Yes, I'm still alive and kicking, haha! I know I had said I'd have this up a month ago, but well.. real life and all that, you know. Hopefully, everyone is doing well as we keep trying to find our way out of this Covid party pooper. Hope you enjoy the read; let me know what you think :)
The next few days were bliss. The nights, even more so. Although in some things, day or night mattered little. Their appetite for one another seemed insatiable in Anthony's view. He knew he could never have enough of her but was in a constant state of wonder that she seemed to feel the same about him. And Edith had a vivid imagination when it came to ways they might act on their desires. By the end of November, Anthony couldn't enter several of their most used rooms without a memory of one kind or another intimate encounter seeping into his thoughts. And as each day passed, his Edith became more beautiful in his eyes.
She had begun to encourage him to look into the running of the estate. "I know it would be foolish to disrupt your manager's oversight at this time," she said. "But it might be a good idea to look into how things are progressing. And also, it might raise the morale of your tenants, to see you back and taking an interest would be calming, I would think. After all, they trust you; you made changes before the war that helped them and seeing that you are back will give them courage."
"Do you really think so?" He wondered.
"Yes, I really do," Edith replied. Consequently, the next day they paid a visit to the estate office and arranged with the manager, George Philpott, for them to begin visiting each of the tenant farms, letting Anthony be seen and also to introduce the new Lady Strallan to all. Philpott was a tall man, although not nearly Anthony's height. He was broader and had a heavier build than Anthony and sported a bushy reddish-brown moustache that was redder than the thinning hair atop his head. Anthony read sincerity in the man's green eyes but joviality as well. In short, the man's deposition was honest and easy. Once the greetings were done, Philpott, or George as he insisted upon them addressing him, quickly agreed to accompany the couple to the farms and make the introductions. He listened intently as Anthony described his concerns at not being able to remember the farmers or their faces. "It will all be new to me," Anthony said in conclusion.
"Yes, I see that this concerns you, Sir Anthony. We could explain to each tenant the injuries you have suffered but instead, may I suggest that I introduce Lady Strallan, giving her the names of the tenants while you listen? That way, you could have their names without it becoming obvious that you do not remember them. And in the case of the few tenants who are new to us, I would introduce them to you both, and in doing so let you know that they don't know you from before."
"Yes, splendid idea," Anthony agreed. "I do appreciate your help in this, George. Shall we begin the visits tomorrow then?"
"Yes, of course. I'm sure all of the tenants will be pleased to see you, Sir Anthony. Many have expressed concern upon hearing of your injuries."
"Yes… er, thank you."
"Yes, thank you, Mr… George," added Edith. "I am very excited to meet everyone."
As they walked back to the house, Edith wrapped her arms through Anthony's left one, obviously happy with the progress of their plan. Anthony's spirits bubbled with delight at her eagerness. It was no surprise to either that their enthusiasm turned into something more passionate when they returned to the house, making an immediate trek upstairs to their bedroom. Oates, watching them as they moved from the door and up the stairs, turned on his heel to instruct the servants that the couple was not to be disturbed. No one doubted the reason behind such instructions and all happily made certain to avoid the hall in which the master's chamber was located. Cook later became concerned when there was no sign of the couple appearing for dinner. Finally, Oates made the decision to have their dinner put on trays, which were carried upstairs and after a soft knock, were carried inside the room when Anthony opened the door wearing only his robe and a smile.
In most households, such behavior by the master and his bride would have been gossiped about. However, the residents of Locksley were delighted that Sir Anthony, long seen as a sad widower and now as a wounded and sad hero, should be smiling and obviously not so sad. In short, the staff was almost as delighted as their master with the turn of the afternoon.
The following morning, after a very long but very sweet night in Anthony's view, the couple arose late and hurried to prepare for the day. Breakfast turned into more of a brunch and then the two were out the door, hurrying toward the estate office. George Philpott greeted them with a smile and suggested they begin with the closet tenants, requiring only the cart and not the estate truck. Edith smiled and agreed and before long, they were all seated in the cart. George caught Anthony by surprise however, when he handed the reins to him. "Oh, I don't think…"
George stopped him quickly. "This is Puddin', Sir Anthony. She's an easy beastie, very pliable but she knows the way to each farm too. Once you have her pointed in the right direction, she'll carry us there without any fuss. And she always did prefer your hand on the reins. Please, she'll be happy to have you guiding her."
Anthony wasn't as certain about the idea of him driving the cart but as he held the reins, something did feel right about it. And if the horse was as easy as George claimed, perhaps he could manage with just one hand. He glimpsed at Edith who was beaming at him, full of confidence that he wasn't feeling. But why not give it a try? George can take over if necessary. And with that thought instincts took hold and he snapped the reins and Puddin' began to move them forward. George pointed to the track they needed to follow and Anthony turned them in that direction, soon feeling Puddin's understanding of what was expected of her as she pulled the cart toward the first farm. Anthony felt a small surge of confidence; he was taking back a small part of what had been lost and while he had no memory of Puddin' or driving a cart, it felt good.
