Present day
"What's this about?" Mrs Hughes swallowed loudly after she heard her husband slam the door on his way out from the restaurant, making all the little scampi statues wiggle in their fish nets. She had no idea, what she'd done, and the Masons' stunned expressions didn't help her solve the mystery.
"I am so sorry; I might have accidentally revealed one of your secrets." Mrs Patmore said carefully.
"One of my secrets?" The housekeeper was genuinely stumped. At this moment, she could only recall other people's secrets that she had to keep from her husband, but not any of her own.
"I thought he knew…" The cook continued apologetically.
"Knew what, Mrs Patmore?" She was starting to get really frustrated with her own oblivion.
"About the date with the policemen."
Mrs Hughes' jaw dropped. "Oh my heavens, what did he say?" She shook her head. "What did you say?"
"I only told him when it happened, and that I was the one who practically dragged you there. We didn't really have much chance to say anything, he just stormed off."
"My my." Her heart was still beating fast. She knew she hadn't done anything wrong, apart from maybe keeping it a secret. Yet she also knew her husband's reactions can sometimes be quite volatile, he often catches on to the wrong end of the stick, and it is hard to shake him off once he is latched on. "Well, I better go see him then." She offered her friends a weak smile and left the restaurant at once.
Elsie went back to the hotel first, only to find their room empty, then she rummaged through all the local pubs, yet not had any luck finding him there either. She wondered if they'd miss each other if they walked past each other; though considering the size of the village, and the size of her husband, that was almost impossible.
Elsie eventually spotted him on the way to the beach (her last resort). She immediately started walking towards him, but once she got closer, she stopped and couldn't get herself to move. She just stood there for a while, watching him. She knew that the longer she left him alone, the more worked up he would get by his own ponderings, but she still couldn't bring herself to move or speak. She wasn't prepared, having never been in a situation like this one before. Charles knew she stood behind him, yet he did not turn to her. He was sat on a stone, with a bottle in his hand, sulking.
"You've got nothing to say then?" Mr Carson surprised her by speaking first. Elsie jerked and then swallowed loudly as she heard the hurt in his voice.
"Charlie, I-" She finally took a step forward and sat down next to him. "You can't really be upset about something that happened yonks ago."
"Why ever not?" Charles inhaled deeply.
"Well, because it doesn't mean anything," She could feel her palms getting sweaty. "We are husband and wife now, that's what matters."
"Exactly," He still wouldn't look her in the eye. "And I just found out who my wife really is."
"What do you mean?"
"A liar and a frolicker." He thundered and she stared at him speechless.
"I see." She was ready to strike him, but she could also feel her eyes getting watery. "So, you completely misunderstood everything." It was all she could say.
"Have I?" Charles curled his upper lip in annoyance. "Did you or did you not go out with that man?"
"I did."
"Did you not keep it a secret from me?"
"I did, but-"
"How many more times have you done something similar?"
"There weren't any other times," Elsie reassured him, shaking her head, but it wasn't really getting through to him.
"And after you lied to me, I am supposed to believe that?"
"We were not even together then, Charlie." She reminded him.
"I was already courting you!" He barked.
"Well, really? Were you?" She asked as if she was trying to get him to think twice about what he just said. At that time, they were flirting, maybe, but definitely not courting.
He ignored her question and continued insulting her instead. "I never thought of you as a dishonest woman!"
"I am glad you never did, because I am not!"
"If it wasn't for the Cornwall library expedition, I'd have already been on the train home by now!"
"Well, I am very pleased you're still here…" Elsie could feel a teardrop tickling her cheek, and her voice breaking slightly.
Without looking at his wife, Charles got up, turned on his heel and left.
Elsie dried her sudden warm tears of off her face and after a few moments of trying to calm down by taking deep breaths, she followed him.
Even though he tried, Mr Carson wasn't successful at shaking her off, he was determined to go straight to their hotel room and to bed, alone.
"Where are you going?" Elsie asked him quietly once they reached the village.
"To the hotel." He rumbled.
"I should probably let the Masons know I found you." Mrs Hughes stopped but her husband continued walking, ignoring her. "I'll see you there, Charlie." She sounded so pitiful.
…
"Have you not found him?" Mrs Patmore blurted out instantly as she saw her friend's dramatic entre and hopeless expression.
"I did." Elsie hurried to their friend's table. "He's gone back to the hotel now."
"And?" Mrs Patmore was eager to hear more, worry was obvious in her eyes.
Mrs Hughes pulled out one of the chairs and sat down quietly next to them. She bit her lip and looked deeply into Beryl's eyes as if she was trying to tell her the full story solely through her gaze. "He's very offended."
"Oh my lord," Mrs Patmore shook her head. "I am ever so sorry I told him."
"Never mind that now, Mrs Patmore." The housekeeper consoled her. She then looked down at the empty glasses, plates, and bottles in front of them. "Did he leave enough money to pay for both of us?" She remembered his hurried departure and the coins clinking against the wooden table. Her lower lip started quivering at that thought, but she persevered.
"Yes, don't worry, he left enough money to cover all your expenses." Mr Mason offered with a sympathetic voice. "Should we head back, or would you like to get a drink?"
"I think, I better head back, Mr Mason, but thank you." The housekeeper concluded. "I ought to talk to Mr Carson before too late." She got up but whipped around after a couple of steps. "Actually, you know what, I wouldn't mind a small, strong drink!"
…
When Elsie got back to their room, her husband was already in his bed, sleeping (or possibly pretending to sleep.) Instead of pushing the single bed together, as they agreed before, it seemed he pushed them even further apart.
"Mr Carson?" She called him as she entered the room. Yet he didn't respond.
Elsie decided to retreat to the bathroom to get herself ready for bed and try again later on. Even though she gathered it would be hard, she knew she had to talk to him. Once she was in front of the sink, she stopped and stared at herself in the looking glass for a while. To her displeasure, Elsie noticed her tears caused her mascara to run. Is this what she prettied herself up for? She proceeded to wipe it of off her face and inhaled sharply through her teeth with pain as she accidentally brushed over her sunburned cheeks.
After her bath, Elsie re-joined her husband in the bedroom. She tucked herself into her bed and attempted to observe any movements in her husband.
"Charlie?" She uttered after a short while - very quietly this time.
Once again, there was no response from him.
After a few moments, she noticed he had wiggled his shoulders, and she could swear she heard a little sniffle.
Charles wasn't sleeping, he couldn't sleep really, he just didn't want to talk to her. He wasn't sure how long he would or should stay mad, but he knew that every time he saw her, his chest welled up with anger, and his heart ached with angst. She was in the bathroom for quite a while, he thought, maybe she was avoiding him as much as he was avoiding her.
After she laid down in the bed next to him, and once he heard her soft beautiful sad voice utter his name, he was overcome with emotions. He squeezed his eyes shut and clenched his teeth to stop himself from crying. In the end, a single tiny tear won and managed to escape his eye, he shuddered: how did love hurt so much.
