I do appreciate all the lovely reviews from the last chapter, well all the chapters really. Everyone is so kind with thier words and it always give me such a boost to see your comments.
I was just over on the Highclere Awards site voting. All I can do is repeat the words of Shirley Temple, "Oh my goodness..." There are so many fantastic stories nominated! Many of my favorite writers are represented and that was good to see. Then I got to the pairing section and had to choose from some excellent stories in Andith world. Seriously? How can one choose just one story from so many great ones? I'm afraid I had a minor melt down as I tried to decide. Good luck to everyone who had a story nominated; you all deserve to win;-) But then, being a part of a fantastic community like Andith Shippers makes us winners no matter what!
I do hope you enjoy this little installment. See ya 'round the boat;-)
Little Abigail was six weeks old when Edith decided it was time to return to Yorkshire. Anthony was ready as well, but he insisted Dr. Willingham be consulted before the final decision was made. The doctor made the trip out to check on mother and baby one last time before pronouncing he saw no reason they couldn't travel in another week's time. "I'll write to your doctor and catch him up," Willingham declared. "And once you've settled, you should let him have a look just to be sure the journey wasn't too difficult. But it isn't that far and with care, I think everything should be quite alright."
Anthony spent the week preparing for their journey home while insisting Edith should spend it resting. The following Monday, Edith and Anthony, along with Philpot, Emma, and Abigail loaded into their first class compartment for the trip back to Locksley. Stewart and Moffet rode in third class as they made their way home.
Edith leaned into her husband once they were settled, contentedly dozing through the trip. Anthony spent the time deep in thought, when Emma wasn't distracting him for a story. When Maud died, he thought his life had ended. His dearest darling that was so contentedly snuggled against him, had convinced him differently in that blissful spring and summer of 1914. He had foolishly let it be snatched away, believing the words of others over those of his sweet one. The war had devastated him in so many ways; he had yet to tell her of his addiction to morphine in those dark days in and just out of the hospital. He was only just conquering the demon when he returned to Locksley, still doing battle every day and even worse, every night. The nightmares had been horrendous, along with the bouts of sweats and shaking. Tea with Lady Grantham was his first attempt at reentering the world. There he had met up with Edith again and once again, she has pushed back the gloom and made him want to live again; gave him hope and new resolve to conquer his addiction. But that day, standing in the church he had known that he wasn't ready; there were so many reasons why marrying her wouldn't be right but most could be managed, he had thought. But the wretchedness of his addiction, the symptoms that continued to rear an ugly head even after he'd given up the drug would smoother her and he couldn't bear that. She deserved better than anything he could offer and walking away had devastated him once more. The trip to America had helped him right himself and now the horrors of morphine addiction and its aftermath had been replaced with the joy of his addiction to her. For the light she brought into his existence illuminated the darkest corners of his mind and deprived his demons of places to hide. Their time together had all but eliminated his nightmares and even the pain he now tolerated in his shoulder and arm since morphine was no longer an option, was lessened. He knew that he would do everything possible to preserve this life they had created for themselves and he would never let anyone interfere in their happiness again, including himself.
The return to Locksley was a happy one. The staff seemed pleased to see the return of the master and excited about the newest addition to the family. A few eyebrows were raised at the baby being born so soon after the couple's union until Stewart and Moffett in an unspoken conspiracy dropped suggestions that the baby had indeed been very early and it was a miracle she had survived. At Downton, Robert and Cora were making similar suggestions and between the two houses, the story quickly spread that "that old codger, Sir Anthony Strallan had managed to impregnate his wife straight out of the gate". The villagers, remembering the time that had passed before the current Lady Grantham had produced offspring and that Lady Mary had taken her time as well, buzzed about the obvious virility of "the crippled old bugger" and also that his new bride was obviously quite taken with him. It pleased all the gossipers, since Sir Anthony was well liked in the village.
Life settled into an easy routine for the Strallan family, with Anthony looking after the estate and Edith returning to writing in between looking after their daughters. A Christening was arranged for Abigail but then expanded to include Emma as well when Anthony and Edith realized the child had never even been inside a church until her grandmother's funeral. After much consideration, they chose Isobel Crawley and Anthony's man, Stewart, to be godparents. Eyebrows went up at Downton over those choices but secure in her new position as Anthony's wife, Edith didn't care. "We chose people who have supported us all along," she informed the family in the Downton library one afternoon. "And we are confident will serve as excellent models for a life of kindness and servitude."
The Dowager of course, mistook Edith's meaning at the word servitude, declaring that if they wanted their children to grow up to be servants, then certainly they had chosen well. Edith exhaled a deep breath as Anthony explained. "Not that kind of servitude," he rebuked in an unusually impatient tone. "Christian servitude," he barked, surprising everyone in the room.
Robert frowned, Cora blinked before looking away, Mary gasped, Tom swallowed heavily, Carson harrumphed, and the Dowager glared. "That is the point, isn't it…of the Christening?" Anthony asked. "While neither of us is overly religious, we do want the girls to understand and we believe Isobel and Stewart will teach by example. And as Edith said, they supported us when others did not." He returned Violet Crawley's glare.
After a moment of stunned silence, Robert spoke. "And I understand you are planning to adopt Emma?"
"We are," Anthony replied in a tone that defied anyone who might argue.
Clearing her throat Edith added, "We think it will help her feel more like family. Once Abigail was born, Emma seemed more aware of her circumstances. We want her to know she is loved and belongs with us."
"I think that is wonderful," Cora said with a smile. "Poor girl has had such a difficult time…"
Mary and Tom exchanged glances. "Well, there will certainly be plenty of cousins as they grow up together. How wonderful for all of them," she said brightly. Tom nodded, looking at Edith approvingly. Mary looked at her sister as well. "All that I ask is that you have a boy next time around, or poor George will be quite overwhelmed."
The Dowager gasped. "Surely you're not…"
"Mary makes a good point," Robert chimed in, uncharacteristically. "We need more little boys running around the estate. In time, I hope we see that…from all of you," he quipped as he looked at Mary pointedly. "We've had enough sadness and misgivings for many lifetimes here. It is only fair that Cora and I should be blessed with many grandchildren bringing much joy to this old house."
All eyes turned to Edith and Anthony, to see the two sitting on the red couch, blushing. "Well, as Anthony and I are the only ones in a position to do anything about that, I hope you aren't planning for any additions soon. My hands are quite full these days with the two we already have."
"Er…we must be getting back," Anthony proclaimed, blushing slightly at the turn of the conversation. "I have a late meeting with a tenant and Edith has an article to polish before sending it off in the morning post."
Once they were settled safely in Anthony's car, Edith began to giggle. Anthony looked at her askance but couldn't help but join in her good humor. "I'm not quite certain what it is you find so amusing," he told his wife as his eyes crinkled in a lopsided smile.
"Just…the whole end of the conversation…that Papa would say what he did. It was because of Granny he did it; trying to diffuse her rancor."
"Yes, well… I'm glad you made it clear that it will be awhile from our end," Anthony said nervously. "I meant what I said about there being at least a year between pregnancies, especially with all the trouble you've had." Edith simply smiled at him with a glint in her eye that increased his apprehension.
I just realized: this is chapter 50. I can't believe I've been on this story for so long!
