Hello all! You'll recognize part of their conversation and yes, Julian Fellowes wrote it. But don't worry, I fixed it ;) And now...


They entered a bright, comfortable looking room that indeed, played host to a great number of books. The collection was not as large as the one at Downton, but as Anthony left Edith's side to peruse the shelves, he realized that this was a library that was truly meant to be read. Downton's library had an air of a museum, like the books were on display rather than to be taken down and actually enjoyed. Noting some of the titles, he ascertained that he must have had a broad range of interests in his reading; or at least the gentleman who lived here before the war did. Anthony's reading at Downton had largely been focused on histories or biographies.

He turned from the shelves to see Edith standing in the middle of the room with an approving smile on her face. She likes seeing me here…

He let his eyes roam the rest of the room. There was a rather long and somewhat worn looking settee with a table next to it. The table help the tea tray, he realized. Set at an angle near the settee were a couple of comfortable looking chairs, one rather more worn looking than the other. They too had a table sitting between them. Glancing back at Edith, he smiled uncertainly. "Well, I… I suppose we shouldn't let the tea ..." She was looking at him so fondly that his words were left hanging in his mouth.

"No, we should have some before it cools," she said as she moved toward the table that held the tray.

"Edith…" he began, but once again lost his words as she turned to look at him. There was a sparkle there, in her eyes, all about her actually. And Anthony felt his chest was near to exploding with the emotions that ran through him in that instant. Oh god, I am lost to her…. he realized. But I really must not let things go any further…

She served him from the tray as he sat in the worn looking chair, finding it fit him perfectly. Then she settled on the settee with her own cup. Anthony saw his opportunity. "Lady Edith, I've been meaning to speak with you…"

"Oh, are we back to that again?" she protested. "I really thought we were past all that…"

" Yes, well…." he paused but then continued, "I'm actually glad I've got you alone for a moment. It gives me a chance to make some things clear. I know I've been somewhat confusing; I confuse myself even…."

"I don't understand…" Edith replied.

"You see, I couldn't bear it if I've caused you to misunderstand. I know you are hoping that we might take out together again as we did before the war. Because, of course, we can't."

Edith looked at him so worriedly, so very apprehensively.

"You see the thing is…I… I'm far too old for you…"

"I don't agree."

"Of course, I am," he said as his eyes rolled away at what should be so obvious. "And now," he continued as his eyes settled on her again, "I'm a cripple." He waved his left hand toward his crippled arm. "And I have no idea who I am anymore. I don't need a wife; I need a nurse." Oh how he wanted things to be different as he watched her watching him. "And I couldn't do that to someone as young and as lovely as you," he added, his voice growing tender at the end.

Edith shook her head. "I don't accept a single word of that speech," she answered.

"Lady Edith…" he said sternly.

"If you think I'm going to give up on someone who calls me lovely…"

"I'm afraid you must."

She stared at him resolutely, "well I disagree."

Watching her face, he was reminded of her youth. And while she looked so young and so guileless, she also was becoming very attractive in a very womanly manner. He also recognized her determination. And he conceded that he very probably was going to lose this war of wills. Would that be so terrible?

Once his tea was finished, Anthony carried his cup back to the tray, passing very close to Edith. As he turned to return to his chair, she reached up and took his right hand. He flinched, knowing it must feel cold to her, but he observed that she did not seem to notice. "Please, come sit here with me," she asked.

He knew he should simply return to his chair. But looking down into her shinning eyes, so very bright with eagerness, he felt himself drawn to her and so settled next to her on the settee. You really cannot refuse her, can you old boy?

She smiled at him. "I have only been in this room a few times. Sometimes, as we were out for drives, we'd begin discussing a book and you would bring me here to show me or sometimes lend me one. Our discussions were always so pleasant but when we came here, well, I often left feeling disappointed."

"Disappointed?" Anthony wondered what he might have said or done that disappointed her.

"Yes, I felt there was something lacking in our discussion. And these last few days, I've felt it again."

Anthony couldn't think what he might be doing to disappoint her. Well, other than saying they couldn't take up again anyway. "Wh….what did you feel was lacking?" He had to ask, even though he thought there must be a trap in all this.

"Just this," she said as she leaned toward him, her lips touching his hesitantly.

Anthony relished her kiss and just managed to pull himself away before the kiss became too intense and felt an immediate disappointment within himself. She was tempting him unmercifully. And he liked it. Still, he could not allow things to continue like this. He moved to stand but Edith was too quick for his muddled mind and she grabbed the front of his jacket. "Oh no you don't, Anthony Strallan. You kissed me fully and with gusto that day at the folly. And I've craved a repeat, many repeats as a matter of fact, since then. You will stay right here and satisfy my appetite." She paused, looked straight into his eyes and smiled. "Now quit thinking of all the reasons you shouldn't and kiss me."

And by god, that's just what he did. He kissed her fully, letting his feelings take control and sending all thoughts of pushing her away into oblivion. After he'd kissed her thoroughly once, he kissed her again…. And again…. And again, until he wasn't sure who was kissing whom and caring not at all.

Quite a few heated moments later, they were half prone on the settee and alarms were sounding in Anthony's head. Sitting up, feeling quite flush and breathless, he merely watched her surprised expression. "My dear," he began rather breathlessly, "I fear I've gone too far. I apologize for my behavior just now but you see, I am not immune to your… charms."

A small smile quirked at her lips. "Suppose I didn't find anything in your behavior that requires an apology? I did ask… no, demand really, that you kiss me. And I enjoyed it, very much actually. Did you not enjoy it?"

"Oh, I did," he answered, feeling somewhere between mortified at his ungentlemanly behavior and gleeful about it also. She really was marvelous to kiss. "Much more than I should."

"Then I see no reason to stop," she teased.

"You know very well why we must stop," he growled, but a lopsided grin gave away his true feelings.

Something in her smile changed. There was joy in her face, along with the pleasure she had obviously taken from his attentions. "This is so much more like you, Anthony. You were more yourself in that one quick minute than you have been since you came back to Downton from the war. I knew you were still there and you've just shown me."

"I… I'm not sure I understand. You saw the Anthony that you used to know in my insistence that we stop? Did we…. Did I… I sincerely hope that I never took advantage of you before the war in all of our time together."

"You did not," Edith chuckled. "You were, are, always a perfect gentleman with me. But that little bit of grousing with a smile is so much like the pre-war man I knew."

"I hardly think that my behavior just now can be called being a gentleman," he huffed.

"But you were, don't you see? Another man might not have stopped. Please don't ruin this afternoon for me. Please don't let guilt create a shadow."

"Alright, I won't. But Edith, I still do not believe I am right for you. As much as I wish to be, I simply cannot see it."

"I'll tell you what I cannot see. I cannot see my life without you in it." She paused with a sigh. "But now is not the time for this discussion. We'll wait until you are healed and Dr. Clarkson has released you to come home. And then, I intend to prove to you that you are the right man for me, in every way."

Anthony wasn't entirely certain what she meant by "in every way" exactly, but a part of him was thrilled to contemplate it, especially when she demanded, "Now kiss me again for a few minutes before we return to Downton. I have a feeling I will need the memory of your kisses to survive the next few days."

Anthony started to object but then remembered the utter despair he'd seen in her earlier when that man, Gordon, had behaved so abominably. No, I won't cast a cloud over your afternoon, my darling. You'll have your kisses. And I shall store away each one for those times later when I reside here in abject misery without you.

And so they kissed a few minutes more. Anthony didn't allow himself to get quite so carried away but if her expression when he finally insisted it was time to leave, he'd satisfied her appetite quite well.