Forgive me for not updating in a while. My baby sister got married! Life has thrown some junk at me too SO I've been preoccupied. This chapter sucks moose balls, but I tried. It was so tough to write! I hope my readers are still here with me. Let me know what you think please. It's true when they say reviews keep us writing :-). I read and appreciate every single review good or bad and I thank you for sticking with me. I do not own these guys but boy I wish I did.

-Charles walked to the back of the car and opened the door quickly. He wanted to know what happened to Elsie while she was away, what caused her injury? How badly hurt was she that they had to cut their trip short. Elsie had her face down. She was trying to muster the courage to look at Charles.

"Mrs. Hughes I hope everything is alright, Lady Mary explained last night you were hurt. Have you had an accident?" Charles asked Elsie as he extended his hand to her to help her out of the vehicle Elsie ducked her head to get out of the car.

She slowly raised her face to look at Charles sadly and whispered "Charles..." tears were pooling in her eyes.

Charles took one look at Elsie and was astonished by the large bruise on her cheek and her split swollen lip. His mouth had dropped open and he gasped in a whisper "Elsie, what's happened to you?" He examined the marks on her face and was looking around him to see if anyone was watching them or seeing this scene.

Charles' expression changed from one of joy of having Elsie home to one of disbelief and shock at what he was seeing. Neither of them could speak. Elsie didn't know where to begin. Charles couldn't believe what he was seeing in front of him. His heart sank. He lifted his hands to touch her face but he stopped himself; he was afraid he would cause her pain. He brought his hands down to rest on her shoulders. He brought his mouth to her forehead and whispered softly "Elsie..." Charles turned to walk Elsie back to the house through the servants entrance.

"No Charles... please walk with me." He looked at her and nodded yes. He took her arm in his and they walked in silence to the lake. Elsie didn't want anyone to hear the things she was going to tell Mr. Carson. Lady Mary's words kept ringing through his ears as he and Elsie walked quietly to the lake.

Elsie avoided looking at Charles and was trying to avoid his gaze. Charles kept rubbing the top of her hand with his palm trying to contain his emotions. He didn't want to further upset Elsie. She let go of his arm as the reached their destination and leaned up against a tree while she stared at the ground.

"Are you ready to trust me Elsie," he asked. Charles desperately wanted to hear what had happened to her.

Mrs. Hughes had practiced mentally what she was going to say to Charles on the train; however no amount of practicing could prepare her for what she was going to tell him. She stood a moment looking at her hands clasped in front of her. Charles' anxiety was building and his patience had been wearing thin now. Mr. Carson ran his hand over his face and began rubbing his neck. He stopped himself from speaking and turned to face her. He took her hands from her and held them up to his heart. "Elsie... no more secrets, what's happened. Have I given you any reason not to trust me? " Elsie nodded no. "I would never purposely hurt the woman that holds my heart, you must believe that." Charles pleaded.

Elsie looked up at him. Her hands were cold and his touch was so comforting and warm she began to tell him " I don't even know where to begin Charles." Elsie stated, her voice shaking from nerves. She was able to stay so strong in front of Emma, Monica and even Lady Mary but Charles had an effect on her. She could be herself with him whether she was being feisty, sassy or jesting she could say whatever she wanted to him and could predict what his reactions would be. Of course she could trust him...he's always been that one person she could trust. Elsie, tell him... It's going to be alright she thought to herself.

Elsie worried her bottom lip and tears began to pool in her eyes slowly she started explaining... "Charles, I was attacked...at the manor by...the same man that...by the man that... raped Anna here the night of the concert."

Mrs. Hughes told Charles everything.
She explained the events of the night of the concert, and of the lies that were told to protect Mr. Bates. She explained in detail what happened to her at Cotswold.

Charles closed his eyes and shook his head back and forth in disbelief. He couldn't believe what had just passed his ears. Charles was amazed at the strength and courage his Elsie had demonstrated.

"Elsie, why would anyone want to hurt you? How could any man hurt you? That is why you went in Anna's place, you were protecting her and ended up putting yourself in danger."

Charles was bewildered at first. The words were still setting in. He began rubbing her hands between his and starring down at them. He was trying to warm them. What could he say...What was he to do now...how could he help her heal.

"Who was it?" Elsie cried and pulled her hands away from Charles and covered her face with her hands.

Charles didn't want to make things difficult on Elsie he just wanted to help her, make all of this go away and make her forget...but how do you ever really forget? How do you move on from here? The questions were racing in Charles' mind, all he could think to do was to hold Elsie. He pulled her closer to him slowly, he wasn't sure if Elsie was comfortable having him hold her after what she had endured. Now that he knew what was causing the riff between Bates and Anna he understood why Anna was turning away from John. They stood there until Elsie had calmed down. Charles' jacket was wet with tears. He wanted to tighten his embrace but he wasn't sure if he was hurting Elsie. Elsies' thoughts were racing.

While she stayed in his embrace Elsie asked"Charles, has Anna returned from her mother's?"

Charles let out a loud sigh, " Mr. Bates has said she was expected back this evening for when you were expected to return from London." Charles answered her. He wasn't surprised that after all she had endured she was still worried about Anna and her well being, it's why he loved her so much.

"Charles, I want you to understand these tears are not for me. My scars will heel and we will move on. My tears have always been for Anna. I think she and John will have a harder time of moving on."

"One way they can begin is by Anna finally telling John the truth..." Charles was looking at Elsie now. He could see straight through to her heart. He could see the pain in her eyes but he also knew that Elsie must have felt a bit relieved to have shared her burden of this secret with someone she trusted. He leaned down to Elsie pressing his lips gently to her cheek and bruised lip.

-CE-

Charles had walked Elsie back to her office. He didn't want to leave her but she insisted Charles finish his work and promised they would meet later in the evening. Elsie didn't want to rest she just craved some normalcy.

She heard a quiet knock on her door. "Come in..."

Mrs. Hughes was surprised to see Anna standing on the other side of the door.

Anna was startled to see Mrs. Hughes' injuries. She entered the room. Mrs Hughes made sure she closed the door behind her. Elsie tried to wear a small smile but Anna burst into tears.
"I'm so sorry this happened to you...how did I let this happen?" Anna was so distraught. Lady Mary had informed Anna of the events that took place. She blamed herself for everything. Anna sobbed as she braced herself on the chair in front of her. "This is all my fault."

Mrs. Hughes was sad to hear that Anna blamed herself for what had happened to her. "Anna, it's not your fault just as much as it's not my fault that animal chose to hurt us."

Anna believed this for the first time in a while she knew that she and Mrs. Hughes did not deserve for any of this to happen to them. "What's going to happen to him?" Anna wanted him to pay for what he had done to Mrs Hughes even if she was too afraid to tell Mr. Bates what has happened to her.

Mrs. Hughes approached Anna who was looking down at the floor. She placed her hands gently on her shoulders..."Anna, he most likely won't be in jail for long he only beat me and he could claim that the drink made him do it, he will only get a slap on the hand and lose his job with Lord Gillingham I'm sure."

"That's not enough for me, he will be free to do this again!"Anna stated coldly. She was furious now.

"He has done this before Anna, he has hurt one of the maids that I know of in the same house he works in." Mrs. Hughes had to tell Anna. Maybe if Anna knew this she would go to the authorities and so would Monica...hopefully they would find strength in each other to trust and tell the truth about what had happened to them.

"Anna, you need to tell Mr. Bates...we can tell him together" it's going to be alright.