March 3, 1927

After a long and very stressful day, Elsie wearily climbed the stairs leading to the rooms she shared with her husband at the Abbey. She had promised Beryl she would stay and share a cup of tea and a chat, and despite her longing to curl up in Charles's arms and spend a quiet evening together, she hated to disappoint her friend. Since some of their days and evenings were spent at their cottage, the last thing she wanted was for Beryl to feel neglected.

In truth, there were things the two friends needed to discuss without the listening ears of anyone else bustling around the corridors. Mr. Mason was living closer now that he was at Yew Tree Farm, and he was showing quite an interest in Mrs. Patmore, much to Daisy's distress and Beryl's unease. She wasn't accustomed to having a true gentleman offering sincere compliments and encouragement so she truly relished the moments when she could talk things over with Elsie, seek her advice on how to proceed or what it all might mean.

And tonight, Elsie needed to let off a little steam before heading upstairs to her husband. She had been so livid with Thomas earlier in the evening. It had taken all of her reserve not to storm upstairs and demand his dismissal. Instead, she tried to handle the situation without involving Charles. That would have ignited a powder keg that even she wasn't sure she could diffuse. Even now, climbing step after step closer to the object of her love and affection, she could feel the anger seething off her when she thought back to the things the man had said about her husband.

Standing outside their door, she took a deep breath and released it slowly, willing all of her negative thoughts to leave her before she entered their sanctuary. With a smile, she opened the door and was met with the sight Charles sitting in his favorite chair by the fire and reading a new book he'd borrowed from the library.

"Have a nice chat with Mrs. Patmore?" he asked, marking the page in his book and placing it and his reading glasses on the little side table.

She sat in her chair opposite him and began to remove her shoes but was stopped when he slipped from his chair and knelt in front of her, taking her legs in his hands, deftly working to rid her of her shoes and giving her feet a little massage. "We … mmm, oh, that's very tender … did have a nice … oooohhh … chat. She's worried about Mr. Mason and Daisy, so ... oh Charles, you're hands are amazing … so, she wanted some advice about things." She wiggled her toes and sighed happily, already feeling much better than she had just moments before.

"I'm sure you gave her some excellent advice on how to woo a suitor, how to make him fall hopelessly in love with her, and how to make him the happiest of men, though I still believe I am the happiest and luckiest of them all." He pressed a kiss to the top of each foot then returned them to the floor before standing once more. He leaned over her, his hands resting on the arms of the chair, and kissed her lips slowly and softly. When he heard her hum into the kiss, he pulled back gently. "Why don't you go plait your hair while I draw you a bath? When you're finished, we'll have a nightcap and wind down from the day."

She nodded her head and cupped his cheek. "Charles Carson, I don't know what I ever did to deserve you, but I love you. You're too good to me."

"I could say the same to you, my sweet, beautiful girl." He took her hands in his and pulled her to her feet. After dropping a kiss to the back of each hand, he guided her in the direction of the bedroom while he headed for the bathroom to draw a hot bath for his wife.

While Elsie enjoyed her relaxing bath, Charles lit a few candles in their bedroom, turned down the bedding, and poured them each a glass of wine. He was feeling especially sentimental and protective this evening, and he wanted to pamper his wife, his greatest champion. After everything he had heard earlier, she deserved it and so much more.

"My, my, Mr. Carson. To what do I owe this pleasure?" she asked, walking up to him and slipping her arms around him, drawing him into her arms. "If I'd known you were in this sort of mood, I would have shortened my time with Beryl and been up here sooner."

"You both needed that time together. I don't begrudge her your company. After all, I am fortunate to spend every evening, night, and morning with you." He dropped a kiss to the top of her head and gave her a gentle squeeze. "Let's get you settled in bed, Mrs. Carson. That fire is warm but not so warm after a bath, and I don't want you catching a chill."

