Ch 9 - Home In Your Eyes

November 1896

"Hmmmm what a wonderful way to spend an evening my Mrs. Carson." The butler whispered, his strong, calming voice tickling Elsie's senses.

The young housekeeper beamed, almost purring from her place against the wall as he leaned in, nibbling her neck, kissing down to the apex of her bust, his lips brushing just above her hastening heart. She sighed peacefully, weaving her fingers through his hair as he pressed her firmly against the wall, his massive hands holding her hips in place. He leaned upward again, seizing her lips, kissing her deep. She closed her eyes, sighing, her heart soaring. Thunder crashed outside as she tilted her head, replying hungrily to his kiss. He sighed heavy into her open mouth, holding her tighter as the storm outside raged.

"Hmmm Charlie." She moaned, biting her lip as he circled back, starting to kiss all the way down to her neck to her cleavage again.

The two were tired but relished their time together, especially on a cold, stormy night like this one. The house had grown busier as the Christmas season approached. The onset of autumn brought on shorter days, and an onslaught of different, more time consuming chores. As such, the two hadn't been able to be together as often as they had in the warmer months. Elsie had been nervous about this at first, thinking he'd forget her or decide their union couldn't work. Instead, she'd quickly found that her absence made Mr. Carson's heart grow far fonder of her than she could've ever imagined, and he took every chance to steal each moment with her he could get.

Presently, they were in her sitting room, the door locked. Mrs. Patmore and her young kitchen maid, Mabel were in the midst of preparing a succulent Thanksgiving feast for Lady Grantham. It was a foreign endeavor if there ever was one, and the first attempt (of what would be many) on Beryl's part.

Elsie closed her eyes, finding the mouthwatering smell of the the feast and sensual allure of her lover's embrace enticed two conflicting parts of her… One erotic, the other familial.

For a moment she found she couldn't reconcile the two, and then in an instant her stomach flipped and she found herself understanding, somehow, what it would be like to make a home with this man. To lovingly prepare something so succulent… to nurture his children.

"Hmmmm." He considered. She shivered as he ran his hands gently up and down her arms, his renewed touch calling her back to the present.

"Charlie." She bit her lip.

"How am I ever to have the lovely Mrs. Carson all to myself, hmmm?" He asked sweetly.

Carson felt similarly in that moment. The smell of the impending dinner tickled his senses with a very different kind of expectation, and while feasting on his young wife was still foremost on his mind, he couldn't help but think of the lovely party and the turkey that was just beginning to roast… It would be their first major holiday together, and while he had mixed feelings on this Thanksgiving thing, he was very grateful, very grateful indeed…

"Charlie." She prompted.

"Oh!" He jumped, chuckling warmly as he looked down, her sparkling eyes bringing him out of his thoughts . "Yes my love?"

She beamed and he swooned, hoping she wouldn't notice that he was going weak in the knees. He gulped, wishing, in that moment that they were alone. Truly alone in a home all their own, the simmering turkey cooked by her loving hand, no one to interrupt them or pull them apart … In that moment his mind flooded with panic. How on earth would they ever get there? To a home and children all their own if they couldn't even find a place to hide away and make love.

He frowned, his soul sighing in disappointment as she began to button the top of her dress, tucking her firm, round breasts back into their corset. She giggled, noting his displeasure.

"Mr. Carson, I've quite the surprise for you."

"Oh?"

"Yes my love. Quite the big surprise."

He perked up a beat. 'Is it…Could it be?'

They'd not been together in the past month, not more than a couple of times anyhow but still, she could be…pregnant. Couldn't she? The idea that she was with child took his breath away. He was eager to be a father and more eager to start his true life with her than he could say.

"You're not…?" He was too shy to even ask, but she understood the intended inquiry expediently.

Elsie paused, noting the mix of hope and fear in his eyes. She reached up, caressing his face in hand and stood on her tiptoes, kissing his lips almost chastely.

"No m'love. Not yet." Her heart dipped just a beat, knowing in the back of her mind that something was wrong with her utterance. But she dismissed it. "But we shall have fun getting there."

"But how can we…."

She giggled, finishing buttoning her dress as she reached the door. "Don't go to bed tonight Charlie, meet me here. I've a surprise for my lovely husband."

Elsie smiled flirtatiously and departed. The young, formidable butler raised a brow in confusion wondering what she could possibly have planned.

…

Six hours later everyone had gone up to bed, even Mrs. Patmore, who'd scarcely finished her tasks and sworn she'd not sleep until every last thing was done. But Mrs. Patmore's slumber was essential to Elsie's plan. With some great doing, the housekeeper convinced the willful cook to sleep: insisting more couldn't be done (at least not properly) without ruining the food or accidentally setting the kitchen ablaze. That did it. Once Mrs. Patmore had become fixated on averting disaster, she was willing to sleep.

