I know I said Matthew's reveal was coming, and it is, but I had an idea for an Edith scene, and I couldn't resist.
Edith frowned as she threw yet another dress on her bed.
This is useless, she thought. It'll make no difference what I wear. He'll still only see me as a child.
Frustrated, and at a loss, she decided to go to Mary for help. At one time, she would have been too proud to go to her older sister, too afraid of what Mary would choose to use against her, but there relationship had taken a pleasant turn. She now believed Mary would understand, and more than that, help her.
"Come in," Mary called when Edith knocked on her door.
"I hope I'm not interrupting," Edith said when she saw that Mary was seated at the vanity with Anna styling her hair.
"Not at all," Mary replied. "We were just trying to narrow down some hair styles for the wedding."
"Ah," Edith said. She was happy for her sister and Cousin Matthew, she really was, but she also felt that if she heard one more thing about a wedding, she might erupt. "Well, I was wondering if you might be able to spare a moment to help me."
"Certainly," Mary answered. "And with what am I to assist you with?"
"I'm to go driving with Sir Antony this afternoon, and I haven't anything to wear," Edith tried to say it as bravely as she could; however, she could feel her face begin to blush.
"Ah," Mary smiled, quite proud of her younger sister for being as bold as she was with Antony Stallion. "What you really mean is that you haven't anything appropriate enough to woo your beau."
Edith was fully blushing now, as well as Anna who was still watching the unfolding events from behind Lady Mary. She was glad to have the two sisters back again.
"Won't you help me?" Edith pleaded.
"I gave you my word," Mary said as she stood from her seat and put her arm through Edith's. "You'd better come too, Anna," Mary smiled. "We may need your opinion."
Anna nodded and followed the sisters down the hallway back to Edith's room.
"Oh dear," Mary said when she saw the disaster that was Edith's room.
"I'm sorry," Edith apologized. "I promise I'll clean it, Anna."
"There's no need, Milady," Anna replied, rather grateful for the extra chore. It would help pass that dreaded down time between the servant's dinner and when Lady Mary rang to be readied for bed.
Mary was already shifting through the clothes on Edith's bed, making new piles of her own.
"Try this one," Mary told Edith as she handed her a dull pink dress with a high waste.
Edith had her doubts, but obeyed Mary's command letting Anna help her out of her gown and into the pink dress.
"Oh," Mary said. "No, that won't work." She moved over the closet and began sorting through the dresses there.
"Those aren't driving dresses," Edith tried to inform her.
Mary smiled mischievously at her sister. She still had so much to learn about wooing men. "That, my dear sister," she said as she turned around to meet Edith's gaze, "is the point."
. . . . .
Antony paced back and froth in his library as he waited for his butler to inform him that Lady Edith had arrived. She said she would be here at 3 o'clock, and it was now nearly a quarter past.
He hoped she hadn't been injured on her way here. The roads were known to be troublesome this time of year.
No, he thought, I'm just overreacting. She'll be here soon, she's just running behind.
On her last visit, Edith had loosened any resolve Antony had made to stay away from her. He enjoyed her company, and as much as he believed he should say no when she asked if he would like to go for a drive with her, something in him told him to say yes. So he did, and now he was pacing in his library like some love-struck boy.
"Milord," his butler said as he entered the room. "Lady Edith has arrived."
Edith again stood in the entrance hall of Sir Antony's house, this time a little more aware of her intentions a little more self conscious of her appearance.
She didn't look like a child; Edith had to give Mary credit for that. Although she wasn't sure how she was ever going to manage driving in these shoes! It took nearly twice as long to travel here as normal. Her retched heels kept catching on the pedals.
"Lady Edith," Sir Antony said as he entered the hall and then stopped as her beauty took him aback. She was more than lovely this afternoon; she was beautiful. Her sleeveless hunter green dress reaching nearly to her toes with a ribbon tying around her waste. She moved her shawl self-consciously around her shoulders. "You look, you look…wow," Antony stuttered. "You look stunning." He finally managed.
