A/N: Sorry I haven't posted sooner been changing this chapter round so much. I know its a long chapter but I wasn't sure how to fit it all in. Hopefully you will like where I am taking this story and I will maybe post again before the weekend.

Thanks for reading.

Edith was partly regretting not taking her sun umbrella as she strolled through St James park with Edward. It was far to hot to be taking a stroll anywhere but she didn't want him to think she was brushing him off and had agreed to go with him, after all he had only been in London three weeks and she was sure he was feeling home sick.

He glanced behind them to see their grandmothers at a distance that would not be uncomfortable but close enough to listen to what they were saying. As he turned back he saw the sad look on Ediths face. He felt guilty thinking it could be because of him. She seemed very quiet, more then normal and it worried him. He looked into the distance putting his hands in his pockets. He did not expect her to be so cold towards him like she had that morning. He wondered what he had said wrong. Francis and Violet were staring to advance towards them so he pulled her over to the edge of the path pretending to look at the ducks that were flocking across the water to them.

"Edith I'm sorry if this has been difficult for you. If I pushed you in any way you didn't feel comfortable. I have tired my best to make this better. I know it will be difficult. I just hope we can get along."

"It's not your fault it's been so difficult."

He was starting to feel dizzy in the bright sunlight and Edith wasn't giving up any more information so he decided to start walking again. He thought she was just having a bad day. Her sisters, Mary, did seem to be horrible towards her most days and that morning was no different. He wanted to at least get to know her but it was seeming increasingly difficult. He offered his arm and she took it.

"Edith, has this got anything to do with Patrick?"

"Patrick? How do you know about Patrick?"

"Do you really think I'm that stupid to come down here without looking into the family? Besides Mary did mention him one day when you was out with your sister."

Edith wasn't sure if she should be insulted or not. She looked to the floor making silent threats in her head towards her sister. How could she mess up the one good thing she had? It was all very Mary and she couldn't help but feel in pain. How long would it take for Patrick to stop haunting her? She wanted to get to know him and move on but it had seemed lately that there was something stopping it. Something more then Marys comments and her mothers disapproving stares. Noticing that she had stiffened up he didn't want to press the issue but he felt he had to.

"It's okay Edith. We've all had pain in our lives its nothing to be ashamed of."

"I don't really see what it has to do with anything Edward."

She said as he led her over one of the many bridges in the park. He really did want it work but he wasn't sure if that was because he had been lonely, if he really liked her or if he just wanted to make his grandfather happy, even if he was no longer around. She watched him out of the corner of her eye not wanting to bring up the subject. It wasn't fair.

"I can see your unhappy. I know it, you know it and so do your family but you let them torture you everyday and I just don't understand why."

"It's not like that at all."

She said stopping and leaning on the bridge, twisting her fingers together nervously, looking over the water. If she looked at him she would surely agree to what he was saying. She knew it but never had any one been so honest, so forward. He stood slightly annoyed that she couldn't even admit what was happening in her life, he had seen it enough times in the past. He turned her to him not caring what his grandmother was thinking. Edith looked down at his hands that didn't let go of her arms. It wasn't forceful but the touch of his hands made her shiver.

"Of course it is. You just don't want to see it because then there would be a problem in your life."

"And you think, what? That you can fix it?"

"We don't have to marry for love lots of people don't."

He was surprised when Edith just looked at him almost searching for something. He wasn't sure what and let go of her arms. In the strong sunlight looking at her he felt a slight flicker of something. He dismissed it unaware of how little it would take for her to work her way into his heart.

"Don't you ever want more then that?"

"We cant have more then that, don't you see? I do want you to be happy. You are a smart beautiful woman and you deserve the world and it's their loss if they can't see that but you shouldn't let them treat you the way they do."

Edith focused on a spot in the distance when she didn't answer him. He had started to regret bringing up the subject but he felt they needed to get it out the way if they ever stood a chance. It didn't matter about the estate anymore. He couldn't stand to see her being treated so wrong. She looked at him feeling his hand on her arm again. He dropped his hand to hers and she let him take it unsure if she was doing it for the right reasons.

"I want to make you happy."

"Edward I don't know if you can."

"We can marry, I get the estate and you can get everything you ever wanted. A title, a husband and children."

"Edward how could think that's all I care about?"

"I don't understand what you want, what your so afraid of. What is it? Is it the possibility of feeling more then anger for once in your life?"

"That's not fair. You don't know me."

He couldn't feel angry, he just rubbed his forehead seeing their grandmothers walking towards them again. He had wanted to ask for their advice. If Edith was normally this way, what he should do to make it better. He decided to keep quiet. Not wanting to say anymore they walked on in silence until he paused and spoke.

"Let me try to get know you. Please."

Edward had left the park rather quickly when Francis said that they would take Edith for tea with one of their old friends. He knew that they had overheard what they were saying because normally they would try so hard to push them together. What would Edith think of him now? Edith would think he was a fool, a man that only thought of him self. Pushing it out of his mind he decided to stop at an old pub that he used to go to back when he came to London, where he would escape from his scheming grandmother and pushy father. Sitting down at a table he started to relax until he saw a fimailiar face who came through the crowd and sat at his table. She had her arms crossed with a frown across her face. He spoke breaking the uneasy silence.

