The Love Nest

Bless the lovely Mrs Patmore, for this plot bunny that would not leave. I love the 'love nest' comment. Thank you to all my lovely reviewers so far. I didn't expect so many, my fan fic writing arm is very rusty, but I'm glad you're all enjoying it. There seems to be a glitch in the last 6 or 7 of them and the website won't let me read them, but I shall reply as soon as I can. I have a few more chapters in mind, but sadly it's back to work now, so I might not be so frequently updating.

Naturally, of course, her plan had not panned out in the way she had imagined. One of the 'children' had interrupted. She had contemplated ploughing on and having the conversation then and there, but the idea of Mr Molesley leaving too had clearly put him in a foul mood so she had given up, resolving to readdress the issue later. She had known the man long enough to be able to discern his mood at fifty paces and pick and choose what to ask him and when to get the best results, particularly regarding matters to do with the house. She was finding choosing moments to discuss more personal matters more challenging. They weren't the sort of thing they could discuss in the servants hall or walking down a corridor. Maybe she'd try after dinner.

The moment unfortunately hadn't presented itself again for several days. It was clear he was trying to avoid the issue. He didn't want to admit what was happening, she understood that, but she was also worried. She didn't know what could have caused the shaking, beyond being an alcoholic and she was fairly certain that wasn't the case. She wanted to encourage him to speak to Doctor Clarkson, maybe there was something he could do for them. And she meant them, it almost felt like her health was in the balance too. She also remembered how hard it had been when she thought she may be ill. She had not wanted to burden him with her worries, but she had known even then, that talking to him would have made her feel infinitely better. They'd always confided in each other on house matters and she had discovered long ago the benefits of sharing their personal ones too.

It was Friday evening and once again, he'd spilt more wine. He had arrived in her sitting room and she knew instantly what had happened. She didn't say anything immediately, but had Daisy fetch them tea and she poured him a cup. Finally, he began to explain himself. Of course he didn't get far before they were interrupted by one of his more demanding children, Lady Mary.

He had seemed slightly calmer after their conversation. But much to her dismay, she was not. She had thought him explaining would help, but her worry seemed to have doubled. And over the next few days it only seemed to get worse. She had been on the verge of tears in front of Mrs Patmore and Daisy, when she'd gone in to say goodnight. Now, walking home, she couldn't even look at him. Suddenly she was struck by his mortality. For the first time she truly regretted them having waited so long to marry. There was never going to be enough time and now, if he was ill, maybe even less. She was being silly, she knew they needed to see the doctor before she could start worrying about that. But she did worry. She had always worried after him, the anxiety attack, the Spanish flu, all of it worried her.

'Are you all right?' Mr Carson asked his wife as they walked along the moonlit lane back towards their cottage. She didn't respond, her gaze remained fixed on a point on the ground ahead of her, but he wasn't sure she was really looking at anything. He slipped his left hand into her right and raised it to his mouth, her gaze lifted to his. He pressed a gentle kiss to the back of her gloved hand. She smiled. 'You're a long way away tonight.' He observed, lowering their joined hands, but keeping hers clasped securely in his.

'Sorry, I was just thinking.' She said, sighing heavily.

'Penny for them?' He asked.

'They're not worth all that, love.' He raised an eyebrow at her attempt to avoid the subject.

'They are to me.' He replied solemnly. She turned her head forward to their cottage, a smile playing on her lips.

'Mrs Patmore called this our love nest, earlier'. His eyebrows shot up and he made a disgruntled sound somewhere between a gasp, a cough and a 'hmph'. She laughed, the lost look disappearing from her face. 'You mean it it's not?' She asked, reluctantly removing her hand from his to fish the key from her handbag, a coy smile now playing on her lips.

'You know that's not what I meant.' He said, stopping at the door for her to open it. She paused in the open doorway, when a large pair of hands rested on her hips, pulling her back to rest against him. She felt his warm breath against her ear as he placed a gentle kiss to her cheek. His arms had snaked round her waist and he held her closer. She shivered as a second kiss landed on her neck. 'I don't dispute the love nesting, darling. I happen to agree. I'm just not sure I'm comfortable with Mrs Patmore calling it that.' She chuckled and attempted to move into the house, but his hold on her prevented her from getting anywhere.

'Come on. Let me get in the door.' She prized his hands open and stepped into the hallway. He followed, shutting the door behind him and turning the key in the lock. They removed each other's coats, hands lingering on each other longer than strictly necessary.

'Thank you for what you said to Mr Barrow today. It meant a great deal to him.' She said as they made tea.

'I did mean it. In the end, I am proud of him.'

'I know you are and I'm very glad you told him.'

