This is a sequel to my other story Grace, but can be read as a standalone. I finished the story, so it won't be a work in progress.

FYI: Edith told her parents about Grace (Marigold in my story) and they found a solution as a family. Now Edith lives in London with Grace.

.

Four months later…

Edith sat at a table of a new and popular jazz club in London. Her cousin Rose sat next to her, talking enthusiastically to a handsome, young man, whom Edith had only met briefly. On her other side sat Peter Newman, a journalist of the Sketch who she had gotten quite close to during her stay in London. He was a dear friend and confidant. A few weeks into their friendship Edith discovered his attraction to other man, but after the first shock had settled, Edith discovered that homosexuality was more common than she thought and that the old views and opinions of her family were very much out of style. She was both proud and shocked about her own changed life. Only half a year ago she never would have imagined her life to be this way now. She was a working, single mother, mingling with the rich and famous crowd of London. Her life has become something out of a lifestyle column, with all the parties, famous friends, cigarettes and cocktails.

A waiter brought them fresh drinks, which Edith thankfully took and downed half of it.

"Uh lady, pun intended, got someone you have to get looser for?" Peter asked and looked at her questioningly.

"No Peter, I'm just enjoying myself, wasn't that what you taught me when you took me here for the first time?" she asked and grinned.

"I have, but I have also come to the conclusion, that I might have created a monster… a party monster."

"Well, I'll take that as a compliment, though I would have to point out, that I am also a mother and shall remain a party monster in the night hours."

"That's wise and I am grateful you are saying that, because the man I see eying you over there seems to be interested in your night persona, if you know what I'm getting at."

Edith, now looking in the direction he was pointing, saw Evelyn Napier and Charles Blake with another gentleman she hadn't met.

"My dear Peter, I know two of those three men, which one has been supposedly observing me?"

"You know them? Well it was the small one with the wavy hair and the other, the plainer looking one. The third one, the cutie, has been steeling glances too though."

"They are friends of my parents and suitors of my sister, though I suppose the Honorable Evelyn Napier son and heir of Viscount Branksome is out of the running by now, he is the 'plain' looking one. The other one, Charles Blake, heir to a baronetcy, was still a candidate last time I talked to my mother a while ago. I haven't met the third one, I'm afraid. I hope they won't come over here, I'm not in the mood to put on my 'Lady-face', as you like to call it."

"My head is spinning with all those titles and though I like to make fun of it, I enjoy seeing you in your element."

"You can't possibly mean that!" Edith said and opened her eyes wide in mock shock.

"I do, but I will humor you and just invite you to dance, you have to show off that brilliant dress of yours and not hide it under the table."

"If you insist." She said and outstretched her hand to the now standing Peter.

Edith was wearing a modern, Egyptian-style evening dress from the 1924 season. Its hem went slightly over her knee and the whole beige, white dress was embroidered with hundreds of little pearls and glitter, while her arms and neck remained bare.

"I insist, you are the highlight of the night!" Peter shouted and she tried to hush him, but the attention of a few people nearby was already captured.

"Listen to him, Edith!" Rose exclaimed and laughed loudly, which made even more people stare.

Edith tried to hide behind Peter and pulled him to the dance floor. "I will exert revenge; you'll pay for this little stunt." She whispered, but couldn't contain the little giggle that escaped her.

They danced for about three songs and Edith had nearly forgotten about the three gentlemen from earlier, but they clearly hadn't. As she and Peter made their way back to their table, they intercepted them.

"Men, incoming, three o'clock." Peter whispered into her ear. She had barely enough time to straighten up a bit, before she felt a hand at her elbow.

"Edith! What a pleasure to meet you here!" Edith identified the voice as Evelyn Napier's and it was proven true as she stopped and turned to see him.

"Evelyn, what a surprise to see you, the pleasure is all mine. Mr. Blake and…"

The third man, a bit taller than the others, but twice as good looking than them, in Edith's opinion, took her hand and blew a kiss on it, like many men used to do before the war. He had a sharp chin and gorgeous blue eyes. He looked to be in his mid-thirties and had beautiful dark hair.

"My name is William."

"He sells himself below value, as always." Charles Blake said and shook Edith's hand. "His full name is William, Duke of Greystone."

"Good afternoon, Duke of Greystone, my name is Lady Edith, daughter of the Earl of Grantham. I don't recall meeting you before; I know your father used to be a guest in our house a while ago."

"That is quite true, when my father died, I became Duke, but I have been oversees for many years and only recently returned. It's a pleasure to meet you; Evelyn and Charles have told me a lot about you since they spotted you." He said and Edith glanced at Evelyn, well aware that he knew of her indiscretion with the letter she wrote about Mary and the Turkish ambassador.

"I hope not everything. Like every woman, I like to keep a certain amount of mystery about myself." She joked and laughed.

"Not too much and only the best, let me assure you. They told me for example, that you are a journalist, how fascinating! I fought with a journalist during the war."

