Edith's feet were aching, but she didn't dare complain. It was a small price to pay for what had turned out to be one of the best days she'd ever had. Nothing overly exciting happened, there were no extraordinary events or sights, but Edith had just walked what must have been the entire span of Dublin and back with Dr. Anthony Strallan, and they had never run out of things to say.

"It's the cobblestones," Anthony said quietly, coming up to the bench where Edith was waiting. He handed her a coffee and took a seat beside her. They were in St. Stephens Green, watching people go by and enjoying the high autumn sun.

"I'm sorry?" Edith asked, removing the lid from her drink to blow on it.

"Your feet hurt because of the cobbled streets. It's like walking on a rocky beach. You'll get used to it though."

Edith smiled and nodded. She'd also have to get used to Dr. Strallan knowing intrinsically what was on her mind all the time, she was beginning to realize.

The day had started at campus, Edith getting an insider's tour. Anthony was full of knowledge of the history and all the little stories about the old buildings. Edith found she enjoyed listening to him talk, his deep and quiet voice lost some of its tenuousness when he was discussing something he was expert in. They had walked through Grafton Street, for what Anthony called the "full tourist experience" and had gone to Temple Street to see the famous bar.

In the Georgian district, Anthony had shown Edith a tiny, hidden, brick-walled bookshop with floor-to-ceiling stacks of yellowed, musty books on everything from Gothic architecture to the fashion of the Great War. Edith and Anthony spent hours perusing the packed shelves, showing each other their favorite reads as they stumbled across them. In the end, Anthony had insisted Edith get Anna Karenina, shocked she hadn't read it already, and Edith insisted Anthony take a collection of modern poetry by an Irishman named Curtis.

After a quick lunch they went to a farmer's market where Edith picked some fruits and cheese, which Anthony insisted on buying, and then they began meandering back to the college, which is how they landed in Stephens Green, sipping their coffee and enjoying a comfortable silence.

"Thank you for today," Edith said after a while. "I can't tell you how much I've enjoyed it." She felt herself blush and rolled her eyes at her own ridiculousness.

"I'm very glad. I enjoyed it too. It's been too long since I've played the tourist, or the guide for that matter," he said, crossing one leg over the other in a gesture Edith was quickly becoming familiar with.

Anthony's eyes looked even brighter as he squinted slightly against the sun, and though Edith didn't care to admit it, his hair looked even lighter. Still, his thick navy sweater and plaid button-up shirt looked soft and warm, and Edith found herself staring at the way they exposed the slightest bit of skin below his Adam's apple. Embarrassed, she distracted herself by rearranging their paper shopping bags at her side.

"So, do you think you'll learn to like it?" Anthony asked.

"I already like it. I think I'll 'learn' to call it home," she replied, turning back to him.

"Well, you'll have to report to your father that I've done my duty," Anthony said with a thin, slightly awkward smile. Edith's head dropped automatically.

"Oh," she said, unable to hide her disappointment. "Oh, yes of course. He'll be pleased to hear of it." Her throat had gone dry, and she tried to tell herself it was silly to be upset. After all, Anthony was a very kind mind who had done far more for her than she had any right to expect.

Anthony's face grew alarmed. "Oh, please don't misunderstand. I've had a wonderful time. I haven't felt obligated or I wouldn't have done it. I don't usually enjoy this sort of thing so I'm not easily made to do it. Not that I haven't enjoyed this. I have enjoyed it, immensely."

"You know, for a literary expert, you're not very good with words." Edith began to smile, biting the corner of her full bottom lip.

Anthony heaved a relieved laugh and ran a hand over his chin. "Don't I know it. One of my many faults, you see. I usually find it best not to say anything at all. Ghastly at conversation, I'm afraid."

"Well that's not true. We've just spent an entire morning and afternoon talking endlessly," Edith said plainly. Anthony only smiled in response and looked away, his silence indicating to Edith that perhaps she'd pointed out a truth he wasn't yet willing to acknowledge. She blushed again and looked down.

A dozen or so birds took off from one of the near-by trees, catching their attention. When the last one had disappeared into the horizon Anthony sighed. "Should we get going?"

Edith reluctantly agreed, muttering a thanks as Anthony took her wares in hand. She thought of a school boy carrying his sweetheart's books and smiled to herself. Anthony was quite old fashioned, which delighted Edith. All day he'd held doors and pulled out chairs, and not because he was trying to impress her but because it was simply what he did.

"What are you smiling at?" he asked, matching her grin as though it were communicable.

"Oh," she flustered, having been caught. "I was just thinking."

"Only I wonder if you are ever not thinking."

