new chapter! I hope you all liked feisty grandma Edith, I imagine she would begin to take after Violet eventually,
to randomnewbie, now that you mentioned it I do remember Charlotte from Scandal, but it completely slipped my mind while writing this I always liked the name and thought it would fit for Edith's daughter. Apologies if I stepped on your toes!
After school instead of going home to read her magazines and listen to new records Cora walked to her gran's house to spend the afternoon chatting. It was about a week after her gramp's funeral and her Aunt Mary, Uncles Tom and Eddie, and cousin George returned to Downton, and generally life was getting back on track.
Cora went up the steps of the 3 story brown town home in the Fitzrovia neighborhood that her grandparents lived in for close to 50 years, it was a homey and utilitarian space filled mostly with books, comfy furniture and pillows. Simple landscape water colors decorated the walls along with family photos, but a framed cover of the first issue of "The Standard" and an old photograph of Michael and Edith standing in front of their office door beaming like proud parents held a place of honor on the mantle of the fireplace.
Cora entered and called out a tentative "Gran?"
"In here Ducky" she heard her grandmother say from the living room, Cora earned the nickname Ducky from her grandfather who once observed that "you can always tell when Cora has a full diaper because she begins to waddle like a little duck"
Cora walked in to find her grandmother with a pot of tea and an open book in her lap, she walked over and gave her a small peck on the cheek "how are you doing gran?"
"I'm fine dear, now I know your mother is making you visit me but you don't have to sit here and make polite conversation with me for four hours, I do love having you here but don't let me stop you from reading whatever you want or listening to whatever you want on the radio, now would you like some tea?
"Gran I really don't mind visiting...really and tea would be fine, I'll pour would you like some?"
Edith looked at her young granddaughter, who had lovely auburn hair, pale blue eyes just like her name sake and it was obvious that her chin and jaw line came from Michael, and smiled "alright dear and I'll pour, your grandfather never trusted me to pour the tea so now I'm determined to be self sufficient."
"Why didn't gramp trust you?" Cora chuckled "was it because you had servants and stuff growing up?"
"That is precisely why, the dear man thought I was going to burn myself, break the pot, and stain the carpet all at once."
Cora took a moment to imagine her gramp fluttering around gran making sure she didn't break anything,
"He was always very concerned about you wasn't he?"
Edith pondered for a moment, "well yes, I suppose it was because it took so much effort for us to be together so he tried his best to cherish the time we had, and I did too of course"
Cora heard snippets of how her grandparents got together, the odd comment or joke from Uncle Paul or Aunt Mary about when Edith and Michael "lived in sin and almost brought the family down" and something about a time spent in France or somewhere.
Cora looked up to see her gran deep in thought and a wistful smile creeping onto her face, she gathered up the courage and asked
"Gran?...how did you two meet?"
LONDON OCTOBER 1922
Lady Edith Crawley sat at her dressing table getting ready for the evening, she was assisted by Joan, a girl that also took care of the cleaning in the house she shared with Michael.
Edith left Downton roughly four months ago with the argument that she was getting more responsibility with her column and so running back and forth on the train was impractical and tiring, staying with Aunt Rosamund would be inconvenient and with her salary she would be able to afford a small flat.
She did rent a small flat, but she lived there in name only and it existed as an address to mail letters to and from and to be picked up by Rosamund's driver for the odd dinner now and then. She wasn't met with much opposition from her parents as they were focused on Mary recovering from Matthew's death and the new baby.
Michael employed a cook Mrs. Porter, and Joan at his house, the women were aware that the lady and Mr. Gregson weren't married, but as Michael told them when he hired them "ours business is ours and yours is yours" the pay was more than they would get elsewhere and the were able to take time off often because the house wasn't large and the pair wanted to be left alone most of the time and they often dinned out. So the servants minded their own business and didn't engage in gossip about their employers.
Edith was nervous when she first moved in, she suspected Michael would tire of her presence, she did hear about men becoming territorial when women invaded their space, but her fears proved to be unfounded so far as Michael always seemed to want her near like he needed her presence to be comfortable. On evenings when they didn't go out the pair enjoyed a simple dinner in the small dinning room, no formal attire, Michael never dressed for dinner and Edith began to see it as quite pointless. Michael would sit at the head of the table and Edith would take the seat on his right hand side, and they would both spend dinner laughing and chatting about the newest developments in the office while constantly brushing each other's knees beneath the table. Often Michael would place his hand on Edith's, brushing her knuckles with his thumb and caressing her fingers.
