Hope you enjoy the long awaited beach day x

a review would be lovely if you have time xx


"How and where are we going to put the atrocious swimsuits on?" Mr Carson asked as they were walking through the sand dunes.

His wife rolled her eyes and laughed. "Mrs Bennet said there are some changing rooms at the beach."

"Heavens."

"Or you could get changed in the middle of the beach if that's what you'd prefer." Elsie teased him, while Beryl chuckled at her joke.

Mr Carson just raised one of his eyebrows, yet he did not snap back.

"I think this is what we're looking for." Mr Mason pointed at the white wooden changing rooms.

There was a crowd of people in front of it, but it wasn't clear at first glance whether the people were queuing for the changing rooms or the penny lick stall right next to it.

"I thought you said the beach is private…" said Mr Carson, looking around as they arrived in front of the changing rooms.

"This is not the beach I had in mind." Mr Mason started explaining. "There is another beach just around the corner that not many people know about. We ought to get changed here and then we can head there."

"I see." A line appeared between Elsie's brows. "Is that the beach you used to go to as a boy?"

"Yes, indeed, Mrs Hughes, it's the beach my cousin and I used to go to when we were wee lads." The farmer put on a Scottish accent for a few seconds which made the ladies laugh.

In the meantime, one of the changing rooms became free and Mr Mason rushed in instantly – before anyone else could. Once he was done, he walked out in his swimwear with and a robe over it and held the door for Mrs Patmore. They were both done in no time. Mr Mason then disappeared to queue for a penny lick.

Mr Carson was a bit less geared up for this absurd situation – the crowd was overwhelming for him. Mr Mason had an obvious advantage having done this 'extreme sport' before. Yet the butler was falling behind in speed as well as, well, general skill. He managed to throw his wife into one of the cubicles after some time but hesitated when the other one was free.

"You should have jumped in with her." Mrs Patmore noted.

"I beg your pardon?" the butler turned to her with a frown.

She just rolled her eyes. "It would have been quicker."

"Quicker? You mean it would be a quick way to get kicked out from the beach for public indecency."

"Nobody said you have to be indecent in there!" She said sarcastically.

Charles just shot her a dangerous look.

"Moreover, there is no one around to kick you out, Mr Carson!"

"I am not sure what you are used but-"

"Mr Carson?" Elsie tried to interrupt him.

Yet he continued… "But I am not some sort of a-"

"Charlie?!" His wife tried louder this time, and it finally worked. She held the door for him, so that he could finally get in and get changed.

They smoothly swapped places, Mr Carson trying hard not to look at Elsie's naked ankles.

"What's with him this time?" The cook asked the housekeeper quietly while they were waiting.

"Well," Mrs Hughes leaned in closer to her friend. "I think he might be regretting agreeing to the swimsuits." She explained.

"Hm." The cook acknowledged.

Mr Mason re-joined the group at the same time as the butler came out. To everyone's pleasant surprise, the farmer was holding four ice creams in his hands and hastily started handing them out one by one (before they had a chance to melt).

"Thank you, Mr Mason, that was a very good idea." Mrs Hughes took the cone from him.

"And a special surprise for my special lady." Albert whipped a tiny umbrella out of his pocket and stuck it into Beryl's ice cream.

"Aww" Mrs Hughes gaped at her friends while they were laughing sincerely.

However, Mr Carson interrupted this romantic scene; "Shall we get going?" He was too aware of his current attire and his surroundings, he wanted to go to the private beach as soon as possible.

"Are we all ready now?" Albert asked the group before he started marching through the sand dunes again while they all followed him.

To ease his discomfort, Mr Carson decided to also purchase a few bottles of schnapps on the way there.

It took them about another ten minutes to get there. When they were finally approaching the spot, they were looking for, Mrs Patmore and the Carsons were in awe. The beach was beautiful, secluded yet vast, framed by huge rock formations on both sides. The sunshine gave the sand this lovely gold shimmer, and apart from a few shells and seagull footprints, it was smooth and untouched. The scent of the sea hit their noses instantly, and the wave crashing along with the seagulls singing was like a calming symphony for their ears.

Taking in this view caused Mr Carson to trip over a root in the ground, and to drop the rest of his ice cream onto his chest.

Elsie turned to him immediately and chuckled "Well, I think it's been decided who is going for a swim first, we need to get you cleaned up!"