Their first stop was Knotty Knoll Farm. George explained that it had been inhabited by the Hodgson family for four generations. The current tenants were Harry and his wife Ellen and their three children, Harold, Hannah, and Hubert. George told Anthony that Harry had managed well through the war without any laborers to help him but that he was getting older and his sons were taking over most of the work. Both the sons had been in the war and Hubert had returned with a limp but seemed to be alright. Hannah had been married but her husband had been killed in France. She'd returned home after his death. Together, the family was working the farm and it was profitable. Harry had been married as well but she'd died in childbirth two years previously. All the children were still in their 20s, so hopefully one or all would marry and there would be young Hodgsons to continue tending the farm.
"What are their crops?" Edith asked.
"Oh, well… after Sir Anthony insisted on crop rotations on all the tenancies, it changes from year to year. This year they brought in a good hay harvest, along with beans. They used about a quarter of the farm as pasture for sheep this year. And I believe Mrs. Hodgson tends a sizeable vegetable garden for the household and some for the Downton market. He's been breeding pigs for about three years now too. They slaughtered their first hog a few weeks ago. Sent a quarter up to the main house. My impression is that the sons plan to move the pasture to a fallow section of the hay field and begin preparing this year's pasture for a corn crop in the Spring."
As Anthony listened, he was impressed. But more, something resonated within him. He couldn't remember learning about crops and rotations and such, but he knew that the Hodgsons were doing things correctly. And from all George had said, they were profiting from it, which meant Locksley was too.
Harry Was a stout man just past middle age. His wife was of the same age but thin. And as he looked into her face, Anthony saw that once she would have been beautiful. But the hard life of farming had worn lines into her features and weathered her skin. The young men took after their father, stoutly built, square shouldered, and strong. In the daughter, Anthony saw the beauty er mother had once been. All had dark hair and brown eyes that showed intelligence. George made the introductions as he'd promised and Edith greeted each Hodgson warmly. After shaking the firm hands of the men, Anthony spoke with each of the woman and smiled as the daughter tittered at his manner. Hannah seemed shy and nervous around him, much to Anthony's chagrin. Glancing across at his wife, who was perhaps only a year or so older than the farmer's daughter, he could see in her expression that Hannah's behavior toward him would be the center of some teasing from Edith. Her face remained pleasant and she seemed attentive to Ellen, but her eyes were full of mischief. Truth be told, Hannah's behavior made him uncomfortable.
"Lady Strallan, would you like to join us for a cuppa," Ellen asked, a nervous smile on her lips. "I'm sure the men will want to have a poke about the farm but I just baked some tarts that'll smell better."
Edith smiled and thanked her for the offer. "Yes, that sounds lovely. Tarts sound so much more inviting than pigs and sheep. And you can tell me about your part in all of this, as well. I'd love to hear a woman's perspective on farming and I'm sure there are things I might share with Sir Anthony."
Ellen grinned widely as she led Edith into their farmhouse with Hannah trailing behind. Anthony watched them go and wished he might follow along too. "Tarts do sound delightful," he said quietly to the other men. "Let's 'have a poke around' and see if we can't return in time to claim a tart or two for ourselves, shall we?" Anthony could tell that Harry was pleased with the interest in his wife's tarts and that made Anthony feel good too.
Overall, the visit went well. Anthony could tell that Harry had been on the farm all his life and remembered Anthony well. Somehow, whenever the conversation moved toward something Anthony would be expected to remember, George managed to change the direction and allow Anthony to dodge an uncomfortable exchange. For that alone, Anthony knew he would be forever grateful to George. The men did make it back to the farmhouse in time to claim a tart and Edith and Anthony traded praise for Ellen's baking talent.
The family was doing well on the farm but what impressed Anthony the most was how well they all seemed to work together, how close they were. Anthony hoped all the farms were running as smoothly as Knotty Knoll Farm was. As the trio climbed back in the cart with Anthony taking the reins, George suggested that the head for another farm that was just down the path. "This one's farmed by old Jack Turnbull. He's had the tenancy since your father's time and done well. But I'm afraid it is getting too much for him now. We've already taken back about a third of the land and are using it to graze estate livestock but Old Jack is still not keeping up. But you'll see, Sir Anthony; something will need to be done soon. He might just make the rents for a few months more but I doubt he'll be up to planting his acreage when Spring comes."
Anthony absorbed all that George was telling him. "Sounds as if he has been there most of his life. Is there a way the estate can take over most all of his tenancy and just leave him with a few head of sheep and perhaps a hog or two with some land for his own use?"
George smiled. "Aye, there is. That's just what I've been thinking was the thing to do. He's going to fight it though. Proud man, Old Jack is."
"Perhaps you might take it in increments," Edith offered. "Maybe suggest the estate does most of the planting and leave the livestock for him to tend for another year or two?"
George cleared his throat. "Actually, I thinking that this year, instead of taking the land back we'd just send some of the lads over to help with the planting, see how he does with keeping things up, and then help with the harvest. All the while, we can start talking with him about giving up more next year."
"That's a lovely idea," Edith said softly.
Anthony smiled, pride filling him as he saw his lovely wife's enthusiasm for his estate. Even though he really couldn't remember living there before or any of the history of Locksley, he could see its importance and his duty to his past family, the tenants, and the surrounding community. That Edith took it all as seriously as he did was comforting and gratifying.
