Finally he released her and they sat down on the couch, Edith making sure she sat on Anthony's left so that he could hold her hand with his good one.
She felt that she would lose herself in the blue intensity of his eyes and he wanted to lose himself in her.
"Thank you for the flowers," she whispered.
"You're welcome, my sweet one."
"Oh Anthony, I am so sorry for everything. I pressured you so really it's no wonder you did what you did. The fact is that you thought you were setting me free. That was unselfish and I commend you for that, but you never asked me if I wanted to be free. If you had then I would have told you that to be truly free I need to be with you."
He blinked tears from his blue eyes. "Oh Edith," he whispered, his voice choked.
"Would it have made any difference that day if I had laid my heart on the line and told you that I loved you, still love you and in fact always have?"
"I have a feeling it might," he said, "But we can't have that day back to test that theory and we have lost so much time, which is all my fault. I have been in the darkest gloom."
"I wasn't happy either, but I never hated you. You need to understand that. "
"I never realised just how much I loved you until I got your letter."
"Anthony, you are good enough for me. You treat me like I matter and that is something I have little experience of. My family still treat me like I'm invisible and have to be pacified like a child throwing a tantrum. I deeply regret that I did not speak up for you, for us. My heart broke that day."
"So did mine," he sighed, "Please forgive a foolish old man for not believing he could matter to someone as young and lovely as you."
"I forgive you, my darling, and you're not old. You're just mature and experienced."
"I was so sorry to hear about Lady Sybil, I wanted to write but did not feel your parents would welcome it and probably not give you the letter anyway."
"Poor Tom is in a bad place, he is really struggling to fit into a world where he doesn't belong."
"I know that pain all too well. I was a wreck after Maud died. My estate manager did all the legal stuff because I could not face it, but at least Tom has the child."
"Mary is struggling now. Matthew died in a road accident six months ago, not long after their son was born. I know it's not very charitable, but I feel it's just punishment for what she did the day of the garden party."
"You have to let all that go, Edith my sweet. We were different people before the war." He reached out his good hand to gently brush a lock of hair from her forehead and the touch of his fingertips sent shivers of pleasure through her.
"Anthony, please will you kiss me? Properly I mean. Regrettably it won't be my first kiss, but it will render all previous kisses worthless."
His mouth descended to hers. His tongue gently parted her lips and began to explore her mouth with his. Edith leaned close to him and she kissed him back, tasting him and feeling her whole body tingle as sweat trickled down her back.
"Edith." he murmured as his mouth caressed her throat and moved up to nibble her earlobe, before descending to her mouth once again.
"Anthony," her voice was hoarse.
The kiss was the deepest most sensual experience of her life as she fell trembling against him. She was aware of how aroused she was becoming. Compared to Michael's kisses Anthony's took her to another world. Michael had never aroused this passion in her.
When the kiss ended, which seemed all too quickly, they were both trembling.
OO
Edith rang for tea.
The maid brought it in.
"Lady Painswick telephoned, Lady Edith. She said that she will be out until late, but Sir Anthony must stay for dinner."
"Thank you." Edith said.
Anthony fished in his pocket and took out a small flat box, which he handed to her.
Edith carefully unwrapped the tissue paper and removed the lid from the box. She gasped when she saw the teardrop shaped jade pendant on its slender gold chain.
"Anthony. It's gorgeous. Not as gorgeous as you, but it's lovely."
"I'm afraid I can't put it on for you, my love. I can't manage those clasps one-handed."
"That's alright." She took it from the box and fastened the clasp around her neck.
"It's perfect," she glanced in the mirror. "Thank you so much."
"It looks beautiful on you." he said.
OO
They spent hours talking, as though they had never been parted.
"Your letter mentioned a romantic disappointment." He said. Edith swallowed hard. She had not wanted to tell him about Gregson just yet, but she owed him honesty.
"After, well after what happened, I started writing articles for the Daily Sketch and I got involved with the editor, Michael Gregson. I was very fond of him, but not in love with him. He wanted me to be his mistress to start with, but I put my foot down over that. He is married, but under certain laws he can't get divorced because she is legally insane. He found out that he can legally divorce her if he becomes a German citizen and he will probably do that to be rid of her. That was what I meant by betrayal, if I married him after he became a German citizen because it was the war with Germany that caused your injury, so that would be betraying you and I could not do that. I broke it off with him two days ago.
"He was prepared to become a member of the most hated nation on earth so that he could be with you?" Anthony was incredulous. Edith nodded.
"Men have done far worse for love," Anthony said softly, "and I would not blame him, but he would not have been able to marry you legally in England."
2I know, that was one of the reasons I gave. I had told him soon after we met about being jilted but I never told him your name. I did tell him the night I broke it off, Aunt Rosamund was a witness. He was angry and upset. He said that he would become between me and the person I loved at the moment when I was happiest. Aunt Rosamund says he has no legal claim on me and she's right but still, his words sent shivers through me."
"You didn't," he didn't know how to say what he wanted to without upsetting her.
"No, i didn't give myself to him, Anthony. We kissed, but it was nothing like your kisses, which took me to another place. He never inspired passion in me and would always have been second best."
"You don't have to justify yourself to me, Edith. I was the one who broke your heart. If I had been able to see into the future I would have stayed and saved you from that. I'm so sorry, my love."
"It's alright." Edith said, "He is free to do as he wishes and he'll forget me in time."
"If only it were that simple," said a voice. They looked up. Rosamund had returned.
