Of course, the reception at Grantham House was sumptuous: Anthony had paid for it. Some of Robert's friends had only come so that they could see this strange Sir Anthony close up, and predictably they were not polite enough to keep that fact hidden. Sir Anthony was polite enough to ignore their stares. The groom's side of the congregation was an interesting cross section of society: his sister, Diana, was in attendance with her husband, Archie. They were about to take up a diplomatic posting in Luxembourg, but had been granted a leave of absence to be here. There was also a fair number of male friends of his, some accompanied by wives, and most (but by no means all) titled and of independent means. When conversation with any of them led to an enquiry as to how they knew Sir Anthony they all responded along the lines of "we belong to the same club", "we attended King's at the same time" and other bland explanations that couldn't be confirmed or denied. There was a little high-spirited jocularity when some of Anthony's friends presented him with a wedding present of a bouquet of hay and a shepherd's smock. The gift caused more laughter from Sir Anthony than many there had ever experienced, yet not a single guest would explain the joke to anyone outside of Strallan's circle.

"I think it's lovely that Anthony has such a close-knit group of good friends." Cora sipped her wine as she watched them jostle amicably. "And it's even better to know that Tom and Matthew are part of it too. Brothers-in-law should stick together."

"Especially when they're mad enough to marry the Crawley girls!" quipped Robert in his tipsy, and slightly insensitive way.

Edith said nothing. She was too used to staying silent unless asked a direct question. Right now, she wasn't sure what she felt about Anthony's friends. Should she be glad, or jealous? He seemed so much more relaxed and happy in their company than he did when he was with her.

"Has he told you much about how he divides up his time? I mean, an estate like Loxley can't run itself!" Cora fished.

"No, Mama, I don't know. I daresay I will find out."

"It's a long way to Yorkshire, dear. Is Anthony still sure he wants to go straight there?"

"Yes, Mama. He wants to make the most of the time we have."

"Before he becomes old and dies?" sniped Mary. Before Edith could return fire, Sybil put herself between them. "We all know what 'making the most of a honeymoon' means, though, don't we Mama?!"

But Cora was still worrying. "I'm sure he knows what he's doing, but it will take you until tomorrow morning, even with changing horses. Not really the best use of a wedding night." Her expression said more than her words.

"Vulgarity is no substitute for wit, Mama!" gasped Sybil in mock shock.

"Well, you started it" Cora smiled teasingly.

None of that familial banter had included Edith. She looked from her sisters to her mother and then to her inebriated father and wondered how she had lived with them for so long and yet known them all so little. She knew that they all blamed her for their misadventures at the hands of the Republic, but there was little she could do about that now apart from apologise again, and again, and again. So that is what she did at every opportunity. But she was never forgiven.


Anthony was used to long journeys. In fact, he enjoyed them. They gave him a chance to really think about things: the state of things in France, future missions, the needs of members of the League, managing Loxley and Richmond, what Lord Amherst, Commander-in-Chief of the Forces, or Charles Fox, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, had requested of the Scarlet Pimpernel this time! So he had no concerns himself about undertaking a trip from London to Loxley which would take around fourteen hours.

He flicked some of the thrown flower petals off the shoulders of his very plain, but well made travelling coat as he walked with Edith on his arm towards his largest and most luxuriant coach. Six strong horses were harnessed to it, and Stewart was making a second and third check of all the tackle and luggage.

"Here we are, m'dear" he said, handing her up the rungs into the carriage. "I am confident that, though long, it will be as easy a ride as you have ever undertaken." He went to close the door, and she quickly put her head through the window.

"You are coming, I hope, husband!" Although meant as a light-hearted query, her worries made it sound more like pleading. Only you would have to plead with your own husband to come on honeymoon with you, Edith Craw—, er Edith Strallan!

"Of course, m'dear, but it is not a journey without risk. I shall be driving and Stewart will be with me as lookout. If your Mama had only managed to engage a lady's maid for you before we set out, as I suggested, you would not be alone, but never mind about that now. Just relax and enjoy the peace. The time will go faster that way." Then he disappeared from her sight, climbing up to the box. Once he had gone, Mr Stewart looked in. "Do you have everything that you need, my lady? As you know, Sir Anthony is an excellent driver, much better than any groom I've ever met. We will be stopping in St Albans to change horses, but if you need anything urgently before then, do knock on the roof."

"Thank you, Stewart. You're very kind" she answered quietly.

With a nod, the servant was gone.


Robert woke with the best idea in the world. It was inspired. He turned to his wife only to find that she had risen already. Well, Anthony's wine was excellent. Not surprising that I needed to sleep it off! So he rose as well, a little unsteadily, and thought about how brilliant he was. His only regret was that he hadn't thought of it several days ago. But perhaps Edith and Anthony deserved a little time alone together, after all. He really did not need to think about what they might be doing in that time. So pushing that thought very much away, he finished his ablutions and, dressed to Bates' satisfaction, he went down.

