Chapter 10
Everyone entered the drawing room and they all notice that Violet the Dowager was sitting in her usual seat, close to the fire, with the usual look on her face like she had just sucked a bit of bitter lemon. On entering the room, Edith says trying to sound nonchalantly and hoping that she did, to her grandmother "Hello, Granny how are you, are you well."
The elderly lady raised from her seat and crossed towards to the newly wed's, with a look of thunder on her face, Edith and Anthony took a collective breath and both looked at each other, both swallowed really hard and thought the same thing together (are we going to sink or swim) but their apprehensions were misgiven as the Dowager's face turned from thunder to silk and she smiled at them both and said "Congratulations, all is well, my dears, all is well."
Violet and Robert stood in front of everyone as everyone got seated; Robert started to get everyone's attention by clearing his throat and everyone turned to face him and listen
"Now, if everyone could settle down, Mama and i would like to apologize to everyone, but first we would very much like to apologize to Anthony for the way we have treated you and spoke to you on and leading up to that day and that we did not give you our full blessing, which you have, from myself, mama and the rest of the family;"
"We would like to apologize to Edith for the way we have treated you, on that day and through the years we have all taken you for granted and me especially, as i did not want to let go of my last little girl and you are and always will be my little girl, well all my girls are and after losing Sybil i realized, i didn't what to loose another of my daughters, as i did not want to except that i was getting old and that you and Anthony are in love, which we can all see and that you are perfect for each other;"
"I would like to apologize to Matthew, for putting up resistance to your changes to the running of Downton, as if it was not for Matthew and the money, Downton would have been lost to my blunder and arrogance, i now see that it was for the best and it is for the best and for the future of Downton;"
"Tom it is you turn for an apology because if it was not for my pigheadedness then sybil would still be with us and if i had not been so damed foolish about you and Sybil at the start of your marriage, then all of us would have not lost those months together as a family, i also hear that Anthony has been helping Tom adjust to his new role as estate manager and advising him on crop rotation and how best to mechanize the estate and you have also helped him with the lost of Sybil and given him sanctuary when Matthew and i have come to blows over the estate and i also hear the two of you are becoming quite good friends, which i am delighted with and i hope with a little time that all of us men will become very good close friends, and i am also delighted that i am not the only man in the family now." everyone nodded and smiled,
the only person who was not smiling was Isobel the only person to notice was Matthew and asked
"Mother, what's wrong."
Isobel replied "Well, i do think that Dr Clarkson is owed an apology, for not being heard that awful night poor Sybil died."
"MOTHER! how can you say that just now, when Robert has just made amens to everyone, are you wanting to start an argument?"
"No, no, no, Matthew, your mother's is quite right, i do owe Dr Clarkson an apology and i will do that in person as soon as i can."
Cora wanted to change the subject and by that time Violet had returned to her seat, Cora turned to Edith and Anthony "lets see the engagement ring and wedding ring."
Edith lifted her left hand and Cora held it and examined them and as she did this, all of the other lady's joined them (the engagement ring was a platinum setting with three stones, two white diamonds on either side of a slightly larger blue diamond; the wedding ring was a platinum eternity ring with all white diamonds) Cora said
"Your engagement ring is so beautiful darling, is the middle stone a sapphire?"
"No, it's a rare blue diamond, Anthony's father brought it back from India, when he was out there on business, i believe, is that true?" Violet asked "Well, that's what i heard and i was always so jealous of your mother's ring."
"But Granny, your ring's beautiful" both Mary and Edith said it at the same time and they both started to laugh after the sisters finished laughing, Anthony said "yes your right Lady Grantham about the blue diamond."
Cora said" and the wedding ring you picked it out, Anthony?, the ring is so beautiful and matches it so well."
"I would have thought a plain simple band would have suffice." violet said in her rather formidable tone, then she suddenly realized what she had just said and gave the newly weds a rather weak smile as to say; (sorry, it just slips out at times)
"There's nothing plain or simple about my wife, so i thought her wedding ring should match her." as Anthony said it, he lifted Edith's left hand and kissed it, when he did that Edith cheeks just turn pink with embarrassment and love for her wonderful husband.
Cora smiled at the adorable couple in front of her and asked "So where are you two going on your honeymoon and when?"
"Well we were discussing it on the train coming home and if it's alright with you Grandmama, we would like to spend our honeymoon in New York, Rhode Island and at Uncle Harold's new house in the East Hampton's, as Anthony has never been to America before and i think he would find it fascinating, we were thinking about maybe june or july next year."
Martha smiled in agreement and said "Oh, that would be wonderful, just let me know, when the two of you want to come over and i'll let Harold know as well, so we can have the red carpet rolled out, Harold will be thrilled you to are coming over, as he wants to meet Anthony"
"He wants to meet me, why?"
"Well, he wants to finally put a face to the name, Edith and i would talk to him about you a lot, not together, you see; i would tell him what i was up to with regards to my plan, where Edith would ask for his option on you and it was Harold, who changed Edith's mind and said that, it sounded like the reason why you did what you did, was that you did love Edith, that you loved her very much."
Anthony simply replied with a smile