'I think he appreciated your demand too.' He teased, letting her pour him a cup. She smiled. 'I wouldn't mind if you made that sort of demand of me now and then.' She laughed.

'I'll remember that. I'll come and find you next time I miss you while you're up serving dinner. I'm sure His Lordship won't mind.' He reached to take her hand and kissed the back of it. Tears welled up in her eyes again. She had managed to hold her emotions in check as they walked back, but now alone in their own home, she had lost her control. The tears that had threatened to fall in the kitchen now tumbled down her cheeks. She shuddered and began to sob quietly as she looked at him, unable to remove her gaze or stop herself crying.

'Oh, Elsie.' He whispered softly. He moved his chair closer to hers, somehow keeping his hand in hers. He sat beside her and pulled her into his lap, holding her to him. She rested her head on his shoulder, wrapped her arms tightly round him and continued to cry. His large hands caressed her back and her thigh as he held her close to him. She stuttered, trying to bring her sobs under control but it was no use. He rocked her gently and muttered soothing words in between placing kisses on her head. It took several very long minutes for her to stop shaking and sobbing, but the tears were still tumbling down her cheeks as she lifted her head to look at him.

'I'm sorry.' She snuffled eventually. 'I was trying to be strong and…' he shushed her and gently ran his fingers shakily across her lips.

'You're worrying about me.' He said and she nodded. 'Don't. I don't want you to. You didn't sign on for this and I'll be damned if I'm making you stick with me through this. I can barely do my job now, I don't expect you to look after me. I saw what this did to Dad and Grandpa and I'm not going to put you through that. My mother had to care for them both and it was hard work. You don't deserve that.' He stopped as Elsie stood, her hands on her hips. Her tears had ceased at his words and calmed her sobs better than any soothing words could have done. He flinched. She was about to breathe fire and he knew it.

'Charles Ernest Carson! How dare you even suggest what you are about to? Don't you dare be honourable now because I'm not having it! In case you didn't notice, our wedding vows included a promise to love each other 'in sickness and in health'! Secondly, and I can't believe I have to remind you again, I am your wife! I love you! And if you think for one second that I would ever consider or want to leave you then you are sorely mistaken.' She paused slightly before continuing in a softer tone. 'You said you wanted to be stuck with me. Well, you got your wish. I'm not going anywhere.' She took a deep shuddering breath and looked at him. He blinked slowly and began to laugh.

'Thank you.' He said taking her hands and pulling her to stand between his knees.

'I mean it Charlie.' She freed her hands and ran them up his arms and onto his shoulders. His came to rest on her hips. 'The only thing worse than this would be not being with you, and I'd like to hope that you'd say the same when you've thought about it. Or are you still not in your right mind?' she teased.

'No, I'm not in my right mind am I?' She sat herself back down on his lap again.

'I'll make an appointment with the Doctor anyway. There have been many medical advances since your grandfather's day, there might be something he can recommend, or at the very least identify what's happening.' He agreed.

'Don't get your hopes up, there's probably nothing he can do.'

'Even so,' she challenged, strength coming back into her voice, 'we're going anyway.' He reluctantly agreed and they drank their cold tea in silence. Elsie remained sat in his lap.

Much later they lay in bed together, Charles spooned behind his wife. Their skin was flushed and warm.

'I'm sorry I was so upset. I didn't want to make you feel any worse, I knew you were worried and I just added to it by exploding all over you like that.' She admitted to the darkened bedroom. He ran the backs his fingers leisurely up and down her bare arm.

'You're supposed to be able to do that, Elsie. I should have noticed that you were worried and upset too. You can always talk to me. Even when I'm a grumpy curmudgeon who's not in his right mind.' She chuckled, snuggling herself closer to him. They lost themselves in thought for a few moments, perfectly content to lie in each other's arms. Eventually, Elsie rolled over to face him, his hands snaking round her back.

'I love you, Charlie' she said. 'And I promise to tell you how I'm feeling more often and not keeping it cooped up inside, if you promise the same. Whatever happens, whatever you can or can't do, there is nothing that will ever make me want to be apart from you. Anything we have to face, like we always have, we will face together.' He pressed his lips to hers.

'I promise, my darling.' He paused before finally admitting, 'I'm not going to manage to do this job much longer without His Lordship noticing.'

'Then we'll cross that bridge when we come to it. If I need to keep working I will, if I have to stop and be here for you then I will. We have the house. If we need the income then we can rent it or if we need to sell it then we can.'

'I have enough if you need me to help with Becky. If you have to stop working and look after me then that will have to be your compromise.' Elsie shifted awkwardly, she didn't want him to have to look after he sister, she had never meant for him to need to do that. 'There has always been a pension scheme from the family too. We should be able to manage.' She sighed, pausing for a moment.

