Month: February 2015

Edith: Episode 6 – Abstract Art to the Discerning Eye

DSC04404Edith continues to stay by her dear dying Luna’s side, day after day, week after week, month after month. Every time the doctors come to pay a visit, they note that Luna is quite a fighter, but that only three to four weeks remain (still). The bakery is neglected, so Edith and Luna are earning no income. The bills are piling-up, and despite cutting coupons, buying generic brand goods, and ordering Luna’s prescription medicines from Canada, Edith is barely able to put food on the table, let alone afford the lifestyle to which Marigold has become accustom (a lifestyle that is required to find a suitable suitor).

Edith’s resentment toward Luna is mounting. She knows that she owes her life to Luna – forever in debt for stealing Luna’s husband.

On the other hand, was it Edith’s fault that Luna was falsely institutionalized? No.

Was it Edith’s fault that Luna’s husband fell in love with Edith? No!

Now Edith feels like Luna has ruined her life long enough! Day in and day out, Edith is torn between guilt, repentance, resentment, remorse, and mostly: self-pity.

In the midst of the darkness there are beacons of light. Edith, Luna, and Marigold are often visited by Rascal and other friends from the soup kitchen. Edith taught many of the soup kitchen patrons to read, so they enjoy taking turns reading to Luna. The subject matter of the reading materials varies.

Prince Kurigan also visits frequently for a game of cards or backgammon, but most often, when he visits he brings his canvasses and paints in a delightful array of colors. He paints what he calls “abstract” art. To Edith, they look like blocks, squiggles, and splatters that any child could create, but Prince Kurigan explains that they are mostly portraits of people – Edith, Luna, and Marigold (and other family members, he whispers so only Edith can hear – for Marigold knows Kurigan only as a friendly vagrant from the soup kitchen, not as her great-grandfather). Just for a fleeting moment, Edith thinks she recognizes a glimmer of her grandmother, the Dowager Countess, on a canvas, but Prince Kurigan jovially explains that it is a picture of a still-life of a bowl of fruit.

When Prince Kurigan is not selling his paintings on the streets, he stores them in Edith’s small apartment. When a painting sells, he generously shares the proceeds with Edith. He is becoming a popular abstract portrait artist, selling at least one piece a week and at a price far more than Edith could comprehend. With the proceeds, she is able to make ends meet and have a little extra to spare for precious Marigold.

One day Edith sees Kurigan on the street corner, trying to sell his paintings. On that same corner, she also sees her cousin Rose with her friends, encouraging them to purchase a very trendy piece of the Prince’s work. Edith hides behind some crates as she hears Rose exclaim with delight, “The artist is a Russian Prince!”

But the now-humble Prince Kurigan pleads, “That is no longer who I am. I am the artist formerly known as Prince. Now, I am simply Kurigan.”

Marigold avoids telling her mother that she met her Aunt Rosamund, for with Luna’s impending death, Rosamund and Marigold agree that they should wait to re-introduce Aunt Rosamund into Edith’s life at a less emotional time. However, as Luna lingers on and on and on, they can delay no longer. The day has arrived when Marigold brings Rosamund to visit Edith. Because Rosamund is a refined and culturally astute lady, when she enters Edith’s apartment, she is astounded by the beauty and sheer number of abstract portraits of her family members. She recognizes them immediately. There is Robert. There is Sybbie. There is dear Isis. And so many of her mother, the Dowager Countess. Finally, her eyes find a canvas bearing two red squiggly lines, a royal-blue asymmetrical polygon, and a splattering of orange and purple paint: a canvas that portrays her, Rosamund– it is unmistakable – a portrait of her as a young child. It is so lifelike in an abstract way; it could have been a selfie.

