A/N: I absolutely love Anthony and Edith, and I've always been firmly entrenched in the Downton fandom as an Anna and Bates fan, but with the recent unwelcome storylines concerning all of my favorite characters, I asked myself 'why not rectify some of Fellowes' biggest mistakes?' Namely, of course, Anthony and Edith's relationship. This fanfiction is an alternate look at what could've happened in series two, and thusly, ends out on a happier note than Julian's story did, though not without its hiccups along the way.
Disclaimer: Downton Abbey is not mine, unfortunately.
Edith clambered up the stairs, her last burst of energy having left her some time before supper with the family, and she heaved a deep breath as she reached the landing, eager to ease her aching body into the soft security of her bed. Her eyes were heavy and her feet were sore, the hard labor something she was unaccustomed to until the recent changes, but welcomed nonetheless— she was doing something, at least.
The decision to make Downton into a convalescent home hadn't been an easy one for Papa, but Edith was glad for the change. It gave her the opportunity to help. She had considered becoming a nurse, as Sybil had done, but had decided if one daughter having a career was enough to send Papa into a fit, she could only imagine what having two would do to the poor man. But as it was, she helped in any way she could, delivering mail, books, and meals to the injured men— maybe she couldn't stitch a wound or set a bone, but she could keep the spirits up. Mama and Papa had gone to bed shortly after supper, and so had Mary, the ache of Matthew's departure still fresh in her mind, and Sybil was still up, tending to the few men that had arrived half way through the night.
The light rustle of fabric from the next room alerted her, and suddenly a man was standing there, his dark features illuminated by the glow of the fire that crept from behind the half open door.
"Excuse me, Lady Edith?" Edith smiled lightly at that— she had told Roger Smith repeatedly that they need not stand on ceremony, that she was simply doing what she could, and that she expected to treated as such, nothing more.
"I've told you, Captain, it's Edith, if you please. We don't need to be formal here, not now. I'm only—" A sharp laugh erupted from the soldier, interrupting her, and he finished her sentence for her.
"Doing your part, I know. Old habits die hard I suppose." He winked and Edith grinned, pleased at the rapport she had developed with the young man. His lanky frame leaned against the doorframe, and he stood nearly a head and a half taller than her, his robe draped loosely around his shoulders, and Edith swallowed a sympathetic smile as her eyes fell to the place his left foot should have been, and the crutch to the left that had replaced it.
"How's the leg, Captain?" Edith smiled kindly, pushing her sadness to the far corner of her mind.
"Alright. I'm getting better with the crutch, I think. I might go home next week— I got a letter yesterday from Mother. She says Pa might need me on the farm, but I'm not sure he'll use me after…"
Edith silenced him with a look, touching the Captain's arm in a comforting gesture. "Now, we'll have none of that. Not when today has been such a good day, hmm?" The young lad, for that was what he was, barely twenty now, dropped his head, his face flushing as he accepted her words.
"You're right, of course, La— Edith." Edith dropped her hand, satisfied that she had comforted the young man as he lifted his eyes to her and offered her a tentative smile.
"Now, what can I get you?"
"Actually, I wanted to return this," he spoke softly, his eyes flicking to the volume of poetry he held, his fingers brushing the faded gold leaf lettering on the leather cover with a delicacy that made his quiet demeanor all the more endearing, "I've finished with it, and would like to borrow the next volume. I do enjoy Byron, oddly enough. It helps me sleep better at night." Edith accepted the anthology, slipping it carefully from the soldier's outstretched grasp and tucked it safely in her arm.
"Of course. Would you like it tonight or tomorrow?"
"Tomorrow is fine… Edith. You do have to sleep sometime, I suppose." With a final nod of thanks and a slight smile, the Captain slipped away, the door thudding dully as Edith moved along, her heart lighter with the news of Captain Smith's eventual departure.
Edith slept soundly that night, unaware that tomorrow, her world would be turned shaken to its very core.
The next morning dawned cold and grey, the early morning fog slipping past the front gates of Downton, and Edith watched from the window as the sun rose. Daisy had yet to light the fire, and her toes tingled as they met the cold floorboards of her room.
The first ambulances of soldiers were scheduled to arrive at seven that morning, and it was only half past five. Edith was very much awake, despite the early hour, and her mind drifted to Sybil, thinking that perhaps she could see to the new arrivals while her sister gained some well-earned rest. Smiling to herself, she moved to her vanity, catching a glimpse of herself in the mirror. Her pale face was drawn and tired, but she couldn't bring herself to care, not when she felt so renewed.
As the ambulances drove up the lane an hour and a half later, Edith received them, a smile on her face for every soldier as the footmen and nurses hoisted stretchers and helped men limp across the threshold, and her grin stayed until she met the bluest eyes she'd ever seen— she could never forget those eyes.
Sir Anthony Strallan shook visibly as she spotted him, though whether it was from the cold or the shock, she didn't know.
The surprise upon seeing such a familiar face, let alone his, sent a bolt of electricity running through her, and she fought to regain her rapidly expanding thoughts. Instead of going inside and letting the nurses see to the remainder of the patients, Edith ignored her nerves and every last bit of sense she had screaming out at her to run, to hide, but it was too late— there he was, and now she stood in front of him, looking down at him from where he sat uneasily in the wicker wheelchair, a tentative smile gracing his beautiful face.
For a moment, her breath caught and her lungs felt as though they might burst, her heart pounding against her ribs— she felt as though she was suffocating, and the air, once crisp and cool, was thick with tension. She studied him for a moment, his hollowed face, his drawn stature, and— she swallowed as her gaze shifted to his right arm, drawn to his chest by a sling, and his wrist bound by bandages that barely peeked out from beneath the sleeve of his uniform. His long fingertips draped across his chest, pale and unmoving, and he grimaced as she let her eyes meet again.
"Lady Edith. Hello," he said stiffly, "How do you do?"
Edith smiled sadly as she reached to brush his arm in welcome, stopping herself and instead dropping her hand uselessly.
"Well, thank you. Can I— I assume you're here as a guest?" She spoke cautiously past the cotton that seemed to dry her mouth.
"I—" he paused, gesturing to his lame arm and the chair and she suddenly felt foolish for her question, "Yes, I'm afraid I am. Of course, I could go to Newberry. It's not far— If it would put you off in anyway, I can—" Anthony looked away, even as Edith protested, drawing her sweater closer as she watched a puff of breath escape his lips.
"Stay. I insist," Edith's voice filled the air, and suddenly, it seemed as if they were the only two people on the driveway, despite the racket going on around them.
"Please."
She knew she sounded foolish, desperate, even, but she couldn't bring herself to care. She needed to see him, to be sure he would recover well. Her gaze bored into his cool blue irises, and she could see his resolve slipping.
"Very well, I suppose I can stay," he offered, his voice barely above a whisper as he smiled crookedly, his acceptance of Edith's plea warming her heart.
And with those seven words, Anthony Strallan and Edith Crawley's fates were irrevocably entwined, even as she wheeled him up the drive and into her life once more.
A/N: I hope you're interested, and I hope you'll continue to enjoy it as the story continues. I will do my best to update fairly regularly, in the meantime, if you'll leave a review with some feedback, it'd be much appreciated!