A NIGHT TO REMEMBER
Hello everyone. Nice to be with you again. I'm still in the middle of my B&B story, but meanwhile I got another idea and I decided to start this story, while I still have some enthusiasm. So for now, I will be juggling between writing two stories.
Story summary: Elsie receives a bad news and she really needs a friend in this difficult moment, so Charles steps up, to help, which will have an unexpected and meaningful results.
Legal note: I do not own any of the DA characters, but I'm only giving them a second life.
Elsie felt restless recently and she didn't even know what was the reason. Everything seemed to go rather well at Downton. She liked her work, she was comfortable with her role in the household and she got used to her everyday duties, but in spite of that, she didn't go to sleep at night contended and peaceful.
If she did, she would probably fall asleep at once, being happy about having few hours to herself and knowing, that this is her time for regeneration and the only quiet hours during 24 hours circle.
When she had some time to think, which was not possible during the day, she started to worry about few things in her personal life. Like her little sister Becky, who was living in Lynthams St. Anne and for whose care she was paying.
Her work at the Abbey meant no time to paying her visits and she missed her tremendously. Becky was always her little sis, the last tie connecting her to the past and someone who had a special place in her heart.
Elsie was in constant contact with the house of care, in which Becky was placed and recently she received few letters, which brought fear into her heart, as she found out, that Becky's state has not been very good recently.
She was wondering, if there was any possible way, that she could leave the house for few days, to finally meet her sister, but she knew, that it won't be possible during the year, maybe when they will go to London in summer and the house will be empty, but in spite of that, she will still need a permission for that, which from some reason made her very angry.
She was a free woman and she couldn't even take few days off, to meet the member of her family. Elsie generally didn't have anything against being a servant, but there were moments like this, when she wished, that she had financial independence and could do what she wanted with her free time.
The other thing, that didn't let her sleep, was her "relationship" with Charles Carson. How she wished, that she could even call it relationship...It wasn't easy to define what was between them.
The only thing that she was certain of, was that she was in love with him madly, like she has never been in love before in her life, but she was also old and wise enough to know, that on no account, she can't let anyone figure that out, especially him...
She wished, that she would be more certain about his feelings, but he was so aloof and so distant, that it was really difficult, to find out what was going on in his heart and his life. And they were such a good friends, the best one in the whole household, but the fact, that they tell each other almost everything, didn't necessarily mean, that they knew, what was going on in their hearts.
He didn't know, that she had a sister who was "not right in the head" and that she was paying for her care, which made her pauper, as she had no life savings.
It was not that she was ashamed of it, but somehow she felt, that it was something, that she wasn't ready to tell him yet.
She didn't know anything about his childhood, about his family-he didn't like to confide about it. The only personal memory that they've shared, was about their past loves-of Joe Burns and Alice Neal, if it could even be called that way.
Elsie had a feeling, that in both cases, it was more about the youthful infatuation, than real love..
Real love was in her heart right now, for him. She loved him so much and keeping that to herself, caring about him daily at the same time, was not the easiest thing to do. Elsie put a lot of her energy, to balance between her most personal feelings and the necessity of keeping them to herself.
In times like this, late at night, when she was lying alone in her bed, with closed eyes, she was imagining, how wonderful it would be, if she was with him right now, as his wife. In their own cottage, instead of those cold, litte rooms at the attic, with narrow beds.
She was dreaming about lying in the double bed with him, so close, that she would never ever had to feel a cold, which was a constant part of her life, living at the attic. She was more than sure, that being close to him, would forever prevent her from being cold and his warm body, his loving arms holding her close, would let her fall asleep almost instantly, after getting to bed each night.
Unfortunately, it was just her silly dreams, nothing more...She didn't have the slightest chances of those ever becoming true..
She liked this moment of falling asleep the most, also the one in the early morning, when she was in the brink of sleep and waking up and she could almost literally feel like she was being in his arms...The overwhelming warmth and security, were so lovely, that she was groaning with discontent, when her alarm clock was mercilessly stopping her most beautiful dreams and she had to get up again, to face harsh reality...
