Once they were done laughing at Anthony's muck on shoes put down Edith felt considerably better.
"Do you still want to go home?" He asked.
"No, I just want to be alone with you."
"You're a wicked woman, you do realise how hard it will be for me to contain myself?"
"It will be difficult for me too," she said, "But when we do marry I will want to be your wife in every sense of the word. I love you, Anthony, and I need to be near you. You really are everything I could ever want in a friend and a husband."
"Oh Edith," he whispered.
They were sitting on a bench and he held her close to his warm body with his strong left arm. She rested her head on his chest and was acutely aware of his soft breathing and the gentle rhythm of his heartbeat.
"I'm worried how you will react...when you see the scars," he murmured, "It's not a pretty sight."
She held tight to his hand.
"Anthony, I saw terrible injuries while Downton was a military hospital. I'm not easily shocked and they make you all the more special. They are part of the man I love."
He nuzzled her neck lovingly.
"What are we going to do now?" Edith whispered, "Aunt Rosamund suggested we spend a few days here in London, getting to know each other, before we spring us on my family. They think I'm helping Aunt Rosamund with her charity work and, besides, they will assume I'm still seeing Michael, not that they care anyway."
"We need to get reacquainted, I agree," Anthony said, "But I'm worried about another incident like tonight. We can't stay holed up at your aunt's and you can't come to my club, because you're a woman. He knows where Downton is, after all."
"But he doesn't know where your home is," Edith's eyes were bright, almost feverish. "We could get married on the quiet, and have a public celebration when the time is right. Alright, so he can look you up in Burke's and find out where Locksley is, but he won't be able to do anything if we're married because, with you being a widower, it will be legal, unlike his planned version of events."
"I've wasted so much time, my darling Edith," Anthony whispered, "I would love to marry you as soon as possible. I feel I am ready now. My valet can be a witness and I'm sure your aunt will be the other."
He gently extricated himself from her embrace and dropped to one knee, holding her hand in his.
"Lady Edith Crawley, I know I've hurt you and let you down. I've made mistakes, but I'm ready now to fight for my right to love you. Will you do me the honour of becoming Lady Strallan?"
"Yes," she breathed, tears pouring down her cheeks, "A thousand times yes my love, it will be the greatest honour I can do for the man I love."
He resumed his seat beside her, whereupon she threw her arms around his neck and kissed him passionately.
"We'd better get you home soon," he whispered, "I know it's not exactly late, but you have had a shock."
They walked back to Rosamund's arm in arm.
"Did you have a good evening?" Rosamund asked.
"Mostly good," Edith said as she took off her coat.
"Mostly."
"Michael showed up at the Ritz," Edith said, "But Anthony was my hero, he really stood up to him and used a few rather good put downs. I think Michael was threatened by his height."
"I was tempted to lay the man out cold," Anthony confessed, "But quite frankly he isn't worth the energy, or the trouble I would have landed myself in with the police. Being charged with assault would hardly help my case with Lord Grantham and the Dowager now would it?"
"Probably not," Rosamund said.
"Anthony told the waiter that people like Gregson would lower the tone of his establishment." Edith said. "They gave us our tea and sandwiches on the house, although what happened was hardly their fault. Anthony just said some people bring muck in on their shoes without realising it."
"Well, that is certainly an appropriate description of Michael Gregson," Rosamund smiled.
"We couldn't stop laughing for ages," Anthony said, "It was so good to hear Edith laugh. Then we went for a walk and sat in a park."
"Anthony has asked me to marry him." Edith said, barely able to contain her excitement.
"You two belong together." Rosamund said.
Anthony kissed Edith gently. She held him.
"We were thinking we would like to get married as soon as possible, we can have a public ceremony at a more convenient time. That way it will be done, so Papa and Granny will have to like it or lump it. Would you be a witness Aunt Rosamund? Anthony's valet will be the other."
"I would be delighted," Rosamund said, "How soon can you arrange it?"
"I'll make enquiries tomorrow." Anthony said, "We won't announce it in the press, as Gregson might see it. Then we'll go back to Yorkshire and announce it, then perhaps a short honeymoon, although not in Germany."
"I've always fancied Monte Carlo." Edith said, "then a ride on the Orient Express to Venice."
"I shall make madam's every wish come true." Anthony smiled, "although you have already made every last one of my dreams come true."