Elsie walked towards the door. Oh it must be the young lad, she thought. Perhaps he had another note from Charles. She hoped he wouldn't send him out so late in the evening, but she knew the youngster would be more than eager to come back. She had a hard enough time sending the sweet lad back to Downton. She opened the door a crack and was shocked to see Charles at her doorstep.
"You really should check who it is before opening the..." He stopped mid sentence when she fully opened the door and he could see her. She was stunning... and he was left speechless. His gaze slowly swept down her body. The soft flowing curls lying over her shoulder. The crimson dress clinging to her every curve, accentuating her small waist and full breasts. The bare skin of her chest and arms was far too much for him to handle. He cleared his throat and looked away, his face flushing with embarrassment. "I.. I brought us some treats from the house." He stumbled over his words, holding out the basket awkwardly.
Elsie sensed his uncomfortableness, and her face and chest reddened with embarrassment. She lifted her hands to her hair struggling to twist it up in a knot. "I..I am sorry about this Mr. Carson. I did not think you were coming." When she lifted her arms to her hair her corset pushed her breasts up, exposing the the deep valley between them. She noticed Charles glance down at them and felt completely ridiculous and beautiful at the same time.
"No. No. Please don't fuss on my account." Charles managed to pull himself together to ease her discomfort. "Do leave it down. It's quite lovely. I've never seen your hair down before." He looked into her eyes and gave her his most charming half smile. She had always loved that smile. It was honest, heartfelt, and so sincere.
Elsie dropped her hair back down, long twisted curls, draping down her back and shoulder. "If I'm honest, it does feel better to let it down." She answered softly. Then regaining her composure, smiled sweetly at him. "Please come in. I'm so happy you could make it, Charles. However did you manage?"
"With a little help from Lady Mary, I was able to keep my evening off. Anyway, Mr. Molesley can handle it for one night. I always considered the man to be a bit of a buffoon, but he's actually quite capable. Quite capable, indeed." Charles said proudly.
"Well, I knew he would be when you hired him." Elsie said smirking, knowing full well it was she who had made him take Molesley on.
"Don't you mean, when you tricked me into hiring him?" Charles said raising his eyebrow at her and smiling. Elsie let out a sweet laugh and gestured for him to hand her the basket.
Elsie was a bundle of nerves. Of course they had been alone together many times before, but something felt so different between them now. Charles seemed different. More relaxed, more himself. More Charles and less Mr. Carson. "Would you like to come into the kitchen with me and have a cup of tea? We can see what you have here in your basket." Elsie turned towards the kitchen.
He smiled brightly as he watched her walk away. The red dress clinging to her round bottom and swaying around her pretty legs. He had to gain some semblance of control over himself. However, he had never seen her so lovely, so desirable, so undeniably gorgeous and womanly. If he could hardly resist in her dark and matronly housekeeper dresses, how would he ever resist this goddess before him. He could feel himself harden as he watched her, and was disgusted with his bodies natural reaction to her. He closed his eyes and pulled himself together.
"Go ahead and get comfortable Charles. You may take off that silly jacket and tie." She called over her shoulder as she entered the kitchen. "You must have been in quite a rush to get over here." She added quietly, teasing him.
That was the Elsie he had always known. Ready to give orders and guide him when necessary. Always teasing him and toying with propriety. "Yes. Thank you. I'll be right there." He quickly removed his tie, collar, jacket, and waistcoat. Then flustered that he only remained in his shirt and trousers, quickly went to put his waistcoat back on.
Just as he did Elsie peeked out of the kitchen. "Just leave it off, Charles. It's quite alright. It's just the two of us tonight." She smiled and lifted her eyebrows suggestively.
When she rounded the corner, Charles nearly gasped at her forwardness. He knew he would never survive this evening with his heart or sanity intact. "I don't know how, Elsie Hughes. But you managed to make that sound a little risqué." Charles called loudly towards the kitchen.
"And if I did?" Elsie shouted back, her Scottish lilt sultry and teasing as it was before.
Charles could hear her giggling to herself. It was the most beautiful sound he had ever heard. He was so in love with her. And these few minutes he had spent alone with her in this cottage were the most wonderful of his life. He felt so at home with her. Their own place. Her own place, he corrected himself. He could imagine coming here often. Spending time with her and pretending this was his home as well. If only he knew she felt the same. The questions of why she left, still plagued him. He thought she was happy with her life at Downton. What had driven her to leave? Charles rounded the corner and entered the kitchen. Elsie was standing on a small step stool at the counter, her arms stretched high above her trying to locate the extra wine glass in the cupboard. Her dress had inched up her her body, revealing even more of her shapely legs. The silky red fabric clung tightly around her bottom, highlighting every soft curve. Charles groaned softly, then quickly coughed to hide his lusty sigh.
"Are you just going to stand there, or will ya help a lass out?" She teased him, glancing back over her shoulder.
