Chapter 11
Five weeks later.
Edith & Anthony were sitting in his library playing checkers; Edith was losing but she did not mind because she appreciated the fact Anthony did not insult her intelligence by letting her win. Outside it was raining heavily.
"We really ought to think about telling your parents soon, you know," he said.
Edith sighed, "Yes I know but I'm not looking forward to it."
He placed his hand over hers.
"I won't let them bully me this time my darling, I promise," he looked into her eyes, "I think their problem was that they equated my injury with poor health in other respects but I saw Dr Clarkson last week and I am in sound physical health; heart lungs liver etc functioning fine. So I won't be dropping dead any time soon,"
"I'm glad to hear it," Edith said.
"I asked Dr & Mrs Clarkson to drop by for tea; we can discuss tactics. Your father already knows the cost of ignoring the medical opinion of the one doctor who really knows the patient."
"Normally I would say that telling one's parents you're getting married shouldn't be a military operation but given our previous experience any help and moral support would be greatly appreciated," Edith pressed his good hand to her mouth and kissed it.
."I love you Anthony,"
"I love you too my darling; why is why I don't intend letting anything spoil things this time. You have given me so much confidence."
The butler came in,
"Dr & Mrs Clarkson are here to see you Sir, Lady Edith"
"Splendid, send them in and bring some more tea,"
Richard and Isobel walked in. Anthony asked them to sit; moments later tea was brought and poured.
"You look so happy," Isobel gushed.
"We are," Anthony said, "I made the biggest mistake of my life that day and I am thankful Edith has been good enough to forgive my sins."
Richard sipped his tea.
"The fact is that I am now ready to go public and we would value your moral support," Anthony said, he turned to Richard, "and your medical assertion that I am not liable to drop dead from a heart-attack on account of my injury,"
"Of course Sir Anthony," Richard said, "other than the obvious physical injury you will live forever."
"I wouldn't want to," Anthony shivered, "but I thank you for that anyway,"
"We just want you both to be present when we tell my parents and Granny," Edith said, "I have not mentioned Anthony to them and they have not mentioned his name since that day so I think the element of shock will be on our side this time although I think Granny suspects something because she keeps looking at me as if she expects me to make a sudden verbal faux pas and spill my guts."
"We have been invited for dinner on Saturday," Isobel said, "then might be a good time,"
"I agree," Anthony said, "Edith darling, bring your ring that day,"
"Of course I will; it's so wasted sitting in my jewellery box when it should be an outward sign of our love,"
They talked some more and the consensus was that Richard & Isobel should go to Downton in the early evening an hour or so before dinner and get settled. Edith and Anthony would arrive about twenty minutes later and walk right in to drop their bombshell.
"The boring old objections should keep them busy until dinner," Anthony said, "But I don't intend letting them bully me this time because I know what I want having had to live without her. This time round her forgiveness and knowing that she loves me gives me confidence beyond measure,"
Edith kissed him on the cheek.
"I am so proud of you," she breathed.
"Hear hear!" Isobel said.
"Dr Clarkson I would be deeply honoured if you would be my Best Man," Anthony said.
"I would be honoured," Richard said.
"And I want you as my Matron of Honour," Edith said to Isobel.
"I would be delighted my dear; I really would,"
"The wedding will be a couple of months after we go public," Anthony said, "I know Edith has already arranged a wedding in a month so two months will be easy; we want to keep it small."
"Best way," Isobel said
"I just wish Sybil was still here," Edith said.
"No one wishes that more than I, Lady Edith," Richard said.
Saturday dawned dry but overcast. After lunch Edith drove over to Locksley to spend the afternoon with Anthony. As soon as she was clear of Downton she slipped on her engagement ring happy in the knowledge that she would never again need to take it off.
Anthony was pleased to see her and drew her close to him. He smelt gorgeous; his cologne made her light-headed. She melted into him.
"I'm terribly nervous," he whispered, "but your love has given me a confidence I had never known before."
