Apologies for the delay. I've had Covid over Christmas and, Hell's Bells, it isn't as easy to throw off at my age.

...

Edith, Lady Strallan, woke rather late on the day after her wedding. Sunlight gushed through the tall windows bathing the beautiful room with gold that matched the new ring on her finger.

She was alone.

She had not seen or heard her husband after they had arrived at Loxley, but then it had been very late when they got there … almost dawn … and she had been exhausted. She was sure that he must have been exhausted too, since he'd driven two hundred and thirty miles in a single night. Considering this, she now fully understood why the Prince of Wales refused to race Sir Anthony on the London to Brighton run!

But, she thought, after a soothing bath, and a bit of breakfast (or rather, looking at the clock, by the time she went downstairs it would be luncheon ), she would be able to find Anthony and, perhaps, away from all the sniping gossips and meddling relations in London, they could rekindle those loving, lovely days around the time of his proposal.

Anthony had not been exaggerating when he said Loxley was beautiful. Edith was quite captivated by its simple, endearing charm as she found her way to the morning room. Almost immediately, Stewart was beside her.

"Good morning, my lady. I trust your ladyship slept well?"

"Good morning, Stewart. I slept well enough after that journey. How is Sir Anthony after driving all that way?"

"In good spirits, my lady. He is well used to driving such distances between London, Richmond, and here. Would you care to take a little luncheon? I'm afraid that we waited for you to rise before preparing anything."

"I'm very happy to eat whenever Sir Anthony feels like eating."

"Sir Anthony took his breakfast some hours ago, and it is not his habit to return for luncheon when he is out at the tenant farms. He will be back at around seven o'clock to be in time for dinner at eight."

Edith was stunned. Their first day as a married couple, and her husband was checking up on his estate? That seemed so very cold, even by Anthony's recent behaviour.

What have I done to deserve this?

…

The carriages bearing Robert, Earl of Grantham, and all his family and in-laws turned into the long drive at Downton Abbey a week after Edith had arrived at Loxley. Once they were all disembarked and settled with the luggage born inside and the servants happy with all arrangements once more, Cora sent a runner with a message to Sir Anthony's house.

Darling Edith,

Your father and I, along with your sisters and brothers-in-law, have come to Downton to let Matthew and Tom inspect the estate.

I recognise and respect that you are on your honeymoon, my darling, but if you would like to see us you would be very welcome at any time. I am so proud of you, and I want to support you in your marriage as much as I can, and as much as you will allow me to.

Your loving Mama

In the time between the day of Edith's wedding and arriving at Downton, Cora had had a chance to think over the events of the past few months. She had been completely enthusiastic when Matthew and Mary had announced their engagement. It had been a wish come true that her eldest daughter would marry the heir apparent to her husband's title and, one day, succeed her as Countess of Grantham. She had been less keen on Sybil's choice of beau. Tom Branson was definitely dashing and brave, she'd conceded. He was a member of the League of the Scarlet Pimpernel after all and had assisted in their rescue. Sybil and he seemed to be truly devoted to one another, but despite having good prospects, he had nothing definite to offer right now. That had changed, of course, with Anthony's financial backing and Tom's absorption into the 'family business' as a sort of apprentice agent. Now, she admitted to herself, she was as well-disposed to Captain Branson as she was to Mr Crawley.

Comparing her actions regarding the nuptials of her other two daughters, she was ashamed to admit to herself that she had been prejudiced against Edith. She had acted out of lingering humiliation that Edith had betrayed Mary and therefore all the family into the hands of the French fanatics, and almost caused their deaths. She still didn't really understand why Edith had done it, despite Edith's protestations that she did not mean any violence to be caused to anyone, least of all Mary. Cora had to admit to herself that what she had done in telling Sir Anthony the family's worst secrets came from a place of fear: fear that Edith would do something like that again, and that perhaps when she did, it would involve Sir Anthony in a similar danger or scandal, and if that happened, then one of the richest and most powerful men in England would, most likely, turn against the Crawleys, and Cora would not blame him. But in their present precarious financial position, it would probably mean utter ruin for the whole Crawley family and the entire estate.

As she waited to hear if Edith was minded to speak to her, or to any member of the family, Cora tried to tell herself that she had spoken to Anthony with the best intentions to protect the Crawley name and dynasty. But another voice accused her of betraying the daughter she had all but neglected in the previous twenty years. That voice became louder as the hours passed.

…

Anthony had gone out onto the estate after only a couple of hours' sleep. He did not think that he could bear to be in the house when Edith woke. As he strode around his ancestral estate in stout boots and plain brown tweeds, indistinguishable from any of his tenants farmers, he was fighting an accusing voice in his head that he had actually done Edith a greater hurt by marrying her than if he had allowed Cora to call the wedding off when she suggested it. If they had parted ways then, Edith might have suffered from a further round of spiteful gossip from society, but Edith, he knew, cared very little for what the wagging tongues at Court said and did; certainly much less than her mother did. At least she would still be free should a more acceptable suitor appear.