Edith mentally thanked Mary for her choice of outfit. Driving might be hard to manage, but this was precisely the reaction she was hoping to receive.
"Shall we go?" Edith asked, hoping that the shakiness of her voice wasn't that noticeable.
"Yes," Antony said, realizing that it was going to be harder to stand by his resolve than he thought. He had agreed to go driving with Edith, he had told himself they would remain on as friends and nothing more. He had every intention of explaining that philosophy to Edith today, but the way she gently wrapped her arm in his, the way she smiled when he walked in a room. Well, it was enough to make him think of a life with her again.
"I assure you, I'm not as skilled a driver as you, but I hope you might be able to give me some pointers," Edith said as she climbed into the driver's seat.
Antony worked to pull himself into the passenger seat, and once he was in, Edith started the engine.
Antony hadn't braced himself for Edith's led foot, and was forced back as she took off down the dirt road leading past his house.
"Sorry," Edith called over the roar of the engine. "I'm afraid I'm still adjusting to driving in these shoes!"
"It's quite alright," Antony replied. "It's been away since I've had this much adventure."
Edith had always loved driving with Antony. She enjoyed watching his concentration on the road, the way he would scrunch his eyebrows together in concentration, or the way his hair would get caught in the wind.
In the same regard, Antony loved driving Edith. He loved her carefree laugh as they raced through the countryside, and the way she would pretend to worry as they approached turns or hills. He loved the way she would grab his arm to steady herself on a bumpy road, or the way he would catch her watching him.
However, this was a reversal of roles. Not that it was particularly bad, just different, with both parties finding new things to love. Edith was particularly found of the way Antony would reach over with his good arm and help guide the wheel, sometimes allowing his hand to graze hers. And Antony was particularly found of the way Edith would sometimes mumble to herself as she drove along.
They drove along silently, enjoying each other's company. Edith rather enjoyed the time to think. Her intentions, her plans, had been to ask Sir Antony straightaway why he hadn't proposed to her all those years ago. But as she drove, she realized that perhaps it would be best to let that rest for a while. She decided that bullying Sir Antony into a relationship wasn't who she was, nor was it who she desired to be.
No, she thought, I'm going to do this correctly.
And so when she pulled up to the front of Sir Antony's house nearly two hours later, all that could mark the silent passing of miles they traveled was their secret preoccupations with the other.
"You're a skilled driver," Antony said as he climbed from the car.
"Thank you," Edith answered earnestly. "I think once we got past that bit at the beginning, it went quite smoothly." Edith felt silly standing before him in the too fancy evening gown, and she felt even sillier letting Mary talk to her into wearing these shoes.
Antony took a deep breath of the fresh English air. He had been debating with himself since the moment Edith arrived at his door. He thought that letting Edith go had been selfless. He truly did believe that he wasn't worthy of her desire or affection. But lately, he'd been wondering if perhaps it wasn't a selfish desire to withhold what would make her happy. A notion he still couldn't fully understand-How could someone like me be worthy of her love?
"I do hope you'll have safe travels back to Downton," he told her. "Please send my regards to the Lord Grantham."
Edith smiled kindly, hoping that any signs of disappointment were well hidden from her face. "I will, certainly." And with that she turned to leave. No, it wouldn't be today, she thought. But I won't give up on him.
"Lady Edith," Antony called when she almost back to the vehicle. He wasn't positive what he was doing. Hadn't he resolved to remain her friend and nothing more?
Edith turned around again to look Antony in the eyes.
"I was wondering if perhaps, you'd like to go for another drive next week. Maybe you could stay for tea as well."
An unmistakable smile consumed Edith's face as her heart began to race. "I should like that very much," she answered.
Antony's grin matched her own. Perhaps, he thought, she will make me worthy again.
I hope this chapter isn't too much of a disappointment. I had originally written it differently, with Edith being more direct to Antony, but it didn't feel right. I think Edith's character is one of the most intriguing, and I think she can still be bold without pushing a relationship on Sir Antony. Oh well, it's written now. Suggestions/comments/feedback are always welcomed. The next chapter will reveal Matthew's breakthrough. I'm writing it now!
