Friday, 6 July 2018

11:15 am

"Elsie, love, what have I told you about worrying that lower lip?"

She stopped nibbling then and shifted her attention from the passing Hampshire countryside to Charles, beside her at the wheel, "Something about a turn on?"

"Precisely, and since I need to soon navigate our turn off, I'm asking you to stop that so we'll be on time, lest we may never get there."

"Yes, Mr. By-the-book Precision."

"Not just me, anywhere past 11:30 arrival and we'll have to answer to a very upset munchkin."

"She adores you – you'll be fine whenever we arrive."

"Yes, but you might be a different story." He'd exited the M3 by then and was steering them southwest on the smaller A303.

Elsie sighed mightily, "Did you have to phrase it like that, Charlie? That's the reason I'm worrying my lip."

"Sorry?"

"Her – Sybbie – all of them; meeting your honourary family in one fell swoop – in a swimsuit with a deflating breast. I'm a nervous wreck at the prospect."

He rolled his eyes and shook his head, "Need I remind you, you've already met Cora and Maggie and I have every confidence you will charm them all in a heartbeat – especially Sybbie."

Now she rolled her eyes, "Yes, I've met them – thanks to an intervention scripted by the first wife. I'm your bloody rebound."

"Oh, you're so much more than that, so much." His voice trailed off as he reached over and raised her hand to his lips. "They'll love you, because I love you."

Elsie shifted in the seat again, physically uncomfortable too. "Two hands on the wheel, Mr. Carson."

A few minutes later those hands held their respective luggage he'd pulled from the boot. Elsie's attention was split between fastening the leash onto Igor's collar and the gorgeous, multi-hued English garden and sizeable Tudor he'd parked in front of. "Charlie, one last time, you're sure about bringing Igor?"

"Not a doubt in my –"

"Elsie! Charles, you've made it! Welcome to Hampshire! How was your journey?" Casual yet elegant in white capris and a flowing red tunic, Cora Grantham crossed her pea gravel driveway to greet them, Elsie first with a welcoming hand that Cora did not release even when she embraced Charles with the other and traded kisses on cheeks. "What may I carry inside?"

Short of taking Igor's leash there was nothing more to lend a hand with and so she led them inside explaining Tom had left a few short minutes ago to pick up supplies, Robert and Sybbie were getting dressed after a morning in the new pool.

"On!" exclaimed a tanned Robert jogging toward them in blue and white striped seersucker shorts and pink polo shirt. Charles extended his hand in greeting but Robert merely slapped him on the back, grinning ear to ear as he strode past. "Ms. Elsie Hughes, I can't begin to express what a pleasure it is to meet you – finally! Welcome to our home!"

"Thank you, Robert, I feel most welcome."

"And you are, absolutely. On, you failed to communicate how absolutely radiant and beautiful Elsie is, truly."

"Robert, I'm sure our guests would like to freshen up before luncheon."

"Of course, how rude of me. I'm just so happy to see them!" Igor barked, "Oh, and Igor, welcome to you too!" Robert embraced Charles then, in a not so subtle attempt to whisper in his ear, "You're sharing a room, yes?" Elsie hid her smile, overhearing every word. Charles just nodded and then he turned round at the sound of a little voice.

"CC."

Sybbie held onto the bannister, dressed in a bright yellow sundress and matching Crocs, her wet hair brushed back off her forehead, a shy grin on her face. "Hello, sweetheart." Charles knelt down on one knee and beckoned her over. When Sybbie was close enough to wrap his arms around, all yellow disappeared; only the giggle Sybbie emitted when he nuzzled his nose behind her ear revealed her. Charles straightened up then, and looked up to Elsie with a glint in his eye. Reaching for Elsie's free hand then, and threading his fingers between hers, he gently pulled her nearer. "Sybbie, dear, you've spoken with her on FaceTime, but this is Elsie. At last, I'm together with my two most special lasses." Charles kissed Sybbie on the cheek before standing up and kissing Elsie too.

"Hi." Unusually, Sybbie was playing shy.

"Hello petal. My, you're a little lady! This is Igor. He's not nearly as well-mannered as you, but you needn't be afraid of him."

"I'm not afraid, but what's that?" All four adults looked down at where Sybbie was pointing.

"Oh, Igor!" Elsie moaned and covered her face.

Quick-thinking Cora answered, "That's his red rocket, Sybbie. I think it means he's happy to meet you – or he smells Isis.. Now, why don't you show Elsie and CC to the guest room, please?"

Luncheon was poolside, under the shade of a brolly with Sybbie a charming chatterbox. She sat between Charles and Tom and shared her excitement about their overnight Wednesday flight including watching ISLE OF DOGS yet disappointment at missing fireworks in Boston. At that mention, Cora explained tonight's barbecue would be a delayed celebration complete with American classics. And Tom piped in that he'd purchased sparklers for them all. Plate cleaned, Sybbie was anxious to return to the pool. When Cora reminded her that she needed to wait 30 minutes, Charles set the timer on his mobile. Cora also noted that Sybbie's hair was a tangled mess that would only get worse without any taming. As she stood up to clear the table, Cora suggested that Tom plait Sybbie's hair. "Not daddy. Elsie, would you, please?"

Charles delighted in Sybbie's unprompted request, Elsie too. And so after retrieving her hairbrush upstairs and explaining what she wanted, Elsie set to work. Whilst the others went inside, Charles remained, pleased as punch to watch his two very special lasses bonding.