After dinner they would move into the sitting room, Michael would usually put on a few records to listen to while Edith picked up the book she was reading at the time, their usual spots were Michael on the end of the couch closest to the record player so he could change the records with out getting up, Edith would be on the opposite end with her legs stretched across and feet resting on Michael's lap, where he could lazily massage her ankles and run his hands across her feet. The two would spend hours just like that, Michael humming along to the music occasionally tapping out the beat on her calfs, Edith would try her best to focus on her book but she caught herself looking up from the page to just stare at that man and observe how deep his dimples were even without smiling and how his head moved with the music just slightly, and how she could begin to tell his opinion on the articles he would read just by the position of his brow.
And sometimes they would spend hours talking, about anything, talking about their childhoods and the differences and similarities, talking about the latest happenings in the world, Michael would be very concerned about Edith's opinions and how she could back them up, sometimes these discussions would lead into an idea for a column. Edith was also able to talk to him about Sybil, something she felt she needed to do but couldn't because at home Mama and Papa had enough trouble dealing with the loss and although her relationship with Mary was thawing they still had a long way to go. Michael proved to be a good listener giving her the encouragement to go on, validating her feelings, and never letting Edith put herself down.
In fact Edith never felt more confident, happy or at peace than she did living with Michael, he showered her with compliments, always listened to what she had to say, and generally made her feel important.
Michael was also enjoying the arrangement, in the few months after Lizzie was committed to the hospital he would spend his nights nursing a bottle of whisky thinking about what he did wrong, what he did to cause her to become so unwell, and if there was anything he could do to fix it. He did like being married, Lizzie was a very nice and sweet person, although he did feel that sometimes she avoided disagreeing with him to as to not upset him, as if he would find a debate disagreeable. It did take a long time and the patience of his friends and family to finally convince him to let go of blaming himself and try to have a life again.
Then he saw that opinion piece about women's rights by an Earl's daughter and thought "she seems an interesting type..." and when she consented to meet with him he was pleasantly surprised that she was beautiful to boot, not a classical beauty, some men might not even look twice, but her delicate features, big brown eyes that looked like two great cups of coffee, and soft creamy skin accented by that head of glorious copper hair stirred something in him that he couldn't shake. It took that first meeting for him to want to see her more and learn as much as he could about her, then it only took about 3 months for him to decide that he loved her, loved her like he never loved anyone before. Of course he loved his first wife, but he found himself constantly thinking about Edith, wondering if she was ok, what she would think about this or that, and when she came to London and spent time with him it's as if everything else on earth turned off and all he could do is look into her eyes and listen to that sweet voice with that charmingly ridiculous toffy accent.
Then during the trip to Scotland where he withstood her sister's withering glances and briefly got to know that lovely chap Matthew, he finally made the declaration that he felt for months, that he was in love with her and wanted to build something with her. He hoped for the best but understood how her life would change, he wasn't exactly an eligible bachelor, he knew the family would disapprove but he knew he could make her happy, and it was up to her if she decided to tie her life to his. And to his unbelievable happiness she consented to live with him as his wife. Not legally of course but in his eyes she was his wife, definitely not a mistress.
Mistresses where like pieces of property owned by callous and selfish men. His Edith was certainly not that, the way she gave him comfort, enriched his life, and cared for him meant she was so much more than that. He also realized that Edith didn't have the easiest home life so he loved to make her smile, build her confidence and watching her grow into this brave modern woman made him love her more and more each day.
But both of them had the nagging voice in the back of their heads that it won't always be this easy, chances are they will be found out, they will have to defend their relationship to her family, maybe his bosses, definitely society. However they decided separately to fight that battle when the time came and not a moment sooner, for right now they were just enjoying each other.
"Joan what time is it?" asked Edith "9:15 milady" Joan responded as she tidied up the bedroom Michael and Edith shared
"oh dear, Michael will want to be going soon, do you know if Mr. Gregson is downstairs?"
"yes I believe he is working on one of his puzzles in the sitting room"
Edith finished primping and walked down the stairs and into sitting room saying
"I know I'm late but I don't think Maggie and Nigel will mind, are you ready?"
