Chapter One: A Gift for Lady Edith
1920
Strallan shifted his weight nervously on the balls of his feet as he waited at the front door of Downton. In his right hand he was carrying a cardboard box filled with random documents. In his left was a leash, attached to the leash was a German Shepard.
"What do you think?" Strallan said looking down at the dog, "Should I go for it?"
The dog did nothing to show interest and only stared at the door in anticipation.
"Glad we had this talk" Strallan continued as if he got a response, "I feel a lot better knowing that you're with me. It's comforting, especially with Lady Edith…but I already told you about her, right?"
The dog could only look up towards Strallan, its face struck with that goofy grin that dogs often appear to give, a grin that is both reassuring and a bit confusing at the same time, for humans can never know exactly what a dog is thinking.
Mr. Carson, the butler, answered the door. He only got it part of the way open when he saw the Shepard sitting next to Strallan, smiling its annoyingly happy grin and tail that wagged occasionally.
"Good morning Sir Anthony" Carson said in his usual demeanor, "Pray tell, what exactly is that?"
Strallan, completely oblivious to what Carson was talking about, only shrugged and stepped forward as if it were nothing only to be stopped by Carson and the door.
"That" Carson explained gesturing towards the dog, "What is that?"
Strallan looked at Carson as if he were mentally insane, to him it was obvious that it was a dog and so he found the question to be ridiculous.
"Haven't you ever seen a dog before Mr. Carson?" Strallan asked, a bit of surprise in his voice
Carson huffed, to say that he was offended was an understatement.
"Are you daft man?" Carson replied, "Of course I know what it is, it's a bloody dog! What I want to know is what in the devil is it doing on the front porch!"
Strallan laughed and shook his head at this, for now he understood the situation and Carson's behavior at the same time. Strallan, it should be noted, did not understand basic social customs, in short, he was socially awkward in almost every sense of the word.
"Forgive me" Strallan apologized, "I should have explained. This is Archibald. He's a gift for Lady Edith…to smooth things over. I hope you don't mind."
Carson rolled his eyes, for this was the last thing, the absolute last thing that Lord Grantham needed to be bothered with. But still, in an attempt to be somewhat hospitable, Carson stepped aside allowing them to enter.
"I trust that Archibald is properly housebroken" Carson began, mostly to ease himself than anything else.
Strallan nodded, "Oh most definitely, in fact, it's my understanding that Lord Grantham already has a dog."
Carson growled underneath his breath, "Yes indeed he does" he replied rather coldly, "And if you ask me one is more than enough in this house. Especially considering that Archibald is a male of the species."
Strallan raised his eyebrows curiously, "What does that have to do with anything?"
Carson shook his head pitifully, he was in complete disbelief that someone of Strallan's stature could be so stupid when it came to such matters.
"The last thing that His Lordship would want would be his dog having relations with a mongrel, and a German one at that."
Strallan, resisting to correct Carson on his use of the word mongrel, gently knelled down and patted Archibald's back in an attempt to comfort him. The dog paid no mind, and if he did he didn't seem to voice much in way of opinion, for the moment keeping to himself.
"Come on chap cheer up" Strallan whispered, "Carson's an old fool. You'll come to like him soon enough. Now, be a good dog and show him what you can do."
Archibald did nothing. Carson only walked away, wanting nothing more than to end the madness that had begun. When Carson was well out of the room, Archibald turned towards Strallan and extended his paw for a handshake.
"You are perhaps the saddest person I've ever met" Archibald said to himself, "Here you are talking to me like an idiot. Now stop worrying about me and what I've got to do. You worry about Edith, I'll handle Isis. That's the plan remember? Get close to the family, steal the money and get out before anyone's the wiser. You do the talking, I do the doing. We do this right and we might get laid in the process."
Strallan, who nodded in understanding despite the fact that he was completely oblivious to what Archibald was saying, stood up and leash and box in hand made his way towards the drawing room, the most likely place for the family to be at mid-afternoon.
Robert was sitting at his desk trying not to think. All throughout the morning he had been receiving calls from the village, most of them desperate pleas for help, food and sometimes lodging. Unfortunately His Lordship could only do so much. He felt nothing but shame, for the more people called, the more he would have to deny them, forcing people who lived on the land for generations to pack up and leave, it was easily the saddest day he ever had of being an Earl.
Two nights before the village suffered a terrible fire. Most of the homes were destroyed, those that weren't were either badly damaged or serving as temporary lodging for the lucky ones who managed to persuade owners to let them stay. Isobel Crawley was one such person, her house being the only one that wasn't directly affected by the fire, only suffering minor anesthetic damage.
