Who is Anthony Strallan? Is he really the mild mannered, somewhat bumbling man that we have seen or is he something else. Does this conservative man who always does everything correctly harbor secret desires and longings that only his close friends see or know about? And what about Edith, has she been pushed to her breaking point where the only thing left is to step out of the shadow of Downton Abbey, and finally tell the man she loves how she feels – hoping that he feels the same way too? This is a fairly long chapter, lots of dialogue, but it ties up many loose ends.

Edith hoped that Anthony hadn't noticed how she was shaking as they left the drawing room. Reaching down and grabbing the wrapped picture, she nodded goodnight to Carson and walked out into the cool afternoon air. However, Anthony had noticed ,but before he could say anything they were in the car and she turned to him and said, "This is for you."

Anthony Strallan was speechless. Unwrapping the picture, he saw that it was a painting of Strallan Park. He was touched. The last picture of the house had been painted over 100 years earlier, and he smiled as he looked at Edith's rendering of the place. It was beautiful. She had added a few touches, such as scrubs and lawn. She had also placed greenery along the drive to the house.

"Edith, when did you do this?" This is a beautiful painting of the place. I see that you added some feminine touches," he laughed as he turned toward her and smiled. "I can't remember getting a more thoughtful present. But why? I don't think I ever told you my birth date, and Christmas has passed," he joked.

"It is my way of saying thank you for all the time you have spent with me these past few weeks. Because of you, I have accomplished more than I ever thought I could.

Handing the painting to his chauffeur Carl, Anthony settled back into the seat. He had decided to let Carl drive for two reasons; one, while he was good at driving during the day, he wasn't as sure of his ability at night, and two ,with someone else driving ,he could give all his attention to Edith.

"So, what was that all about back there?" I don't believe I have ever seen anyone move as fast as you did to get out of a room." He said seriously.

Edith turned slightly toward him . Now was the moment she had dreaded, but she couldn't put it off any longer.

"Anthony, this is probably the last time I will see you for a while. Yesterday was a terrible day. Ma'ma, Granny, Mary and I had an awful scene, and I said things that in their eyes are unforgivable. Most likely by the time you get back from your trip around your properties, I will have been sent away somewhere unless I have left of my own accord." She said looking down at her hands.

"Was it about me and the time we have been spending together," he asked with caution in his voice.

"Some of it was about you , but most of it was pent up anxiety and anger over things that have been going on for a long time."

He noticed that they had arrived on the outskirts of Ripon. Leaning forward he told Carl to drive up to the cathedral.

"It's only 4:30. We have plenty of time to get to the Gervis'. I think it would do both of us a world of good to get out and walk a while and talk." He said firmly.

Edith loved this cathedral. She had driven here many times and sat and sketched. It was a peaceful place and what better place she thought to let her feelings and emotions out.

They walked in silence. Suddenly he reached down and took her hand in his. Such a small gesture made her heart want to burst. They continued walking toward the front of the church. They could hear the choir practicing inside – probably for tomorrow's Sunday service.

They walked inside and stood inside a small alcove off the entrance. It was quiet and peaceful.

Still holding her hand, he looked at her and said, "Tell me!"

Now was the moment – she had let everything out the day before with her family, now was finally the time to bear her soul to Anthony. It might lead to embarassment for both of them, but it had to be done.

"Six years ago there was a hunting party at the Abbey. Mary had invited a gentlemen she thought she might be interested in, Evelyn Napier. Mr. Napier brought along a friend of his. His name was Kamal Pamuk and he was an attache at the Turkish Embassy. Mary flirted shamlessly with him throughout dinner, all kinds of innuendos being tossed about. Poor Mr. Napier, he didn't stand a chance. Mr. Pamuk died that night and about two weeks later I found out that Daisy our kitchen maid had seen Mary, ma'ma, and Anna, our maid, carrying him from Mary's room back to his own. I wrote a letter to the Turkish Embassy telling them what I had seen. It was done completely out of spite. Mary found out and that is why she said those horrible things to you the day of the garden party; to get back at me , ruin any chance of happiness that I might have had. I am so sorry, if I hadn't been such a coward I would have followed you out to your car or at least come over to your house the next day to try and explain that everything she said to you was a lie. But I didn't, and here we are four years later thankfully still friends." She said.