With Charles's timer at five minutes and Elsie finished plaiting, Sybbie dashed inside to put her swimsuit on – after giving Elsie a hug in thanks for her work that was praised by all the adults.

Cora intended to spend the next chunk of time in the kitchen, in consideration of dinner preparations and her fair skin but encouraged the others to change and reminded Tom to make sure Sybbie had plenty of sunscreen on.

Elsie and Charles entered the downstairs guest suite and the door had no sooner shut than Charles swept Elsie up in his arms and spun her around surprising her. "What's that for, Mr. Carson?"

"For you being you. I told you Sybbie would adore you."

"I don't remember it coming out quite like that, but I'll take it." She smiled down on him from her most unfamiliar bird's eye vantage point and combed through his salt and pepper locks with both her hands before they eagerly locked lips. As his wandered along her jawline and eventually made their way to her left ear, she let out a soft moan. "Mr. Carson, I'm glad Sybbie isn't the only one you nuzzle behind the ear. I was a little jealous earlier." He smiled then and put her down. "Get into your trunks, and I'll help put sunscreen on your chest and back."

"Mmm, do I get to return the favour?"

"Maybe, though I'm not ready to get in the water myself."

Pouting his lips, he gestured to the left side of her chest. "It wouldn't be about that, would it? Because I have yet to notice any…lopsidedness."

"I don't know if you're kind or blind, Charlie, but I've noticed my bras are fitting differently. But no, that's not it. I'm on holiday with my boyfriend and his loved ones at a beautiful country estate and I just want to sit in the sun lounger and read a romance novel for a while."

"Well, in light of my loved ones, please don't impersonate Martha."

"Huh?"

"Sunbathe in the nude."

"You remember that?"

"How could I forget?"

"Good point. Anyway, get your trunks on."

As Elsie unpacked her valise then hung her things in the wardrobe, Charles stripped right there in the bedroom. Turning back around she remarked, "My goodness, Mr. Carson, the men in my life come to the country and suddenly abandon all modesty."

He had one leg through his trunks, the other foot suspended in air on it's way in. He looked down at himself then and with a confused look on his face stated, "But, I'm not sporting –"

"So I see. Just…carry on." He pulled his blue trunks all the way up to his waist then and tied the drawstring.

She walked over, tube of sunscreen in her hand. "Sorry," he muttered, "I've gotten comfortable around you."

"Clearly." He shuddered then. Elsie wasn't sure if it was from the cold sunscreen that she pressed to his chest with her left hand, or the tucking of the drawstring into his waistband that she did with her right. "And I'm comfortable with you too." She evenly spread the sunscreen over his chest and belly then, before squirting more in his hands to cover his face and arms as she walked around to apply to his back. She finished with a flirtatious fluffing of the little tuft of hair that disappeared under the back of his waistband. "Okay, finish your legs whilst I change into my suit. I'll let you do my back." Charles lost all track of his sunscreen application then as Elsie shed all her clothes in front of him before slipping into her graphic print one-piece.

She held the top against her chest as Charles covered her back and shoulders with the SPF 50. "Are you sure you don't need any help with your front, Elsie?"

"Not right now, maybe later," she winked, earning a broad smile in return. Acknowledging the high-pitched "CC!" they could both hear from the veranda, she nodded, "You best go on out, I'll join you in a few."

She was true to her word, though she came out in her suit and sarong skirt, spreading a towel out on one of the loungers. "Aren't you coming in, Elsie?"

"Later, petal. For now, it's just you swimming with the men." Indeed, Sybbie in her inflatable wings delighted in paddling amongst the attentive Robert, Tom, and Charles. In time, Cora shooed them all out when she confirmed Sybbie's fingertips were all wrinkly. Whilst Tom and Sybbie went inside for drinks, and Robert took the dogs for a walk, Charles simply swam over to the deep end near Elsie and hoisted himself onto the edge.

Brushing his wet hair back with his hand, he asked hopefully, "Enjoying yourself, love?"

She put the book aside and swiveled around putting her feet on the concrete, "Yes, this is divine."

"Good. By the way, you look amazing." He was standing near her now, dripping.

"And you're casting shadows."

"Sorry," as he stepped back.

"Mmm, not that," and she pointed to his chest and giggled. He groaned, realizing that his moobs were indeed casting shadows. He reached down then and pulled her up to standing. "Charlie, what if my sarong gets wet?"

"If it gets wet, we'll dry it off." He placed both his cool, wet hands against her warm ears and stepped forward for a deep, eyes-closed kiss. With that, her front was completely pressed against his, wetting sarong and suit.

As he released her then, Elsie opened her eyes and lifted her sunglasses, looking down at herself as he grinned triumphantly. "If…if it gets wet, Mr. Carson? I'll just have to take it off." And with that, she untied the sarong, dropped it onto the lounger and pushed him aside to clear a path to the pool as she generated a running start before diving in, bottom in the air. He waggled his eyebrows then and laughed deeply. As she surfaced, Charles too ran to the edge before cannonballing into the pool near Elsie.

10:45 pm

As she curled against his sun-burnt legs, under the crisp white sheet, he whimpered. As she settled, he asked, "Good day in Hampshire?"

She looked up at him, moonlight catching his eyes. "Great day in Hampshire, swimming with my man. There's just one thing I don't understand." He looked down, encouraging her to continue. "Why in the world does Sybbie address Robert as 'Donk'?"