Ch 12 – I Take Thee

Autumn 1914

"It feels quite untoward." Elsie teased, kissing Carson's lips. "To spend the night with a man the night before his wedding."

"Get away with you." He growled, his eyes smiling at her.

She giggled, kissing him deeply. Elsie played along, but deep inside, her heart was breaking. This wasn't how she'd wanted it: to spend the night before her wedding, in bed with her betrothed, already pregnant by him. She'd have felt the common whore … If not for how it felt when he held her, and how his tongue brushed hers so tenderly. She'd have felt great shame, if not for how his words touched her soul, reassuring her that even though there'd been missteps, all would be well because they were soon to be one.

Charlie, without trying, had always calmed the storms of her heart. She sighed, closing her eyes, calmed as he pulled her in close, just holding her.

"Tomorrow you shall be my Mrs." He laughed, pure joy in his tone.

"And I cannot wait… Charlie? Why Argyll?"

"Are you displeased?"

"No. But why?"

He smiled, "Because there are things I wish to make right."

…..

Elsie smiled deep, moved to tears as Charlie kissed her hand. She may've fallen in love, but she'd no idea he was so invested in her heart … She'd woken early, to the soft caress of his lips against hers. She sighed as he kissed her nose, overwhelming nausea already beaconing her out of bed. But she didn't comply with it, instead she swallowed hard forcing herself not to be sick, knowing there was something special on his mind.

"Good morning my Mrs. Hughes." He mused, rubbing her side softly. She smiled, placing her hand over his, just where the baby lay within her.

'My.' She thought. 'I've a family again.'

"Good morning my Charlie." She whispered, her eyes seeming to sparkle.

He laughed. "Lets say we go on a tour."
"Hmm?" She was confused, it was after all, the day they'd planned to elope. "A tour?"

"And see all the places that are special to my love, and her family." He explained.

Elsie had been almost confused at first but following a lovely breakfast she'd taken him on a tour of the places of her youth. By afternoon, he'd seen everything: the home she'd grown up in, the church where her family had attended, the land and town that'd shaped her. The place where her parents lie at rest…

Finally, they'd reached the ruins of the old, old church she and her friends played in decades before. All stone and covered with moss, it was dilapidated and fallen in on itself, but still beyond gorgeous. Following his kiss, Charlie squeezed Elsie's hand and together they approached the long-abandoned altar.

"I'm so appreciative you've shown me your home."

Elsie wanted to say Downton had been her home for a long time, but simply listened.

"I wanted to see it, because I wanted to know every bit of my Elsie you see."

"Oh…" Her heart sighed.

"And." He cupped her cheek in hand. "I thought this a wonderful way to get to know my treasure and, to truly get to be part of her family."

"Oh Charlie." She gushed, tears pouring down her cheeks. "That's so sweet." She took both his hands in her own, holding them close to her heart. She giggled through her tears as he leaned down, kissing her nose. "You've been my family for a lot longer than you know, Mr. Carson."

"And you mine… My precious Elsie, I take thee as my beautifully, wonderfully wedded wife… To honor and to love." She blinked, sighing as he kissed her forehead. "With thy body I thee worship." Elsie bit her lip, holding back more tears as he continued to recite his vows. "With all thy other worldly gifts I thee endow…"

….

Two Hours Later – The Court House

"Two have and to hold as long as you both shall live." The judge finished.

"I do!" The Carsons chimed at once.

"You may now kiss the bride."

Carson forgot all formality and took Elsie in his embrace, wrapping his arms around her and kissing her deeply, almost tilting her backward. The judge turned away, torn by the union he'd just presided over. On one hand he could tell Elsie was pregnant, regardless of the effort they'd gone to, to hide the still tiny baby bump on her middle. Carson and Elsie had left Downton just in time. For unlike several days before, there was almost no hiding baby-to-be.

The judge was beyond surprised, and a little uncomfortable, but not disgusted. The man, many years older than even Carson, knew he should be, but saw the love this couple shared very clearly and found himself touched by it. Despite his slight disapproval; he truly wished half the couples he married were half as passionate, and a quarter as in love as these two. He couldn't help but wish them all the best.

….

"Happy honeymoon my Mrs. Carson." Carson smiled, carrying his exhausted wife over the threshold of their hotel room door.

Charlie leaned down, kissing her deep as he cradled her in his arms. She looked up at him dreamily, worried about his back, but happier than she could say to be off her aching feet. She'd never been carried like this before and found it beyond comforting to be cradled in his strong, formidable embrace. Besides that … She found the gesture really put her in the mood.

"Happy honeymoon my Mr. Carson." She whispered.

It'd been a long day, and as happy as she was, Elsie was exhausted, her unborn baby taking a toll on her body she still wasn't used to and could not predict. Carson lay her down on the bed, kissing her forehead tenderly.

