"Oh my dears, how wonderful!" Aunt Rosamund exclaimed, clapping her hands together in delight. Cousin Matthew strode forward and took Lord Hexham's hands in his own, shaking them enthusiastically. When the couple arrived at Rosamund's house, Cousin Matthew had been preparing to go out and find Edith for himself, as she had been gone an hour. So it was with great relief that they found Edith standing at the door. And great joy that they saw Lord Hexham standing with her. Seeing the smiles on their faces, and the fact they were (shockingly) holding hands, it did not take them long to guess that something monumental had taken place.

"Will you be accompanying us back to Downton?" Cousin Matthew asked.

"I am afraid I will be unable to come on such short notice," Lord Hexham apologised, "And it will be quite wrong of me to come unannounced,"

"Come stay with me. There's always a spare room at Crawley House," Cousin Matthew offered, "And I am sure the family will be glad of good news,"

"Edith has told you the news," Rosamund asked cautiously.

"Lady Rosamund!" Cousin Matthew hissed.

"She has," Lord Hexham assured them, "And I wish Lady Sybil and ...Mr Branson? Mr Branson every happiness,"

Edith grimaced, "I'd advise you not to say so in front of Papa,"

"I promise to be appropriately shocked and horrified in front of Lord Grantham,"

"I am not sure 'shocked and horrified' will be sufficient," Edith warned him.

"How about disgusted and wretched?" Lord Hexham suggested.

"If we put off our return for tomorrow," Cousin Matthew began, "Will that give you enough time to prepare? That way I can let mother know that you will be coming and give her time to prepare,"

"If it is no bother," Lord Hexham replied earnestly. In truth, the thought of saying goodbye to Edith so soon after being reunited with her was not to be born. And so Cousin Matthew's offer appealed to him greatly.

"Is your mother quite recovered?" Aunt Rosamund cut in, "I heard that she was quite ill,"

"Much recovered, thank you Ma'am. We have just returned from Bath, which did her a great deal of good,"

"Well in that case, it would be splendid if she can join us for dinner tonight," Aunt Rosamund explained, "Then we can announce the engagement tonight,"

"Will your mother be able to manage without you?" asked Edith, "She is welcome to come back to Downton if not,"

"That won't be necessary," Lord Hexham assured her, "She will be glad to have time for herself. I am afraid I have been rather poor company of late,"

Dinner was a success, despite the short notice. Mrs Pelham had been polite and genial, if somewhat cold and analytical. That said, she seemed perfectly approving of Edith for her son. Although Edith was uncertain as to how long this would last.

She voiced these fears in the coach to Lord Hexham on the way back to Downton. He agreed that his mother would not like the scandal, bu it was he who was marrying Edith and not her, so she had no reason for complaint.

"Are you sure that it was wise not to inform you family of my arrival?" he asked anxiously.

Edith nodded and suppressed a tight smile. "I am looking forward to seeing them struck dumb. Cousin Isobel has been sworn to secrecy and when we tell the it is sure to be a lovely surprise,"

"It certainly will not be a lovely surprise for Cousin Mary," Cousin Matthew reminded her.

Edith's eyes slid sideways for a moment, before widening innocently. "Oh, I had not thought of that,"

"Of course not," Cousin Matthew nodded, then shooting her a conspiratorial wink, "But it is too late to warn her now,"

After a short silence, Edith leaned towards him, peering at him anxiously from under her bonnet. "What do you plan to do about Mary?" she asked gently.

Cousin Matthew made an odd gesture with his hands, grimacing. "In truth I am not quite sure. I am extremely fond of Miss Swire. She manages to be engaging without playing the games Cousin Mary seems forced to resort to. And yet..." at this he trailed off helplessly.

Edith smiled kindly at him. "Whatever you do, do not keep her dangling. Nobody likes having their emotions toyed with,"

"As we all know all to well," Cousin Matthew sighed.

DA

As luck would have it, they arrived at Downton the same time as Lord Grantham. Watching her Papa disembark through the carriage window, Edith was shocked at his appearance. His skin was tired and waxy, and his face was haggard. She quickly joined him and wrapped her arms round his neck in order to bring him some comfort. He held her close, squeezing his eyes shut and rapidly blinking away tears.

"I was too late," he muttered in a broken whisper. "I rode all night but by the time I reached Gretna Green they were gone. I know not where," he broke off at seeing Lord Hexham step out behind Edith.

"Lord Hexham," he began, gently putting Edith aside, "I trust you are to see Lady Mary,"

"Actually my Lord," Lord Hexham began, only to be cut off by Lord Grantham.

"Oh be out with it," Lord Grantham sighed, "You are here to call things off with her. Go ahead and say it. I will not think poorly of you, truly I won't,"

"Well, you see your Lordship", Hexham said, trying to put it delicately, "I am not here to break things off with Lady Mary,"

"No?" Lord Grantham demanded.

"No. To be honest- your Lordship, I am afraid that an error in communication has occurred. I never intended to court Lady Mary- and I apologise if I gave you that impression, but it was with Lady Edith that my affections always lied,"

"What? Edith!" Lord Grantham asked incredulously.

"Yes my Lord. And I can assure you that I have no intention of breaking with her,"

"Edith!" Lord Grantham repeated.

"Looking back on it, I daresay I have been in love with her the moment I set eyes on her,"

There was a short silence.

"Edith!"

"Yes, Lady Edith Crawley, your second daughter,"

Edith wondered if she had detected a hint of tetchiness in Lord Hexham's voice.

"You mean to say," Lord Grantham began, trying to get his head round the puzzling news, "That it is Edith you wish to marry. And not Lady Mary?,"

"Yes, I intend to marry Lady Edith and no I do not, nor have I ever intended to marry Lady Mary,"

"And you are quite sure that you do not mean Lady Sybil, my youngest?"

"No my Lord. It is Lady Edith I wish to marry," Bertie smiled down at her tenderly, "It has always been Lady Edith,"