I'm sorry I'm so slow these days. My muse has gone into hiding, it would seem.
In this one, I mention the Minank Theatre. I've taken some liberties with this since this story takes place roughly a decade before work began on the theatre. But it was just too tempting to pass it by. I hope you enjoy the read.
Edith did take full advantage of their time of being just the two of them. Consequently, Anthony slept on the train as they travelled from Scotland south past Yorkshire as they headed for Cornwall. They stopped overnight at Crewe, both tired from a long journey and need of being off the train. A train would leave in the morning headed for Birmingham where they would transfer to a line finally headed for Cornwall. Anthony was disappointed that they were making so many changes along the way but it was simply unavoidable.
For the first night in their marriage, the happy couple went to bed with both agreeing it was simply to sleep. Edith was exhausted from the trains but was still excited to be following Anthony on this journey he was taking her. She couldn't imagine what might be awaiting them in an area of the country she considered the most remote.
Upon their arrival in Cornwall the next afternoon, Anthony led Edith to an awaiting cart that was pulled by a pretty speckled pony. Edith smiled as the pony shook his head when he saw Anthony. "Friend of yours?" she asked Anthony.
"He is, as a matter of fact. He lives on the farm where we'll stay while we are here. I inherited the farm from my uncle, my mother's brother, a few years ago. Should sell it really but sometimes I enjoy coming down here. A husband and wife farm it and keep the cottage. But there are spare rooms for us and I thought it might be a good place to stay while we take in Cornwall."
"How did the pony know to be here to greet us?"
"Richard, the farmer, brought him. I imagine he is around somewhere. I think our friend here can just about manage the three of us but I don't think all our luggage will fit in the cart as well."
"Tis alright," a deep voice spoke from behind. We'll get you settled at the farm and I'll come back for the luggage," the voice's owner continued.
Anthony smiled as he turned to greet Richard. The men shook hands and Edith noticed that Richard didn't hesitate to offer his left hand to Anthony's. "Seems like a bother to make two trips, Richard. This is my wife, Lady Edith Strallan."
Richard tipped his hat to Edith as a greeting and turned his attention back to Anthony. "Thought you might say that so I asked Bert to bring his cart for the luggage. Had to make it worth his time but he was agreeable. His is the black pony across the road. "
"Excellent," Anthony said. "And I'll take charge of paying for his time," he added firmly.
Richard nodded and then spotting Bert walking down from the pub, he grinned. "Best let Bert and me carry the luggage and you two take our cart. Looks like he's been down to the pub for an ale or three and I wouldn't want any accidents. Just show us the bags and we'll take it from there," he said confidently.
Once the luggage was identified, Anthony handed Edith into the cart and then climbed in himself. Taking the reins in his left hand, he clicked his tongue and told the pony to "walk on."
Watching Anthony confidently holding the reins, Edith smiled. "You gave up riding after the war but driving the pony cart doesn't seem to bother you."
He returned her smile, although a bit awkwardly. "Yes, well… riding requires both hands unless you are riding the American cowboy style. I suppose one of my horses could have been retrained to accept both reins in one hand but… you see, I saw so many of them in France, blown to bits or starved or simply shot. I suppose I lost my desire to be around them. This little chap changed that though. He really is quite a friendly little steed. Besides, he really isn't difficult to guide, as he knows this road well. I most probably could put the reins down and he'd still trot on back home."
"What's his name?"
"Jago." The pony's ears perked up at the sound of his name but he kept his steady pace as the cart moved along the road. Soon they rounded a hill and Jago turned into another small road that led downhill to a cottage nestled behind the hill. Beyond the house the landscape opened to a beautiful view of the sea. "Oh, it's beautiful," Edith exclaimed .
The cottage was cozy but very comfortable. Anthony led her upstairs to the second level, showed her the facilities and further down the hall, their room. It wasn't big, not when compared to the rooms they would have had a Downton or Loxley, but for the cottage, it was sizable.
