It was almost an hour after the agreed time when Edith and Violet finally heard a car drive up in front of the house. The tea was cold by then, so Violet asked the butler to bring a new kettle.

The subjects of conversation were long since at an end between grandmother and granddaughter. The last half hour or so Edith hadn't been able to say anything but yes or no whatever her granny talked about. Edith was feeling more and more desperate. She had started to realise that Tom was probably her last chance to keep her baby, even though the idea of a marriage to him felt very uncomfortable.

When the car drove up Edith didn't know if she felt relieved or not. Perhaps it would be better to go to Switzerland after all and have the child adopted by someone? But the thought of doing that was unbearable. She loved that little child, even if she knew next to nothing about it yet.

She just couldn't give it up. It was quite impossible.

...

When Tom entered the room he apologised for being late. The business he had been forced to attend to had taken much longer than he had anticipated.

"Well, you are here now", Lady Violet said. "That is the most important thing. Sit down and let my butler bring you a cup of tea. After that I will tell you my plans for the wedding."

"Lady Grantham, I just..." Tom was interrupted by a very severe look from the old lady.

"I would appreciate it if you just let me talk first. You will have your say after that. I hope you have some reverence for old age..."

So Tom and Edith could do nothing but listen as Violet told them how she thought it proper to go about all this. A quiet marriage at the register's office - Edith couldn't properly wear white anyhow. Very few people attending, only the closest family. Edith's parents, Mary, Rosamund, and Violet herself.

Tom looked like he wanted to say something again, but he didn't dare to interupt.

"Perhaps it is best to do it all in London", Violet continued. "We can arrange a simple meal afterwards in Rosamund's home or at the Crawley's London townhouse."

Tom looked very uncomfortable, but he didn't say anything.

"And it has all to be done as quickly as possible", Violet added. "There is no time to lose."

Violet said that people would know that Edith was pregnant at the wedding anyhow, as soon as the baby was born. Most people could count. But there was nothing to do about that. A wedding trip would be good of course, to keep out of sight for a while. But the most important thing was to have the wedding as soon as possible.

Then, at last, Lady Violet seemed to be finished. No one said anything for more than ten seconds. The room was suddenly utterly silent. Then, at last, Tom dared to say what he had come there for.

"I'm so sorry, Lady Grantham, but I can't marry Edith", he said. "It is quite impossible. I would have told you at once, but you didn't give me a chance to speak."

...

AN: Thank you for reading! Thank you for commenting!