CHARLES'S CHRISTMAS CAROL-34
Hello. Thank you for all the reviews after yesterday's chapter. Most of you liked showing Lady Mary where her place is and so did I. This chapter is going to be on more romantic side, because our beloved couple is celebrating their tenth wedding anniversary and they will have a nice day and a nice night together. Hope you will like it.
Cora kept her promise and the day before their tenth wedding anniversary, she reminded Elsie and Charles, that they can bring their children to the Abbey next morning and pick them the next day. When it was all settled, Elsie and Charles took their happy bunch after breakfast and led them to the Abbey. Charlie was over them moon about that idea, because His Lordship has promised to take him to one of his tenants, to show him his barn animals and he and Sybil were planning to play hide and seek in the castle.
Victoria didn't mind spending a day at the Abbey-she was such a good girl and she obeyed her parents will without objections, besides her favorite aunt Beryl has promised her a taste of her best chocolate cookies, so she was rather thrilled.
The only one who was unhappy, was little Charlotte-she wasn't so keen on spending time at the Abbey, being a barrel of fun as she was, she hated when she had to behave quietly and dignified, unlike her sister Victoria, who adored being nice and well behaved, Charlotte was rather mischevious. So the idea of spending a whole day and the whole night without her parents and without freedom that she usually had, has not met with her approval.
Her face was frowned and she barely shuffled her legs, holding Elsie's hand. When they got to the Abbey, Charlie said a quick goodbye to the parents and went to look for Lady Sybil and Victoria kissed moomy and daddy and went to say hello to aunt Beryl, while Charlotte stood in the servants corridor with her petulant face..Elsie bent down and asked her daughter:
"What's the matter honey? Why are you being so unhappy?"
"I don't want to stay here for day and night...Why can't I just stay with you and daddy?"
"Because mommy and daddy need some time to be with each other...You will see sweetie, that the day will go by soon and we will pick you and your siblings tomorrow. You won't even know how fast it will pass."
"Mommy...I want to stay with you...Don't leave me here..."-Charlotte embraced Elsie and that almost made Elsie cry...She hated the idea of leaving her little girl, when she clearly didn't want it so much... Charles who was a witness of that scene, decided that it was time to take action...He took Charlotte in his arms and lifted her high above the ground...
"Come on my princess...You are a big girl now, aren't you? You see that you will have fun here...You can play with Charlie, Lady Sybil and Victoria...Now come on, give daddy a big kiss and if you will be a good girl, daddy will buy you something nice..."
"That doll from the window shop at Mr Bakewell's? The one in the blue dress?"
"Yes sweetie..The one...I promise..."
Charlotte's face has finally brightened up a bit and Mrs Patmore who just witnessed this scene, stepped in, to ultimately convince Charlotte to stay:
"Come on my precious...Your sister has already eaten two chocolate cookies. You don't want to stay behind her, do you?"
"No! No! I will eat more cookies than Victoria..Bye moomy, bye daddy..."-Charlotte ran jumping, towards the kitchen...
"Take it easy with those cookies Mrs Patmore...I don't want the girls to spoil their appetite..."-Elsie said
"Don't worry...You will pick your little sweethearts tomorrow and their appetite will be fine. Auntie Beryl will take care of that...Now shoo you two! Go on and celebrate your big day...Happy anniversary..."
"Thank you Mrs Patmore"-Charles and Elsie replied in unison, at the same time...They looked at each other, laughed and slowly left the downstairs hall...
When they were walking back, Charles suddenly and unexpectedly took Elsie's hand in his...She looked at him with amazement, as he rarely let himself show the emotions publicly, but was there a better day for this than today? Elsie smiled warmly to him and he squeezed her hand...They really didn't have a plan, but neither of them minded this...Living by a strict routine everyday, it was good to feel carefree and casually...
Elsie asked Charles for a favor-she wanted to step into the church and to pray, to thank God for the ten wonderful years, that they've spent together and he gladly agreed...They entered the village church and spent some time in there, in silence, praying and thanking God for all the wonderful things that happened in their life during their marriage. Later on, they decided to enter Mr Bakewell's shop and buy that doll for Charlotte.
Charles was always keeping his promises, they also bought little gifts for Charlie and Victoria, so none of the children felt left out..On their way, they've met their good friend Mrs Coleman and she invited them for tea-so they spent an hour in her cottage and after that, Charles told Elsie that they should have a lunch at the pub, so they wouldn't have to bother with it at home.
They both ordered their favorite food and ate it with great pleasure and Charles proposed, that they should have some coffe and something sweet in a caffe nearby...
After eating a large piece of chocolate cake, Elsie felt like she was about to burst...
"I swear that if I will eat anything more today, I will burst...I'm full..."
"That's a good thing Elsie...The baby needs a proper nutrition...He will be a big and healthy boy...You'll see..."
