IF YOU WANT ME YOU CAN HAVE ME-PART 24
Hello all. Many thanks to all of you for reviews and suggestions. I'm really happy that you are still with me and with the story. I had moments of doubts, whether to continue it, but it was all gone after some of you told me how much you still love it. So I'm here, to give us all a little escape from reality. In this chapter Charles will be overprotective, Elsie will have doubts of a different sort and His Lordship will have an unexpected surprise for Charles and Elsie. I hope you will enjoy it.
"No Elsie. That is final! You are not coming to work today."
"But Charles I feel fine, all is normal, I can manage to..."
"Elsie! You fainted yesterday because you were overworked and hungry. You need to stay in the cottage to get some rest. I'm sure that Anna and Miss Baxter will manage for one day."
"You are overacting Charles, really. There is no need..."
"There is every need Elsie. It's time for me to put my foot down. Besides, aren't you the one who told me before we got married that it's going to be my way for the next thirty years?"
"I knew it was a mistake to tell you that. I shouldn't have been so forward. Now you are throwing that into my face every time we argue."
"Not every time. Only when I don't see any other solution. Please lie down on the sofa and rest. I will make sure that Billy will get you lunch from Mrs Patmore and I will come back with the dinner in the evening."
"Charles, you are fussing over me and I don't like that."
"Of course I'm fussing over you. I intend to do that until the day the baby will be born. Even if that means locking you in this cottage for the next four months."
"Oh, what a great perspective..Am I to understand that after the baby is born you won't care about me anymore Charles?" She asked innocently, looking at him with a flirtatious look.
"I will never stop taking care of you love. Until the day I die.." He responded seriously, giving her the sweetest kiss.
She felt a rush of heat and she drew him closer, deepening the kiss, but he soon withdraw, to her disappointment.
"I need to go now Elsie. It's getting late. Please lie down and rest. I prepared your favorite book, it's on the table by the sofa. There are also some biscuits and a cup of cocoa that I've made for you. If you need anything, please just call the house. I will sent Billy with lunch to you by noon."
"Yes Charles. Whatever you wish"- Elsie said with a resignation in her voice.
He kissed her head and left the cottage, while she sighed deeply, worrying herself again and analyzing for the umpententh time, what was the reason that her husband avoided any closeness with her recently. He treated her like she was only a mother of his child, but nothing more. He didn't see the woman in her anymore. She sighed again, thinking that the beginning of her motherhood was at the same time the end of the passion between her and Charles. This new found passion, that they were both enjoying so much, was gone now when they just started to explore it. That was something what didn't made her the happiest woman in the world exactly...
Tea time-The Abbey
"Carson have you got a minute? We need to discuss something"-Robert suddenly appeared in Charles's pantry, at tea time.
"Your Lordship is there anything wrong? Can I help you with something?" Charles felt rather flabbergasted by Robert's unexpected arrival. He rose up from his chair immediately.
"Actually,I believe that there is something that I can help you with. By the way, how is Mrs Carson? Is she feeling any better today? I heard that she gave you all quite a scare yesterday."
"She is much better, thank you. I asked Her Ladyship yesterday if my wife can have a day off. I wanted her to get some more rest. Her yesterday's condition was a result of excessive work and lack of proper food."
"Mrs Hugh..Carson was always an extremely effective worker, that I have to admit. I always admired her ability to do so many things at once, but she should take care of herself right now. Being pregnant at this age is a serious matter, I wouldn't want you to experience the same thing that me and Her Ladyship had with our boy."
"I wouldn't want that either My Lord. I keep telling her to take care of herself, but she always thinks of everyone else but her and she is quite a stubborn woman at times."
"Yes...I've noticed it too Carson"-Robert said with a hint of smile-"She won't be able to relax and rest, unless we make the circumstances more favorable for her"
"I don't understand My Lord"
"Carson, I made a promise to you when we were off to London and I intend to keep that promise. I haven't forgotten that you were suppose to leave to Scarborough for your proper honeymoon. I think that it is a high time to do it, therefore I took a liberty of booking a suite at Grand Hotel * in Scarborough for both of you. A two week stay with full accommodation and alimentation. Plus two return train tickets for both of you. You are leaving in two days and it was all paid and arranged by me."
"Your Lordship I couldn't possibly accept such gift, it's too much. The Grand Hotel..."
"Carson, my decision is final. I won't take any objections from you. I promise you the trip and that is my wedding gift for you. I just realized that I didn't behave properly after your wedding. You are both been serving me for such a long time and I didn't even give you a proper gift, so here it is now."
"I don't know what to say, I'm not sure if I should.."
"Carson, if you still have any objections think about your wife. Don't you think that she needs the rest, some peace and quiet, away from the house and everyday problems? Don't you want what's best for her and the baby?"
"Of course I do My Lord. I want the best for my family"
"Exactly. Your family. Oh golly! I bet you never thought that you will use this term to anyone else beside the Crawleys, am I right?"
"Indeed. I never thought I did, but life is full if surprises. I want to thank you very much for this gift."
