I do not own the Mr Selfridge characters. Should I continue this? Please rate and review.
Agnes and Henri sat back in their third class seats from St Pancras to Dover. From there they would get on a boat to France, and then another train to Le Havre. The place that Henri grew up. As they left St Pancras all Agnes could think about was the man sat opposite her. Her husband damaged by war. She knew he would get better. She would make him better. Mr Selfridge had given her and Henri an annuity and a large cheque to thank them for their long years of service so that they could begin their new lives together with comfort. He had reassured them that if they ever wanted to return to the store they could but Agnes knew they never would.
Henri had never talked much about his family. His father Pierre, mother Marie and sister Jeanne lived in a chateau outside of Le Havre. He had lost his brother Iain in the war. The vision of his little brother dying at the Battle of Ypres, in the trenches haunted him. He had not just lost his brother but his sister Jeanne had lost her fiancé Carl had been killed at the Battle of the Somme. His maternal and paternal grandparents still lived in the family home. Henri and Beatrice Leclair held court with Olivier and Jeanne Francois, Pierre and Marie's parents respectively.
Back on the train Henri and Agnes did not need to talk they just watched each other. Agnes thought of her beloved brother George. Her only relative still alive. She would always worry about her little brother. Now he wasn't at Selfridge's he had no security but Agnes knew that Miss Mardle would keep him straight. Miss Josie Mardle was a true friend to Agnes, George and Henri. She had been through so much but she was a calming prescience for all who knew her. Agnes thought about Selfridge's. She would miss everyone there including Mrs Kitty Edwards nee Hawkins but she had to give everything to Henri. There love would sustain them.
"How are you feeling Henri?" Agnes asked her husband as she leant forward.
"I wish that we could have told Mere and Pere that we are coming. I haven't seen them in many years. They may have forgot about me."
"I did send a telegram telling them of our departure but we did not have a lot of time to make the arrangements. Mr Selfridge saw to all of it."
"I do not want to disappoint you Agnes."
"You can never disappoint me Henri. Never." She kissed his hand and looked into his eyes with love.
"You are giving up so much for me. Your home, your job, your language."
"I am giving up nothing. I am just glad I have you. I did learn a little French growing up and on my secondment to Paris. Miss Mardle has been helping me learn in the evenings since we got engaged. I would give up more if I had to. I love you Henri."
"I do not deserve you."
"I do not want anyone but you Henri." She moved to sit next to him and kissed his cheek. "No one" She added looking deeper into his eyes. She stroked his stubble and smiled at him. He smiled back.
As they got to the port of Dover there were many troop ships in port. Henri staggered back as he saw many soldiers in French and Belgian uniforms. Agnes held on to his arm and that calmed him a little.
"It will be fine." She whispered to him.
"I know. Do not let go of me."
"Never" They boarded the boat to Calais. Henri could not eat or drink anything. He just sat and looked out onto the channel for the three hours it took for them to cross the channel. He remembered the crossing he had done a few months previous. He held hope in his heart. Hope for Agnes. They had waited so long for each other just a glimpse of her photograph made him feel better. He watched his wife walk around the deck, taking in the sea air. She looked back at the white cliffs of Dover to the white cliffs of Calais. England was their past and France their future.
Unknown to Henri, Agnes had a secret. She worried if she would like her new in laws. She put her hand on her abdomen. Her wedding day fluttered. France was not only her future but her fluttering's future. It was a new start for all.