Events in this chapter are based on the Bere Ferres rail accident, which occurred September 24, 1917. I am taking artistic license with the date and moving it one month later.
Trains
"Edith is that you?" Mark called from the washroom.
"Yes."
"I've been laying here thinking about where we should live after we are married," he said. "I'd like to head back to New Zealand but I think you should finish your studies."
Edith didn't have time to reply when there was a knock on the door. She opened the door to see her father standing there.
"I'd like to have a word with Mark," he said.
Edith stood back so he could enter.
"Mark, my father is here and wants to speak to you. I'm going to go get changed. I'm covered in dust."
"That's fine. I'll be right out."
Lord Grantham idled uneasily around the room until Mark emerged from the bathroom wrapped in a robe. The two men looked at each other in a duel of wills until Mark finally spoke.
"Won't you sit down, Lord Grantham? I was hoping to have a chance to speak to you later."
"I prefer to stand."
"Well, I prefer to sit," Mark said not taking any of Lord Grantham's guff.
They each took a seat. Mark leaned back in his chair. His casual posture was in stark contrast to the rigid expression on his face. His demeanor was that of someone who is used to being in charge.
"I think we should get a few things straight," Lord Grantham said.
"I couldn't agree more," Mark replied. "I'm grateful that you have allowed me to stay here, but know this. Edith and I are going through with this overblown wedding ceremony to please you and your family. The banns have already been completed and legally we are married. I would be perfectly happy to forget the entire thing and go to the vicar this afternoon for the ceremony."
It wasn't often Robert Crawley, Earl of Grantham was speechless, but this was one of them.
"To preserve your sense of propriety I am planning to go down to Plymouth. I've received word that some of the men from my home parish will be arriving day after tomorrow. I'll travel up to Salisbury with them then spend some time in London. I'll be gone a week to ten days and be back well before the wedding," Mark said. "I would appreciate your permission for your daughter and I to remain here after the ceremony. If that is not acceptable we will take accommodation elsewhere. Edith has worked too hard on her studies and accomplished too much to abandon them now. She can best do that by remaining here."
"Yes, well umm. Edith's studies are important. We can discuss Edith's and your accommodation in this house for after the wedding when Edith returns." Lord Grantham said. Mark had changed. The man was self-assured and knew what he wanted. Robert Crawley was used to people bending easily to his will. The only thorn in his side was his youngest daughter and her husband. Now he could see this man could be an even bigger one.
"I appreciate that. She should only be a few more minutes. You certainly have a well stocked stable," Mark commented. "The mount I had today was a fine specimen."
"Do you ride regularly?"
"I'll need to get back to it, now that I am on the mend. The terrain back home isn't suited to motor vehicles. Most of my business on the station is conducted on horseback. Perhaps we could go out riding once I have a new pair of riding boots? I would like to see more of the estate by horseback."
"When you are outfitted, let me know and we can arrange something."
There was a soft knock on the door and Edith came into the room. She had taken a quick bath and changed back into a blouse and skirt.
"We were just discussing your accommodation after the wedding," her father said. "Mark pointed out that it would be most advantageous for your studies if you remain here until they are completed. You may select any of the rooms you choose. Arrange it with your mother and Mrs. Hughes when you have the time."
"Thank you, Papa. I would like to see the projects I have started through," Edith said.
Her father rose and kissed her on the temple.
"Carry on then, don't let me keep you from your work," he said before he made a hasty retreat.
"What did you say to him?" Edith asked slightly shocked.
"Not much," Mark said. He rose and went to lock the door. "I told him I'm going to Plymouth then London for ten days or so. I'll leave the day after tomorrow." He moved over to the bed and sat on the side.
"Whatever for?" Edith said, starting to loose some of her earlier confidence.
"There are some troop ships arriving from New Zealand with some men I know onboard. I'll travel the first leg of the journey with them. Then I'll go to London. I need a new uniform for the wedding. Mine is getting rather tatty. My riding boots were destroyed. I'll have a pair made, I'd like to do more riding while I'm here."
