[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.