The next morning Anthony and Edith boarded the train. Emma, Mrs. Paxton and her son rode along in the car with them much to Anthony's frustration. He had understood how it would be but he really didn't want to be so long in such close quarters with the woman. At first he'd considered having her ride in third, along with Stewart and Edith's new lady's maid Moffett, but that would have left Emma to deal with and Anthony feared it would be too tiresome for Edith. The child could be quite a handful on a journey as he had learned from his previous experience. So there they sat… the five of them. He made certain that Edith was next to him and that Mrs. Paxton sat across from them. Even then, he was uncomfortable, feeling her eyes on him from time to time as the car rolled along the tracks. He really wanted to sack her but there hadn't been time to find a new nanny before leaving and timing was imperative, so he'd decided the sacking could wait. Now he wasn't quite as sure of his decision.

As Anthony was considering what to do about the irksome Mrs. Paxton, he felt Edith pressing into his side, as if burrowing a comfortable position. Still distracted by thoughts of Mrs. Paxton, he glanced down at his dear wife and smiled. She indeed had managed to nudge her way against him, her head settled against his upper arm and her hand along his forearm. Her position was such that he could easily nuzzle into her hair or with a little effort nuzzle even more intimately. With the annoying Mrs. Paxton watching his every move, however, it wasn't wise to do either. Damn the woman, he thought sourly. On the more positive side of things, she was keeping Emma occupied.

They rode along comfortably for awhile longer, Anthony watching the countryside pass by in the window until he heard a whisper in his ear. "Is it bad to want to be alone with my husband?" He looked down into her sparkling mischief filled eyes and grinned sheepishly. "Not at all," he replied softly. "In fact, I can't imagine a happier circumstance."

Apparently Mrs. Paxton decided that he and his wife were too close and chose that moment to prod Emma to ask for a story. At least, in Anthony's mind that was what happened. The child had been happily occupied up until then and now was suddenly demanding he tell her a story. He sighed heavily and tried to feel the smile that he plastered on his face for the child's benefit. Feeling Edith adjust, straightening up beside him and giving Emma space to climb up, Anthony resigned himself to his fate. Once she was settled in his lap he began his tale, happier when he felt Edith lean into him again. "Once upon a time there was a lonely prince…" he began.

"Lonely perhaps, but very handsome," Edith added with a wink at Emma, who giggled in response. Both females knew where this story was leading and settled against their man to listen.

Emma fell asleep towards the end of Anthony's story and very carefully he eased her down onto the seat beside him. Edith, realizing how difficult is was for him with just the one arm, stood and turned to help balance the child, their hands cradling her as she was settled on Anthony's right side. He smiled his thanks as his eyes met with Edith's before she straightened up to move back to his left. Had it not been for the disapproving grunt from across the car, he could have believed the three of them were locked away in their own little world.

It was just another hour or so before they pulled into the station in Newcastle. "This is our first stop," Anthony announced.

Edith looked at him, surprised. "Newcastle?"

"Yes, we'll stay in the hotel tonight and then tomorrow, there is something I want to show you."

Edith smiled at him, looking very curious. "What can there be at Newcastle?" she wondered out loud.

Mrs. Paxton was gathering together her things and collecting her son before moving across to wake Emma. Anthony debated internally whether to stop her but Emma as awake before he could find an answer. Still, the closer proximity of the woman perturbed him. Glancing her way and then sheepishly back at Edith, he saw that his very observant wife hadn't missed his discomfort. Thankfully, she said nothing in front of the other woman.

"Tomorrow dearest," he said firmly but feeling every bit of the sparkle that he knew was showing in his eyes.

"I know you said you wanted Emma with us on this trip," Anthony said as he opened the door to their suite, "but I've arranged a room for Mrs. Paxton and the children across the hall there and Stewart and Moffet have rooms on the floor just below." Although he was looking into his wife's face, Anthony didn't miss the frown on the nanny's face. "Stewart can help me when needed and Emma will be close by and we will have our privacy as well."

Edith looked at him, amused. "You've thought of everything," she replied dryly.

"I've tried to…" he answered.

Turning to the others, Anthony handed a key to Mrs. Paxton. "I trust you and the children will be comfortable. I've arranged an extra bed and there is a bath in the room." She took the key from him, her hand lingering over his far too long for his liking but he said nothing. Turning to Stewart, he handed the man his key and also Moffet's since she was behind the man. "We'll be fine for a while if you'd like a chance to get settled."

Stewart nodded. "I'll be back with tea later then."

"Thank you, Stewart."

Turning his attention back to Edith, Anthony saw that she had wandered into the suite already, leaving him standing in the hall with the nanny and the children. "Well, then….we'll see you at tea, Mrs. Paxton. Bring both the children; I see no reason why your son can't join Emma."

