Chapter 4
A/N: I think Anthony fans will have just cause to be very proud of him by the end of this chapter. Please review and let me know if I'm right.
The butler showed Robert and Violet into the sitting room and Anthony bade them be seated. Shortly afterwards tea was brought in and poured for them. Anthony felt very uncomfortable, despite being in his own home, for he had no idea what to expect from this visit. He understood that his future happiness, and possibly his own life and sanity, could depend upon it.
"I was extremely sorry to hear about Lady Sybil," he ventured.
"Thank you," Robert bowed his head.
Anthony felt anger rise in him and knew that he must control it. He was a grown man after all, not a petulant schoolboy; although possibly his hurt might well entitle him to react in that way. He had to keep his dignity intact although he realised it was difficult but he reminded himself that he had been injured in the service of his country and Robert had not so what right did he have to criticise him or make out that he was not good enough for his daughter? Edith had thought that he was more than good enough and perhaps hers was the only opinion he should have taken seriously; not those of people like those who sat before him now who had not wanted her to be happy. He suspected Lord Grantham had Edith marked out as the reliable spinster daughter who would take care of him and his wife in their old age. Anthony tried to relax but was angry; if Lady Edith took care of anyone in their old age he wanted it to be him.
He waited; sensing that Robert was absorbing his condolences over Lady Sybil.
Robert spoke first.
"Sir Anthony, I can only apologise for the way in which I have treated you in particular regard to my daughter. We gave your feelings no regard whatsoever and I can only apologise for that. I am thoroughly ashamed of my behaviour. You sustained an injury in the service of your country in a war where I myself did not take up arms. You are owed respect, not contempt and we had no right to interfere."
"No, you did not," Anthony's tone was measured but his good hand was shaking, "Lady Edith and I were adult enough to make our own choices but I let myself be swayed by your opinions and what you wanted. I never asked her how she really felt about the situation or about me but I am fairly confident than she would have married me had I had nothing but the clothes I stood up in. She never cared about my age or this," he indicated his arm in its sling," we would have made it work. You thought I would drag her down so she ended up as little more than a nursemaid but I am not as helpless as all that; I am still a man in the way it counts and I would have looked after her; indulged her and stimulated her intellect which she just does not get at Downton. I was extremely proud when I read her article in the Times because she had a real flair for what she was doing. We had little time alone to discuss the things that mattered. You still pity me but I do not and nor did your daughter. Lady Edith gave me back my life and she gave me hope but you took that from me. You put me under pressure because of your prejudices and left me little choice. Do you really think I wanted to walk away leaving our dreams in tatters on the church floor? Of course I didn't because I will love Lady Edith until my last breath. You forced my hand in that choice, Lord Grantham.
His rage abated slightly as Violet began to speak.
"Sir Anthony, I found Lady Edith sobbing her heart out for love of you last night; something I am sure she has done many times since that day. She told me things that I needed to hear. We had no idea how much pain our interference had caused and I will have to live with that for the rest of my life."
"Are you sure you are not merely contrite because you have irretrievably lost one granddaughter, Lady Grantham, and fear pushing another away? You think talking to me will placate her in thinking you at least tried. Talking to me will not smooth things over because Lady Edith feels deeply and does not forget such hurts. If she is bitter and emotional then it is you and your interference made her that way, not I."
The words stung Violet like a slap across the face. They were losing ground fast but both were quietly impressed by Anthony's dignity. Robert could sense the maelstrom of turbulent emotion raging in the heart of the man Edith loved.
Anthony swallowed.
"It's my birthday on Friday but it will not be marked except as a memorial to another lonely year passed. I could have been spending it with Lady Edith but I shall be alone lamenting the fact that I have lost her. I have not broken her heart; your prejudices and interference have done that for me. If you have come to me to seek forgiveness then you have wasted your time because I cannot easily forgive either of you for costing me my last chance of happiness. I was good enough for her, although I seldom believed her on that score, but any man should be proud for his daughter to marry a man who fought and survived the Great War.
He stood, "Please leave now."
Robert and Violet got to their feet, "if I may say one thing," Violet said.
"Well I know you always prefer to have the last word, Lady Grantham."
"If you called Edith she would come running to you; just think on that and she does not know we are here."
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