The Acquisition of Memories

by BorneToFlow

Embarking on their honeymoon, Charles and Elsie begin to process the events of their wedding day and those leading up to it. A series of internal reflections; lengthy, fun & sometimes in-depth conversations; &, interspersed with requisite amounts of playful holiday fun & honeymoon adult times. From Ch19 rating is a tasteful but strong M. Some S5/6 JF canon is blissfully ignored.

23. Chapter 23- Floating Dreams

The Acquisition of Memories- Chapter 23- Floating Dreams

A/N 1: Damn you Chelsie Mind Worm!- These two will not leave me alone- A bit of fluff and afterglow for you all.

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"Urgh! I can't say I think much of the Ritz Hotel's attempts to make tea, Mr Carson. I do hope the Palm Court offers something a little more enticing"

"Hmm..Well.. I hardly think, in these circumstances, that we can blame anyone for the quality of the service here, Mrs Carson- we did…shall we say…get a little distracted away from breakfast there for a while."

"Carried away, more like it! Hmm…" Elsie replies with a happy, hot glitter in her eyes.

Suddenly feeling young and vigorous at the sight of her knowing eyes, Charles takes the cup from her and quickly bends to steal a big bite from the croissant in her hand as he throws the covers back and then grabs her, sweeping her small frame easily off the bed and cradling her in his strong arms.

"Wah! Ooph!" she shouts out in surprise. "What are you about, Charles Carson, you daft man!" She giggles at him.

Speaking messily through his mouthful of food, he replies happily "Carrying you away, my love. Let's go and warm our old bones in the bath tub. I am rather looking forward to fulfilling a particular dream of mine."

"Mr Carson! Really!? Just how many dreams have you been having about married life prior to yesterday?"

"Probably more than I have days left to fulfill them in, my darling, but I shall try," he smiles broadly as he plants a big warm, crumbly kiss onto her bright and smiling lips.

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Charles carries Elsie over to the large bathtub beyond his dressing room.

"Dip your toe in, Love. Is the temperature all right?"

"Well, yes, it is perfect Charles, but…"

He has already lowered her into the water, and it is blissfully warm, and then he quickly makes to step over the edge to join her.

"Charles, wait!"

But it is too late. Even as he is leaning over her to turn off the spigot, the bath is obviously too full, and she bursts into a fit of laughter as he lowers his big frame and the water sloshes in a large wave over the sides, landing with a thump onto the floor.

"Oh.. oops…"

She cannot stop laughing "Eureka! Archimedes!" she manages to gasp out between her loud chuckles "you old duffer!"

"Didn't think of that…"

He looks over the edge of the roll top bath at the wash rolling across the tiled floor with the comical grimace of a child caught in the middle of some mischief, and he cannot hold back his mirth either and barks out a large roll of laughter too. She does not think she has ever heard him really let go of his happiness this way. It is delightful- A full and hearty belly laugh and the shaking of that same belly causes even more water to ripple over the edge of the bath. She is completely lost now- gasping in hysterical laughter as she launches herself forward and straight into his waiting arms, fully realising that the wave she makes on the way is not going to make one jot of difference to the mess they have already made in the pristine bathroom. She kisses him firmly on his love swollen lips in between her giggles.

"Oh, Charles! You really are my big Old Booby aren't you?!" and she kisses him again.

"Well, I did say that I would love you ten years before the flood, my dear."

And this sets them off again, his heaving belly tickling against hers and sending her completely silly again in his arms.

"Oh stop, Charles, stop! It's hurting my sides. Ah! Oh my gosh!" as she draws in a huge breath to calm herself as she looks at him with rosy cheeks and tears of laughter in her sparkling eyes. "You really do make me so very happy, you know that don't you?"

"I am beginning to get the idea, my love" he replies, leaning forward to kiss her beautiful and broadly smiling mouth.

"Hmm...I love you so" she says against his lips as her breathing begins to calm.

"And I love you, sweet Elspeth."

"Hmm…" She settles her head onto his chest, listening to his heartbeat calming as he starts stroking his hands up and down her back "No one has called me that in many, many years, Charles."

"You don't mind do you?"

"No, not at all. I like that it is only you who does, and 'Els' too. No one calls me that but you. Although, both have only come up while we have been making love, so I don't think I would be able to keep a straight face in public if you were to use them all the time you know, my Cheerful Charlie."

He groans out long, "Umm… Elsie, I really would still rather that you did not call me Charlie...please…I mean, apart from my past, it just seems …so… juvenile- to start it at my age, anyway, don't you think?"

