It had started on the train.

The wedding itself was blissfully uneventful, having gone off without a hitch, and the reception couldn't have been better.

Even the train was quiet, the compartments abnormally empty due to the time of day.

But having no problems to solve meant nothing to distract Elsie's busy mind from thoughts of the night to come.

Elsie had never been one to lose control, embarrass herself by speaking out of turn or forgetting her place. And while she didn't have the self-discipline of a master martyr such as Mr. Carson, she did have a calm head on her shoulders.

Until now, it seemed.

Bent on self-destruction, Elsie's mind was replaying the events of the sitting room over and over. And her body was…doing things. Things that made it hard to keep her hands to herself.

Settled against Charles's side as she was, Elsie could feel the heat coming off his body. His strong, solid, warm body.

That she desperately needed to touch.

Clamping her thighs together, Elsie tried and failed to ease the ache that had landed between her legs.

Charles noticed her flushed appearance and the rigid way she held herself. She's tired, he thought, reasoning that the exertions of the day paired with anticipation of their first night together had gotten the best of her.

Wanting to confirm his suspicions, Charles leaned down towards her ear.

"Are you alright, love?"

The deep rumble from Charles's chest vibrated Elsie's outer ear, the sensations caressing her as if they had fingers. His warm breath triggered a spray of goosebumps on her neck.

She closed her eyes, waging a battle inside of herself, one half of her brain screaming at her to speak, the other ordering her to keep quiet.

"He says it's too important to be embarrassed about," Mrs. Patmore had said, recalling her conversation with the man in question on that fateful day when futures had been decided.

Throwing caution to the wind, Elsie Carson took the first step in the direction of her new life.

"Can we talk about it, you think?"

Charles cleared his throat, an action done of habit when he needed a moment to consider his words.

"I'll not pretend to not understand of what you are speaking." He said quietly, taking one large hand and placing it on her arm before continuing.

"I would like to think we could, Elsie."

She allowed a small smile, then nodded her head shortly. "I…I just wanted to say I would prefer not to wait."

Charles had a moment of confusion, knowing the only thing that could be waited upon had already happened.

"Wait?" he said, concern furrowing his brow.

"Long." Elsie said, not sure of the best words to convey her meaning. "Wait long. Until tonight." She stumbled over the words, not knowing if she needed to do more to get her message across. "I mean…I'm ready, now."

ooo

Charles hoped that he was passable nice to the front desk clerk. He meant to be, at least he intended to be. He made a mental note to leave the man a nice tip when they left and focused on following the bellboy in front of him.

Elsie's shy and innocent announcement on the train had wiped the slate of his brain clean from any other thoughts.

The doors opened to a beautiful suite, and Elsie could only look around in awe while Charles tipped the boy and sent him on his way. The smell of fresh flowers tickled her nose, and Elsie noted several vases spread throughout the space.

To their surprise, a table in the sitting area had been covered with all manner of bow covered treats. Bottles of wine filled a basket, along with two crystal glasses. Bread, jam, and pastries spilled out of one, with fruit and cheese nestled in another. A bucket of ice joined the gifts, two more bottles of wine chilling inside.

"Oh my." Elsie said, her hand coming up to cover her mouth, shocked at the bounty before her.

"There's a card," Charles said, spotting it nestled in the basket of baked goods.

Unfolding the bit of paper, Carson was surprised to see the names written therein. "It's from Lady Mary, Lady Edith, and Mr. Branson."

Elsie couldn't help but smile, touched at the thoughtfulness of the young people. Charles brought her back down to earth, stepping close to help her off with her coat.

He stayed behind her after hanging the garment up, his breathing slightly heavier than usual. She would have sworn she had a warm spot on her back, his gaze so intense it was cutting a path through her skin.

"I…are you sure, Elsie?" he asked, his hands coming up to her shoulders. He stepped closer, the distance closed between them as he leaned forward to press a kiss to the nape of her neck.

Closing her eyes, Elsie leaned into him, her neck falling back to his chest. "Mmm," she said in both affirmation and pleasure at his kiss.

Using his hands, he gently turned her, not stopping until they were face to face. She met his eyes, the color surprisingly dark. She knew he was going to kiss her before he did, so she met him with an open mouth.

He took advantage, tongue darting from his mouth and into hers. They kissed passionately for quite some time, both panting when it ended. Elsie felt like she was in a tornado of emotion, and clung onto Charles's upper arms to try and steady herself.

He regained his composure first, and said quietly, "The room has an ensuite for both of us. Why don't we each go and…undress for bed?"

Murmuring her agreement, Elsie gathered the things she needed from her case and headed to the lavatory.

Her knickers were soaked, she could already tell. Pulling off all the layers, she considered what to do next.

It didn't seem logical to just put on more knickers, they'd only get wet after all. And anything else she put on Charles was most likely going to take directly off…she guessed. Seemed like a wasted effort.

Congratulating herself on her practicality, Elsie wrapped her naked body in her dressing gown and headed back to the bedroom.

