B&B OF LOVE AND FUN-17
Hi everyone. Thanks for all the reviews after yesterday's chapter. It wasn't easy to reply to them, as the site had some major breakdown, so I couldn't even read the reviews until today. I understand, that you liked those adventures with the religious group. Today's chapter will not be that adventurous, but I hope that you will like it anyway.
Luckily for all of them, they managed to survive the visit of religious group, but until the end of their stay, Mr Davis didn't stop complaining about the food. Charles was very disappointed, with the lack of possibility of serving wines and he kept a closed eye on Mr Stevens, making sure, that he will not give any more gifts to Elsie...
When they were going away, there was a lot of commotion, but Mr Stevens was still able to tell Elsie, that she can reach him any time she wants, if she will ever decide to divorce...He gave her his card...
Elsie was relieved, that Charles didn't hear that, as he was just busy talking to Mr Ruben, who thanked him for the lovely stay.
All the group promised to spread the good word about the B&B, only Mr Davis added, that he will do that on one condition-that they will change the cook in the future.
This time Elsie was again grateful, that Beryl didn't hear that...They finally said goodbye and left and the first thing that Elsie did, was to toss that card that she received from Mr Stevens. After that, she and Katie began to work, on tidying up the place after their guests...
Elsie was impressed with Katie's work skills. She was working fast and efficient, never stopping, until everything that needed to be done was over.
The next three days were rather peaceful, so Elsie focused on the things that could have been changed, to live up the living room, she wasn't sure about some of the colors, while Charles took care of wine inventory and Beryl was testing new recipes.
As much as Elsie was already used to that, she had to admit, that she was a little frustrated with her husband and Beryl, who started their usual portion of arguments, about every little detail...
Next day, after the breakfast, when she heard their loud exchange in the kitchen, she decided to get out of the B&B and have some quiet time.
She met Katie outside, who was just heading the same direction she was, to the near forest...
"Katie, I see that you also decided to wait through this argument in the safer place..."
"Yes Mrs Carson...When my aunt is angry, I prefer to be far away from her...She and Mr Carson apparently both have a bad day..."
"I think that we need a new set of guests, something that will take our mind off everyday problems...Are you going to the forest?"
"Yes, I thought that I will get some berries for the pie...Are you going there too Mrs Carson?"
'Yes, I thought that I will pick up some wild flowers...You don't mind if I will join you Katie?"
"Of course not Mrs Carson...I will be happy about it..."
"Katie, tell me, how are you feeling living here with us?"
"Wonderful Mrs Carson...I have never been so happier, as I am now..."
"Even with all the hard work that you have to do here?"
"I'm used to hard work Mrs Carson...I have seven brothers and sisters and ever since I can remember, I had to take care of all of them, to help my mother..."
"You are a very brave girl Katie...Beryl told me, that you really wanted to leave your family village. Is that true?"
"Yes, it is Mrs Carson..You see, when I turned twenty, my mother and father wanted me to get married, as this is the only way for the girls in our village and I wasn't ready to do that yet...Maybe one day I will want to get married and have children, but not yet..Right now, I want to see the world, to know different kind of life, you know what I mean?"
Elsie smiled warmly, remembering a battle that she had to take, when she announced to her parents, that she was leaving her family village, to go into service and try something new...She still remembered their shock about leaving a safe life, that they all knew, to experience the unknown...
"Yes Katie...In fact, I understand you very well...Long time ago, when I was a young girl, I went through the same path...I also left my family village, my friends, my family, the safe life that I knew, to try something new..."
"Have you ever regretted this choice Mrs Carson?"
"Sometimes, but very rarely...It was difficult to be far away from the ones that you love, especially if you don't have a family of your own, like I didn't for many years, but you see everything ended well...I have my dear husband, a B&B and my life is perfect now. I'm sure, that it will be the same with you..."
"Thank you for saying that Mrs Carson...I hope that it's not too cheeky from me, but I have to tell you, that you are the kindest person that I have ever met...No wonder Mr Carson is so madly in love with you..."
"Is that so obvious to everyone?"
"It is Mrs Carson, but there is nothing wrong in that...I love being there with all of you...Mr Carson is quite demanding and strict and my aunt has a difficult character, but you are making my life her brighter..."
"Thank you Katie...That's so nice to hear that...You are a wonderful young woman...I was going to tell you that few times already, but there was never a chance...I had my doubts about you, but now I see how wrong I was...You are a perfect addition to our B&B. And don't worry about my husband and Beryl- they are difficult people. The best example is, that sometimes even I have to run away from them, even though they are my best friend and my husband.."
