"I'm sorry, what? You think you recognize the handwriting, but how?" asked Edith, incredulously.
"I'm not certain, I'd have to check with Charlie, and I can't quite believe it myself, but I think that my grandmother wrote that card!" said Anthony, his voice rising such that other diners were beginning to look in his direction.
Edith stared at Anthony, wide eyed, not quite knowing what to say.
"I know it sounds bonkers, utterly improbable, but I loved my grandmother and kept all the correspondence she ever gave me. Everything from my Birthday cards as a child, through to letters she sent me while I was at University and, well, the writing in your card is the same."
Edith puffed out her cheeks and exhaled heavily.
"I take it that you have never heard of an 'Eliza'? No distant Aunt?"
"No, no I haven't and I'd bet my last five pounds that Charlie hasn't either. I have no idea who this Eliza is!" said Anthony, his voice rising again in agitation.
"Okay." Said Edith, trying to marshal her thoughts and think rationally.
"The first thing we need to do is determine if it was your grandmother who wrote that card and, if it was, we need to find out more about Eliza." Said Edith.
"Take the card home with you, compare it to the handwriting on your notes, show it to Charlie and if it is what we think it is, we'll deal with it. Okay?" Asked Edith, reaching across the table to touch Anthony's hand. He turned his hand around and placed it in Edith's
"Look, you've had a bit of a shock, lets pack this food up and get out of here. You're welcome to come back to my place but I will understand if you just want to go home. No pressure at all." Edith continued.
Anthony nodded his agreement, Edith motioned to the waiter to bring carry out boxes, and a few minutes later, they were back at the Land Rover.
Anthony held open the door for Edith before hopping round the front of the car and getting in the driver's seat.
Before moving off, he spoke very quietly, looking directly at Edith.
"I'm sorry, Edith. Made a bit of a prat of myself in there didn't I? I didn't mean to get so animated."
"Don't you dare apologize! Given what we think we've discovered, I think you were the epitome of restraint." Said Edith, raising an eyebrow at him.
Anthony gave a slight chuckle at that and started the engine.
A few minutes later, they were back outside Edith's flat.
Opening the car door for her, Anthony asked, "Do you mind if I just head home, I don't think I would be the best company this evening."
"Not at all. Here, take the rest of your dinner and go home and cuddle Jaffa. Ring me if you need anything, okay? I'll phone you in the morning. " said Edith.
Edith squeezed his hand and getting up on tiptoes, gently kissed his cheek.
Anthony returned to the driver's seat of the car but waited to make sure Edith was safely inside her building before driving off.
Making his way through the London traffic, his mind remained on the events of the evening. IF the handwriting is his grandmother's, how could she have kept Eliza a secret from him? Did his parents know?
Of course, he would tell Charlie, he was sure she didn't know. Lord she would blow a gasket when she found out, he thought.
He couldn't face calling her tonight, he would do it in the morning. She and Edward would be back London tomorrow for a couple of days before heading back overseas. He would invite her to lunch and show her the card.
Anthony also thought about how Edith responded in the face of yet another extraordinary situation. She handled the situation with such indefatigable steadiness and good sense. She really was a remarkable woman.
Meanwhile, Edith was pacing up and down her small living room, trying to put all the pieces together. It seemed almost inconceivable to her that the card could in any way be connected to Anthony and yet, he seemed so sure. I mean, how could his Grandmother have a secret child that no one knew about? It didn't make sense.
Edith knew that in order to get to the bottom of this situation, she would need to find out as much about the Strallan family as possible, but if there were a family secret, as seemed likely, she knew she wouldn't discover anything by looking at the official records. She needed to speak to someone who knew the family well and someone whom she could trust to keep everything to themselves.
As much as it pained her to admit it, she needed to talk to someone from her family and who would that be, but the one person who always seemed to be on top of gossip in the county and the one person she always relied on in a crisis, Aunt Ros.
Taking a deep breath, Edith dialed the number.
"Well, hello! I was wondering when you were going to get in touch. That was quite the performance and vanishing act, young lady." Said Ros.
"Oh, come on, Ros, you know that's been coming for a long time, I am so sick of them all belittling every damn life decision I have ever made, and while we're on the subject, thanks for your support! Not! What happened to supporting me in my life choices because they are actually my choice?!"
Before Ros could get a word in, Edith continued.
"You and I can hash this out over a glass of something another time. Right now, I need your help."
"You're right, Edith, it is your choice and I'm sorry I wasn't supportive when the rest of them were piling on you. For what its worth, I like Anthony Strallan, always have, and I think you and he are well suited. Now, what can I help you with?"
"I hope you're sitting down because you're not going to believe this one…" Edith began.
A/N Another cliffhanger! Sorry! Will Charlie confirm Anthony's suspicions? Will Ros be able to offer any insight? As soon as they tell me, I'll let you know.