Strallan walked in the drawing room as if he owned the place-without introduction, head held uncomfortably high and a stride that came from his lower region. In short, he looked completely ridiculous.
Matthew, who was also in the room, was sitting on the couch going over estate papers. Across from her was Mary. At the moment Mary was trying, and desperately failing, to comfort a crying Edith.
"I'll never see him again" Edith declared, "He was the only thing that made me happy."
Mary shook her head annoyingly, for she knew that Edith was being over-dramatic for the sake of being over-dramatic.
"Come on Edith" Mary replied, "It can't be as bad as all that. Beside he was way too old for you."
Strallan cleared his throat, altering every one of his presence. Robert stood up as carefully as he could and extended his hand in greeting. Edith and Mary also stood, both of them saying nothing. Matthew remained unfazed, too engrossed in his papers to notice Strallan's entrance.
"Anthony" Robert said as he put on his best face, "Please come in, good to see you."
Strallan nodded and took Robert's hand before turning to Edith. Archibald meanwhile, raised his right paw to Robert's leg, causing the Earl to look down.
"What's this?" Robert asked
Strallan rolled his eyes jokingly, he was beginning to question everyone's intelligence-first it was Carson and now Robert.
"You must be joking" Strallan replied, "Don't tell me you've never seen a dog before! I thought you had one of your own."
Robert shook his head, for it was obvious that Strallan took his response too literally, nevertheless he thought it appropriate to answer.
"I do" Robert continued, "But what is it doing here?"
Strallan laughed and shook his head, forgetting himself and the company he was in for the moment.
"He's a gift for Lady Edith" Strallan explained, "I hope you don't mind Robert, but I thought it would make things easier."
Edith was in tears at this prospect, wanting nothing to do with Strallan and anything he offered her. Her heart was torn in two pieces, one that tried to hold onto the love that she once had, and the other full of hate for being jilted. Mary, in a surprising act of kindness, turned towards Strallan and without so much as a warning slapped him as hard as she could in the face.
"Mary was that for?" Robert said, just as surprised and confused as Strallan was for the sudden break of character.
"He deserves much more that than for what he did to Edith" Mary exclaimed, her voice cold and unforgiving, "He should consider himself lucky that slapping was all that was done."
Matthew, startled by the slap, stood up and faced the company.
"What's going on?" Matthew asked inquisitively, "Did I miss something?"
Robert nodded and gently patted his son-in-law on the shoulder, secretly wishing that he had his ignorance on the matter.
"Trust me" Robert declared, "You don't want to know. Best leave it to the women."
Matthew shrugged as Robert made his way out of the room, heading for the dining room for luncheon. As Matthew made his way to greet Strallan, Archibald wrapped the leash around Matthew's legs, stopping him in his tracks.
"Hello" Matthew said as he looked down at the dog, "Who's this?"
Strallan smiled, secretly delighted that Matthew was the only one thus far that referred to Archibald as a Who instead of an It.
"That's Archibald" Strallan said for the third time, "A gift for Lady Edith."
Archibald was secretly getting annoyed with the repetitiveness, he hoped that no more explanations had to be given for his presence. He would be wrong of course, but still it was a nice thought and one worth having.
Matthew smiled as he knelt down to pet the dog and unraveled himself. While Matthew was doing this, Archibald stuck his snout into Matthew's back pocket and pulled out a gold watch, carefully sliding it across the room, resting against a bookcase. Matthew, in response, turned around sharply, having felt the dog's nose, by the time he did the deed was done, Archibald staring back at him as if nothing happened.
"Curious fellow isn't he?" Matthew said with a subtle laugh as he stepped out of the leash.
"Yes" Strallan said in agreement, "But he's harmless. Trained by yours truly."
Archibald couldn't help but laugh to himself, for Strallan's statement was a drastic understatement.
Mary and Edith were just about to tell Strallan off when Thomas Barrow, Carson's underling, walked into the room.
"Luncheon is ready milady" Thomas declared, "Shall I tell Jimmy to set a place for Sir Anthony?"
Mary turned towards Edith, who only looked down, shame and grief overtaking her body for a few moments.
"Mr. Strallan is not welcome here" Mary replied, "Will you please show him out?"
Strallan held out his hand in peace, his face calm and collected.
"Please I beg of you" Strallan pleaded, "Give me a chance to prove my sincerity. If nothing else let us all part as friends."
