Edith was packing her things to return to Downton, she had just finished her lunch with Bertie but the two had planned a bit more time together before he took her to catch the late afternoon train, she was just finishing as she heard a light knock at her door and assumed it was Bertie becoming impatient with her
"Come in" Edith happily said and turned around to be surprised at Mrs. Pelham standing the in the doorway
"I hope I'm not disturbing."
"No, not at all I was just finishing up, and I'm meant to meet up with Bertie, he wants to show me the stables." Edith told her as a tense silence settled between the two of them, Mrs. Pelham was pleasant enough at dinner the other night and this morning but now she seemed tense and uncomfortable
"I'm afraid Bertie had to run to the estate manager so he's out at the moment, was everything satisfactory during your stay?" Mrs. Pelham asked out of politeness
"Yes, everything was wonderful. Thank you very much, is there something I can help you with?" Edith asked wanting to figure what exactly seemed to be troubling her
"Yes actually, do you mind if we sit?" Mrs. Pelham told her gesturing to a pair of chairs next to the fireplace
Edith nodded her agreement and took her place across from her
"Lady Edith, you and Bertie are quite involved with each other, let me know if I'm off the mark but things seem to be getting serious." Mrs. Pelham stated and paused for Edith's reaction
"Oh, um well yes you could say that." Edith was a bit caught off guard but she figured with him as an only child Bertie's mother would be a bit protective of him
"That's what I would like to talk to you about, you're both adults and can spend your time however you see fit but you have to realize anything more than, let's say a friendship will end poorly for both of you." Mrs. Pelham carefully and calmly said as Edith looked at her a bit shocked about how quickly the conversation had turned
"Mrs. Pelham I can't say I agree, I don't know what you think of me but I'm certainly not looking to take advantage of your son."
"I don't think that is your intention but you have to see if things go further Bertie will end up regretting it and only being unhappy. He's never been one to have the attentions of many women but now he has a well bred woman who has made a name for herself, for better or worse, in London society fawning over him at first as a job requirement and now he's interpreted it as something more."
"With all due respect you're making assumptions about Bertie and I that are not true. I care for him and we've had frank discussions about our relationship and we both know where we stand." Edith told trying not to let her emotions get the best of her
"I'd remind you that you've only known my son for not even half a year, I know him better than you ever could and I know that you could never really make him happy."
What Mrs. Pelham was saying was cutting to Edith's core and was something that was lurking at the back of mind ever since she started seeing Bertie, but all the honest conversations they've had popped into her mind and she felt the need to defend herself
"And why couldn't I? I can support and help him in his duties as Marquess, and…I love him and I have every reason to believe he loves me."
Mrs. Pelham gave her a cold look and continued in a stern voice
"You may think that now, but you're living in a fairy tale, Bertie will always be in your husband's shadow. You'll always have an idealized version of Sir Anthony, he was taken from you in the easiest part of your marriage, the early days when everything was blissful and he was cooing over your new baby. If you were to marry Bertie and you had to go through the ups and down of a long marriage you'd end up comparing the both of them, and in a way where Bertie could never win."
Edith became thoughtful then, Mrs. Pelham was telling her all the reservations she had were bound to come true, she saw that Edith was considering what she was saying so she continued
"Not to mention having your daughter around, a constant reminder of what was taken from you, who won your heart first. Edith if you love Bertie like you say you do you owe him a chance to make a life with someone who can love him wholly, you have to agree that he deserves that at least."
"Why are you so set against us?" Was the only thing Edith thought to say
Mrs. Pelham reached across to take Edith's hand in what was meant as a comforting gesture but only made Edith shrink from her touch
"My dear, I only want what is best, for the both of you. Bertie can find a woman he can make his wife and you have your daughter and your career and your life in London. You have that, don't give that all up to mope around a drafty castle regretting the choice you made at the height of emotion and sentimentality."
"This is all so-"
"You don't have to make any decisions now, but I know you'll think about it and make the right choice…" Mrs. Pelham interrupted a frustrated Edith and continued "…I think it's best if you leave now, I have a car waiting and you'll be able to make the early train that stops in Downton. I could tell you agreed with some of what I'm saying. You owe it to yourself and to him to have a serious think about it."
"I'd at least like to say goodbye to Bertie, I can't stand the thought of running out on him with out a word." Edith reasoned as everything Mrs. Pelham said to her was running through her mind
"He's still out and I think it's best that you give yourself some room to think about what we talked about, it looks like you've packed everything if we leave now you can make your train. The car is waiting."
Edith hated the idea of slipping out without a word, it seemed almost cowardly but Mrs. Pelham had given her a great deal to think about and all she wanted now was the familiarity of her own home and to spend time with the children to take her mind off all of this.
"Would you please tell him I'll write him?"
"Of course I will dear." Mrs. Pelham assured her as she began to help gather Edith's things
Mrs. Pelham watched Edith's car drive away from the front door before returning to Brancaster's great hall proud of herself that she managed to make the young woman see reason and get her out of the house without Bertie noticing.
"What are you up to Mother?" She saw Bertie exiting the library with a happy smile on his face
"Oh, there you are."
"I told you I was just in the library, Edith is getting her things ready so I took the opportunity to go over a few figures. I'd like to show her the stables she mentioned she used to ride as a child so I thought she might-"
"She left Bertie, a while ago." Mrs. Pelham interrupted to Bertie's concerned face
"What?! Why?!"
"Something having to do with her daughter, it sounded serious she was quite determined to get home."
"I should probably go-"
"I know what you're thinking and let her be, you'll be no help. She's a mother her only focus is on her child, you'll only distract her and make her more upset."
Bertie felt a rush of emotions, concern and anxiety for whatever Marigold and Edith seemed to be going through, guilt that Edith was here instead of at Downton during whatever happened, and sadness that Edith didn't bother to tell him she was leaving
"Maybe I could drive her to Downton in the car, it might be quicker."
"And risk getting in an accident, how would that make the Crawley's feel? The train left at this point anyway, she told me she would contact you when she could so don't go bothering her, you'll only annoy her."
Mrs. Pelham could see Bertie being convinced and felt proud of herself for completing the other part of her plan, keeping Bertie from making some desperate rush to her, all she had to hope for now was that Edith would write him a sufficiently vague letter making the right choice sooner rather than later.
"Lets just hope Marigold turns out to be all right. I'll be upstairs if you need me." Bertie somberly said as Mrs. Pelham triumphantly watched him walk up the stairs