A/N: Started this chapter while away for the New Year's holiday in a condominium rental. No joke, I attempted to use the toaster, wasn't satisfied with how brown my English muffin was after one round so I sent it down again for another round...only to burn black and smoke! I guess I really am Downstairs Daddy!
Waking far later than normal with the first hints of daylight peeking around the perimeter of the window curtains, the hour nonetheless felt uncomfortably early to Elsie this morning. She recalled that Charles had been chivalrous yet eager deep into his first night and early second morning as her husband. Right now though, he was sound asleep, apparently exhausted from their marital activities together. Instinctively, she bit her lower lip as she replayed in her mind their respective gyrations of fingers, lips, tongues and other body parts from hours ago.
Thinking back though, on the act itself, and the time between when he first entered her and the moment he came undone, she couldn't help but wince. She had looked forward to it with anticipation, was unquestionably turned on by Charles - his body, his words, his rose water odyssey. She felt respected and loved throughout but there was no doubt their first attempt at lovemaking had pleased him more than it had her.
As they progressed, he had asked her repeatedly if everything was alright, if she wished him to stop. Everything had seemed right, with what little she knew, but it hadn't all felt good. She thought so then and she thought it now.
Oh, but she did love her man! The warmth of his body now tangled up with sheet and blankets and spread out over parts of her own; how long had they lain like this, she wondered.
She had dreamt of mornings like this countless times over the years and this morning specifically over the last several weeks. In those dreams she had held Charles in a tight embrace or she in his, either way an embrace that they both sought to prolong for hours. But this morning under the solid weight and frame of her husband, she needed to MOVE. She needed him to move. Her bladder could not wait much longer.
Elsie had attempted to wiggle her way out from underneath her prince charming-sleeping beauty but found herself sandwiched too far into the mattress for that to be successful. Perhaps in time he might roll off, but now, he was still out cold, left arm draped fully over her right hip, his torso half on top of her own, left knee curled around her left thigh, left foot somewhere above yet between her ankles.
She tried whispering his name to no avail; finally she had an idea. The broad expanse of his back was there for the taking. Reaching her right hand to its center and extending her index finger, she touched him gently with her nail. His skin gave ever so slightly under the pressure. She began to slowly trail the same nail across the surface of his skin, practicing writing out her new, married name. As she completed each of the LETTERS, she said them aloud softly. Proud of her cleverness, Elsie smiled broadly, especially when Charles began to stir, somewhere around C.
Exhaling against her rib cage, eyes still closed, he groggily asked, "Elsie, what time is it?"
"I don't know Charles, because I'm right here, you're right here and your pocket watch is, well, somewhere else," she replied, deliberately rolling her Rs knowing that always stirred him.
"Mmmmm, right here, together." Though barely awake, Charles had managed to tease her as he rolled his Rs in return. Although she swatted him gently with her left hand in acknowledgment of his little joke, her right continued to draw the letters on his back. Ever more awake, Charles furrowed his brow and wondered aloud, "What exactly are you doing, love?"
"Writing my name on your back in the hopes of waking you. Now that I have succeeded, I am hoping my dear husband might kindly let me escape our marriage bed."
"No."
"No! Charles please, I simply must use the toilet."
"Again?"
"Again? Charles, it has been hours ago, and we drank Champagne, and well, my body is telling me I need to use the toilet!"
At last Charles opened his eyes and turned his head as his whiskers inadvertently scraped across the soft skin bellow her breasts when he looked up at her. The unexpected scratching caused Elsie to silently mouth the word "Ouch." Despite this latest discomfort he had caused her, Elsie had to admit the combination of morning stubble on Charles's face, bare torso, bottom, and mussed hair was quite an adorable LOOK on him.
Oblivious to the pain his whiskers had just caused, Charles was instead transfixed by Elsie's white breasts and pink nipples falling over to either side of her chest yet just inches from his eyes. "Mmmmm, hello!" he grinned. Suddenly interested in planting kisses on Elsie's ampleness, Charles shifted his weight to prop himself up higher.
Foreseeing his intent, Elsie pre-emptied his strike. "Oh no you don't Charles Carson, not now!" She pressed her left hand up against Charles's cheek and nose and squeezed herself out through the space his postural shift had created between them.
He reached out his left hand to grab her hip but Elsie twisted herself around avoiding his grasp. In mild disappointment, Charles slapped the warm mattress where Elsie had just been. Sliding his right hand up to his temple and back through his hair, Charles propped himself up on his right side and elbow and watched her as she stood at the foot of the bed sliding one arm and then the other into his dressing gown.
"Elsie, that's mine. Why do you need to cover yourself up anyway?"