Matthew felt out of place somehow, his engrossment in estate affairs rendering him oblivious to the situation. To avoid embarrassing himself, Matthew made his way out of the drawing room heading to the luncheon. Archibald, curiosity getting the better of him, moved towards his master and casually whined, begging to be set free of the leash. Strallan ignored him, for he was too busy talking to Mary and Edith.
"He's right" Edith said as she wiped away bitter tears, "If we must part, we should do it on the best of terms."
Edith turned to Thomas.
"Have James set a place for Strallan, be sure to sit him next to Tom."
Thomas only nodded and hurried out of the room. Edith, Mary, Strallan, and Archibald by default, walked out of the room, heading for the dining room.
"I trust that we can all get along" Strallan continued, more for the sake of himself than anything else, "I simply hate conflict."
"Keep talking like you are Strallan and they'll get suspicious" Archibald thought to himself, "If you can just shut your trap for a few goddamn minutes maybe we can get down to business?"
They entered the drawing room. Robert, Matthew, Tom, Isobel, Cora, Sybil, and Violet were already seated. Upon Mary and Edith's entrance, everyone at the table stood respectfully, waiting until they were properly seated until they resumed their places.
"Or we could do this" Archibald continued sarcastically in his head, "Who says we're in a rush anyway? Might as well enjoy ourselves while we're here."
Robert turned towards Strallan glaringly
"Must you bring that dog in here?" he asked annoyingly
"Why?" Strallan asked, a bit confused, "He's not hurting anything. Besides he's good company for me."
Robert shook his head, he liked Strallan and respected him a great deal, but some matters he was unrelentingly strict on, and having animals in the dining room during meals was one such thing.
"I'm sorry Strallan" Robert said as he wiped his mouth despite not touching his food, "But it's simply not proper."
Robert motioned for Jimmy, who was attending the meal, to come forward.
"Yes Lord Grantham?" Jimmy said as he approached.
"Take Strallan's dog downstairs, see if one the maids can deal with it" Robert commanded.
Jimmy raised his eyebrows confusingly, for downstairs seemed an odd place for Archibald to be, in his mind the obvious place was upstairs in the master bedroom, where Isis normally was during the day.
"Are you sure that's a good idea sir?" Jimmy replied, forgetting his place for a moment, "I mean the downstairs is such a busy place, what with the dinner preparations and then there's the village picnic coming up-"
Jimmy was interrupted by Cora, her voice sudden and sharp in nature.
"James" Cora exclaimed, her voice a little louder than usual, "I believe His Lordship gave you an order. I expect you to follow it."
Jimmy nodded and immediately turned to Robert, he was about to apologize when he glanced towards Cora, whose glare told him to simply take the dog and fulfill Robert's request without hesitation. Jimmy nodded again and took the leash from Strallan, leading Archibald downstairs to the kitchen.
As soon as Jimmy left, Alfred, the first footman, who was quietly attending the other side of the table, moved over to cover for Jimmy. Slowly, and rather uncomfortably, conversation ensued. Robert and Matthew taking the head with talk of the village.
"Does anyone know how it happened?" Robert began, asking the question that he had been asking for the past few days.
Matthew shrugged and shook his head, "There's still no word from the investigators. Either they found something and they're not saying or there's nothing to find."
Isobel, as if right on cue, jumped into the conversation.
"I can't help but feel for all those people" Isobel exclaimed rather sadly, "One minute they're sitting at home, doing whatever it is they do and the next their whole world is gone up in smoke."
Sybil nodded, sharing Isobel's empathy.
"Surely something can be done" Sybil said optimistically, "What about the hospital? Is Clarkson doing everything he can?"
Isobel shrugged and shook her head, for she knew that Clarkson would do what he would do regardless of what was right, for he was a man of strict principles. If it wasn't for her interference than Clarkson would have turned those who came to his door away. Sadly, the hospital was at full capacity, or at least as full as Clarkson would allow it to be and still be in operation.
"I'm afraid there's nothing to be done" Isobel answered, "Clarkson refuses to see to reason. The villagers must go somewhere."
Violet laughed, "Clarkson is sometimes too stubborn for his own good" she added, knowing that she would go uncontested, for she was speaking the truth, "I believe that he thinks he's the master of his domain."
Matthew smiled, "Then he's king of a very small kingdom then" he joked.
Mary, Robert, Cora and Violet all laughed, Tom and Strallan remained stoic, each of them for different reasons. Tom because he found nothing funny when people, people that the Crawley's knew, were out on the streets homeless and with nothing but the clothes on their backs. Strallan, because he was too busy trying to control his anxiety, Archibald being the only deterrent against it. Now that the dog was gone Strallan was to face his predicament alone, which in terms of his plans, was exactly what was supposed to happen.