Chapter 36

A/N: Apologies for the delay but I have included a little m-ness to make up for it x

"Well that has been an eventful morning …" Aileen smiled, as the four shared the last of the wine.

They had enjoyed a lovely Sunday lunch at a local public house, at ease in each other's company. Charles loved to watch Elsie with her sister; he had never seen Elsie so content, although he liked to think that her serenity was a little to do with him as well. George was also very easy-going; a bright man who was not au fait with literature and the classics like Charles, but who had an impressive knowledge of the news and politics which meant that he and Charles had enjoyed much healthy debate over lunch.

"It has indeed … and it has been a lovely weekend … thank you so much for welcoming us Aileen, George …" Charles smiled sincerely.

"Our pleasure … it has been delightful to get to know the mysterious Mr Carson at last!" Aileen teased.

"She used to make up all sorts of stories about you Charles ..." Elsie laughed, as she shook her head fondly at her sister.

"Well … I had never met him … and you were reluctant to tell me too much for fear of admitting your true feelings … therefore I let my imagination run a little wild …" she giggled, as George chuckled too.

"Dare I ask what you imagined?" Charles asked gamely, a broad smile on his face.

"That you were about eighty years old … a small, elderly Butler … spending your time deep in the wine cellars all day … and only coming out at night to terrorise the staff!" Aileen chuckled heartily.

"Quite accurate then!" Charles joked, as the others laughed warmly.

"I could not have been less accurate Charles … and I am very happy for you and my sister …" Aileen said sincerely. However, she was not one for sentimentality and so she quickly countered with,

"… but just remember that I have a large meat cleaver in my kitchen drawer and therefore, should you ever upset my Elsie … I'll be after you!" she cried, swallowing her last sip of wine with glee.

"Noted and understood ... and I promise never to give you cause to use that cleaver!" Charles replied with a smile, squeezing Elsie's hand and giving her a tender peck on the cheek.

######

"We will see you in a couple of hours then ladies …" George said, as he and Charles made their way down the path from the front door for an afternoon stroll with the family dog, Sheppie.

"You will indeed …" Elsie said, reaching up to kiss Charles goodbye.

She had meant it to be a chaste kiss on the lips, however as soon as she felt his strong hands at her waist, she became affected and leant into him more meaningfully. Charles, despite himself, deepened the kiss; the events of the day having served to remind him, yet again, how blessed he was to have Elsie as his future wife. He smiled against her lips as he remembered her words of devotion to James. After getting lost in their kiss, they both broke apart quite breathlessly. Aileen and George stood to the side, looking both amused and shocked.

Charles rested his forehead against Elsie's and both gazed deeply into the others eyes. The emotional events of the weekend thus far had proved somewhat tiring and after Elsie's heartfelt admissions the previous evening, the two had fallen into bed, separate beds of course, quite exhausted. There had been little time for their minds to wander or for them to be tempted in anyway. However, as they looked at each other knowingly, still touching each other so tenderly, they both knew that the remainder of the weekend would prove quite testing; how would they maintain their resolve to remain proper and restrained?

"Well … be off with you Charles ... before Elsie ravishes you any further … and I don't want George getting any ideas!" Aileen teased, before giving her husband a quick kiss on the lips.

Elsie and Charles blushed, finally being brought back down to earth. They looked guilty as charged, as Charles smiled bashfully and began to walk down the path. However Elsie, never unnerved for too long, quickly grasped his hand, forcing Charles to stop in his tracks. He turned and she reached up, cupped his cheek with her other hand and kissed him briefly but sensually on the lips, ensuring she teased his top lip with her teeth. Charles looked down at her with a soppy, blissful smile as she whispered,

"Until later my gorgeous man …"

Elsie winked at him, turned with a swing in her step and headed back indoors with Aileen. Charles stood dazed but happy wondering just how quickly they could walk that old dog!

######

"Where are the girls?" Elsie asked happily, as she and Aileen settled themselves on the settee with a glass of wine.

Charlotte still lived at home with her parents and Jane was staying over this evening with her twins as her husband was working away. Although she had relinquished her old bedroom to Charles and so she was sharing with Charlotte.

