June 10, 1912
Matthew Crawley sat at tea in his office when his clerk entered, carrying the mail. He waited until Simmons had left the room before sifting through the pile of mail. He set aside the packets he knew were bills, as well as those from clients. Finally, he picked up an envelope addressed in a hand he did not recognize. Curious, he opened it and pulled out a single sheet of paper.
8 June 1912
Mr. Matthew Crawley,
This may come as rather a strange request, but I have something to speak to you about that simply cannot be addressed in a letter. At the moment, my family and I are at our London Home, and I would ask you to meet me at my Club, White's, in St. James' Street sometime next week. Please reply and let me know the day and time that would work best for you.
Until then, I remain,
Your Cousin,
Robert Crawley
Earl of Grantham
Matthew read the letter a second time before placing the paper on his desk. Lord Grantham wanted to see him? Whatever for? His connection with the Grantham family was not a close one; his great-great grandfather having been the second son of the third Earl.
He thought about the Earl's request. It was unusual, but if he was being honest with himself, he had always been more than a little curious about that side of his family. Intellectually, he had always known there was a possibility that his father's family would one day wish to get to know him.
He knew there were a few other cousins besides the Grantham clan, but keeping track of the various Earls and their younger brothers was not an activity that consumed his time, so he could not be sure how many Crawleys were out there. Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, he turned his attention back to the Earl's request. He thought about it a moment before pulling a sheet of paper out and writing.
10 June 1912
Lord Grantham,
I have thought about your rather untoward request. I do not pretend to understand why you wish to see me, but I have no objection. I will take Friday off to meet you. I can take the nine o'clock train from Manchester and be at King's Cross by 11:30, which will allow me to call at your club for luncheon, if you wish.
Sincerely,
Matthew Crawley
He folded the letter, placed it into an envelope, sealed it, and addressed it before placing it on the corner of his desk to be picked up by Simmons that afternoon.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
June 14, 1912
Matthew stepped off the train at King's Cross Station in London and sighed. He didn't come to London often, his law practice in Manchester keeping him busy, but he was glad of the opportunity to come today. Walking out to the street, he hailed a cab and jumped in.
"White's Gentlemen's Club, please," he told the cabbie, who looked at him curiously before entering traffic.
20 minutes, they pulled up in front of a large, white building on St. James' Street. Matthew paid the cab driver and exited the cab. Taking a deep breath to steady his nerves, he entered the front door.
A gentleman stood behind a large desk in the foyer of the building. Approaching it, Matthew could sense some of the men milling around looking at him with disdain.
"Can I help you…sir?" the clerk asked, looking Matthew up and down.
"I am here to meet my cousin, Lord Grantham," the blond solicitor replied, trying not to feel insulted by the clerk's obvious snobbishness.
"I'm very sorry, sir, but Lord Grantham is not seeing anyone here today," the clerk replied, shutting his book after pretending to look inside it.
"Except me," Matthew replied coolly. "I have an appointment to meet him here at noon today. I'll wait if you'd like to go and check with him." With that, he turned and sat on one of the chairs in the entrance.
The clerk, straightening up a little more and sticking his nose in the air a little higher than it had been five minutes prior, rang the bell that was sitting on his desk. Once a bellboy came running, he instructed the lad, "Go and find Lord Grantham – he's sitting in the lounge – that a person is here to see him."
The boy ran off, and Matthew used the time to look around him. He had heard of White's obviously, as it was the most exclusive gentlemen's club in London. Most of England's male nobility and gentry were members, including His Royal Majesty King George V. Prince Edward would become a member, as well, once he came of age the next week, as well as Prince George in a couple of years.
His thoughts were interrupted with the return of the boy and a middle-aged gentleman Matthew could only assume was his – what relation were they to one another, exactly? Third cousins? Third cousins once removed?
"Lord Grantham, I am sorry to disturb you," the clerk began, "but this person," with a nod at Matthew, "insists that you are to be meeting with him today."
"I certainly am! Cousin Matthew, I'm delighted to see you here!" Robert took three long strides toward Matthew, who stood up and grasped his hand firmly.
"Cousin Robert, thank you for your kind invitation," Matthew replied, with a sideways glance at the clerk.
"Come in, my boy, come in!" Robert ushered him back to the lounge, where he had been waiting for their table to be prepared for luncheon.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
An hour later, Matthew and Robert were finishing their meal, sipping at their port.
"Lord Grantham," Matthew began, "I appreciate the lunch, I truly do, but why did you ask me here? Your letter made it sound as if you had something to tell me."
"Yes, I did. As you are probably aware, I have no sons – only three daughters." Matthew nodded. He had heard his father, Reginald Crawley, mention that fact once or twice. "My heir was my first cousin, James. Your third cousin once removed."
"Was?" Matthew asked, confused.
"Unfortunately, James – as well as his only son, Patrick – were aboard the Titanic, that sank a couple of months ago." Robert responded, looking down.
"I'm sorry to hear that, Cousin Robert. Truly, I am. It is always an upsetting thing when one finds out a member – or two – of his family has died tragically." He shifted in his seat, unsure how to continue. "But what does this have to do with me? I do not believe I have ever met my third cousin once removed, or his son."
Robert hesitated. He had originally planned on telling Matthew today, but clearly this was not the time or the place to inform a middle-class lawyer from Manchester that he was to be the future Earl of Grantham. Instead, he chose to wait and write him later. "I suppose I was just feeling nostalgic, wanting to get to know whatever family I have left," he hedged. "Tell me about your law practice."
Matthew could tell that there was something that Lord Grantham was not telling him, but he chose to let it slide for the time being.
"What would you like to know?" he asked.
xxxxxxxxxxxx
A/N: There it is, the meeting between Matthew and Robert! Please, read and review. There may be one or two more chapters in London, then a surprise is in store for Anna when they are back at Downton! Thanks for reading!