"I believe you that he is big...Just look at me...I'm a size of a hippo..."
"You look lovely Elsie and I told you this a thousand times already..."
"You can say that all the time...I won't mind...Are you sure that you don't want another piece of cake Charles?"
"Definitely no...I've put on weight recently and it's time to say enough...Otherwise, my beautiful, young wife will run away with some handsome stranger..."
Elsie laughed hearing this idea..."Of course my sweetheart...In my present condition, I barley can walk, not to mention running...Besides, I like you the way you are...Even if there is a little too much of you, I still like all your body..."-She whispered those words to Charles and he grinned from joy...
"My wife, my beautiful wife...Don't you think that we should go home now and have some rest?"
"I'm all for that..."
They headed the cottage slowly and they came back just in time, to avoid a huge rain, which started to pour from the sky...Charles helped Elsie to take off the coat and the hat and he told her to sit on the sofa and relax...He lit the fire in the fireplace and made them both some tea...They sat on the sofa together, cuddling closely...Happiness radiated from both of them...
"Elsie, did you ever imagine, that we will be in the place that we are now? That we will be married, have a cottage and three, soon four children?"
"To tell you the truth Charles, I didn't..If someone had told me this ten years ago, I would never believed that...Let alone when we first met...You were so distant and strict...I thought that I would never be able to break through that stiff exterior of yours..."
"Really? I thought that you fell in love with me instantly? My precious one..."-Charles laughed and held Elsie tighter..
"I did...But at that time it seemed impossible for me, that anything can ever bring us together...Not to mention being married and having four children...And what about you my love? Have you fallen in love with me instantly too?"
"Of course I have...When you walked through that back door and I saw you, I almost dropped the tray with silver...I have never seen such beautiful woman in my life before...A dark hair angel...But when you opened your mouth and scolded me for something, I don't even remember what that was, I was enchanted with you...I thought-this is the perfect woman-not only beautiful, but also fiery...A true, Scottish soul..."
"And for me, you were the true quintessence of an English man...Proud, stiff and full of rules for all ocassions...Oh Charles...It's so good that we are together...And we have our dearest children...It's a blessing...That we managed to have a family and still work at the Abbey..."
"I know love...I know...I thank God for that everyday...Even when it's very difficult. Even when there are days that I'm so tired, that I think that I won't be able to carry on...You and the children give me strength to still do that..."
"Charles...It won't change soon...When the baby is born, we will have more of those difficult moments..."
"I know...But I don't mind...We will have difficult moments, but we will also have another miracle...Our forth baby...Another little Carson...That makes me so happy, that I can't even express it.."
"It's the same with me...Charles...Oh Charles...Our life is lovely..."-Elsie put her head on his chest and he kept on stroking her hair in soothing motions...She felt so safe, loved and so warm, that it wasn't long before she driffted off to sleep...Charles's heart melted at that view...
She was so tired, his poor darling...The end of pregnancy, the job, the duties, their children...She deserved to have a proper rest...He put a pillow under her head and covered her with a blanket...He fell asleep too and when he woke up, Elsie was still sleeping soundly...
Very carefully, not wanting to wake her, he got up from the sofa and started to prepare dinner for both of them...He set the table and heated up all the delicious food, that dear Mrs Patmore prepared, especially for their anniversary dinner..When everything was ready, he gently woke Elsie from her blissful slumber and they've ate together, talking and laughing...When they finished, Charles cleaned everything up and then he reached to the forgotten drawer of the cupboard, in which he stored a gift for Elsie, a special gift that he bought few weeks ago during his trip to Ripon.
It was a silver neckless with the blue pendent in the shape of the heart...*
Blue was Elsie's favorite color and it matched her eyes ideally...It was hidden in the small box and Charles handed it to Elsie...
"This is something for you Elsie...I want to thank you for ten most beautiful years of my life..."
"Charles..."-Elsie was speechless, when she opened the box and saw this extraordinary gift..."This is so lovely...Thank you...I've never seen something this pretty..."
"It is my heart Elsie...In your favorite color...Ten years ago, I gave you my heart and you still have it..."
"I was hoping that..I will wear it all the time Charles...Your heart will always be close to mine..."-Elsie has put the necklace on her neck and she gave Charles a kiss..."I have something for you too...Just open this drawer and you will see..."
"Elsie...You didn't have to buy me anything...You already gave me so much..."
"But I wanted to...I hope you will like it..."
"Oh Els..The watch...I saw it at Mr Bakewell's...It's superb quality...You didn't have to spent so much on me, but thank you...I will always have it near me, in the inner pocket of my jacket. Close to my heart...Thank you sweetie..."-They've kissed again...So lovingly and delicately...
"I'm so glad that we have this day just to ourselves...And the night..Although in my condition there isn't much that we can.."