Putting his left hand against the wall and leaning in where she was standing he smiled and said, "When exactly did you write this terrible letter?"

"The night you were invited to dinner. " she said somewhat sheepishly.

"Ah, I see! Edith, I am many things but I hope stupid isn't one of them. I knew about the rumor going round in London regarding your sister. My friend Hugh Gervis told me about it. Do you understand what I am saying? The rumor was already spread before you wrote your letter. Mary was done in by Pamuk himself. He kept a diary, and when his belongings were sent to the embassy, they read it thinking that perhaps he had written about not feeling well or something that would lead them to know why he died. What he wrote about that night was scandalous. He talked about how Mary flirted shamlessly with him and how he led her out of the drawing room and kissed her. Since she didn't slap his face, he assumed that she would be a willing player in a romantic rendevous later on, brazen hussy that she was. According to Hugh, that is how he described her. He wrote how he would make his way to her room, seduce her, and leave her knowing that virtuous women don't act as she had done."

Edith stared at him in shock.

"I knew that your family was desperate to marry her off and soon, to a suitable man whose wealth and name would protect her against any scandal. I understood only too well why , all of a sudden I was invited to the Abbey for dinner. It wasn't as if I was an old friend of the family. I have to say with some embarrassment that I was drawn to her charms. At first it seemed that she wasn't interested in me at all, but suddenly after dinner she couldn't give me enough attention. We men are actually very stupid when a pretty woman flirts with us. I think our abilities to reason just disappear. I went home thinking that she might be interested in me, but alas I found out differently when I dropped by to take her for a spin in the Rolls. When you asked me to take you instead, I knew it was to help me save face, but that day was a turning point in my life. I didn't want it to end. I had never met anyone like you – pretty, smart and completely honest and open." he said while smiling. "And after the concert in York and all the other times we were together, I realized that I was falling in love with you! We understood each other and that is a rare quality. I wanted you with me. You were the ray of sunshine in a life that was full of shadows."

Edith could only stand there. He was saying all the things that were in her heart. She looked at his face and his beautiful blue eyes and smiled. But he continued.

"It wasn't Mary that tore us apart – it was the war." If I hadn't been called to London, I would have come over the next day and asked you if what Mary had said was true. I would never have left something that important unresolved. Hugh told me that when I was recovering from surgery on my arm I kept saying your name over and over. I kept tabs on you, wanting to know if you had married, what you were doing. I was offered a chance to come to Downton to recover, but I couldn't come and let you see me as I was. I felt if there was any chance of us to re- kindle the feelings that I know we both had for each other, I had to pull myself together, try to come to grips with events that took place during the war and do something about this damn arm."

He leaned closer to her and continued, "When I saw you at your grandmother's that day I thought my heart would stop. You were , you are , so beautiful to me. I wanted to put my arms around you and tell you all the things I felt – that the previous four years at that moment felt like one day. And when you came to my house, well the only thing I can say is that it confused me – I don't know why. All I know that before I knew it I was making that stupid declaration. The minute I said it ,I was sorry, but you, you thank God ,wouldn't be deterred. By asking me to help you, you gave me a way out to spend time with you – take up with you again only differently."

He scooped his left arm behind her and pulled her close. Their faces were inches apart when he said, You are everything to me. I am nothing without you – you have given me back my life but it is empty without you in it. I love you I need you, I want you, – Marry me!" and with that he leaned in and kissed her.

His kiss was nothing like she had read about in novels. It certainly wasn't like the one John Drake had given her. This kiss was breathing life into her. His lips were soft and firm against hers. As she raised her arms up around his neck he groaned and the kiss deepened. His tongue eagerly sought her mouth and leaning in to him she opened her own to him. His left arm was strong, and he pulled her even closer, kissing her until she thought she would faint. Never in all her life did she think kissing a man could make her feel as she did – like a shock wave running through her body. He moved from her lips to her neck, her ear, her hairline, before easing back and smiling at her.

