Disclaimer: I own nothing!
A/N at the end of the chapter :)
"Edith?"
The blonde young women turned around to face her mother. Lady Cora, Countess of Grantham, stood at the top of the stairs and looked at her second daughter.
"Yes?"
"May I have a word with you?"
The girl shrugged and mentioned for Cora to follow her into her room. After she closed the door, Cora sat on the bed and watched her daughter.
"What can I do for you, Mama?"
Cora sighed.
"Talk to me, Edith! I know something has upset you – is it Mr Gregsons departure to Germany?"
Edith looked away to keep the tears in her eyes from falling.
"I-I just miss him, Mama. And nobody had a heard from him – what if something serious had happened to him?"
"Oh darling," whispered Cora but hesitated to pull her into a hug. While she had always been close to Mary and Sybil, she had never shared this bond with Edith. The girl had always been so lonely, even with her two sisters and Cora could never really tell what was going on inside her like she was able to with Sybil and Mary. Edith sighed.
"He told me he wanted to marry me when he got back from Germany," she finally confessed to her mother. The older women suddenly understood why her daughter was so upset – she was deeply in love and after the disaster with Anthony a few years ago it was only natural that she was so…horrified now. But still, Cora could see in her eyes that there was something else that upset her. She just had to find out what it was.
Edith on the other hand wasn't quite sure how much she could tell her mother. She knew how upset she first had been when Sybil married Tom, but while she was quite sure that Cora would come around sooner or later she certainly would be upset –and probably angry – now.
"Is there anything I can do for you?"
"No. I'll be fine, Mama, really. I just have to get some news from Michael – have I told you that his office sent a private detective to look for him?"
Cora shook her head and Edith continued.
"They asked me to stop by the next time I am in London and I thought about going tomorrow. Maybe I'll stay with aunt Rosamund for the night, but I'm not sure about that yet."
"Have you told your father?"
Edith nodded.
"He said I should call if I decided to stay with Rosamund. But I can only decide after I was at Michaels office and heard what they wanted to tell me."
"I understand. But Edith," Cora gave her daughter a pleading look, "I wish you would talk to me. There is something else that has upset you – it can't be that bad. I won't push you now, Edith."
The older women almost flinched when she saw Edith horrified look.
"I really want to help you with whatever it is."
Edith nodded slowly.
"I'm fine, really Mama. There is nothing you need to worry about."
Cora sighed once more but then decided that pushing now won't get her anywhere. She had – after all – raised three girls; she did learn a lot about them and therefore knew that some talks should just be continued at some other time. With a smile towards her second daughter she stood up and placed a kiss on her forehead.
"Good night, Edith."
"Good night, Mama."
This night, neither of the women slept well. Edith was worried what her Mama would did tell her – or didn't tell her, while Cora was worried what secret Edith kept – it really must be something horrible if she was so afraid to tell. She simply hoped that she would find it out soon – only she didn't know how soon she would.
It was an early morning for Cora, considering she usually had breakfast in bed and never went downstairs before 10am. But after the rough night she was up very early today and therefore she heard a strange noise when she passed Edith room. Worriedly she knocked, but when Edith did not answer, she just opened the door and stepped inside.
The noise came from the balcony, and as Cora pulled back the curtains to see what was wrong she found her daughter setting on the floor.
"Oh dear," she whispered as she took the scene in.
Edith face was ashen and she looked like she was going to be sick, all while tears were streaming down her face. That was what Cora had heard, she realized, Edith sobs. Without hesitating she kneeled down beside her daughter and this time she didn't hesitate to pull her into a hug. Finally Edith calmed down and Cora managed to lead her inside and sit down on the bed.
While her mother was still stoking her back, Edith knew she would have to tell Cora the truth now. But before she could say something, Cora spoke up with a pleading look in her eyes.
"Edith darling, are you sick? Is this what has troubled you – please tell me it is nothing serious! I will have one of the maid call Dr Clarkson and –"
"I'm not sick, Mama. There is really no need to call Dr Clarkson. I just need to sleep a little, and then I'll be fine again."
Cora gave her a doubtful look.
"Are you sure? Because I am worried about you, Edith, and if you are sick I need to know. Anyway, it might be better if you stayed in bed today, don't you think?"
"No, I told you. I am not ill. And I really need to go to London, so I'll lie down now and then leave with the train at noon."
"Edith! I'm worried about you! You will either tell me what is wrong now or I will ask Dr Clarkson to come here!"
"I'm fine, Mama! I don't need Dr Clarkson, I just need to sleep and then I need to go to London!"
There was finality in Edith voice but Cora didn't care. She shot her daughter a dark look.
"Don't be cheeky on me! I am really worried about you! Now, tell me what is wrong or Dr Clarkson will be here within half an hour."
Cora had to force herself to calm her voice – she WAS worried about Edith – but she also was furious that she did not want to tell her what was wrong – because it was obvious that there was something. She was just about to question herself for getting that angry when Edith sighed deeply.
"You have to promise me something."
"Yes?"
"Do not tell Papa."
"But Edith –" Cora was confused, but the blonde interrupted her.
"Please. Promise me."
"Fine. I promise. I will not tell Robert."
Satisfied with her mother's answer, Edith took a deep breath.
"I've been sick and unwell like this for almost three month now, and almost every day."
It took Cora a moment to realize what Edith had just said. She jumped on her feet.
"Edith – do you mean…are you saying…"
"I'm pregnant, Mama."
Edith voice was calm, but she was terrified what her mother would do now. Cora sank down on the chair.
"That can't be happening. Not now…not after everything…" She stopped muttering to herself to look at her daughter.
"How could that happen?" she asked sharply.
"You have three daughters, you should know."
Edith knew it was the wrong thing to say, but honestly – what did Cora expect her to say?
"Watch your mouth, Edith! I take it that this – well, child is Gregson's?"
She was not sure why, but suddenly Edith wasn't worried anymore. All the time she had hoped that Cora would be kind, she was her mother! But apparently she was wrong and this made her angry. Angry at both herself for trusting her mother and angry at her mother for betraying her trust.
"Yes, that would be correct."
"Why Edith, why?"
"Because I love him!"
"That doesn't matter! How could you let it get this far?"
"I told you! I love him! Isn't that reason enough?!"
"No, it is certainly not! Did you just once think about the consequences? Not only for you and your child, but for all of us? What about your reputation – the whole family's reputation? Times are changing, but some things won't, did you think about that?"
"Yes! And I decided that –"
"It doesn't matter to you. You gave up on every chance for a good life for one single night of pleasure – of course you did not think about the consequences! You were just as irresponsible as your mother!"
A/N:
Hey everyone!
I thought putting this note at the end would be reasonable, since I would not accidently reveal some spoilers from this first chapter.
This is my first attempt on a Downton Fanfiction and it is the first time I publish something in English. Therefore I am always glad to get some constructive criticism :)
So, this idea was wandering around in my head ever since I first saw Downton Abbey; Edith looks NOTHING like her mother, father or her sisters, so I just had to write this. I would love to know what you think about it – and I'd love to get some guesses what could happen (I have the next two chapters already written, but anyway).