Rosamund is mesmerized. It takes her a minute or two to remember the reason she came. She gently embraces Edith. Edith puts on a good act – assuring her Aunt Rosamund that she is fine and that things are going well. Edith pleads with Aunt Rosamund to keep the secret – not to tell Edith’s family that she has found her. However, Rosamund insists that Edith’s mother and father must be told that Edith has been found and that she is safe and happy. But Edith is desperate to keep her family from finding out about Marigold, and that Edith was an adulteress. For Edith rightly assumes that her sister Mary would delight in that news. Oh, the gloating!!! It would simply be unbearable! Edith was crafting a plan to stop Rosamund from telling her family when Lady Luck looks her way: Rosamund returns her attention to the artwork and sees an easel and paint box leaning in the corner of the room. Rosamund asks Edith if she has painted the extraordinary portraits. Edith explains that the artist is Prince Kurigan.

Utterly astonished, Rosamund asks “Prince Kurigan? Does he paint here? Does he know who you are?”

Edith explains that Prince Kurigan knows everything and has agreed to keep her secret. Edith does not dare betray Kurigan’s trust by disclosing the fact that Robert and Rosamund do not share the same father.

Edith can tell that Rosamund’s clever brain is busy at work. “Edith,” Rosamund tests her theory, “Mother and Prince Kurigan are quite close. Do you think he told her?”

That had never occurred to Edith; however, she recalls the Prince saying that he and her Grandmama kept no secrets. “I suppose he did. Wait! That means: if she knows and has refrained from telling the family, then you too, Rosamund, have no obligation to tell my family!”

Rosamund shared Edith’s logic. However, before she can agree to keep Edith’s secret hidden away, she must confirm that her mother does, in fact, know and is keeping the secret. Edith reluctantly agrees, knowing that is the best she can hope for. Rosamund leaves the following morning to visit her mother at Downton Abbey and to find out just how much the Dowager Countess knows about Edith and Marigold.

 

Edith: Episode 5 – The Locket

DSC04342Just when everything seemed to be working out in Edith’s favor, tragedy struck. Luna’s coughs increased in frequency and decibel. She became very ill. In a matter of weeks, her body grew frail and listless. Doctors came and went, but none had been able to help her. It was her heart; the burdens that she had to bear weighed too heavily on her. Her heart could bear it no more. The prognosis was not good. Three weeks left; maybe four. When Edith wasn’t working in the bakery, she was by her best friend’s side, reading to her, feeding her, tending to her every need. Marigold helped out more with the bakery, but in Luna’s absence, the quality suffered and the bakery’s reputation was sullied.

One evening, while Edith was attempting to knit a tea cosy, Luna said in a raspy voice, “Edith my dear, I want to give you something. And with all the energy she could muster, Luna held-out the locket that she always wore around her neck. It had the words “Best Friends” engraved on it.

“Edith, my sweet friend, you have been a best friend to me. This locket is my most cherished possession. One bright, sunny day in London, my husband and I stopped into a fashionable new jewelry store simply called ‘Claire’s,’ where we bought matching lockets – matching, except one was engraved ‘Best Friends’ and the other was engraved ‘Forever.’ I kept the Best Friends locket and my lovey kept the one that read ‘Forever.’ When I was imprisoned at the lunatic asylum, as a cruel joke my sister-in-law delivered the Forever locket to me – to make me believe that her brother loved me no more. Well, when they took my son away from me, a sweet, young nurse agreed that she would make sure that my son would be given the ‘Forever’ locket, for inside it were portraits of his father and of me on our wedding day. Now I give my locket to you, so if you ever find a young man with a ‘Forever’ locket holding matching pictures, you will know that you have found my son. Please tell him that I loved him with all my heart and I never wanted to give him up.” She gasped for air and gently closed her eyes. So much talking had taken its toll. Luna needed rest.

“Yes. Yes of course,” promised Edith. Carefully, she opened the locket. On the left side, she saw a picture of a beautiful bride, glowing as though it were the happiest day of her life. What she saw on the right side made her gasp. It was impossible, she thought. It was a picture of a younger Michael Gregson – her lover and Marigold’s father. Breathless, she clasped the locket to her heaving bosom.

Edith remembered her vow to take vengeance on the woman who stole Luna’s husband, long before she learned that she, herself, was that woman. She was indeed perplexed. She seriously thought Michael’s wife was a nut case and institutionalized in earnest. How could she have known otherwise!?! Nonetheless, she must give her life for Luna, as an act of repentance. Edith vowed to never leave Luna’s side for the short remainder of Luna’s life.