"Yes. Of course. I'm sorry." Charles answered quickly. How very Scottish she was sounding tonight. He found it completely enchanting. Her voice had always been both soothing and enticing. He walked closer to her and realized that on the stool, his petite little Elsie was nearly his height. He had to lean towards her to reach the glasses and he settled his hand on the small of her back. An innocent gesture that once performed caused a shiver to race through his body, congregating in particular areas he was trying to ignore at the moment.
Charles had been watching her. She had seen where his eyes were staring when she turned around. It excited her and made her feel lovely and wanted. Such strange new feelings to her, but she couldn't be more delighted. As he came to stand next to her, he placed his hand on the small of her back and leaned into her, lifting his arm to grab the wine glasses. His touch sent a warm tingle through her body and his scent surrounded her. A mixture of cologne, pomade, and his natural scent. She breathed in deeply and shut her eyes, a shiver running through her body. Oh how she missed him. His presence, his smell, his voice, his body. She backed away off the stool and went to the basket on the table. She didn't trust herself to be so close to him and not touch him, kiss him, confess her undying love and desire. He came over to stand next to her. "I see you've brought my favorite." She smiled and held out the bottle for him to open. "And Mrs. Patmore sent some lovely cheeses, breads, pastries. My goodness! There's enough in here to feed an army."
He chuckled."I thought so as well, but Mrs. Patmore insisted you were looking a bit 'thinner' when she saw you last. She was concerned you weren't eating properly on your own." He laughed, smirking down at her as he opened the wine.
"Hah!" She scoffed. "I doubt I'll ever have to worry about that. Silly woman!" She said lovingly while shaking her head. "I'm sure I look completely stuffed into this dress!" She tried to stop herself, but the words left her mouth too quickly. She blushed with embarrassment and turned back towards the basket, rifling through its contents and muttering nervously to herself. She hoped he wouldn't think she was fishing for compliments, it really wasn't in her nature to so so.
Charles walked around to the table and poured two large glasses of wine. It was now or never, he thought. Pay her a compliment, you old fool. "If it matters what I think." He started softly and then grew more confident. "I would say I have never seen you look more lovely, Elsie Hughes. Red is certainly your color. As is the lovely blue you were wearing at church this past Sunday. I would be lying if I said I hadn't noticed your lovely new attire. All I have seen you in before was black." He couldn't seem to stop himself, and was getting flustered, afraid he would ruin everything. "Not that you weren't lovely in it..I just like...I mean...I think that..You are... " Elsie laid her hand on his, squeezing it softly and catching his eye.
"Thank you, Charles. Of course it matters what you think. Who else's judgement would matter, but that of my closest friend." She said soothingly. Charles smiled sweetly back at her and covered her hand with his own. "Now what do you say we take all this out by the fire and have a little picnic? It's much more comfortable than these hard chairs in here."
"That sounds lovely, Elsie. These old bones could use a rest." Charles answered, taking the tray from her and walking back out towards the settee. He placed the tray down on the long table in front of the dark green settee and sat down comfortably on one end.
Elsie promptly sat down at the other, but being such a small seat, they were still quite close. Charles handed her her wineglass, and grabbed the bottle, refilling it back to the top. Elsie smiled and thanked him. He was always so attentive. She knew it was in his nature, the need to serve, but still she felt special and cared for. She looked over at him as he prepared a small plate of cheeses and fruit. He was so handsome. She rarely saw him in just his white shirt, the top button undone she could see just a flash more skin than she was use to. The thin fabric clung to his still muscled upper arms and chest. She could feel her temperature begin to rise and she shook her head softly in an attempt to gather her thoughts.
Charles fixed the plate and sat it on a napkin between them. He saw her shake her head and look away. "Are you alright, Elsie?"
Oh goodness. He had definitely seen her. If he only knew the improper thoughts going through her head. "Oh, yes. Of course. I was just thinking something." She answered honesty and let out a nervous laugh.
"What's so funny? Do share." Charles questioned her, wondering what was going on in that beautiful head of hers.
"I was just thinking. Well...I was just... Oh, it's nothing." She tipped her wine glass back and nearly emptied it in an attempt to ease her discomfort. Hopefully she could let the wine take its effect and relax a little.
Charles watched her tip her head back and nearly gulp the wine down in one swallow. He saw the skin at her neck and chest flushing from the wine and thick atmosphere that surrounded them. "Enjoying the wine, I would say." Charles teased her, gesturing towards the bottle to see if she'd like more.
"Please." Elsie answered, smiling and holding out her glass to him.
He refilled her glass once again, all the while watching her beautiful face as she watched the glass. He could tell she was nervous about something. He watched the candlelight dance across her face. She was truly glowing. She had lit a fire inside him tonight, and he knew it would engulf him if he didn't quench the flames."Might I suggest you have a bite to eat with that." Charles suggested deeply, raising his eyebrow at her.
"And might I suggest you drink faster if you don't want me to drink it all." Elsie teased back, smiling wickedly at him...