting her lips leave his for a single moment, deepening the kiss, letting her tongue dance with his, she reached behind her and unhooked the fastenings of her dress, she tugged at her sleeves and stepped out of the garment. She wriggled her feet behind her shoes and pulled them off. There she was before him, all corset and underskirts and stockings.

Her hands trembled when she undid his tie and started on the buttons of his shirt. Charles slid his hands under her skirts.

She heard him groan.

She helped him take off her skirts and found he too had removed most of his clothing. He looked at her in appreciation. His eyes went from her face and lingered on her chest for a while, then to her stomach and landed on the new knickers she had been trying out today.

Charles reached out and touched the hem of the panties. "I think i like them..." he announced and wrapped himself around her, pulling her down with him on the plaids and pillows. The sun shone on Elsie's body, highlighting her beautiful features and reflecting off the satin of her new knickers and corset. Charles' hands were everywhere, on the naked skin of her shoulders, she felt them slide down the back of her corset, untying the laces. She felt her heart beat against her shift, her breath was erratic and she did not stifle the moan that left her lips as Charles slipped his fingers between her shift and her skin and caressed her breast. With one hand she pulled the pins from her hair and felt it fall down.

Then Charles' hands were around her waist and the fastenings of her corset snapped open, revealing her shift. Elsie breathed in deeply, allowing herself to enjoy the moment she was no longer confined, embracing the freedom this gave her and she buried herself under Charles, wrapping her legs around him, kissing him.

"I love you..." she murmured. Oh how she loved him. His mind, his wit, his kindness. His tender hands, his soft lips, his weight on top of her. His breath on her shoulder, his member first pressed against her, then inside her. His strokes, his administrations, her breasts against his chest. All so familiar, so comfortable, though so new every time. Nobody knew how passionate Charles Carson was underneath that stern and dignified exterior. Nobody knew how great Elsie Hughes' ability to love was. Nobody knew of their devotion.

She let her release ripple over her as he muttered her name. His movements stuttered and she watched him intently as he came. She brushed his curls off his brow and laid her hand against his cheek. He leaned over her, kissing her and carefully slid out of her. He gathered her in his arms and pulled a plaid from beside him to cover them.

"I cannot believe we just made love on the cold, hard, concrete floor of the folly." he said, kissing the top of her head as she laid it on his chest.

"Me neither..." Elsie managed.

"If this is what happens whenever Anna writes you a letter, i hope you will receive more mail soon." he joked.

Elsie slapped him playfully on his chest.

"Anna writes that i should let you know that i love you." she divulged part of the letter.

"You did. Just now. I heard it clearly." Elsie could hear the smile in his voice. "I also heard other things, though they were quite... monosyllabic..."

"Yes... i think i was rather... vocal... but then again: we never really get the chance to be and i seized my opportunity."

"Did Anna say anything about me in that letter?" Charles asked.

"That you might love me back." Elsie closed her eyes. Hearing Charles' heartbeat usually had the most sleep inducing effect on her.

"Oh, but that i do, my sweet. I love you very much." His sonorous voice boomed.

"And i you. With all my heart." she answered.

Their lovemaking always ended in this. They told each other how much they loved the other and either fixed their clothes in a hurry and got on with their work, or tried to find a way to get comfortable in his or her narrow beds.

"I wish we could lay like this forever..." she confessed.

"As do i. Perhaps... well. Lets not talk about that now. We ought to get dressed and eat some of those strawberries. It would be a waste not to taste those before we go back to the house." Charles rambled a bit.

Elsie had the distinct feeling Charles was not being entirely truthful with her and she wasn't certain, but what he wasn't saying could very well be in line with her five-year-plan.

It could very well be...

A/N: So we leave Elsie and Charles in the folly, naked and satisfied (ha!). But will Anna get her surprise soon? Will Anthony find the courage to ask Edith to marry him properly? Will Charles and Elsie find a way to bring back the gramophone back to the house?

You will find out in the next installment of 'The Surprise'! (at least, i will try to get as much in that chapter as i can...)

(the lines about how Elsie is the perfect housekeeper, knowing what people want before they do themselves, were 'stolen' from Julian Fellowes: he used lines like that in Gosford Park, for Helen Mirren's character Mrs Wilson.)