Shaking her head and smiling at her adoring husband, she obliged and slid into their bed, patting the space beside her. "The only thing missing now is you, Charlie." Her voice was soft and seductive as the firelight bathed her in a soft glow, accentuating her hair and the curves of her body in the silky nightgown, a present from her husband for their first Valentine's Day as man and wife.

He handed her a glass of wine then slipped into the bed beside her. "A toast … to the woman who is my biggest supporter, the calming force in my life, and the woman, who at the end of each and every day, reminds me what life is all about."

"Goodness, Charles. I don't know that I deserve all this praise this evening. Thank you, though." She clinked her glass to his, took a small sip of her wine, then made her own toast. "To the only man I've ever truly loved, to my best friend, and to the man, who at the end of every day, showers me with his love and devotion. To my husband, my love."

By the end of her toast, Charles's eyes were filling with tears that he desperately tried to keep from spilling down his cheeks. In the end, he was unsuccessful. He closed his eyes and only opened them again when he felt Elsie's gentle touch on his cheek, wiping away his tears.

"Charles, whatever's wrong? What did I say, love?" She placed her glass on the side table and leaned over to kiss both of his cheeks then his lips. "Talk to me, love."

He turned to place his wine glass on the table and to blow out the candle, leaving the room lit by a single flame. Without a word, he drew Elsie into his arms, holding her close to his chest. "I heard Thomas this afternoon. I heard every word of what he said about me, about us. I heard what he was saying to Andy and Mr. Molesley. Just when I was about to enter the room and fire him on the spot, I heard the voice of an angry Scotswoman."

"Oh, Charles! I had hoped to spare you the vile things Thomas was saying. I wanted nothing more than to have him dismissed without a reference. I was prepared to see it through to the end, but then I realized that I would have to explain to the family why I had dismissed him. That would mean giving his words life again, and I couldn't bear to put you through that."

"But what he said, Elsie … "

"What he said was nothing but lies, and we both know that. You are a wonderful husband, a wonderful lover, a wonderful provider. I married you for love … love and love alone, Charles Carson. You chose me to be your wife out of that love and desire, just as I pledged to love, honor, and obey you out of that same love and desire. Thomas has no idea, absolutely no idea at all, what a lucky woman I am. He's bitter, angry, scared … and in some ways, cruel. I had hoped to spare you from hearing any of those things he said. I'm sorry I wasn't successful." A single tear slipped down her cheek and she closed her eyes in defeat.

"I'm sorry I overheard him, and I will be talking with him tomorrow. I will strongly encourage him to seek employment elsewhere since he obviously has no respect for this house and those living and working beneath its roof."

"Believe me, I think he already knows his days are numbered, and I dare say that Mr. Molesley and Andy will be very cool towards him in the future. Mrs. Patmore threatened to poison his food for you," she said with a smile laced into her voice. "I assured her that that wouldn't be necessary … for now."

Charles laughed softly. "It's nice to know that I have you two on my side. I would hate to have either of you truly angry at me."

She stretched up and kissed him soundly on the lips. "You don't ever have to worry about that, love. As long as I draw breath, I will always be on your side … even when I'm annoyed with you." She leaned over him and blew out the lone candle, plunging the room into darkness, except for the glow from the dying fire. When she was settled against the pillows, she drew her husband into her arms, wrapping him in her warmth and love, silently reassuring him that she loved him, desired him, adored him, and most importantly … offering him comfort at the end of a long and stressful day.

Assured that her love was already asleep in her arms, the last thoughts through Elsie's mind before she allowed sleep to claim her were of the many ways she was going to prove to her husband that Thomas Barrow had never been more wrong about anything in his entire life … even if it took her the rest of her life to do it. She would never let someone, anyone, hurt Charles again. His heart was too precious to her, and it was her duty and privilege to keep it safe.

A/N: This one is for ChelsieGirl: who wanted to see Elsie come to Charles's defense. I'm leaving it up to the reader to fill in the blanks for Thomas's accusations. O.o One more chapter to go before we draw this story to a conclusion. If you've enjoyed what you've read, I'd appreciate a little encouragement. xoxo