I've made a small correction in the chapter, thanks to that guest review for remarking the mistake.

As she prepared herself to go to bed, Laura Edmunds couldn't help thinking of the moment she had caught Edith's bouquet. Tom's words kept coming to her mind :"Aren't you the lucky one?" Her head pretended to make her accept it wasn't really important. But her heart...her heart had its very own point of view. Taking the risk of being regarded as a gossip, something she did despise, she had asked Edith about Tom, after meeting him at that fateful race. Edith had told her his love story with Sybil, with all details...

-It was so hard for him to find his own place in my family...and without Sybil's help. But, he has made it. We all regretted it so much when he moved to the United States. However, it looks like it was the best thing he could have done. When he came back, he said he had realised Downton was his real house.

"Would Edith suspect something? During the wedding reception, she kept looking from time to time at Tom and me, while we danced, and then said something to Bertie, and both laughed...Nah, all this is nonsense. Stop behaving like a young girl after her first dance, and try to sleep. Tomorrow you have to go back to London, to your normal life "

Next morning, at breakfast, she thought she'd be on her own. The wedding reception had lasted quite a lot, and she thought the family would get up late. She was in the dining room, enjoying her coffee and some toasts, and mentally planning what she had to do that week, when she heard a familiar, friendly voice.

-A penny for your thoughts...it looks like we are the first ones to come down.

-Good morning, Tom...and my thoughts don't cost that much.

-They do...to me, they do.

Her heart danced inside her chest . How could she ever resist to those blue eyes, and that smile? "Don't be silly, he's just trying to be polite"

-I was thinking of all the things I have to do this week, I have plenty of work ahead. Oh...I thought of something this morning, you know the magazine gets to this area. It would be interesting for you and Henry to have an advertisement of your car shop?

-I will tell him, but I can guess his answer. And, if it means we'll be seeing more of you, I'll be really delighted.

She couldn't but smile at him, and he also smiled in return.

-I'm afraid I have to go, or I'll lose my train. Will you thank the family in my name? Tell them I would have liked to see them before I left.

-Do you have any meeting today? On New Year's day?

-No, no...it's only that..well, I was Edith guest, and...

-Then it's settled. Please stay one more night, the familiy will be pleased if you do. And...

Mr Crawley came into the dining room, interrupting Tom. He looked at the couple with an understanding glance.

-Nice to see you haven't gone yet, Miss Edmund...Laura. We hope you stay tonight with would be sorry if you didn't. All of us would, in fact.

-That was precisely what I was telling her.

-I'm afraid I can't resist then. Thank you, Lord Grantham...and Tom.

-Nonsense, it's a pleasure having you here. You are very welcome, whenever you want to come.

-Well, I think I have to start my day. I have to see our farmers and wish them a happy new year. Do you want to come with me, Laura? I'll show you all this.

-It will be a pleasure.