"There is no need. You deserved it and so did your wife. You can go back home early today, to inform Mrs Carson. We have no guests at dinner today, so I believe that Barrow can handle it. Besides, I know that you are probably very worried about her."
"I am. That would be very convenient for me to leave early today. Thank you."
"You are very welcome. Grab some dinner stuff from Mrs Patmore and hurry back to your wife, as soon as possible. Give her our regards."
"Thank you My Lord, I will. Thank you very much."
"You are welcome. See you tomorrow Carson."
Evening-Carson's love nest...
Charles was nearing the cottage, he smiled seeing the light in the living room, thinking how lucky he was, coming back to his warm, cozy home, to his beloved Elsie, with a basket full of good food. The news that he was about to pass to Elsie thrilled him additionally. He used his key to open the door, because he didn't want to bother Elsie with opening the door for him. He swiftly got inside, locked the door and he froze when he turned around and found Elsie sitting on the sofa, flooding with tears. He immediately put the basket on the floor and hurried in her direction.
"Elsie, my darling what's wrong? Are you not well? Is there something wrong with the baby? Shall I call the doctor?"
"No! Everything is all right, with me and the baby, it's just that I'm...I'm..." She wasn't able to speak as tears and sobs made it impossible.
"Sweetheart, please calm down and tell me what's wrong." He sat on the sofa, neared her and cuddled her closely, kissing her temple lovingly.
"Oh Charles I'm so worried..So very worried.."
"Worried about what? Just tell me."
"Two things Charles. First about our baby. I'm in the middle age now and so was my mum, when she gave birth to my sister Becky and we know how that ended. What if it will be the same in my case? What if our baby won't be healthy and normal?"
"Elsie...Don't worry about it. I know that everything is going to be all right. I'm sure about it."
"You can't be sure Charles. What if there are some bad genes in my family and our baby will have that?"
"Elsie, please. Our baby will born healthy and everything is going to be all right. After all he will have half of my genes, isn't that correct?"
"She Charles, she."
"Ooops..Sorry love, I forgot that you have already decided about the gender of our child."
"You bet I have!"
"All right then my lovely..Our daughter will be healthy and happy. She will be as beautiful and as bright minded as her mommy and so strong as her daddy, don't you think?" He whispered gently, kissing her hair and holding her close.
"I suppose you are right. I just had so many bad thoughts, sitting her alone in the cottage all day, I told you that it's not good for me..."
"Got the allusion. I won't force you to sit alone ever again honey. But what is the other thing that you were worried about? You told me that you were worried with two things."
"That is nothing important Charles, really, we don't need to discuss this now.."Elsie's cheeks suddenly blushed a bit.
"Oh but we do, if that is something that's been bothering my beloved wife..I want to know.."
"Well Charles, you see...I was wondering why recently you don't want..You are not eager to..You are.."
"Elsie, what are you trying to tell me? I'm not following you.. Please speak openly, you know you can tell me everything."
"I know Charles, but this is really embarrassing...I wanted to know why you are not interested with me anymore?"
"Not interested with you? How can you even say such thing? I'm interested only with you."
"You are, but not that way. Not that way as you were before I told you that I'm pregnant. Ever since you found out about that, you don't want to kiss me or touch me, you are not even holding me close at night anymore..Why is that Charles? Am I so repulsive now, being fat and ugly that you don't want me anymore? You don't love me anymore?" Elsie's eyes filled with tears again and Charles's heart broke in two.
"Oh Elsie, sweetie, how can you even think that? Of course I still love you very much and I still want you madly, the same way that I wanted you always, but because you are with our baby now and your body is going through so much, I didn't want to bother you with my..My needs..You were suffering, you were tired. I was afraid that I may harm you or the baby, so I decided that we shouldn't..."
"You decided? And what about me? You think that the fact I'm being pregnant kills everything else in me? Because it doesn't Charles.. I know that I'm the mother of your child now, but I'm also your wife. I'm a woman, a woman who misses and needs her man very much.." She stroked his face tenderly, looking him deeply in his eyes, with a look full of love...
"Elsie...My love...I miss you too and I need you..Don't you ever doubt that...Please don't tell me that you are fat or ugly, because you are neither...You are the most beautiful woman in the world for me..You always were and always will be..." Charles started to kiss her face reverently, stroking her thigh...
"Charles..I missed you so much..I thought that you don't want to be with me..That you.."
"Elsie..I would want to be with you all the time if I could..."
They gradually lost their words, kissing slowly and sensually, their kisses were full of desire and quiet moans began to escape their mouths.
"Charles...Please, take me to bed, now..." Elsie whispered with a voice thick with desire...
Charles gladly obeyed his wife and soon they were both in their bed, kissing softly. They undressed each other carefully, enjoying the sight of their bodies, although Elsie was still a little insecure when he took her clothes and the roundness of her belly was more than visible. She instinctively reached to the lamp, standing by the bed to turn it off, but Charles stopped her.
"Don't Elsie..I want to see you..All of you.."
"But I am so unattractive now Charles..Are you sure?"
