"Happy birthday," Anna sang through the phone. "How has it been so far?"

"Oh, just…perfect," Edith sighed contentedly. "I'm ten weeks today, and we had our first big ultrasound this morning. We heard the baby's heartbeat and everything."

"Did you cry?" Anna asked with a knowing giggle.

"No, oddly enough, but Anthony did. Poor darling. The baby's perfect, nice and big the doctor said."

"Well what are you doing now?"

"I'm at the flat, thinking of taking a nap. Anthony had to hurry off to a faculty meeting at school, but he has some plans for tonight and then tomorrow we'll head out to the sea house and spend the next week or two up there."

"I can't keep track of where you live. The flat, the sea house, Locksley, Dublin, Carlingford, Grantham," Anna listed.

"You and me both," Edith sighed with a little giggle. "But it's worth it to not be separated."

"And how are you feeling otherwise?"

"Exhausted but wonderful. I haven't been sick or anything. I was starting to get nervous, actually, until we saw that little flicker on the screen today."

"Amazing, isn't it?" Anna asked.

"A bit, yeah," Edith replied, unable to stop herself from grinning madly.

"Well listen, I just wanted to say happy birthday to my darling Edie, and keep me posted on everything. Just because you're a wife and a mum doesn't mean you can forget about me."

"I won't."

"Miss you."

"Thanks, Ann. I miss you too."

Edith set down her mobile. It was just past eleven on June fifteenth, and already it was the best birthday Edith could ever remember having. She slid a hand over her tummy and laughed to herself from sheer delight, trying to force away the thought in the back of her mind that no one can be so happy, that something will inevitably go wrong.

Deciding she'd rather stay productive than give into the urge to sleep, she gathered a few things, and made some tea. Anthony promised to be back in a few hours at the most, and while she had insisted he not worry, she did miss him. It was almost embarrassing how she longed for him, even after the shortest absence.

Edith was sitting on the couch with a sketch pad, a notebook, a variety of pens and drawing pencils, and two books she'd been meaning to read. What had started as an earnest attempt to sketch the form of a pregnant woman in some beach grass soon dissolved into a series of doodles and scribbles. She was testing out different baby names that went well with Strallan in her long, slanted cursive when Anthony came through the door.

"Hello my darling, I wasn't expecting you back for hours," Edith greeted, springing from her spot on the sofa to kiss Anthony on the cheek. "Would you like some tea? How was your day?"

"Every day you're my wife is a good day," he answered, hugging her warmly.

"That," Edith said, pulling the back of Anthony's sweater to get a little space between them, "is a very sweet and very evasive answer. What's going on?"

Anthony sighed and dropped to the nearby sofa, Edith following after, sitting close beside him.

"My darling wife, it is your birthday and I will not waste a moment more of it on work. Now, what would you like to do with the afternoon? I have plans for dinner, but they can be changed if you don't feel up to it. We could take a stroll through Stephen's Green if you like, or perhaps you'd care for a long soak in the tub?"

"The only thing I care to know is what you're not telling me. I know you too well, Anthony. I don't give a toss about my birthday. Now spill."

Anthony sighed, looking sideways at Edith. When she arched her eyebrow in that certain way he conceded.

"Well, Murphy asked me to his office for a visit this morning. It seems there has been some," he paused, looking for the right word. The way his eyes darted to Edith she knew he was looking for the most gentle word. "Discourse."

"Discourse," she repeated skeptically.

"Yes, it seems there's some concern over the fact that I married one of the Master's candidates. Apparently the department, generally speaking, has voiced some…discomfort."

When she had finally told Anthony what happened with Gregson he had laughed heartily and told her she was worried about nothing. But Edith wondered if their might be backlash.

"Oh god, Anthony, did I get you fired?" Edith asked, running a hand through his hair. She was half-kidding, trying to mask the concern creeping over her.

"No, I resigned," he said simply.

Edith's jaw dropped, and she moved to the coffee table across from them so she might face Anthony squarely. Placing a hand on each of his knees, she said again, "I did get you fired, didn't I? Tell me, please."

She'd never seen Anthony like this. Or rather, she had, but his reaction wasn't at all what she expected. He was outright calm, even relaxed. He propped his elbow on the back of the sofa and scratched his head. "It seems a certain Professor Gregson insinuated that I tried to coerce him into blindly passing your manuscript, thereby affecting the whole panel's decision on your being granted the degree."

And now Edith was furious. Her mouth gaped for a moment while she decided what part of that she should be most mad about. Unable to make a decision she simply shrieked "That utter bastard!"

Anthony reached out to take her hand. Here he was, reputation and career in tatters, and he was comforting her. Edith almost laughed at the absurdity.

"He did make it very clear that your manuscript stood on its own, and everyone agreed that it was quite the best work they'd seen pass through the programme in years."

"But they still fired you?"

"No," Anthony assured, leaning forward to take both her hands between his as his elbows rested on his thighs. "No, Murphy's known me for fifteen years, and everyone and their aunt knows what a weasel Gregson is. It was more of a formality, really. Murphy said he had to talk with me about it, but that he had no doubts at all about my integrity or yours. He was quite complementary of you, actually."

"Then what happened?" she asked, shocked that Anthony seemed to be treating the whole thing almost humorously.

"It seems Gregson was not going to let the matter rest with the department, he wanted to get the president involved. Murphy assured he would stand by me, but I wasn't willing to go through all that."

"So I did get you fired," Edith muttered, deflating, her voice smaller than she'd expected.

"No, my darling, you did not," he said, more emphatic this time.

"But then why would you resign? You love teaching."

"I did, yes, when it was the only fulfilling thing in my life. Before I had you. Now I'd rather not spend so much time away from home. And anyway, it's not like we need the money. I'm close enough to retirement age that I won't look like a total lout," he added with a little smile.