She lifts her head and rests her chin on top her arms that she has crossed over at the top of his chest so as to look into his eyes. He does look worried. "I am sorry, Love. It just struck me that this…humour, how you make me laugh so- it is a wonderful side of you, one I should very much like to see more of every day. I do see that you must have done quite well, making people happy when you were on the stage,… and I also know that you can dance quite beautifully- my song and dance man." she smiles wistfully at him, placing a little peck on his chin, "I guess I was just imagining you as a younger man, that's all. But it's alright- if you really do not like it- 'Charles' it shall be… Although, I will not be held accountable for what falls from my lips in the throes of passion with you, my dear man." and she gives him another brief kiss, "You do tend to make me lose my head a bit, you know!"

If it is possible to look guilty, lustful and incredibly proud at the same time, he has managed it, Elsie thinks. And they grin at each other.

"I believe I can live with that, thank you, my love." And he kisses her again too. "Hmm." He sighs contentedly.

"So, tell me, Charles, was your 'Moses parting the Red Sea' impersonation really the basis of your long-held dream of marital bliss with me?" she smiles up at him impishly.

"Ha! Hardly- the poem spoke of conversion, not Exodus, I believe!…But no, nothing quite so spectacular, I am afraid…umm…" he pauses, a little uncertain of himself all of a sudden, "I would actually just like to wash your hair… if that is alright with you, Elsie."

She looks a little surprised, briefly, but then ever so touched. "You really do love my hair, don't you Charles?"

"MmmHmm" as he lifts his wet hands to place some loose strands of hair back behind her ears at the sides of her face.

"Why?"

"Hmm?…Oh, so many reasons, really, Elsie." She raises a querying eyebrow at him, so he continues. "Well, it is so shiny and soft for starters." As he continues stroking her hair. "And it feels so beautiful in my hands… and then it is so very long, surprisingly so, because it does not appear that way when you pin it up." His voice is slow and dreamy. "And then I love how you expertly keep it hidden that way- like it is a special secret, and I especially like that now I know its truth, and I figure that not many other people will have seen it when it is all down around your shoulders…" he glances down shyly, blushing slightly "…and hanging over your delightful breasts."

She smiles sweetly at him and reaches up to brush a kiss on his lips. My dear man.

"It's like it is a gift that you share only with me." He smiles lovingly at her. "Although, I do like it very much in the slightly looser style you had it yesterday. Do you think you could wear it that way more often?"

"I have been thinking that I will, yes. It is less harsh… makes me feel younger."

"And then I also love its smell- and only I get to smell it up so closely now too." And he smiles dreamily at this thought. "Can I wash it for you? They have a coconut emulsion thing here if you like."

"Hmm..?" she rouses slightly from the dreamy state his soft low voice and his words have sent her to. "Of course, Love- use it if you like the smell, or the soap is just fine too. Did you already put lavender in the water? It is very nice."

"Mmm Hmm. Just a little. You know how it is good for relaxing muscles- although, I would have liked a rosemary sprig too- that is what I use after the cricket."

"'And Rosemary is for Remembrance'-hmm… but no real need for that, my love- I shan't be forgetting last night and this morning in any great hurry, my darling man" and she brushes yet another loving kiss to his face- this time on the cleft of his stubbly chin. "Should I turn around for you?"

"Not this time- if it will work this way, that is. I like to have you facing me, please." Elsie nods and then rests her head down on his chest.

Charles begins to cup some water in his big palms to wet done the top of her hair, the rest of its length is already swirling in the water behind Elsie. It is so relaxing. She sighs audibly.

"Keep talking to me, Charles," she says lazily, feeling the warmth of the bath overtake her will to move at all after the intense physicality of their morning together. "Hmm… I love your voice, my man," she yawns, "I can feel it through your skin."

Charles' eyebrow gives a small twitch, a little surprised, but he continues with his slow wetting down of her hair, trickling warm water down the sides of her head "Well, I was actually only a bit clearer about your hair yesterday, as I got to finally unwrap it all last night. It is all so special to me really… I don't know if I have the words for it really… It … I don't know… it just seems to speak to me… of your strength… I guess. Your soft heart- it is abundant, yet also very fine, but still incredibly strong… it just… kind of seems like the essence of you, Elsie Love... like it represents who you really are. Modestly hidden, but … there… and solid and real…and … just always shining through really, no matter what…and no matter how you wear choose to wear it… and I guess I just want to know how much effort you do need to put into it being that way… how…how much you put into being the way you are… and so I want to know what it is like to wash it, and dry it and brush it out…I could even plait it for you if you like- pretty simply at least. I guess I sound rather mawkish, don't I?"