Meanwhile, on the other side of town, Rosamund’s doorbell rang, and the butler ushered in a stylish young lady. The guest introduced herself as Fiona, a friend of Marigold’s. “Is Marigold in?” Fiona asked. “I was just in the neighborhood and thought I would drop by. We’re having tea this afternoon with some friends at Café du Monde and I thought we could go together.”

The unexpected guest (with the unexpected inquiry), gave Rosamund quite a start, but do you know, that old Rosamund was so smart and so slick, that she thought up a lie and she thought it up quick.

“Why my sweet little child,” the stylish Rosamund lied, “I’m Marigold’s guest, and my train just arrived. She’s at flute lessons now, then going directly to tea. She’ll have tea with you, then dinner with me.”

And her fib fooled the child. Then she adjusted her hat, she got her a drink, and what after that?

“Oh, you must come with me to the tea!” Fiona squealed with delight. “Marigold will be pleasantly surprised to see you. I know I’m right.”

“Indeed,” agreed Rosamund.

On their way to the tea room, Fiona described the spectacular tea hosted by Marigold just weeks earlier. “It would have been lovely if you had been able to attend!”

Rosamund smiled.

When Rosamund and Fiona found Marigold and Colonia in the tea room, Fiona gleefully announced, “Marigold! Look who I found!”

Marigold did not recognize the extravagantly dressed lady, but she did recognize the look the lady gave her. It said, “Just play along with it. Your secret’s safe with me.”

Marigold rose to greet the mystery guest, who clasped her in a warm embrace. Fiona, unable to hold back her excitement, announced to the group at the table, “This is Marigold’s Great Aunt Rosamund, visiting from Somerset!”

After an appropriate amount of small talk, Rosamund excused herself to visit the ladies lounge and gave Marigold a glance that said she should do the same. Once both ladies were in the ladies room, they checked to make sure the loos were empty. Then the curious Marigold asked, “Who are you?”

“I am your Great Aunt Rosamund, Marigold. Your mother is my dear niece – I haven’t seen her for years,” Rosamund gently replied. “And you were just a small child when I last saw you. You have grown into a fine young lady – a clever young lady. I’m proud of you. Now let’s go back to the table. After tea, you must accompany me to my home, and tell me all about your mother.” Just before opening the bathroom door, she turned back to Marigold. “And I hope you enjoyed hosting your tea in my home,” Rosamund said with raised eyebrows and pursed lips that quickly curled into a soft smile. Marigold blushed.

Edith: Episode 4 – Tea at Marigold’s Splendid Home

DSC04285

With the bakery business growing strong, Edith and Marigold moved into a modest, but more suitable apartment. Marigold, now 15 years old, was becoming quite a socialite. Edith insisted that Marigold never tell anyone that her mother was the famous cake baker. Instead, they fabricated a story that Marigold’s father died in the war (as a war hero) and her aristocrat French mother died of the fever in India. It was a common story; no one ever questioned it. Like a mystery, Marigold seemed to simply appear at debutant parties, then quietly disappear. No one knew where she lived, and no one cared. . . . until:

One day in her school’s gothic library, Colonia and Fiona, two of Marigold’s best socialite friends, mentioned softly that Marigold had never hosted tea or a dinner party, and that they had never seen her home – which they imagined was splendid. Like a fox with the hounds lapping at its heels, Marigold made a near fatal mistake. With a bright smile, she whispered, “It IS rather splendid! You must come for tea! I’ll arrange it with my guardian, and it will be delightful!”

She ran home – through the pouring rain – into her mother’s arms.

“Oh Mother!” she cried. “I don’t know what I’m going to do! I’ve promised the girls that I would host tea at my splendid home! I know you work hard for what little we have, but when they see this modest apartment, I’ll be ruined! You must help me!”

Since Edith left Downton Abbey and had to survive by her wits, she grew wiser and more cunning. She held her damp daughter close. Softly patting Marigold’s back, Edith gave her comfort with these words: “Don’t worry my precious angel. Mother will take care of everything. You’ll be fine. Now go change into some dry clothes.” For Edith remembered that her Aunt Rosamund always hid her house key under her doormat. It was simple: all she had to do was find out when Aunt Rosamund would be out of town!