She was fumbling to gather the belt that had been no trouble to loosen last night. Growing frustrated, Elsie fired back. "One, it's because I don't quite know where my nightgown is that I am putting on your dressing gown in this chilly room of ours and two, it's because one would think the always proper Butler of the fine Downton Abbey would have the decency to cover himself up in his current state of undress that I am modeling good behavior for him to follow!" Gesturing at the length of his bare body, Elsie continued, "I suppose this is what I have to look forward to in the hot SUMMER months ahead!"
So as not to leave him thinking that prospect truly upset her, Elsie did squeeze his big toe affectionately before she bolted for the en suite. Charles did look down toward his feet, though, aware suddenly that the sheet and blankets covered him no higher than his knees. Chuckling now at his observant, plain-spoken, and fiery wife, Charles rolled over onto his back, untangled his legs from the covers and pulled them up above his waist. As he scratched at the hair on his chest he thought, "Oh, Elsie. You are certainly spicing up my life."
Charles was drifting off again when he heard the floorboards creak beside the bed. Opening his eyes, he was pleased to see Elsie disrobing, nothing yet underneath. "My, my with as much room as you're taking up, I must ask, is there room enough for another in that bed?" she asked.
"Only for you my love, only for you." Charles smiled, welcoming his naked wife back into bed by lifting the covers for her to burrow underneath with him. As she inched closer on the mattress, Elsie pulled the covers all the way up to her chin then reached over to cover Charles's far shoulder as well. She let her arm rest on his warm chest, her fingers playing once again with the soft, sparse hairs that had first fascinated her last night.
Turning his head toward hers, Charles studied her as best he could through the faint early morning light. Her eyes were closed again, he knew that.
Sensing his watching her, Elsie instructed him, "Go back to sleep, Charles."
"Yes dear. Your wish is my command, dear."
Oh he was on a silly streak! She snickered softly, patted his chest and snuggled closer before both fell fast asleep again.
When he woke some hours later, it was to the muted sounds of clanging pots and pans coming from the kitchen directly below their room, and his own constitution's cry for mercy. Charles sat up slowly so as not to wake Elsie who was slumbering still beside him. Remembering her earlier lecture, Charles eased into his dressing gown. As he took his first step away from the bed, he felt something soft underneath his foot. Reaching down, he recognized his pyjama trousers. And from this lower vantage point he caught the outline of the top as well and her new nightgown, crumpled together nearby. He lifted all of them up, shook them out slightly and laid them over the bed before stepping into the dressing alcove and gathering his toiletry bag that was resting atop the dresser very near that lovely little bottle of rose water. Pleasantly, the visual trigger helped him realize there was the faintest hint of rose water miraculously transferred onto his dressing gown. Stepping out again, he stopped briefly to look affectionately at his dear Elsie curled up in their bed before proceeding to the en suite.
There they were again, the rose petals, still floating in the tub. He opened the drain before going about his business. Later, when he finished cleaning his teeth, taming his hair, washing his face, shaving his whiskers and splashing on his aftershave, Charles stooped down to gather the petals now clinging to the bottom and sides of the otherwise empty tub. He set one aside on his hand towel before tossing the rest in the wastebasket. He dried the one as best he could, determined to press and keep it, a sentimental reminder of their wedding night. Finishing in the bath, Charles turned off the light and opened the door. Elsie was awake now, back in her new blue nightgown sitting up in bed, arms wrapped around her knees that were together below her chin. Elsie was counting the church bells as they rang in the distance.
Smiling at her approaching husband she commented, "Nine o'clock, Charles, have you ever in your life?"
Sitting down on the edge of the bed and leaning over to kiss her lips, Charles replied, "Never."
Caressing her cheek as their lips parted he continued, "But then I'd never done other things we did last night. Good morning, love." They kissed again, longer this time.
"Mmmmm, I always loved the scent of your aftershave. Did you know that?"
"No, I didn't. But I do now and I will make a point to remember that."
"Please do."
Leaning in for a third kiss, hopeful it might lead to something akin to last night's amorous activities, Charles asked, "And what shall we do today, my dear?"
Perfectly on cue, Elsie's stomach growled. "I guess get something to eat," she giggled.
Charles hung his head. Looking up again, suggestively, "Perhaps breakfast in bed?"
"No, another day, when we are home in our cottage and have nowhere to go, nothing to do, I look forward to spending whole days with you in bed." She reached lovingly out to stroke his newly shorn cheek. "For today though, let's dress and go downstairs for breakfast."
"As you wish." Seeing his disappointment, Elsie leaned over and pecked Charles on the cheek before swinging her legs over her side of the bed.
"Charles, why don't you get dressed while I first clean myself up in the bath?"
"Yes dear. Your wish is my command, dear."