Chase wasn't tired, so he just quietly lay there, holding Elizabeth, basking in the fact that this beautiful woman was going to be his wife. He smiled as he inhaled her scent, his nose in her hair. He tried to figure out what comprised the exotic florally scent, orchids maybe. Later, he counted the little band of freckles that ran across her nose, tallying thirty-seven. He wanted to memorize every curve and line of her face, to engrain it in his mind.
Around 10pm, his bladder took over and he needed to get up to pee. He tried to slowly and quietly get off of the bed, not wanting to wake her, but Elizabeth stirred anyway, her eyes opening as he stood.
"I was trying not to wake you; I'm just going to the bathroom."
Elizabeth stretched her arms up, not realizing she was still naked under his gaze until she shifted to her side and felt a chill hit her back. Her stomach growled loudly as well, as he stood next to the bed. She blushed, "I guess I'm hungry."
Chase smiled, "Actually, I kind of am too." He looked around the room and found his shirt on the floor. "Here, put this on and we'll go down to the kitchen and grab something," he said, handing it to her before going into the bathroom.
Elizabeth sat up and placed the shirt over her head. Her nose caught the scent of his cologne and she brought it to her face, inhaling deeply, delighting in the woody scent that seemed to carry a citrus undertone.
She stood up and stretched again. Chase came out of the bathroom and saw the grey t-shirt fall down her body, barely covering her ass cheeks as she stretched out. He stood against the doorway, "How come my t-shirts don't look that good on me?"
"Jealous?" she asked, casting him a sly look.
"Only of the t-shirt," he said smiling, as he walked toward her. He had palmed the ring box off the dresser as he walked past and slipped it into his pocket. He placed a light kiss to her lips, which lingered and turned into another. "C'mon," he said, grabbing her hand, "if we don't go downstairs, you're not going to get to eat."
They quietly headed down to the kitchen. Elizabeth went to the fridge and pulled out a container filled with turkey that Cook had made tonight. She put some gravy in a small bowl and placed it in the microwave to warm. Then, she grabbed a loaf of bread and proceeded to make them each a sandwich. Chase sat at the butcher block counter and watched her artfully put the sandwich together, adding the perfect amount of mayo to it. She retrieved the gravy from the microwave and Chase watched with skepticism as she placed gravy on the sandwich as well, mixing it with the mayo.
"That's disgusting."
Elizabeth looked up at him, "No, it's quite good. Have you ever tried it?"
Chase shook his head, his face scrunched up in disgust. "Well, you're going to," she said quickly, before dumping the gravy on the mayo.
"Uh, you just ruined it."
She placed the lid on the sandwich, "Shut up and taste it," she said, sliding the plate across the counter.
Chase looked up at her, his eyebrows raised. He looked back down at the sandwich and then back to her. Elizabeth just stood there waiting for him to taste it. Finally, he lifted it off the plate and took a bite. The gravy had a bit of a lemony taste to it and perked up his taste buds. As it mixed with the mayo, the flavor shone through more and more. He slowly chewed and swallowed.
"Well?" Elizabeth asked.
Chase hesitated, not wanting to admit that he actually really liked it, "Okay, so it's not the worst thing I've ever eaten."
"Uh-huh," she said, picking up her own sandwich and taking a bite. She moaned her approval as she walked back to the fridge and grabbed two bottles of Newcastle, sliding one across the counter to Chase. She twisted the cap off of her beer, tossing it down onto the counter, before chugging down a few mouthfuls. Chase stared at her for a moment before laughing, shaking his head, and taking another bite of his sandwich.
"What?" she asked.
"Nothing," he murmured his mouth full.
"Something is amusing you."
Chase swallowed, "You just really surprise me sometimes, I'm just not used to it yet is all, and I would have never taken you for a beer chugger. I guess it's just that I still have a lot to learn about you, that's all."
"I told you I went to college, of course I can chug a beer. Why, what else would you like to know, ask away."
Chase was a bit surprised; Elizabeth had told him a decent amount about herself, but had not been so forthcoming with more personal issues, as evident from her not telling him she was a virgin. He grabbed his beer, opening it, before leaning back on the high backed stool. He took a swig and eyed her up. She was opening a door and he was just trying to decide how far through it he was going to walk.
"Okay, easy stuff first, when you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?"
"Doctor, but I could not do the chemistry," she replied through a mouth full of sandwich.
"Why'd you go to Cambridge?"
"Cuz my mum went there. Dad and Uncle Edmund went to Oxford, that's where they met."
"What do you mean that's where they met, weren't they brothers?"
Elizabeth slowly shook her head no, "They were best friends, and they met at university. Abbey didn't tell you that."
"Uh, no, I thought they were brothers."
"No, Uncle Edmund was my father's nearest and dearest friend. He actually introduced my parents to one another. Neither of my parents had any siblings and both were very close to him. So, when they passed, it was in their will for him to raise me. That's why technically I have no claim to the estate; I'm not a royal in any way."
"So then we're not cousins or whatever?"
