The two men parted genially. Dr. Rivers went in search of Dr. Clarkson while Anthony went in search of Edith. He found her in the saloon playing cards with some of the other officers. Once she saw him, she excused herself from the game and walked over to meet him. "Well, what did you think of Dr. Rivers?"

"Might we take a walk, find a bench where we can talk?"

"Yes, let's." So they strolled through the front door and out onto the lawn in search of a quiet bench. Once they found one they settled upon it under the shade of one of the many large oaks that dotted the estate. Anthony could feel Edith looking at him expectantly. He just didn't quite know how to begin.

Finally, she spoke. "What was this Dr. Rivers like? Did he think you are one of these war neuroses patients? Is there a treatment?"

Anthony digested all her questions and finally knew how to start. "With the exception of Dr. Clarkson, who knew me before, all the doctors in the hospitals have been rather cold and distant. But this man was not. And while I was quite uncomfortable at times, he managed to get me to talk some of the things that have happened. He does believe I am one of those patients, yes. He uses what he called a talking cure to help patients understand what has happened to them, why they are… as they are. Even in our short conversation, I felt as if I'm not quite so … hopeless."

"Hopeless? Anthony, you are not and never have been hopeless."

"To you perhaps, but in my own mind…. Yes, quite often as a matter of fact. But he… he helped me to see that I can get better, possibly even cured. Well, not entirely cured, but…"

"He thinks you will get your memory back?"

"Yes, at least most of it. He believes that there are things that my mind has locked away and will never open to again. But he believes I might get some of my memory back. But more than that, he can help my episodes and even thinks some of the problem with my arm might be down to the neuroses. He looked at the surgeon's report and says I should have some use of my arm and with treatment, he thinks I can regain that. It won't ever be completely mended, but I would have some use of it again."

"Oh, that's marvelous!" Edith smiled brightly, truly happy to hear his news. "So will he tell Dr. Clarkson how to treat this neuroses?"

"Ah, no. As we thought might be the case, I would go to Craiglockhart with him. With the war ending, he will be demobbed and take up a fellowship at Cambridge. I would follow him there."

"Go with him? Leave Downton? For how long?" Her face fell instantly.

"I cannot answer that. Dr. Rivers believes I am an unusual case and can't predict how long it will take."

Edith sat very still for several long moments, which made Anthony nervous. "He…. He wants me to go with him tomorrow."

"Tomorrow? But that won't give us time to…."

"Yes, I've been thinking about that. Wouldn't it better if we wait to marry? You would be free to cho…"

"Oh no you don't, Anthony Strallan!"

What?" Her tone startled him.

"You're going to try to set me free to find someone else. And I don't want that, not at all. You are my choice and I won't let you escape again."

It warmed him to hear her say that, but worry for her overtook the warm feelings. "But this cure could take months, years even. And I can't bear the thought of you just… just sitting around waiting for me to be better, wasting yourself on me like that." It really was a dreary, depressing picture, he thought.

"I thought we were past all that," she sighed. "Just the other day we were planning for our future, our home and our children. And now, here we are again with you doubting all of it."

"Yes, I know and I'm sorry. But I do worry, you know." It sounds so wonderful when she speaks of a future for us... but can I really do that to her?

"Well stop worrying, at least so much. This is what I want, Anthony. I want you and I want us to build our lives together. If this Dr. Rivers can make you better then that's good, but I'll take you however you come to me, war neuroses and all. And I won't wait."

She was almost making him believe... "But as you said, there isn't time…"

"We'll make time. We'll ask Dr. Rivers if you can follow him up to Scotland. We'll do just as we said, go to the registrar and get married quickly and then we will go to Scotland. I'll find a flat and live nearby while you go for your treatment. And I will visit as often as allowed. And when you leave, I will go with you."

Still not convinced, he replied, "Your family won't approve and I wouldn't blame them."

"Their approval is not necessary for our happiness. They've never really approved of me anyway, so nothing will be lost as far as I'm concerned."

"You are quite serious about this." I just can't believe that she is serious... but she seems quite confident. Perhaps it might be alright...

"More serious than anything else in my life ever. I can't imagine a future without you and I don't even want to try."

Anthony pondered her words, his insides churning with trepidation and also with delight. Oh my sweet, I can't imagine it either. "Alright then, if you're certain. I'm not certain about anything right now, except how very much you mean to me. So, we'll do things your way."

They looked for Dr. Rivers and found him with Dr. Clarkson. Anthony explained Edith's plan carefully. "And so you see Dr. Rivers, while I do want to come to Craiglockhart, I won't be travelling with you tomorrow," he concluded.

Rivers looked at them as if they had two heads, Anthony thought. Then the man glanced at Clarkson, who was standing quietly with a smug grin on his face. Finally, Clarkson chuckled. "I told you he wouldn't leave without her." Anthony was surprised by Clarkson's comment. Did Clarkson believe it might work?

Rivers scowled and looked at Edith. "Are you certain about this, Lady Edith. It is likely to be a long time before Sir Anthony is prepared to fully be a husband to you. And as for you living nearby and visiting there will be times when visitation is not possible. "

"But you are wrong, Dr. Rivers. Anthony is ready to be my husband now in every way that is important to me. I understand his treatment will take some time and I am very happy that you think he will improve. But even if he never improves, I will have him and be glad of his place in my life. We were kept apart once; I will not allow that to happen again. I will visit when it is allowed but I will be nearby at all times. And I will not be kept out of what is happening to him."

Rivers turned to Clarkson and nodded. "I see what you were saying." Then turning back to Anthony, he said, "Are you absolutely certain you won't wait? I truly don't believe you are ready to manage the responsibility of marriage and the stress might hinder your work."

"I…. " Anthony hesitated, feeling quite unsure of anything. But then he looked down into Edith's eyes, so full of confidence and reassurance and he had his answer. "There are so many uncertainties in my life, Dr. Rivers, so much of which I am unsure. But one thing I do know is that I need Edith with me; my very sanity depends upon it."

Rivers frowned. "such dependence isn't good; surely you see that?"

"I don't mean that in the sense that I can't live without her or even that I couldn't find some level of contentment on my own. But she gives me purpose, a reason to … to fight for what I've lost. Without her, without that purpose, I'd sink into a quagmire of despondency and despair. And I love her. I cannot see how her presence will be any sort of hindrance as I try to recover; in fact, I see her presence as a reason to work harder at it. And she is quite confident that she is willing to accept what little I might have to offer now and even into the future, if I don't get any better. And... well, you see... while I feel like I haven't much to offer her at all, I do know that I love her, that no one could love her more." He felt Edith slip her hand into his good one and give it a squeeze as if to say that his love was enough.

Rivers stared at the baronet long and hard, his expression a curious one as he contemplated Anthony's declaration. Finally, acceptance settled in his features. "As you know I must return tomorrow. Join me as soon as you are able, say a week or two. The sooner we begin, the sooner you can move on with your life with your lady."

Elated, Anthony thanked both doctors before Edith pulled him away for some privacy. "You were absolutely brilliant," she told him when they reached his room.

"I was?" He didn't feel brilliant. His feelings were more along the lines of relief.

"Yes, my handsome man, you were." Reaching up, she kissed him soundly.

"Should we find your father?" Anthony asked when she released his lips. Might as well finish what we've begun today. Get it over with...

"We can, if you wish," she replied. "But I'd much rather stay here and kiss you."

"I have no objection to that," he answered with a grin. "But if we speak to your father today, then perhaps we can make arrangements for our wedding tomorrow."

Edith smiled happily. "Yes, the sooner the better." After one more kiss they went in search of her father.