Instead, all Anthony had done was to imprison one of the most beautiful and accomplished women in Europe in a marriage where her husband, against all his own desires, had to ignore her and her wishes, to deprive her of the companionship of a spouse that he knew Edith craved as much as he, and to condemn her in this sham til death did them part.

He scoffed lightly to himself. At least that last part might happen more quickly than Edith might be expecting. It was, surely, merely a matter of time before one of his missions took him to a place where he engaged in battle a member of the French militia who could actually shoot straight. Then Edith would not only be free to marry again, but an exceptionally rich widow. He took some comfort from that thought. It didn't wash away his guilt.

In the meanwhile, he had several farms to visit today, farms that contributed to that wealth. He had a job to do, and he was so glad that he could be distracted by concentrating on doing it well.

…

A week later

"Edith!"

It was such a relief and a delight to Lady Strallan that Sybil was the first one to greet her. She was sorely in need of some comfort, and Sybil was really the only Crawley willing and able to provide it for her.

One of the hall boys had spotted the fine coach heading up the long Downton drive. He had run to inform Mr Carson who had identified it from the Strallan crest on its door. It was a really magnificent carriage, with high wheels and clearly solidly built pulled by six black horses, with two footmen perched on the back, and a driver and postillion at the front. After some panic and rushed gathering of staff, Carson ordered them in a line in front of the house with as many of the family as could be found.

The carriage drew up, one of the footmen jumped down to open the door, and Lady Strallan, by herself, emerged in front of her childhood home. It was not how she had expected to return.

Only Sybil and Tom could be tracked down at the time when Edith arrived, so Sybil took full advantage of being the most senior member of the Family present and rushed forward to greet her sister.

"Edith! Oh, I'm so glad you could find the time to visit us!"

Edith could've cried then and there since she had nothing but time. She certainly didn't have any of the more usual demands upon her that she imagined most brides did. But now wasn't the time to express her frustration.

"It's only been a week since I saw you last, Sybil! But I am very glad to see you too. And you Tom. How's the, er, 'training' going!?"

"As long as I go out onto the estate with Robert with both of us unarmed, nothing awful happens!" he confided.

As Edith and Sybil chuckled at Tom's dry humour, they acknowledged the staff as they passed by into the house.

They didn't have much time to themselves before Lady Grantham swept into the Drawing Room, followed quickly by Mary and Matthew. Sybil enjoyed talking to Edith and partaking in the conversation asking her about Loxley.

"How many rooms does it have?" Sybil asked, her eyes sparkling.

"I think about forty-five. I didn't count when Anthony gave me the tour."

Sybil sniggered at that in a most unladylike manner. To cover her uncouthness, Mary asked "And how it was decorated? Is there much to do?"

"It's rather beautiful, actually; surprisingly so."

"I think it must've last been done in Anthony's parents' time" added Cora. "They had passed on before I came to England, but I do remember that whenever anyone talked of them there was a sadness. People didn't want to mention them. Then Anthony, when he came of age, went to seek his fortune in the East, and for ten years or more, Loxley was closed up."

"And find his fortune he did!" Sybil tried to steer the discussion back to less morbid waters. "What a carriage! Edith, it's magnificent!"

"It is rather" Edith bowed her head, embarrassed, but it gave her a moment to gather her thoughts around what she had actually come to Downton to ask. "When are you returning to London?"

"As soon as humanly possible" muttered Tom, though only Edith and Sybil heard it.

"At the end of the week, why?" asked Cora.

"Anthony has to return to Town tomorrow, but he insists that I stay to acquaint myself with Loxley. I, well, I wondered if I might travel with you? I'm not begging a lift: I will have that carriage out there to share, because Anthony is taking his gig. I just would like to join your group, if I may."

Her voice had gradually become fainter as her family became more discomfited as they realised that there was something terribly wrong with a marriage that started with the bride and groom returning from the honeymoon separately.

You might remember that some time ago I said that I had taken a copy of EVERY SINGLE ANDITH STORY ON FF (at that time), in order to keep them safe in case of accident.

I have been trying to find a secure way of sharing that archive with you, and, at last, (thanks to a certain granddaughter), I can now do that. There is a link to my Google Drive in the Andith Tea Party Forum, under the thread entitled 'Looking for a fic that was on here'.

I know that not all of the stories have transferred happily onto the InterWeb, so if you find one that is gobbledygook, just let me know and I will try to do something about it.

Lastly, if an author sees their work in this (albeit private) cache, I will happily remove it should they wish it.

Enjoy!