Im' not dead yet! So here's the fifth chapter of our Chelsie story. We're getting there. Reviews and criticism are always welcome :)
The next day was some kind of a missunderstanding. Everyone was running around as if they've lost their heads and the butler and housekeeper weren't excluded from it. Firstly, the wine delivery was a complete mix up, and all Carson wanted to do when coming back from the cellar was slam doors. The look on his face was enough to make everyone scurry out of his way as he stormed to his pantry. Then, in his pantry he couldn't find one of his lodgers he was intending to work on while hiding from the raging war, that obviously Mrs. Patmore declared to Mrs. Hughes. It all started when he was going into the cellar about half an hour ago, but he could still hear the high voice of the cook. That they haven't finished yet only unnerved him more and he decided to check it himself. Coming from his pantry, strangely enough, he heard another voice shouting back at Mrs. Patmore. Mrs. Hughes never shouts. That was a very well known fact downstairs. When she got angry got close to a whisper and quite menacing, but it was never raised. With this in mind and his disappeared ledger he made his way to the kitchens.
As he was right in front of the door however an angry form storm from the same kitchen. Nether had the time nor the means to stop themselves or get a hold of something and so Mr. Carson ended on the floor with a flustered and still angry housekeeper on top.
For a couple of long seconds neither of them said anything both too surprised of what happened. They watch each other, Mrs Hughes still surprised with the collision and on whom she landed and Mr. Carson by the unexpected force she crashed into him and also by the feel of her in his arms. The moment ended when they heard someone from the kitchen coming to the door. A second later the door opened and cook's head stuck out. After hearing a yelp and a thump she was as surprised to find them on the ground as they were. Somehow at exactly that moment Charles mind started working again and all kind of inappropriate thoughts began to make way to his head. Trying to stand quickly he found that easier said than done, because Mrs. Hughes was still on him. As if just noticing where she landed she leaped from the ground and stood as gracefully as she could and outstretched her hand to him. At that moment the cook swapped her surprise with a smug grin
" Well, I see you found a perfect mattress. So I'll leave you two to it" And then she winked and shut the door in front of them. Neither of them said anything for a second and then both started at the same time.
"I'm so sorry Mr. Carson.."
" Forgive me Mrs. Hughes.."
They both smiled awkwardly at each other and he motioned for her to speak first.
"Uhm. I'm sorry Mr. Carson for crashing into you. I should have watched where I was going." All thoughts of anger or displeasure gone, he could only notice her awkward shuffling of feet.
"Oh that's alright. I'll live..Are you quite alright, Mrs Hughes?" Only now, taking a better look at her he noticed that she looked different. Her shoulders weren't as ramrod straight as they usually were and her face looked quite pale.
"I'm fine Mr. Carson, thank you. No I should go. Good day" The line "I'm fine" after working so many years side by side sounded as "I'm not bloody fine" to him. He could easily tell something was troubling her, but what exactly, he couldn't tell. A day before he would have thought it was because of their disagreements, but after yesterday late night's stroll in the snow ad hot chocolate, he knew it was something else. He was about to follow her into her sitting room to try and coax something more when he heard an entrance doorbell ringing, which meant he was needed upstairs.