"They have gone over to Elizabeth's for tea … they'll be back soon …" Aileen answered happily.

"Lovely … I have missed them …" Elsie answered lovingly.

"They miss you too … now my little sister … you and Charles are obviously very well-acquainted … you couldn't wait until you were married then?" Aileen smiled teasingly, as she sat beside Elsie on the settee, her legs curled underneath her.

"We certainly are waiting … Charles is a gentleman … we would never … I don't know what gave you that idea?" Elsie asked, sounding more defensive than she meant to.

"Oh … only that you looked about to rip his clothes off on the path just minutes ago!" Aileen replied sassily.

"Aileen … honestly! I did not … I was just saying goodbye that is all …" Elsie replied seriously.

"Umm … that is not the way unwed couples normally say goodbye … and the fact that he looks like he is about to dissolve into a happy puddle every time you look at him … and he cannot stop touching you … I have never seen a man more devoted," Aileen continued.

Elsie could not help but smile at that; Charles was very attentive.

"We are very happy I grant you … but we haven't … we wouldn't …" Elsie said firmly.

"You don't need to get all prickly with me Elsie Hughes … I can see that twinkle in your eye and it makes me very happy indeed … now just admit it … since when did you not tell your big sister all of the juicy details?" Aileen smiled, hoping Elsie would open up to her at last about the intimacies she had shared with Charles.

"Aileen we honestly haven't!" Elsie cried.

Aileen gave Elsie her best 'big sister' look, one glare that said: be honest with me right now! Elsie sighed.

"Well … we have kissed and cuddled … and perhaps a little more … but we have not made love!" Elsie declared.

Both sisters looked at each seriously and then burst into joyous laughter at the inappropriateness of this conversation.

"Well if that is true then I would wager good money that you will never last until your wedding night!" Aileen smiled gleefully.

Elsie shook her head with a grin.

"Now that is where you are wrong my lovely sister … honestly … will you please credit me with some self-control … Charles and I will definitely be waiting until our wedding night … I can promise you that …" Elsie said confidently.

Aileen nodded her head with an amused smile but did not believe her sister for a second.

######

"I'll say goodnight then …" Charles murmured against Elsie's lips, as they stood on the landing outside of their two rooms, enjoying a goodnight smooch. It was almost midnight and Aileen, George and the girls were already in bed.

Elsie giggled as Charles held her closely, showing no signs that he was going to release her anytime soon.

"What?" he smirked cheerfully, as he watched Elsie laugh.

"That is the fourth time you have said that … and yet here we are … still canoodling …" Elsie joked, amusing herself with the use of such a word.

"Canoodling! Is that what you call it?" Charles asked delightedly, as he allowed his hands to wander to her bottom, kneading her soft flesh as he teased her mouth.

Elsie gave a long, contented sigh as she wrapped her arms more tightly around his neck, reaching up to press herself more firmly into his chest.

"Umm god … you feel good Elsie …" Charles whispered, as he ground himself gently against her, gripping her behind.

"And you my love … I love you …" she murmured against his lips.

"I love you too my beautiful girl …" he replied.

Elsie's hands slipped down across his broad shoulders to rest on his chest. She then began to unbutton his shirt as she covered his exposed chest with tiny bites and kisses. Charles felt his most private parts react instantly.

"Oh gods Elsie … you have to stop … Aileen and George are just across the hall …" he breathed, allowing his mouth to kiss her hair, breathing in the divine lavender scent. His hands seemed to take on a life of their own and even as he said those words, they were massaging Elsie's bottom and thighs more powerfully.

"I don't want to stop … and neither do you …" she teased, as she traced her hands up and down his chest, loving the feel of his soft chest hair beneath her fingers. She began to undo the buttons on her own blouse.

"Elsie we can't … it is highly improper … we are not yet married ... and I would never … not in your sister's home … we simply cannot be in the same bedroom together …" he said assertively, his hands still holding Elsie hungrily to him.

"We aren't in a bedroom Charles … I thought a Butler who prides himself on accuracy would have noticed that …" she joshed, running her tongue across his chest.

