By the Creek
The next afternoon Edith retrieved Mark from the convalescent ward and drove away from the estate to an abandoned farm. She turned into an old lane and drove them as far back as she dared towards a creek.
"I'm sorry I can't go any closer," she said. "We won't have any space to turn around."
It was a warm, stuffy day and the cool air coming from the creek was a pleasant relief. Edith carried the basket and blankets, while Mark made his way slowly beside her. He had definitely overdone it the day before and he was stiff.
"I'm sorry I'm not much help," he said.
"By this time next year, you won't even think about it," Edith said. "You can't give up."
They reached a quiet glade beside the creek where there was a small waterfall coming over some rocks. It was an idyllic spot that made you think fairies and nymphs would emerge at any moment from the surrounding forest if you sat quietly enough.
"I wish I had your optimism," he said.
"I learned to drive didn't I?" Edith said with a hint of mischief. "I was hopeless when I first began."
"You couldn't have been that bad!"
"That's what you think," Edith said. She told Mark of her many failed attempts when learning to drive and the many mistakes she had made. "I don't know how Tom stood me. He was our chauffeur before he married my sister."
"Your sister married the chauffeur? I thought you said he was a speechwriter."
"He is. His career took a small detour while he romanced my sister. After they married he worked as a reporter and then moved to politics."
"So your father is an understanding man?"
"Hardly that. There was a terrible row when they told everyone they were married. I felt sorry for him. He's a very nice man, but the rest of them just couldn't see it. My sister and her husband have always encouraged me even no one else did."
"My sister is running the farm back home in my absence. She hates it."
"When do you think, you'll return?" Edith asked.
"When I'm well enough, which is obviously not now. It's a long hard trip. We live on the South Island. After the sea voyage it is another long trip home. It's beautiful there you would like it."
They had finished their picnic lunch and put away the dishes.
"What's it like?" Edith asked. Mark had lain down on his side on the blanket. He couldn't manage to sit up for too long.
"Green rolling hills as far as you can see with fences and sheep. You can see the tops of the mountains in the distance from the house."
"It sounds lovely," Edith said.
"And quiet. I couldn't wait to leave. Now all I want is to go home and raise sheep and live a quiet life."
"Not too quiet or you will be an old man before your time," Edith teased.
Mark tried to roll onto his back and groaned.
"If I get anymore stupid ideas kick me in the shins," he said.
"Where does it hurt?" Edith asked.
"Everywhere."
Edith went to the stream and brought back the cider that was chilling in the water, uncorked a bottle and handed it to him. He took a drink without sitting up. She took the bottle from him took a drink and put it to the side. She started undoing the buttons of his shirt.
"What are you doing?" he asked trying to pull the fronts of his shirt back together and blushing.
"You said it hurts. I'll rub your chest and back for you, but you have to take off your shirt. If you leave it on, I'm liable to snag your tie and choke you with it." She knocked his hands out of the way and finished unbuttoning his shirt and pulled off his tie. She started to rub the muscles on the side of his neck and slowly worked her way lower onto his chest. He lay watching her for any sign of revulsion, but she kept rubbing his chest until he sighed and started to relax. He slid his hand into her hair and pulled her down for a long kiss. Edith was careful not to put any weight on him.
The bugs danced by the sides of the stream, the sound of the water combined with the songs of the birds in the trees overhead made time feel like it was standing still. Edith's heart was pounding as she pulled back. His lips were moist and slightly parted from their kiss and he pulled her back for more.
"This wasn't quite the type of rubbing I meant when I said I would rub your chest for you," she said when she pulled back. She undid the cuffs of his shirt and began to pull his sleeves off his arms. She began rubbing the arm closest to her, he snuck his hand around her side and traced it up her ribs. His eyes opened slightly in surprise when he realized she wasn't wearing a corset. She finished with the one arm went to the other side and rubbed that one too. The left side had the most scaring and there were lines on his arm as well. She took a mouthful of cider and leaned over letting it trickle from her mouth into his while he kissed her.
Once they had broken off the kiss Edith pushed on his shoulder for him to roll over.
"It's not fair," he complained in a low tone. "You have me at a disadvantage."
"I have you right where I want you," Edith said. "Now roll over."
He finally managed to comply. The scaring ran around onto his back as well and disappeared into the waistband of his trousers. Edith slowly caressed his back and then increased the pressure. Some of the muscles were knotted into hard rocks and she kept rubbing until she felt some of them release. Finally she pushed on him to roll back over. He reached to pull her down again, but she knocked his arms away. He hands went to the waistband of his trousers and she started to undo the buttons.
"Edith I can't, at least not yet."
"I want to see it," she said. "All of it. I don't want you to be embarrassed anymore."
He nodded and finished undoing his trousers. He undid his drawers as well and pushed them down. Edith had to finish pulling them off, as he couldn't move well enough kick them off. She ran her hands over his hip where the worst of the scaring was and down his left leg. She massaged his leg then turned her attention to the other one. When she finally allowed herself to look at his genitals she was a bit shocked by the site of a fully erect male in broad daylight. Her previous experience had been in a darkened bedroom with only the faint glow of the moon coming through the windows. This was something totally different.