Edith was surprised to find herself nearly in tears. Perhaps it was the pregnancy, or maybe that she just loved Anthony so much it still knocked her over sometimes. "Are you really going to be okay with this?"

"More than," he promised, bringing her hands to his lips for a quick and reassuring kiss. Looking back up at her he added, "And I was thinking about something else too. Maybe it's time to leave Dublin."

"But we just got back, what do you mean?" Edith asked, confused.

"I think maybe when we were making our plans we got it all backwards. Maybe we should holiday over here and live in Yorkshire, back at Locksley, or somewhere else if you don't fancy the big manor."

"Yorkshire? Anthony, you hated Yorkshire. Our lives are in Dublin."

"No darling," he said softly, "I'll always love this city, especially since it's so filled with memories of you. But our lives are in Yorkshire. I ran away to Dublin. We both did. But you, my darling," he said, reaching up to stroke her cheek and jaw, "you brought me home again. Let's go home, eh?"

"To Locksley and the Crawleys and the awful parties and family suppers and everything?"

Anthony nodded. "Everything. I know you miss your family, even if they're not always easy, and I don't want our child growing up without them, especially little Sybbie. Plus we'll be closer to Gert." Anthony shrugged, his eyes searching Edith's. "It just feels like the right thing to do, don't you think?"

Now the tears weren't merely threatening, but streaming down Edith's face as she nodded quickly and pitched her arms around Anthony's neck. "But not just summers, alright? I want to come back all the time. To Carlingford. I love that house."

"I'm a man of leisure now, love," he joked into her ear. "We can go back and forth as often as you like." Pulling her back so he could look into her eyes Anthony asked, "Are you sure you want to do this? I know how I feel, but if you want to stay, darling, we can stay. I'd live anywhere you wanted, so long as I get to be with you."

"I do want to go home. Desperately. I just didn't know it until you said something," she sniffed, straightening up and wiping the tears from her cheeks.

"Forgive me darling, but I can't tell. Is that happy crying or sad crying?"

Edith laughed through her sniffling. "At this point, I honestly don't know the difference anymore. I cried after you left this morning, and then I cried because I couldn't get the lid off the jam. I'm a mess of hormones."

"Speaking of, how is my child doing?" he asked brightly, trying to cheer her.

Edith flipped up her blouse and patted her flat, firm tummy. "Not even the slightest bulge. Until this morning I was beginning to wonder if perhaps Dr. Clarkson was mistaken."

"I'm rather fond of your bellybutton," Anthony muttered absently, running a finger across it. "Anyway, I'm sure the telltale bump will arrive soon enough. And then," he added pointedly, "telling your family won't be put off much longer."

Edith let her shirt fall again with a sigh. "I suppose you're," she began but Anthony cut her off.

"Hold on a minute, I'm not done looking yet," he said, pretending to be annoyed as he slipped the gauzy, pink fabric over her head and down her arms. Edith's body responded immediately, warmth and a shiver spreading through her all at once.

Anthony was always so gentle and careful with Edith, partially because it was in his nature to worry, then because she was so new to everything, and then because of the baby. Still, when she really needed him to, and when he really wanted to, Anthony could forget for a moment that she was all porcelain and silk in his eyes.

It was those times when Edith would be breathless, eager, caught off guard, and while every moment they were together was beautiful for various reasons, these were the ones that made her feel the most desirable. And when Anthony would growl involuntarily, or direct her with his great, strong hands, or kiss her like he would die if he couldn't taste her, Edith never found him more attractive.

"You're distracted," he mumbled against the skin of her neck.

"Only by you. Frankly, Anthony, it's alarming the effect you have on me."

"I'm sure it's just the hormones," he teased. He had just gotten Edith into his lap, running his hands along her bare back when her mobile went off beside them.

Checking the screen, Edith growled and rolled her eyes to Anthony. "Hello, Mama," she answered. Her voice was surprisingly steady given that Anthony was currently lingering over her right clavicle, sending shivers through her.

"Happy birthday again, darling. Edith, I was thinking," Cora began, and already Edith knew it was going to be a long conversation.

"Mama," she interrupted, trying to mask the tremble in her voice as Anthony's hands meandered slowly over her breasts. "Anthony and I are moving back to Yorkshire, soon and for good, and we're having a baby—due in January."

With that she turned off the phone and threw it across the room where it may or may not have broken in pieces. Edith didn't care. "That should keep her quiet for a while."

"Well you got over your hesitation about announcing the pregnancy, didn't you?" Anthony asked with a small laugh. "Was she pleased?"

"I didn't really wait to find out. I'm certain she will be once the shock of it all wears off."

"That's good. We may need her assistance with your father. I'm sure he'll be absolutely thrilled with irrefutable evidence that I've had my way with you," he said sarcastically.

Edith laughed, running her hands through his hair. "Dr. Strallan, I don't wish to discuss my parents or their individual thoughts regarding our love life at the moment," Edith said firmly.

"And what would you like to do, birthday girl?"

"Honestly?" she asked, biting her lip.

"Honestly."

Edith looked apologetic. "I want to curl up in bed, with you, and take a nap."

"You're so difficult to please," Anthony said dryly, causing Edith to blush. "Care to know where I'm taking you for dinner?"

"Surprise me," Edith decided, nuzzling into Anthony's neck as he carried her to their bed.

"I love you, Edith Strallan."

"Mmm," Edith breathed, half asleep already. "I love you back." The last thing Edith remembered was the feeling of their cool, soft sheets, and Anthony's arm wrapping against her stomach as she finally gave in to the happy exhaustion of early motherhood, thoughts of going home filling them both with a sort of peace they hadn't realized they were missing.