Charles settled on pyjama bottoms only, opting to leave off his undershorts as they felt a bit redundant. It was obvious where this was headed, and he was pretty sure he didn't need clothes getting in his way.

Walking out of the ensuite in time to see Elsie doing the same, Charles couldn't help but compare her to a wrapped gift as he eyed the sash tied around her in a bow.

To his mortification, all he could focus on was how badly he wanted to open her.

ooo

Elsie felt brave until she seen him, his bare chest covered in silver hair and broader than she had imagined.

They move towards each other automatically, both nervous but too intrigued to be hesitant. His hands went to her waist, fingers landing on the bow that rested there.

She took a deep breath, unable to stop herself from playing that old, discarded nightmare in her head. Charles laying eyes upon her and being unable to hide the disappointment, the repulsion visible in his eyes.

It succeeded in throwing her for a loop, her bravery momentarily flickering in its intensity.

Charles, however, did not hesitate.

Untying the bow, he greedily drank her in, his mouth making an 'o' of wonder as he took in her breasts.

"Oh, Elsie," he murmured, eyes wide as his hands each cupped a round, creamy breast.

Well then.

They walked backwards a few steps until her knees touched the bed. Dropping the open robe from her shoulders, Elsie climbed into the bed, not stopping until she got to the middle.

Charles followed, nudging her back until he was over top of her. He kept going, his head latching on to her breast, suckling her nipple as she writhed.

"Oh, oh my," Elsie said, her hands going to the back of his head.

He moved back and forth, spreading his attentions to both breasts. He was humming, the happy little sound of pleasure causing tiny vibrations against Elsie's skin.

It was unbearable, really, the want and need building up inside until Elsie until she was afraid she would combust with it. She choked out a sob, distracting Charles, who paused in his worship of her breasts.

"Please Charles," she said, breathily. "Now, please."

As if to highlight her request, her knees parted, ankles coming up to rest on his back, pressing into the muscles at the top of his hips.

Determined not to start off his marriage by disappointing his new wife, Charles hurried to shed his bottoms.

Leaning over her, Charles reached down and positioned himself at Elsie's entrance.

She did the rest herself, another sharp movement of her hips forcing him inside the rest of the way. Elsie moaned just as Charles grunted, the powerful feel of the joining rocking through them both.

"Oh," Elsie said, her senses coming back slowly.

It was then that Charles began to move his hips in earnest.

Elsie knew she had survived this the first time, but for the life of her she couldn't remember how. Electricity shot through her body every time Charles's hips slammed into her, and she wondered muzzily if sparks were shooting out from where they were joined.

His hands were around her waist, pressure firm as he held her while steadily pounding into her.

Elsie's brow was furrowed in concentration, and Charles knew she was working on climbing to her peak.

Feeling his own end closer than he wished, Charles frantically tried to slow the fire building inside of him. Elsie had been clear about what she needed, and he refused to stop before he had given her what she asked for.

Charles could have wept with relief when Elsie seized at last, her body shaking as the climax coursed through her. Unable to hold back after the shiver and grasp of her inner muscles got to him, Charles plunged deep once more and let go, his release riding on the edges of hers.

They stayed still then, both shuddering with tiny aftershocks, both too dazed to move.

Elsie broke first, memory of Anna's warning worming through the thick headedness and making its way to the forefront of her mind.

Maneuvering out from underneath Charles as carefully as possible, she walked on unsteady legs to the ensuite.

ooo

"What brought that on, if you don't mind my asking?" Charles asked later, looking over from where his head was resting on the pillow.

Elsie blushed, now regretting her horribly forward behavior.

"Well, I thought to get it over with." She said brusquely, knowing it would get a reaction from him.

"Get it over with?" Charles repeated, doing his best to sounding scandalized.

Elsie grinned at his dramatics, loving as always to tease him.

"Well, yes. You know, like when you have to go to the doctor, and don't want to. Might as well do it first thing in the morning and get it out of the way."

"You're comparing this to a doctor's visit?" Charles said again, mock outrage thick in his voice.

Elsie giggled, snuggling in closer to his side. "That's payback for referring to our first night as 'appalling.'"

Chuckling at his wife's silliness, Charles gathered her close and sighed in contentment as he relaxed into his pillow, arm wrapped around her waist.

"I am so very grateful that you wanted me, Mr. Carson." Elsie's voice was soft but clear, and Charles knew how vulnerable saying such things made her feel.

"Mrs. Carson. I have needed and desired you with every breath I've taken for so long, that for me, wanting you is closely akin to breathing. I am helpless to do anything but."

Elsie had went quiet, and assuming she had drifted asleep, Charles didn't fight the pull of slumber when it came. He was very nearly there himself, walking that edge of that cliff between reality and the dream world, when her soft voice pulled him back.

"Aye," she said softly, so solemn that he didn't know if it was meant for his ears or just for her own peace of mind. "Aye, it is indeed."