She looks up into his eyes. "Oh, Charles." Her eyes shining with love for him again. "You do know that you never sound silly to me when you tell me how you love me. You really are a very dear man. Where ever did you learn to love me in this way? ...And, like you did last night..and this morning? I don't mind saying that you have also had me in awe so many times this last couple of days" as she rests her head back on his chest and traces lazy patterns across it with her fingertips. "Hmm…your letter, all the poetry you feel for me, the way you so gently love me and take care of me, a chagair,… it...it just overwhelms me." And tears prick at the corners of her eyes again. She continues slowly, tentatively "What made you think to love me with that poem Charles…in that way…? How do you know of such things?..."

A low sound grumbles in his chest and he shifts a little. She reads the discomfort that has risen in him. "I..I don't want to ruin any of your memories of our loving Elsie… I have no great experiences from my past… you must know that… and does it really matter? Nothing real or imagined could ever compare to what we have in truth, my darling." He busies himself with lathering some Pears soap into his hands, for the coconut emulsion smells too different from the Elsie he knows and loves.

"I don't think we should be uncomfortable talking about these things, not now. Not anymore... not like before... You can tell me, Charles. You know that I am not easily shocked about such things, not after having lived these many years,…well, I was only shocked that you would find me so alluring at my age, but I find that I am well past that little fear too- after all that we have shared together now, I can assure you of that much at least…But…it has just been…all so different from what I have been taught to expect… for women that is…I have only heard that it is meant to be, at best, an annoying discomfort to be put up with and got out of the way quickly…and at worst….well…what our poor Anna endured..."

His heart catches in his broken voice. "Oh Elsie, Love, no. No…" and he uses his soapy hands to lift her face from his chest and looks deeply into her eyes. "You did not really think I would ever force you did you? I could never…" and his eyes are brimming with the fear that she may have thought him capable of such a horrid thing… or that she may have endured such cruelty in her past.

"No Charles, of course not. I have never thought you capable of any such thing- not even for a second… you are a true gentleman, and I knew that you would always ensure my comfort… but equally, I could not have foreseen that you would…I don't know… devote so much of yourself to my pleasure, really, and not just your own, as I had heard men would do – seeing only to their own needs…"

"But Elsie, your pleasure- your happiness- is my greatest pleasure in this life…don't you see? That I can bring you this is what I want more than anything… and that it allows us to live so closely is all that I could ever really want and need, so it is easy for me… it just makes sense to see you so content and happy… Natural… that's what it is- it is just natural to me, even though I have no real experiences to base this kind of love on…But… I just find I am incredibly fortunate to have the most wonderful and beautiful muse to inspire all of my ideas and deeds…and who definitely inspires something in my own body." And with a slight waggle of his eyebrows, he smiles lovingly at her shining face and kisses her once more on her delightfully soft lips. But he can see that she still wants to know. And he feels safe enough in her love for him, knows that she will not ridicule or shun him, and after all that they have shared together, and as mature adults, indeed why should they not finally speak of such things a little more openly in their private time together? So he tucks her head back onto his chest and starts to lather her hair with the soap.

He continues quietly. "I don't know Elsie, I suppose I am much like you in what I have learned of such things, no one ever talks of it… but, we have both had our share of times having to separate errant footman and scullery maids or the like, to be sure… And I have seen things…more things than I really care for, truth be told… and this is just one instance that …I encountered, and I was shocked by it at first, even appalled by it for a very long time. But, it was only when I knew that I wanted to be with you always and to love you fully, that I…shall we say…dwelt upon it once more…and I began feeling that it could actually be far more beautiful and more loving than what I had inadvertently walked in upon many years ago. And, as much as I was fascinated as to what it might be like for me, I also just wanted to give you that- all of that pleasure and show you my love in that way. You do not mind do you?"

"Griggs and Alice" Elsie whispers quietly into his chest. His breath catches. Of course she would guess it.

"I am sorry, Elsie, I did not want you to think on them in reference to us. You do know that you are the only thing on my mind when we are together…don't you?" He sounds very worried again.

"Of course I know that, Charles," squeezing her arms a little tighter around his belly to reassure him. "And no, I most assuredly do not mind. It is a most wonderful thing to share together. Although I will admit to being somewhat shocked by it all at first... and by my own response..., but you already know that your actions have very much inspired me too," as she smiles a little wicked and knowing smile against his chest before she turns serious again. "Hmm…I am just very sorry that you were hurt by them in such a way."

"Don't be sorry, my love. I find that I really have no regrets about it at all anymore. For where would I be now if I had not returned to Downton and then come to know you?"

