Good sense, innocence, crippled and kind.
Dead kings and many things I can't define.
Oh Cajun spice, sweats and blushers your mind.
Incense and peppermints, the color of thyme.
Incense and Peppermints – Strawberry Alarm Clock
"Edith, I don't mean to alarm you but the sky seems to have gone green…" Anthony mused as he waited for her to unlock the door. He couldn't quite place which street they were on. The rows of houses were a little more rundown than where he would expect to find the daughter of an Earl, but it certainly seemed safe enough. Parked cars lined the street, people already in for the night. None of them foolish enough to be out at such a late hour.
"It'll be blue come morning, don't worry." She smiled, pushing the door open. "Come on, you'll lie down and I'll…"
"Dote?" He suggested with an unusual chuckle.
"Would you like me to dote on you?" She smiled, ushering him into the house.
"I've never been a fan of being doted on. Granted no one has ever cared to dote on me." He mused, leaning against the doorframe across from her, a lost look on his face. Edith's expression turned sly as her hand found the vest of his suit and pulled him a bit closer.
"That is a crime, Sir Anthony." She was ready to kiss him again, more than ready. She had had a crush on the man for years, since she was a young girl and suddenly here he was. He had come looking for him, out of pure chance, the day when she needed something good to happen he found her.
"Indeed." He seemed to realize what she was angling towards and moved closer still, leaning to press his lips to her when something fell inside the apartment. Grudgingly she stepped back, closing the door once Anthony was inside before moving further in to investigate the sound. Edith froze in the open archway that led to the living room.
"Michael, what are you still doing here?"
"Waiting for you, baby. You didn't actually mean what you said this morning." He smirked, moving towards her. At that moment Anthony's hand appeared, taking hold of Edith and pulling her back towards him and the door. "Oh… perhaps you did."
"Somebody slipped him a stamp at the pictures. But I did in fact mean what I said to you and expected you to be long gone by now."
Anthony didn't like the look of Michael Gregson. Edith had described him as a weekend hippie, which was clear in his appearance. The man was trying terribly hard to appear hip and modern. Next to Anthony he looked like some sort of an undercover DI. He was dressed in fitted striped pants and ankle high suede boots. The ensemble was painfully topped off with a black turtleneck and a fringe vest. Had Anthony not been under the influence he would have stayed quiet, as it was…
"My God you look ridiculous." Anthony heaved, leaning against the wall. "I can see why your parents were concerned, Edith."
"Oh, that's why Eed brought you home, an old friend of the family."
"Old enough to dress like an adult, yes. Perhaps that's why I'm being asked in and you're being shoved out."
"Why you…" Michael started, moving towards Anthony, but Edith jumped between them before they could reach each other.
"That's enough. Anthony, why don't you go upstairs and lay down. Michael, leave."
Anthony reluctantly nodded and started for the stairs.
"Are you really shoving me out for him?" Michael demanded.
"It doesn't matter, Michael. You've been shagging anything in skirt as soon as my head has been turned."
"Then running home to his wife." Anthony offered from the hallway.
Edith peered out to see him sitting on the stairs, looking quite confused.
"What are you doing?" She asked.
"I've forgotten how to manage the steps." He sighed, resting his head against the banister. "He's married. I knew I recognized the name Gregson. Bertha, right? Bertha Gregson? Slender redhead, had that grand scene in the middle of the Ritz bar a few months back. Screaming about how her husband was upstairs with a girl half his age."
Anthony's eyes drifted shut, his fingers reaching for Edith's wrist where he began to stroke the gold bangles she wore.
"Edith, I…"
"Is it true?" She asked, turning sharply on Michael.
"Yes."
"Get out now." Edith replied, emphasizing each word.
"Fine. But you'll change your mind. When you find such an older man doesn't quite hold a candle to me."
"I'm sure I'll manage to get by."
"By? Bye. Bye, Michael." Anthony called out, perking up slightly as his mind processed the words he had just shouted out as well as the closing door. "Your arm is so smooth."
"Those are my bracelets, Anthony." Edith smiled sadly, sitting down next to him on the stairs, letting him continue to marvel at the simple jewelry.
"I like them. I think I'd like your bare skin better… have I spoken aloud just now? I can't seem to keep track of what I'm thinking and saying. I feel so ebullient. Is that normal for LSD?" He whispered the name of the drug just incase someone might being in hearing distance.
"We're alone, dear, you needn't whisper."
"Are you sad about Michael?"
"No. I don't think I am. Just feel a bit foolish is all."
"Don't. He's a foolish cad. Certainly not worthy of a goddess like you."