Edith laughed and watched her boots as they strolled onward. "I was thinking that I would have liked to live a hundred years ago or so, right at the begging of the century when everything was simpler and slower. I would have liked to have been the daughter of an Earl or something, I think."

"When you would have had no rights at all and your every move would be dictated by society? Or worse, your parents?"

"I could have fought society, and my parents, for my independence. Back then I would have been considered 'modern' and ahead of my time. I could have been brave and brazen, just for wanting to write. As it is, instead of being brave I'm just doing as all young women must, and I can't relate to anyone my age. I'm terribly old-fashioned, I'm afraid."

Anthony nodded and smiled knowingly. "I see what you mean."

"Thanks for that."

"No, I mean that I feel the same way sometimes. It's why I focused on Victorian and Romantic lit, I think. Because gentlemen were gentlemen and a man was a cad if he had the nerve to kiss a young woman before he'd made a promise to her. I rather like the idea of nobility and duty and courting, all that."

Edith raised an eyebrow at Anthony and laughed. "Oh you are terribly Victorian, aren't you?"

"Afraid so. I don't even own a television."

Edith laughed even harder. "Oh dear. Do you read by candlelight? Write with quill and ink?"

"Not quite, Lady Crawley," he teased in retort. "Oh we make quite the pair, don't we?"

Edith felt her chest swell at his mention of them as a pair, but she immediately quashed the thought before it had time to germinate. Anthony seemed to realize the implication in his choice of words and cleared his throat. The remainder of the short walk back to campus was spent largely in silence.

They came to stop under a great oak tree, unsure of where to go or how to part. Edith took the bags from Anthony and shrugged.

"Thank you, Edith, for a very pleasant afternoon," he said, his tone and posture naturally formal.

"Won't you come eat this cheese?" she asked gracelessly, blushing before the words had barely passed her lips. "What I mean is, I can't get through it alone, and seeing as how you paid for it you may as well enjoy it. I have wine and bread at mine, and a stew that's been going all day."

Anthony looked hesitant.

"If you're not busy, of course. No obligation at all," Edith said quickly, wishing she hadn't brought it up in the first place.

"No," he said quietly. "I mean yes. No I'm not busy, but yes, I'd like very much to help you eat the cheese." He shook his head a laughed at himself. Edith found it endearing that his ears turned slightly red, and tried not to read too much into it.

"Very good," she said. "Well why don't you give me a few hours to tidy a bit, and I'll see you around six?"

"Yes, alright. Six."

Edith nodded and slowly began to move past him, down the walk in the direction of her flat.

"Edith," he called urgently, causing her to turn, "I can't."

Edith's heart sank, though she tried to keep her features bright. "Oh, I see."

"No, I don't have your address."

She flushed visibly, pulling a pen and paper from her bag.

"Do you always carry a pen and notepad?" Anthony asked conversationally as she scribbled her address.

"Yes," she replied, as though it would be strange not to.

"Haven't you ever heard of a smartphone?" he teased.

"Says the man with no television," she muttered, handing him the little slip of paper.

He flashed his crooked smile at her, laughing under his breath. "Six, then," he repeated.

"Six," she confirmed. Edith turned and walked away, forcing herself not to look back. She was certain Anthony was watching her, but didn't dare look for fear he wouldn't be. When she rounded the corner her face split into a wide and uncontained grin. She felt rather foolish, but didn't fight it either.

The old stone buildings stood around her, and a breeze was picking up the gold and crimson leaves off the walk, lined by a cast iron fence. She turned her face to the sun and smiled and a group of school children passing by. She didn't like this city, Edith realized, she loved it. Exactly how much Dr. Strallan had to do with that, Edith chose not to consider at the moment.

Her mobile buzzed in her bag, bringing Edith back to earth. She pulled it out and checked the screen with a groan.

"Hello Mum," Edith sighed.

"Hello my darling. How's your day been?"

Edith smiled despite herself. "Today has been good, Mama," she said, "really perfect, actually."

She left it at that, knowing her mother wouldn't probe for details. Half-listening to the update on her mother's latest artistic endeavor and Mary's plans to renovate her already immaculate home, Edith managed to be pleasant and put in all the right "is that so's" and "oh really's".

She managed it, she knew, because in a few short hours Anthony Strallan would be having dinner with her and, without hope or expectation, the promise of his company alone was enough to bolster Edith against practically anything.

A/N: A short chapter, I know, but I wanted to get it up sooner rather than later. How busy the holidays make things! Looking forward to writing more and posting very soon...

And thank you, thank you, thank you for the lovely reviews. :)