"I see your point. That certainly does not bear thinking about." She yawns widely again. "I am just very glad that we are where we are now, a chagair." And she kisses him lightly through the silvery hairs on his chest. His slow massaging of her scalp is making her feel very drowsy in the liquid and floating warmth of their bath.

"Me too, sweet Elspeth. Me too" His words seep low and loving into her ear from the soft, warm skin of his chest as she slips calmly under the rhythm of his breathing.

Charles runs the remains of the suds from Elsie's head through to the very tips of her locks as she rests against him, watching the bubbles drift slowly away as her hair floats and swirls like a cloud across the water's surface. Then, using one large hand to span Elsie's forehead between his thumb and forefinger, protecting her eyes, he repeatedly pours clear warm water over her head, removing the rest of the soap and rubbing the excess water down and away from her face. She sighs so contentedly against him that he thinks his heart will break with the amount of love it holds for her. How could he have ever lived without this joy? He bends to kiss her on the top of her head, smelling the freshness of the soap and their new life on her scalp. Then he lifts her up gently, moving her head up higher on his chest as he sinks further into the bathtub. Once his nape is resting on the edge of the roll top of the bath, he checks that she is breathing well clear of the water line and lets the slow drip of the tap echoing in their bathroom lull him as Elsie's hair floats dreamlike across his forearms that support her up against him, tickling and soothing him into a light but blissful nap.

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Elsie starts awake to the deep rumbling sound of Charles' hungry stomach. She causes a ripple of lukewarm water to slosh about them. He grunts sleepily but is soon opening his eyes. They have not dozed long, but it has relaxed and warmed their muscles. Elsie angles up to kiss the underside of his jawline then pushes off the sides of the bath to sit away from him.

"We ought to hop out, Charles, before we get too cold. Plus, I think we really should get organised for the day…and eat. I know for a fact that you are awfully hungry." She smiles at him and sighs a long sigh as she grasps all her hair together and runs it through her clenched hand, squeezing the excess water out of it in one long stroke. Feeling a twinge shooting straight to his manhood Charles hums appreciatively at the sight of this and of her pale pink breasts bobbing delightfully at the water line.

"My God, woman, what you do to me" and he sits up and reaches towards her, stroking the underside of one of her now weightless breasts. "You are so very beautiful, my love." and he leans forward to kiss and lick the soapy water droplets from her nearest shoulder.

"Enough of that now Mr Carson, or we won't even make it to high tea. I can skip breakfast once in a while, but if I miss lunch too, I am liable to swoon later."

"You do realise that that was my intention just then, Mrs Carson," he says with a glint in his eyes, then looking morose, he deadpans and sighs heavily, "must be losing my touch already it seems."

She splashes a handful of water at his face, making him splutter.

"Come on silly, give me a hand out, please."

"Certainly, M'lady"

Elsie takes it very slowly lifting herself over the edge.

"Are you alright, Love?" he looks a little concerned for her.

"Oh, I will be fine. I just feel rather like a large lump of melting jelly right now. Need time to find my sea legs, is all."

"Sit on the edge for a bit, Love, I don't want you to slip in all that water. Let me just reach for a towel for you."

Keeping a supporting hand on her forearm the whole time, Charles moves to his knees in the bath and reaches to the end wall to grab a large fluffy towel for her. Using it to squeeze more water from her long hair before placing it about her shoulders and patting her skin dry a little. He reaches up to give the back of her neck a small kiss and mumbles against her warm and freshly soaped skin, "You truly are the most delectable looking lump of melting jelly I have ever seen."

"Och, get away with ye, Mr Carson," she smiles happily, but still somewhat dazedly at him, having turned to capture his lips in a languid warm kiss.

"Are you ok now? Why don't you grab one of those bathrobes from the door and go lie down? We still have some time. I just need to wash my hair quickly and shave," then he groans at the sight around them, "and sort this watery mess out a bit, but then I will come in and help you with your hair."

"Hmm, that sounds like a wonderful plan. Don't be too long, Love."

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Charles returns to his wife dressed in his day suit trousers and shirtsleeves, clean shaven and hair slicked neatly back into place. Elsie is lightly dozing face down on top of the rumpled counterpane, one leg is drawn up at right angles to her body and exposing her shapely calves. Her damp hair is starting to frizz dry around the edges. A shard of clear mid-morning light strikes from the edges of the still closed curtains, bathing her face with summer warmth. A smile plays around her lips, and Charles takes a moment to drill this vision of his loved one into his memories- of the speckled light glinting from her hair and forming a golden halo about her head, and giving her soft skin a full peach blushed tone. He sends up his Sunday prayers. Dear Lord, I love her so very much. Help me to keep her safe. Help me to always be on her side. His eyes fill with liquid tender love for her again. Everything is so very close to the surface for him nowadays it seems.