She moved to lie beside Mark and placed her head along side his on the pillows she had brought. He looked into her eyes with a small smile as he turned onto his side and pulled her close for a long kiss. He slowly pulled her closer so just his chest was resting on her. He took his time stroking her tongue with his and trailing kisses across her face and jaw.
"Are you feeling better?" Edith whispered in his ear.
"You are the best medicine in the world," he replied between kisses. His fingers slid the buttons of her blouse open and he cupped her breast through the silk of her undergarments. His thumb rubbed her nipple until it was nothing but a bundle of sensation. He was kissing her neck at the same time and slid his lips lower to the edge of her garments.
"Will you take them off? All of them?" he asked against her lips. "Be with me as much as we can?"
She meekly nodded and quickly pushed off her clothing. She returned to lying beside him and moved as close as she dared so as not to inadvertently bump into any of his injuries.
"It wasn't fair, you know," he said as she snuggled in close beside him. "You got to see me, now I want to see you." He looked at her appreciatively lying naked beside him.
"You're as beautiful as a statue by a master," he said before his lips closed back over hers. He kissed her lips and trailed kisses down to her nipples. Edith ran her fingers through his hair and rubbed the skin of his shoulders and torso. He played with the indentation of her navel and traced his fingers along the edge of her pubic hair. His lovemaking was different that what she had experienced with Bill. Bill had a practiced sureness about him that Mark lacked. Mark's actions were more awkward and hesitant but were delivered with a desire to please. Edith rolled a little further onto her back and moved her legs apart so he could explore her. She slid her hand down to stroke him and run her fingers around the swollen head of his penis. She was a mass of desire and had to fight the urge to wrap he legs around him and pull him inside her. His fingers explored her gently touching each fold and crease as though she were made of the finest porcelain. When he finally found the perfect spot that was driving her to a frenzied pitch, she whispered against his lips, "Yes, there, that's perfect."
She stroked him faster and firmer running her fingers over the head until she cried out and bucked her hips against his hand. He came quickly but was unable to move and his semen landed on her side and on the blanket. Edith watched it pour out of him and glanced up to see the look of intense pleasure on his face. She placed a light kiss on his mouth and put her arm around him. It was fascinating to her to actually see what happened to a man at the moment of his orgasm. He squiggled around until he was lying on his back again. He moved his arm closest to her so he could pull her close but not so it would take her weight. They lay there together for a long time saying nothing.
"How long before you can, you know do the other?" Edith finally asked him. Her cheeks colored at her question.
"At least another two months, so the Doctors say. Even then it will have to be inventive. At least we know everything works. I'm sorry I made such a mess."
"You have nothing to be sorry for," Edith said. "Your handsome just the way you are."
"I suppose we have to go back soon. I don't really want to."
"And where would you like to go?" Edith teased.
"Shopping!"
"Whatever for?"
"It's a secret," he said with a wicked grin. "I haven't been shopping in almost a year."
"Alright, I'll take you tomorrow. Ripon is the closest. There's a new tractor I've been wanting to look at anyway."
"A girl after my own heart," he said with a chuckle.
When they arrived back at the Abbey, Lord Grantham came out front to meet them.
"Where have you two been? You've missed tea."
"We were out exploring, Papa," Edith said.
Mark's face colored slightly.
"Nothing too strenuous, I hope," Lord Grantham said, his eyes narrowed when he looked at the younger man.
"No, Sir," Mark managed to choke out. Edith was standing by his side blushing profusely. The perspiration was starting to bead on Mark's forehead. Christ he had to stop this, he was acting like a naughty teenager. They hadn't even gone all the way. "Lady Edith has been showing me some of the countryside."
"How much longer are you expecting to stay?"
"Another three months at least, Sir."
"Yes, well carry on. Just watch your step young man."
"I intend to, Lord Grantham."
Edith's mother approached her as soon as they got inside and Mark made a hasty retreat back to his assigned bed. "What a damn mess, I am," he thought to himself. "I can't even make love to a girl properly." His emotions were skyrocketing all over and it was all he could do to get his pajamas on and get into bed.
When he heard the man in the next bed coming into the room, he pulled the covers over his head. The man was a walking encyclopedia of off color comments.
"I heard you were out with the blonde today," he said louder than appropriate. "How was she? Did she squeal in that posh voice of hers?"
Mark threw back the covers and pushed him self up so fast it took the other man by surprise.
"If you ever make another rude comment about Lady Edith, her sisters or any other woman on this property, I swear I will finish what the Gerry's started. Do you understand me Lieutenant?"
"Yes, Sir," the dumbstruck man said.
Mark flopped himself back into bed. He didn't want to think anymore today. He closed his eyes and tried to block everything out, but his dreams were filled with a blonde haired woman and the sensation of sunlight streaming through the trees onto his naked body. He woke up through the night when a muscle decided to cramp. At least these dreams were better than the ones he had been having for the last eight months, he thought to himself. He fell asleep again wondering how Edith would look lying in the straw in the hayloft back home.