LIFE IS THE ART OF CHOICE-14
Hello everyone. Tough week is over and I'm here with you again. Really missed writing this week, it gives me the necessary escape from reality... In this chapter, Elsie and Charles will finally found a perfect cottage for them and they will be able to start living under their own roof... Hope you will like it.
Ever since Elsie told Charles about the current events at the Abbey and the problems that Lord Grantham was experiencing, with his new butler and housekeeper, he was restless. He pretended that he didn't care about that at all, but Elsie knew him too well, not to see the clear anxiety, that he was feeling since he learnt that his beloved family was in trouble...
They never mentioned it again and even when Isobel told her some news from the big house, she no longer repeated it to Charlie...Other than that, their life was going smoothly. They were both so happy about their new jobs. Charles was tremendously respected by Rev Travis, who kept on repeating to all of his guests, how his vicarage has gained a new life, ever since Charles started to manage the house. Charles was so grateful for such wonderful evaluation and he increased his efforts to work as best as he could, but even doing so, he still had a proper amount of time for his private life and he was more than glad about it. He and Elsie spent all their free time concentrating on looking for the cottage, so far without success and Charles sometimes was in despair, thinking that they will never be able to find a place for themselves. They were really comfortable at Mrs Sanders and they liked and respected her, as she respected them, but they were both eager to feel a little bit freely, being in their own home.
Elsie's professional life was going as well as Charles's. She loved working in the Downton hospital and ever since the memorable talk with Isobel, she felt like she found a new friend, They shared many nice conversations ever since that time and Elsie started to forget that there was once a line, a barrieer, that separated them, when she was a servant at Downton and Isobel was a member of the family. Every day gave her new experiences and the patients simply adored her. She took care of each one of them and they couldn't praise Elsie more, when they were speaking to the doctor, which only confirmed his belief-that hiring Elsie was the best thing he could do.
Elsie loved her time with Charles. When they came back from work, they were practically unseparable. They did everything together-eat, drink, talk, reading books, talking, laughing, cuddling and making love. Whatever they were doing, Elsie never felt so completely happy and united with another human being, as she did with Charles. Only sometimes, when she noticed, that his face suddenly had that sad expression, her heart clenched, because she knew very well why that was...She knew that he was missing Downton and that he was worried about the well-being of the family. Whenever she saw that he was sad, she tried to chase away those moments, by giving him the sweetest kiss or whispering some loving words into his ear. That had an instant effect on him. His face brightened with that warm smile, that was reserved just for her and he wrapped his arms tighter around her and held her, like he never wanted this to end. Sometimes, in the morning, when they both needed to get up and go to work, it was really difficult for both of them, even with their contentment from their jobs, they still felt a great need of not being separated for longer than it was necessary.
Doubtlessly, they loved each other so much, that every moment when they couldn't be together was a torture. Elsie was also waiting impatiently for the moment, when they will finally find a cottage to live. She wanted to have her own house, a house that she could take care of, a house in which she intend to create a happy space for her and Charlie. Their efforts to find this place were not successful, but that was about to change soon...
It happened unexpectedly, on one of the afternoons...Elsie was just finishing sorting the patients files, when Isobel came back to hospital after lunch, that she had in the big house. She went inside the room very excited and she gave Elsie the news about the cottage that was for sale-it belonged to Mr and Mrs Hamilton, who decided to sell it, as they were about to move to their son, who married a very rich woman and they both lived comfortably in London. The cottage was recently renewed and redecorated and because Mr and Mrs Hamilton decided to leave all the furnitures, it was the perfect occasion for Charles and Elsie. Isobel advised Elsie, that she should contact them as soon as possible. They wanted to move out very quickly, they weren't even lived in the cottage already-they stayed at Mrs Hamilton's sister, waiting imapatiently for the buyers.
Elsie was as much excited as Isoble was. The cottage was in the ideal place, on the edge of the village, but close to the vicarage-Charles would have a ten minute walk to work from there and Elsie five minutes more. She knew the cottage and although she has never been inside, she always liked that cottage. She couldn't wait to tell Charles about that.
As soon as he was back from work, they both decided to go there and take a look at the cottage. They went to Mrs Hamilton's sister house and asked her if they could see the cottage. Mrs Hamilton gave them keys and she was very glad, that they could be the potential buyers of the cottage, as she knew them both well and respected them.
Charles and Elsie paced quickly towards the cottage and when they entered inside, very soon, they both felt, that they finally found their place on earth.. The cottage was simply lovely...Encircled with a small, but managable garden. The downstairs living room was flowing nicely into the kitchen. There was a downstairs bathroom, not only the toilet, but the complete bathroom and when they went upstairs, they found two bedrooms there. One smaller, with the nice view on the front of the cottage and the main bedroom, which had windows coming to the back garden. They both blushed a bit, seeing an enormous bed in the main bedroom. They looked at each other, with a promise in their eyes, already thinking how they could use it in the future.
Apart from two bedrooms, there was a second bathroom upstairs, which made a perfect addition to the rest. Everything was indeed renewed and all it would took for them, was just to get their things here and start living. All it remained, was to make a decision...
"Well, Charles...What do you think?"
"I think it's perfect Elsie...We finally found it. We couldn't ask for more...Do you agree?"
"I do, but the decision is yours to make. After all, you are the one who are covering most of the purchase. It's your money Charlie.."
"Elsie...Sweetheart...I already told you, in our marriage there are no such things as my money or your money...These are our money and don't you ever forget it..I want us to make this decision together...You think that we should buy this cottage? Because I do..The price is a little high, but that's understable, considering that it is renewed and all the furniture are here. So are we buying it?"
"Yes Charlie. We are buying it...Can't wait for us to live here. We are going to be so happy."