Michael sat in his dinner jacket with one of his crossword puzzles on his knee, he looked up when he heard her voice and saw her walk into his, no their sitting room and was struck on how beautiful she looked.
She was wearing a deep emerald green dress with tiny silver beads laid out in a pattern going from her shoulder diagonally to her hip, her hair sat in waves, and the lipstick she was wearing made her mouth look like a strawberry floating in a glass of milk.
As he was silently admiring her beauty the side of his face raised in an appreciative smirk
"Michael, what's wrong?" Edith asked confused
"Absolutely nothing my dear, I was just thinking how beautiful you look, I swear I will be the luckiest man to ever live if the last vision I have on earth is of you in a green dress."
Still not used to be told she was beautiful Edith blushed and smiled at the wonderfully odd man sitting in front of her
"oh please don't be so morbid Michael, but thank you, now would you like to admire my dress at the club with our friends? I believe they are waiting for us"
"truthfully darling that dress would best be admired in a heap on the floor upstairs in our room, but I would hate to disappoint our dear friends" he said as he rose from the sofa and moved towards Edith
"I'll have to agree Michael, but patience is a virtue and I think we can have both options" Edith responded as she ran her hands over his chest and across his shoulders and gave him a soft kiss when she finished her declaration.
"I'm hoping on it love"
Michael and Edith arrived at one of their favorite jazz clubs, "Harry's" and went to go meet their party inside. Over the past few months the couple enjoyed the social scene in London and as Edith's column grew she enjoyed a certain popularity with the literary and news community and received invitations to many parties that were attended by very important people. Michael always accompanied her, but to avoid scandal they took certain precautions. They rarely arrived together, and Michael usually forced himself to halfheartedly flirt with some woman with in earshot of the biggest gossips, Edith and Michael would appear very business like and formal in front of the same gossipers. But through out these events stolen and longing glances were shared between the two, and they would manage to sneak off somewhere private and have a few moments to themselves.
Once it was time to leave Michael would usually leave first, say goodbye to the woman he was "pursuing" that evening and catch Edith's eye and give what appeared to be a curt nod goodbye and usually something along the lines of "I will be looking forward to reading your column this week Lady Edith, goodnight"
After about 15 or 20 minutes Edith would say goodbye to the hosts who sometimes had the nerve to ask her where "that Michael Gregson of yours ran off to" ever the aristocrat Edith would respond calmly "oh, my editor Mr. Gregson? well I don't know he's terribly dull so I try to stay away from him at parties"
Edith would grab a taxi cab and direct the driver three blocks up and one over where she then asked him to pull over to let then man on the street in. Typically she would receive a quizzical look, and respond "it's quite alright my husband needed some air from the party" Michael would then jump in give her a quick kiss, and direct the driver to their home.
Edith and Michael checked their coats and spotted Maggie and Nigel Hawkes at a table near the dance floor, they walked over and warmly greeted their friends. Nigel and Michael met at school and both worked at The Sketch together as young reporters, Nigel married Maggie after a courtship were Nigel was convinced she really fancied Michael, but it turns out Maggie was just trying to get to know Nigel by grilling Michael about him every chance she got.
"Evening Mike" Nigel said as the men shook hands "Edith, you're looking beautiful as ever"
"oh thank you Nigel, we're not late are we? I'm so sorry"
"not at all dear" Maggie assured her as she kissed Edith's cheek. To the relief of the men their significant others got on like a house on fire and even began to socialize with out Michael and Nigel present.
"well Nigel how about we get these ladies some cocktails?"
"sounds good, you girls want the usual?" Nigel asked
The women nodded yes and sat down to begin conversing.
"that man from the Sentinel is up there with them we might be waiting awhile for those drinks"
"well good, Edith I was actually wanting to take sometime to speak to you"
"oh why?" Edith asked with a concerned look on her face
Maggie continued "well you know that Nigel and I know about your arrangement, you and Michael, and we are so happy that he has found happiness after Lizzie, and that we got to meet you, because you two seem so happy together and good for each other but you should know that people are starting to notice, starting to say things..."
Edith gave her friend an accepting nod letting her know she knew exactly what she meant
"well I can't say I'm surprised, we both knew this was going to happen sooner or later, but thank you for letting me know Maggie, you and Nigel are such dear friends,...I will have to talk to Michael tonight..."