Carson also feigned turning in for the night, for the sake of appearances and appearances alone. Elsie, however, had insisted she'd be up in a moment, that she was finishing things up in her sitting room, that she was double checking the ovens were off: to the contrary. Instead, she'd been finishing the preparations she'd begun early that morning, preparations for a grand surprise.

Carson raised his eyebrow as he tiptoed into the kitchen, truly curious as he watched his wife happily filling a small picnic basket.

"What's this Mrs. Hughes?" He teased, clearing his throat, pretending to admonish.

She jumped, turning to him, feigning alarm.

"A picnic in the middle of a stormy night?" He questioned, approaching her, grabbing a bottle of wine out of her hand just as she was about to set it inside the basket. "With Mr. Carson's finest French wine? I think we shall have to discuss this matter. There could be dire consequences for such a thing, Mrs. Hughes."

"Oh?" She batted her lashes. "Do you plan on punishing me, Mr. Carson?"

He leaned down, taking a chance on being caught and kissing her deep as thunder crashed outside. She remained on her tiptoes, replying in kind, rubbing her nose gently against his as they parted just a bit.

"I might have to turn you over my knee…" He proposed, trying to retain a semblance of disapproval.

"I should quite enjoy that." She giggled, biting her lip, daring him.

He laughed, trying to hide his slight nervousness. He had mixed feelings with regard to her more youthful, and slightly naughty side, being both somewhat put off by and also very turned on by it. This aspect of her personality had stunned him at first. The very traditional man would've never guessed he'd marry a woman who could be so risqué. He wasn't sure he always knew how to flirt back in this way, at least to her satisfaction. Furthermore, part of him couldn't understand how the woman in his arms, the one who had been a shy virgin on the night they wed, was better at this than he, the more experienced, older gentleman…

He took a breath, deciding that flirting was like being on stage (something he foolishly hoped she'd never find out about). He had to just relax … And go with whatever suggestion was being made. Yes, that was it: he had to improvise. 'Besides.' He reminded himself, her innocent young eyes bolstering his confidence. 'You are the experienced, older man. You're in charge…'

The thought instilled the highest of confidence in the stately man, and beyond that he knew she loved that power dynamic in their relationship.

"Hmmmmm.' He considered, leaning into his stricter side. "We'll have to see about that Mrs. Hughes. Perhaps we could come to an… arrangement….?" He suggested, raising a brow.

"Oh?" She blinked timidly.

"Perhaps, if you do exactly what I say the rest of the evening I won't report this …."

"Mr. Carson!" She cried, pretending to be affronted.

"I won't take no for an answer Mrs. Hughes… Stealing from the butler's pantry is quite a serious offense."

She smiled, pressing her nose to his. "Perhaps a surprise or two will appease you sir?"

…

Elsie smiled flirtatiously, giggling as she grabbed her husband's hand and led him up the stairs. They tiptoed quietly as they walked, and Carson paused, their journey piquing his interest when they passed their own floor and continued almost to the top of the abbey.

"I…Mrs. Carson no one's slept up here in years." He chuckled warmly. "How'd you discover this place?"

Carson remembered this floor. Cold, dark, and long abandoned, it was two floors above their own home and had housed young hall boys and maids … back when he was a boy who'd first arrived at Downton, and the present Lord Grantham a child just a few years younger. The idea that she'd brought him here warmed his heart, and made him infinitely curious. After all, she'd only been at the house a few months.

"Well I am housekeeper…. Tis my job to know and manage every nook and cranny of this place: even if its not used….Or at least, hasn't been used in a while. But everything can find a new purpose, can't it Mr. Carson?"

Elsie turned around, locking eyes with him as she opened one of the many doors, light suddenly filling the space, enchanting him.

"Oh. Oh my goodness…" He whispered, his eyes widening when he took in the space. "Oh… Oh Elsie…"

….

"Welcome home my darling Charlie." Elsie beamed.

Carson's eyes glowed bright with wonder as the door closed behind him. "Home? What ever do you mean?"

"Well… I supposed while we wait for a home of our own.. No, tis silly I…"

Charlie smiled and stepped toward her kindly, placing his hands on her shoulders. "Mrs. Hughes' idea could never be silly. What was it, my love?"

She blushed, pausing a beat to appreciate his compliment. "Charlie I thought." She began, running her hands gently up his chest. "That since no one would be the wiser we could make something out of this place, just for us… When we were sure no one was looking."

