Chapter Two
"Edith," It was the hand on her shoulder that pulled her out of her thoughts. Turning she came face to face with Mathew.
"I'm sorry cousin Mathew I was off in my own world." She spoke in a despondent tone.
"I was just telling you it is time to go in."
Looking around the parlor she saw it was empty, "So I see it is." Standing she made a move to join the rest of her family when Matthew's hand was once again on her shoulder.
"Edith." Turning she was once again she was face to face with Matthew, with a look of concern and worry on his face. "Are you feeling alright? You haven't been yourself recently."
A small smile graced her lips "Of course cousin Matthew would be the only person to take notice of my recent sullenness". She thought to herself before answering Matthew. "Thank you, cousin Matthew, for your concern but truly I am fine."
Not letting her walk away, he spoke once more. "I am always available if you ever wish to speak Edith."
Smiling once more she nodded her response before joining the others in the dining room.
"Goodness me if I have to sit here any longer and have to listen to someone cater to queen Mary any longer I think I may die."
Edith was on her fourth glass of wine and she had fallen deeper into her sulking mood. Per usual the men in the room were focused on Mary, Edith couldn't help but roll her eyes as her father spoke proudly of her exceptional horsemanship. Edith, of course, remained silent, speaking only when Isobel spoke her briefly about the hospital. Only two months into the war and there were injured soldiers filling the bed at the small Cottage Hospital. Edith had agreed to go down tomorrow to volunteer on behalf of the Crawley family.
Edith deep in her own thoughts scoffed into her glass of wine at the notion she the least favorite Crawley daughter was to volunteer on behalf of the Crawley's.
"Well dearest sister Edith, do you disagree?"
Turning to Mary confused she spoke cautiously "I am sorry Mary dearest but I was not paying attention to your conversation."
"Really?" Mary asked smirking getting ready to set the bate. "I heard a scoff coming from you."
"Oh yes, I did indeed scoff. But you see my scoff was not pertaining to your conversation, as I have no bloody interest in it." She answered matter of fact turning back to her dinner and taking a bite of her dinner roll.
"Edith Violet Crawley." Her father said tersely. She turned in the direction of her father. He was giving her a look that was she knew all too well. A mixture of anger, disappointment, and embarrassment. "Please apologize at once."
Looking up she noticed that all eyes were on her. Cora had the same look as Robert, The Dowager looked utterly scandalized, and cousin Isobel was rather passive looking.
"Right." She set her fork down and patted clean her mouth with her napkin. "I am so very sorry for my unladylike language. I know not what has come over me. It was quite rude, uncultured, ill mannered,"
"Impertinent?" Sybil said from her seat rather enjoying the scene.
"Brash." Edith said raising an eyebrow to Sybil who smiled.
"Vulgar" Sybil said rather happily getting one more in before her mother shot her a warning look.
"Uncouth one might even say." Edith turned back to the guests with fiend sincerity.
"Jolly good one." Sybil piped up.
"Sybil you are not helping, and Edith I am warning you." Robert snapped.
"Yes, as I was saying." She smiled. "Please do forgive me Mr. Napier, and Mr. Talbot for being Uncouth this evening and speaking ever so vulgar." She gave her best apologetic face finishing her speech.
Both gave her the nod of the head in acknowledgment both highly amused.
"You are forgiven my dear Lady Edith." Evelyne Napier was the first of the two to speak.
"Indeed, all is forgiven." Henry Talbot spoke from across Edith.
Soon after the outburst Edith found herself in a conversation with Henry and Evelyne about modern farming. She enjoyed the talk, but it did make her think of Anthony making her wish he were at her side proud of her as she spoke of her knowledge on a subject he loved so.
With dinner ending Edith quickly tried to make a dash for her room, only to have her efforts thwarted by the two guests of honor.
"Lady Edith I do hope you aren't trying to make a getaway?" Evelyne said suddenly at her side.
"How you know me so well Evelyne." She smiled at her old friend.
He smiled and took a seat next to her as Henry made his way over to them.
"Trying to monopolize Lady Edith are we Mr. Napier?"
"Not at all Mr. Talbot. Not at all."
The three passed the evening discussing various subjects. Both men were highly intrigued and impressed with the range of knowledge she had about many things that were deemed unladylike therefor many of there woman companions never spoke of them. Such as farming, engines, and things of nature.
Cora watched the three closely mostly keeping an eye on her second daughter. Taking notice that there was something different about her that she couldn't quite place. The beginning of the evening Edith was quiet and the two men who were occupying her company paid her no mind. Now the two Gentlemen were all but fighting for her attention, and it was as if Edith either didn't care or didn't notice. Turning her attention to her oldest daughter she sighed recognizing the look that was on Mary's face. She just hoped for everyone's sake Mary would wait until they were in private before she went into one of her full-blown tangents.
"Cora?" Violet whispered to her daughter in law. Getting Cora's attention, she discreetly called her over in hopes she could speak to her in privet in regards to the attitude of her second grandchild.
"Mama." Cora greeted quietly as she sat next to her mother in law, in a corner looking over everyone. Sybil, Isobel, and Marry were sitting around the settee in a deep discussion (well Sybil and Isobel were seeing as Mary was to busy glowering at Edith. Whose laughter mingled with now her two suiters. Not that she realized.) Matthew and Robert were by the canter discussing the war.
"What on Earth has gotten into Edith?"
"I am not quite certain, If I am being honest with you Violet."
"Although I am glad to see that she has finally come into herself, it is so very unlike Edith to act as she put it so eloquently before uncouth."
"I shall have to have a talk with her tomorrow."
"Mary doesn't seem to happy with the changes in Edith. I believe this may be the first time she has had her suitors no longer interested in her."
"I fear Edith just may have woken a sleeping beast in Mary."
"By the looks Mary is giving the poor girl, even I fear for the retribution in which Mary will do to Edith."
Edith grew tired and excused herself from the two guests.
"Mama, I have come to excuse myself for the night."
"Very well," Cora said as she received her customary kiss on the cheek. "Oh, Edith I would like to have a word with you tomorrow. I shall send for you."
Just as Edith was going to answer there was a clearing of a throat. Turning her attention to the nervous man before he Edith gave a friendly smile.
"Lady Edith I was hoping that you would accompany me for a walk. It has been an offal long time since I have had a tour of Downton, and I was hoping to see our old alcove on the east end of the property."
"A tour of Downton I say that sounds like a plan. I have yet had the honor of a tour, and the weather looks promising." Came the voice of Henry Talbot.
"Very well, we shall have a tour at the request of the guests of honor. Although I have to let you know Henry as highly as I think of you, am afraid you shan't be able to enter our Alcove. For it is a secret place that only a few know of and you've yet had an initiation."
"Don't feel too bad Mr. Talbot not even I know where this secret hideout of theirs is. I've been trying to find it since I was five." Sybil interjected.
"Oh, Sybil you should come along so you can keep Henry company whilst Edith and I reminisce our youth." Evelyne said happily.
"I would be happy to join. Maybe together Henry and I can finally uncover this secret Timbuktu."
"Don't worry Lady Sybil where there is a will there is a way." Henry gave Edith a wink.