Chapter 2
Okay, I know Tom & Sybil were not in the 2012 CS but this is AU so anything goes right?
"Are you sure you want to join the shoot?" Edith had gently led Anthony into the library where they had a chance of more privacy.
"I may be maimed and physically disadvantaged, Lady Edith," he murmured softly into her ear, the sensation of his warmth breath making her shiver, "But that makes me no less of a gentleman, all the more so since I suspect that Sir Richard Carlisle did not risk death and dismemberment in the service of King and Country."
"You know who he is?" Edith was surprised.
"Yes, and I despise the man for what he represents. I will tell you more later, and for the moment I shall let his slight against me go."
"Edith," They were disrupted by the sound of Lord Grantham's voice.
"Oh Papa," Edith said. "Sir Anthony has made it after all."
"So I see," There was no warmth in Robert's voice and that chilled Edith. He approached them.
"Will you be alright, dear chap?"
"I may not be able to load a rifle, Lord Grantham, but I am a pretty good shot with this." He drew out a service revolver, "Why should I miss out?"
"Quite. I am sure Edith will help you if she can." He left the room.
Edith sensed that her father was somewhat embarrassed. He had wanted to serve, but ended up a pointless regimental mascot. She made up her mind she would try and smooth things over later. She had no idea exactly what Sir Anthony wished to discuss with her in private, but for now she entertained hopes and her stomach felt like a horde of butterflies had been released inside her.
Edith listened carefully as Anthony took out a box of ammunition and talked her through loading and reloading the revolver.
They went outside to join the shooting party. The chill damp of the fog made Edith shiver and Anthony put his arm around her shoulders. Edith smiled broadly. Edith was well aware of tension between Matthew, Carlisle and Mary, especially when Mary aid that she had agreed to accompany Matthew on the first drive. Carlisle tensed, his body rigid, and Edith sensed trouble ahead.
The party moved off and pretty soon the air was filled with the smoke and loud bangs of shots.
"I've never been able to work out what's worse," Mary said, "The sorrow when you hit the bird or the shame when you miss it."
"Well, as long as you agree to lie when anyone asks how I did." Matthew chuckled. "I'm hopeless at this."
Anthony was doing rather well, despite his physical disadvantage. Edith was so proud of him. It was impossible to talk at the shoot though, because of the noise and the need to concentrate.
In the distance Edith could hear raised voices.
"Why were you laughing with Matthew back there?"
"I would imagine he said something funny,"
"Am I never to be free of him?"
"Of course not, you know how families like mine work, and he is my father's heir."
"I see even Lady Edith has a man in close attendance today."
"Sir Anthony Strallan? They courted a bit before the war. My mother had high hopes for he and I, well after what happened with Mr Pamuk," Mary pulled a face and the light momentarily went out of her eyes at the memory "But he preferred Edith and to be honest I was glad. Had war not broken out I think they would have married."
Edith noticed that Mary said nothing about why Sir Anthony had been prevented from proposing to her at the Garden party and she was glad.
"Lavinia knew Matthew never loved her." Carlisle taunted.
Mary did not say anything, but right now she wanted to be as far away from Carlisle as it was possible to be.
"You know how it is, Richard," Mary placed her hand on his arm in an attempt to placate him.
"I know your family look down on me because I wasn't born with the proverbial silver spoon in my mouth." He said savagely, "But I have had to work damned hard to get what I want in life. What I want is you, Mary. I want for you and me to marry and live at Haxby Park, without your grandmother expressing disapproval every five minutes. I don't want any of them around me."
"I wish you could get past all that," Mary sighed, rolling her eyes upwards.
"I might be able to, if I could believe for one moment you preferred my company to his." Carlisle snapped.
"Things don't sound rosy there." Anthony commented.
"I agree and, after she tried to spoil things for us, maybe I should not be sympathetic," Edith replied, "But I really do not want that man as a brother-in-law."
They heard Matthew wade in, and they heard Richard sigh audibly.
"What seems to be the trouble?" Matthew asked.
"Richard's loader seems to have gotten lost," Mary replied, "this is the best drive and he's missing all the fun."
Then the mist descended and, for a moment, there was an eerily oppressive silence, punctuated by a single loud shot, which seemed to reverberate through both open space and woodland. The shot was followed by a piercing scream.
Anthony pulled Edith to him with his good arm and she held him tightly. It felt good to be so near him, but one or both of them needed to break that spell. They needed to investigate.
Edith and Anthony made their way through the wet grass in the direction of the shot; acutely aware of other footsteps headed the same direction.
A figure lay face down in the wet grass and, judging by the frozen look of horror on Mary's ashen face, they could see that it was Matthew.