"I would be happy even if I had to live in the cave, as long as I'm with you...Elsie, we are going to have a cottage, oh Elsie..That makes me so happy that I could dance..."
Charles felt like some kind of madness took over him, without thinking, he took Elsie in his arms and he lift her, dancing around the room with her..
"Put me down, you daft man, you will drop me!"
"I will never drop you sweetie! How could I drop the most precious person in my life?"
He cautiously put Elsie down and they forgot the whole world for a moment, kissing delicately. After that, they went all around the house one more time and took the keys back to Mrs Hamilton.. She was extremely satisfied, when she found out, that they decided to buy the cottage. They arranged a meeting at the solicitor in few days and Charles and Elsie went back home, giving back the happy news to Mrs Sanders, who was glad and worried at the same time. She loved living under one roof with them, but she realized, that it was just a temporarily arrangement.
On the next day at work, Elsie announced the happy news to Isobel and the doctor. They were both thrilled for Elsie. They decided to help them in their moving. The doctor offered Elsie an extra day off on next Friday, as they were suppose to sign the contract with Mr and Mrs Hamilton on Thursday, so that would give them three whole days to settle in their new home.
Isobel offered the help of her servants-her chauffer, who could help them move their things from the guest house, to the cottage and her maid, who could help organize things for Elsie in the cottage.
Elsie was so grateful for that. She literally counted the days to the sign of the contract and the move. So did Charles. The whole process ran smoothly. The signed a contract, Charles took the money from their bank account to pay for the cottage and on the next day, thanks to the cordiality of their new employers, they manged to move their things from Mrs Sanders guest house, who was almost crying, when she said goodbye to them. On the previous night, they ate a dinner together and she received a wonderful gift from Charles and Elsie-as a way of saying thank you. They were both so grateful to her. She gave them a roof over their head in the difficult situation, that they were in and they never meant to forget it.
Rev Travis also gave Charles an extra day off and offered one of his servants to help them. With such a strong team, Charles and Elsie had a feeling that everything was really going pretty well.
Before they even realized, they were already settled in their new home.
On Saturday, they made the last arrangements, adjusting the decoration to their taste. They felt infinately happy. Two whole days of the exert work was about to pay off. They were finally at their own home, when they could feel casually.
They decided to have their dinner in the pub, because after a tiring day, neither of them felt a great need of cooking. They went slowly towards the pub, laughing and feeling like they got to their private heaven at last.
The dinner was delicious and when they were coming back to the cottage, they started to talk about their church wedding. They moved the date with the vicar, waiting for the moment, when all the other things will be settled. Now, when they were, there was nothing else stopping them from getting married.
"I ought to think about preparations for our wedding. It's so soon Charlie...I need to find a dress."
"Whatever you will be wearing Elsie, you will look gorgeous."
"Flatterer! Remmeber, how I told you about my dreams of the perfect dress?"
"I remember. You will have any dress that you will dream of..Home at last. How beautiful that sounds..."
"Yes...Our own cottage...Oh Charlie..."-Elsie nestled into Charles, as they were both looking through the window of their new home..."Did you ever think that we will be so happy?"
"Never Elsie...I never knew that a person can be that happy...All thanks to you my darling...You gave me courage to change our lives..."
"And you wouldn't want to go back? To Downton? To our old life?"
"And loose all this? Never Elsie...Never...Being a butler of the Abbey was splendid, but being your husband gives me delight that I could never dreamed of.."
"Delight you say Charlie?...Since it's our first night under this roof, I really think that we shoud give a try to our new bed...It's so enormous, that I will have to look for you in it in the middle of the night..."
"Oh no you won't...Because I will never let you out of my arms...Trying out the new bed you say..I never realized that my wife was so forward.."
"About time for me to show it to you..."-Elsie was planting kisses along his jawline, causing a loud groan from her husband..."Take me to bed Charlie...Please.."
Charles needn't be told this twice...In less than no time, they were both upstairs, on their bed, kissing ardently in the light of the moon...Charles undressed Elsie slowly, enjoying every moment of it... And she helped him to get rid of his clothes...It was the first time, when they could feel so free, so casually...Without the fear of sudden interruptions, without unecessary presence of other people under the same roof...
They delved into kisses and caresses and they never wanted to stop... After few weeks from their wedding, they both felt so unfettered with each other...Initial embarassment was all gone and now their cherished their bodies without any limits...
There was one more bonus now, when they were already living under their own roof. They no longer had to restraint their love making noises, as they did before and that new kind of freedom was additionally exciting for both of them..
When they made love, Charles kept his eyes wide open and he watched as Elsie's creamy thighs were wrapped around him, he watched as her perfect round breasts were bouncing, along with their body movements. He watched her blissful face expression, as he kept moving within her-her eyes slightly shut and her mouth parted...He listened to her moans of delight, which were getting louder and louder, as she was getting close to her climax...He didn't want to miss any of this glorious sights or sounds..
Sonner than later, she grabbed his arms and her body arched up, as she came into his arms, calling his name...He followed her immediately...
They lied spent in their arms, smoothing and stroking their bodies...Elsie opened her eyes, smiled to Charles and she kissed him, putting an enormous love to that kiss...
"I love you Charlie...Welcome home..."
"I love you too Elsie...I am now home indeed..."
That was a long chapter, but as I said, I really missed writing...So, Charles and Elsie are happily settled in their cottage now and so far, I think thay are having fun...;-) We only have one more ceremony for them and everything will be just as it should be...Hope you liked it. As always, sorry for any errors. I have a favor to ask you. Please let me know, how would you like me to end the story-should they go back to Downton or should they stay right where they are-happily settled in their new life? Looking forward for your opinions. Thank you for everything and please stay safe!