"It will be fine, my love. Remember that we have Cousin Isobel and Dr Clarkson on our side this time."
"I know," he sighed, "Oh Edith, I love you so much,"
"I love you too; would you do me a favour?"
"If I can,"
"Would you have a talk with Tom? Matthew, Mary and I have tried but it is difficult because we have not been where he is."
"It is a long process but if I can make him feel any better than I shall certainly try. No doubt he has been fed the platitudes that it does get easier."
"He will believe that if it comes from you; I am quite worried about him,"
"I will do what I can, my darling."
"Thank you," she kissed him, "I can relate to how he feels in a way; he has never really fitted in at Downton either and I was born there,"
Anthony drew her close to him. She did not really talk about how she felt about her life although he knew she had always been on the edge of things.
"You will never be second best here, Edith," he murmured.
"Dr & Mrs Clarkson are here, my lord," Carson announced.
Isobel and Richard walked in, hand in hand. Isobel knew that Edith was fetching Anthony and she was filled with nervous trepidation. Richard squeezed her hand in reassurance and she smiled at him.
Anthony was trembling slightly as he got out of the car at Downton.
"It will be alright," she soothed.
Carson had nipped down to the Servant's hall leaving the field clear for Edith & Anthony to walk in to the library unannounced. Violet's jaw dropped.
"I rather hoped I had seen the last of you, Sir Anthony," she said icily.
"Hopes are like snowflakes, Lady Grantham. They are all delicately unique and quick to dissolve into nothing."
Edith thought this was beautifully poetic.
"What do you mean by bringing Sir Anthony here, Edith?" Robert asked a frown contorting his features, "please don't tell me you have married in secret and are with child?"
"Not yet," Edith said with an edge of "but I just might" in her voice.
"Lord Grantham I did what I thought was right by your daughter that day; set her free to find a more suitable husband, but I made a choice for her I had no right to make and I have suffered since. Mrs Clarkson was kind enough to invite me to her wedding. Edith has forgiven me and hers is the only forgiveness I need. Edith & I love each other. The words were never spoken before but they have been now and Edith's love gives me confidence. I know I am older than any of us, including Edith, may like but I can neither deny nor change that. Yes I have a duff arm but that does not mean my health is poor in other respects."
"That's true Lord Grantham," Clarkson said, "I gave Sir Anthony a full medical examination last week at his request and he is in perfect health; all vital organs working as they should. He is no more likely to drop dead of a sudden heart attack than anyone else in this household."
There was a brief silence while Robert and Violet considered this.
"You already know the cost of ignoring the medical advice of the doctor who truly knows the patient," Anthony said, "I was truly sorry to learn of Lady Sybil's untimely death which could, to all intents and purposes, have been prevented,"
Edith wondered what had happened; where had her beloved's fragile self esteem gone. She found this bolder Anthony even more attractive. She was fiercely proud of him.
Robert was scarlet; his hands shook with rage. Cora put a restraining hand on his shoulder but he slapped it off angrily.
"How dare you," Robert bellowed, "Get out of my house this instant!"
"If Anthony goes I go," Edith said struggling to keep her voice steady, "if you want to lose another daughter you have been going the right way about it for some time now but since it has never been a secret that Mary is your favourite then there would be no real loss. I am invisible here; the reliable spinster daughter you want to take care of you in your old age but that is not what I want. Anthony allows me to be myself and he loves me for me; his servants respect me and I am never made to feel second best. Downton may be where I reside but it has never been my home for I have never felt loved."
Anthony was very proud of her and at that moment he loved her more than he had ever thought possible.
Cora was crying, "But Edith darling; we do love you and want only the best for you,"
"Then let her be happy," Tom spoke up, "Lord Grantham, whether you choose to admit it or not, you know Lady Edith will never be happy with anyone else while Sir Anthony draws breath and, from what Dr Clarkson says, he won't stop doing that for a good few years yet. I have the lost the woman I loved more than life itself. Anthony lost a wife he loved so don't let him lose Lady Edith a second time. If you want to lose another daughter you are going the right way about it."