He crosses silently to her dressing room and finds her hair brush. As he goes to sit beside her, he cannot stop himself from running his fingertips over her legs, she is ticklish even in her torpor, and she ripples away from him a little. He runs his hands up her back over the top of her soft toweling bathrobe. Her smile broadens, and he knows that she is awake, but they both stay silent as he starts to brush out her hair across her back, from the tips and slowly moving upwards. As the bristles massage through to her back, she sighs out long and low. No one…no one has ever taken care of her with such tenderness and attention, at least not since her Mam did when she was a very wee lass, but even then, her hair brushing was a rushed affair, as the demands of the house and farm drew her Mam away again. Eyes still closed, Elsie's hand slides to reach out for him, finding his thigh and squeezing it the let him know that this means everything to her.

As he massages the brush over her scalp, carefully removing the last of the tangles from their lovemaking, he asks her where he should start plaiting her hair from. Elsie finally pushes herself up to sit beside him and feels about to point to the area, so as to leave enough movement and looseness around her head to finish the style into a freer form that they both like so much.

His fingers are deft and delicate, and he soon finishes. He leans forward to take in its fresh soapy smell again, before handing the untied end of the braid to her, taking the liberty to brush his soft fingertips over the top of her breast that has become slightly exposed where her robe has rucked open a little. They both smile at this silently shared and mutually desired intimacy before the trappings of public life fully cover their forms. Then Elsie rises to go and finish tying and pinning her hair up and to change for the day.

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Elsie changes into a lovely French blue, fine box pleated, mid-calf-length summer skirt that she had decided to invest in for her once in a lifetime holiday to Scarborough. It is a quality garment in a light and flowing fabric and with the matching coloured blouse to go with it. It is, at once, an elegant enough ensemble to wear to the Palm Room, but is still light and breezy enough to wear for their day trip in the mid-summer sun. She is sure it will prove a very worthwhile investment of her hard earned money as it can be dressed in different ways, and quite economically too, with just a few different blouses. And her lovely new sets of undergarments are perfectly suited to this more fashionable outfit. Elsie is very pleased with the overall effect she sees in the mirror and smiles at herself.

As she applies a light amount of lip rouge, Charles appears behind her in the mirror, full suit on and bowler hat in hand. His eyes are filled with loving admiration for her yet again.

"You look ever so lovely, Elsie. It's new, isn't it? The blue shows up your eyes so well." And he reaches around to kisses her on her cheek. "Do you have our six-pence there, Love?"

She picks it up from the dresser and turns to him to slip it safely inside his waistcoat pocket, reaching up to kiss him lightly on the lips. As her fingers go to wipe some of her rouge from his lips, both their stomachs give annoyed growls, and they grin at each other.

"Shall we go see to that cup of tea now, Mrs Carson?" Charles asks as he proffers his arm to her.

Elsie quickly retrieves her purse and summer hat and links her hand into her new husband's arm- still the same woman, but now his wife and lover- and more herself than she has ever been- part of something that is brighter and freer and so much more than the sum of both of them.

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A/N 2: Ok, so historically, I am not actually sure that the Ritz in London did indeed serve early high tea back in the 1920s. It is more likely that a standard luncheon menu was run for all the fashionable types to assiduously avoid eating and just swan around the Ritz courting favour. It is probable that High Tea was only served mid- afternoon. Auguste Escoffier- Cesar Ritz's long term Executive Chef and collaborator was apparently conflicted about such late and big afternoon tea sittings as he felt that they would ruin people's appetites for a decent dinner. Today there are several sittings for the High Tea at the Ritz, which is where I drew this whole idea from. I will not go into details in the next chapter, but go to the Ritz London Website and check out the menu- I am sure it is pretty similar to what Charles and Elsie would have been offered in the 1920s- sandwiches wise. I dare say the assorted pastries and cakes offer greater variety today, however, Escoffier did introduce over 10,000 recipes to the world over his very long career, so it would not have been a small selection of pastries, even in 1926.

*If anyone can PM me information about who was actually the Executive Chef or Chef de Cuisine at the Ritz London after Escoffier retired in 1921 or even some links to Ritz menus of the 1920s, that would be great- my research has hit a bit of a wall on this front. Maybe I am not looking in the right places. Many thanks. :)

I did want Charles and Elsie to get a signed menu from Escoffier to give to Mrs Patmore as a thank you gift, but unfortunately, I cannot stretch the dates out that far. :(

Regards,

BorneToFlow :)