"Goddess? Anthony, I really think we should get you into bed."
"Don't fight me on this, Edith. You've always been brilliant, even as a child. You're beautiful on top of that, with those lovely eyes and delectable lips…" He brushed his fingers along her cheek, his thumb lingering near the corner of her mouth. "And you're so very kind to an old fool like me. I've never felt such passion in my life, I'd worship at your feet."
"Sweetheart, the drugs are talking." She spoke softly, brushing his hair back gently.
"Merely lending a voice to my many thoughts. Do you like me? Not many people notice me enough to like me." He continued on, closing his eyes and leaning into her touch.
"I like you very much, Anthony. I've rather fancied you since I was a silly little girl."
"Really?" His focus returning to their conversation.
"Oh yes, the ideal man in mind has always tall, with piercing blue eyes and soft blonde hair."
"Edith… that describes me." He whispered excitedly.
"Yes, dear." She couldn't help but smile.
"I'd like to kiss you again."
"I'd like that."
He leaned forward without hesitation and kissed her. It was much more intense than their kiss outside of the theatre. His mouth moved eagerly against hers, his arms wrapping around her to pull her close. Edith's hands found his jacket lapels, holding them tightly to keep him near.
"I haven't kissed a woman in ten years." He confessed when they pulled back to catch their breath.
"Could have fooled me." She laughed softly, not letting go of him. "Let's get you up to bed, yeah?"
"Will you stay with me?" He asked, his hands moving from her back around to her hips.
"Yes, but only to sleep. Tomorrow when you've returned to your right mind we can talk about a different night together."
"I'd like to have that talk." He took hold of the banister and pulled himself to his feet.
"Do you remember how to climb the stairs?" She asked as he took her hand, helping her up.
"I think so."
It took them a fair amount of time to reach the bedroom, but once they were there Anthony seemed to relax. He pulled his suit jacket and vest off, hanging them off the back of a chair before slipping off his shoes.
"I like this room." He mused, looking around the space. The walls were an old patterned wallpaper of red flowers on a dark red background. It was a warm room, though still missing some items. There was a large bookshelf sitting empty, almost nothing in the closet, just a small suitcase sat open on the floor with a typewriter still in its case. "A bit sparse isn't it?"
"I've only just moved in. My parents are holding most of my things hostage until I come get them myself."
"Ah, springing the trap."
"As it were. This works out rather well though, I can take my stuff with me in the morning. I forgot to get my key back from Michael. I'll have to get the locks changed." She shrugged, waiting until Anthony climbed into bed and closed his eyes before she removed her jewelry and then began to ease out of her tight dress.
"We should have breakfast in the-" Anthony froze. He had turned to face her just as she pulled her dress off. Her curls were mussed from the fabric brushing against them. But he couldn't take his eyes away from her pale form. Her black bra and knickers offering a stark contrast to her skin. "You glow."
"What?" She looked back at him and realized that he was staring. "Oh, hardly, Anthony."
"I've never seen anything like it… It's as if you're lit from within." Edith turned her back to him, reaching for her nightgown. She dressed again then took the spot next to him on the bed.
"Anthony, you've got goodness knows what running through your system right now."
"I know what I see, goddess." He murmured, pressing a kiss to her bare shoulder.
"You are going to be mortified come morning."
"As long as I'm mortified with you." He shrugged with a strangely nonchalant attitude.
"You're charming at all times, aren't you?"
"Yes." He nodded, kissing her shoulder once more before collapsing against the pillow.
"I'll be right back, I'm just going to wash my face."
When she came back a few minutes later, makeup free, she found Anthony already asleep. It was oddly easy, climbing into bed with him. Almost as if she had been climbing into bed with him every night. As soon as she turned off the light on the nightstand and settled into her own pillow, she felt him shift behind her, an arm curling around her waist so that he was wrapped around her.
"You're far too lovely for the likes of me." He whispered in his sleep.
"I'm quite fond of the likes of you."
The sunlight was harsh to Anthony's eyes when he first woke. With a shrug he assumed that he forgot to close his curtains the night before and simply rolled over, away from the light. It took him a few moments to realize that he wasn't in his own bed and there was a warm body curled up next to him. The night replayed before his eyes; finding Edith in the bar, their dinner, the movies, the stamp, the kissing… there had been a fair amount of kissing and a promise of more. Could she really want him? The notion struck him as ridiculous. Although before last night the notion of strolling the mod scene and taking a hit of acid seemed like complete lunacy.
"Feeling all right?" A voice came from somewhere around his chest. Edith's head was resting below his shoulder, she was looking up at him sleepily.
"Better. My head hurts a bit."
