AN - Anthony meets Cora...
It was Monday morning and Anthony was beavering away at his desk at the Fitz, attempting to catch up on the admin that had piled up during his time in Glasgow the previous week. There seemed to be a shocking amount of it. Anthony was engrossed in a proposal for a new exhibit when there was a quiet knock at his door.
"Come in" he said, somewhat distractedly. Elsie Hughes stuck her head round the door.
"Oh hi Elsie, what can I do for you?"
"I'm sorry to disturb you, Anthony, but you have a visitor at reception."
Anthony frowned. "I'm not expecting anyone am I? Have I messed up my diary again?" he asked, a wry smile on his face.
"Ah, no. It's Lady Grantham….Edith's mother…"
Anthony's brows shot skyward. "You're kidding right?"
"Do I look like I'm kidding, my lad?"
"Sadly, no. Where is Edith? She will be less than happy with her mother's unsolicited appearance."
"Edith is over at the University. She's facilitating a couple of tutorials for Anna's fine art students. She won't be free until noon. So, you're safe…for now."
"Ah, right, well then, um, if you could see Lady Grantham up here and perhaps rustle up a pot of tea, that would be wonderful. Oh and could you keep an eye out for Edith coming back in, maybe warn her whats going on? I don't want her walking into this without some forewarning."
"Don't worry, my lad, I'll handle it."
"Elsie, you're a marvel. Thank you."
"Don't thank me, just stand your ground with Lady Grantham. You and Edith have a bonny, bonny thing here. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. Y'hear?"
Anthony looked at his admin with real affection. "Thanks Elsie, I won't."
Anthony was dressed in an uncharacteristically casual mode, a nice dress shirt but no tie or jacket, most assuredly Edith's influence, but as Elsie left his office he walked towards his filing cabinet where he kept, among other things, a clean shirt and tie.
As his hand reached for the handle of the drawer, he stopped himself, thinking, "this is who I am now, this how I am with Edith and if its good enough for her then its certainly good enough for her mother."
A short while later, there was another knock at the door and Elsie had returned with Lady Grantham and the aforementioned pot of tea.
"Lady Grantham to see you, Anthony. Call me if you need anything further." Elsie bobbed her head in Lady Grantham's direction and left the room.
Anthony stepped around to the front of his desk and outstretched his hand.
"Lady Grantham, a delight to meet you. Welcome to the Fitz."
"Thank you, Sir Anthony."
Anthony raised his brows, he never used his title. Clearly Lady Grantham had done her research. Composing himself, he ushered her to the seating area in his office.
"Please, call me Anthony."
Would you like to take a seat? May I offer you some tea?"
"Yes, please, Anthony. A splash of milk, no sugar. Thank you."
Anthony handed the tea to Lady Grantham and took the seat opposite her.
"What can I do for you, Lady Grantham?
"If I'm to call you, Anthony, then you must call me Cora. Please."
'Certainly, Cora. So, what can I do for you? Edith didn't mention that you would be calling and she is teaching this morning so won't be available for another couple of hours."
"Edith doesn't know I'm here. It was you I wanted to speak to…" Cora began, cautiously.
"I saw the coverage of the Gala on television last week and decided that I had been absent from my daughter's life for long enough."
"I see…" replied Anthony, somewhat coolly.
"Anthony, I'm sure that you are aware that Edith's relationship with the family has not always been an easy one…"
"…And I have not been as supportive of her and her ambitions than I should have. I regret that. Very much."
Anthony and Cora looked at each other for a long, ripe moment.
"Forgive my impertinence but might I give another perspective? From what Edith has told me, and granted I only have her side of the story, it sounds very much like she has been an afterthought to the family for almost her entire life. Scorn has been poured on her ambitions, her considerable talents belittled and you have stood with your husband when he so vocally objected to all of Edith's life choices. She is finally in a place where she is happy and successful so I have to wonder why you would wish to interfere now?"
Anthony would never normally be so outspoken but this was his Edith they were talking about and he would defend her with his life.
Cora looked momentarily outraged, clearly not used to being spoken to in such a way but she knew that Anthony was right.
"We...I do love her, Anthony"
"You may but I do wonder how you can claim to love her when you have clearly made no effort to know her or to understand her."
Again, Cora was shamefaced, looking down to her hands which were clasped in her lap.
"You love her?" she asked.
"I do. More than life itself, more than I ever thought possible. She is the most remarkable person I have ever had the privilege to meet and I thank my lucky stars every day that I am with her. My every thought and action is for her."
"That's quite the declaration, Anthony."
"I mean every word."
"You are quite a bit older than her."
"Indeed. 20 years. It worried me at the start but Edith is adamant that the difference in our ages is immaterial to her. That is all the reassurance I need."
"And you plan to marry?"
"As soon as possible, yes. Now that we've found each other, we don't want to waste any more time."
"It seems like my daughter is a most fortunate woman, having such a champion in her corner. I wish you both every happiness."
"Thank you, Cora. I promise you that I will do everything in my power to make her happy."
"Does that include helping me reconcile things with my daughter?" Cora asked quietly.
"Lady Grantham - Cora, this isn't about you or me, this is about what Edith wants. If Edith wants a reconciliation, I will support her in that and if she does not, then I will absolutely stand by her decision."
"Forgive me if I sound harsh but I just don't want to see her hurt again and the fact of the matter is that she has been hurt by the actions of her family, yourself included."
"You are correct, Anthony and I do appreciate you being so protective of her, I really do. All a mother wants is to see her children happy and cared for. I know that Edith has that with you."
XXX
Classes had just finished for the morning and Edith was walking back through reception at the Fitz when she was met by a slightly anxious Elsie.
"Hello my lass, have you got a wee minute?"
"Oh hi Elsie, sure, whats up?"
"I just wanted to let you know, Anthony has a visitor…"
Edith felt her stomach sink to the floor…even though they were happily reconciled, Edith couldn't help but think that the specter of Michael Gregson or Madeleine would reappear at some point…
"W-who is it?"
"Your mother."
"MY MOTHER!? Oh God! Why didn't he call me?! Elsie, I need to go."
Edith made a move towards Anthony's office but Elsie caught her gently by the arm.
"He's fine, lass. We had a wee talk before I brought your mother in to see him. It'll be alright, you'll see."
Calmer now, thanks to Elsie's words, Edith said. "Thank you Elsie. I don't know what we would do without you."
"Ach away with you!" chuckled Elsie as Edith headed towards Anthony's office.
AN – What will happen when Edith and Cora are face to face? As soon as I know, you'll know!