Chapter 2
Anthony arrives at Fawley House for tea one day with something very different in the air. Her husband is here, albeit not for long. Her butler is just letting Anthony in when he hears raised voices coming from the Drawing Room, then a slammed door, and John Rivers walks unsteadily down the stairs to the front door. Anthony, ever the gentleman, extends his hand and is about to introduce himself, but John walks straight past him without acknowledging him, perhaps without even noticing him. Anthony watches him slam the front door behind him as well, and turns to look at the butler. The rather lugubrious butler shrugs his shoulders at Anthony in apology.
"Shall I announce you, Sir?"
"Give Lady Edith a few moments to compose herself."
"She won't need that, Sir, but it was nice of you to think it."
Anthony follows him up the stairs to the Drawing Room.
"Sir Anthony Strallan, my lady."
Anthony walks quickly up to Edith extending his good hand. She takes it in her left hand instinctively, mumbling the usual pleasantries, but does not meet his eyes. She hasn't been crying, he notices. That means either she isn't too upset, or, that this is so common that she has indeed got used to it, as her butler intimated.
Once they are alone he says gently "If you would prefer me to leave, you need only ask." She looks up at that with something like fright in her eyes.
"Please don't. I think I need company." Anthony thinks about the last few months. Yes, I see now. You've been in need of company all this time, and Thank God! you turned to me.
"In that case, I think it's about time I taught you how to win at chess."
"I know how to play chess, Anthony."
"I said win at chess, although I suspect you may become very good and beat me in no time."
She is immensely grateful to her old friend for his intelligent attention to her. He can see it in her face. They play chess all afternoon and into the early evening. They talk about everything and nothing. Her butler appears as the light is fading, asking about dinner. Anthony stands quickly. "Oh my goodness, I'm so sorry. I hadn't realised how the time had got on. Please forgive me."
"Two for dinner please Matthews."
"Very good, my lady."
"If you think I'm going to let you run away so that you can say you beat me 3—2 today, you are sorely mistaken, Sir Anthony Strallan. I intend to beat you."
"And I'm sure you will, my Lady." he smiles back.
Anthony doesn't mention her husband that day, or the next time they met. He keeps his concerns quiet until she is really back to normal. Even then he begins extremely gently, fearing her reaction.
"You do know that you can confide in me if you ever need someone to talk to, don't you Edith?"
"I had thought that was the case, yes. But thank you for confirming it." So he thinks a gentle rebuff. I will counter with something more risky.
"And that goes for your husband as well, if he doesn't have close friends, which I'm sure he does."
Edith looks at him slightly sideways. "Oh, he has close friends sure enough!"
Now we are getting somewhere muses Anthony.
"Oh? Here in Ripon?"
"Yes, here in Ripon. Where do you think he goes every night?" She looks Anthony in the eyes and realises. "You poor darling! I thought you knew. You are so innocent, you don't know, do you?"
"Know what?"
"Everyone else in Yorkshire knows, but you don't! Has no one told you? No, of course they wouldn't. No one talks to you about me, do they?"
"You have me at a great disadvantage, I'm afraid."
"John has a…a…" She was lost for the correct word. Anthony offered one, hoping he was wrong, his face turning very serious.
"A mistress?"
"A favourite courtesan, more like."
"No."
Poor Anthony she thought he is so honourable he thinks everyone else is too.
"There's more. He relies on medicines, far too much."
"You mean he's a drug addict?"
"Yes."
Anthony takes some time to process this information.
"And this has been going on for how long?"
"Since before I knew him."
"Good God!" Anthony couldn't believe it. "Why, in Heaven's name, did he marry you?"
"For the money, of course. His own family disowned him for his behaviour. Drugs and courtesans are not cheap, or so I believe."
"When did you learn of all this?"
"Just after the wedding. He stayed with me on our wedding night. He wasn't going to let me have an excuse to have the marriage annulled. But he hasn't stayed with me since then. It didn't take me long to realise I'd made a very serious mistake, but at least I didn't love him."
"You didn't?"
"Of course not. Anthony, I married him on the rebound from you."
"Oh, Edith!" His eyes are wet with regret.
"There's nothing to be done about it, Anthony. John has his friends, and I have mine. Since you came back into my life, I have found a little peace and a lot of joy, and I have you to thank for it. Please may we continue that?"
"Of course. Nothing would give me greater pleasure." Apart from marrying you myself he thought.