'Then we have a plan.' She said finally.

'I'm sorry I will become a burden to you, that wasn't what I intended at all.'

'I know. But it's not really a burden if it's one I would willingly take on. I will be here, whatever you need.' He sighed.

'Come on. I've had enough of all this heavy emotional talk. I have a more important bone to pick with you, Mrs Hughes. You've not been entirely honest with me.'

'I beg your pardon?' she said teasingly.

'You told me,' he said, reaching to turn on the bedside light, 'several months ago, that I could have you, warts and all. Well, Mrs Hughes, I have looked very very carefully at every single inch of you and I have come to the conclusion that you were not honest. I have not found a single wart anywhere in sight.' She laughed, tears springing to her eyes as she reached to stroke his face. He placed a gentle kiss on her lips. 'What do you have to say for yourself?'

'You perhaps haven't looked hard enough, do you need to check again?'

'Are you suggesting that I have not being paying enough attention to you when we make love?' she gave an exaggerated mock gasp.

'Of course not, Mr Carson, I wouldn't ever dream of suggesting such a thing.'

'Good.' He paused. 'I think I should check again to be sure, but I would like an explanation for your deception, Mrs Hughes.' She giggled as he began to kiss her cheeks, her neck and down her chest.

'They're metaphorical' she breathed. He looked up, smirking. 'But please feel free to continue checking, I wouldn't want to deceive you further unwittingly.'

'Are there any places in particular you would like me to double check for you? Anywhere you can't see very well perhaps?' He teased. She pulled the covers from them and smiled, batting her eyelashes at him flirtatiously.

'Just here.' She pointed to a spot on her neck, just below her ear. He pressed his lips to where here finger had been and pressed several kisses to the spot and the surrounding area.

'Nope, none here' he said, sitting up slightly to look down at her.

'Here?' she suggested, her fingers tracing a path just below her breasts. He took his time kissing them, trailing his tongue and gently sucking the skin alternately causing her to sigh and moan gently. After several moments he let go, looking at her.

'Nope. Anywhere else?' she smiled at him.

'Erm…' she took her fingers to the inside of her bare thigh and ran her hand down it. 'There could be some here. You'd have to check very thoroughly indeed though, I can't see there at all.' He growled and shuffled down the bed. Her entire body shifted up to meet his lips and she let out a series of moans and gasps.

'I'm going to get you a sign for Christmas.' He said, taking her hand as they began to walk to the abbey the next morning, both significantly happier than the day before.

'Oh yes, and what will it say?'

'It's for the front door.' He explained, 'It's going to read 'The Carson's Love Nest, do not disturb.'

'Perhaps just 'The Carson's Love Nest' I wouldn't want to appear rude,' she paused to smile before continuing 'and I suspect that will be a sufficient deterrent to most people.' They laughed. 'Come on, we're going to be very late and I'm not missing breakfast today. I'm starving.'

'And why would that be?' he teased, his own stomach rumbling loudly.

'You know good and well why, husband and I'll thank you not to forget it in a hurry.'

'I'm still not sure I checked everywhere. I didn't get to your toes at all last night.' She let out a loud laugh and quickly put her hand to her mouth.

'Stop it! Anyone could hear us!' she hissed.

'I will if you promise I can check tonight.'

'Oh, I promise. Now give me a proper kiss before we get to work. I don't want to have to wait until our meeting later to steal one.'

'You seem brighter today.' Mrs Patmore observed later when she and Mrs Hughes were alone in her sitting room drinking tea in the mid-afternoon lull. Elsie took a sip of her tea and smiled.

'I am. Sorry, if I worried you. I was being silly.'

'You're never silly, Mrs Hughes.' The housekeeper raised her eyebrows, 'Well, only occasionally, but I'm glad you resolved whatever it was.'

'Thank you. You'll be pleased to know we are managing actual productive conversations these days about matters unrelated to the house.' Mrs Patmore laughed into her tea.

'But what about the ones relating to other matters.'

'A lady never tells.'

'Yes, but you're not a lady.'

'No.' She observed taking her final sip of tea. 'Surprisingly, given where we started, that's not a problem. We're er… nesting very nicely thank you.' The pair dissolved into girlish giggles.

'And what's so funny?' Mr Carson asked as he appeared in the doorway. Seeing the state of his wife and cook he raised an eyebrow. Mrs Patmore was first to recover. She stood and poured him a cup of tea, gesturing for him to take her vacant seat.

'We were just discussing a pair of great tits nesting at the end of the path out there.' She said, gesturing vaguely towards the back door with a smirk before leaving them to it, shutting the door behind her. Charles watched his wife dissolve into laughter again, shaking her head. Unable to explain, she reached over and planted a gentle kiss on his lips.