They spent two days simply enjoying the scenery and each other. On the third day, they travelled to Penzance. After checking in at their hotel, Anthony made inquiries about the Minack Theatre. Edith listened curiously as Anthony and the man at reception spoke in hushed tones. She smiled as her husband came away from the desk wearing a broad smile of his own.
"I've made arrangements for us to see a play at the Minank tomorrow. In the meantime, shall we explore the high street?"
Edith felt Anthony watching her as they explored the shops, almost as if he were cataloguing everything she looked at and categorizing its value to her. She discovered later that evening that indeed, that is what he had done when a box was delivered to their door by one of the bellhops. Inside were a few of the items she had admired in the shops; a colorful scarf, a ceramic figure of a pirate, a bracelet that was really nothing more than as souvenir item really, a book about Cornwall, and a few other inexpensive things that she had admired and would treasure as keepsakes of their time there.
The play surprised her. It was perched on rugged cliffs with a stunning ocean view that was a show all in itself. Anthony explained to her that the sloping cliff had been reworked by hand, each stone carved to fit the space and create the seating and stage. In some cases, sand had been carried up from below to mix concrete for the pieces. "This is only the beginning," he told her as they looked around the small seating area. "There are plans for so much more." The theatre troop was performing The Tempest and Edith could not think of a more perfect setting.
They spent the next ten days exploring the rest of Cornwall, the moors and shores, inlets and coves, and pristine beauty of the area until one night, curled into Anthony after some rather glorious love making, Edith whispered to him that she thought they should go home.
"Home? Really? You think of Locksley as home?" he asked, his eyes shining with delight.
"I do, my darling. I really do."
"The we shall leave tomorrow," he declared.
It took two days to make the journey but when the car turned into the drive for Locksley, Edith felt a giddiness boiling inside her. As the car pulled to a stop in front of the house, she nearly jumped from it and turned to grab Anthony's hand as he climbed out. "Come on," she giggled.
Surprised by his bride's excitement, all Anthony could do was follow along as she led him around the house toward the trees. Halfway there, he began to understand where she was leading him but remained quiet. Finally, she came to a halt at the spot where Anthony had saved her from her attacker not so very long ago. "This is where we began, really began," she declared. "This is where I knew without a doubt that we are meant to be together."
Anthony looked around the spot thoughtfully. "Seeing you again that day… it was if I could breathe again. I still felt it was wrong, the way I felt, but there was no denying it."
"I think it was fate," Edith declared happily.
"Perhaps," he agreed with a soft, tender look in his eyes. "Whatever it was, I'm gratified that it brought you back to me."
"I've feel like I have been on a long ramble since that day in the church, Anthony, lost and without direction. But now, home at Locksley with you, well…. I'm finished with rambling. My life has a direction now, a purpose."
"I hope you aren't still looking at me like a project, a needy thing that needs your attention?" His expression was fearful, even horrified.
"No, more the other way around. I think I shall be in need of your attention and as for a project…"
Anthony looked at her curiously, although somewhat relieved. "Edith?"
"I'm not absolutely certain but I believe we have a little project in the works already, my darling."
Anthony frowned, confused. "We do?"
Edith took his hand and placed it over her tummy as she watched understanding dawn in his face. "We do." His expression changed to happiness, followed by fear, and then followed by joy. "Oh yes, my dearest darling, you shall have all of my attention as our little project grows. No more rambling for you. I shall wrap you in cotton wool and keep you safe. I'm afraid I shan't let you out of my sight."
"Agreed," she smiled as he wrapped his arm around her into an embrace. "From now on, my only rambles will be around Locksley and always with you beside me. I'm no longer lost and I have found my direction. You are my lodestone and I will never be parted from you again."
Somehow I feel as if I should be saying that to you, sweet one. But I agree, no more rambling for either of us. We'll stay here, happily ensconced in our own little world, you, me, our precious little Marigold, and our little project in the works."
And so they did.
Another story ended :) Back to work on Blank Slate and I believe there is another one or two floating around out there somewhere. I'm not done yet!