And then along comes Mary
And does she want to see the stains,
The dead remains of all the pains she left the night before.
Or will their waking eyes reflect the lies,
And make them realize their urgent cry for sight no more.
Along Comes Mary – The Association
x-X-x
"Can't we just stay here?" Edith asked, not worried about her petulant tone.
"You work wonders for my ego, love. Always asking me to stay in bed with you." Anthony smiled, sitting on the edge of the bed. "But we are expected."
"I know." She nodded slowly, leaning forward to rest her head on his shoulder. "I would like to apologize in advance for whatever my family does or says tonight."
The late afternoon light was already creeping into their bedroom. Most of their day had been spent locked away in what had quickly become their room. Anthony tilted his head, pressing a few soft kisses to her temple, then her cheek, continuing on to her neck.
"Sweetheart…" He began.
"I know. I'll have to dig out my respectable dress." Edith sighed, snaking her arms around his middle and holding him close.
"Respectable dress?"
"You know granny will be there. And I have a feeling that my parents saw more than enough of us last night."
"Ah, your grandmother."
"The only one to truly be worried about. Mama will convince dad to come around, if granny apposes…"
"It won't matter. Edith, the only opinions that matter in our relationship are yours and mine."
Slowly she raised her head, moving in to give him a gentle kiss on the lips.
"You would fight for us?"
"I would."
"I love you." She murmured, resting against him once more.
"I love you too. Now, time to get dressed."
"Fine."
Her respectable dress was still quite beautiful. The sleeveless dress was a grayish-blue and fell to her knees. He watched from the front door as she buttoned the matching jacket closed. Her black boots came to the top of her calves, a small spark of her usual style that she could add to the proper mix.
"You look lovely."
"Thank you. You look very dashing." She smiled, straightening his tie. "We're matching almost."
"Goodness, so we are. Shall we?"
x-X-x
"Remember last night? You said 'how bad could it be?' Do you have your answer yet?" Edith whispered as attention was finally turned from them to Mary's arrival in the drawing room.
"Lesson learned." He shrugged, holding her hand a bit tighter.
"Where's Matthew?" Robert questioned, his beloved son-in-law still missing from the room.
"He had a call to return. And Sybil's in the library with Tom still." Mary answered before the inquiry could be made. It was then that she noticed Edith and Anthony's hands. "What's this?"
"What's what?" Edith asked with a nonchalant tone.
"Are you two… together?"
Robert could be heard groaning in displeasure from another place in the room, Cora quickly silencing him.
"Mary, your sister and Sir Anthony have found that they rather care about each other." Cora interrupted. "And that's all there is to be said on the matter."
"Is there a particular reason why Mary's mouth is hanging open like a surprised fish? And what matter has been closed?" Came a voice from the doorway.
"Granny." Mary recovered suddenly, almost smirking as she eyed Edith. "The matter of Sir Anthony and Edith having a romance."
"What is this? Parliament? We're not discussing our relationship. We are not defending or explaining anything."
"That remains to be seen." Violet said in her all too familiar stern voice.
"Mary and Sybil have never had their relationships open to the floor for debate." Edith was struggling to remain calm, Anthony squeezed her hand a bit tighter.
"Yes, well… those are different circumstances." Was Violet's response as she took the seat across from the newly formed couple.
"With all due respect, I don't see how these situations differ. We care about each other, isn't that all that matters?" Anthony asked, glancing to Edith then back to her grandmother.
"Not when we consider the fact that Edith has been going through a rebellious phase…"
"I have not…" Edith began but was quickly interrupted.
"No? What do you call disappearing for months?"
"I didn't disappear, I've been in London the whole time, at school."
"Did something happen at school?" Robert questioned. "You really didn't have to attend for so many years. You could have married Patrick…"
"I didn't love Patrick."
"Does that make a difference?"
"Oh lord, we aren't back on that topic again are we?" Sybil beamed, slipping into the room with her boyfriend Tom in tow. "Daddy, she didn't love him, there's no reason to marry. Hello, Sir Anthony."
"Lady Sybil." He nodded with a smile.
The conversation continued in circles until cocktail hour finished and Cora ushered everyone towards the dining room. Before Anthony could escape the room a hand on his arm stopped him. Sybil smiled and lowered her voice before tell him:
"I for one think it's marvelous that you and Edie are an item. Never in my life have I seen her quite so happy."
"Thank you." Anthony patted her hand, feeling reassured that they had at least another ally in the house.
x-X-x
Dinners and teas at Downton were becoming a regularly scheduled event. Anthony and Edith would mostly go together, on the occasional afternoon she would go to tea alone. But mostly the tension in Downton began to ease. Violet and Robert were still horrified by the notion that Edith was so head over heals for a many so many years her senior. But Robert stayed silent, reassured by Cora that it was a good thing, while Violet was under the assumption that the romance would fizzle out eventually. The only real adversary seemed to be Mary, who was constantly whispering jabs in her sister's ear.
That day it had been less than quiet as she remarked how amazing it was that Anthony hadn't dropped dead during the strange, amorous activities Edith had probably picked up from her gang of mods and hippies. Before Edith could respond a familiar hand rested on her back, calming her before any more barbs could be exchanged.
"Should we head home?" He asked quietly, Edith simply nodded, allowing him to lead her out of the room. With a quick goodbye to Cora they were on their way.
They walked slowly back towards Locksley. It was on a whim that they had decided to walk to Downton for the forced, unpleasant tea. The method of getting there was chosen to provide the pair with a marvelous excuse to leave early, hoping to beat the dark.
"You know, there are many, many reasons to love you." Edith mused, taking Anthony's hand in her own as the strolled across the field.
"Are there?" He smiled fondly.
"Oh yes. But at the moment, the most appreciated reason, is your willingness to put up with my family."
"And here I thought it was my rugged good looks."
"Those certainly factor in." She grinned, reaching down to pick a dandelion before passing it over to him.
"You're worth it all, Edie. Your family could never distract from what an amazing woman you are."
"I think there might be something to say for country life."
"Even though it's considerably duller than your happening in the city?"
"Did you just say happening?" Edith laughed. She was enjoying Anthony's attempts at understanding the current culture.
"You didn't answer my question."
"I wasn't ducking it." She reassured him. "I don't think country life is dull. I think it's a slower pace, with a wider space. It isn't as claustrophobic out here."
"You would be interested in living out here? Doting on me in my old age?" Anthony teased.
"As your old age is decades off, I think we could find something to fill the time out here." With another smile she let go of his hand and moved towards the flimsy wooden fence that separated the two properties. It was a shaded area, the tall trees providing a leafy canopy to the small section of the world.
"Edith… There's… there's something I'd like to ask you." Anthony began, his hand clutching the small box in his pocket. This was the moment.
x-X-x
Give a little time for the child within you,
Don't be afraid to be young and free.
Undo the locks and throw away the keys
And take off your shoes and socks, and run you.
Stop and listen: love you.
Love You – The Free Design