Hello my dears! I realize it's been some time since I left an AN... So here it is. How's everyone liking this? Are we okay without the smut? I know there are some..umm, expectations when you read my Fics. I hope I can also please with Chelsie romance and angst..(don't worry, the M will be here soon enough ;). Thank you all so much for the reviews. I may not always answer them for every chapter, but please trust me when I say they are always appreciated and keep this fangirl going. Lots of love, Mona xoxo
Charles chuckled deeply at Elsie. She was completely adorable tonight, and maddeningly appealing. He could tell the wine was already having an affect on her. Her cheeks and chest were starting to flush prettily, and he found her so terribly attractive in that red dress. Her pink lips curved in a pretty smile that didn't seem to leave her face. He picked at the food that sat between them and he watched Elsie do the same, eating small bits of cheese and apple. Watching as her lips, her teeth, her tongue, toyed with each delicious bite. My God, he has sat next to this woman as she ate for twenty years. Why is it now that he cannot seem to form a coherent thought in her presence. He gathered his wits. He knew he had a mission to accomplish tonight. There was something he needed to know. He placed his glass on the table and reached for her free hand. "Elsie, why did you leave?" He'd be wanting to say the words since he first arrived... really, since she decided to leave. He thought he would ask before they both had too much wine, or were too tired to think straight.
Elsie tried to keep her eyes from Charles as she picked at the plate between them. Every time she looked over at him, he was staring at her in such a sweet way she was nearly losing her mind. She knew if she didn't keep her hands busy with the treats and wine, they would be all over Charles' body. He finally moved to set his glass down. Elsie stiffened. What was he planning on doing? When he took her hand and asked his question she sat up straight. She was a bit taken back by it all. She thought her explanation of being tired and ready for a change had sufficed. She would never confess her real reason. She would never want to seem pathetic in his eyes. How could she tell him it was his rejection, the walls he built up around himself to keep her out. "I told you why, Mr. Carson." She said stiffly, lifting her glass to her lips once more. She pulled her hand from his grasp and stood, reaching for the bottle of wine on the table. Noticing it was now empty, she picked it up and headed back to the kitchen. "I'll just go and get the other bottle."
As Elsie left the room, Charles sunk against the settee and let his head rest on the back. He could sense Elsie's unease and hoped he hadn't ruined their evening. However, it was still early and the affects of the wine were already starting to make him more relaxed. He was sure he could turn things back around. He stood and followed her out to the kitchen. He found her slightly bent over with the wine bottle in her hands, struggling with the corkscrew. He had a lovely view down the front of her dress. Charles couldn't stop himself from gazing down the valley of her full breasts. How many countless evenings had he spent wondering what this exact view would look like. He could see white lace pulled tight against the creamy swells of her luscious bosom. He felt a stirring in his nether regions and cleared his throat, bringing himself out of his reverie to assist her. "Allow me." He said kindly as he reached for the bottle.
Stubborn, a bit drunk, and determined to do it on her own, Elsie turned from him abruptly and the bottle crashed down onto the wood floors. "Oh no! Oh damn! I'm sorry, Mr. Carson. I..I don't know.." Embarrassed for letting her nerves get the best of her, she turned and grabbed a dish towel from the counter. But instead of using it to wipe up the mess, she pressed it to her face to conceal her sobs.
Charles chest tightened. So, it was back to Mr. Carson. "Elsie?" Charles said softly, knowing full well it wasn't the wine that had her acting so strangely. "I'm very sorry, dear. It was my fault. I shouldn't have pried. Of course you don't have to tell me why you left. You don't owe me anything." Charles pulled a towel from the table and bent to wipe up the mess. Now he had gone and done it for sure. Clumsy oaf. He had broken her favorite bottle of wine, made her uncomfortable, and now she couldn't even look at him. Perhaps all this was never meant to be. Of course fate would play this cruel joke on him. He had never been a man to receive what he truly wanted.
Elsie heard Charles call her dear and heart skipped a beat. She turned back to see him on the floor. "Oh please, Charles don't. You shouldn't be doing that. It's fine. I'll take care of it." She bent and used her towel to wipe at the mess. She gasped and pulled her hand back. Blood coming from a gash along her finger. Standing, she went to the sink, turning on the cool water and rinsing the cut. "I'm so sorry, Charles. I've ruined our evening. I don't know what's wrong with me. I ...I..."
