I am so sorry it's taking me so long to update these days! I am experiencing a bit of writer's block :(
Hope you'll like this chapter :)
A review would be much appreciated and helpful! xxx
ENTERING DANGEROUS TERITORRY
The two couples finally arrived at Brighton train station mid-afternoon. They found the hotel first and dropped of their luggage. Then they proceeded to do some exploring.
The Brighton Pavilion was closest to their hotel so therefore their first stop. Mr Carson was very enthusiastic and eager to share his knowledge about the building. Mrs Hughes and the Masons were very interested in finding out as to why on Earth the Pavilion, build by English Princes and Kings, looked more like a temple from the centre of Bombay. Mr Carson explained the colonial influence and the architect's interests, while his wife and friends gaped at him in awe. After that, there was no other piece of information that would have as much success with the group as this. They all gradually stopped listening to his monologue…
After the Royal Pavilion, they decided to take a walk in the direction of the beach, the centre and then head back to their hotel restaurant for dinner. Once they got back, the four friends found a nice, quiet table in the corner and ordered their food. Straight after that Mr Carson got up to make a telephone call – he wanted to let Mr Barrow know, they've arrived ok.
Mr Carson's absence took unusually long, Mrs Patmore saw it as an opportunity to ask about any progress regarding her friend's 'jealousy dispute'.
"So has he fired Mrs Kent yet?" The cook asked bluntly, she recalled her recent ambush and hoped Mr Carson took her words to heart.
"No." Mrs Hughes said firmly. "And she is not the kind of person we thought she was…" She was a bit annoyed the cook brought it up in front of Mr Mason.
"Isn't she?"
"No, and I am a bit embarrassed I had a low opinion of her without getting to know her first."
"What? So, Mr Carson hasn't done anything after the talking-to I gave him the other day?"
"I am not sure your talking-to was very helpful, Mr Patmore," Mrs Hughes uttered softly, biting her lip. "He will, however, be working with her nephew soon, so she'll be able to take a break."
"Are you suddenly on her side then?" Mr Patmore was baffled.
"There are no sides to be on-" The housekeeper's explanation was interrupted by the waiter bringing their food. "And that's the end to it." She offered but her friend's dazed look had not changed.
Mr Carson arrived just in time – in the same moment as the waiter was putting his Porterhouse steak with roast potatoes down.
"What took you so long?" His wife was looking at him with suspicion.
"The telephone didn't work at first." Charles lied. "Shall we?" He pointed towards his plate with his cutlery.
They all just nodded and tucked into their meals.
"Anyone up for a desert after this? I noticed some lovely raspberry ice on the menu." Mr Mason asked the group.
"I am not up for any more food after this, I'm more up for retiring early today." Mr Carson informed them.
"Really?" Elsie was surprised and she still hadn't managed to shake of her suspiciousness.
"Yes." He smiled nonchalantly.
"On the first day?" Mr Patmore joined.
"I'm just a bit tired after the train ride, that's all."
"You slept all the way through it!" The cooked reminded him with a sharp laugh.
"Erm-" Mr Carson was lost for words. "Not very well thought." He lied again, rubbing his neck.
"But-"
Mr Carson was not listening to any of the further remarks, he turned his head sharply to give his wife a warning glare. "Elsie." He said quietly and widened his eyes at her. She looked at him bewilderedly at first but then she understood, she saw his pleading signals; Back me up here.
"It might be a good idea. Afterall, we've got a few nights a head of us, best not get worn out on the first one." The housekeeper turned to the Masons.
"Why don't we a have a few drinks together while the Carsons go to sleep." The farmer proposed to his wife when he saw the disappointed look on her face.
"Alright." She was grateful for the offer.
"We best get going then." Mr Carson started getting up while his wife quickly chucked the last couple of bites of her salmon into her mouth. "This was good." She said incomprehensibly (with her mouth full) while following her husband's lead.
When they arrived upstairs, in their room, Mrs Hughes demanded an explanation from her husband.
"Why were you in such a hurry?" She turned to him.
"Didn't you say this is supposed to be in a sense our second honeymoon?"
"I-" She blinked a couple of times. "Y-yes. I did."
"Well then-" His voice very low and husky. "Why can't I have my wife to myself on my honeymoon?"
Instead of a reply, she just started breathing heavily and stared him, blushing.
Firstly, Mr Carson grabbed two dressing robes, then he filled their classes with wine, walked over to her and handed her one of each. He revealed the main surprise when he opened the bathroom door. "You can go in first." He pointed towards the bathtub full of bubbles and swallowed nervously.
She obeyed his orders but took her time. She fixed herself up a bit, then slowly undressed, and finally jumped into the tub.
"Are you in yet?" He was asking impatiently, sitting on the bed swirling the wine in his glass. He wanted to be a gentleman and give her a bit of space, even thought it was torture.
"Yes." She informed him shyly and he decided to dim the lights before hopping in with her.
"Is this what you were doing when you said you'd ring Mr Barrow?" Elsie inquired.
"Well, I called him first and then I arranged this." He conceded.
"It's very nice-" she said almost without breath and then she bit her lip.
"I'm glad you like it, Elsie." He was just staring at her quietly for a couple of moments, making them both blush. "You are so beautiful." His comment unsettled her even more.
"Mr Carson!" There was a hint of warning in her voice. She inhaled sharply and moved some bubbles around to cover her chest a bit more.
He knew he needed to take a step back and calm down a bit. They both recognised that he was entering dangerous territory; the point at which they both get so ruffled and exited, there is no way back. They wanted to enjoy the bath a little longer before moving on to the bedroom and reaching that peak.
"We can't do this every day, Charlie…" Elsie took a sip from her wine.
"Hmm." He sounded like a little boy who's being banned from playing with his favourite toy.
"We're here with the Masons-"
"Don't I know it." He said with a hint of annoyance.
She just bit her lower lip, pondering. "We could suggest splitting and doing our own thing on a couple of the days?" She was trying to find a way to meet his wishes. "I am sure they'd also appreciate the privacy."
"We can try." He took her hand in his.
Suddenly, they were both startled by a knock on the door. "Mr Carson?" Mr Patmore shouted from the other side.
"Oh, dear Lord!" Charles looked at his wife in horror. "What do we do?"
"Put your robe on!" She instructed him.
"Me?"
"She's asking for you, isn't she?"
"Mr Carson?" The cook repeated in distance.
"Alright, alright" He shook his head and started shifting around, spilling some of the water.
Elsie was trying hard not to laugh at her dear husband. He almost slipped once or twice, but he eventually got out, put his robe on, and opened the door with force as if he was ready to strike.
"You left your reading glasses in the restaurant." Mrs Patmore handed them over. "We saw the lights were on, so we assumed you're not sleeping yet." She said and Mr Mason nodded.
"Thank you." He offered simply.
"Where is Mrs Hughes?" She started noticing a couple of things were off.
"We're taking a bath." His tongue was faster than his brain. "-room!" He panicked. "We're taking turns in the bath-room!" He was trying to save himself, putting emphasis on the correct words.
"I see." Mrs Patmore said, and her eyes landed on Mr Carson's robe, then she noticed the bubbles on his forehead, and then his horrified look.
"We'll leave you to it." Mr Mason got there quicker than Mrs Patmore and wanted to avoid any more awkwardness.
"Right, erm, goodnight then," Mr Carson said inaudibly and slowly started closing the door.
