Random acts ficlet
Title: Old-fashioned Love Affair
Author: Aussie
Rated T
(300) word ficlet
Characters/pairing: Edith/Sir Anthony
“I’d like to hear more about what you did while I was away.”
“I enjoyed my work at the hospital,” she said carefully.
“Ah, yes, your work.”
She stiffened. “It wasn’t as important as the work done by the doctors or the nurses, granted. But I felt useful.”
He smiled slightly at her sharp tone. “I meant your help to the Drakes, actually,” he admitted. “I heard you drove their tractor.”
“Yes.” She thought she saw a flicker of emotion flit across his features. “What else have you heard?” she dared ask.
“Enough. But I’d like to hear your side of the story,” he prompted gently.
Her mouth went dry. Her side of the story would not appease him any more than Mrs Drake’s.
“Working at the hospital, learning to drive. You really became the modern independent woman whilst I was gone,” he said with a sad smile.
It took a long moment before she found her voice. “Not quite as modern as Mary,” she murmured. Her sister could manage secret affairs much better than she could, it seemed.
“No,” he agreed quietly, “you’re not anything like your sister.”
She searched his features; his gaze was clear and seemingly sincere.
“Do you mind?” she asked softly.
“Would you be willing to become less independent?”
Her nails now bit into her palms. “Is that--”
“I’m afraid I’m old-fashioned in some ways,” he continued, “and I’d like my wife to be dependent on me just a touch.”
She smiled through the tears that had gathered in her eyes. He reached out and took her hand, brushing his lips across her knuckles.
“I will insist on driving,” she rasped.
He chuckled. “Of course, my darling.”
Her heart beat wildly at the endearment.
Apparently, she’d leave it to Mary to be modern and independent.
Author: Aussie
Rated T
(300) word ficlet
Characters/pairing: Edith/Sir Anthony
“I’d like to hear more about what you did while I was away.”
“I enjoyed my work at the hospital,” she said carefully.
“Ah, yes, your work.”
She stiffened. “It wasn’t as important as the work done by the doctors or the nurses, granted. But I felt useful.”
He smiled slightly at her sharp tone. “I meant your help to the Drakes, actually,” he admitted. “I heard you drove their tractor.”
“Yes.” She thought she saw a flicker of emotion flit across his features. “What else have you heard?” she dared ask.
“Enough. But I’d like to hear your side of the story,” he prompted gently.
Her mouth went dry. Her side of the story would not appease him any more than Mrs Drake’s.
“Working at the hospital, learning to drive. You really became the modern independent woman whilst I was gone,” he said with a sad smile.
It took a long moment before she found her voice. “Not quite as modern as Mary,” she murmured. Her sister could manage secret affairs much better than she could, it seemed.
“No,” he agreed quietly, “you’re not anything like your sister.”
She searched his features; his gaze was clear and seemingly sincere.
“Do you mind?” she asked softly.
“Would you be willing to become less independent?”
Her nails now bit into her palms. “Is that--”
“I’m afraid I’m old-fashioned in some ways,” he continued, “and I’d like my wife to be dependent on me just a touch.”
She smiled through the tears that had gathered in her eyes. He reached out and took her hand, brushing his lips across her knuckles.
“I will insist on driving,” she rasped.
He chuckled. “Of course, my darling.”
Her heart beat wildly at the endearment.
Apparently, she’d leave it to Mary to be modern and independent.