Carson looked around, finding the view most pleasing. His eyes lit up when he saw the place: a dark, forgotten corner turned slice of heaven. Once a servant's quarters, the kind he remembered well, she'd cleaned it up, redone the bed with nicer, modern sheets, put a fire in the hearth … Lit dozens of candles.

"Welcome home, Mr. Carson." She reiterated, biting her lip sweetly as she gazed up into his eyes, the candlelit room behind her making her whole essence just glow.

And with that he was entranced.

"I hope everything is to your liking." She continued, uncertain.

He stepped forward a bit further, deciding to continue their previous game. "Hmmm, the housekeeper making a secret room to seduce the butler? Very risqué Mrs. Hughes. Risqué indeed…"

"Really Charlie. What do you think?"

Elsie yelped, her scream elapsing into a giggle as he swept her off her feet, kissing her deeply.

…

"Ohhhhh!" Elsie cried, moaning into Charlie's shoulder. "Oh oh Charlie! Charlie I've missed you…"

She sighed, her mouth finding his again. He kissed her deep, absolutely enthralled, and beyond thrilled he didn't have to keep her silent. She was naturally loud when they were making love, one of the many, many things about her that drove him wild.

Charles was enchanted and so in love. He couldn't believe she'd done such a brave, strange thing: to steal one of the abbey's many secret places for themselves. He wasn't sure anyone had ever done anything that lovely for him before. The young butler saw it as a promise, that no matter how long the road may be, she would be there: eager to make a home with him whenever the time came.

The idea made hope soar in his heart, the feeling even stronger than that of the blood that now pumped ferociously through his loins. He broke their kiss, gazing into her eyes as he continued thrusting into her. She gasped, clutching his back, totally out of breath. The young woman's soul sighed, calm even though she was in the midst of ecstasy, thrilled to be safely, truly alone in her husband's embrace.

Charles was in total love and lust at once, the feelings so overwhelming he didn't know which of the two were guiding him now. Elsie had not known her surprise hideaway would have such extreme implications. She would've never guessed, for example, that their newfound privacy would make them feel freer, and the love-making less guarded… Elsie moaned, crying out as Charlie draped her legs over his shoulders… Again, something new, something the size of his be downstairs couldn't afford.

Here, they were truly alone. They found themselves free to explore new things, to make noise. To indulge in each other just a bit longer than they might have before. In his room, they knew the bed squeaked, and they risked being caught, night after night, but there was no one there to disturb them.

Here, the two had a new closeness. The discovery made Carson beam, and Elsie blush. While she was overtly more risqué than he, he was practically so. He wasn't at all shy about the act, and always took the lead, while she was still a tad shy, especially in situations like this. She, for example, had no clue the lighting would be so much better here. It would take some getting used to on her end, while he delighted in seeing more of her than he was used to.

Soon though, they would know each other so completely, it wouldn't matter where one of them began and the other ended … Here they had a new understanding of what it was like to be man and wife.

….

Two Hours Later

Carson laughed, and Elsie smiled, snugging into his bare chest. He held her tight and kissed her cheek, the two cuddling as the fire in the hearth still roared. Elsie sighed, her whole body still tingling from their evening of lovemaking, but another part of her was totally relaxed and ecstatic to have the privilege of falling asleep in his strong, loving embrace. It was another level of intimacy, one they both relished, and rarely got to partake in.

Here they already found they had a sense of understanding what it might be like to have a space that was theirs. Not his, not hers.

Elsie sighed, wanting to stay right where she was forever, but the day had been long, and dreamland beckoned. She yawned, fighting to stay awake. He sighed, peace filling his whole heart as he took her hand gently in his own.

"Oooh Mr. Carson. I should love to stay awake with you all night." 'Perhaps, one day…' She wanted to offer but stopped herself, not wanting to add too much to their laundry list of 'one days.'

"Me too Mrs. Hughes."

"Hmmmm." She yawned.

He beamed, his tired eyes full of love as he looked down, running his fingers through her gorgeous red hair. She giggled, leaning her head against his chest a beat.

"I wish I could stay awake with you all night." She smiled, kissing him softly. "And love on you all day."

She smiled deep as he leaned down, kissing the tip of her nose sweetly.

"I love you tremendously. And I can't wait … until everyone knows…. But in the mean time, thank you so much my Mrs. Carson. For this taste of what it'll be like… To have a home, just you and me. Isn't it amazing, to know what'll be like?"

Elsie blushed, her eyes filling with light and love. "It's incredible my darling."

"And until then, I shall find solace in you… And a home in your arms."

"Charlie." She bit her lip.

"And together, we shall keep dreaming…" He held her close as she started to drift off.

And while it wasn't their forever home, it was here the Carson's found, their slice of heaven.