CHARLES AND ELSIE-RETIRED TOGETHER
Hello to you. Thank you for your reviews after yesterday's chapter. I'm catching the last rays of sun this summer, so there is no better opportunity than this to write another one. In this one, we will go through the conversation with Daisy, that Elsie and Beryl intended to have recently. Plus Charles has a plan which needs Elsie's approval. Hope you will like this one.
Warning: A little bit of anxiety by the end of the chapter.
Elsie and Charles were sitting on the sofa, close to the window, after dinner, looking at the beautiful sunset displaying in front of their eyes...At this time of year, days were very long and the weather was quite pleasurable...Elsie was leaning on the sofa and Charles sat very close to her, having his head on her breasts. His arms were wrapped around her waist tightly and she was scratching the base of his neck gently, which caused a series of satisfaction growls from him...Elsie smiled, hearing those sounds.
"Charlie, you are growling like a full and very satisfied bear..."
"That's because I feel like one...We had such a delicious dinner tonight, prepared by the fair hands of my lovely wife and now, I'm sitting here, cuddling my little precious...What's not to be satisfied about?"
"I guess you are right...The simplest things are always the most pleasurable ones..."
"I can think of some other pleasurable stuff..But not necessarily so simple..."
"Charles Carson! What are you thinking about again?"-Elsie pretended that she is outraged, but instead of moving away from her man, she pulled him nearer and kissed the tip of his nose few times...
"What am I always thinking about my love, having you so close...? Is there any possibility to stop myself from thinking about this?"
"Apparently there isn't...I love you my big, cuddly teddy bear..."-Elsie placed few more kisses to his cheeks and his hair and he grinned form joy and put his head on her breasts again, caressing her sides...
"I love you too my sweetheart...So very much...You can't blame me for not being able to stop expressing my love..."
"I'm not blaming you exactly...It's just that you see how sometimes that ends...We were caught by Beryl..."
"Don't even remind me of that...I hope she will never mention this to anyone..."
"You can be sure of that...I made her promise this and in return, she asked me to join her in this awkward conversation that we are suppose to have with Daisy..."
"Elsie, you had these kind of conversations with your maids many times. It shouldn't be that hard on you..."
"Yes, but that was different...I used to instruct them more about how to handle being a woman..How women bodies work, taught them about the woman cycle...Besides, you know how it is...Maids come and go and Daisy? I know her since she was 12...And this conversation will be about more than just how to be a woman...We are suppose to tell her about marital duties...It is going to be very awkward..Like having a conversation with a growing daughter about the birds and the bees.."
"But Beryl will be there too...I'm sure you two will be fine..."
"I don't expect much help from Beryl..She clearly let me know, that I should talk, because I have more experience and know much more about marital duties, because I'm married longer than she is.."
"That's true...You know much more about it than Beryl..Although I don't really like the term "marital duties..."
"I'm not a fan of it myself Charlie..Especially now...When I know that this is not a duty, but a pleasure..."-Elsie smiled to her husband warmly and she gave him a very soft kiss to his lips...He looked at her with utter adoration...
"Do you really think so Els...? Is it a pleasure for you?..."
"You know very well that it is...Don't my reactions tell you this, when we are...Together..."
"Oh, they certainly do...But as a man, nothing gives me more delight than the knowledge that I can please my wife..."-He kissed her fully on the lips... When they parted, she stroked his face delicately, thinking how lucky she is, to have such a wonderful man...Who cares so much about her pleasure..
"You give me plenty of it and I hope that it's always going to be that way...I wouldn't want our love connection to ever stop..."
"It won't..I promise...I will never stop loving you or wanting you...Till I have any stamina left..."
"And I will make sure that you have it.."
"So, do you intend to tell Daisy that it's not a duty, but a pleasure?"
"I will try to mention it somehow, but not giving away any details..."
"I certainly hope not! Those details are our little secrets..."
"Always Charlie...Only our secrets..."
They've kissed once more and Charles nestled into Elsie closely...He figured that it was the right moment to ask her something...
"Elsie...My sweet...I have a favor to ask you..."
"What is it honey?"
"I was wondering...Tomorrow, when I will walk you to the Abbey, for your conversation...Would it be all right if I went to Ripon for few hours?"
"Why do you want to go there Charlie?"
"Well, you see...There is an auction there...At Brinkley's house and my friend Mr Watts is going there and he asked me if I want to go with him. Apparently there will be plenty of good deals there..."
"I was afraid of that Charlie...I heard about that auction and I was afraid that you will want to take part in it...You feel a special need of buying some objects belonging to the rich people?"
"Not especially, but you know...There are plenty of interesting objects on such occasions and who knows? I might be able to buy something really nice for our cottage..."
Charles looked at Elsie with such a face of an innocent boy, who wants to make a harmless trick, but is afraid that he will be caught...Elsie couldn't help but smile, when she saw his face...
"All right..I agree Charlie...But please, promise me you won't strain our budget too much..."
"Thank you Elsie...That makes me so happy...I had a feeling that you will agree..."
"That sweet face of an asking puppy helped you to achieve your goal..."
"I knew it may become handy...I've seen how Rupert does it and he always gets what he wants from you..."-Charles was grinning at Elsie...
"And you were not wrong...But...I feel that I may need a little more of convincing..."
"And what more can I do to convince you exactly?..."
"I think you know that very well Charlie...And if you don't, I will show you what I meant..."-Elsie took her husbands hand decisively and lead him upstairs to their bedroom...
