The Walk
Walking from Downton Village proved to be a tedious affair in Lady Mary's opinion, as the entire household returned from the ceremony. To begin with, she was walking three astride with Edith and Tom, which was awkward especially as Edith refused to have little Marigold walk with the nanny, or fall behind. It's true that they both outranked Tom, but Tom was far superior company to her sister. She would fall behind herself getting Tom to join her except that Granny would be bound to make a crack at her expense. Instead she said,
"Don't you think your charge would rather walk with Master George and Sibbie? " adding drolly, "I'm sure she's having a marvelous time with all these adults. And besides she's not doing that dress or your pearls any favors."
Tom shot her an dour expression behind Edith's shoulder to which Mary shrugged in return mouthing silently,"What?"
Edith said with the slightest labor in her voice, Marigold wasn't heavy to carry, but she was getting taller and carrying her involved containing the growing limbs in a comfortable embrace which required a measure of exertion. Edith took Marigold's stuffed bear and had him kiss her little face until the child giggled so infectiously even Lord Grantham turned, looked back at them and warmly smiled. Mary was irked and Edith said playfully to her little girl instead of Mary, "how's that, is that better darling?" The young child clung even tighter to Edith who broke out in a happy smile. Tom watched the exchange invoking a warm smile of his own. Mary was tired of all the extravagance of emotion, and stepped back on her own volition to fall in step with the Dowager and Mrs Crawley.
Tom smiling to himself felt the tension break as Mary found another outlet for her boredom. Allowing him to contemplate the puzzle he had been working on for some time now, Edith had changed, this little girl coming into Lady Edith's life had made her kinder, softer, more reflective, warmer, and peaceful. She didn't attack Mary's snide remarks any longer, but more frequently let them wash over her only infuriating her older sister even more. It was more than that though just months ago she was frantic dismissing herself from dinner, running off to London leaving him behind to explain her sudden absence, and it was a complete change, and Tom was happy for her, but no young ward could bring so much relief unless they had been part of the distress. Tom knew the Dress, he had great respect for Mr. Drew, and he knew him to be a proud man. He couldn't imagine the man accepting a child into his family only to admit they, that he could no longer care for it. And Mrs. Drew, Tom didn't know her as well but he had seen her with the little girl, she was a doting mother, it was only after Marigold was brought to the Abbey that Mrs. Drew faced a remarked change. As Edith nuzzled little Marigold Tom thought what a pretty image they were, and he wanted to talk about what he had been thinking when he heard Mary's voice he turned back to see that she had left off walking with the Dowager to speak with Mr. Bates, and since his wife was in prison there was a lot to discuss, but looking back at the engaged, sharp witted and tongued Dowager, and Lord Grantham not but a few feet ahead of them, it still wasn't the time to ask Edith about this lucky child with russet copper ringlets that she chose to carry in her arms all the way from the village. Instead he offered,
"Would you like me to relieve you, I can carry Marigold the rest of the way."
Edith tilted her head and her chuckle teased the air, "What, now that we are nearly at the yard? Thank you but no, I like to hold her, it seems like she's grown so much since being at Downton. I just want to hold her while I can."
Tom grinned smugly, what he had been guessing at seemed confirmed with that remark. Edith suddenly realized her response may have given too much away and quickly said,
"You know, I forget how much I enjoy London."
And there was an end to her open nature, down came the veil and she became simply a woman carrying a child. Tom followed her lead, clearly it was too soon to talk about the subject and replied in turn, "Maybe you should go up there more often, take an interest in your publishing, get more involved in the business. You're clever enough, a good writer, they'd be lucky to have you."
Edith was happily surprised to hear Tom affirm the very ideas she had spent the past month trying to choose between as the best way to go forward. His confidence met her own and the security of her future seemed more reachable than ever before, and Edith wanted to suddenly confide in him and wish they were walking alone together instead of with the entire house. But with intensity she looked at him over Marigold's touseled curls saying, "You know Mary always talks like she's the only one who will miss you when you go, but I will too."
Tom replied sincerely as if transferring his own strength to her, "As I'll miss you." Their eyes locked for a long moment, neither of them were the same people they once were.