Chapter 12

Declaration

In the morning Edith felt strangely shy with Martin. It was as if she had revealed too much of herself to him. The usually-serious Ellingham was being a bit silly, and she was somewhat unnerved by his behaviour. After having a shower, she began fixing her wet hair into the French braid she had worn since her first day at med school. Ellingham softly asked her not to braid it but to let it fall loose. It looked pretty, he said.

He had never commented on her appearance, except to once remark that a melanocytic nevus on her neck should be examined by a dermatologist. A house officer at St. Mary's looked at the spot and identified it as a simple mole – a beauty mark. When Edith reported the diagnosis, Ellingham blinked and said: "I'd have it examined by someone more senior. You would never have a beauty mark."

That morning, he nuzzled her neck and suggested they return to bed and take a later train to Larchmont. This was very unlike him. On leaving his bed, he would push through the day until every task had been completed, even if he were exhausted. Perhaps, it was the relief of finishing med school and having a few blissful weeks with no responsibility that rendered Ellingham so nearly charming.

Edith enjoyed this change in him but wasn't certain how to react. It was probably short-lived but might mean her departure for Canada would be less bothersome for him. They had tea and toast before leaving for Victoria Station, and Martin talked more than usual as he packed for the trip.

At the newsagent, he bought her "Marie Claire" magazine, her secret indulgence, which he swore never to reveal. In turn, she bought him a copy of "New Musical Express," his secret indulgence because of its strident opposition to the current Conservative government. Two packets of Tim Tam biscuits, shortbread fingers and a bag of crisps were purchased for the journey as well.

The mid-morning train had few passengers and they sat opposite each other with Edith resting her bare feet in Martin's lap. He periodically rubbed them as he would do after a long day in the lab. Edith never tired of these massages, despite Ellingham's strong warnings about the ill effects of her impractical footwear. They said little but lazily leafed through their magazines and devoured the sweets and crisps. It would be a carefree holiday they both needed.

At the Larchmont Station, they were greeted by Garth Willett, Mum's surgery assistant, who took them to a small, decrepit truck. Martin offered to ride in the truck bed, but Willett suggested Edith sit on his lap. It was only a short trip, and the truck could not be made to move fast.

Willett eagerly reported current village gossip to Edith, and even Ellingham smiled as he told one story after another. Most involved drinking, a bit of fighting, and unplanned pregnancies – both human and animal. Mum was currently furious that her prized mare had been impregnated by a rogue stallion from a neighbouring farm. Zuzu, the horse, could not be ridden for several months, and Dr. Montgomery was threatening to turn the stallion into a gelding.

As they drove, Ellingham held Edith closely and played a bit with her flowing hair. Recalling that Edith had deserted Martin one Christmas at Larchmont Hall, Garth did not question their re-appearance together. With the Montgomery siblings, he had seen so many pairings and uncouplings, even their mum had given up knowing who was in favour.

Rose Montgomery had confided to Garth her hope that Martin would some day marry Edith as they were well-matched. Alright then, this week in Larchmont would prove interesting. See how long before young Edith acted up and ran off the poor bloke. More than a few village boys had suffered this treatment as well as two or three of the snooty chaps she brought from Oxford. Rose might be right though. It seemed this one could stand up to Edith and her nonsense.

Willett took them to the house where Lolly had lunch waiting. Mum would be back from her rounds in an hour, but insisted they have a meal on arrival. Both of them looked too thin in London. After lunch Martin said he was tired and excused himself to have a short rest. Edith rose to join him, but Lolly tut-tutted, saying Martin was not to be in Edith's room. He was to take David's old attic room.

"Nonsense, Lolly. I'm a grown woman and Ellingham will be in my room."

Raising her chin, Lolly proclaimed: "Not in your mother's home, Edith. You may do as you please in London, but at Larchmont Hall, you do as your mother wishes."

Ellingham chimed in: "Actually, Edith, Lolly's right. We must respect your mother's wishes. I'm perfectly fine in David's room." Yawning, he thanked Lolly for lunch and left the kitchen before Edith could argue more.

Demonstrating her displeasure with Lolly, Edith slammed the scullery door on her way to the horse shed. There she saddled a roan mare, thinking to have a slow canter through the fields. Garth saw her and called, "Don't take her too far Edith, she's an old girl."