Charles let out a loud groan; the feel of her tongue on his burning skin was altogether too much. He picked her up, clear off the ground, holding her tightly to him as she wrapped her legs around his waist. He staggered forward so that Elsie was pushed against the wall, as she tightened her thighs around his waist. She held his face in both hands as she devoured his lips, allowing her tongue to explore his delicious, panting mouth. Not for the first time Elsie reflected on how good Charles tasted. Charles was virtually unconscious with desire. He managed to push the door to his bedroom open, carrying Elsie inside. As he did so, Elsie continued to unfasten her blouse, exposing her new brassiere to him.

"You are so beautiful …" he purred against her breasts. Elsie pushed his shirt off his shoulders and after a tussle of arms, managed to discard it on the floor.

"Elsie we can't … this isn't proper … what will your sister think … they'll hear us … their bedroom is next door … we have to stop …" he groaned.

Elsie smiled as she kissed his hair, thinking that his words would have been far more convincing if his face was not currently buried between her heaving bosoms, and his hands were not raising her skirts.

"Put me down Charles …" Elsie whispered, as she began to kiss him deeply once again.

"Ummmm?" he murmured questioningly against her lips; despite his cautious words, he hoped so much that she was not taking any notice of him at all.

"I want to undress you …" she said, by way of explanation.

Charles was like putty in her hands as he slowly lowered her to the floor, moaning lustily as he felt her brassiere slide down his bare chest, causing a delectable friction as she slithered down his body. She speedily unbuckled his belt and allowed his trousers to drop to the floor. He now stood in only his undershorts as she gripped him once again, rubbing herself against him as she felt his need clearly. She was still fully dressed, although her blouse now hung open exposing her breasts and underwear. He lunged forward sucking her nipples through the silk. Elsie arched her back as she held his head against her breasts. He lapped at her nipples, the silk sliding between his lips, as he took more of her beautiful breasts into his mouth.

"Oh Charles!" she whimpered, trying so hard to keep her voice lowered.

Charles was growling as he raised his head to kiss her lips once again. She skimmed her hand downwards until she reached his arousal, caressing it gently.

"Elsie!" he roared, as she reached up quickly to cover his mouth with her hand.

"Charles … we are going to have to keep the noise down … or they will hear us …" she giggled breathlessly, her hand still against his lips.

"Can't we go somewhere else?" he mumbled against her fingers. He really did not think he could quell his lust or his amorous shouts.

"Where?" she pondered and then quickly added, "... I know ... the bathroom ... at least it's across the hall …" she whispered.

That reasoning was good enough for Charles. He reached for his clothes but Elsie grasped his hand and made for the door.

"Elsie … I am in my underwear!" he said incredulously, as he stood bare-chested in only his undershorts.

"Not for long …" she said cheekily, as Charles stared at her open-mouthed. She looked at him with an amused and mock-innocent smile on her face. He had a split second to make the easiest decision of his life.

"Let's go …" he replied, as he took the lead and led Elsie out of the bedroom and across the landing to the bathroom.

Elsie giggled happily at the sight of Charles, in his tight white undershorts, tip-toeing across the landing, trying so hard not to make a sound.

They reached the bathroom and closed the door behind them. In her eagerness, Elsie pushed Charles backwards with some force. Charles gladly pulled Elsie with him but when his back hit the bathroom cabinet on the wall, it was shunted with some force and went clattering to the floor. Against the silence of the night, the noise it made was deafening. Charles and Elsie immediately froze, fixed to the spot and hoping that the others were fast asleep. However those hopes were soon dashed as from the landing they heard Charlotte's voice,

"Mum … Dad … what was that?"

Elsie and Charles held each other closely not daring to move, as they heard another bedroom door open.

"I am not sure love … did it come from downstairs?" Aileen asked.

"What the blazers is going on?" George stumbled, as he joined them.

Elsie and Charles cringed, still clinging to each other silently. They heard another voice; it was Jane. Oh good god, Elsie and Charles thought simultaneously.

"I think it came from the bathroom …" Jane offered sleepily.

Charles thought that his heart might actually stop as he listened to the sound of footsteps approaching the bathroom.