Once again, many thanks to all who have reviewed and followed!
They spent everyday together, either at Downton or at Locksley. Anthony hired workers to repaint the bedroom and encouraged Edith to plan the rest of the décor. She tried to include him in the planning but he simply waved her off. "Whatever you wish, my dear. Just please nothing too lacy or frilly," he teased. And then raking his eyes over her slight form, he smiled. "I much prefer the laces and frills on you…taunting little things that I can endeavor to remove."
Edith blushed profusely but smiled. "And what are you planning to wear so that I might take the same pleasure?""
"My god, I'm marrying a little minx," he laughed.
Edith grew quiet as she watched the amusement in his handsome face. "I…" she started but then paused.
"What is the matter, my dear? I hope I didn't offend you?" Anthony asked with concern.
"No, not at all. It's just… with William… that side of marriage was something to which I did not look forward. I remember Mama telling Mary before her wedding that with the right person…it could be …fun," she said, turning all shades of pink and red. "I do hope that…well…with us I do hope it will be fun."
Anthony smiled softly. "I do hope so as well…more for your sake than mine. At my age, you see, it isn't as…pressing as it was when I was younger. I could be quite content to simply live in your company. But I do know you want children and I hope that creating them will be pleasurable for you. And if it is fun for me as well, then all the better." He paused for a moment, thinking. "We could test the waters, so to speak," he suggested.
Edith looked up at him, surprise in her face. "Test the waters?"
Anthony leaned in and very gently lifted her chin with his left hand. Then slowly, so as not to startle her, he touched his lips to hers. Her reaction captivated him as her breath caught and her hand slid behind his head. But at the same instance, she was rather shy about his kiss. Sensing that she was agreeable, he pressed a little harder and then even a bit more, his tongue tracing her lips, granting him the lightest of tastes. And oh how sweet she tasted too. He wanted more but was wary of demanding too much. But as he began to ease away, her hand clamped the back of his neck and she whimpered. So he kissed her again, this time a little more bravely, stealing more of her sweetness with a flick of his tongue.
Edith could feel the rapid beat of her heart in her chest and the room had suddenly gotten warm. His lips on her were unlike anything she had ever experienced before. In their failed courtships, he'd never kissed her like this. And the farmer's kiss hadn't been as sweet and tender. William's kisses had always been chaste and somewhat absent minded. But this…it warmed her to her core, lighting a fire of excitement and desire. She wanted more.
He pulled away again and met her eyes with his own sparkling blue ones. She'd always thought Anthony handsome but in that moment, she thought he looked years younger too. "Well?" he asked.
"Well? Well what?" she replied, somewhat dazed.
"Did that seem like it might be fun?" he teased.
She was shaking by now, trembling from the passion and the loss of heat when he pulled away. "I…yes…I think…" Edith stammered. Oh why couldn't she think straight? But as she looked into his serene face, she knew why. She wanted him in a way she had never known. She'd felt the heat of infatuation with the farmer. And she'd felt the beginnings of love with Patrick. William had introduced her to the physical side of relations, but it had been passionless. With Anthony it all came together, the infatuation and love…and yes, passion.
Anthony moved to kiss her again, thinking he might be a little bolder this time, when she stopped him with her hand. "There will be more…than just kisses?" she asked.
His eyes bored into her with such intensity that she held her breath. "Oh my darling, I do hope so. I hope these little stolen kisses are only the beginnings of our … fun together," he said with a quirky smile.
Feeling a little braver, Edith ventured deeper into the conversation. "With William…sometimes it…hurt when he…well, you know…"
Anthony's expression grew very tender. "Oh my sweet, it isn't supposed to do that…not after the first time or two. Didn't you speak with your mother about these things?"
"No, not really. She tried to tell me what to expect on the first night but beyond that….no." She looked away demurely, afraid of what he might be thinking.
In a soft, gentle voice he tried to reassure her. "You must tell me if it hurts, when we…are together. I haven't a lot of experience myself but still, you must tell me. And I promise I will do everything possible to make you more comfortable. Do not think you must bear it if it isn't…painless, I mean. I must confess that I might get carried away when the time actually comes. So you must tell me, alright?"
She smiled into his anxious eyes. "Yes, I will. I want it to be…as mother said, fun."
He gathered her to him and held his arm around her with her head against his chest. Planting a soft kiss on the top of her head, Anthony smiled. "My dear, I want nothing but your happiness. So I promise to endeavor to always make it fun."
The anniversary of the accident came and Edith woke in a gloomy mood. It wasn't until Anthony appeared just before luncheon that she left her room. The meal was quiet, everyone painfully aware of her mood and the reason for it. Anthony watched her carefully for signs of distress. The Dowager showed up mid afternoon and tried to engage Edith in conversation when they all sat in the drawing room. But Edith wasn't responsive.
Deciding she'd had about all she could stand; Anthony asked her if she wouldn't like to take a walk. Looking at him gratefully, she agreed and they excused themselves from the rest of the family. "I thought tomorrow you might like to go to Somerset, to visit Robbie."
Edith turned to him, her expression one of surprise. "You would do that…go with me to Dunsmore Hall?"
"My dearest sweet one, why does that surprise you so? Surely by now you understand I would do just about anything to help you."
Edith sighed. "I am not used to such attention…to feeling so loved."
"Well then, you must endeavor to trust it. I know it isn't fashionable in our class to admit it so freely, but I do love you, with all of my heart."
"I don't want to stay at Dunsmore Hall," she blurted.
"Then we will not. We'll visit Robbie and if it grows late and we need to stay, we'll find an inn."
Edith stopped on the path they were following and looked at Anthony. "I am grateful you know, that you came back into my life. I don't know how I would have survived if you had not."
Anthony patted her hand that was tucked around his useless arm. "I am pleased that I have been of help. But you would have survived without me, of that I'm quite sure. I am the one who has reason to feel gratitude… that you have given me another chance."
She looked up into his face with glittering eyes. "I can't wait until I am your wife," she murmured quietly.
"I must confess to some eagerness as well," he returned. "But I don't wish for you to build your expectations too high; I am not a young man, you realize. You are so passionate and full of life, I'm not at all certain I will be able to keep up."
Watching his face, Edith saw an awkward smile crawl over his face. She wasn't certain about what he might be thinking but she thought she might guess. Perhaps there would be an opportunity on their trip for her to demonstrate just how perfect for her he was.
Her family wasn't pleased with their plan to travel to Dunsmore Hall the following day, especially the part where they might stay in an inn. But much to Edith's and even more, Anthony's surprise, it was Robert who cut his mother's comments off, declaring that perhaps it might benefit Edith.
"Then someone really should go with them," the dowager complained.
"I can't," Robert said quickly. "Matthew and I have a meeting with Murray."
The dowager's eyes moved to Cora, who glanced briefly at her husband before replying. "They will be fine. Anthony has proven that we can trust him with our daughter, Mama. And none of us are available to accompany them. I trust Edith and I am certain Anthony would never do anything to compromise her."
"Yes, yes, of course. But what will others think? People will believe the worst scenarios."
Anthony interceded. "I'd be most happy to make the arrangements, if you would like to accompany us, Lady Grantham," he offered as he looked at the dowager.
She looked up at him haughtily, shock in her eyes. Edith watched in awe as Anthony matched her stare, his jaw set, and his bright blue eyes determined. Finally Violet Crawley drew herself up straighter and said "I don't believe that is necessary," she said with aplomb. And so the matter was settled.
I see one, maybe two more chapters and an epilogue. Have to finish this because my poll seems to think I need to start on an E&A Christmas story.