The next day passed by in a flash and another one came. Edith felt nervous, but she was sure that her father would give his approval. Her future husband was a decent man with an estate and more than some income. He was a well respected neighbour and friend. The Earl of Grantham wouldn't deny his consent, wouldn't he?
"Edith, dear, I don't know, why you're behaving so jumpy today" her mother criticised her.
It was already Tuesday and no message had reached Edith. She didn't answer Lady Cora's words, but Sybil, who was busy with some needlework, did it for her.
"It could be the weather, mama" she said. "Tom is also completely restless today. He went out for a walk an hour ago."
"Heavens" Lady Cora replied. "An hour ago during such an ugly weather?" She stopped talking and added then: "If I now say that he will fetch a terrible cold, I'll sound like your grandmother…"
Both women laughed, while Edith further remained silent and bit her lips. Why weren't there any news?
Lady Cora's joke was like an omen. Not even five minutes later the Dowager Countess was announced. The old lady didn't delay with any address of welcome, but came strictly to the point.
"Edith, I was told that you refused Peter Finnegan's proposal" she said still breathless from the news.
"Did she?" Lady Cora looked from her mother-in-law to her daughter. "So, you accepted the other one?"
"She refused it as well" Lady Violet cut in.
Edith saw her mother freeze. If she only knew her father's answer, if she only had Anthony at her side, she would be better prepared to face the upcoming storm.
"Edith, what on earth..." Lady Cora was speechless. All these efforts she had made, this trip to London, the never ending parties and receptions had one object only. She wanted her second daughter finally settled.
"There was a third proposal" Edith quietly confessed. "I agreed to it."
Sybil sat suddenly upright. She looked at her sister and smiled excited. Was it true, what she believed to understand from Edith's words?
"A third proposal?" Lady Violet felt confused. "Cora, I can't remember a third candidate."
"Neither can I" her daughter-in-law answered. "Edith, who..."
The butler saved Edith from an answer. "There is a phone call for you, Mylady" he told Lady Cora.
She made a dismissive gesture. "Not now, please."
The man however wasn't to discourage. "It is the Earl of Grantham calling. He said it is urgent."
"Very well then" Lady Cora replied and hurried to the library to answer her husband's call.
The three other women stayed in the drawing room. None of them spoke. Edith, who realised that her father demanded to speak to her mother for one reason only, sank slowly onto a chair next to windows, where she had stood since her grandmother had arrived.
In the meantime Sybil tried to attract her sister's attention. She guessed whose proposal Edith had accepted, but she was longing for a confirmation.
Lady Violet, however, became very impatient. How could Robert dare to call his wife right now? And could Cora dare to answer this call instead of solving the current problem? She was sometimes so flighty, so American.
When her mother returned to the drawing room, Edith noted the severe expression on her face at once. She stood up because she felt that she could face the upcoming fight better this way.
But Lady Cora surprised her daughter. "Is this really, what you want, Edith?" she asked.
Edith nodded. "Yes, mama, it is, what I wish for my future."
"Then your father and I are very happy for you, my girl." Cora kissed her child's cheek.
Sybil clapped her hands with joy, while Lady Violet observed the happiness around her with amazement. "I would be very pleased, if one of you would deign to enlighten me about the source of all your joy."
In terms of weather, it wasn't the perfect day for a wedding, but Edith didn't care. It had been warm enough for a reception in the garden and she didn't ruin her wonderful dress, when the wedding party fled from the rain in the late afternoon. Finally she was too happy to let anything spoil her happiest day – should it be the light rain or the behaviour of her sister Mary.
With Sybil marrying in Ireland and Mary and Matthew still not settled the Earl of Grantham insisted that Edith's wedding took place at Downton Abbey. When they waited for their walk down the aisle, Edith felt his sorrow to give his second daughter away. She had been very close to her father from time to time, but she never realised how attached to each other they really had been. It hurt, but then he had kissed her forehead and she had taken his arm and became happy again.
"You were right, you know?" she said to her husband, who said next to her in car.
Anthony had accepted her thoughtful silence during their drive to their common home, but he was glad that she now spoke again. "Was I?"
"Yes." Edith smiled. "Today I married a handsome fellow, who deserves my affection and who had courted me until we marry in spring."
Her husband laughed loud out. "You did, indeed. But I'm not as young as I had this fellow in mind, when we talked about this marriage."
She took his hand. "I have never cared" she said.
"I know" he answered and kissed her gently.
The car arrived in front of her new home. She saw the servants waiting to welcome her and felt a bit nervous.
"I'm sorry, my love, but I won't be able to carry you over the threshold" Anthony confessed, when he assisted her to leave the car.
"And this wasn't expected" she replied and caught his hand.
The butler bowed respectfully and said: "Welcome home, Lady Strallan."
"Welcome home, Lady Strallan." Anthony repeated softly, as they entered the main entrance together.
A/N: Finished, over and out. :-) Hope, you enjoyed reading.