Not more than 3 days after the incident in the library, Edith read in the social papers that Lady Rosamund Painswick was on the guest list of a steeplechase in Plymouth in 2 weeks. Not much time to plan, but Edith had no choice. Marigold would soon host her first tea!

Edith wasted no time. Ed and Lu’s Bakery would provide the scones and petit fours; Mrs. Child’s had a collection of herbal teas; and Rascal, Miss Emilia, Gertrude, and Clyde – all friends from the soup kitchen – would serve as Butler, Lady’s Maid, housemaid, and First Footman. It was decided that Luna would act as Marigold’s guardian because Edith could not afford to be seen. She would remain in Rosamund’s kitchen.

Formal invitations were sent to Colonia, Fiona and seven other young socialites.

The soup kitchen patrons were more than willing to help out their friend, whom they lovingly called Lady Scruffy. Also, they liked the idea of wearing fancy service clothes. Although the service clothes were gently used and were not sized quite right, they were the finest apparel these characters had ever donned. Clyde proudly waved with his white-gloved hands, while Miss Emilia lifted her skirt to curtsey. After a quick lesson in etiquette and servant roles, the delighted and finely clad company set-off for Rosamund’s to set-up for Marigold’s first tea.

What Edith and her crew didn’t realize as they journeyed to Rosamund’s, was that Rosamund, bored with yet another steeplechase, decided to return to London that afternoon! When she arrived at the train station in Plymouth, she found the northeast bound train departing for London. She was pleased that she would be home just before tea time and would invite her friend, Camellia, to join her for tea at her home. She loathed tea service on the trains; the scones were quite rubbery.

Her porter gently coughed before he loaded her two trunks into the baggage car. “Yes?” asked Rosamund.

“Untied Train Lines now charges 25 shillings for each checked bag, M’Lady,” the porter explained.

“What? That’s outrageous! Isn’t it enough what I pay for the ticket?? This is highway robbery!” she exclaimed loudly. Other passengers discretely nodded in agreement. “I didn’t have to pay for my trunks when I travelled from London to Plymouth, did I?” She asked accusingly.

“That’s correct, M’Lady. That’s because, when you travel southwest, your checked bags are free.”

Under duress, she handed over 50 shillings to the Untied Train Lines representative.

Meanwhile, back in London, Marigold and her staff arrived at Rosemund’s. “I’m so glad my wealthy friend agreed to let us host the tea at her house,” Edith lied as she carefully lifted the doormat, expecting to find the key. It was not there! In a panic, Edith looked under rocks and in the shrubbery, mumbling “no, no, it must be here! Somewhere!” Good ole Rascal – an expert at finding keys (by profession)- found it tucked under the window shutter. There was a collective gasp when they walked into Rosamund’s home. The opulence was something to behold. None of the soup kitchen gang had ever seen any room quite as breathtakingly beautiful and stylish. After recovering from the initial shock, the clan lifted the elegant gold rimmed plates from the cupboards and set the table for the tea. Because they didn’t have a proper measuring stick, they had to eyeball the distances for the place settings. Everything looked in order; the guests would be arriving soon. Edith was quite pleased with herself.

Just about that time, Rosamund’s train pulled into the London station. She exited the train and waited on the platform for her porter. Where could he be? She was anxious to visit Camellia and invite her to tea. She was surprise when the porter arrived empty-handed. “I’m afraid, M’Lady,” he said, “that Untied Train Lines has lost your luggage. They will deliver it to your house later today.”

“But it’s a train! How could they possibly lose my luggage?” She marched off to the customer service window and demanded a return of the 50 shillings checked-baggage fee and a free drink voucher. The Untied Train Lines representative returned the 50 shillings, but reminded Rosamund that she always travelled in the first class car and was served free drinks anyway. Rosamund sighed in contempt and departed for Camellia’s.

