Edith stopped in at the Tea Room and after once again enjoying one of their delightful scones, was making her way toward the path home. She was walking by the rail station when an angry looking man came out. He stopped poor ole Mr. Molesley and asked for directions to Locksley. The old man looked at the angry man and hesitated. Edith, spying one of the Downton farm trucks, hurried toward it. Mr. Drake was just climbing in the cab and Edith climbed up and entered the other side. "Drop me at Locksley, please," she told Drake.

The farmer looked at her in surprise but didn't argue. The old truck rolled through the village and down the lane toward Locksley. Edith hoped she would arrive in time.

Drake had barely eased the truck to a stop when Edith hopped down and told him to go on after thanking him. Then hurriedly she ran to the door, knocking frantically. Mrs. Chetwood opened the door and had just opened her mouth to tell Edith that her brother wasn't there when his voice was heard from inside. "Please Amelia, let her in."

Edith pushed past Mrs. Chetwood and went straight to Anthony. "I came to warn you. There's a very angry looking man that just got off the train in the village. He is coming here looking for you."

"Looking for me?"

"Yes, I heard him speaking with old Mr. Molesley. He seems to think his wife is with you."

"Oh Anthony, not again," Amelia Chetwood scolded.

Anthony looked over Edith to his sister. "He's clearly confused, Amelia. I have no one here but you... and Miss Crawley, of course. When he arrives, please send him ..."

"Yes, I know; the library."

He turned to Edith and gave her half of a smile. "Care to join me in the library?"

Edith nodded eagerly and walked with him into the room. Looking around, she was impressed with walls filled with books. It wasn't as large as the library at Downton, but still, there were books everywhere. Anthony motioned for her to sit. He settled in a chair near the sofa she sat on. He gave her a quirky smile and asked," why did you come to warn me?" His expression was intense and very suspicious.

"What? I... I don't know except that he looked very angry and I thought... well, I was afraid he might hurt you."

His features softened and his eyes seemed to hint at the sparkle that she remembered from before. "You were afraid, for me?"

"Yes."

Just then they heard voiced in the front hall. Anthony glanced at the door and then back at Edith nervously. "I worry that you are here, that .."

The door flew open and the man from the train station burst into the room. "Where is she?" the man bellowed.

Anthony rose from his chair. "Who? And who are you?"

"You know who," the man barked.

"Sorry, but no, I don't."

"My wife, Laura Emerson. I know she was seeing you in London and she followed you here; she must have."

"I've met your wife, Mr. Emerson, at Susan Cartwright's party last summer. She was there with some friends."

"No, no... you were seeing her, I know. Sleeping with another man's wife; it's despicable. What sort of man does that, carries on with a married woman?"

"Mr. Emerson, I have not... carried on with your wife. As I said, I met her. It's true that I ... enjoy the company of different women but I never get entangled with a married one. I have too much respect for the institution. And I repeat, I have not seen your wife in months."

The man, Mr. Emerson, looked around frantically. His wild look made Edith nervous. Glancing between the two men, she stood and moved to Anthony. "Darling, what is he talking about? Who is this woman he is talking about? "

Anthony looked at her perplexed. "What?"

"Oh darling, since you aren't going to tell him, I suppose I will." She turned toward the crazy man. "Anthony and I have been together for weeks. I've seen nothing of your wife, sir. Perhaps she is with her friends?"

The man blinked stupidly. "You... you are with him?"

Edith hooked her arm through Anthony's and nodded. "Yes. We've known each other for a long time and... we met up again and, well... here we are."

The man looked from her to Anthony and let out a deep sigh. "I... I'm very sorry, Sir Anthony. Obviously I am mistaken. I'll leave you alone now."

"Right," Anthony said softly. "I hope you find your wife."

"Yes, thank you." Mr. Emerson turned and brushed by Amelia Chetwood in his haste to leave.

Anthony's eyes followed the man out the door and then quickly turned back to Edith. "Why did you do that?"

"What?" she asked.

"I'll leave you two to sort this," Amelia said quickly. She gave her brother a nod and her eyes pointing at Edith, she smiled before following Emerson out the door.

Anthony looked back down at Edith. "Why?"

"I told you, I was afraid he might hurt you."

"Yes, but... to tell him that we are together. Edith, you've put your reputation at risk. Your father will be furious."