Robert had gone from scarlet to ashen.
"No of course I don't want to lose you, Edith my darling. You are my daughter and I love you but I never took the time to get to know you and ask what you really wanted and I am sorry for that,"
"I understand Papa but surely a father must learn to share his daughter's love? I love Anthony and I always have but I want to marry him with your blessing."
"Of course," Robert embraced Edith, "I am truly sorry and I know he will look after you," He offered his hand to Anthony who shook it warmly, "are you sure this is what you want?"
"It's all I have ever wanted; to be Lady Strallan, Mistress of Locksley," Edith said, "Anthony has asked me to marry him properly; that never happened last time, and I was glad to accept. I made the mistake of trying to pressure Anthony last time but he has forgiven me that too,"
Mary spoke, "I'm sorry too Edith; I didn't want to admit my little sister had grown up and fallen in love. I don't think we can ever be friends but I promise to try to get along better if you will,"
"That is all I ever wanted," the two sisters embraced.
"You seem a different person, Sir Anthony," Violet said,
"Edith's love gives me confidence Lady Grantham," Anthony smiled.
Dinner was a convivial meal after the drama of the evening and Edith was pleased to see how relaxed Anthony seemed.
The ladies filed through before the gentlemen. They went to the library where Carson was serving coffee.
"Well done my dear," Isobel said, embracing Edith warmly, "I don't think you will have any trouble now,"
"I'm so proud of him, cousin Isobel," Edith blinked tears from her eyes.
"Then mind you tell him," Isobel said.
"I certainly will," Edith smiled.
"So how are things?" Anthony asked Tom quietly.
""It's very difficult, Sir Anthony. When I'm alone I can't stop crying, Mary, Edith and Matthew have been good but they can't understand, not really."
"No one can understand unless they have been there, Tom," Anthony said gently, "It really does get easier with time and you have the baby which must be a comfort, I never got to hold my son, they took him away straight after and I think it would really have helped me to do so. I fell apart after Maud died; my sister had to come from London to do all the official business because I just could not face it."
"I understand that," Tom sighed, "Lord Grantham and Mr Murray dealt with all that for me."
Anthony put a hand on Tom's shoulder.
"If you ever want to talk then you are welcome to come to Locksley; it helps to talk to someone who understands."
"Thank you Sir Anthony; I think it will help a lot."
Edith and Anthony were outside waiting for his chauffeur. It was a warm evening. They held each other tightly and Edith smiled as her ring glinted in the moonlight.
"I was so proud of you tonight," she whispered
"I was proud of you too my darling," they shared a lingering tender kiss and Edith felt herself trembling.
He looked into her eyes.
"Edith, I have wasted so much time. I want us to get married as soon as is humanly possible."
"I would like that," she murmured.
"We'll talk about it tomorrow," he promised as his chauffeur got out of the car and opened the door for his master, "I did talk to Tom and let him know I would be there if he wanted to talk; although I'll be an old married man again before too long,"
"You're not old my darling, just mature and all the more gorgeous for it."
"I was rather proud of Edith tonight," Isobel said as she and Richard got into bed.
"She certainly seems to have given Anthony a lot of confidence," Richard replied as he pulled her close to him, "I think it was young Tom who saved the day though,"
"Yes and he certainly spoke the truth," Isobel said, "None of them would have admitted that they knew how Edith and Anthony felt about each other because it did not suit their purpose; I'm rather proud of you too as it happens,"
"Isobel my darling," he kissed her, "Why did it take me so long to admit that I would never find happiness with anyone while you drew breath?"
"I think we have made up for it since," Isobel said as she whispered huskily in his ear.
"Will you make love to me Richard my darling?"
Anthony felt relaxed and content as he got into bed that night. He had his beloved Lady Edith and they were to be married without any interference from her family which is better than he could have hoped for. He felt for Tom and made up his mind to do whatever he could to help the young Irishman through his grief. Anthony hoped Tom would one day find new love as he had been privileged to do.