"It doesn't matter Elsie...The most important is that we are together...I want to spoil you today, as a way of saying thank you for all that you gave me...I will prepare a warm bath for you..Would you like that?"
"I would love that...I almost forgot how it is to be spoiled..."
"Mmm..We can't have that..."
Charles hurried upstairs and prepared a lovely bath for Elsie...When she entered the bathroom, he told her, that he would like to bathe her and she didn't protest at all..She watched with love, as he gently massaged her body with a sponge, the way that he caressed it, has always made her shiver and his delicacy only made those feelings stronger...
When he bathed her, he dressed her in her evening dress and when they went to their bedroom, he asked her if he could brush her hair...Elsie agreed and she closed her eyes, when he was giving so much attention and he put so much love into his actions...Charles wanted to plait her hair, but she asked him to leave it that way...Tonight, she just wanted to feel freely and casually...
Charles put Elsie to bed and excused himself and went to bathroom to have his bath..When he went back to bedroom, he saw that Elsie was looking at her skin with concern...
"Is everything all right darling? Can I help you with something?"
"I'm fine, but my skin seems so dry recently...I don't know if this is a question of pregnancy, but I wish I could do anything about it..."
"I think I have a solution to that.."
"Oh?"
"Just wait for a minute.."
Charles came back to bathroom and took the box of cream, that he gave Elsie for her birthday...She usually applied it to her face, but the seller in the pharmacy said, that it's proper for all body.
Charles came to the bedroom, closed the door and said:
"Lie on your back love..I have one more treat for you..."
"Charles, what are you up to?"
"Just do that Elsie and you will see..."
Elsie fulfilled his request and she watched amazed, as her husband was slowly unbuttoning her night dress, when he finished, he applied a small amounts of the cream on few places of her body and he started to spread it all around...His hands moves were so gentle, so full of love and reverence, that Elsie sighed deeply, thinking that no woman in the world could have a better husband...She closed her eyes and let him take care of her...He didn't miss a single spot on her body...Starting from her neck, through her breasts and her pregnant belly, unto her legs...He was using his hands, but also his lips, as he kissed all the places of her body, that he earlier applied a cream to...
"My beautiful wife, my Elsie...Do you know how beautiful you are to me? How precious? I'm the luckiest man on earth, to have such an amazing wife, with a luscious body...A body that I want to worship all over again...The body that carries our children...Elsie...I will love you till the end of our lives and even longer...Thank you for everything my love..."-He bent over Elsie and he placed the sweetest kiss on her lips...She opened her eyes finally and she was desperate to feel him closer, to touch him too and so she unbuttoned the top of his pajama and she ran her hands through his broad chest...
"My Charles...My darling Charles...I have never loved anyone so much in my life and I never will...You have given me a home, children and so much love and safety...We will be together till the end of our lives and we will still love each other so much, I never doubt it..."
They've kissed again..More and more, feeling so in love and so aroused with each other, but Charles knew, that it wasn't right to demand anything more from Elsie...Even though he would do anything to make love with her in that moment...To be inside her...Instead, he kept on stroking her body, pouring all the depth of his love to each touch and she reciprocated those lovely touches...After a while, he clasped her buttons back together, knowing, that if he will look at her naked body any longer, he won't be able to refrain himself from being with her fully...
Elsie understood his torment...She, herself, was very eager to be with him, but she realized that there was a proper time and place for everything...She kissed the side of his neck, his jawline, his cheeks, the tip of his nose...She put her hands around his waist and they lied, cuddling. There was always an enormous passion between them, but they knew when it had to be restrained. After a while, Elsie felt strong kicks coming from her belly...They seemed to be much more powerful than usual and came with waves-one after another...
"Oh look Charles...Our son is being really enthusiastic about something...Can you feel how he is kicking?"-She put his hand on her belly..
"Oh my, that's a strong kick...I think he is getting ready to go out..."
"He is rather impatient about that Iwould say...Such a strong boy, just like his daddy..."
Charles smiled hearing those words...He was stroking Elsie's belly and they were both enjoying the visible signs of their baby's vitality..When it calmed down, Elsie snuggled into Charles even more and she fell asleep and he followed her example soon, both blessed by the enormity of love that was surrounding them...
That's all for today...So our love birds had a lovely day and a lovely night...It was fun to write a different scenario for them, where they both wanted to express their love in bed, but couldn't do that, due to existing conditions ;-) Hope you liked that sweet, anniversary chapter...In the next one, we will welcome the youngest Carson in the world and I can already tell you, that there will be a surprise... Thank you for reading and reviewing...Take care of you and your families.
*When I was writing about Elsie's gift from Charles, I couldn't get the image from my head of the "heart of the ocean" necklace, those of you who saw the Titanic movie will know what I'm talking about, so I believe it would somewhat like this.