Edith pushed on Mark's shoulder to get him to lie down and started working out the kinks in his back.
"It seems like an awfully long time."
"Ouch!" he said when she hit a particularly soar spot. "It will give me and your father some distance before the wedding and it will take temptation out of the way." Mark was quiet for a few minutes. "Have I ever mentioned how much I appreciate you doing this? It's not many women who would do it."
"Mark you're not marrying me out of gratitude are you or to get a nursemaid?"
"No," he said turning over and sitting up. "I'm not marrying you for any of those reasons." He pulled Edith down onto the bed beside him. "I'm marrying you because you are the best woman for me. I love you. Why can't you see that?"
Edith nodded slowly and pushed him back to start working on his chest.
"You said you wanted to show me something "naughty". What is it?" he asked.
Edith leaned forward gave him a quick kiss him on the lips. "Promise not to laugh?"
His fingers were opening the buttons of her cloths.
"Depends what it is. It might tickle."
"It might. Close your eyes," she said. Edith went and closed the curtains on the windows even though there was absolutely no way anyone could see them. She removed her clothing as Mark had already undone most of it. She went back and curled on the empty side of the bed. She was incredibly nervous about what she was about to do and had no idea what his reaction would be.
"Are your eyes closed?" she asked.
"Yes, what is it? Why are you so embarrassed?"
"Because of this." She lowered her head and placed a kiss on the head of his penis. It wasn't so bad she thought. The skin had a satiny texture that was smooth against her lips. She did it again. On the third kiss she left her lips in place a little longer. By the fourth he was fully erect and she placed a small sucking kiss directly on the tip.
"What do you think?" she asked him. Mark's eyes were open and he was watching her.
"More!" he managed to squeak out in a strangled voice.
Edith returned to what she had been doing and gained confidence in her actions as Mark began touching her anywhere he could reach and rubbing one hand through her hair. His reaction to her experimenting was exciting her. She slid his length deep into her mouth and slowly slid it up the entire length. As she release her lips from his swollen penis he let out a small groan.
She straddled him and crawled forward to kiss him on the mouth.
"Why did you stop?" he mumbled against her mouth. He was kissing her wildly and attempting to touch her everywhere at once.
"Because of this," she whispered back. She pushed herself back until she felt his hardened penis pressing against her. She wiggled until she found exactly the right spot and lowered herself onto him.
"Holy lord!" he exclaimed as his eyes flew open. He grabbed her hips and guided her movements. Edith was in a bit of frenzy herself at trying out so many new things at once. His hands started roaming over her body as she pushed herself up to a more upright position on top of him. Her hands were playing over his chest and abdomen in random patterns. He had his eyes tightly squeezed shut and was fighting for control. He slid his thumb against her nub, while his other hand rubbed one nipple. It was all it took to push her over the edge. He let go as soon as he felt her body start to contract and came with her.
Edith curled herself forward onto Mark's chest being careful not to put too much weight on him. His arms were wrapped around her and he placed a kiss in her hair.
"Where did you? I mean. How? That was incredible," he finally managed to blurt out.
"I'm glad you liked it," Edith said as she snuggled against him for a minute. "Now I really do have to get some work done and I have a chapter to read for one of my courses. I best get to it."
"Not until you tell me where you learned to do that. I bloody more than liked it," Mark said.
"It's something I've been thinking about for a while, but was too embarrassed to try," she said snuggling her face into his chest in embarrassment. "Look at the time. I really have to go if I'm going to get anything done today."
Edith was gone in a few minutes. Mark lay back and thought about the events of the afternoon for a minute or two. His previous experience had been very limited. His first fiancée had seemed rather disinterested and wanted everything over as quickly possible and had only consented right before he left for the war. He had been frustrated beyond belief. Edith on the other hand had seemed to enjoy being with him but nothing had prepared him for what had just happened. He took the smelly liniment and rubbed it on his torso and legs. He was going to pay for the events of the day in sore muscles he was sure, but it was worth it.
