Edith walked toward the park wondering how exactly things seemed to change so rapidly, just a few days ago Lizzie managed to convince her to come to her and Michael's party extending her trip by a day and this morning she had to make the call to Downton to tell them she'd be staying in London another day, she left out the reason being that she could meet Bertie.
She always thought it was a possibility to run in to him somewhere, she didn't really expect Michael's sitting room but there he was, and with a young lady it seemed. She had no idea how she would react if she saw him, she thought she handled it quite well thankfully and was relieved that Bertie suggested they meet to talk in private.
She, like him had a great deal of unfinished business regarding their relationship, she obviously got the message when he rejected her call but she still wanted to let him know that she had no ill feelings toward him. And he obviously wanted to tell her a few things, she wished he had been that eager for conversation five months ago but oh well.
Of course she was hurt when that happened, and it confused her, Bertie had always been so patient and understanding and suddenly he didn't even want to speak to her, but a part of her tried to understand it by rationalizing that she had pushed him too far, asked too much of him, and he finally had enough. She was doing well though, after a few days of crying she began to move on, focusing more on her writing, taking a page out of Mary's book and becoming more involved in the running of Locksley and even taking Marigold to see a fair in York, and they began the discussions of getting a kitty, pending Donk's approval of course.
She rounded the corner and wasn't surprised to see Bertie waiting for her at the fountain they always used to meet at. He was always so punctual.
"Hello there, sorry if I'm late." Edith greeted walking up to him
"Not at all, I was a bit early… Did you have a nice time at the party?" Bertie asked trying to avoid any awkward silences
"I did, Michael and Lizzie usually attract an interesting crowd although I didn't stay too late."
"I hope that didn't disappoint Mr. Napier" Bertie conversationally stated
"It's actually Viscount Branksome if we're being picky but don't worry Evelyn isn't like that, and he actually stayed a bit longer and told me he was planning on going to a club later." Edith told him
"He didn't escort you home?"
"No, he didn't and I assured him I'd be fine. And I did notice that you ended up leaving the young lady you came with unattended." Edith reminded him as she began to walk along the path with Bertie right beside her
"Ah, pot kettle black then. You're right, not my proudest moment." Bertie admitted
"I am happy for you though, I didn't speak with her but she seems like a charming young woman."
Bertie became a bit embarrassed then
"She is, but…I don't know if her charms are that effective on me if I'm quite honest, but she is a good person, overall."
"But not good enough to run off to dinner with?..." Edith quickly said, then immediately regretted "…I'm sorry that was tetchy of me."
"That was a lie, I wasn't going off to dinner with anyone. The fact is I couldn't be in the same room as you making polite conversation with someone else, especially when Viscount Branksome was there to cater to your every need. I'm sorry for lying but I just couldn't stay there."
To say Edith was surprised was an understatement, Bertie certainly seemed to have moved on from what she saw last night
"Bertie, I've told you Evelyn is just my friend and if you feel so strongly about another man being near me I wonder why you refused to take my telephone call five months ago?" Edith spat out what she had been holding in for so long
"What telephone call? Why didn't you answer any of my letters?!" Bertie shot right back stopping in the path to face Edith directly
"Letters?! I didn't get any letters and believe me I checked everyday for weeks, but I do remember one of your footmen telling me my calls wouldn't be accepted. Bertie you never even gave me a chance to fix what I did." Edith angrily told him
Bertie stared at her with a confused look on his face unable to comprehend that apparently everything he thought for the past few months was wrong
"Now hold on, Edith I never got a call from you, or anything and I was waiting for weeks to hear anything back."
"Do you think I'm lying? About this especially?" Edith haughtily asked
"No, I…When did this all happen?"
"The morning I sent the letter, I had a conversation with my father and realized that I was wrong and I went to call you straight away and was told to wait. Then he came back and told me that my calls would no longer be accepted." Edith explained becoming concerned at Bertie's lack of recollection
Bertie could only let out a noise of frustration and run his hands across his face
"I was out Edith, as soon as I read your letter I went out for a walk and didn't return for hours."
"Then why would your footman tell me that?"
"It wasn't him, it had to have been my mother because it certainly wasn't me. I don't think any of my staff would have told that to you without being ordered to. They all liked you very much."
