Articles
Disclaimer: Downton Abbey would be a very different show, believe me, if I were the one in charge. Downton Abbey belongs to one Julian Fellowes.
Paring/ Character(s): Edith, Mary, and Cora Crawley, Anthony Strallan/ Edith Crawley
Eyes
"What on earth do you see in him, Edith? You seem to care a great deal about him and you both look happy together – I want in on your secret. I don't understand." Edith sighed heavily and tried to not roll her eyes. Her mother meant well, Edith told herself repeatedly, but sometimes her mother's concern made Edith feel worse rather than better.
"I know exactly what she sees – her only chance at marrying and not becoming some maiden aunt haunting this place the rest of her life." Cora's attempts at heart to hearts would be by far more successful if she stopped insisting Mary be included. Even with a sharp gasp of
"Mary!" Their mother could never truly curb her sister's tongue. Her attempts had always been feeble at best and now they felt like hollow gestures than anything else. But, Edith happily reminded herself, she would be married soon and spared this.
Thinking of Anthony brought her back to the topic at hand. The question still hanging in the air, sweetly ominous.
"I don't just care for him, Mother, I love him. If love him and he loves me that is it – our secret – our happiness – our whatever. It's not affection or 'dear feelings' but love."
"How can you love him – he's as dull as paint!"
"Mary!" Another hollow gasp. This time Edith did roll her eyes.
"And he's old!"
"Mary! Really!"
"Oh Mother, if Mary really wants to be so short sighted then she is allowed." Edith retorted. Yes, Anthony was older and his interests were something that Mary would find horribly dull (and unimportant – and she was wrong on both accounts). She didn't see his intelligence nor his compassion. She saw greying hair and pale blue eyes – if she saw him at all.
Edith saw that but she also saw so much more. When she looked into his eyes she saw light and she felt heat. He was the resolution of all her fruitless searching. He made her complete.