She eyes were filling with tears of happiness as she moved one hand to the side of his face and the other to his shoulder. Looking at him she said through her tears, "I prayed to God every night to please not let anything happen to you, to bring you back safely. When I saw you at Granny's, I thought my heart would burst with happiness. You had come back. Your beautiful blue eyes could still see and your face wasn't burned or pieces of it shot off. You still had two arms and hands, and even if one was hurt, you still had them. You still had two legs and two feet. I wanted to put my arms around you and silently thank God for his mercy in bringing you home – to me. I don't care about your arm. Your arm isn't you. "As she moved to put her hand over his heart, she continued. " I love the man who is in here, as she patted his vest. I love you so. I could never love anyone else as much as I love you.

As he pulled her tighter she rested her head against his chest. She didn't see him close his eyes in silent prayer as he rested his chin against the top of her head.

"So," he said still holding her tight, "Will you marry me?"

"Yes, but please make it soon, very soon. I heard you say you were leaving on your yearly visits. Please don't leave me here without you. I couldn't bear it now, not now. Not after. . . . . . .this."

She reached up and pulled his head down so she could kiss him. It was as intense as before. All of their longing for each other was pulling them together.

He pulled back and studied her face as he said, "How important is a big wedding to you?

"It isn't important at all. Once I might have thought it was, but not now!", she answered somewhat confused.

"Are you brave enough to take my hand and throw convention and caution to the wind; brave gossip and inuendos about us, even displeasure from your family?"

"If I am with you, I know I can face anything."

"Edith, I am an honorable man. I carry an old name, older even than your fathers. I am not a wolf sneaking into the hen house. Everything I do is planned and thought out. So with that said, marry me tomorrow. Marry me tomorrow afternoon at Strallan Park church. I want you with me when I leave here on Tuesday."

"But how can we get married without a marriage license?"

He smiled then, and suddenly she knew he had figured this out – long before today.

"How?" she asked.

"You know when we came to Ripon on Monday and I told you I had an appointment. Well I did, two of them. One with Dr. Nelson who is helping me rehabilitate my arm, and the other with the register clerk. I got a marriage license. It is good for thirty days, he said as he pulled it from his coat pocket.

"You knew I was in love with you" she asked . "You knew I would say yes?"

I hoped with all my heart that you would say yes.– that this huge gamble would pay off. I just had to wait for the right time and place. I still loved you and I hoped you still loved me. I didn't think you would spend so much time with me if you didn't. So, are you going to say yes?" he asked as he cocked his head at her.

"Yes, oh yes," I would marry you this minute, here in the cathedral if that is what you wanted." She said as she pulled him to her.

He kissed her again, but this time is was slow and easy. His right hand was at her waist, and his left hand was unbuttoning her coat. He wanted to feel her slim figure close to him as he slid his left hand around her waist and pulled her closer to him.

Edith was truly lost in the moment. She felt him unbuttoning her coat and when his hand went around her waist she thought her legs would give out with the pure pleasure of being so close to him. He whispered in her ear, "I want you so." She also heard someone cough behind her.

Anthony broke off his kissing and looked over her shoulder to see the Vicar of Ripon Cathedral standing in the doorway of the small alcove.

The vicar recognized Anthony immediately.

"Lord Strallan, pardon me, I didn't know it was you," he said as he looked at Edith.

"Mr. Harper, he said slipping his good arm through Edith's. May I have the honor of presenting Lady Edith Crawley. Lady Edith has just consented to be my wife and I'm afraid I got a little carried away in my joy." Anthony said as he and Edith started for the door.

"I quite understand, the vicar said. May I offer my congratulations to you my lord, and best wishes to you Lady Edith."

"Thank you!" Edith said. How fitting that a man of God should be the first to know about us, she thought.

"Come darling, I'm sure the vicar wants to close up." Anthony said as he and Edith walked out of the cathedral. "Thank you very much for your good wishes."

They said nothing as they walked down the path toward the car. The sun was setting and casting a pinkish glow over the grounds.

Suddenly Edith started to laugh. Anthony looked at her and smiled. He was happier than he had ever been in his life. . . . .his whole life. It was going to be a wonderful evening. Tomorrow was going to be a wonderful day, not without some angst he knew, but a wonderful day. This time tomorrow, she would be his wife, his love, his everything. This had been a very good day and he was a very happy man.