Chapter 3
For those of you who haven't already noticed, I have changed a little bit at the end of the previous chapter, and now on with this one :)
A few days later in London, Edith was smiling while watching Marigold play with her toys, she reminded her so much of Michael, they had the same nose and mouth and the same face shape too, however she did also have Edith's hair and eyes.
"Marigold darling, come here"
Once Marigold was sat in her lap, Edith looked at her daughters, big, round eyes and said "It has been splendid to spend all of this time alone with you, but if we are to survive, we are going to need money, so, starting tomorrow a lovely lady who is highly recommended is going to come and care for you while I go to work, but don't worry, because I will always be here to spend time with you, I love you"
Meanwhile, at Downton, everyone was in the Library, having a drink before bed, there was talk of the Russian refugees, Rose's growing fondness of Atticus Aldridge and of course Edith.
"So, Rose, how is it with your young man, is everything ok?"
"Yes cousin Cora, everything is perfectly well, in fact he was wondering if he could come up for dinner next week, and if it would be ok to bring his parents, I mean, you met them briefly at the race, but it would be jolly good to get to know them a little better, wouldn't you agree?"
"I would, please tell him that he and his parents are welcome, tell them Wednesday, is that ok Robert?"
"Yes, let him know that they are all welcome here, that they can stay for the night if they so wish"
"Oh thank you cousin Robert, thank you"
"Well, I'm feeling a little tired, so I shall retire, goodnight everyone" said Tom.
"Goodnight Tom"
"Mary, I was going to look in on the children on the way, would you care to join me?"
"Yes, goodnight papa, goodnight mama"
"Goodnight dear"
A minute later Mary and Tom were walking up the stairs when the latter asked "So, have you managed to find a trace of Edith yet?"
"Not quite, but I do know someone who might?"
"Really, who?"
"Henry Spencer, he's the son of one of mama's friends, Sybil, Edith and I used to play with him and his sister Alice, he and Edith were always good friends, now, he's a partner in a law firm in London, she might have turned to him for help".
"Are you going to call him?"
"I was thinking of going down there actually, would you like to come to?"
"Are you sure you want me there?"
"I am, and besides, if we do find Edith, she is more likely to talk to you, rather than me"
"I hope we do find her"
"So do I"
The next day at breakfast, everyone was sat around the table when Mary said "Tom and I are going to London today, we're getting the 10:00"
"Whatever for?"
"Well Mary has asked me to accompany her to a luncheon"
"Really, why?"
"I'm meeting up with some old friends, who are all bringing their husbands, and I did not want to go alone, so I invited Tom"
"That's nice, who are you meeting?" asked Cora.
"Catherine Asher, Emma Cavendish and Alice Sinclair
"Alice, how is she, you used to play with her and her brother, do you remember?"
"I do mama, and she's well, married to James Sinclair, 6th Earl of Stafford, and I believe she has three children, of which I am godmother to the eldest, Eleanor"
"That's right, I think the other two are Daniel and Richard"
"So how long are you going to be in London?"
"4 days or so, I'm going to take Tom around the city, he's not been in a long time"
"I look forward to it"
"Where are you going to stay?"
"Aunt Rosamund's, she's coming up here for a few days, so we asked if we could use her house"
A few hours later Mary and Tom were sat in Rosamund's drawing room, having just been served with tea.
"Now that we're here, where do we start?"
"I thought that we could start with Henry, see if he knows where she is, and if not, I thought we could go to Gregson's old office, he left her the business, maybe she's been there".
"Shall I go prepare the car?"
"Please, and then hopefully we can go and find a clue as to the whereabouts of my sister"
End of Chapter