DOUBLE ANNIVERSARY-6
Hello my dear people. Thank you so much for all your wonderful reviews. It's really touching, that you like this story so much. I will do my best to not to disappoint you with further chapters. In the last one, we had a little bit of Cora/Elsie interaction, in this one, Robert and Carson will get a chance to know each other better, in a very untypical circumstances. Hope you will like it.
When the chauffer drove them to the vineyard, Charles was really impressed with the view of it. He has never seen anything that marvelous. Those endless rowes of vine stocks, the beautiful surroundings. He was taken aback by what he saw.
Robert was there before, so he was explaining him, all that he knew about this vineyard and Charles gladly listened. Charles's love for wine began when he became the butler and one of his jobs was wine decantation. He was genuinely interested with that subject and he didn't have a chance to visit such place before, so he was listening carefully, trying to absorb as much knowledge as he could.
They were both delighted with a possibility of spending time in the vineyard and when the owner invited them for a wine tasting, it was like the most perfect addition to this already perfect day.
One glass after another and they soon felt that delightful dizziness in their heads, indicating, that they were beginning to feel a little tipsy, but neither of them mind.
Interesting talk with the owner about the whole process of making wine, made their time flying fast and they didn't notice, that they were there for quite a long time.
Just when they thought, that they have participated in all the attractions of the place, the owner of the vineyard has offered them an unexpected treat- visiting the wine cellar.
Of course they both agreed willingly to the offer. Charles was particularly excited, as he was in charge of the Downton wine cellar for many years and he was very curious and anxious to see, how that has been managed here, in the professional vineyard...
The owner brought them to the cellar and he was supposed to give them a tour around it, when suddenly he was called by one of his workers, in some urgent matter and he left Robert and Charles inside, promising to go back as soon as he could...
They were left alone, admiring the enormous collection of wine collected in one place. They both felt a little bit like in a sort of temple...
"How extraordinary, don't you think so Carson? I really admire the owner, it's obvious that he knows his job.."
"I agree My Lord...Just take a look at this order here, all the bottles sorted by the years, those shelves, everything as it should be..."
"Till now I thought, that you were keeping the best organized wine cellar ever, but you have a strong competition Carson.."
"I envy Mr Sullier...I mean he does have quite a lot of work, but to be able to take care of wine everyday...All the time...Sounds like a dream..."
"Well Carson, you are retired now, perhaps you should consider moving to France and taking care of the wine..."
"I'm not sure if my wife would appreciate it My Lord...She is expecting us to have some quiet life now, when we are both retired..."
"And you have to respect your wife's wishes...I know something about it...Right...I think that we have seen everything...Probably time to go back above the ground an come back to the villa..."
"Yes My Lord...That would be a good time..."
They both walked towards the door of the cellar, which turned out to be locked...In the beginning, none of them suspected, that the door were locked with a key, but when Robert tried to open it, he found out that they were locked inside...
"Oh dear...I don't know how that happened...The doors are locked"
"Nothing to worry about My Lord..I'm sure that the owner will be here in few moments...Perhaps we will just go down and wait for him, there are two chairs there and it's not very comfortable to stand on this narrow stairs..."
"I think that you are right Carson...Yes, two chairs indeed and we even have the bottle prepared for tasting, with two glasses..How about I will pour it this time?"
"If you say so My Lord..If you think that it's appropriate..."
"Oh come on Carson...You are retired now and you need to loose a little bit of your stiffness...Good health Carson, shall we drink for the health of our ladies?"
"Yes, sounds like a perfect toast..."
An hour later...
"So you are saying Carson, that you really find marriage the greatest thing that has ever happened to you?"
"Yes My Lord...I consider myself lucky...I had a great professional career, had a privilege of serving to such prominent family as yours and I met a woman, who gave me so much happiness..."
"Beautifully said...You were a perfect butler, but I was always wondering, if you regretted giving up your private life for service...That couldn't been easy...I was also wondering something else Carson, but I'm not sure if I should ask you that...Even here, in the dark cellar, being tipsy..."
"My Lord, you can ask me anything, I will gladly answer all your questions..."
The hour has passed and the owner still hasn't come back, to rescue them from the cellar. They were trying to stay calm, but deep inside they were beginning to worry. Charles was being more stoic, but Robert, was masking his anxiety with another glasses of wine...He was really tipsy by now and had a hiccup attacks...
"What I was always wondering about Carson, was how you managed to lived so many years without a woman and going to London season with us? Were you ever tempted by what the city had to offer?"
"My Lord do you mean..The houses of ill repute?"
"Yes, that's exactly what I mean...I shouldn't ask...It's not really my business..."
"That's all right My Lord, I don't mind...I was never tempted by such places, as I do not like vulgar women...Of course as a young man, I wanted to try this, but I didn't feel that it would be good for me..."
"Well, I'm impressed...And later?"
"And later Mrs Hughes started to work at Downton and I fell in love with her and I certainly didn't want to have anything to do with a fallen women of London..."
"You are a decent man Carson, you really are...And I fully understand what you mean...Being so in love with my wife, I effectively managed to avoid all the London temptations myself and I'm glad...So many of my fellow peers didn't and they regretted it..."
"Men have a lot of temptations in their lives My Lord, but I always thought, that it was worth to wait for the right woman- I did it and I do not regret...She is giving me much more than any of those fallen women could give me...Oh I'm sorry, it sounded not the way I wanted to say it..."
Robert couldn't hide a smile...He seemed really amused, by a sudden confession from Carson, who after having a little too much of wine, stopped controlling himself a bit...
"That's really all right Carson...I get what you meant and letting your guard down, you have revealed something really intimate about your marriage, but being a gentleman that I am, I promise, that what was said in this cellar, will stay in this cellar...Cross my heart...And so you wouldn't feel too awkward, I will just add, that from the same reason, I managed to avoid London temptations. I'm having everything I need at home..."
"Ermm...Ekhm...I understand...Oh, I think that I'm hearing the door...Must be the owner..."- Charles sighed with relief, as this conversation was quickly heading in the direction, that made him feel really uncomfortable..
It was indeed the owner, who was apologizing them a lot, he was busy with some vineyard urgent matters and it turned out, that one of his workers, seeing that the door to the cellar were opened and not being aware that there was somebody inside, has locked the door...
Robert convinced him, that it was nothing to worry about, they both thanked him for this delightful visit and hurried to the car, with the driver, who was already waiting to drive them back to the villa...
Before they went back to their wives, who were waiting impatiently for their return, they've exchanged meaningful smiles, being aware, that this one day in the vineyard, has made them know themselves better, than fifty years of living under the same roof...
That's all for today my dear friends...This chapter was totally devoted to Robert and Carson interaction. I felt that they wouldn't be able to share any secrets with each other, if they weren't both tipsy and in a secluded place, so mission accomplished ;-) Thanks for reading and have a good mid of the week!