Maggie reached over and gave Edith's hand a squeeze
"that might be best dear, and you know both of us are in your corner, and if society shuns you you can look forward to staring at Nigel and I's mugs in your sitting room for the next 50 years"
That made Edith laugh and she responded "you know I actually might prefer that"
Michael and Nigel were returning just as the exchange ended both pleased that Maggie and Edith were chatting and laughing like they knew each other for years
After they all finished their drinks Michael turned to Edith and asked
"are you up for a spin around the floor darling?"
The band was playing an up tempo tune and Edith was starting to get quite good at dancing to jazz music
"yes of course but only if you promise to keep up" Edith said with a flirty smile and a squeeze to his knee underneath the table
As soon as Edith and Michael joined the dance floor the band started to play a slow romantic song.
Edith gave Michael a pleading look signaling that she didn't feel comfortable slowly dancing with the man who was only supposed to be a work superior this publicly, especially after what Maggie had said
Michael seemed to read her mind and assured her
"now dear you promised me a dance, and with this tempo I'll be more likely to keep up, and don't worry all the attention is on how drunk Lady Burton is over there"
Edith nodded in agreement and began to enjoy the feel of Michaels strong hand placed firmly and warmly on the small of her back, his other hand slowly rubbing her hand and the sound of him humming along with the tune in her ear.
It was when Michael started to give soft kisses into her hair that Edith snapped back to reality and said "Michael we're in public, you know I love when you do that but we are going to have to wait until we get home"
Michael let out a low grumble, the noise Edith started to recognize meant that he knew she was right but he just didn't like it.
Not wanting to upset her, Michael responded lightheartedly "well you know dear maybe I could control myself if you weren't so very alluring"
As a smile crept across Edith's face she asked "do you try to be this charming or does it happen naturally?"
"oh I try very very hard actually" Michael teased
After the song ended the couple made their way back to the table but they were stopped from sitting down by a very drunk Larry Grey blocking their way.
"Edith! how are you? what are you doing in London? come on we must dance" Larry slurred as he grabbed her arm and tried to pull her back on to floor.
Michael efficiently released Edith's arm from the man's grasp and instinctively put himself between the two as she collected her thoughts and tried to diffuse the situation Edith pleaded in a conciliatory tone.
"Hello Larry, I've just been dancing and I could use a rest, maybe come back later and we can catch up"
Larry offended by someone spoiling his plans angrily asked Edith
"who is this man and why did he touch me?, come Edith he's very boring, let's go-"
"I'm Michael Gregson, Lady Edith's friend, she wishes to sit down so would you please move."
Michael's sternness surprised Edith she couldn't think of a time when she saw him so on the verge of anger
A look of recognition washed over Larry's face as he began to giggle
"Oh Gregson! the newspaper hawker? well I guess it is true what they are saying, and really Edith even you could have done better."
Edith saw a flash of rage burn in Michael's eyes as his hands tightened into fists, not wanting to cause a scene and possible exposure Edith thought she would give Larry one dance and then send him on his way she quickly put her hand on Michael's arm and gave him a sympathetic and pleading look
"you know Larry I am up for a dance, Mr. Gregson, I'll be back soon and I'll see you at the table"
As Michael sat down at the table Nigel and Maggie turned their attention away from each other and immediately recognized Michael was extremely distressed
"Mike, what's going on where's Edith?"
"she has to dance with some poncy cad, because he insulated he knows about us and I...I just know she is trying to avoid a scandal right now, but that man is horrid, I almost knocked his block off..."
Michael was saying all of this with his eyes trained on Edith on the dance floor, he really should have been more subtle but he was staring daggers at that man who had his dear Edith in his arms.
Nigel tried to calm his friend down, "right, well it's just one dance, he'll be off once the songs over"
On the dance floor Edith was struggling to get through the worst 3 minutes of her life, Larry smelled like brandy and cheap cologne, he was trying to whisper in her ear but was just slurring and spitting on her cheek.
"you know Edith I know everyone thought you were the ugly duckling of the family but I never thought you were that bad...actually I still don't so if you want to ditch that grubby reporter and come back to the Savoy with me..."
