"I like it Edith, I really do" Nigel commented as he set down the pages on the side table in Downton Abbey's sitting room
"You don't think it's too preachy, do you?" Edith asked, her questioning gaze shifting from Maggie over to Nigel
"In these circumstances, no. You had to go hard on Carlisle and question the rules of society and I think you did that"
Edith went to gather the pages from the table and straightened them in her hands as she let out a sigh
"I am glad you like it, I just hope my sister feels somewhat similar"
"Where is Lady Mary?" Maggie asked "She seemed in high spirits at dinner last night, from what I could tell"
"Yes well, from what I gather Lord Gillingham wrote to her and said in so many words that everyone makes mistakes and he won't hold anything against her. It always cheered Mary when she could keep a man on the hook, but she's probably reading by her tree"
Then looking to Maggie and Nigel and catching the amused glance that appeared between them she continued
"I suppose I should get the verdict then? Get it over with..."
"Edith I appreciate your sensitivity but as a newspaper man, and I think you know this too, it's a fine piece and you shouldn't let anyone's opinion stop you from running it" Nigel carefully but honestly said, then immediately regretted once he caught Maggie's eye
"Nigel, let Edith publish whatever she wants to, Edith don't pay him any mind"
Nigel was about to defend himself when Edith interjected
"Thank you, the both of you. But Nigel you have to understand Mary and I are finally in a tolerable place so I won't jeopardize that, she's a very guarded person I'm surprised she is even entertaining the idea actually"
Nigel raised his hands in surrender and stood up offering Maggie his hand
"You're the boss milady, now I promised this beauty here that I'd take her for a stroll, if that's alright with you"
"Of course it is just remember we lunch at one and Mrs. Patmore is making her famous raspberry tart for dessert and it will go fast with Tom around" Edith joked as she lead them to the doorway and proceeded to walk out with them before going her separate way to find Mary.
"There you are" Edith greeted as Mary slightly turned her head around from her book to see Edith walking up beside her
"Yes, just catching up on some Wilde, I trust you won't tell Granny on me?"
"I won't but you'll owe me a free pass in the future" Edith tried to joke then was unsure on how to bring up her next topic
Mary spied the small folder Edith was holding and picked up her nervous disposition and soon put two and two together
"Is that it then?"
Edith stumbled over her words
"Yes!..it is, I've finished and we'd...or I would like you to take a look, obviously I can still change a few things..."
"Oh for God's sake Edith would you calm your self, and please sit down you're making me nervous"
Edith handed Mary the folder and sat down on the opposite end of the bench careful to not make it obvious that she was looking for any sort of reaction
Mary's eyes skimmed over the pages, initially skeptical but began to feel a certain confidence as she got to the end
"...so yes, my sister made a mistake a very long time ago. Since then she has had trials and tribulations just as anyone else, she was there to help run a convalescence center in our home during the war. During that time she also unselfishly nursed the man she would go on to marry through a devastating injury, and helped him reclaim his life. Later when, tragically, our younger sister perished in childbirth she supported and comforted our brother in law as well as our parents. Then later and tragically still when the love of her life was taken from her in an awful motor accident she has shown me what grace and courage are made of as she brings up her son as a single parent.
Unfortunately, my sister and by proxy my family has been thrust into the court of public opinion and unfairly the court is only seeing half of the story. Is my sister to be banished from society for a childish and ignorant mistake almost a decade ago? I see it as unfair that her name be judged on one instance alone, and I ask my readers,and everyone who has made up their mind about my sister, if you were to be judged on your worst moment and all your finer ones ignored, how would you fair?"
Mary closed the folder and took in the sight in front of her before turning to Edith
"I think it's good, you certainly took Carlisle to task though"
"We both know he deserves it,..." Edith said as she looked over to Mary and caught her eye
"Do you approve then? Will you let me send it to the editor?"
"Yes, well, why not? I've thought about it and the worst has happened so I don't see much harm in fighting back a little, have you shared it with Michael?"
"I read it to him yesterday, I made some little changes based on his notes, but it's basically the same, he liked it. Thought it would do the trick"
Mary quietly nodded her head and looked satisfied, after a moment she could feel Edith staring at her
"What is it?"
A proud smile came to Edith's face as she teasingly said to Mary
"I just can't wait to tell him you value his opinion so much, and dare I say, actually like him?"
Mary rolled her eyes as she defended herself
"When have I ever given the impression that I disliked Michael? Hopefully with this little jaunt abroad he might improve his French enough that we can pass him off as a gentleman"
Edith quickly said
"I can think of a few remarks spoken in Scotland last summer, but I'm just happy that you can see his potential now, so I won't push the issue."
"Will your current editor be wanting to make some changes?" Mary asked eager to get the topic off her turnaround of opinion on Michael Gregson
A smirk came to Edith's face as she answered
"I doubt it he seems to stay out of my hair on most things, and this topic I will be especially stubborn on"
"It was always your strong suit..." Mary trailed off with a serene look on her face but Edith could see the glint in her eye that told her she was being joked with
"Oh, you're one to talk, you were always the most stubborn. I remember when we would have a tea party all the stuffed animals had to be in a specific place or you would throw a fit"
"Edith you know perfectly well that the rabbit was a Duke and the owl was merely a Viscount so protocol had to be observed" Mary replied like it was the most obvious thing in the world
Edith quietly laughed to herself remembering their childhood play sessions, then began to speak as an old memory became more clear
"Do you remember when Sybil was about six and somehow she stole a pair of Patrick's pants and she-"
"Put them on her head, marched into tea with Mama and Granny and proclaimed herself a Pharaoh!" Mary finished as they both began to laugh at the image of little Sybil proudly wearing her cousin's underthings on her head with her little chin stuck out
"Oh Frauline Kelder was mortified, and I'm surprised that wasn't the end for Granny,..."
The sisters both quietly remembered their sister then Mary ventured, her hands tightening around her book
"I miss her, Edith, and I suspect you are the only one who misses her as I do" Mary sadly said, her eyes focused on her black shoes crushing the grass that grew underneath the bench
"You're right, in fact when I'm in London I try to forget she's gone, I just imagine that she's still in Dublin with Tom, and she's happy. It's silly and probably very unhealthy but I daydream about her going about her day, enjoying her life it's only when I get excited to tell her something then I'm forced to realize..."
Mary solemnly took in Edith's words and gave a shy look towards Edith and both of them became very still and thought the same thing, that their sister Sybil was still the one thing that could bring them together.