Chapter 34

Charles and Elsie were walking arm in arm around the Village Fair. Elsie was thrilled to be visiting the fair with her husband, as he had always flatly refused to accompany her whilst they were at Downton. Most of the village had turned out for the evening attractions. There was a juggler entertaining the crowds, as well as a punch and judy puppet show that had the children mesmerised. It was dark now, and the colourful lights that were draped around the top of each stall were twinkling brightly.

Elsie felt such joy as she made her way around the fair with Charles. They had been married almost 3 months now and she was so proud to be Charles Carson's wife. She looked up at him, as he stared straight ahead, and her heart skipped a beat thinking how handsome he was. He had aged, of course, as had she, but he remained a very attractive man. As they walked between the stalls, she enjoyed his warmth as she snuggled into his side more closely, holding his arm.

Charles looked down at his wife with such love, as the bright lights at the fair lit her beautiful face in the darkness. He was so happy, so unbelievably happy, to have Elsie as his wife; to think that he would get to spend the rest of his life with her, filled his heart with pure joy. She could have chosen any man in this village and yet she chose him. He thanked god every day for this blessing; he was a very lucky man indeed.

"Oh look there's Anna … and Mr Bates …" Elsie said excitedly. She loved Anna like a daughter and she did miss her, now that she did not get to see her every day. Charles smiled at his wife, knowing how fond she was of the younger girl, as they headed over to join them.

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Charles and Elsie had enjoyed a glass of cider with the younger couple; happily chatting to them, as they stood enjoying the fresh evening air. Elsie had updated them on her new pond, as well updating them about some other alterations they had made to the cottage.

"So how are things at Downton?" Elsie asked.

"Oh much the same … Thomas still thinks he is cock of the walk …" Anna said, as Elsie and Charles laughed.

" … and Mrs Bigley?" Elsie asked.

"Yes … she is doing well … although it's not the same as having you there …" Anna smiled at Elsie; she had always seen the older woman as a second mother.

"Thank you Anna … and I am very pleased she is doing well … she seems like a lovely lady …" Elsie replied, and she meant it.

"So Mr Carson … have you won your lovely wife any prizes yet?" Mr Bates teased, whilst proudly pointing to a huge teddy bear that Anna was holding. He had no idea what he had started with that innocent question.

"Not yet Mr Bates … but I am sure it's just a matter of time …" Charles answered, confidently.

"Just a matter of time … you had four goes at the skittles and you still did not win a thing! " Elsie giggled, looking up at her husband.

"I was just warming up … anyway those skittles are nailed to the floor if you ask me …" Charles huffed.

"My husband is a very bad loser …" Elsie jested, as Anna and Mr Bates laughed.

"I am not … I just think some of these games are impossible that is all …" Charles said sulkily.

"Impossible? Well why don't I have a go at the hoopla and we will see how impossible it is …" Elsie said, as the younger couple giggled at the pair.

"Elsie … I am telling you now that you will not be able to win a thing at that game … the hoops are too small to fit over the prizes …" he said tetchily.

"Nonsense … why don't we both have a go and we'll see who wins …" Elsie challenged.

"Elsie … I don't think that is a good idea … we both know how competitive you are …" Charles said, raising his eyebrows to high heaven.

"I am not competitive!" Elsie said adamantly.

"Elsie … you did not speak to me for three hours after I beat you at chess the other night …" Charles stated.

"Charles Carson that is not true …" Elsie replied. However, as her husband rolled his eyes in her direction, she was forced into an admission.

"… I may have been a little quieter than usual that evening … but … well it was for two hours at most!" Elsie said stubbornly.

"Maybe hoopla isn't such a good idea after all …" Anna said warily, biting her lip to stop herself continuing to laugh.

"Oh no … we are definitely playing now … now that he thinks I won't be able to win … come on …" she said to Charles, as she strode off towards the stall.

Charles huffed and puffed but he still walked after his wife. Anna and Mr Bates followed, not wanting to miss a thing.

Elsie went first and frustratingly had no success with her 3 hoops. Charles looked at her smugly.

"Go on then … if you are so clever …" she dared.

Charles's first attempt missed by a mile. Elsie bit her lip to stop from giggling. Anna and Mr Bates held their breath. However, his second shot rattled over a prize and just fell an inch short. This near miss spurred Charles on but it only served to worry Elsie. She really did hate losing! Charles concentrated intently for his third and final shot, and just as he was about to throw the hoop, Elsie gave him a quick pinch on the bottom to distract him. The hoop veered off in an entirely different direction, missing all of the prizes by a mile. Elsie stood innocently looking up at Charles.

"I cannot believe you did that!" Charles cried.

Anna and Mr Bates had no idea what he meant; they had been focusing on the stall full of prizes as Elsie had carried out her little distraction.

"I didn't do a thing Charles … now don't blame me because you missed the prize …" Elsie said, attempting to keep a straight face.

"Elsie Carson! You know full well what you did!" Charles said, his jaw dropping open as he gazed at his wife.

"What did I do … might I ask?" Elsie said confidently, knowing that Charles would never be able to describe her actions in front of their young friends; he would be mortally embarrassed to say such words.

Elsie smiled up at her husband, knowing he was beaten. He could not help but smile at his wife's cheeky grin. She was so pretty when she was teasing him like this. It was all he could do not to embrace her right there in the middle of the fair. She reached up and gave him a loving kiss on the cheek as he shook his head happily at her. She linked arms again with him as they smiled at each other. The four of them were just about to head to the drinks stall for another cider, when they were distracted by a loud cheer. They all looked to the stall to see that a hoop had landed over an expensive box of chocolates.

"You see … that's how it's done!" Elsie said warmly, as she squeezed Charles's arm.

They all looked to see who had thrown the winning shot. The two couples were full of smiles, happy that someone, at least, was successful at this game. However, Elsie's smile soon turned to one of shock as she caught the eye of the happy winner. Charles felt his wife tense beside him and then she withdrew her arm from his, as she stared at the man in front of them.

"Elsie Hughes …" the man beamed.

"Joe Burns …" Elsie whispered, feeling faint.

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