NO PLACE TO HIDE
A/N: After 3:03 Edith becomes engaged to a baronet, Sir James Kelly, who seems incredibly jealous of Anthony. Kelly also has a direct connection to someone from Lady Mary's past as well as a shameful secret of his own. Meanwhile Anthony receives promising news from Dr Clarkson concerning his arm. Kelly's jealousy takes a sinister turn when he realises Edith has discovered his secret. Edith flees but where can she go except to the man she truly loves?
I am to blame for all medical and surgical inaccuracies in this story
Chapter 1 Glimmer of hope
Sir Anthony Strallan smiled as he left the Harley Street consulting room of orthopaedic surgeon, Stephen Morley; the news was promising. After studying the x-rays that Dr Clarkson had sent Morley seemed confident than he could remove the bullet from Strallan's shoulder and thereby restore full use of his right arm. It was the best news he had had in sometime and he was truly hopeful; he truly wished he could share the news with his lovely Lady Edith.
Why couldn't he tell her after all? He had been invited to her engagement party. She had promised to marry a Baronet, Sir James Kelly. Strallan had not yet met Kelly but he wanted to wish her well although he knew it would be like having his heart ripped from his chest with pliers. Still he had had his chance hadn't he but he had let her go and regretted it ever since. What hope had he at his age of finding another lady even half as lovely or interested in him as Lady Edith Crawley had been?
He made up his mind to go to the party although he dreaded it in part. He would not be able to dance with her for one thing and he was not sure what kind of reception he could expect from Lady Grantham, the dowager countess or Robert; Edith's father.
He was walking along; minding his own business when he heard a woman's voice call his name.
He turned to find himself face to face with Lady Rosamund Painswick; Lady Edith's aunt.
"How are you Sir Anthony?"
"I am well thank you Lady Painswick," he said.
He wondered if he dared to ask but the words spilled from his mouth before he had the chance to stop them.
"I may not have the right to ask but how is Lady Edith? I have been invited to her engagement party."
"Sir James Kelly is a non entity without a shred of humanity," Rosamund said. Strallan felt his throat tighten. Was it he who had brought her to this loveless engagement?
"Does she love him?"
"Of course she doesn't," Rosamund snapped, "She is just making the best of a bad situation. She will love you until the day she dies; no man will ever have her heart in the way you do."
"She's too good for me, Lady Painswick, and she always will be."
"Look I don't agree with Robert and my mother's behaviour in that matter but there's precious little I can do about it."
Strallan felt sick to the stomach.
Rosamund suggested tea and he wearily accepted; although in truth he wanted to be far away from any reminder of the pain he felt in his heart.
The serving girl brought and poured their tea.
"I have had some hopeful news though," he smiled, "I know it will be too late to save the situation but it gives me hope of a relatively normal life."
"The only time it would be too late to remedy that will be the moment you or Edith takes your last breath." She pressed her hand over his one good one.
"I've been to see a Harley Street specialist and he seems to think he can remove the bullet that has caused me this damage. I'm not saying it would give me back full use of my arm but if it can give me even part movement that would be good."
"That's wonderful," Lady Rosamund gasped, "that gives you hope at least."
"Whether I have one working arm or two it won't make a bit of difference without Edith but I have to face facts; I blew my chances and I will punish myself that forever."
"Please don't give up, Sir Anthony; I don't think she will be able to go through with it, at least I hope not for both your sakes. My mother thinks he's wonderful,"
"Well it will happen then; if Lady Grantham likes him," Strallan said, not bothering to disguise his bitterness, "Why oh why didn't I say yes; I will never find anyone else because Edith is everything to me but I could not see her enslaved to my care."
"I suggest you get your arm fixed and come to the party."
"I can't; the party is this weekend and the operation won't be until next Wednesday."
Her next words chilled him.
"She can't go through with it, Sir Anthony. Robert doesn't know but Kelly is nephew to one Sir Richard Carlisle, Lady Mary's fiancé before she had the sense to throw him over for Mr Crawley."
"I never met him because I was not able to go shooting.
"He was a nasty piece of work although, give him his due, he did love Mary much more than she ever loved him but he was persistently jealous of Matthew and if the nephew is anything like the uncle then you had best be on your guard."
"Thank you, Lady Painswick. I will tell Edith about the operation; she needs something to hope for but I doubt I can win her back,"
"If you called she would forget him and come running," Rosamund said, "she isn't inviting you to rub your nose in it."
"I know," he said," Thank you."
"Don't mention the Carlisle revelation just yet; I have plans for that."
"Alright; any way thank you for the tea but I must be getting on."
He left. Rosamund stared after him. She had no trouble understanding why her niece loved him; he was gentle, caring and intelligent, just like Edith. Rosamund hated it when her mother proved herself right over things and Lord Hepworth was just one example but she thought Edith's fiancé was wonderful and Rosamund looked very forward to being able to prove Lady Grantham wrong/
