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"So we're agreed then?"

The baronet pursed his lips, "not quite, I'm afraid there's another matter we need to discuss first."

Edith flinched, "you're not..."

"No, no," Anthony interrupted, "I haven't changed my mind. But, you should know that we may be facing some opposition from your family, one member in particular, I fear."

"It's certainly not Mama or Papa, they'll be thrilled to have me off their hands. So, I'm not sure who you think it could be."

"Your grandmother," Anthony groaned.

"What? Why?"

"It has to do with your Aunt Rosamund, who, as I'm sure you're aware, could, in her younger days, be quite a handful. She liked to party and was, how shall I put this, fond of the boys, particularly any fellow that met with your grandmother's disapproval. Your grandparents expressed concern that left to her own devices, she might find herself in a... in rather embarrassing circumstances."

"Ah, I see. A similiar situation such as myself."

"Frankly," the baronet hurried on hoping to avoid causing Edith further embarrassment, "I think they were only worried about the scandal that would ensue."

"So what does any of that have to do with you?"

"While your grandmother was never my biggest fan, apparently, she felt a lowly baronet would be a much better addition to the Crawley family than any of the untitled young men Rosamund had her eye set on. And, my father, his only consideration was the prestige and honor that a marriage between his son and the daughter of the Earl of Grantham would bestow upon the Strallan name. It was quite a dilemna for your aunt and me."

"I don't understand why. We're talking about the 1980's It wasn't as though they could force you to marry."

"No," the tall blonde replied softly, "but, you, yourself, know that even today, the sense of honor and duty instilled in families holds a tremendous amount of power over it's members. I'd wager that's the reason you've yet to tell anyone you're pregnant."

"I suppose you're right," the redhead admitted. "Still, just because her plotting to arrange a marriage between the two of you failed, that's no reason to hold a grudge."

"Pehaps it's not so much that your aunt and I didn't marry but rather that she blames me, at least in part, for Rosamund and Marmaduke's marriage."

"That's ridiculous," Edith laughed. "Why would she blame you?"

"Rosamund and I were home for summer break from university when Violet and my father began pushing us towards each other. Your aunt and I are complete opposites, so although neither of us was interested in beginning a relationship, we decided to use the appearance of a blossoming romance to our advantage. Under this guise, we were able to finagle spending the weekends in London away from our parent's scrutinization. We'd go to parties, nightclubs..." Seeing Edith's grin, the tall blond coughed, "Anyway, during one of those weekends, Rosamund met your Uncle Marmaduke and the two began spending all their time together. Ros and I continued our little act, putting on appearances for our families during the week then running off to the city Friday evening where we'd meet up with your uncle before going our seperate ways."

"It still sounds unreasonable for Granny to be upset with you."

"Well, one Sunday evening near the end of summer, I went to our usual spot to collect Rosamund for the trip back home. They hadn't yet arrived so I sat down on a bench to wait. I thought nothing of it at first, but after an hour passed, I began to panic thinking perhaps there had been and accident or something. Fifteen minutes later, I frantically set out to search for them. Before I knew it, darkness had fallen and the realization that we were long overdue back at Yorkshire set in. Needless to say, I was terrified at the thought of showing up alone at Downton and having to explain to your grandmother that I had no idea where your aunt might be. It was nearly midnight before I gathered the courage to drive back to Yorkshire."

"So what happened when you told Granny?"

"She knew," Anthony sighed. "Everyone knew, my father, your grandparents."

"What? How?"

"Rosamund and Marmaduke had run off to Gretna Green to get married. They'd sent a telegram informing your grandparents of the nuptials whle neglecting to inform them that I had no idea whatsoever of their intentions. I'm certain that your grandmother, to this day, thinks I helped arrange the entire affair out of spite or some such nonsense."

"What? What's so funny?" he asked as Edith burst out laughing.

"This sounds exactly like the kind of stunt Rosamund would pull but only having met you recently, I have a hard time imagining you as young and devious."

"Are you suggesting I've lost all my boyish charms?" Anthony pretended to be hurt.

"You know what I meant," the strawberry blonde rolled her eyes and swatted the older gentleman's shoulder, "besides, I prefer manly to boyish anytime," she giggled. "Especially when it comes to kissing," she added quietly, her thoughts wandering back to that night in the library when the tall baronet, after declaring she'd only been kissed by boys, proceeded to leave her flustered in the wake of his passionate embrace. Feeling the blood rushing to her cheeks, she busied herself with her tea hoping the baronet hadn't heard that last comment.

Instinctively, Anthony wanted to take the young woman in his arms and kiss her once more but now, he realized, was not an appropriate time.

"Of course, since I was the only party present," he took a deep breath and continued, "everyone took their frustration and disappointment out on me. Violet because she felt Ros had ruined her life by marrying beneath her. My father because the Strallan name would not be ascending up the social ladder as he had hoped. And, both, it seems, held me responsible for the missed opportunity of increasing the wealth and status quo of both families which would have occurred had the estates been unified through such a marriage. Violet swore she would neither forgive nor forget the shame and scandal, that in her perception, I had helped bring on the Grantham name. To say she's treated me coldly ever since would be putting it mildly. So the question remains, are you willing to cross swords with your grandmother should it come to that?"

"I do find Granny rather daunting," the strawberry blonde confided, "but nothing's changed. You've presented me with an opportunity to raise this child as my own and I intend to take it."

"That's my girl! Now, there's one final detail I'd like you to reconsider. I think we should get married," Anthony proclaimed. "Please, hear me out," he continued as Edith began to protest. "I understand your wanting to avoid a hassle should we get divorced but there needn't be any problems. My lawyers would handle everything. All that would be required of you is to sign the documents finalizing the proceedings. Also, the legality of marriage would make it much easier to provide for this child should something happen to me. And, I believe, we'd be much more capable of weathering any storms we might encounter if faced with your family's disapproval."

Anthony held his breath while the young woman quietly considered his suggestion.

"Ok," Edith grinned mischievously as her eyes met his, "as long as you realize Granny will fully blame you for this entire scheme as well."

"Oh no," the baronet buried his face in his hands, "what have I gotten myself into?"