While the Masons set up the blankets, the drinks, and the food basket, the Carsons headed to the ocean.

They took their robes and shoes off and left them in the sand only a couple of feet away (yet still far enough) from the waves.

"We should have had a drink first." Mr Carson said grumpily as he dipped his feet in the salty water.

"You've got cream on your neck, Charlie, you ought to get that cleaned up first." She shook her head, smiling.

"Hmmm." He rumbled, while she made a couple of slow steps and arrived right next to him. She offered him her hand; he took it and squeezed it reassuringly. Then they walked side by side, deeper into the sea.

It brought them back. They were both reminiscing about that moment in Brighton back in 1923, after Lady Rose's ball.

Elsie cherishes that memory fondly. From that point onwards, everything had changed for them. She remembered how brave she was, how he made her blush and how she couldn't stop smiling on the train back to London. Charles remembered how he could hear his heart pounding in his chest fast and loud and how he never wanted to let go of her hand.

They had come a long way since then.

"It's rather cold." Mr Carson noted as the water was now almost reaching their hips. He looked down at his wife who nodded and exhaled slowly through her mouth.

He watched her for a second or two. The swimsuit was hugging her every curve. He wondered how he would feel about seeing her like this back in the summer of 1923. He probably wouldn't be able to breathe let alone maintain eye contact with her. He knew he definitely wouldn't be able sleep for days – he'd endure several restless, sweaty nights. It was so gratifying for him now, to know that she is his wife, and he can take her home, to his bed, undress her and satisfy his cravings (almost) anytime he wants.

His smutty deliberations were interrupted by Elsie splashing icy water on him playfully. "Penny for your thoughts?" She uttered softly and then laughed.

"Elsie!" He scolded her instead of revealing his secret.

"Let me help you get that ice cream off." She shook her head at him again, cupped a handful of water and washed his neck with it while he grunted at the coldness.

"Elsie…" He warned her yet she continued rubbing the ice cream of off his neck and chest. "Elsie!" He grabbed her wrist so that she would stop, made a step backwards, stumbled over a stone making them both collide into a wave and fall almost fully under the water.

They both struggled to get up as they kept being pushed down by the waves. In the end, Mr Carson stood up and pulled his wife up with him. They were both shivering and puffing forcefully.

"I think we should head back." Elsie suggested but Charles stopped her before she had a chance to take the first step. Her hair was all wet, tangled, and rough from the waves and salt. Charlie reached for a strand of that hair, that was dangling in front of her eyes, and tried to put it back in place. "Here." He whispered, "We should indeed." He put her hand back into his and lead her out of the water and back to the beach.

They quickly put their robes back on and dried themselves off a bit.

"What happened to you two?" Mrs Patmore had to squint her eyes from the sun when she was looking up at the Carsons approaching.

"We had a disagreement with the waves." Mrs Hughes laughed as she was sitting down next to her.

"Never mind the waves, you look like you had a fight with Poseidon himself." Beryl handed her friends a bottle of schnapps each.

"It's our turn for a little fight now, I think, Beryl." The farmer tilted his head toward the sea and got up. His wife joined him straightway and they were wading into the water not long after.

The butler took a big gulp of his drink just as he landed right next to his wife.

As he was sitting down, he managed to get his palm covered in sand and he groaned in frustration. Elsie bit back a laugh and handed him a handkerchief instead.

"Are you glad we came then?" She probed him softly.

"I must admit, I do enjoy spending time near the sea nowadays, I never used to." He looked deeply into her eyes. "It brings back pleasant memories."

She smiled shyly and looked away. "That's nice to hear."

"Does it-" He inhaled sharply. "-also bring back memories for you?"

"It does." She nodded and lifted her hand to stroke his arm.

"Elsie?" His breathing was gradually getting deeper.

"Yes?"

"You know, on the first night, when you suggested we could spend some time just the two of us at some point?" Charles adjusted his shoulders and continued. "Do you think the rest of today might be a good opportunity?"

"Oh." Elsie remembered her initial plan. "I could ask Mrs Patmore later on." She said and suddenly got a bit anxious imagining how that conversation would go. "But we have already booked a table in for dinner so it would have to be after that."

Mr Carson looked her up and down with a contented smile. "Yes, that should do." He then put his arm around her and kissed her cheek tenderly, "hmmm salty" he said after he had licked his upper lip. At that, they both start laughing wholeheartedly.