Wow, I've been away from this for too long. Sorry about that. I started this chapter in February and it has taken me being on lock down because of Covid to finish this one chapter. I sure hope you think it was worth the wait. I need to do better!
Edith's packing was delayed awhile longer however, as she was met by her father and grandmother in the passage to her room. Her grandmother was scowling with a look of determination while her father simply looked angry. "Edith, we really must discuss this madness with Anthony Strallan," her grandmother declared.
"What madness, Granny?" Edith's tone was deferential yet equally determined.
"Perhaps we can discuss this in your room?" Her father was looking around nervously, obviously afraid they might be overheard.
"I don't believe there is anything to discuss," Edith replied. "Anthony has asked me to marry him and I have accepted. We have decided to marry as soon as possible. It all seems very plain to me."
"But it is not," Granny declared, tapping her cane on the floor for emphasis.
Edith opened her mouth to reply but was cut short by her father. "In your room, please."
With a dissatisfied sigh, Edith walked past them and opened the door to her room. They followed her in and her father closed the door behind them. Standing at the foot of her bed, not allowing them further egress into her space, Edith glared at both. "Granny, it is quite simple really. Anthony was set to propose to me before the war and was interfered with the day that war was declared. He is back and though injured, still the man I wanted to marry before the war. I see no reason why we shouldn't marry now. And before you reply, please consider that nothing has changed as far as I am concerned except that we both are four years older. I've grown up quite a bit since then and I know my own mind."
"But he is far too old for you, my dear."
"Funny, no one seemed to think he was before the war."
"And…and his injuries. Surely you see that they will be impediments to your happiness?"
"I see that Anthony has some healing left to do, yes. I also see that I can help him with that. And I also see that hurt arm or no hurt arm, he is the same man inside, the one who understands me and cares for me."
"And his memory loss?" Papa interjected before Granny could respond.
"Dr. Rivers believes he can help Anthony with that. But as I've said before, if his memory never returns I will still feel this way about him. I understand what I will be facing by marrying Anthony. What I can't understand is why the two of you are so opposed to it. Why was he suitable for me before the war but not now? He was injured fighting in a war that you wanted to fight in, Papa. What if, instead of Anthony being the injured one it was you? What if the Army had taken you back and you had returned wounded, as Anthony is wounded? Would you expect Mama to not welcome you home? Would you believe you are no longer suitable for her?"
Papa hesitated for a moment and sighed. "But we are already married and have been for years. Apart from that, yes, I would most likely feel that I was unworthy of her if I were wounded like Anthony is. However, because we were already married and have a family, I would expect to be welcomed home. I don't believe I would expect much more though."
"And you would be wrong," Mama's quiet voice sounded from the now open doorway. Slowly, she opened the door more widely and entered. "You would be welcomed home, my darling, and warmly. And I would consider you very worthy, regardless of your insistence otherwise, because I love you." She stepped closer to her husband and smiled up at him. "I would be heartbroken if you rejected me out of some warped sense of honor or duty."
Edith saw that her father was swayed somewhat by her mother's comments, but Granny was not. "Well, that is all fine because, as Robert said, you had been married before. It would be your duty to accept him and his injuries. But it is different with Edith. She and Sir Anthony have not been married, not even engaged. And even if they were engaged, he wouldn't remember it. And he is still too old."
"Granny," Edith started to argue. But it was Cora who intervened. "You considered Sir Anthony a reasonable catch before the war, Mama. Their age difference has not changed. Perhaps the war and his injuries have aged him a bit, but he is still healthy. And as I recall, both his parents lived well into old age. I imagine he will be around for many years to look after Edith."
"Thank you, Mama, but I don't want to be looked after. At least not in that way. I hope we look after one another, care for one another when it is needed."
"Yes, but she will be looking after an old man," the Dowager declared, ignoring Edith. "She will be in her prime, in full blossom and tied to an injured old man."
Edith glared at her grandmother. She heard her mother's light gasp and felt her father's discomfort. "Injured and even when he is finally old, Anthony will be my man and I cannot imagine being married to anyone else. None of your arguments or excuses about why that shouldn't be will sway me, Granny. I will marry Anthony and soon. Whether or not you support our marriage is entirely your decision. But you will not stop it from happening."
