Author's Note: Thank you all so much for the kind reviews. You're too wonderful. I simply wanted to do justice by my poor, abused Lady Edith and Sir Anthony. I don't know what they ever did to Julian Fellowes, but boy are they paying for it. Much more to come later so stick with me...

Happy reading!

Edith woke first to the sound of a light, summer rain against the windows. Her body felt tired and ached marvelously as she stretched and turned, and she knew without looking that it was still dark. A small moan escaped her as she shifted, and when she finally opened her eyes, an irrepressible grin stretched across her face. Beside her was her Anthony, mouth slightly open, head bent toward her on the thick pillow they'd shared, the sheets gathered around his waist but leaving his broad chest exposed. She watched the fall and rise of each deep, slow breath.

She'd dreamt this so many times before, but when the haze of sleep went and the morning sank in, she would realize her bed was empty and she was still alone. Edith watched his breathing for a long time, afraid that if she touched him he might fade away.

But then the memories flooded back; the feel of his rough, dry fingers as they ran up her side when he pulled her camisole over her head, the smell of mint and almond on his skin from his soap, the bitter taste of his aftershave, the feel of his breath against her ear as he whispered to her, the warmth of his long, muscular legs stretching along the inner span of hers…

The sudden ache in the pit of her stomach as she relived the moment was quickly becoming one of her favorite sensations. Not wanting to waste another minute sleeping, she leaned over him, brushing her lips against his a lightly as she could manage. When he didn't stir she pressed harder, and when that still didn't wake him, she bit his chin.

"I had no idea you had such a violent streak," he muttered without opening his eyes. His voice seemed alarmingly deep in the silence, and startled her momentarily. But his eyes pulled open and a languid smile appeared at the corner of his mouth, filling her again with warmth.

"If you don't care for my brand of violence you need only say so," she offered, leaning up on her elbows she could kiss him again, and again. She didn't bother keeping the sheet up to cover her. It puddled around the dip of her lower back.

"On the contrary," he laughed, pushing himself up to a sitting position so she could settle against him, under his arm. "How are you feeling this morning, Edith?"

He tried to keep his tone light, but Edith knew he was genuinely worried.

"Oh, I don't know," she sighed. "About as wonderful as I've ever felt in my life, I suppose."

"Well, we'll try to do better next time," he whispered, playing along.

And then the next time was better, though Edith had no idea it could be. And the next. When they finally talked themselves out of bed, the light peaking through the great wood shutters had turned a shade of deep blue, hinting they were almost out of time.

"I do regret I have to rush you home," he sighed, bending down to gather his cufflinks from the floor. "This night should have been followed by an exorbitant breakfast served in bed on our honeymoon."

"Don't you dare regret last night, it was perfect. And a week from today we will be married and then we never have to leave bed, unless…" her mind began to wander.

"Unless?" he pushed, setting his things on a chair and helping her with the buttons on her dress.

"Unless you occasionally care to take a bath with your wife, or perhaps enjoy a rather adventurous walk through the orchards at Locksley, or take a long drive down one of those deserted country roads…" her voice, dreamy and suggestive, trailed off as she turned to look sideways at Anthony. He suddenly seemed to be struggling with the last several buttons.

"To hell with your dress, you'll have to wear your coat anyway," he said huskily, kissing her still-exposed neck. "And if you're going to talk like that we're never going to get you home."

"I don't mind."

"Well you should. Wouldn't be much of a marriage if your father kills me before it's begun," he explained, separating from her reluctantly and carrying on with the business of getting dressed.

It was agreed Samson would drive them back to Grantham House, now before the sun was up and the world started to wake. "He's my oldest man, and incredibly loyal. The Spanish Inquisition couldn't get a word out of him," Anthony explained.

And soon they were parked outside the service entrance to the Crawley's home, watching fog roll over the wet sidewalks as the sun began to stretch over the rooftops of London.

"I hate to drop you off, but I'd hate even more to get you in trouble," Anthony said.

"You needn't explain. I bargained for this, remember? I only wish you didn't have to go."

"I'm going to take care of some things this morning, here in town. You should get some sleep, eat a giant meal, and I'll come to call shortly after luncheon, alright?"

Edith nodded, straightening Anthony's wildly mussed hair. They gave a chaste kiss goodbye, and just before Edith was going she turned to him. "Oh, and darling? Granny is coming for tea this afternoon so I might tell her our news. Should we include all the details?"

"Oh heavens," he muttered, looking truly afraid at the prospect of facing The Dowager Countess. Edith smiled empathetically at him at walked back to lean through the open door.

"You needn't be there if you don't want to be," she offered.

"Of course I'll be there. We do it together, right?"

"Very well," she sighed, visibly relieved. "See you this afternoon, then."

He watched as she moved up the walk to the back door, waiting until she waved a final goodbye before the car pulled away down the road.

Inside, Edith slipped off her shoes to make as little noise as possible and was just about to start up the back stair when someone cleared their throat behind her, making her nearly jump out of her skin.

Anna stepped out of the dark kitchen, small hands placed firmly on her hips.

"Anna, you scared me. What on earth are you doing up?"

"Oh, I thought I might get up obscenely early and pace the kitchen for an hour or two for my own benefit."

"I told you I'd be out late."

"You didn't tell me you'd be out early too," she admonished in a loud whisper. "Have you any idea what I thought? What could have happened?"

"I'm sorry. You needn't have worried. I wasn't in any danger."

"I wasn't talking about you—your parents would have killed me if they knew I helped you," Anna said. But her face melted into a crooked smile. "You look like the cat that got the canary. What on earth have you been up to?"

"You can't imagine," Edith gushed, glad she wasn't in too much trouble.

"Lady Edith, I'm a married woman. I suspect I can imagine exactly what you've been up to." Edith blushed furiously, but didn't try to hide her grin. "Go, upstairs. We'll get you a bath and a quick bite and then you can try to get some sleep before lunch," Anna demanded. She pointed one strict finger up the stairs and her Lady obeyed gladly.