Rules
As Lady Edith leaned back against the plush chair in one of her favorite London establishments she looked over the crowd of diners noting familiar faces, categorizing who she knew from family connections and society functions and others she knew through Michael Gregson and her life at the Sketch. The low hum of polite conversation, silverware tapping against china, wine and champagne glasses tinkling and the busy quiet stir of host and wait staff was natural and oddly relaxing. Rules had a way of attracting young, busy people which is why the low hum of conversation was full of promise, ambition and purpose. Thing's were changing, Michael would have been part of it, capturing it all for the magazine. It was a good time to own a magazine . .
"You look as if you were a million miles away," came a warm and crisp Irish accent next to her.
That brought Edith back to earth guilty for how she had gotten lost in her own thoughts and she quickly replied to Tom's statement trying to sound cheerful, after all they were there to celebrate the next days nuptials, "I love Rules, I used to eat here, me and Michael Gregson. We had such happy times together, Michael and I."
Tom saw the shadow that came across Edith's eyes, better end that kind of reverie before Lady Mary and the bride to be arrived at any minute, so he said with more warmth than was merited taking his large Irish hand and covering Edith's hand giving a little squeeze, "There will more good times ahead."
She quickly glanced at him, her soulful brown eyes hiding nothing, all at once uncertainty, reserve, sadness, yearning as she asked, "Will there? "
Tom struggled with the emotion in her eyes, not sure what his response should be, he wasn't afraid that he knew, he wondered at feeling he needed to give reassurance, but was unfamiliar with why or how. In the half heartbeat as Tom considered perhaps this was the first time the two of them had ever been left alone which Edith read into it as an awkward pause and quickly changed the subject with a renewed interest, "Do you ever think of the children while you're away?"
Edith hosed her head flippantly as she asked, but Tom was still reading the eyes, while the manner was casual enough the big brown eyes were all interest. His curiosity was further peaked and obviously what he was supposed to treat lightly was an actual concern of her's. A glimmer of a smile played around his lips as he suddenly felt as if he were on the verge of solving a clever puzzle. As he was about to answer her, when a sudden rush of movement, fragrance, shimmer, grandeur caught both their attention as the mait`rede announced quietly to their table,
"Pardon madame, my lord, may I present Lady Mary Crawley and Miss Rose McClure"
He pulled out the chair for Mary who instead of sitting looked observantly at Tom and Edith a long calculated moment. Tom squirmed barely under her judicious gaze, and Edith looked as dull as ever. Mary was satisfied and sat down , cousin Rose following suit. Tom squirming was enough to put Mary in a good mood, she must keep him squirming the rest of the luncheon which suddenly became far more interesting even with the promise of enjoyable.