"I said it to you once before and I will repeat it now. I've never been so sure of anything..."
Elsie hesitantly agreed and Charles bent over her and kissed her eagerly. His kisses were so intense, so full of love and desire, that she gradually relaxed, putting all of her fears aside. Charles loved her and wanted her. There was no doubt about it. He laid next to her and touched her with such reverence, that it almost brought tears to her eyes again. Soon his lips traveled down her body and his whispers ultimately convinced her, that in spite of her size or the look of her body, she was still adored by her husband...
"Elsie..My honey...Oh you are so beautiful..So perfect in every way...Your sweet body is driving me wild...I will kiss every inch of you..."
"Charles...Oh love...I want you so much Charles..I never knew that you can want anyone so much, as I want you...Don't you ever stop loving me, the way you love me now..."
Charles was so thrilled hearing those words, his beloved wife asked him to always love her. There was nothing else in the world that he wanted. All his fears, all this uncertainties about Elsie's pregnancy, were put aside. At this moment he was focused only on one thing-on giving his wife the sweetest and most tender love that he could give her. And so was she. They both used their best efforts to please one another. Their lips, their tongues, their hands, all of their bodies were united in the sweetest union possible. They were kissing, licking, touching and caressing sensually. The entwined of their bodies was simultaneous with quiet whispers of love. Passion overtook them totally, until the moment when they both reached the maximum pleasure. Their mutual hunger for one another was finally alleviated. The feeling of complete happiness reached them, when they were lying between the sheets, cuddling closely, placing small kisses to different part of their bodies, as a sign of love and gratitude they felt, after this wonderful encounter.
"Are you all right hun?" Charles asked affectionately, beaming and kissing her hair gently.
"More than all right love...I don't remember being that happy recently and I have a feeling that it had something to do with you.."
"Mmmm...I take it that you've enjoyed it then?"
"Very much indeed my dear husband..Have you enjoyed it as well?"
"Elsie...It was wonderful...Simply wonderful..I didn't fully realized how much I missed you, until I saw your gorgeous, naked body in full light.."
"My body is not gorgeous now Charles, don't be a flatterer.."
"Will you stop that Elsie? You are beautiful and so precious to me, especially now, when you are carrying our child. How could I ever think that your body is ugly? Your body is a clear sign of the enormity of our love...Especially this part.."
He leant over and placed few delicate kisses to her belly.
"You really think so?"
"Of course I do...I'm there to spoil my girls...And I will do that for the rest of my life..."
"You are finally talking with sense love.."
"Oh, Am I? Wait till you hear this. For the next two weeks, I'm going to spoil you more than ever, because we will be spending two weeks in Grand Hotel in Scarborough"
"Grand Hotel?...What do you mean Charles? How is that possible? Can we afford it?"
"His Lordship came to visit me this afternoon and he told me that he had funded two week stay for us in Grand Hotel in Scarborough, in one of the finest suits. With full accommodation and alimentation. This is his wedding gift for us. He also gave me two train tickets. We are leaving in two days."
"I simply can't believe it! That is amazing...But can we leave the house for two weeks? Will they manage without us?"
"That's there problem isn't it love? I'm sure they will. They've promised us a trip to Scarborough and so we have it, only on grander scale than we could imagined. Are you happy Elsie? Do you like the idea?"
"Charles of course I'm happy! Incredibly happy. Two weeks by the sea, only two of us, away from everyone and everything. Oh Charles, it's going to be wonderful. We can sleep long, get up whenever we want to, spend our days lazily, just like those days after our wedding."
"Those were truly adorable moments. You do remember it Elsie?"
"How could I not? There is an evident memento of those days growing inside me " Elsie giggled as she pointed her belly and Charles chuckled as well.
"There certainly is" he said and placed his hand on it, but he swiftly jumped as he felt little movements inside Elsie's body.
"Elsie, oh my God! Did you? Did you feel that? Is it moving?" Charles was so amazed, as never before and that almost made Elsie laugh.
"Of course I felt that Charles. It's inside my body."
"This is amazing. Our baby is inside you and it's kicking. This is just.."
"Did it took you so long to figure out that it's inside? Oh dear Lord Charles, I wonder how long will it take you to realize that it was born" Elsie was choking with laughter, seeing Charles's face.
"Very funny Elsie. Ha, ha! Apparently our little boy is already excited to spend some time at the sea."
"Our little girl Charles, our little girl"
He smiled wickedly and she stroked his face gently, leaning to kiss her husband, while the little thing inside her kicked again, expressing his/hers approval of the situation.
That's all for today. So they are leaving to Scarborough (finally). I'm sure they are very happy with the fact and that goes for most of the downstairs and upstairs people in the house as well. But there is one person that will be very unhappy about the fact, as it will be conflicted with her plans. And that person is of course uppity minx-Lady Mary. In the next chapter, she will try to unable the trip. Will she succeed? There is no other way of finding that out, rather than reading the next chapter.
As always-sorry for any mistakes and please let me know what you think. See you soon!
*Grand Hotel is an actual hotel in Scarborough-it was built in 1887, I googled this information.