Granny looked almost shocked, although Edith doubted that anything could truly shock the old woman any longer. Papa looked as if he was seeing his middle daughter for the first time ever. And Mama, Mama was almost smiling. Granny might be against them and Papa might have his doubts, but in that moment, Edith knew that she at least had the support of her Mama.
"Perhaps we should discuss wedding arrangements?" Cora offered softly.
"Thank you, Mama, but Anthony and I have already made our plans. We'll be married in Scotland. We want as much time together as we can get until he has to report to the hospital there. We have no intention of lingering around waiting for a church wedding."
Granny was taken aback; Edith could see out of the corner of her eye. Papa's brow was furrowed. Mama took the lead. "Might we attend, at least?" She asked.
"Yes, if you'd like; but only in support of our marriage. If you aren't in support then please stay away. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have some packing to do. We'll leave tomorrow."
Granny huffed and glared at her son in an obvious attempt to make him correct the situation. Robert stood very still for a moment and then ventured a question. "So soon? Can't it wait another day or two?"
"Perhaps it could, but I'm not willing to let it wait. Anthony and I will board the train for Scotland tomorrow. "
Taking a small step towards his daughter, Robert asked very gently, "You are certain about this?"
"I am, Papa."
"Well, alright then…. I can't say I fully support this… this … development. But I won't fight you on it either. I hope that when you and Anthony return to Locksley, we will see you and then perhaps I might begin to understand better."
"Thank you, Papa. Of course, we'll see you when we return. And I do hope you understand one day."
Robert Crawley gave his middle daughter an awkward hug and slowly left the room, his head down as if he was contemplating something of great importance. The Dowager gave Edith one last stare before she followed her son out of the room.
Cora Crawley turned to her daughter. "Can I help you with anything? Perhaps you might pack a few things for now and I can have the rest sent to you once you've settled in Scotland?"
"That would we wonderful, Mama. And thank you."
Cora crossed to the bell pull on the wall to summon Anna and then turned to her daughter's packing. She wasn't entirely happy with her daughter's choice for a husband but Edith didn't seem interested in the usual suitors and they were equally uninterested in her. Perhaps she was right, perhaps Anthony Strallan was the ideal choice. But even if he wasn't, Cora had admired Edith's stand on the matter and wanted to make her daughter feel supported and loved. And after all, there might be grand children and Cora was eagerly looking forward to that prospect.
That night, as Edith crawled under the warm covers of her bed, excitement filled her as she contemplated the new journey she would begin tomorrow. She wondered if Anthony was equally happy.
Alone in his room, Anthony packed his few belongings and then sat quietly in a chair next to the window gazing out at…. Well, nothing really. His mind was too far into his thoughts, thoughts of Edith. He knew being his wife would be difficult for her, especially in the beginning…. And the end. So he tried to focus on what the in between might be like. And those thoughts cheered him. Still, that middle ground would be difficult to find; there were so many obstacles. Most of them belonged to him, he reflected.
It was still so very incomprehensible to believe that such a lovely young woman could find the remotest thing attractive about him. Yet, she obviously did. No one, especially someone like Edith, could feign the passion in her kisses.
It was all so perplexing to him. On the one hand, he knew he was being selfish, claiming her for his bride. But on the other hand, she seemed to want it so much, so desperately much. She had said that she understood things would not be easy, but he wondered if that could really be. Yet, she had seen him in some of his worst moments and her determination had not diminished. And of course, there was that word she had used, vocation. That word still bothered him. He truly did not want to be anyone's vocation, especially not hers. However, in recent days and with the added hope supplied by Dr. Rivers, Anthony was beginning to be able to see himself in a better light. He might never be whole again, but he could still be… well, a man that could be happy and could make his wife happy.
And more than anything, he wanted that, to make his wife, to make Edith happy. And so he too climbed into bed that night full of excitement, with a small portion of his usual anxiety. But he was happy, perhaps even as happy as Edith.