"Where's Mark?" Mary asked the next day at dinner.
"He's gone to meet some incoming troops then to London. He'll be back in ten days or so," Edith replied.
"Oh. Whatever for?"
"He wanted to see some men he knows and obtain a new uniform for the wedding," Edith said pushing her food around on her plate.
Once everyone had retired for the evening Mary knocked on Edith's door and entered when she heard a faint, "Come in." Mary entered to see Edith hastily wiping her eyes and hiding her hanky in her vanity.
"What's wrong, Edith? You seem so down. Are you missing Mark?"
"That's part of it," Edith said.
"And what's the other part?" Mary was concerned, as she hadn't seen Edith this down since she had mourned Bill and didn't want her sister going through anything like that again in the near future.
"I'm just so worried. What if I get to his home and I'm not what he wanted. He's changed. He's more… I don't know how to describe it. He's so sure of himself. He's been exercising all the time. He hardly stops for meals."
"It sounds to me that his health is starting to come back at last. He was terribly ill when you first met him. You have to expect some changes."
"I suppose you're right."
"You haven't changed your mind have you?"
"No," Edith said suddenly looking aghast. "I would never change my mind. I just hope he doesn't wake up one day and regret that he married me."
"Have you told him this?" Mary questioned gently. "I hardly think he will regret marrying you after everything you've been through already. Try and get some rest he'll be back in a few days and all of this will seem like nothing."
"It's not nothing," Edith said. "Why does he want me, of all people? He could have anyone he wants."
"Obviously not anyone," Mary said. "He is quite attractive, but he's chosen you. Just talk to him when he returns and you will see all your worrying has been for nothing."
Edith tried to keep herself busy and keep her mind off Mark's absence. She thought he was being stubborn and pushing himself by going off for ten days on his own but he wouldn't listen.
"I can do the exercises just as well on my own as here," he had said. "I'll miss you, but your father and I need some distance. When I get back, we'll get married and the problem will be solved."
On the third morning of Mark's absence Edith arrived for breakfast to a solemn faced Lord Grantham and worried looks on her mother and sister's faces.
"What's happened," Edith said immediately.
"Now Edith, don't panic," her mother said. "Your father will make some calls and find out what he can."
"What is it? Tell me!" Edith could feel the panic building. It was almost two years to the day that she had received word of Bill's death.
"There was an accident at Bere Ferres. Nine soldiers from New Zealand that had just docked in Plymouth were killed on the tracks. More are in hospital. The were hit by the oncoming express train."
"Noooo!" Edith said. It was more wail than denial. Her face had turned whiter than linen and dropped into a chair. Her eyes were vacant and she was shaking like a leaf.
"We don't even know for sure if he was on the train," Mary said trying to comfort her. "Try not to jump to conclusions. Papa will make some calls and see what he can find out."
Edith allowed her mother and sister to lead her from the room. They got her back into her nightdress and into bed. Edith was shaking so hard, Mary rang for a hot water bottle and placed a shawl around her shoulders.
Lady Cora tried to insist Edith eat something but had no luck. That afternoon Lord Grantham came up to tell them he had not been able to find out anything and the names of the dead had not been released yet. He did find out another man had died in hospital bringing the death toll to ten.
Edith covered her face with her hands and began sobbing hysterically.
"Why did I listen? We would have been married by now. He would have never left. Why? Why? Why?"
"Edith you have to listen to me," Mary said. "We don't know anything for sure. Mark could walk through the front door any minute. You don't want him to see you like this."
"Every man I love dies," Edith wailed.
Lord Grantham went down to send the chauffeur for Dr. Clarkson. At the end of the second day there had still be no word from Mark and Lord Grantham had not been able to find out any news. Dr. Clarkson had prescribed a sleeping powder for Edith. She was refusing to eat and sat staring at the window watching the droplets or rain trickle down the glass.
