Thank you again for the reviews! They give me life! This chapter includes a series of telegrams. I thought I'd mention it in case you're not familiar with the format!

'I've had an idea that might help us with the Edith situation,' Tom said, idly stroking Mary's bare arm as she nestled against him in bed.

'Oh, yes? Do tell. I've been racking my brain and haven't come up with a thing.'

'I thought I might ask Bertie to be my best man.'

Mary sat up, twisting to gape at him. 'Really?'

'Yes. It might be a way of getting them in the same room again.'

'But your best man? I assumed you would ask your brother.'

'I would have normally, but Kieran's just gone to Boston and won't be back in time.'

Mary gazed at him, still taken aback by the idea. 'But isn't there someone else you'd rather have standing beside you? Someone you're closer to?'

Tom grinned. 'Mary, most of the men I consider friends either have been or still are in love with you. I hardly think I need a best man who fancies the bride as much as I do.'

Mary bit back a smile. 'I suppose there might be some truth in that.'

'Some? Henry's out, Evelyn's out. Even Carson would be pushing it!'

'Oh, Tom! Really!' Mary exclaimed, pulling a face at that. 'But Bertie? Are you even that friendly with him?'

'I am, actually. We bonded at Brancaster last year talking agent business, and we've kept in touch since then swapping ideas and examples of how we've both approached issues with the two estates. He's a decent man, Mary. I'd be glad to have him stand beside me if he agrees.'

'And do you think he would agree?'

'I can but ask him. If he says no, we'll know it's likely permanently over between him and Edith.'

'But if he says yes…' Mary said, thoughtfully.

'Exactly. Then I think there's still hope for them.'

'And do you think he will say yes? I mean he's not an agent anymore, he's the Marquess of Hexham now.'

'I think there's a good chance he will. He's not stuck up or stuffy. And he loves her, I'm sure of it. Maybe he just needs a way back in.'

Mary leaned down, kissing her clever fiancé appreciatively. 'Well, you may turn out to be some kind of genius if this works, Tom.'

He grinned, pulling her down on top of him. 'I have my moments.'

'Bertie said yes,' Tom told Mary with a triumphant grin as he took his seat beside her at luncheon two days later.

Mary beamed at him. 'Oh, that's wonderful! Stage one of the plan is complete.'

'What plan is this?' her father asked as he came into the room and sat down at the table.

Mary and Tom exchanged a look.

'What? Was I not supposed to overhear that?' Robert said, looking at them, curiously.

Mary tipped her head to one side, eyeing her father speculatively. 'Hmm, I think you might as well know. You never know, you may even come in useful.'

Robert raised a mildly offended eyebrow. 'You make it sound like that's a rarity, Mary.'

'Oh, I didn't mean it like that, Papa, and you know it.'

'So, what is this mysterious plan?'

'We're plotting to get Edith and Bertie back on an even keel.'

Robert looked at her in surprise. 'Really? And how do you propose to do that?'

'Well, it was Tom's idea really,' Mary said, gesturing at Tom to continue the tale.

'I've asked Bertie to be my best man and he's agreed.'

'Goodness, if nothing else, that's a bit of a society coup, getting the new Marquess of Hexham to be your best man, Tom. So, Bertie will be coming back to Downton. What's the rest of the plan?'

Mary wrinkled her nose. 'I need to get Edith to come home, so I can prostrate myself in front of her and beg her forgiveness.'

'Oh, you'll enjoy that, Mary,' her father said with a grin. 'I suspect Edith might too.'

'I shall hate every second of it, Papa, but it must be done.'

'So, have you told her about you and Tom then?' Robert paused, setting his knife and fork down for a moment. 'I still haven't got used to that.'

Mary shook her head. 'I will send her a telegram this afternoon and ask her to come home.'

'And if she refuses?'

'That's when you might prove useful. If she ignores me, you might have to order her to come home.'

Robert chuckled. 'Oh, Mary. I think you vastly overestimate the amount of authority I have around here. The last time any of you girls heeded my orders was some time in the reign of Edward VII.'

'Surely, she'll listen to you, Papa. You are her father.'

'I'm also your father and when was the last time you listened to me?'

Tom grinned at that. 'He's got a point there, Mary.'

'Oh, shut up, both of you. You're trying to put a spanner in my plan before I've even put it into motion.'

Robert looked over at his son-in-law. 'She might come back if you ask her, Tom. She has no axe to grind with you and she's very fond of you.'

'Maybe, unless she decides I'm now sleeping with the enemy.'

Robert froze, giving Tom a hard stare.

'Metaphorically speaking,' Tom said, hastily, while Mary snickered into her salad.

'Well, if both of you fail me, I shall simply have to bring out the big guns,' Mary announced.

'Oh, yes? And what do you consider your big guns?' Robert asked, moving swiftly on from the uncomfortable suggestion that his daughter may already be sleeping with her freshly minted fiancé.

'Granny,' said Mary, decisively.

'Ah, yes. That might work,' Robert agreed, already feeling sorry for his younger daughter. 'And once you've lured Edith home, what then?'

'Well, that's the easiest bit. We lock them in a room together until they come to their senses,' Mary said, blithely.

'Are you sure that will work?' Robert said, doubtfully.

'It should because they are clearly dotty about each other. If it doesn't, then they have only themselves to blame.'

Robert looked at his eldest daughter shrewdly. 'What you mean by that is that it will no longer be your fault that Edith is not the Marchioness of Hexham.'

'Exactly,' Mary replied, with a beatific smile.

Robert and Tom shared a look, wisely keeping their own counsel on the matter.

EDITH COME HOME STOP AM VERY SORRY STOP HAVE NEWS STOP MARY

EDITH PLEASE COME HOME STOP I AM GETTING MARRIED STOP TO TOM STOP MARY

EDITH PLEASE COME HOME STOP I WOULD LIKE YOU AT MY WEDDING STOP MUCH LOVE STOP TOM

EDITH COME HOME IMMEDIATELY STOP I AM ORDERING YOU BACK TO DOWNTON STOP PAPA

EDITH DARLING PLEASE COME HOME STOP WE MISS YOU STOP LOVE ALWAYS STOP MAMA

EDITH BERTIE WILL BE HERE STOP HE IS MY BEST MAN STOP PLEASE PLEASE COME HOME STOP MUCH LOVE STOP TOM

EDITH YOU ARE BEING A MARTYR STOP COME HOME NOW STOP MARY

My dearest Edith,

I would be much obliged if you could come home as soon as possible, preferably before Mary's wedding.

I know you do not think kindly of her at the moment and do not want to see her and I quite understand why. However, she is being simply impossible about the situation and is positively pestering me night and day to intervene with you to make the case on her behalf. I have had to resort to ordering Spratt to inform her I am indisposed, which I am sure she does not believe as she knows all too well that I have the constitution of an ox. Spratt and Denker had to join forces to physically bar the way to my drawing room yesterday.

I believe only your presence can placate her. If you have any pity or love for me in your heart, I beg of you to come to my aid. I will consider it an endless kindness if you could return to Downton and speak with her before she puts me in an early grave. I would be greatly relieved to think there will be some moments of sweet, blessed peace left to me in my twilight years.

I await your answer and pray it will be in the affirmative.

I remain,

Your loving grandmother

PS Bertie Hexham is a most pleasant, respectful and respectable young man. I think you and he will suit each other perfectly if you would only come home and give him an opportunity to speak to you. If you will not return for either my sake or your sister's, I recommend you consider returning for your own.

EDITH PLEASE STOP I AM BEGGING YOU STOP MARY