Edith cut him off "that's quite alright Larry, I'll pass let's just finish the dance and pretend we never saw each other tonight"
Larry becoming agitated pleaded "Oh come on Edith have some fun..." and he lowered his hand to Edith's behind and gave it a firm squeeze
Before Edith could register what had happened Michael appeared in her peripheral vision grabbed Larry by the collar and gave him a single punch to the jaw that laid him across the floor.
"you dirty bastard! don't you ever come near her again!" Michael exclaimed loud enough to be heard through out the whole club, Nigel quickly grabbed him and said "well done chap but I'm afraid we should be going"
Two bouncers grabbed Michael by the shoulders and hurried him outside as Maggie and Edith grabbed the group's coats and left the scene as soon as possible.
The taxi ride home was quiet as Michael and Edith tried to make sense of what just happened and what it would mean for them tomorrow.
As they entered their home and took off their coats Edith paused on the first step and watched Michael enter the sitting room.
"are you coming to bed dear?"
"yes, I just would like to have a drink alone first" Michael answered more downtrodden than she had ever seen him.
As cheerfully as she could muster Edith responded "alright, I'll be waiting"
Michael grumbled something passing as acknowledgement and sank into the leather chair in the corner.
When Michael finally came up Edith was sitting in their bed trying to read a book of poetry, she watched him enter, plop down onto the sofa and begin to take his shoes off
Tentatively Edith offered "I do appreciate what you did Michael, defending me like that, it's terribly chivalrous...thank you"
Michael looked up with an impatient yet sad look on his face "I exposed us Edie, I don't regret socking that weasel for a second, but everyone saw it and now you'll have to deal with the consequences of my temper, I couldn't have been more obvious if I kissed you on the band stage"
Edith touched by his concern for her reputation and name tried to make the situation lighter by joking "well if you remember our dance you practically did"
Michael let out a scoff and a smile "don't make me laugh darling... I'm worried and I feel awful, this is serious, you think this won't be in the gossip pages tomorrow or the next day?
Edith rose from their bed and walked over to sit next to him and put her arm around his shoulders and linked her free arm with his
"Michael don't be so hard on yourself, you saved me from that wretched man, and besides Maggie told me people are beginning to notice so what's the difference? I think we should tell my family, I'm tired of keeping you and our relationship in the shadows, I love you, and I want my family to know that. Besides I think they can help us"
Michael gave her a confused look "from what you told me I don't think they will take kindly to you taking up with a married man, and a career man at that?"
Edith tried her best to reassure him "they will be shocked at first, and maybe angry, but I don't think my parents want to loose another daughter especially over something as trivial as this, and what you don't realize yet is that we Crawleys stick together, and you're with me so they will stick with you too."
Michael shook his head in disbelief, he felt he could live to be a hundred years old and would never understand why this wonderful strong elegant woman decided to risk everything familiar in her life to take up him when he couldn't even offer her a proper marriage.
He looked up at her with watery eyes "Edith, I am so sorry, you deserve so much more than what I can give you right now, you deserve an important man who can introduce you as his wife and keep slimy little rats at arms length with worrying about what people will assume I just-"
Edith heard enough and stopped his speech by putting her fingers on his lips
"that's quite enough of that, Michael I love you and I know you love me, and I wouldn't want to be anywhere else because even though right now our relationship has obstacles, you make me feel more like a real person, a valued human being for the first time in my life, and I wouldn't trade that for Buckingham Palace"
"I love you too so much, I just wish I could give you everything you deserve" Michael said as he brought his hand up to caress her cheek
"I know you do dear, and you will, but the first thing we need to do is start being honest with people who might help us"
Michael nodded in agreement and leaned in to give Edith a tender kiss, after they parted Edith stood and took Michael's hands in hers
"it's been a long night, you need your rest, it's not everyday you coldcock Larry Grey on a dance floor, we'll sleep and make a plan in the morning"
"sounds lovely dear" Michael mused as he changed into his pajamas
"I did get him good didn't I?"
"you know you might be able to give Jack Johnson a run for his money" Edith said as she climbed into bed and pulled the covers back for Michael
"if you really think that then I know you love me cause it's quite the stretch" Michael chuckled to himself as he brought Edith in to rest her head on his shoulder and they both listened to the sound of each other breathing and drifted off to sleep.