I don't know why but I decided to post this today :) Have a good read. Reviews make my day :)))
Following the jingling of the keys Narson made his way downstairs. He still didn't know what to say to her and how to explain what he was he was doing outside. And in this hour. The fact is, he didn't know the answer to this himself. Having made his way downstairs he noticed that she was nowhere in sight and supposed he was alone. Charles hoped, that she would at least said goodnight before retiring to her room, but obviously that wasn't going to happen.
Suddenly a silent clattering floated from the kitchen. Mrs. Patmore, he thought, fussing over tomorrow's dinner. Popping his head in to say good night to whoever was up at that hour, he was surprised to find not Mrs. Patmore, but Mrs. Hughes. She was tinkering something over the sink, but because of her back turned to him he couldn't tell what it was. He leaned in the doorway for sometime watching her, with the intention of staying unnoticed.
Over the past few months they started to have more heated discussions as he liked to call them or loud rows as Mrs. Patmore called them having come to them after a particular loud one to "check if they both had all their limbs intact and head on their shoulders" Those discussions or disagreements were starting to take a tool on them both. The simple and easy friendship and evenings sharing a leftover wine were dissolving into a simple working relationship ad somehow the lack of contact made them both short tempered with each other when they did speak. With a pang he understood that he missed those silent evenings with her and as much as he liked the sound of her voice when she was angry with him and started to speak with that pronounced Scottish lilt he cherished the good natured teasing more.
Obviously his intention to stay unseen didn't last as she turned to him with two cups in her hands. She stretched one to him and he could feel the smell of chocolate engulfing him.
"You did it for me?" He couldn't understand were those good spirits suddenly emerged from, but as long as it gave him hot chocolate he wasn't questioning it.
"No, I did it for a stranger I found lost on a doorstep in the middle of the night and almost frozen to death. Now will you take the cup or will I have to stand here all night?" All this was delivered with a rising eyebrow until it reached a perfect mocking angle.
"I.." Oh how he missed this. "I.. Thank you" Taking the mug from her hands he could already feel his hands regaining the warmth he lost outside. Raising his eyes to her he fond her looking at him with a strange expression.