Back at Rosamund’s, the guests began to arrive. The young ladies were giddy over the stylish home décor. There were a few awkward moments when Rascal and Clyde committed blunders in serving the tea, but nothing that couldn’t be chalked-up to the slacker attitude of the younger generation in these modern times. Luna had a bit of a cough and had to excuse herself from the room to recover momentarily.

The girls’ conversation eventually came around to the most fashionable hairdresser of the day: Thibaut Enchanté! Colonia surprised everyone when she said he wasn’t French! The chatter suddenly ceased and all eyes turned toward Colonia. She explained that she left Thibaut’s salon without her umbrella, and when she went back to fetch it, she overheard him talking in the most ordinary cockney accent – he was just a regular bloke! She told her mother, who advised “Never let him know you know. He does such a fabulous haircut, if his feelings are hurt and he refuses to cut hair, the world will have lost the best hair-stylist of our time!”

Meanwhile, in a posh neighborhood, Camellia welcomed Rosamund and agreed that Rosamund simply could not continue wearing travel clothes, so the two set-off for the posh fashion boutiques. Within minutes, Rosamund walked out of the Cache boutique wearing an extravagantly beaded dress, wrapped in a delicate fringe-trimmed shawl, and sporting a miniature hat sprouting pheasant feathers. Because the Cache boutique was next to Starstruck’s Tea Room, they decided to enjoy tea there, rather than trek over to Rosamund’s.

Marigold said farewell to her guests, who all complimented her on a delightful tea. It was a success! When the last guest departed, Marigold shut and locked the door, and the crew began their clean-up duty. Although Miss Emilia picked up a porcelain and gold filigree snuff box to get a closer look, she carefully replaced it exactly where she found it. When the clean-up was complete, everything was as it was when they arrived. Surprisingly, neither the staff nor a guest carefully slid a trinket into a pocket.

Just when the exhausted crew was ready to leave, they heard a noise on the front stoop. Rascal carefully peered through the window. “It’s a red-headed lady with bird feathers on her head. She’s looking for the key under the shutter!”

“Oh dear,” sighed Edith, “It’s Rosamund.”

“Then I should unlock the door and let her in?” concluded Rascal.

“No!” said Edith in an emphatic whisper. “She doesn’t know we’re here.”

Panic fell on the faces of the motley crew. “We’ll be thrown in the big house if we’re caught,” Miss Emilia quietly sobbed, while Luna tried to stifle her cough.

Rascal observed, “She’s heading to the back of the house! Now’s our chance to escape.”

The trespassers quietly unlocked the front door, exited, re-locked the front door, hid the key back under the shutter, and quickly sped down the sidewalk. As soon as they turned the corner, they stopped to catch their breathes, while Luna had a coughing fit. Edith apologized profusely for lying about having permission to use the house. Edith explained that the owner was an old friend, and Edith was sure she would not turn them over to the police. However, it was just best that her friend not know about the tea. The soup-kitchen bunch loved Lady Scruffy and were quick to forgive her. Besides, it was a fun adventure.

{Note to Southwest Airlines:  I was not paid for this product placement.  However, I would welcome some compensation.  If not cash, the I would appreciate a free drink voucher as I can’t afford to fly first class.}

Teaser – A Murderer in Their Midst

Anna is arrested for Mr. Green’s murder.  Her husband Bates takes the blame to spare her innocent life.  Thomas confides in Baxter that he knew Mr. Green attacked Anna, but he didn’t actually “have his way with her.”  The reason Mr. Green attacked Anna is because he was spurned by his true love:  Thomas.  Mr. Green was angry, and it was his attempt to go straight.  Thomas felt bad about Anna, so he went to London under the pretext of re-kindling a love affair with Mr. Green.  However, his real intent was to poison Mr. Green – enough to make Mr. Green pass out so he could write an inappropriate tattoo across his chest.   Thomas shared this plan with Baxter, in confidence – or so he thought.  Daisy overheard it.  Daisy tells the police and Baxter confirms.  Thomas admits trying to poison Mr. Green but pleads that it wasn’t enough poison to kill him, just to make him groggy and stumble – he didn’t mean to kill him.  Just as the police start to arrest Thomas for murder, Mrs. Hughes steps forward and says that she pushed Mr. Green out in front of the cart and would do it again if she had the chance.  Carson tries to take the blame for her, but she scolds him – which makes him respect and pine for her even more.

