"I suppose we should probably get to bed, it's getting late." Edith said as she was leaning into Bertie's chest, he ran his hand up and down her bare arm and replied
"Yes but we're engaged now, officially, so who can really say anything?"
Edith sat up to face him more directly
"As much as I'd like to spend the night right here with you in front of the fire I'd rather us be on our best behavior, we both know how long it took us to get here so I'd prefer to enjoy our engagement without any distractions or scandals."
Bertie smiled at her and appreciated her foresight and how she was so willing to be open in saying how much she liked spending time with him alone. Since he first started to get to know her he loved the way she was so up front about how she felt about him. His favorite part of their first kiss was how she didn't try to be coy with him when he said he thought he was pushing his luck, she confidently reassured him that no he wasn't and stayed comfortably in his arms.
On dates he went on before the war and on leave during it he could tell some of the women were looking for someone else to come along, sometimes even excusing themselves to have a conversation or dance with another man. But not only was he lucky enough for Edith to agree to go out with him but the whole night she only had eyes for him and actively had an intelligent conversation with him. Bertie had never met a woman whose opinion and intellect he respected so much, not to mention how beautiful she was, and that she was the daughter of an Earl and could surely find a more eligible man but for some reason chose to spend her time with him, and that she was so modern and independent. Bertie couldn't believe she was out with him and she even seemed to like him, he thought it was the best night of his life, up until tonight of course.
Despite some awkwardness with his mother that he hoped no one except him, Edith and her parents noticed the night was a roaring success. Edith looked gorgeous and he was certain she charmed everyone who was there. But best of all they made the announcement that he and Edith would be married, now they could focus on their wedding and more importantly their marriage. Bertie never had great hopes for the institution but meeting and falling in love with Edith made him lovesick, and made the idea of marriage, the idea of spending everyday with Edith and them building a life together seem like the most exciting thing in the world.
"Of course you're right darling, and I wouldn't want to ruin this time for you but I hope I can at least walk you to your room." Bertie suggested as he stood and he offered his hand
"I'm counting on you to, I'm afraid I still get a bit turned around here." Edith admitted as she stood and took hold of his hand
"You'll pick it up soon enough, I'm sure you'll know more about the place than I do before long."
Edith just smiled in response as they walked arm in arm out of the library and toward the main hall. The two of them walked slowly and quietly through the massive house with Edith paying close attention to her surroundings
"Do you think you'll like living here?" Bertie quietly asked
"Truthfully I never thought I would be marrying a Marquis, I always thought Mary's beauty or Sybil's charm would be responsible for making a match that would make Papa burst from pride, so it feels a bit like a dream…"
The couple stopped on the landing of grand staircase and huddled close hoping they wouldn't disturb anyone
"You know that it feels like a dream for me too, that someone like you would even give me the time of day much less go to dinner with me, and now we've just had our engagement dinner. I can hardly believe it but I'm so happy, and for the record I happen to think you're the most charming and beautiful woman I've ever had the pleasure to meet."
Bertie earnestly said as he slowly leaned in and gave Edith a gentle and short kiss
"You're very sweet you know?" Edith blushed and continued, "I've only ever wanted someone who I could love and would love me in return, as time went on I thought it was just fantasies of a silly girl and there were times where I thought I found it, but you know how those ended."
Bertie smiled his understanding and softly held Edith's hand as she looked at him with such appreciation and love and he seriously said
"Yes, and you know that I'm going to do all I can to make sure you and Marigold never know another day of unhappiness ever again."
Edith slipped her arm into his and leaned her head on his shoulder as they continued to walk and said
"I know you will and that's the point, this house and the title are something that I expect many people will be envious of, and it does have it's advantages but honestly I'd be just as happy with you if you were still the land agent and we lived in a cozy little cottage."
Bertie bent down to place a kiss into her hair
"That does sound appealing doesn't it? But these are the cards we've been dealt, and you're the only person I could imagine taking this on with."
"I suppose there are worse problems to have in the world." Edith smiled as she leaned against the door to her room and Bertie grabbed hold of both her hands
"There are, like the fact that I have to say 'goodnight' to you now."
"We'll see each other at breakfast, which should be happening fairly soon actually." Edith offered trying to hide her amusement at the sad puppy dog look on Bertie's face
"You're right, but honestly and I hope you won't take this as too forward, I can't wait for the time when we can truly spend the night together, and I don't just mean…being together as husband and wife but I can't wait for you to fall asleep in my arms and for you to be the first person I see in the morning."
"Oh, Bertie…" Edith softly whispered as she stepped forward to lessen the distance between them "…I feel the same way, every time we have to leave each other it feels like such a waste. But the time will come soon enough, and it will all be so worth it, the waiting, the big wedding, it's the right thing to do and it's not so far away."
"Earlier when I was in the library before dressing for dinner I looked at my calendar and did some counting, and if you still want to get married on New Years Eve like we talked about it's only one hundred and twenty-one days from now. I think that's manageable."
"One hundred twenty-one?" Edith asked as she moved her arms to hang around Bertie's shoulders.
"If I counted right, yes."
"Since you're so good with numbers I'm sure you did. So that means that we only have to do this one hundred and twenty more times?"
"That's right." Bertie said as he wrapped his arm around Edith's waist hoping he could get one more goodnight kiss
"Sounds manageable…" Edith said as she pressed her body closer to his and leaned in to give him his final kiss of the night. After she broke the kiss she opened her door and lightly put her hand on his cheek
"Goodnight, Bertie."
"Goodnight, darling." Bertie replied pressing a kiss into her palm and turning to leave
"Bertie…" Edith said making him turn around "…One hundred twenty."
Bertie smiled and replied "One hundred twenty." And turned to walk away as Edith closed the door.