"He's not at the hotel he is supposed to be staying at in London," Lord Grantham told Lady Cora. "He never checked in."
"Oh, Robert. You don't think?" Lady Cora replied.
"No, I don't. He'll show up and when he does I'll give him a piece of my mind."
"We have to do something," Lady Cora said later that day. "O'Brien get Lady Edith's clothing ready. We are taking her out."
"Where are we going to take her, Mama?" Mary asked.
"Away from here, away from her grief. I could just throttle that man for not sending a telegram to say he is alright."
"We don't know the circumstances. Perhaps there is something preventing him," Mary said.
Once Edith was dressed they went into Ripon. Edith was not talking or responding but did eat something at the teashop they went to.
Three days after the train accident the names of the dead were published in the paper. Mark's name was not among them. Edith came out of her reverie but remained despondent. She threw herself into her studies and barely spoke to anyone. She would not enter the library where the wedding gifts were displayed.
Mark had been gone nine days when a hired car pulled up to the door in the evening and the maids began carrying in packages. Mark came wandering in behind the maids and headed for the stairs. Lord Grantham came out of the library and confronted him the second he was informed that Major Goward had returned.
"Why didn't you send any word?" Lord Grantham demanded. "Edith has been worried sick. She thought the worst. We all did."
"Send word about what? I went and met some friends then went to London. Exactly what I said I was going to do."
"After the accident in Bere Ferres. We didn't hear from you. It's been all over the papers."
"Oh that! Quite frightful. Took forever to sort things out. Nothing worse than a battle field though."
"You didn't think to call or contact us that you were alright?"
"Why would I? I've been through at least a hundred battles and watched hundreds of men die. Why would this be any different?"
"Because this happened on home ground."
"It's all home ground to someone."
Edith had heard Mark's voice and came out on the landing. She tore down the stairs when she saw it was him and launched herself into his arms. She was sobbing so hard she couldn't speak. Mark was flabbergasted by the commotion his return was creating and hadn't been prepared to deal with a distraught Edith.
"How could you? How could you?" she was blubbering against his chest.
"How could I what? Edith, get ahold of yourself."
"There was no word and you weren't at your hotel."
"I changed hotels at the last moment. They were overbooked. I don't understand what all this commotion is about."
They were getting curious looks from the convalescing officers. Lord Grantham motioned for them to follow him into the library.
"Edith has been quite distraught when we had no word from you," Lord Grantham informed him. "You've put her in a difficult situation by not calling or sending word."
"I'm sorry, I didn't realize I was on such a short leash," Mark said.
"Is it too much to ask for you to extend my daughter some consideration," Lord Grantham snapped.
Edith was attempting to wipe her eyes and the building tension between the two men was threatening to set her off again. She had taken a seat on one of the sofas and was twisting her hanky between wiping away tears.
"I thought I was showing consideration by absenting myself from a difficult situation," Mark said. He moved to sit beside Edith and put an arm around her to rub her shoulder. He still didn't see what all the fuss was about, but she definitely needed a calming influence. "Perhaps I can speak to my fiancée alone."
"I'm not done with you, young man."
"I need to speak with Edith and you aren't helping matters," Mark snapped back.
"Stop it. Just stop it, both of you," Edith spit out and suddenly stood up. "Mark you've worried me terribly for nothing. It was inconsiderate and cruel. I'm going up to my room. I'll speak to you in the morning."
"Edith, stop this nonsense," Mark called after her. She kept walking and headed up the stairs.
"I suggest you go after her and make things right with my daughter," Lord Grantham said making the suggestion sound more like a command.
Mark turned back to look at Lord Gratham with a hostile look.
"I can't win for trying with you lot. What do you want from me?"
"Respect for my household, which you obviously lack!" Lord Grantham stated before he stormed out of the room.