Edith: Episode 3 – Marigold’s Christmas Surprise

DSCF0003

One cold December day, Edith and Luna decided to bring a lovely red velvet layer cake – rather than their standard bread – to the soup kitchen.  When they arrived, they were greeted by the kitchen nutritionist, Mrs. Childs, who firmly told them that the kitchen’s clientele didn’t need sweets – they needed nutritious foods with anti-oxidants, such acai berries and quinoa.  Edith rolled her eyes, “Please, let them eat cake.”

A lively vagrant called Rascal started chanting “We want cake! We want cake!” Then the whole dingy dining room joined in, chanting in unison “We want cake! We want cake!” Before things got really out of control, Mrs. Childs relented.  The crowd cheered and the patrons enjoyed a piece of the delectable treat.

As Edith was serving the cake, her gaze fell upon a familiar face.  She quickly averted her glance, hoping to avoid discovery.  The man, a former Russian prince sporting a white beard, whispered, “I would recognize you anywhere.  Your image is etched on my heart . . . Edith.”  Edith was grossed-out, but she was more worried about being returned to her aristocratic family.  “Please don’t tell them you found me!” she pleaded.

“Your secret is safe with me,” Prince Kurigan promised.

“How can I know that can I trust you?” questioned Edith.

He gently replied, “Because I shall tell you a secret of a certain indiscretion that you must likewise vow to take with you to the grave.”

“Yes. Tell me.”

“One summer day, at twilight,” he began, “I heard an angel’s song.  Your grandmother thought no one was listening – but I was.  And I was besotted with her.  When she turned and saw me, she blushed.  I walked over to her, reached out for her, and held her in a passionate embrace.   Our attraction to each other was undeniable and unstoppable.  That song forever changed my life  . . . and hers.  Unlike your situation, Violet was married, so she was able to hide her secret by pretending that the child was her husband’s.  But that was only a lie fabricated to allow her to appear to live the life of a good wife and mother, without reproach.  You see, Robert – your father – is my son.  You, Edith, are my grand- daughter.”

“It can’t be.  Papa was born before you and Grandma-ma met,” Edith said with an air of confusion.

“The meeting in Russia was our second meeting.  I first met Violet years earlier with I was visiting London.  She arranged the subsequent trip to Russia – the extravagant holiday – as a pretext to meet again and to allow me to see my son.  Violet has a warm heart, but she keeps it locked away.  Very few ever get a glimpse at it.”

“Indeed,” agreed Edith.  “I have felt the warmth from her heart.”

“I know.  She told me about Marigold.”

“Ohhh,” Edith said angrily.  “Everything?”

“Yes,” Prince Kurigan answered.  “Although our love for each other is a secret to the world, there are no secrets between us.  We are one.”

Edith’s expression softened and she hugged her grandfather like a great big teddy bear.

The Prince lowered his eyes and quietly asked, “May I see her?  Your Marigold?  My great-grand-daughter?”

Edith’s eyes filled with tears.  “Yes, but she must never know you are her great-grand-father.  You’re just a kind, jolly old man from the soup kitchen.  We’ll be home tonight at 8:00.”

She laid a small note bearing her address in his hand.  He gently clasped his giant hand on hers.  “Thank you.”

As Edith walked away, she turned back to Prince Kurigan for a moment.  “Why did you come here tonight?  Isn’t Rose’s refugee hovel still available to you?”

“Yes, but the food there is bland and predictable.  Word on the street is that this soup kitchen serves a meal that is good for the body as well as the soul.  I can’t say I disagree.  Mrs. Childs is quiet the chef,” he said patting his tummy.

Later that evening, Edith suggested that Marigold should don her prettiest smock.  Something fit for a princess.  “For tonight we shall have a very special visitor.”

Marigold loved surprises and was not disappointed when the Prince entered the room with a twinkle in his eye.  “Father Christmas!” Marigold exclaimed, rushing into his arms.