"Only if he finds out. But even so, I'm glad I did it. Besides, it isn't as if you are the only man I've ever been seen with."

"What?" He seemed shocked.

"Yes, there have been many. Papa doesn't know, of course. I do know how to be discreet. But I'm afraid I'm just not ready for the obligatory marriage and traditional role for the daughter of an earl. "

Anthony frowned. "Many? Just how many?"

"Oh, I'm not certain. A dozen at least. Let's see, there was ... hmmm, let me think. Ah, yes, there was Joel, the architect. And then there was Ben, the doctor and Adam. He was in banking. And David, the broker, and the vet, Paul. , and ..."

"My, you do get around. Anyone famous on your list," he asked.

"Of course not. That would get back to Papa. But there was Ian at the BBC. Oh and Hugh. He's a lecturer at Oxford."

"Oxford? Surely not an Oxford chap?"

"Yes, Oxford." She looked up as if trying to recall. "William is a Naval officer and then there's Henry, a chef in London. There was the barrister, Robert. And then Greg. He's a freelance photographer. Oh and last month it was the pilot, Mark. He was rather sweet but they changed his schedule and now he's flying out of Manchester instead of Heathrow. "

Anthony stared at her skeptically. "I don't believe you."

Edith shrugged. "Well, it's true. But it doesn't matter. Besides, I don't believe everything we hear about you either. I'm sure your reputation is far worse than what you've actually done."

Anthony grimaced. "I'm afraid it is true, all true. I... since Maud, well... I just can't..."

Edith reached up and caressed his cheek. " It's alright Anthony. I know how much you loved her. I remember how you used to look at her. I used to wish a man would look at me that way some day."

"Used to? But you deserve that, to have someone who adores you."

Edith sighed dramatically and then smiled up at him. "Perhaps one day."

He was looking at her, his eyes studying her face, curious. "You saved me today from an irate husband, when in truth I didn't deserve it. I was with his wife last week."

"And now she's...?"

"I have no idea. I came here and she moved on. It's what I do Edith, move from place to place,"

"I know," she said confidently. far more confidently than she felt. And then it happened. He leaned down and kissed her, gently at first and then more deeply. The kiss left her wobbly and as he moved away, she felt chilled. "I'll have my driver take you home," he said. "It is getting late."

"Yes, thank you."

He kissed her again just before shuffling her out the door and into the waiting car. The tingling in her lips remained with her all the way back to Downton.

Robert was pacing in the Hall when she entered Downton. "Was that Strallan's car?" he demanded.

"Yes, Papa."

"Edith, I thought you understood. I thought I'd made myself clear. You are not to be around that man."

"Yes Papa. But he wasn't in the car. His driver gave me a ride home. That's all."

Robert frowned. "Really? You weren't at Locksley, taking up your aunt's crazy notions about the man?"

"I did stop in, yes. But... well, ask Aunt Rosamund; he won't see us. Apparently he won't see anyone. "

"Why the devil did you go there?"

"I...oh, well... on a whim really."

"There will be no more such whims. Do I make myself clear?" Robert fumed.

"Yes Papa. I understand."

"Good," he said, in effect declaring the matter closed. "I'll see you at dinner then." Edith watched him disappear up the stairs and then collapsed into a nearby chair, feeling as if all the joy of Anthony's kisses had been sucked out of her.

A moment later Thomas strolled through, heading for the hidden stairs to below. Seeing Edith, he detoured toward her. Bending low he spoke softly. "There's to be a dance in the village to bring in the new year."

Edith looked up. "Yes, I've heard."

"Might want to be there," he said softly.

"What?"

"He's going... something about his sister insisting that she wants a night out."

Edith smiled and then she opened her mouth as if to ask a question, but hesitated. "What?" Thomas asked. "I was just wondering how you know these things," Edith asked.

Thomas stood straighter. "I know a few people in the village and... one of the maids at Locksley."

Edith grinned. "No wonder," she chuckled. "Thank you, Thomas." He turned to continue his task when Edith called out, "why are you trying to help me?"

Thomas stopped and turned back around. "It's just... you don't seem happy. I've seen how they treat you and well, I just thought... maybe I can help."

Edith smiled at him again. She knew he probably had some ulterior motive, but it felt nice to feel like someone was on her side anyway. "Well thank you." He gave her a slight nod and then quickly disappeared through the hidden door.