A look of great hurt came across Edith's face and Bertie felt a rush of anger boil up thinking about the way his mother meddled in his affairs
"Are you sure Bertie?"
"I can't imagine another explanation, I was praying that I'd hear from you."
"You know she was the whole reason behind it?" Edith told him with a sad laugh and fighting a tear from spilling from her eye
"Behind what?"
"Me breaking with you, when I left Brancaster it was because she convinced me that I'd never be able to make you happy and you'd end up hating me. So I went back to Downton and I let her logic and my doubt convince me, but not even a full day after sending it I realized it was a mistake."
Bertie's heart sank listening to her realizing as much hurt as he felt she must have felt it twice as much, then another possibility dawned on him
"You never received a letter from me did you?"
"No, not one and I figured if my calls weren't accepted any letters would be returned unopened, so I wanted to spare myself the disappointment." Edith told him remembering the way she tried to block Bertie from her thoughts those first few weeks
"I can't believe I could have been so stupid…" Bertie angrily said to himself kicking at the rocks on the path startling a pair walking by "…I wrote you, many times but-"
"Your mother would collect the post for you?" Edith guessed as Bertie confirmed with a nod
"I don't think I've every been this angry with someone before." Bertie admitted
"I'm sure she thought she was doing what was best for you."
"Well she was wrong!..." Bertie snapped then continued "…Sorry, I know it's not your fault and you're probably just as angry as I am."
"I'm not pleased, and I'm more hurt than angry. Anger doesn't change the past after all." Edith sagely observed and Bertie was struck by her poise and common sense
"I'm very sorry this happened Edith. I hate knowing that you thought I was ignoring you so carelessly."
"I'm sorry too, I let someone else dictate what I thought about us when you were so patient and good to me, very cowardly on my part." Edith told him as she walked toward a small bench
"Don't say that, from what you said my mother convinced you that you wouldn't make me happy, so you did what you thought was in my best interest. That's not cowardly at all, I always thought you were very brave actually." Bertie admitted as he sat down next to her at a respectful but still intimate distance
"Thank you for that, you always found a way to find the best in anything, and still do apparently."
Bertie smiled at her in thanks and the two of them sat in silence for a moment trying to comprehend the truth behind what their lives had been the past few months
"I haven't stopped Edith." Bertie broke the silence and sat still with his hands hanging between his knees
"Stopped what?' Edith asked him knowing perfectly well what he meant but still needing him to say it
"Loving you. Wanting to be with you, I've tried to stop thinking about you but I couldn't. Nothing has changed for me." Bertie looked at her apprehensive but confident in knowing if she rejected him then at least everything was out in the open and nothing was left unsaid. If she didn't want him then he could move on as best he could knowing that he gave it one last shot
"When I tried to call you that morning do you know what I was going to say?..." Edith rhetorically asked him as Bertie gave her a soft smile "…I was going to say that I was sorry and I made a mistake. And that I love you and I was going to beg you to forgive me and take me back."
"Edith…" Bertie soothingly said as he helped wipe away a tear rolling down Edith's cheek
"So will you? I still did send that silly letter, your mother didn't fake all of it." Edith choked out
"Of course I will, I'd be a fool not to and for the record I think you can make me very happy." Bertie said moving closer to her and Edith took advantage by leaning in and giving him a long kiss
After they broke Bertie smiled at her again and said "Edith I know that you didn't want to rush into anything before, but I think by now we both know what we're in for."
"I agree" Edith said with a laugh at Bertie's practical assessment of their relationship
"Well then, will you marry me?" Bertie finally asked but before Edith could give an answer he interrupted her "Hold on, let me do it properly."
Bertie then got on one knee and took Edith's hand in his and asked again "Edith, will you make me the happiest man in the world and marry me."
"Yes, absolutely." Edith told him as she stoop up to wrap her arms around his neck
A/N; Thanks for all your positive reviews! I do feel kinda bad for making Mrs. Pelham such a villain I think she showed a lot of promise at the end of the Christmas special, but someone had to do it! I think I might have 2 or 3 chapters yet, can't let Mrs. P off the hook :)