"What are you doing here?"

"I could ask you the same question. I wondered how long it would take for you to turn up in London."

"I am allowed to have a life you know."

He folded his arms and glared at her. He knew Martha was in London but he hadn't expected to see her if anything he wanted to avoid her. He did not want her anywhere near the family or Edith. She spoke again leaning forward. She had thought at first it was a joke that he would marry a distant cousin that he would be in London. She wasn't going to speak to him, she wasn't even meant to be there her self but she couldn't let it lie. They had parted on bad terms but she wasn't exactly concerned about fixing it.

"I heard your getting married."

"It has nothing to do with you."

He sighed unhappily. This is why he never came. The rumours and the looks. It was all a long time ago and he wished that she could just let it go. He could feel himself getting hot and decided it would be best to go back to the house. He stood and took one last look at Martha who looked even more angry that he wasn't bothered. He needed to intervene before the whole thing became a mess.

"You need to let it go Martha before it destroys everybodys life."

He had walked a few steps before he heard Martha talk turning round he faced her. She had stood her arms still folded a frown engraved in her face. She had to make him see sense. She knew Robert had came to see her because of his lawyers. She didn't know if he knew it.

"Robert came to see me and asked about you."

"What did you say? If you have told him..."

"All I would have told him is the truth. There not lies are they?"

He watched, his blood running cold, as she just smirked at him. He pulled her into the corner the anger beating hard in his chest. He could not let her ruin everything. She tried to get away but he grabed her wrist. She didn't seem to care but he wouldn't put anything past Martha. What she would do. They way she always twisted things.

"I swear Martha if you start ruining things for me again, start lying again, I will make sure I will make it hell for you."

He let her go pushing her back into the wall. His thoughts clouded by drink, by anger. He couldn't think clearly and made his way out of the pub taking a moment on the street to catch his breath. He was sure he had just made things a whole lot worse for him self. He had to find Robert and quickly.

"Dinner seemed to go well."

Cora said climbing into bed glad the day was over. It really was exhausting trying to get two of her daughters to fall in love with men they didn't seem interested in. She glanced over at her husband who seemed deep in thought sat in front of the fire.

"Yes I think if it wasn't for us using the fine china Mary and Matthew would have been throwing their plates at each other."

"Edward and Edith seemed to be getting along nicely."

She said ignoring his sarcasm. He just mumbled something back to her. She sighed, when would he get back to normal? He just seemed occupied with something. Hearing a knock on the door she shuffled further down in the sheets yawning wishing who ever it was to go away. Robert came back from the door with a letter that he quickly opened. She frowned and wondered who would be sending letters at this time of night. He seemed relived what ever he had read. Sitting up in bed she crossed her arms.

"Robert if this has anything to do with your lawyer or the parks I want to know now."

He faulted for a second half looking up at her and half lost in thought. He folded the letter back up and put it in his dressing gown planning to read it a bit more later now he had to answer his wife.

"It is from my lawyer. I had them look into a few things about the will."

"Robert."

Cora said her mouth hanging open unable to think of anything else to say. Why did Robert even mind that one of his daughters was getting married? They had often worried about Mary but never Edith now they would never have to. It wasn't a bad thing. Something else was definitely going on, something to do with his visit to Martha a few weeks ago. Edward did seem sightly unnerved when she had mentioned her at dinner. She was about to speak when he joined her in bed shuffling off his dressing gown and leaving it on a chair. Cora eyed it up knowing that when Robert was asleep she would be reading the letter.

"He thinks he can get us out of the will."

"Robert why would you even meddle in this? You know Edith will never forgive you."

"There is a reason why. Theres something our house guest hasn't told us. That's why I visited Martha. Shes an old friend of Edwards. I needed to get the truth."

"You really think Martha would tell the truth?"

"Do you really think she would lie about something so big?"

"What exactly did she say?"

She said leaning back in bed unaware that someone was listing the other side of the door. They didn't speak overly loud but loud enough for whoever it was to hear what they were saying. Hearing a noise the other side of their door Robert stoped mid sentance, crossed the room quickly opening the door to find nothing he turned to his wife both of their worried gazes met the low light.

"Robert?"

"Don't worry it was probably just a housemaid."

He said closing the door and making his way back to bed avoiding looking at his wife.

"At this time, what if it wasn't?"

"Then we better hope they keep quiet until I can sort this mess."

"I did warn you Robert. You started this and now you must finish it."

"Don't be so dramatic Cora. Everything will be fine."

"You better hope so Robert because you know what they say a secret between two is God's secret, between three is all mens."

She turned over in bed turning out the light leaving Robert to think. She was right. She always was. He would have to do the only thing he could and visit Martha again tomorrow. Praying silently as he climbed into bed that Edith would never find out. Cora was right, she would never forgive him.