Sometimes, she was wondering, if he was ever thinking about her the same way, but she quickly rejected this thought, not being vain, or particularly convinced about her own attraction..It was not possible, that Charles Carson could lower himself to such indecent thoughts...He would probably be appaled, if he knew, what kind of scenarios played out in her head every night..Luckily for Elsie, her head and her imagination, were her own property and she didn't have to be restricted by any kind of rules..
In the same time, at the same floor, but in the different part of the corridor, behind double doors, Charles Carson was having exactly the same thoughts as Elsie...He was also going to sleep every night, after another tiring and long day, only to let his mind wonder, to the areas that were forbidden during the day, but acceptable at night.
When he was trying to have some calming thoughts, there was only one vision in his head- of Elsie May Hughes...Her lovely face, beautiful gentle eyes, full of inner kindness and her warm and adorable smile, that he adored so much...He couldn't even count, how many times, in stressful moments at the Abbey, her presence helped him to go back to balance and how one her smile, had an ability to make things better..
He loved her and it was obvious for him, as the fact that the sun will rise and set everyday... If he had any dreams about his private life, there wasn't any other woman than Elsie in his dreams. She was the one who he wanted to dine with, to live with in one cottage and to share all the aspects of marriage and by all aspects, he understood exactly what it meant..
He would love to fall asleep, having her in his arms, so close as it was physically possible, to feel her petite body in his embrace, to inhale her scent and to absorb her with all his senses...
Why was he hesitating then? Why was he postponing the proposal year after year? Because he was afraid. He was terrefied, with a prospect of another rejection. Many years have passed and he still remembered how Alice Neal chose someone else, not him...
Back then, it was a huge tragedy for him, now, when he was older and wiser, he knew, that in fact it was not a tragedy at all, but just one of those painful life experiences, just as he understood, that his feelings for Alice, had more in common with an infatuation, that with a real love.
However now it was different...He was living with Elsie under the same roof for so long, he has seen her behavior and knew her reactions in so many situations, even in those most difficult ones and it was enough for him to know who she was.
She was the sweetest, the kindest and the most caring woman that he has ever known... He loved to be taken care of and pampered by her every single day. Just like Elsie, Charles was also not a vain person, so he would never think, that what she was doing, had something to do with her enormous love for him. He simply thought that she had such kind nature, that she liked to take care of everyone.
He was sighing deeply, falling asleep, imagining that he was with her, being aware, that it may never happen for real...Maybe one day he will finally have the courage to ask her THAT QUESTION, but for now, his dreams had to be enough...
Few days later...
The afternoon post has almost gone unnoticed with Charles that day, there were so many things going on today, that even though he noticed the hall boy passing it around, he didn't devote his thoughts to that fact, especially, that there was nothing for him...
He overheard, that there was a telegram for Elsie, but he was so busy with a wine choice for dinner, that he swiftly forgot about the whole world.
He started to feel anxious, when there was tea time and she didn't come to his pantry with the tea tray and a plate of scones, so they could have half an hour of peace and one of the most pleasurable moments during the day.
Intrigued and very disappointed with a lack of her presence, he decided to investigate the reason of that untypical behavior. He knocked her sitting room and when he heard her voice, letting him come in, he already knew, that something was very wrong.
He knew her so well, that he was even sensitive about the different tone of her voice. When he entered and saw the expression of her face, he was sure, that something terrible must have happened...
"Mrs Hughes...Are you all right? You look really worried...Has anything happened?"
He noticed, that she was holding the telegram in her hands and when she raised her head up, there was pure despair in her eyes...
"I just got a telegram, informing me that my little sister has passed away..."
"Your sister? I didn't even know that you had a sister...How did this happen?"
"Mr Carson, please close the door...I need to tell you the whole story..."
"Of course, but let me bring you, us some tea..."
"Actually I would prefer something stronger...I know that it's still early, but I really need it right now.."
"Just let me pop into my pantry and I will bring us some Sherry...I will be right with you..."
That's all for first chapter...I hope that I have your attention...This is just a beginning...This story will not be super long, but after thinking it through, I decided that it needs few chapters. I wouldn't be able to squash everything in one. Hope you had fun reading this intro and that you will want more. Have a very nice weekend!