Happy birthday Ellie!
Title: Two’s Company
Rated: T
Carson/Hughes
(300) word Cottageverse
Posting in time to celebrate ellie987’s birthday. Happy birthday, Ellie!
“Hold still,” Elsie ordered, squeezing out a flannel.
“All this to-do and bother isn’t necessary,” he said in a gruff tone.
“That piece of rag was bloodsoaked,” she reprimanded.
When Charles had come inside before tea, Elsie’s attention had been instantly drawn to his bandaged hand. She’d bustled around immediately, preparing a mixture of alcohol and warm water to clean the cut.
Now, with her cradling his hand in her much smaller and softer one, he felt quite lightheaded. A feeling which had nothing to do with blood loss.
Her touch was gentle, yet sure and efficient. Disconcertingly, tears gathered in his eyes as she wiped the cloth across the jagged red wound.
Gratitude, he decided, was all he was feeling. He was merely thankful she still cared enough about him to make a fuss.
“Whatever were you thinking,” she murmured.
She laughed quietly. “Probably something about Morag.”
“Where is your sister?” he asked, peering out into the sitting room. Later, he would think it was amusing that he hadn’t noticed Morag’s absence until this point.
“Cribbs is showing her a spare cottage,” Elsie said, still focussed on administering her treatment.
“How did you manage--”
“I mentioned that you didn’t approve of her taking advantage of the Crawleys in such a fashion.”
“I...What?” he spluttered.
“She also didn’t take kindly to the fact that you thought a woman of her class being accommodated in an entire cottage by herself was improper.”
“And..She thought it best to put me in my place?” he asked carefully. “By doing exactly what I didn’t want her to do?”
“So it would seem,” she confirmed.
She looked up then, her eyes sparkling. He broke her gaze and slowly lowered his to her lips.
“So, it will just be you and I again tonight.”
Link to the next chapter
Rated: T
Carson/Hughes
(300) word Cottageverse
Posting in time to celebrate ellie987’s birthday. Happy birthday, Ellie!
“Hold still,” Elsie ordered, squeezing out a flannel.
“All this to-do and bother isn’t necessary,” he said in a gruff tone.
“That piece of rag was bloodsoaked,” she reprimanded.
When Charles had come inside before tea, Elsie’s attention had been instantly drawn to his bandaged hand. She’d bustled around immediately, preparing a mixture of alcohol and warm water to clean the cut.
Now, with her cradling his hand in her much smaller and softer one, he felt quite lightheaded. A feeling which had nothing to do with blood loss.
Her touch was gentle, yet sure and efficient. Disconcertingly, tears gathered in his eyes as she wiped the cloth across the jagged red wound.
Gratitude, he decided, was all he was feeling. He was merely thankful she still cared enough about him to make a fuss.
“Whatever were you thinking,” she murmured.
She laughed quietly. “Probably something about Morag.”
“Where is your sister?” he asked, peering out into the sitting room. Later, he would think it was amusing that he hadn’t noticed Morag’s absence until this point.
“Cribbs is showing her a spare cottage,” Elsie said, still focussed on administering her treatment.
“How did you manage--”
“I mentioned that you didn’t approve of her taking advantage of the Crawleys in such a fashion.”
“I...What?” he spluttered.
“She also didn’t take kindly to the fact that you thought a woman of her class being accommodated in an entire cottage by herself was improper.”
“And..She thought it best to put me in my place?” he asked carefully. “By doing exactly what I didn’t want her to do?”
“So it would seem,” she confirmed.
She looked up then, her eyes sparkling. He broke her gaze and slowly lowered his to her lips.
“So, it will just be you and I again tonight.”
Link to the next chapter