The next day...
The next morning Charles and Elsie had a little difficulties to get up, as their night lovemaking lasted exceptionally long..They got up rather tired, but happy, focused on this day's tasks...After the breakfast, Charles walked Elsie to the Abbey and he made her promise, that she will wait there for him. He didn't want her to ever go home alone.. She solemnly promised him that and they said goodbye by the back door of the Abbey, stealing some hurried, but affectionate kisses...
Charles went towards the station and Elsie walked into the servants hall. When she glanced at her old sitting room, she saw Beryl, Anna and Miss Baxter, standing in the circle, admiring Daisy, who was just trying on her wedding dress. Elsie stood there like charmed, by the sight of Daisy. The dress was very simple. White silk, with some lace ornaments in the top part of the dress. The simplicity of the gown was in perfect match with Daisy's personality. Daisy was a simple girl and that dress fitted her ideally. Elsie thought that she watched Daisy growing up and now she will watch her getting marry and have babies, probably very soon...It was amazing how the time has passed...
"Daisy you look lovely my dear..."-Elsie was genuinely enchanted...
"Thank you Mrs Carson...I'm glad you like it..Don't you think it's too decorative?"
"You fool girl! It's perfect! I keep telling her that the lace is necessary, but she wants it out..."-Beryl was irritated at Daisy
"I just don't want to look like a doll"
"You look beautiful Daisy. Andy is a lucky, young man"-said Mrs Baxter
"They are both lucky and I'm sure they will have a very happy marriage"-said Anna.
"Speaking about marriage...There is something that Elsie..Mrs Carson and I want to talk about with Daisy. Anna, Miss Baxter, would you mind leaving us alone now?"
"Not at all"-Miss Baxter replied and they both left the room, leaving Daisy wearing her wedding dress with Elsie and Beryl.
Beryl closed the door behind them and crossed eyes with Elsie understandingly...
Elsie cleared her throat, not being sure how to start this conversation...
"Daisy...You are getting married in few days and Mrs Patmore and I, would like to discuss something with you..."
"What is it Mrs Carson? You look so serious..."
"Because the question is very serious...Please have a sit..You see...When you start your marriage life, you ought to know, that a married woman has some duties..A special kind of duties.."
"You mean like running the house and taking care about her husband? That's what you are talking about Mrs Carson? Because I have already talked about that with Andy and I made sure that he knows, that we are both to be responsible for domestic matters. We are both working and soon I will be a cook in the Abbey, so there is no need that I'm the only one that..."
"It's not that you daft girl! I don't understand why you needed to learn and read books, if you still don't understand anything?"-Beryl was clearly very nervous and as always, she took that out on Daisy..." Those modern girls...You need to take care for your husband or he will run away and find a better wife, besides you are not a cook yet! Not till I will retire..."
"But you will retire in the fall..That's what you told me? Are you changing your mind now Mrs Patmore? Because if you are.."
"I'm not changing my mind, but..."
"Girls, girls..Please...There is no need to argue here...You are both very nervous and I can't blame you for that, but please let me say what I have to say..."
"Go on Mrs Carson. We won't disturb you anymore..."
"Good...As I was saying...Being married means new kinds of duties for you Daisy...I'm talking about marital duties..."
"Oh..."-Daisy suddenly understood where Elsie was going and she felt a little shy...
"Do you know anything about it at all?"
"Yes Mrs Carson..."
"And how would you know it?"
"I've asked Anna about it..She is more my age and I thought that it would be less embarrassing to talk to her about it..She gave me Marie Stopes book to read and when I read it, she answered all my questions, so I think I'm prepared for everything..."
Elsie was so relieved hearing this, that she felt like she wanted to fly...She heard a sigh of relief from Mrs Patmore, behind her back too...
"I understand...You don't have any additional questions for us?"
"No...I don't think so Mrs Carson...Everything is quite clear to me.."
"Good...In that case you should now change, before you will meet your future husband somewhere...You know it's unlucky if the groom sees the bride in her wedding dress"
"I will change in a minute...But don't worry about Andy. He has his half day off and he went to do some shopping in Ripon. He is suppose to go back in one of the afternoon trains.
"What a coincidence. Mr Carson went to Ripon today too and I expect him to go back very soon. They will most probably go back on the same train.."
"I'm sure they will...I'm going to get change..."
"Will you please ask Anna here for a moment, if she is not busy?"
"I will"
Daisy left, leaving Elsie and Beryl extremely happy about avoiding the difficult conversation. When Anna joined them, they both thanked her from the bottom of their hearts and Anna replied, that it it's no big deal. If she could help anyone, she was happy...
They were sitting and chatting joyfully for a while, with Daisy joining them, after she got changed. Suddenly they heard a strange noise coming from the back door. Some heavy footsteps, very unusual...They all went to the hall, eager to find out what that was and they stood there like pillars of salt...Andy had his clothes partially torn and had few scratches on his face..They all encircled him at once, asking what was the matter and the answer they got, made Elsie weak in her knees:
"The return train that I took from Ripon had a crash...There are a lot of wounded and few people are dead..."
That was the last words that Elsie heard, before all the room went dark and she fell to the floor...
Don't hate me but that's all for today...I think that I now got really used to that cliffhanger thing...You are an intelligent people so I don't have to tell you why Elsie fainted...Was Charles on the same train that Andy? You need to read the next chapter to find that out...;-) Sorry for any mistakes and if you liked it, you know what to do ;-) Thanks for everything and see you soon!