“Yes,” Edith smiled. “Yes.  Father Christmas indeed.”

 

Edith: Episode 2 – Greater than Sisterly Love

DSC04278Edith and Luna grew closer day by day. Arm in arm, Luna and Edith strolled through the wintry streets of London, admiring the Christmas decorations in the shop widows. Luna turned to Edith and said, “Sweet Edith, you are like a sister to me.” Edith, however, remembering the torture her sister meted out on her, explained that while she felt an unbreakable bond – some deep connection – with Luna, it was not of the sisterly sort from her perspective. One night, after finishing the wedding cake for one of the biggest weddings of the year, Luna and Edith relaxed in Edith’s apartment – enjoying a Pimm’s Cup for old times’ sake. After Edith tucked Marigold into bed. Edith made another round of Pimm’s Cups. Being a bit tipsy, Luna gingerly approached the precipice of the past. “So Edith, darling, how did you come to ruin and despair?” Edith, embarrassed and unwilling to be humiliated by her dearest friend, lied “I was happily married to a member of the landed gentry. Because he was an Earl, he was given the rank of General in the War, but was not allowed to be on the front lines. His love for his country and countryman overtook his good senses and he enlisted as a soldier under a false name, so he could fight for his country on the front lines. He was shot down by a sniper, but because he enlisted under the false name, no one believed that he was my noble husband, so I did not receive the widow’s stipend. Furthermore, because my husband left his general’s apparel in an old barn where he changed into the soldier’s garb, it appeared to the army that my husband had abandoned the fight. As such, they labeled him a coward and confiscated all of our assets.” As Edith wove this intricate tale, her face was solidly stoic. She did not shed a tear. True love is blind, and Edith nearly believed the story herself.

After yet another round of Pimm’s Cups, Edith bravely asked Luna to share her sorrowful story. Luna truthfully recounted how she married her true love against the strong opposition of his mother and sisters. It was a love that could withstand anything. Or so they thought. When she became pregnant with his child, her in-laws became irate. They secreted her away to a lunatic asylum and let her husband – who did not even know she was carrying his child, his heir – believe that she had abandon him for greener pastures. Eventually his mother and sisters fabricated a story that she was found in a brothel howling like a jackal and had turned into a crazed animal. So long as her in-laws paid a premium for her treatment at the lunatic asylum, the asylum administrators when along with the evil scheme. After her son was born, they took him and gave him up for adoption. She never even got to hold her precious child.

Even though her treatment prohibited her from seeing guests, she had channels to receive news from the outside. With a forlorn look, she told Edith, “I got word that nearly did drive me mad. My sweet husband had taken a lover. And the worst part: he truly loved her! I was in despair. I knew I could never regain his love and affection.” As irony was typically lost on Edith, she tried to comfort Luna. “What a wicked woman she must have been. That’s perfectly dreadful. To have a floozy steal your husband while you’re innocently locked away in an insane asylum! It’s a disgrace.” As Edith gently rocked a sobbing Luna in her arms, she vowed to herself, “If I ever discover the woman who destroyed my best friend, I will exact complete vengeance.”

Back at the bakery, Ed and Lu’s was prospering. Occasionally, Marigold tried to help with the baking, but she just didn’t have the knack for it. Edith and Luna were modern and understood that criticizing the young Marigold (now 8 years old) would damage her self-esteem. So they were careful to secretly discard any of the cakes she made, before anyone lost a tooth. Despite their success in business, Edith and Luna did not forget their less fortunate days, nor their less fortunate friends. Every week, they would stop by the soup kitchen with several loaves of freshly baked bread. Their old ragged friends would gather around as Edith would read stories to them – mainly about unicorns and magical pieces of jewelry.

Edith: Episode 1- Edith Learns to Bake a Cake

DSCF0009

[The alternative storyline for Edith begins after Season 5; Episode 6 – when Edith and Marigold arrive in a modest apartment in London.]