"You have to tell me all about it. Now gentlemen, let me introduce you to my colleague at the Sketch, Peter Newman."

They exchanged pleasantries and Edith invited them to join them at their table, which they politely accepted.

The evening wore on and Edith and the Duke were deep in conversation for most of the time. Occasionally one of the other men would whisk her away to the dance floor and usually after only one dance, William, the Duke of Greystone, would intercept them and dance with her for another few songs. Many drinks were drunk and many cigarettes were smoked, the second was a habit Edith had only recently picked up and liked the feeling of freedom and mystery it gave her. And besides, she liked it when her hands had something to do, it made it much easier to hide any nervous fiddling she used to have big trouble hiding. Too bad she can't smoke in front of her family, especially Mary.

William was just lighting another cigarette for her, when Charles Blake broke the unspoken agreement of the night that they wouldn't talk about the reason she wasn't living at Downton any longer. It must have been the alcohol that loosened his tongue, Edith thought.

"Edith, I never hear anything about you anymore, how are your daughter and your career doing?"

Edith was glad she was just exhaling the cigarette smoke, because it gave her time to think about her response.

"Charles, my two babies are doing just fine, thank you very much. And how is that family of mine, any new scandals come along? I haven't talked to any of them since my mother several weeks ago."

"I wouldn't know, I haven't had contact myself in recent time."

"Good God, that really is news to me, have you grown tired of courting Mary or are you just waiting for the right time to make your next move?" Edith asked and was surprised at her own candid question. London life had really changed her.

"To be perfectly honest, it used to be the latter, but the more time I spent away, the more I am realizing that there are more fish in the sea."

"There certainly are and as much as Mary would like it, the whole world doesn't revolve around her." Edith said and opened her eyes in horror over what she had just said.

Rose, all the men and, a bit later, Edith broke out into laughter.

"The cocktails have loosened our tongues dear friends." Rose giggled.

"They indeed have, I must apologize, but I truly don't mean it as in insult. Maybe you are doing Mary a favor in retreating, she has been going back and forth between Lord Gillingham and you... the time has come to either make a decision or move on."

"Let's toast to that! To moving on!" William raised his glass and Edith was grateful to him for ending the awkward conversation. They all echoed him and sipped at their drinks.

A few went back to dancing and others went to the bar and suddenly William and Edith were alone at the table.

"I had no idea you were married Edith." William said and looked a bit confused. "I was under the impression you weren't, but then Charles mentioned your child and…"

"But surely you have heard?" Edith asked, equally confused. She had been certain everybody from the higher circles of England knew of her disgrace.

"Please excuse me; I didn't know you before tonight."

"No, that's not it. I am not married and I am not widowed either. I am a single mother to my beautiful daughter, Grace. I am 'turned away' by my family, that's why I live in London." Edith followed his reaction closely and was more than surprised to see relief beside his obvious shock.

"I am so sorry, I had no idea, I would never have questioned you about it."

"I am glad you mentioned it, I would like you to know the truth about me, in all its ugliness. Oh, you must think horrible of me now."

"No, it's nothing of the sort! I am indeed surprised, but you must know I am no ordinary Duke. I only spent my youth in England, before I went abroad and, let me tell you, life in other places is quite different. It took me some time to get used to the high life again. I must confess I am no stranger to scandal myself, but I managed to keep most of it a secret due to the great distance." He explained and Edith felt as if he was only saying these things to make her feel better and she told him as much.

"Lady Edith, please trust me and don't think you are any less intriguing to me since I learned of your situation. If anything you have gotten even more interesting, if that was even possible." He leaned over slightly and Edith blushed profoundly, something she could never conceal with her fair skin. He brushed his thumb over her cheek and Edith saw in his eyes he wanted to kiss her, but she was happy he didn't, because despite her recent wild life and her kiss with Michael in the Criterion, she wasn't entirely comfortable with public showings of affection. She already had a reputation; she didn't need to add to it.

"Would you and Grace do me the honor and go to the circus with me tomorrow? I feel the terrible need to see you again, as soon as possible, after tonight."

Edith was stunned, but accepted. Before he could answer she got pulled back onto the dance floor by Rose and they didn't get another chance to talk in private that night, except to arrange for a place and time to meet.

Later in bed Edith lay wide awake. She knew what the tingling she felt in her stomach was and tried desperately to ignore it and push it to the back of her mind. She could think about William all she wanted, but the truth remained – she was a disgraced, working, single woman with a child out of wedlock. Even if William liked her a tiny bit back, he would never actually act on his feelings. But then again… he did ask her for an outing. Everybody would be able to see them. He couldn't use her in any way that wasn't proper, because people would know and a Duke couldn't afford that. But a Duke couldn't afford to be seen with a single mother either. The thoughts circled round and round in her head until finally she was able to close her eyes and sleep.

.

To be continued...

.

Thank you for reading the first chapter, I'm looking forward to what you think about it! Love you all! xxx Leonie