"I think the man's making a point." The Dowager stated.

"Afraid I can only agree by the look of things," said Robert and he did so with a forbidding cast. "What do you make of man who accepts invitation to party from a woman clearly more than keen on him (and for reasons I am ignorant, of course) and then he arrives with another woman on his arm. I'm not sure weather to feel needled on Edith's part or -"

"Or grateful? Sir Anthony can have no awards for sentiment however I would willingly award him for relieving us of extinction with Edith's line. And - for finding a woman the right age! God knows it would be more appropriate for me to court with him than for Edith to do so."

"For once I don't think I can argue with that, Mamma. Heaven knows the man's done his part too, you couldn't accuse him for egging her on. Maybe before the war, but things are much changed."

"Just like everything else," the Dowager sighed. Robert reciprocated with his eyebrows.

...

"Am I to sit here? While the man I love appears out of the blue with another woman?"

"Darling, you must see that this is better for you. I know that's hard to believe currently, but there are other men. Younger men! And it's true."

"How can it be? I'm in love with him, Aunt Rosamund. And I could have sworn he loves me back, he just denies it because he isn't allowed to in the eyes of people like you! And now he's gone and found himself somebody else."

"Exactly dear. He's moved on. And Lord knows, so should you!"

Edith got up, puling away her agony as she walked quickly back towards the house through the party.

A little distance away, Lady Mary made eyes at Sir Anthony. He waited until he was at a visible distance from Edith when he said "Now, Margaret."

They kissed, in a way that was undeniably romantic, leaving no room for ideas of platonic ways, or Edith.

Who stopped in her tracks, watery-eyed and incensed. After several tormenting moments of pain and disbelief as she watched another woman curl her arms around him, she made her way towards them, breathing heavily, and struck a gloved hand past Sir Anthony's face without a second thought.

"How could you? Just how, could you be so shameless? To say you no longer have need for romance at your age, then you come here and snog - this unholy woman - for all too see." Edith cried, then looked at Lady Irene, endarting daggers at her. "And you. If you were an honourable sort you would never have accompanied him today. That's bold of you." With a final sob, Edith stormed off through the grounds.