"Cora, darling, you are married to a genius!"

Cora, who had started looking at her housekeeper's reports of how much had been broken by careless guests yesterday, didn't even look up.

"I have known that to be true ever since I married him. Do you know someone called …" she peered at the list "… Trelawny?"

"Of course. He was at Harrow with me. He's a dealer in silks and fine fabrics now. Imports from the East, that sort of thing. I think. Why?"

"He broke half a dozen of our best Wedgwood yesterday by tripping up one of the maids, and not accidentally. If he can afford it I think he should be asked to contribute to their replacements."

Robert was appalled. "I don't think that's really the thing, Cora, asking a guest to pay for breakages!"

Cora turned on her husband. "The truth is we can't afford it, Robert! And we can't expect Anthony to pay for everything!"

Robert put a commiserating hand on his wife's shoulder. "I've had an idea, and I think it might help the, er, financial situation. What if we take the family up to Downton while Edith is up there? I could show Matthew and Tom the estate, talk about improvements, and you and the girls could visit Edith. What do you think?"

Core was about to say that her husband was, in fact, a prize fool, when she stopped to think. Perhaps it would be good to support Edith now that she was Lady Strallan. She'd never expected Edith to marry and so hadn't, to her shame, spent as much effort on training her to run a household. And now, well, Edith was mistress of one of the finest Palladian houses on the Thames at Richmond, and Loxley, one of the most successful estates in all of England. By next week, Edith might be ready, or even happy, to accept the advice of a woman who had been in the same position when she'd come to England. She, Cora, had learned the hard way. She had no desire to make any of her daughters have to do the same.

"I think it's an inspired idea, darling. But we should give them a week to be together alone, before we join them. It'll give us time to prepare and gather Mary and Sybil as well."

"I'm so glad you like it, dearest." Robert beamed, glad to have suggested something worthwhile, for once.


They had stopped six times to change horses, and to buy a little food and ale. Each time, Anthony handed her down from the carriage and escorted her into the coaching inn to use the facilities and to have a little time to rest while the grooms worked. Each time, her husband was polite, thoughtful, and so very, very distant. Stewart was warmer towards her than her own spouse. By the time they arrived at Loxley, it was nearly five o'clock in the morning and Edith was exhausted, with a headache brought on by so much bouncing around, even in a carriage as sumptuous as this one.

"Here we are, m'dear! My ancestral home. You can't see much just at the moment, but when you've rested we'll make a proper tour in the daylight." She leaned on his arm more than she ever had, and though he ably supported her, he made no enquiry as to how she was feeling.

The staff, used to their Master's eccentric ways, had dozed at their posts awaiting him, and were now lined up outside by torchlight to greet him and his new wife. Anthony introduced them all: Mr Norden, the butler, Mrs Girton, the housekeeper, Nellie, the head housemaid who would act as Edith's maid during her stay at Loxley.

Nellie, a capable Yorkshire lass, took charge of Lady Strallan and ushered her up to her rooms in short order. "You must be that tired, my lady. You need to take a bowl of warm milk! The beds have all been aired and warmed. You tell me anything you need, and don't worry about a thing."

So Edith's wedding night was spent alone in a carriage driven by her husband, and the morning after spent in an over-tired and aching slumber. Precisely as Sir Anthony had planned it in order to stop his feelings overwhelming him.


"Are we absolutely sure that this is what Edith wanted?" Sybil asked, frowning. "Because I must say, although I love you all, I'm not sure that I would've been tremendously happy to find you all popping up during my honeymoon!"

The coach was comfortable, but not luxurious. The road north was certainly not flat, but at least it was a road. Cora and her two eldest were sharing with three maids; Robert followed in another carriage with Matthew, Tom, Bates, Carson, and the majority of the luggage.

"By now she'll probably be glad of the company; not even Edith will have that much to say to Sir Anthony to fill a whole fortnight, or the patience to continue listening to his tales of farming and foxes."

Cora sent Mary a severe look but didn't scold her. Turning back to Sybil, she said "I just think that it would be kind of us to be available. And your father is so very keen to show Matthew and Tom the old house."

"Matthew is, in return, very keen to show Papa how an estate is properly run!" added Mary.

"Oh dear" sighed Cora.

"We can't stop what is happening in the world, Mama. If Matthew and Tom can use their knowledge to help Downton become profitable again, that has to be good for us all, tenants included" urged Sybil.

"All they have to do is convince Papa" murmured Mary.

"I'm sure you're both right, darlings." But Cora didn't sound convinced.