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Happy New Year to all!
Once again it was Amelia Chetwood who met them at the door and once again there was an exchange of frosty words between Rosamund and her. This time apparently Sir Anthony had departed for York early that morning. He wasn't expected back until later in the evening. As the two Crawley women pulled away from the house, Edith glanced back and caught movement at one of the upstairs windows. Peering closer, she was able to make out the silhouette of the lord of the manor. Her suspicion was confirmed when he moved closer to the window, his eyes following their car as it turned away from the house and moved along the drive. Edith chose not to mention it to her aunt.
"Let's stop in the village," Rosamund said. "I don't want to return to Downton too early; Mama will know I was turned away again and I just cannot bear another one of her lectures."
It was obvious to Edith that her aunt was very upset and honestly, Edith wasn't ready to return home either. "Yes, we could have tea at the Tea Room. They serve the very best scones."
"Isn't that owned by Mrs. Patmore?"
"Yes, it is. Her niece runs it but Mrs. Patmore oversees everything, in between her duties at Downton. "
"Surely the scones served at Downton are equal in quality then?"
"Equal in quality... yes. But Granny doesn't care for anything other than simple scones with clotted cream or jam. At the Tea Room they add in other ingredients. Apparently Mrs. Patmore was reading about what Americans do, adding in fruits and nuts, or even at times cheeses or meats. She has created one that includes rosemary and other herbs that is delicious."
While at the Tea Room, Edith overheard some of the village women talking about an upcoming dance. Apparently it was to raise funds for some new project at the village school. Her mind turned to the possibility that Anthony would attend. Most likely not, she decided after some thought. If he wouldn't accept company at his home, he wouldn't seek it at the dance.
The ladies returned to Downton in good spirits, Rosamund already planning for another sortie against "the witch of Locksley" as she was now calling Mrs. Chetwood.
"And how was tea at Locksley?" Granny asked that night over dinner.
Edith blanched but Rosamund responded quickly. "We had a very nice tea. "
All eyes turned to Edith for confirmation. "Yes, it was," she said hesitantly, silently berating her aunt for putting her in such an awkward situation.
"Mrs. Chetwood didn't interfere again?" Granny pressed.
"She did," Rosamund huffed. The woman is an absolute witch. How she can be related to Anthony is beyond me; they are so very different. He's such a gentlemen, would never think of behaving in that manner. Honestly, if they didn't look so much alike I'd think she was a foundling that the family took in out of pity."
"She's just trying to protect him," Edith said quietly. "He is still in such pain."
"He told you this?" Robert asked, appalled at the thought of his childhood friend burdening his daughter with such heavy emotions.
"No. But all one has to do is look into his eyes. He's not himself, even though it has been several years since his loss. I think he wants to connect again with the people here but he can't get past his grief. It's as if he's not only lost his wife and child, he's lost his whole life."
"And you were able to discern this over a cup of tea?" Granny asked worriedly.
"All one has to do, Granny, is look at him; really look at him," Edith replied.
"Well, I suppose I can understand that," Robert said as he gazed across the table at Cora. "I know I would be lost without your mother and to lose any of you children would be the final blow." Then turning his gaze toward his middle daughter again, he added," but I meant it when I said I do not want you around him, Edith. In his present state, Anthony is dangerous. Not that I believe he'd be violent with you but ... well, with the reputation he has acquired over the last few years... please, just stay away from him."
Edith didn't answer her father but tucked her head as if in acquiescence. She had no intention of staying away from Anthony, not when she knew that under that reputation the gentleman was still there.
Rosamund did not attempt another visit to Locksley the next day but went with Mary into Ripon instead. Edith was relieved since it gave her a chance to contemplate Sir Anthony without her aunt's influence. She visited the small newspaper office in the village. It wasn't much of a paper of course, issued only as a weekly, but it often had local news of interest that wouldn't appear in the larger papers, not even the one in York. Determined to research everything she could about Anthony Strallan, she spent the afternoon in their archive, flipping through their digital records, and finally sifting through the more recent papers that hadn't yet been included in the digital archive.
There was nothing recent, of course. She skipped back forty years and began to move forward with her search. At first there was little about Anthony and not much more about his parents. There was an announcement of sorts when he was accepted to Cambridge and a few small stories about his father's participation in a few local events. She found a picture of a garden party at Downton that included a picture of her grandfather with SIr Phillip. It was easy to see where Sir Anthony's looks came from. Sir Phillip had been a tall, handsome man as well.
Continuing to browse through the papers, she came across a picture of Anthony wearing a Cambridge jersey. "My god, the man was gorgeous," she whispered as she drank in the photo.
Flipping further, she came across the announcement of his marriage. The picture of the new couple nearly took her breath away. The way he was looking at his bride, it was so full of admiration. She felt her life would be complete if someone would look at her like that. How lucky Maud Strallan had been, to have been so adored.
It seemed the Strallans led a quiet life at Locksley. Other than an occasional mention, there was little in the paper about them. They attended a party here or a charity event there but there was nothing more until her obituary appeared in the paper. Edith remembered the details, their trip to London and the bomb that took so many lives. And even though she had been young at the time, she could still remember the broken man that returned. With a sigh, Edith gave up her search at the paper office. Her research would have to involve the man himself.
