A/N Another appearance by Mrs. Patmore. Many of you wrote that you enjoyed the previous chapter with Mrs. Patmore, and I have to agree that that chapter and this one are two of my favorites. As much as I enjoy all the Chelsie love in some of the other chapters, Mrs. Patmore always cracks me up. With the notable exception of the Dowager, she has some of the best lines on the show, and Lesley Nicol's delivery is spot on!

Once again, thank you for reviewing!

Chapter 10

Elsie was still without a clue. She had no idea what Mr. Carson's behavior meant, or if it meant anything at all. For two decades, the butler and housekeeper had dealt with each other on a friendly but professional basis. Elsie would have liked it to be something more, of course, but she hoped she had never been too obvious about that. And for his part, Mr. Carson had never given any indication that he sought anything more than amiable companionship. Until recently.

First, to Elsie's shock and delight, Mr. Carson had asked to hold her hand, and Elsie had dared to hope that he might have feelings for her. But in the following weeks, nothing else had happened. Though they had still held hands in the evenings when they were alone, he had never said nor done anything else.

Then, just when Elsie had begun to lose hope that they would progress beyond hand-holding, he had said he'd like to put his arm around her, and she had been overjoyed. But weeks more had passed without further advancement. They had visited their bench when time and weather allowed, and each time Mr. Carson had draped his arm about her shoulders. In his pantry or her sitting room, they had still held hands. Despite persisting with these gestures, however, he had done nothing more to make known his sentiments or intentions.

Finally, when her expectations had dwindled once more, he had kissed her cheek, and she had almost begun to convince herself that he might feel something.

Now, Elsie was walking to the village with Mrs. Patmore, who required a status update on the "torrid affair," as she gleefully called it, between the housekeeper and the butler.

"He hasn't gotten cheeky with you, has he?" the cook demanded.

"Really, Mrs. Patmore!" Elsie huffed.

"All right, all right. So he's held your hand and put his arm round you. Has he kissed you yet?" her friend persisted.

Elsie hesitated. That was answer enough for Mrs. Patmore.

"He has!" she squealed excitedly. "He's kissed you! Well, gracious me, it's about time! Even glaciers move faster than Mr. Carson!"

"It was all very innocent … just a friendly kiss on the cheek," insisted the housekeeper. Seeing that denying it altogether would be futile, she attempted to diminish its significance.

"On the cheek, eh? I might have known. Still, this is Mr. Carson we're talking about. A kiss on the cheek from Mr. Carson may as well be a marriage proposal!" remarked Mrs. Patmore.

"I'm sure it didn't mean anything," Elsie maintained.

"He's never kissed me on the cheek. It must mean something," said Mrs. Patmore. "But he's still told you nothing of his feelings?"

"Feelings? Hmph. You know Mr. Carson," Elsie reminded her. "The man thinks wishing someone a good morning or a pleasant evening is overly sentimental!"

"Quite right," conceded the cook. "But he does have feelings. He may try to hide them, but he has them. For instance, I know exactly how he feels about you."

"Oh, do you now?" questioned Elsie with eyebrows raised. "Because I certainly don't."

"Oh, Mrs. Hughes! If ever a man loved a woman, that man loves you!" asserted Mrs. Patmore with such conviction that Elsie had to stop walking for a moment. She had to recover herself before she could respond.

"And just how do you know that?" she pressed, trying to sound composed.

"Oh, for Heaven's sake! The same way I know how much you love him! You've never said it in so many words, and you've tried not to show it openly, but it's plain as the nose on your face. You may not admit it, but you can't honestly deny it, either!" Mrs. Patmore challenged.

Oh, dear. There was nothing Elsie could say to that! The plucky cook had done it again. That woman was altogether too clever.

"My, my," Mrs. Patmore gloated. "Nothing to say, have you? Well, that is a first!"

Elsie was well and truly flustered now – stunned, mortified, and indignant all at once. "Do you remember when you offered to forget the whole business in exchange for the store cupboard key? Perhaps I should just give you the key and have done with it!" she grumbled.

"Oh, dear! If you're seriously considering giving me the key to the store cupboard just to keep me quiet, then you're even farther gone than I thought!" Mrs. Patmore retorted.

Elsie was spared additional interrogation when they arrived at the shop that was their destination, but she knew that her reprieve would be only temporary. Her friend – bless her and curse her! - would undoubtedly take the first opportunity to pick up the conversation right where they left off, and she dreaded the walk back to the house.