"Are you sure this is a good idea?"
"It has to come out at some point, besides we have nothing to be ashamed of." Bertie confidently replied to Edith's question as they made their way to Hexam house and his waiting mother only a day after becoming engaged
"You could always just tell her and give her time to get used to it."
"And give her another chance to meddle? I'd rather just finish this business once and for all, you're going to be my wife and my mother needs to get used to it." Bertie intensely told her, Edith had never seen him so determined before and didn't want to admit she felt a bit nervous about the whole plan
"What did you tell her exactly?"
"That I was bringing a guest over and we had news for her, of course she started making assumptions about who it was, so it will be her own fault really."
"Remember what we talked about, I have no interest in a feud." Edith said worried that Bertie would always carry a chip on his shoulder
"I just hate knowing that she was responsible for us missing out on five months with each other, we could have been married by now."
"Well, we're together now and that's that. We'll be married soon enough and we can use this to make sure we never take each other for granted." Edith encouraged as she tightened her grip on his arm
"You're right, I'd never want to do that." Bertie agreed looking down at Edith with a smile
"Your mother will come around eventually. The quicker we can put this all behind us the better."
"She doesn't know how lucky she is to have you as a daughter-in-law." Bertie commented already proud of the way Edith was taking control of what would be her family
"Then we'll have to convince her, won't we?" Edith confidently stated as Hexam House came into sight and Bertie lead her up the large stairs
"Ready?" He asked before opening the door
"Yes." Edith answered before giving him a quick kiss
Bertie opened the door and was told by his butler that his mother was waiting for him in the library. He took Edith by the hand and lead her into the grand room
"Good afternoon, mother." Mrs. Pelham stood at the sound of her son's voice and caught sight of someone she hadn't expected to see ever again.
At first she stared at Edith a bit in shock and looking white as a ghost and only managed to say
"What is this?"
"I'm sure you remember Edith, Mother. We ran into each other the day and managed to sort things out between us. And I have some questions for you…" Bertie happily told her as he walked with Edith to sit on the couch across from her "…Please sit I hope to have a nice long conversation."
"So you went begging to her after all? Even after she brushed you off?" Mrs. Pelham defensively said to Bertie trying as long as she could to ignore Edith
"There is no use for that Mother, everything is out in the open now. You convincing Edith to break with me, the phone call, and I'm assuming the letters I wrote Edith found their way to a wastebasket?"
Mrs. Pelham refused to answer Bertie's allegation and only looked away acting like a petulant child
"Can't you say anything to defend yourself?" Bertie said with a certain edge to his voice
"Bertie…" Edith said trying to calm him then continuing, "…we'd just like to understand why you did all this. I think we can all learn to live with what happened but Bertie and I would both like at least an explanation." Edith said toward Mrs. Pelham hoping to take a more diplomatic route
"Since we all decided to air our dirty laundry then the fact of the matter is I don't think you could make my son a very good wife, and you some how bewitched him so I felt I had to step in for the good of everyone." Mrs. Pelham answered with a cold and accusatory tone that left Bertie frustrated
"What on earth would make you think that? First off I love Edith, secondly she's everything you could want for the Marchioness of Hexam, smart, refined, kind, responsible. And most importantly she loves me."
"It takes so much more than that, you can speak of love all you like but there is so much more that goes into a successful marriage." Mrs. Pelham snapped
"She's right Bertie. It takes patience and understanding and honesty, which I think we've done quite well at. And of course working together to overcome obstacles and remaining dedicated to each other which I think we proved to each other over the past few months."
"You're very confident, the last time we met the impression I got was that you weren't entirely sure you wanted to be married again." Mrs. Pelham challenged Edith as Bertie tensed up
"I might have been, but you conspiring to keep Bertie and I from each other made me realize how much I need to have him in my life and how much I want to be with him." Edith told her not afraid to defend her and Bertie's relationship
Mrs. Pelham had the defensive and peevish response that people usually adopt when the maneuvers they've tried to implement failed and tried to summon as much dignity as she could as she asked Bertie
"I suppose Lady Edith will organize a wedding quickly and I'll be soon on the street?"
"That might have been the case if Edith hadn't convinced me that I'd regret cutting you out and that it just wouldn't be the right thing to do. But yes we are planning to be married sooner rather than later." Bertie answered and took Edith's hand while giving her an encouraging smile
"Although I disagree with your opinion, I'm a mother as well so I do understand why you did it, you wanted to protect your son. I think we can put all this ugliness behind us and I earnestly hope you'll be a part of our lives." Edith sincerely told Mrs. Pelham looking her square in the face without flinching
Mrs. Pelham took a moment then, thinking about how despite the careful planning and intensity in which she tried to carry out her plan she still failed, and beginning to admit that the devotion the young couple had toward each other would be a benefit. And there was a possibility that Edith would make Bertie a good wife
"Bertie, I do realize that you're a grown man and you'll make your own choices and I may have... overstepped the mark a bit. But ultimately I wish you every happiness however you choose to pursue it."
"Thank you Mother, and I know you disagree right now, but I think in time you'll come to appreciate Edith and everything that she means to me." Bertie said that last bit while looking at Edith with a serene smile on his face
Mrs. Pelham couldn't help but notice that and it became very clear that she was no longer the most important woman in her son's life.
"If you'll excuse me, I have some letters to catch up on…I'm sure you both have much to discuss."
"I was wondering if you'd like to come to Downton sometime next month, Bertie and I aren't wanting a very grand affair but I know my mother would appreciate your input, and I would as well…" Edith trailed off as she looked to Bertie to add his opinion
"So would I. We would appreciate it very much." Bertie said with a hopeful smile
"Well I suppose I could manage to... Actually, I would like that very much." Mrs. Pelham said humbled by the couple's forgiveness and grace and a bit embarrassed by her actions in the past left the room with a grateful smile.
Edith and Bertie watched her leave then turned to each other
"I'm so proud of you Bertie, you're a good and decent man."
"And you'll never realize how proud I am of you."
AN; I got the impression a lot of you wanted Mrs. P sent to prison for everything she did but I liked Edith and Bertie taking the high road a bit more, I hope you all won't be too mad!