Chapter 9: Happy Ever After

After Strallan had left, promising that he would be back in the morning to talk to Edith when she was a little more settled, Robert went up to see her. Cora was with her now, he could hear. He tapped gently on her door, and Cora answered it. Seeing it was her husband, she stepped outside of Edith's bedroom.

"How is she?"

"Frantic. That monster twisted her mind to think that it was all her fault, and she thinks this is proof."

"My poor baby."

"Is Sir Anthony still here?"

"No, I sent him home. He says he'll come back in the morning."

"Pity. It would've done Edith good to see him. She also thinks he'll have nothing to do with her after this, that she's a fallen woman, and lost him for good."

"That couldn't be further from the truth. He's going to ask her to marry him tomorrow, and he is saying that he will acknowledge the child as his own."

"Really? God bless him. Please, Robert, come and tell her that. I'm sure it would help."

Quietly they went back in to Edith's room.

"Oh Papa!"

"There, there, my sweet one."

"Anthony used to call me that." She dissolved into uncontrollable tears again.

"Edith, Edith, listen to me. I've just been speaking to Anthony. He guessed what was wrong with you, and came to ask if it was true. And the very moment I told him, the very moment I say, he asked for permission to propose to you."

She couldn't believe it. She stared at her father, but, he thought, at least she'd stopped crying.

"Where is he?"

"I sent him home. He's worried sick about you. He says he'll be back in the morning."

Edith began crying again, but with relief.

"Now try to get some rest, my darling daughter. You want to look your best for Anthony in the morning, don't you?"


Anthony had a hellish night. His mind was full of the pain that Edith must be going through. It was so bloody unfair! Wasn't it enough to be repeatedly raped and humiliated by that unspeakable fiend without being left with a reminder of it forever after? Of course, it wasn't the child's fault either. He remembered how it used to hurt Edith that he didn't think he was good enough for her, when it was so patently obvious that she loved and wanted him. Now it would serve him right if the tables were turned, and she, with her sense of nobility, wouldn't let him share this terrible burden. But he so wanted to wrap her in his arms, kiss the tears away, tell her that he loved her even though this tragedy had happened to her, that they'd find a way through it together.

He was brought up short. Those were the words that she had used about his arm.

Why was I so dense that it took this to make me understand?


Carson showed Anthony into the library, and Edith followed him there soon after. What they didn't know was that Mary and Sybil were behind the screens talking about Anthony and his gallant offer at the end of the room. They had not realised who had entered the room until it was too late, so they decided to stay put and keep quiet.

"Good morning, Lady Edith. I hope you are feeling better."

"Better than yesterday evening, yes, thank you, Sir Anthony."

"I hope you don't mind. Your father confided in me…" His voice trailed off.

"Yes, I know. I'm glad. I would value your advice."

"What do you wish to do, Edith?"

She paused, hoping he would sympathise with her feelings. "If it were up to me and it were legal, I would abort the baby. Even if it's the most innocent little thing in the world, everyone would remember how it was conceived. And I'm so afraid that it will turn out to be more like its father than me."

"I can understand your fears." he said to her relief. "But don't you think nurture can overcome nature, on occasion?"

"Oh, I know it does. I'm just so very scared it won't in this instance."

"Any other worries?"

She looked into his beautiful blue eyes and all her hopes and horrors flooded around her.

"No man is going to look at me again." The tears she'd kept back all morning began to flow. Anthony got up and put his arm around her shoulder to comfort her.

"Now, I'm sure that isn't true, Edith. You are young and very beautiful. There will be plenty of men who will care for you."

I've given you the opening, he thought. Please, please, please give me a sign that you want me.

"I don't want plenty of men. I'm just so scared that the one man I want won't want me."

He leaned towards her. Was this really happening? Looking into her lovely brown eyes, he could see the love she nursed for him trembling somewhere at the back. With his hand shaking, he dropped to one knee, knowing everything would be alright now.

"Lady Edith Crawley, if God has been merciful to me, and I am that one man, I would be honoured if you would accept my hand in marriage, my name, all my worldly goods, and the protection I would dearly like to offer you and your unborn child, whom I will acknowledge as my own."

From their position behind the screens, Sybil and Mary, weeping with joy, saw Anthony stand, take Edith's hand to bring her to her feet, put his arm around her and kiss her passionately. Edith felt him needing to hold her more tightly and to her surprise, and the almost shock of her sisters, he picked her up bodily with his left arm and pushed her against the nearest bookcase so that he could lean in to her more fully, kissing her neck and shoulders, her cheeks and hair, and her lips again. And again. And again.

Mary whispered to Sybil "I don't think we should be watching this!"

"But look at him! He's a tiger!"

"Yes, it's often the quiet ones who have the deepest depths, isn't it?"


Epilogue

Lady Edith miscarried the child three months later. Her and Anthony's wedding was put back to let her recover. In many ways, it was a mercy and a relief. She and Anthony could start again from the beginning. The ceremony itself was a very small affair with Travis, their families, and the staff of the two houses.

In the car back to Locksley in the dark that evening, Anthony whispered in her ear "My darling, I hope that one day, you will allow me to attempt to give you my child, but if you aren't ready…"

She put her fingers to his lips.

"Let's start tonight, shall we?"