"Thank you Mrs Carson...I love being here..I'm learning so much from you and I'm sure, that I can make some proper use of that knowledge in the future and I really like Mr Carson, he is strict, but fair and my auntie Beryl can be difficult, but she is still my favorite aunt..."
"That's the thing about Beryl...We love her, in spite of being difficult sometimes...Let's walk some more in the forest, enjoy this beautiful weather and peace..."
"That would be lovely Mrs Carson..."
A little while later, in the B&B
Charles has just finished writing down the wine inventory and he started to wonder, where Elsie was and Katie..He hasn't seen them for quite a while, he decided to get out of his favorite pantry and check, if they were with Beryl in the kitchen.
He noticed, that the door were slightly opened and he was about to enter, when he saw something, that totally blew his mind...
Elsie and Katie were not in the kitchen, but Beryl was there, with Mr Mason, kissing...He was holding her firmly and they were both so involved in their activity, that they didn't see him standing just round the door...
He backed down quietly and went to his bedroom, being full of anger...He didn't have anything against their relationship, on the contrary, he liked both of them and wished them the best, but he thought, that it was totally inappropriate, to do such things in their workplace...
When Elsie came back and she decided to enter the bedroom to change, she found Charles red in the face and very outraged...
"Elsie, there you are...I was wondering where you were?"
"I went to the forest, to pick some wild flowers, since we had to thrown out the last bouquet. What's the matter Charlie? Why are you that angry?"
"How do you know that I am angry?"
"Charlie...I know you for thirty years...I can read you like an open book..."
"Well, I am angry...It's about Beryl.."
"Oh no, what did Beryl do this time? I thought, that you finished today portion of quarrels"
"We did, but she is in the kitchen, with Mr Mason..."
"And what's wrong with that?"
"Elsie, they are kissing!"
"Still don't see anything wrong here..."
"Elsie, it's inappropriate! This is our workplace, our B&B! We can't do things like that here..."
"Charlie...May I remind you the living room floor and the things we did there not so long ago?"
"But that was different...The B&B was not open back then and besides we are married.."
"Ah...So that's the crucial difference..."
"It is...We can't set bad example...Just imagine, what would have happened, if this religious group was still here and they would find two people who are not married, kissing..."
"Luckily for us, they are no longer here..."
"Still, this is not correct...I will have to scold Beryl for that..."
"You will do no such thing Charlie and let me tell you why..."
"Why?"
"Can I remind you, that not so long ago, when we got engaged, still working at Downton, we had a famous conversation about the marital duties..."
"Yes, I remember, but what's that got to do with it?"
"As you recall, after this conversation we had our first kiss..."
"We did, but we were already engaged, besides it was just a short kiss..."
"Think again Charlie...Do you remember what started to happen after that? Because if you don't, let me refresh your memory...You were kissing me every chance you got, you were closing the door of your pantry and my sitting room, just that we can be together and so you could kiss me.."
"Still, it's not..."
"Shh...Let me finish Charlie...Not only that, sometimes you were dragging me into your room, when I was walking on the corridor and you kissed me so passionately, that I had to go to my room and tidy my hairdo. Sweetheart...Try to remember, just before our wedding, we were so caught up in our passion, that we barely managed to wait till the wedding night, so I don't think, that you or me, have a right to scold Beryl..."
"To my defense Elsie, you were so irresistible, that I just couldn't stop..."
"You won't get out of that so easily Charlie...Didn't it occur to you, that for Mr Mason, Beryl is so irresistible, as I was to you?"
"Well, that's possible, but we were engaged and they..."
"And what makes you think that they are not? Just because we haven't heard the news yet, doesn't mean that it's not there..."
"All right Elsie...I will not say anything to Beryl..You won...You always win..."
Elsie kissed Charles sweetly...
"But you have to promise me one thing Els.."
"What's that?"
"That you will talk to Beryl and ask her discreetly, what are her marriage plans, if there are any..."
"Done deal, as long as you will not want to scold her anymore..."
"Cross my heart..But it will cost you a kiss..."
"I can live with that..."
That's all for today...I wanted to give Katie the proper recognition..She deserved it and I think, that this conversation with Elsie was needed, for both of them...Plus I love how Elsie is right talking to Charles and even though we never got to see that in the series, (shame on you Mr Fellows), I still believe, that after their first, shy kiss, after engagement, Elsie and Charles had some side fun, their shy and playful faces, in the episodes between the engagement and the wedding told me so ;-) Hope you liked this chapter. Have a great week!
