Loxley was always a beautiful place—though Anthony was biased, he knew—but it was especially so at Christmastime, with greenery strung everywhere and an enormous tree in the main hall. The servants were more chipper, and Edith positively glowed with the joy and responsibilities of the season. Anthony loved to witness the way her giving nature expanded to rise to the occasion of each Christmas to ensure no friend, neighbor, or tenant was left out of the merrymaking.
After Maud had died, Christmas had been a solitary affair: just Anthony, his butler, his steward, and the blustery cold of the Yorkshire countryside. He would go and visit the Chetwoods and would look in on some of his tenants to make sure they were set up well for the winter; but it was nothing at all like the joy and togetherness he had known since he had married Edith, despite all odds, in the summer of 1920.
Anthony loved her to distraction, and Edith adored Anthony more with each passing year. They were each the aid that the other needed. Anthony gave his wife the confidence to be assertive with her family and to reach her highest potential in the publishing world. And as Anthony said, Edith had given him back his life: he had learned to drive again with just one arm, he had taken control of Loxley and the estate as the lord of the manor—but most importantly, there was no longer a sense of dread and helplessness pressing in on the sides of his consciousness. There was just Edith, hope, and the gratitude that comes with a dream fulfilled.
Just over two years after their marriage, they were blessed with a daughter, Anne, on the 22nd of December. Having a child was even better than Anthony could have ever imagined. Anne brought life to the house like no one else could, with her miraculous little moments of learning how to walk, talk, and get anything she wanted from her Papa with a single look. She had curly blonde hair and a dimple in one cheek that melted every adult she saw, but none more so than Anthony, who Edith had to work hard to keep in check. Anne had every toy and book that a child could possibly want, and it was only through Edith's intervention that she did not have every toy in England.
Despite her near-spoiling, Anne was a kind, modest, and bright child, so much like her Papa that it brought tears to Edith's eyes. It nearly burst Edith's heart with the knowledge that Anthony had finally had a child, and she was his mirror image. Sometimes, when they were all sitting around the fire in the library, Edith could see the wetness in Anthony's eyes while Anne dozed on his chest.
In fact, he looked just that way now, settled into his armchair. Anne's wooden building blocks were discarded on the rug and her head rested on Anthony's left shoulder. One little fist curled over Anthony's heart. Anne was growing fast and would only be able to do this little teatime ritual for a few months longer. Her limbs were long already, and Edith was sure she had inherited something of the height of her father.
"It's a good thing she's still small enough that I only need one arm to hold her," Anthony whispered, more to himself than to Edith, who was sitting on the chaise lounge opposite.
Edith smiled a little sadly. "You must remember, to her, Papa has always just had the use of one arm, yet she is delighted with him anyway."
Anthony gave her one of his lopsided grins. "What about her Mama?"
"Oh, she is very well pleased with her husband. Perhaps too much so, and it is spoiling him." Edith set down her teacup on the tray. "How was your drive today?"
Anthony took Anne on slow drives around Loxley, as he wasn't comfortable taking her on a public road without being able to use both arms. Regardless, Anne was fascinated by the Rolls and loved to press her nose against the window and watch her father's estate trickle by. "She loved it, per usual. I feel as though we're going to blink once and you will be teaching her how to drive."
"Oh, Anthony. It feels like just yesterday I was upstairs giving birth to her and cursing your name to the heavens for the effort of it. But as of tomorrow, it will have been five years!"
Anthony chuckled low, trying not to wake Anne, who shifted and mumbled something incoherent. "But you know how much I appreciated the effort, my dear. And you gave me the greatest Christmas gift imaginable."
Edith grinned, helpless with her admiration for this man. "You know, while you were both out for your drive, I had Dr. Clarkson 'round."
Anthony's heart stopped with fear. Was Edith ill? Had she been hiding it from him because it was Christmastime and nearly Anne's birthday? He leaned forward slightly, balancing Anne on his leg. "Sweet one, are you well?"
"Apparently so. Well enough to be carrying another little Strallan, it seems. We will be welcoming him or her in the early summer next year."
Anthony froze while Edith tried not to giggle with her excitement and the look of pure shock on her husband's face. "You are joking, Edie."
"I am not!" She was fully laughing now, though trying to control it, so Anthony would know she was in earnest. "I assure you it is the truth. I had my suspicions but wanted to confirm it before I told." Anthony didn't realize he was crying until Edith's face changed and she came over to kneel at his feet. "Oh Anthony, you aren't disappointed, are you? I know you love Anne dearly, but I have no doubt you have room in your heart for another."
Her husband was so choked with emotion that it took him several attempts to reply. "Disappointed? Edith, you have done it again. What a present, my love." He leaned down and kissed her while Anne stirred to wakefulness, finally disturbed by all this movement.
"Papa? Are you well?"
"Yes, darling. We have something wonderful to tell you."
Anne, figuring it had something to do with one of her birthday presents, looked at her Mama with blue eyes sparkling. "Did Papa get me a pony despite you telling him I was too little, Mama?"
Edith laughed heartily. "No, he did not, and my orders on that matter still stand. Anne, you are going to have a little sister or brother."
Anne looked thoughtful for a moment before asking with complete sincerity, "Will they be here for my birthday tomorrow?"
Her parents laughed heartily and leaned in to kiss her cheeks.