Mrs. Paxton looked at him oddly but merely nodded before turning to the room behind her and inserting the key. Thinking her settled, Anthony followed his wife into their suite. "Is everything alright, sweet one?" Her back was to him and as she turned, he saw tears in her eyes. "What's wrong?" he asked as his long legs took him to next to her instantly.

She pointed to the table behind her, a vase of flowers taking up almost the entire surface. "You….the flowers…you…thank you, darling."

Relieved that her tears appeared to be happy ones, he enveloped her in a hug. "I thought…well, it is the first day of our honeymoon…and I thought them appropriate." He glanced over at the vase, satisfied that his instructions had been followed with the entire vase filled with red roses.

He felt her arms wrap around his middle, hugging her body tightly to his. "You are so very thoughtful and sweet," she murmured into his chest.

"Not at all, I simply want you to be happy."

"Then you are succeeding, for I am very happy….extremely happy…immensely so."

He pulled away to gaze into her sparkling eyes and grinned, his heart filled with the joy of her. "And I shall endeavor to keep things that way," he promised. "For now, I think you should rest. It will be time for tea soon. After, I thought we might stroll around town until time to dress for dinner."

"But what about Emma?"

"She'll join us for tea. The rest of the afternoon and evening belongs to us though, my sweet. I saw the wisdom of bringing her along but we deserve to have at least part of our honeymoon trip to ourselves, don't you agree?" He winked and waited for her response. Expecting a glib retort, he was surprised when he received a kiss instead.

Tea passed pleasantly enough a while later. Mrs. Paxton was quiet, much to Anthony's relief. He wasn't certain how much more of the woman he could tolerate. Emma was behaving herself, although Anthony did notice that she seemed to be drawing back from Edith again… Mrs. Paxton's doing, no doubt. As it concluded and Mrs. Paxton began to collect the children to return to their room, Emma looked at him sorrowfully. "Why I can't stay here with you?"

"Because darling girl, you can't. We've had tea together and Edith and I will peek in before you go to bed, but the rest of the afternoon and evening you will remain with Mrs. Paxton."

"But Edith gets to stay with you in this room. Why do I have to stay with Mrs. Paxton? Why can't I stay here with you? I want to stay with you."

The child was nearly in tears and it upset Anthony to see how disturbed she was. But he was just as adamant that he was going to have time alone with his dearest one. "Edith stays with me because she is my wife and husbands and wives stay together. Now go along with Mrs. Paxton and we'll see you later."

It was clear the girl was unhappy with the arrangements. Still, Anthony had the happiness of another girl uppermost in his mind. Once the door had closed behind the trio, he turned to Edith and saw that she was distraught by Emma's pleas as well. "Oh Anthony, she could walk with us, couldn't she?"

"No, she will not," he replied firmly. "I meant what I said, I want time with you and just you. Emma's a sweet child and also a very needy one. We'll find a balance but this is our honeymoon and I will have time alone with my wife. Soon we'll have another little one to divide our time together and hopefully soon after another…and another…and…"

Her eyes grew wide at his suggestion that they might have so many children. Then she started to giggle. "I find it hard to believe you would want so many," she said jokingly.

"Why? Do I seem like I don't care for children?" Her reaction befuddled him.

"No, no I think you will be a wonderful father…you are already to Emma. No, it is just… so many?" She looked at him with wide eyed wonder.

Grinning unabashedly, he relied. "Yes, at least a couple of daughters, don't you think? And it would be nice to have a son, someone to pass the title to when I'm done with it. It isn't much of a title but still… it would be nice."

"I never suspected you of such ambition," she teased.

"Oh, I can be very ambitious if the motivation is right."

Motivation? And what is your motivation behind wanting so many children?"

Suddenly feeling very roguish, Anthony winked. "It is not in the having, my dearest, it is in the creating."

He watched and saw as his meaning took hold in her mind. She blushed the most adorable pink he'd ever seen, he thought. Looking up him bashfully, she smiled. "Yes, I think you are quite right about that."

Caught in her gaze, he felt his legs weaken. My god, he thought breathlessly, she can reduce me to mush with a simple look. "Perhaps we should freshen up after the train ride?" he suggested, trying to turn his mind from the inevitable thoughts that were forming, thoughts of her in the rather large bed in the adjacent room, the feel of her bare skin beneath his fingers, and…

...And that's where I'm leaving it for now, lol. But I promise to post part two of the afternoon soon;-) Readers and reviewers seem to be dropping off; is interest waning, I wonder? I have more planned so I guess I'll just keep writing;-)