'My,' He considered, the thought almost tickling him, 'I get to be her husband.'

Carson leaned down and kissed her again, wondering what he'd done to deserve such a blessing. His heart raced as he studied her beautiful face, "My beloved." He whispered, leaning his forehead against hers, cupping her cheeks in his hands, just cradling them.

"My handsome Charlie." She whispered. "You've no need to be so tender m'love." She whispered. "Please take me and make me your wife…"

…..

Except for some kissing and cuddling, Charlie and Elsie had refrained from making love the night before, hoping to start anew with each other on their wedding night. Elsie sighed into her new husband's mouth, wrapping her arms around his neck as she straddled him, kissing him aggressively. Carson was overwhelmed, not really knowing what to think of her newfound assertiveness: of her persistence, or the fact that she didn't give him the chance to even catch his breath.

She'd practically pounced him after he lie her down, not giving him a chance to make his first move, let alone suggest a romantic interlude. He'd wanted to light a fire and open a bottle of wine, maybe rub her aching feet … But she'd not given it the time. While, he was surprised about her eagerness, he could not say he wasn't enthused … Very enthused.

Carson tilted his head, pulling her in closer as he started to work on the tiny, delicate buttons on her dress. Elsie was afraid to admit it, even to him; but she couldn't understand why she wanted to make love so badly. She'd never felt so desperately wanton in all her life, and the very idea terrified her: as if she were teetering on the edge of a cliff, and yet, she couldn't stop herself. Not really being a woman of the modern world, Elsie had no idea that her newfound sexual drive, was the work of her pregnancy.

'It's alright.' She tried to soothe herself. 'You're married now, there's no crime in desiring your husband. It's not wanton, its natural…'

But it didn't help. Elsie pursued him, kissing his neck with gusto, wishing he'd take the lead, throw her down, and rip the damn dress off of her. She didn't care if it was undignified, or if he ripped it to shreds: she just wanted him to take her. Instead, he stopped unbuttoning her dress, and pulled away from her. Her heart dropped; and she sighed in pained disappointment.

"Elsie?" He questioned, placing his massive palm on her middle, cupping it gently.

Elsie stared at him, pain in her eyes. She found herself confused as to why he'd stopped. Could he not want her? Now that they were married?! "I-is something wrong?" She questioned.

Carson couldn't believe he was doing this: he wanted her so much, but his fear overpowered his desires.

"Y-you don't think we'll hurt her then?" He hesitated, still cupping her belly, as if doing so protectively.

She looked down in surprise at the question. "Who says it's a lass?"

"I'd really love to have a lass." He offered kindly.

"Oh." She realized, her smile widening. They'd not discussed it: she wanted a girl, and she was touched to find that he did too. She'd never expected he wouldn't simply be expecting a boy.

"Anyhow." He asserted. "If we go on with it… We won't hurt her then?"

Charlie was a bit panicked. They'd not made love since she'd told him about the baby, and he found himself paranoid that the act would have adverse effects on the unborn child, or worse, risk its life. As much as he desired Elsie, and he really did, he'd be willing to wait till after the birth if it might make the difference for the health of the little one.

"No m'love." She giggled, putting her hands over his, steadying them.

"W-what if we hit its little head, o-or poke its eyes or… Oh good Lord Elsie what if it sees what we're –"

"Charlie." She soothed, "She's much too tiny to be affected by what we do. She won't feel anything regardless of what mummy and daddy get up to. I promise."

He paused and raised an eyebrow, not really sure that was the case. "How do you know that?"

"Because the baby is tucked deep inside me, protected by strong muscles, and organs that will do their job to keep her safe. She will sleep all night, because she's growing, and she needs it. And I promise she doesn't care about much else."

"S-she sleeps now?" He asked quickly, surprise in his tone.

"She sleeps, and she eats, that's about the long and short of it." She giggled, squeezing his hands, even as he still held her belly.

"That's –" He paused, his nervousness growing. "That's – that's what real babies do."

Elsie laughed. "It is a real baby. Oh Mr. Carson. Our baby will be just fine. But I'm so happy you want to keep her safe."

"Of course, I do, I love you and our baby tremendously. I'd do anything to keep you safe."

Elsie giggled, kissing his nose. "You're precious Mr. Carson. I love you."

"I love you …. Dream of a wife."

"Hmmm." She giggled. She pushed him, gently laying him on the bed as she repositioned herself on top of him, starting to kiss him once again. "Well then, my dream of a husband. Do not be so afraid: do you still want me?"

"Of course I want you." He said between kisses. "I want you desperately."

"Then just take me." She insisted, pausing with great shock that she'd said it. "Please Mr. Carson make me your wife."

Carson paused, searching Elsie's pleading eyes, unsure what to do. Finally, he said no more and started to kiss her, flipping her underneath him. Elsie sighed, squealed into his mouth, exhuberently happy as she wrapped her arms around his neck.