"Well, mind expanding hallucinogenics will do that to a person."
"I feel like an idiot."
"You couldn't have known."
"I didn't… I hope you don't feel that I forced myself on you last night."
"Of course not, Anthony! You may not have noticed but I was more than willing to participate. I only put you off anything more until you were thinking for yourself. I would happily sleep with you, I've… well I would be lying if I said I hadn't thought about it over the years. But I don't want you to regret anything. That would hurt me more than anything else possibly could."
"You really want me?"
"Yes." He could see the honesty in her eyes. For some unknown reason she was interested in him and in a snap decision Anthony decided to enjoy it while it lasted.
"Why don't we spend the day together?" He suggested.
"I'd like that. Would it be all right if I leave my cases at your apartment? I need to call Thomas to change my locks later."
"You don't think Michael would come back do you?"
"He might. Sounds like his wife is as crazy as he can be."
They lingered in bed for another hour or so, kissing occasionally or welcoming the caress of a roving hand. But eventually the want for breakfast forced them up. Anthony redressed in his suit from the day before while Edith pulled on a tight pair of plaid cigarette pants and loose green sweater. Closing up her suitcase he took her things downstairs while she looked around for anything forgotten upstairs.
"Would he steal anything?"
"Probably not. But if he were to come around with one of his little friends, never know with the sort he likes to run with."
She took her typewriter after a great deal of fighting, not wanting him to have to carry everything. They started walking down the quiet streets. Both were early risers, setting them out before most normal people would be on a Saturday morning. They walked in silence, occasionally bumping into one another gently, giggling then continuing on.
They arrived at his, a blue-doored flat in Holland Park. Edith was worried for a moment that his home might be like her parents', a cold relic of what status once meant. She was pleasantly surprised to find herself in a welcoming space. Rather than the overbearing dark colors and textures she was greeted with soft blues and plaids, with lingering hints of the late Lady Strallan in the form of the occasional floral pattern. It was warm and cozy, everything that a home should be.
"Thoughts?"
"It's lovely." She smiled, setting her typewriter down.
"I'm going to get changed." He decided.
"May I use the phone?" She called after him.
"Of course, just in the office, second door down the hall. The kitchen is to the left if you're hungry."
Edith wandered down the hall, peeking into the office timidly. It was his private space, probably where he spend the majority of his time while home. The thought of him sitting in the room alone in front of the fire made her feel equally sad and comforted. Anthony was solid, sturdy, not completely obsessed with station and status like her parents. He could go out and have fun when compelled, but was also happy to sit home and read. That was clear judging by the rows and rows of books that lined the shelves of the room.
She made a quick called to Thomas, asking him to stop by and swap out the locks. When he asked where he could reach her, she brushed off the question, simply offering the number where he could reach her if need be. After their goodbyes she went in search of the kitchen, certain that Anthony was just as hungry as she but not presuming that she would be doing the cooking.
"That was fast." She startled, finding him in a pair of trousers and a warm sweater while standing over the stove.
"Men don't have quite as many layers to remove. Eggs?"
"Please. I'll make the toast."
"Coffee is started, should be just another minute or so."
Edith couldn't help but grin. She had never been one to think of the domestic life. Truth be told she never imagined a husband for herself, she figured she would become the fun, eccentric maiden aunt. But standing in the kitchen with Anthony, the morning light streaming through the windows facing the garden, she couldn't think of anywhere else that could compare.
"What is it?" He asked, realizing that she was staring.
"Hmm? Oh, I was just…" She flushed, looking around for the toaster. "Nothing, I was just lost in thought."
"Thank you."
"For what?"
"For taking care of me last night."
"Of course. I wasn't about to let you wander through the streets of London."
"Did you mean what you said last night, about how long you've been… interested?"
"I did. Is that something you would like to pursue?" She asked, trying to ignore the hammering of her heart.
"I thought we might go for dinner tonight."
"Yes?"
"A date, if you will."
"How long since you've been on a date?" She asked, leaning against the counter. He turned off the range and moved closer, a hand resting on either side of her, not touching.
"Well over a decade, at least." His smile prompted one of her own.
"I will be honored to be the first in such a long time then."
"Perhaps we could come around to the topic of… what is it that skinny chap says in the song I hear playing in the student club? Let's spend the night together?"
Edith laughed, closing the distance between them to give him a kiss.
"I'll have you familiar with that skinny chap and the Rolling Stones in no time."
"I'm looking forward to it."
Let's spend the night together
Now I need you more than ever
Let's spend the night together now
I feel so strong that I can't disguise
Let's spend the night together
But I just can't apologize.
The Rolling Stones