Chapter 10
A/N After the emotional seriousness of the previous chapter I thought our favourite couple deserved a bit of romantic fluff.
Johnson brought Edith a plate of toast with butter and honey. Anthony watched her delicately spread it and smiled as she ate. She broke a piece off and slipped it into his mouth, holding it delicately. He followed suit and slipped a morsel between her lips and they fed each other. She had honey on her lips and a few crumbs. He took her face in both hands and kissed her; his mouth brushing it away and she did the same to him.
"No woman has ever fed me before," he breathed, "Did you know how incredibly erotic it is?"
"I have an idea," she cast her eyes downward and he understood her meaning.
He took her in his arms, stroking her back and nuzzling the hollow of her neck. All the while the rain lashed the windows.
OO
Anthony was somewhat tearful and downcast that evening but Edith understood; he had relived the most painful experience of his life after all and she just held him and they did not speak as she allowed him to draw comfort from her presence. Her mind was also preoccupied. In hearing about Maud's death and that of the baby her confidence was shaken. She allowed positive thoughts of their love to fill her mind; she was after all not scarred by a serious of miscarriages so she had a much better chance of a safe delivery but now she fully understood Anthony's request not to trumpet the news of her pregnancy until she was showing and left no doubt. He and the child inside her belly meant everything to her so she hoped she would be able to place that precious baby in her husband's arms.
OO
As they were about to retire that night he held her close.
"I'm sorry I have not been the best of company tonight, my love."
"Anthony, I could hardly expect you to be the life and soul of the party after the painful experience you have shared today. For me it is enough to just be here beside you so please do not apologise. I love you, I'm here for you and that is all you need to know,"
"Thank you," he whispered, "for not being jealous or hating her for hurting me; a lot of second wives would you know,"
"I feel I have come to know her very well and I am glad that she had the privilege of loving you, as I do," she looked into his eyes and saw him smile.
"I feel an incredible sense of peace creeping over me," he whispered.
She slipped her arm around his waist and leaned close.
"Let's go to bed my love," she whispered, "I want to get lots of rest to ensure our baby has the best chance," she murmured into his ear, "but that doesn't mean you have to do without your pleasures," she winked.
They went upstairs.
"I need to show you something before we go to bed," he said, "follow me."
They went along the corridor until they came to a part of the house that Edith had not set foot in before; like a secret wing. Anthony took a key from his pocket and unlocked a door. Intrigued, Edith followed him.
"Is this where you keep all the Strallan family gold?" she teased.
"Not exactly," he frowned, "that's in the bank,"
He opened a door and revealed a lady's private bedroom with en suite dressing room. The room was beautiful but a mantle of dust lay on everything as though the room had not been entered for years.
"This was Maud's bedroom," his voice was thick with emotion, "the place where she died and further along is the room we shared when she had the inclination; I felt a need to show you, I wanted you to know that I was not so insensitive as to give my second Lady Strallan the bedroom where her predecessor died; in fact once I was done mourning and sitting in there for hours reading her journals and crying I wanted to draw a line under that part of my life. I could not speak of it, until today."
She pressed close.
"To be honest, Anthony, the thought never crossed my mind as to whether I had her old room since I have never slept there but I thank you for your sensitivity,"
"That's alright then," he kissed her, "Let's go to bed,"
His eyes were filled with tears.
OO
They lay in bed, slicked with sweat after a lengthy bout of lovemaking. Their pulses raced and their breathing was ragged.
"Oh Anthony, I do love you,"
"I feel so at peace now," he murmured as he held her close to him, her head rested on his chest,
"Good," she said, "it is nothing less than you deserve; it was not your fault what happened to Maud and the baby and I hope you realise that. Now I just want to concentrate on getting safely through the next few months and helping you rebuild your arm."
They drifted off to sleep with their bodies entwined.
OO
Two weeks later Johnson came to the library to announce that Dr Clarkson was there to see them.
Clarkson came in and Anthony bade him sit. Anthony had been taking the iron tonic and his arm felt better. He had used it a lot and was able to lift light objects although he still found it difficult to get his right arm into his clothes but he had Edith to help him with that so it did not bother him too much.
"Could you roll your shirt sleeves right up as far as you can, Sir Anthony?" Clarkson asked. Anthony did so and Clarkson asked him to stretch both arms out in front of him.
Clarkson felt along Anthony's left arm which was considerably more muscular than his left. He then felt the right, checking Anthony was still able to feel, which he was.
"The muscle tone has improved considerably but I am afraid I would be lying if I said it would ever reach the level it was before the injury."
"That is what I suspected," Anthony said.
"What about the x-rays?" Edith asked.
"The muscle tone will improve considerably more but, like I said, never return to the level it was at before the injury; my colleague in London is in agreement with me on this but you still need to exercise the limb. Some movements might still be awkward for you for a time and some you might never be able to do again but you will be able to resume driving within a couple of weeks. Your movement may improve and it will certainly never regress,"
"Thank you, Dr Clarkson," Anthony said.
"May I ask you what you were doing immediately before you began to experience sensation?"
"My wife was giving me a massage because I was tense; I was preparing to tell her about the night my wife and heir died, but I have done that now and feel so much more peace as a result."
"That is good," Clarkson said, "I know so many widows, both men and women, who still will not talk about such things even if they have remarried. I suspect they fear jealousy and tension between themselves and their new spouse."
"Lady Strallan has been a complete rock; she has understood and comforted me without so much as a hint of jealousy or resentment,"
"Then you are a very fortunate man,"
"I know that; I realised even before the day we married that I had found pure gold. She has given me back my life totally,"
Clarkson took a card from his jacket pocket and passed it to Anthony.
"This is the specialist I consulted with regard to your x-rays; he says he will be more than happy for you to call on him should you chance to be in London at any time,"
Anthony slipped the card into his own pocket.
"How are you feeling, Lady Strallan?" Clarkson asked.
"I am very well," she replied, "No further sickness and I feel bright in spirits and pretty strong."
"That is good," he felt her stomach, "All seems well but as time progresses you will need to take it easy."
"I am aware of that for I have no wish to endanger the child; given how precious he or she is to both of us."
"Please feel free to call me should you be anxious about anything, Lady Strallan," Clarkson said, "It is clear that you have a good relationship so will share any worries you may have. Too many people say nothing and if they don't then how can I, or anyone else, help them?"
Edith held Anthony's hand.
"I am aware that my husband is anxious, indeed terrified, at the prospect of my giving birth and, hearing the story of how Lady Strallan and the baby died, has made me more than a little anxious but we love each other with a depth beyond words or understanding and that will help us through."
OO
Robert, Earl of Grantham, was in the library with Cora, Mary, Matthew and Isobel.
"Sir Anthony and Edith have invited us for dinner at Locksley on Saturday," Robert said,
"It will be nice to see Edith," Cora said, "She is so wrapped up in things over there I sense she has forgotten she has a family."
"She is making you feel how she must have felt all those years when she thought she did not matter," Isobel thought.
That Saturday evening Robert, Cora, Matthew, Mary and Isobel were driven to Locksley and announced
They walked into the library and when Edith stood to welcome them Cora gasped,
"My goodness Edith; we never knew you were pregnant."