A/N: And here the first "London stuff" for bedtime reading. Good night!
The time in London started busy, but not very exciting. There were lots of invitations, many visits to make, but in fact, they met the same people and most often one candidate or the other or even both were amongst them. Edith was glad, when Sybil and her husband arrived in London. She could now avoid some of the talk about her future prospects and about marriage. Her mother was currently more concentrated on getting a grandchild as well as on Sybil's health. A nice side effect was that the Dowager Countess paid less visits, because she wasn't able to forgive that her granddaughter's husband used to be the family's chauffeur.
Edith, who ever hated that Mary and Sybil had always took the centre stage, were now glad to escape the attention a bit. Unfortunately this didn't make Peter Finnegan and his competitor disappear – and granny still kept an eye on her even from distance.
One afternoon Edith and her aunt Rosamund were invited in the Dowager Countess' house for tea.
"Very well then, Edith" Lady Violet started. "Do you already have any idea, which of the nice young gentlemen you prefer? I mean it doesn't make sense to encourage both, if a choice has already been made."
Edith's sigh begged her aunt for help, but Rosamund didn't want a fight with her mother, if she wouldn't profit from it.
So, Edith finally said: "I don't know, granny."
"You don't know, but, Edith dear, we've all hoped that you would return to Downton as an engaged young woman."
That was it, Edith thought. A complot to get rid of me as soon as possible. She was sure that she wouldn't prefer never to marry, if they forced her to choose now.
"Don't you have any of these young men in mind?" aunt Rosamund asked. As fast as this conversation ended by a suitable answer from her niece as soon she could escape her mother.
Of course, Edith had someone in mind, but it was neither Peter Finnegan, nor this other guy. The young woman remembered the afternoon after Christmas, when Sir Anthony had told her to give up her desire of a deeper relationship between them. She had watched him since then, during her visits and during the dinner he had attended at Downton Abbey. Different from his own ideas she thought she was sure that he didn't need a nurse at all. He managed his days very well and even if the injury of his arm would get worse, Edith would prefer to carry for him instead of marrying one of these young shavers.
"Didn't you hear, girl?" her aunts asked. "Your grandmother suggested inviting the gentlemen for tea."
Edith had missed this part. She now had the choice between a further boring hour with both marriage candidates and a not ending discussion with her grandmother why this was or was not a good idea.
"If you like, granny" Edith finally agreed. "But please not on Friday. Aunt Rosamund invited us to an opera performance."
"What do you mean by if you like, granny" Lady Violet snapped. "I don't want to find a husband. It is you, who is on the market right now, child."
Sir Anthony Strallan was brought to London by some business matters. London as a very large city wasn't the place to fulfil his silly ideas to come across Lady Edith just by chance. And even if it should happen, he wasn't sure what would be appropriate.
Once she had travelled to London, he had missed her visits. He knew that it was wiser, when they would stay friends only. His self-perception as old cripple, who better should stay at home, in his library was a deep contrast to the point that he missed her smile and her vitality after she had left for London. Lady Edith had sent him a letter about her travel and how she enjoyed reading his book. He had read this more than once.
Deep in these thoughts Sir Anthony entered a jeweller's shop. His watch was slightly damaged and he hoped that one of the employees in this shop could fix it. While he was waiting for one of the clerks he heard a familiar voice.
"Oh, Tom, these are absolutely wonderful" Lady Edith said.
Sir Anthony turned around and discovered her standing next to a young man.
"Do you honestly like them?" the male asked.
"I can't say how much." She smiled at the man with a happy expression on her face. Her hand was resting on his arm. They both seemed very intimate. He was none of the candidates Sir Anthony had met at the dinner, but maybe she had met him here in London. She was a beautiful young woman and deserved the maximum attention by any man of her age. He left the shop, no he escaped.
"So, it is fixed?" Thomas Branson asked.
Edith nodded. "You should buy these. Sybil will love them."
While Tom spent his savings for a pair of earrings, Edith looked around. She was sure, she had spotted Sir Anthony in one of the mirrors, but this seemed to be more wishful thinking than true.
There were only a few places in London Edith could be sure to be left alone. In the last days she had visited some museums and a lot of galleries. She was happy to spend some time with Sybil and Tom, but she was aware that it wasn't polite to steal them all of their time just for escaping her marriage plotting family.
The young woman tried to fix her thoughts by looking upon a painting. It was very beautiful. The landscape reminded her of Downton, but the artist caught much more than a normal observer.
"It's rather beautiful, isn't it?" a voice next to her said.
"Yes" Edith agreed. "It's one of the most wonderful tableaus I've ever seen. Don't you have a painting by this artist in your library?" She had recognised the voice after the first word spoken; a wave of silly happiness flooded her body.
"Indeed." He caught her glance and answered her smile.
"I didn't know that you're in London too. Although I think that I spotted you at Aumiller yesterday. How long will you stay?"
"Only until Monday" he replied. "And you're right I was at Aumiller yesterday, but I didn't want to disturb you and the young man, while you chose your wedding rings."
Edith looked at him wondering, what he was talking about. Suddenly she understood and laughed. "This young man was Tom, Thomas Branson. He's my brother in law. We were about to choose a gift for his wife, my sister Sybil."
"Your brother in law" he repeated and left relieved. "Forgive me this misunderstanding, Lady Edith. You both looked so familiar with each other."
"Oh, I really like Tom. Sybil's choice was a perfect one. She was so brave to make her own." Edith stopped talking. She didn't intend to say something in this way.
"So, there isn't a reason to congratulate so far?" Sir Anthony asked to break her silence.
She shook her head. Should she ask him for any advice? Surely not, she knew his answer already and it wouldn't be what she wanted to hear.
"Do you fancy a walk?" Edith asked instead. "We're close to a little park and I'm longing for some fresh air."