Charles walked up beside her and took her hand in his. He looked at her finger to see how badly she was cut. It was a small slice and nearly done bleeding. He pulled his handkerchief from his pocket and wrapped her finger in the cloth, looking down at her red rimmed eyes. "Now what is all this for?" He asked softly, gathering his courage he lifted his hand to her face, wiping away a stray tear. "Any evening spent with you could never be ruined. We have spent so many together." Charles said softly, looking down into her eyes and giving her his sweet half smile of encouragement. "Mrs. Hughes... Elsie...I'm sorry if I upset you earlier when I asked why you left. It's been weighing on my mind heavily that I may have done something to make you leave. And I just couldn't bear it if I've made you unhappy in any way."
They were still close, her hand in his. Elsie's heart was pounding wildly in her chest. Should she? Should she just tell him? Tell him that she loves him and could not spend another day under the same roof knowing he did not love her in the same way. That he did not want her like she wanted him. He was just being kind to her now. She would not burden him with her feelings. She took a deep breath and steeled herself, looking down, anywhere but his eyes. "Oh Charles. Do not blame yourself. It really isn't your fault at all. It's me. I was just confused and feeling bored with my life." She looked back up and watched him take in her confession. His eyes were sad and hurt. She wished she could have taken the words back.
He was hurt. He knew she was lying to him. He didn't spend half his life with this woman and not pick up on a few things. But what was she concealing? What was she protecting him from? "Is there anything I could have done? Anything that would have made you stay? The house..." He could hear the desperation in his voice. He felt pathetic, but he didn't care for his own pride or dignity. He needed to know.
The house, of course the house, she scoffed. "Does it matter now, Charles? I've left. It's done." Elsie have a halfhearted attempt at a laugh, pulling away from him and returning to the floor with a towel, mopping up the spilled wine. "I better get this cleaned up. Go on back out there. I'll be done here in a tic."
Charles was nearing the brink of anger. She was brushing him off. Trying to avoid the conversation. As he had a tendency to do, Charles burst, letting his hurt get the best of him. "I'd say it damn well matters, Elsie Hughes! What did I do? Was there something I could have done? Something I could have said?"
Elsie stood back up when he began to shout. Of course he would start at her. She should have known she had pushed him too far. She squared off towards him, standing straight and steeling herself for her rebuttal. She looked up at him and found she couldn't go on with this charade anymore. Tears began to spill down her cheeks as she looked straight into his eyes, her confession falling from her lips. "Yes, Charles...there is. But it's something I could never ask from you...Something you could never give me."
All Charles' anger and frustration left him as Elsie looked up at him with tears in her eyes. His heart broke when she made her sad confession. Had he really left her with such doubt of his feelings for her. One step and he was before her, taking her small hands in his. He would make sure she would never doubt them again. He looked down into her eyes. "I would give you anything Elsie. You are my dearest and closest friend. You matter more to me than anyone on this earth. I have made a mess of us, I know this. But I cannot go on without you in my life. I need you."
Elsie placed her palm on his warm cheek. "And I cannot go on with you in mine." She nearly whimpered. "My sweet man. We need each other for very different reasons. You, because I am your constant and confidant." She bit her lip, then continued. "What I want...what I need is you. I...I love you Charles...I am in love with you." It was out. She took a deep breath forcing herself to continue softly. "I'm sorry..Do you... Do you see now why I needed to leave?"
Charles couldn't believe his ears. Unable to speak he placed his hand over the hers on his cheek, turning his face he placed a soft kiss into her palm. His lips and hands moving on their own accord as he takes her hand in his and trails kisses down the soft skin of her wrist. "Oh Elsie." Overwhelmed, he chokes on his words. "My love... My.." Tears fill his dark chestnut eyes.
Elsie meets his gaze and he lifts a hand to gently cradle her beautiful face. He lays her palm against his chest and tentatively places his own hand at her waist. They are lost in one another as their lips move closer...
I'm sorry...don't hate me guys. I promise I'll make it worth your wait! :) xoxo.