As soon as Edith and Marigold were settled in their small, but comfortable apartment in London, Edith was prepared to get on with her life without her unloving family, the Crawleys, to constantly remind her that she was a Loser. Edith was determined to honor the legacy of her late lover by turning his quaint publishing house into a media empire that would make the young Rupert Murdock green with envy. “That will show Mary that I’m not one to be trifled with!” she thought as her lips curled into a sly grin.

So Edith called a reputable nanny service to find someone to care for her precious Marigold during office hours. The service offered a highly recommended Miss Mary Poppins, but the name “Mary” would be a constant reminder of her evil elder sister, so she requested a different nanny. “Ophelia Gingerwart” seemed ideal. When Edith opened the door to greet Ophelia, she expected to see a properly aged, matronly nanny. Instead, she laid her eyes upon a young, spritely woman with a tidy, strawberry-blond hairdo. To her horror, Ophelia bore too strong a resemblance to Mrs. Shore! Marigold’s foster mother. Edith could bear it no more and sent Ophelia away with only a home-made scone in lieu of a day’s wages. At that moment, Edith realized that she could never leave Marigold’s side, even if it meant giving-up her cherished dream of sticking it to her sister Mary. Her sole purpose in life was to give Marigold something that was forever eluding Edith: a proper marriage. Meanwhile, Ophelia tried to take a bite out of the scone on her way back to her boarding house, in the pouring rain. The scone was terribly hard; it was all she could do to suck on it until it softened into something semi-edible.

Edith quickly sold the publishing house for a song, to a young Mr. Murdock. She also cleverly changed her name to Edith Hamgrant – to avoid being found by her estranged family. Little did she know that they stopped searching for her after an intense search lasting two full exhausting hours. In their defense, it was tea-time and someone has to maintain decency and decorum lest society fall into utter ruin and misery.

Throughout the years Edith sacrificed everything for Marigold. While Marigold wore the finest frocks and accessories, attended the best schools, and graced the best social events, Edith remained behind the scenes, wearing homemade sackcloth dresses. Because Edith’s seamstress skills were equal to her cooking skills, Edith’s attire looked even more ill-fitting than one would expect. With a loving and gentle heart, Edith taught her precious Marigold proper manners and how to flirt (using techniques used by Edith’s sister Mary). Marigold was on a primrose path to a becoming a highly sought-after bride.

While Marigold attended school, Edith frequented a soup kitchen. The food was free and better than anything she could cook-up herself. Edith looked as shabby as the other soup kitchen patrons, but you could tell by the way she held her fork and daintily placed a piece of mutton in her mouth that she was no ordinary street riff-raff. At first she was mocked by the other patrons who called her “Lady Scruffy,” but when she brought in a book and read to them, they all came to adore her and eagerly await her visit to the soup kitchen. She willingly adopted the nickname Lady Scruffy, as a name of endearment. After several months of being a regular as the soup kitchen, she noticed a new patron: a woman similarly dressed in shabby clothes, but similarly well-mannered. Curious, Edith casually slid into the bench across the table from the mystery lady. The lady said eagerly, “I’ve noticed you too.” Edith said, “I haven’t many friends, other than this rabble of putrid-breathed, ill-smelling, unkempt street people here. Perhaps we could be friends?” The mystery lady smiled, “I would be delighted to be your friend if you would have me as yours! My name is Luna.” Edith replied, “Luna, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.” The two met for lunch every weekday, taking care to avoid conversations that might bring back memories of their long-forgotten past when they enjoyed being members of the elite establishment. One day while they were eating lunch, Luna sighed and savored a tasty scone. “This scone is delicious, but not quite as good as the scones I bake.”

Edith had a brilliant idea. “Oh Luna, I make terrible scones – hard as a rock. They are not fit for sewer rats. Would you show me how to make scones properly?” Of course Luna agreed. “The secret is lard,” she whispered with a giggle. “Indeed?” smiled Edith. The two ladies went off together to Luna’s apartment. Not only did Edith learn to bake scones, but she also learned to make cakes of all sorts, including elaborate wedding cakes.

Edith and Luna opened a small bakery that grew in reputation and customers. All of the finest families engaged Ed and Lu’s Bakery for their wedding cakes. Edith dreamt of the day when she would bake a wedding cake for her precious Marigold.