Write to the heart
Warning; this story contains possible spoilers! Edith is debating whether to take up the newspaper column she has been offered. She confides in Isobel who gives her an idea to win Anthony back.
Chapter one
"Mrs Crawley is here to see you, Lady Edith," Carson said.
"Thank you Carson; please show her in and perhaps we might have some tea?"
"Very good, my lady; I shall see to it." Carson left the room.
Isobel Crawley entered the room and Edith smiled at her.
"Do make yourself comfortable, Cousin Isobel; I have asked Carson for some tea."
"Oh I'm parched; tea would be very welcome."
"That's what I thought," Edith smiled sadly, "So how is it going with the fallen women?"
"Some of them are getting there slowly and surely but others don't think they deserve help because they're so far gone; it's very rewarding work, Lady Edith. In fact the main reason I have come is to see if you were maybe interested in helping me out a couple of days a week."
Carson brought in and poured the tea."
"Thank you Carson." Edith smiled. He bowed and left the room.
"So how about it?" Isobel asked, "It will keep you busy."
Edith sighed; first Violet now Isobel. Edith knew it was because they cared but she knew it would not keep Anthony Strallan out of her mind; she had cried herself to sleep every night since he had walked away from their wedding. None of them realised that she loved him with all her heart and she missed him so much it hurt and had they realised they probably wouldn't care, she thought bitterly. It would have been different if Matthew had walked out his wedding to Mary; everyone would have done their utmost to get them back together. The injustice rankled further because Matthew had come back from the war injured and for months it had been feared he would never walk again but he had regained the use of his legs but there was no chance of Anthony regaining the use of his right arm. Mary would have walked away then for sure; Edith could not envisage her flighty sister allowing herself to be tied to a man in a wheelchair. Edith wished that Lavinia Swire had not died because she had genuinely loved Matthew and she had vowed she would not let him push her away again. Edith had admired her dedication but somehow it seemed alright, even acceptable, for a girl to marry a cripple if he was the heir to Lord Grantham which Sir Anthony Strallan was not.
"Edith dear," Isobel waved her hand in front of Edith's face and she snapped to attention.
"Sorry cousin Isobel, I was a million miles away."
"I could see, my dear," Isobel said gently,"It was a sad thing to have happened but you have to pick yourself up and move on; that's what I tell my girls"
"Cousin Isobel; people keep telling me I need to keep myself busy but it won't remove Sir Anthony Strallan from my head or my heart."
"I know but it might help you focus; when I lost Matthew's father I threw myself into charity work. It dulled the pain a little but it did not stop me crying."
"I love him, cousin Isobel and I always have but no one else seems to know or care. I was happy for Matthew when he regained the use of his legs but it just seems so unfair that Sir Anthony will never be able to use his arm again. I would look after him, Cousin Isobel but he's proud, pig headed and sometimes I could kick him for it but I would be with the man I loved, no matter what capacity it was in; wife or nurse makes no odds to me as long as I got to see and touch him every day. I miss him so much. I know it will never be; Papa and Cousin Violet have made sure of that but don't they care about my happiness Cousin Isobel? Why must I always be the background piece? Sometimes I think I would get more attention in the servant's hall than I do upstairs."
Isobel thought for a moment.
"Matthew told me you have been offered a newspaper column; I read your piece on women's rights and I was very impressed."
"Thank you; I haven't made up my mind yet but I suppose people would know what I thought and maybe even be interested."
Isobel smiled.
"Why don't you write a follow up article about the effects of the war on society; the absence of young men in particular and how men who have been injured are struggling to accept themselves as men and being forced to re-evaluate the lives, marriages and relationships they had before the war in ways they don't really want to. You know very well what angle I mean."
A bright light shone in Edith's eyes.
"Do you know something, Cousin Isobel? I think you have given me a way, however slim, that I may be able to reach out. I won't tell anyone I'm doing it and I happen to know that Sir Anthony Strallan takes the Times."
"I really hope that it helps; Edith dear. You don't need to mention names but write from the heart."
"I will," Edith's face broke into a smile, "Oh thank you so much cousin Isobel."