Violet was her favourite horse, and she felt good riding again. As a child, her mother would battle Edith's temper tantrums by plonking her on Violet, and her slow, swaying motion did soothe the crying child. Now, she hoped it would calm her turmoil over Ellingham. At a stream, she dismounted so that Violet could rest and drink, allowing Edith to think a bit. She leaned against an old hay bale set out for winter feed and soon fell asleep.

Some time later, she heard Martin call her name, but he would not approach as he did not like horses. He liked no animals, but he complained that horses were not only smelly and dirty, but stupid as well. He had no idea why a woman as brilliant as Rose Montgomery had devoted her career to their care and breeding.

Ellingham shouted that her mother had returned and sent him to find her. She had invited people for dinner and wanted Edith to help Lolly with preparations. Edith got to her feet and led the horse toward Martin. He jumped aside saying: "No, you ride him back. I'll go on to the house by foot."

"Oh, good grief, Ellingham. Haven't you ever seen a horse. This is a female, not a male. A mare, not a stallion."

"I don't care what it is. Horses are stupid and smelly, and I don't want to be near it."

Edith reached out her hand to him: "Look, I'll lead her and we can walk together. It's not that far. I've missed you."

"It's not been two hours since lunch, Edith. You can't possibly have missed me."

Standing on her toes, Edith kissed him on the cheek and rubbed his shoulder: "No, I did miss you, and I will miss you. You are the dearest man, Martin."

He looked somewhat surprised but pulled her to him. She dropped the rein as he bent to kiss her in a very sweet way. The next kiss was a bit more ardent as they pressed their bodies together and Martin tightened his hold on her. When they broke apart, he said: "Marry me, Edith. We'll have a good life together. Marry me."

Closing her eyes, Edith knew the inescapable moment had arrived. She had to tell him about Canada. "Martin, I can't marry you. I've taken a residency at Royal Victoria Hospital in Montreal. I'll be off to Canada in July."

"Well, change your plans, Edith. You can become a house officer in London. Any hospital would still take you."

He then brought from his pocket, a small, worn velvet box and handed it to her: "This was my grandmother's. My father's mother, not the grandmother I told you about. Aunt Joan gave it to me when we were in Cornwall."

Inside the box was a pretty, antique ring with two diamonds in a rose gold setting, somewhat dulled by age. It was lovely.

"This is a beautiful ring, but I can't take it now Martin. I'll be in Montreal for five years and you'll be in London. With the hours we must work, we'd never see each other."

"Then you stay in London, Edith. Southwood could get you some sort of a post even at this late date. Any hospital would take you. Not a major hospital - maybe one outside the city. Some place would have you."

"I don't want any old post, Martin. I've worked hard and know what I want - Royal Victoria and its programme. Let me get away from England for a bit and see what else the world has to offer. If I don't do it now, I'll be stuck here forever. Why don't you finish your year at St. Mary's and then come to Canada. Royal Victoria would have you in a second."

"Why would I go to Canada? My whole career's planned out here in London. You know I want a top vascular post at Guy's or Imperial. England is where I must be. I can't traipse after you and give up my career."

"No, I suppose you can't," she sighed. "I can give up my plans, but you can't."

"That's right, Edith. That's what you should do. You won't have to work when we marry. You don't need a career. I do. It's as simple as that."

"No, it's not that simple, Martin. I realized the other night that I do love you. I probably have for quite some time, but I only admitted it after graduation. I'll likely regret not accepting your proposal, but I'm taking the residency. I'm going to Canada. If you never want to leave England, we shouldn't think of marrying now. I'm sorry, Martin, I do love you, but its better that we don't marry now."

Edith extended her hand holding the box to Martin. He grabbed it from her, saying: "You'll change your mind, Montgomery" and then walked rapidly across the field. She dropped her head because she couldn't bear to watch him rush away from her.

Violet walked the few steps toward Edith and looked rather accusingly at her. "I know, Violet, I'm a fool for not marrying him." Then Edith hugged Violet and slowly stroked her ears and mane. It was not supposed to be like this. Ellingham was only to have been a distraction during med school. Marriage was for later, much later.

Edith recalled something she had read in "Marie Claire" only hours earlier: "They were two young lovers - too young for love." She and Ellingham were not terribly young. Still, they might not be ready for love. Love came too early for them.

Continued. . . .