Chapter 7

Anna styled Edith's hair. She was dressed in a jade green dress.

"Good luck, my lady," Anna said, "Sir Anthony is a lovely man."

"I know." Edith said.

OO

Anthony was answering Robert's question as to his intentions towards Edith.

"When I courted Edith, before the war," Anthony swallowed, "Well she was so alive, and we got on so well. She gave me hope and I would have proposed to her the day of the garden party. But I was aware then, Lord Grantham, that Edith would have required your consent and I was not altogether confident I would ever get that, being as I was so much older than she. I still am, and now I am not whole. I never thought I was good enough for her, for any of your daughters. But I love Edith and, if she would consent, then I have the means to provide for her. I may need help to dress, but I can manage pretty well with just one arm. I will be able to help Matthew as well, if this is what he must face."

Edith was hovering in the doorway; she had not made her presence known. Her heart fluttered as she heard him say that he loved her.

But Violet had seen her shadow.

"Come in, Edith dear."

Anthony froze. So she was back. In moments she was beside him.

Anthony put his good arm around her.

"Lord Grantham, your daughter means everything to me. Thoughts of her kept me strong during the darkest days of my life and, even when I came home, I had hopes; although I fully expected her to have found someone else and married. I never gave her a reason to wait for me. But as the reality of my situation set in, the fact that I was maimed, I despaired of thinking I would ever be good enough for her. I came here today with the intention of showing her my scars and giving her the choice, even if it meant never seeing her again. But as a result of what has happened today, well I want to be with her, if she'll have me."

"Edith, what do you want?" Violet asked, "Your father and I have too long neglected you, and what you want. We failed to notice that you grew up during the war and are a young woman with opinions and feelings of your own."

Edith took Anthony's injured hand in hers, caressing it lightly with her soft lips.

"I want to be with you, Anthony," she said simply, "I think I have loved you ever since we first met. I was just so proud of you today. I often thought of you during the war, dreaded hearing that you had been killed, because I don't think my heart could have stood it. I know I can learn to help you and you more than proved yourself today. We can also help Matthew, if this is what he faces."

"Of course we will give Matthew all the support he needs," Cora said.

The shooting party had pretty much broken up and most guests had declined the lunch, sensing that the family had enough drama to be going on with. Carson and Anna were transferring plates of food to the dining room.

"Would you like to stay for lunch, Sir Anthony?" Cora asked.

"I would be delighted, Lady Grantham," Anthony said, "I'm afraid I skipped breakfast so I'm famished."

Anthony stayed for lunch; Robert and Violet let them be.

"You have truly given me back my life, Lady Edith." he whispered to her.

"Richard Carlisle has nothing on me by the way." She whispered.

"I'm glad to hear it, although I despise men who exert a hold on women in that way. Surely we should be moving on from the old Tess of the D'Urbervilles double standards? Especially now that we have been through a war where women have had to function in traditional men's roles to keep the country going."

"Did he have something on the late Lady Strallan?"

"He heard a rumour about some letters Maud had written to a young man in her youth, but Maud had told me about them. So he could not damage either of us, but I knew of him and what he was about. Lady Mary is well rid of him."

"I learnt to drive during the war," Edith said, "So if you want to go out anytime I would be happy to take you."

"That would be very nice," he said, "Edith, may I kiss you?"

"Yes," she whispered.

He drew her close to him and his mouth gently claimed hers, exploring her gently and she felt herself respond to him, as though a fire had been lit beneath her. They were both trembling when he drew back.

"Edith, that was the most gentle, most loving kiss I have ever known." He whispered gently.

"It was the only kiss I have ever known" she replied.

She was enjoying being near him. She closed her eyes for a moment as she inhaled, becoming intoxicated by the smell of his shaving soap and cologne. He knew he had done the right thing, laying his heart on the line, but it had paid off. She was to be his.

"Was everything true what you said?" She asked.

"Yes, I went through some dark days while I was in the military hospital. There were days when I wanted to put a bullet in my own head out of despair; then I would think of how disappointed you would be with me."

"It would have broken my heart," she said, feeling a shiver run through her as his blue eyes looked deep into her brown ones.

His warm breath caressed her ear as he whispered. "Oh Lady Edith, I want to make love to you, but I promise I will behave until we wed."

"I should hope so," she said.

He dropped to one knee and held her hand in his good one.

"Lady Edith Crawley, will you do me the honour of agreeing to become my wife, my Lady Strallan?"

"Yes, my darling." She whispered, "I have been waiting five long years for you to ask me that."

OO

Just after the proposal they drifted back into the library.

Carson came in.

"My Lord, Lady Mary and Lady Sybil are back, with Dr Clarkson."

"Show them in Carson." Robert said gravely.

As they walked in both Edith and Anthony felt the tension, as they prepared to learn Matthew's fate.