Matthew took a seat at the dining table next to Sybil and found himself realizing that he felt genuinely happy. It had been too long, he thought as Sybil took a seat next to him, and Mother was right. Mary would never have grudged me any happiness, he thought suddenly. If their roles had been different, if he had been the one to die, he never would have expected her to be alone, and he couldn't imagine that she'd want that for him. Not his Mary.
As he had the thought, Rose took position across the table from him and fairly smirked at Sybil, who blushed. Edith, he noticed, was also all smiles and pleased, and Cora as well. "Why," he said in a low voice to Sybil, "do I have a feeling that our news isn't really news?"
Not that he minded. It was actually quite heartening, how pleased everyone looked. Including Thomas Barrow, and James, and Mosely, who was helping out because there were a lot of guests.
Sybil gave Rose a dark look, clearly telling the younger woman with her eyes to not let the secret out, and then turned to him. "Edith and Rose got it out of me while we were dressing. Anna was there, and I assume you told your mother the plan so I suspect the only people who don't know are our guests."
"At least no one is screaming in horror," Matthew noted dryly.
"Not yet," Sybil smiled at him. "Granny may be the only one surprised."
"No," Matthew said, becoming more and more amused. "She gave me her approval a few weeks ago, that she believed in love and would never stand in its way." He grinned. "I had no idea she was so romantic."
"She is always a surprise," Sybil said. Under the table, she took his hand. "Are you? In love?"
It wasn't hesitance, he realized. She was looking for certainty. "Yes," he said as he squeezed her hand and looked her in the eyes. "I am in love with you, Sybil. It is different, but it is love."
She smiled and squeezed his hand in return. "Good," she said softly. "Because I am in love with you, and it is different, and we are much different people for having lived the lives we have. I'm glad that you're making the announcement. It's time we allowed our family and friends to enjoy the news." She leaned in conspiratorially. "Besides, not only has Rose been manipulating us to see more of each other this entire time, apparently, there's some sort of betting pool among the family and servants. If we declare tonight, then Edith and Barrow win five pounds each."
He couldn't help chuckling. "That's really what's important," he chortled. "Now there's no turning back." And when he looked inside himself, deeply inside, the only concern he had was that it was unconventional and some people would be unkind to Sybil. But, he thought suddenly, she's a Crawley and we're made of stern stuff. If there's any fuss, he decided, it will be me that the fusspots will need to deal with.
Robert waited until the main meal was finishing before he made a point of quieting the guests table chatter. "Matthew and I spoke earlier today about some good news. Matthew, would you like to share it?"
"Yes," Matthew said as all eyes turned to him. "Lady Sybil and I have been working together here on the estate this last year, and in doing that, we've come to realize that we may have more than the estate in common. With Lord Grantham's permission, which he graciously granted earlier today, I am pleased to announce that Lady Sybil and I are now formally courting." As the various guests and family members congratulated them both, the concerns he had fell away. The only frown at the table was from Larry Grey, and Matthew had no problem with that. Larry had been both bitter and conniving over Sybil and Tom, and had been distinctly snobbish to Matthew, making it very clear how distasteful he found Matthew's background as a lawyer. Fortunately, he thought as he smiled at Sybil and then at his mother, Larry Grey is not our problem.
His mother caught his look, nodded, and subtly prodded Lord Merton. Matthew found himself smiling even more broadly. As much as he thought his mother had begun seeing the older man as a subtle dig at him to not spend his life alone, he rather liked Dickie. The man treated Isobel well, they shared many interests, and they both deserved happiness. Having a stepfather was no trial to him. It eased his mind, to be honest. If he and Sybil did more than court, if they married, he would ultimately spend more time with his new family.
Lord Merton looked around the table. "Well, Lady Sybil, Matthew, I am very happy for you both and I hope you don't mind my riding your coattails a bit. As it happens, I have asked Isobel if she would accept me as her husband, and she has said yes."
That led to more joyous exclamations. "Mother mentioned this," Matthew said, feeling a rush of pleasure, "and while neither of you need my permission or approval, I approve whole heartedly. Welcome to the family, Lord Merton."
"Oh well said," Robert chimed, holding up his glass. Matthew started to follow suit but stopped when he realized that Larry was actually scowling at Lord Merton.
"For god's sake, Father, how can you be such a fool?" Larry wasn't quite shouting, but he was enraged, that was clear. He pointed at Isobel. "How can you possibly think this… common woman, is somehow an acceptable replacement for our mother?"
Matthew bristled but waited. Under the table, Sybil's hand met his and squeezed it reassuringly. Remember the lessons your mother and father taught you, he reminded himself. Larry was as Sybil often put it, a toad, but he'd also clearly been ambushed by his father's news. Sometimes, when people spoke in anger, it was better to wait and let them realize the error of their ways rather than jumping in and verbally pummeling them for their rudeness. Plus, he knew all too well that his mother could defend herself. If she needs my help, he thought quickly, she'll get it but we're not there yet.
Lord Merton almost rose out of his seat. "Larry! You will apologize to Isobel right now! And to Lord Grantham for being so rude to the mother of his heir!"
Larry did stand up. "I will not! She is common and not fit to be your wife. Mother is likely rolling over in her grave over the notion! And I have nothing but pity for Lord Grantham, forced by his own bad luck to scrape the very bottom of the barrel for an heir. Matthew Crawley is a bloody middle class lawyer and he's been nothing but bad luck since he came on the scene. No, Father, I'm not entranced with being stepbrother to Matthew Crawley, who can't even attract a woman he's not related to." Larry then turned his eyes to Sybil. "I swear, Lady Sybil, the only positive note of this entire evening is that your taste in men has grown slightly better. At least this time, you're not being courted by a servant. Maybe by the time you marry for the third time, you'll marry someone of your own class."
Even as he jumped to his feet, he knew Sybil and Robert and even Michael and Lord Merton were rising as well. He pointed at Larry, making sure to keep his voice calm. "You will apologize to everyone here for your insults and rudeness."
Larry smirked at him. "Or what, Crawley? You'll make me?"
"If you make it necessary," Matthew said firmly. He gestured to the door. "Now, you either apologize, or you and I will step outside. Lord Merton, I trust you don't mind if I… remind your son of some lessons in manners that he's clearly forgotten."
Lord Merton blanched just a little and then glared at Larry. Then he nodded to Matthew. "I'm afraid I allowed Larry's mother far too much say in his upbringing. I apologize for his behavior."
"I apologize for nothing!" Larry shouted. "It's all true! I can't believe you're even considering marrying into this family, Father. It's an affront to Mother's memory!"
Matthew stepped back from the table. "Then we will step outside, Larry. Because I will not allow you to speak so rudely about my mother, or my family, or Lady Sybil, and especially Tom Branson, who was a much finer man, and gentleman than you will ever be!" It made him furious, genuinely furious, to hear the man land such insults on his mother, his family and on poor Tom as well. He gestured to the door. "Let's step outside and settle this, Larry."
0o0o0o0
Sybil smirked as the realization crossed Larry's face that Matthew wasn't backing down, that he had no problem taking Larry outside for a lesson in manners and fisticuffs. It was a lesson Larry sorely needed. As angry as his nasty comments about Tom made her, she had always tried to be understanding of Larry's anger. They hadn't exactly been betrothed to each other, but it would have pleased both families if she had liked Larry. And in a mercenary way, Larry had liked her, in the sense that she would have been a perfectly acceptable wife. High born, pretty, and that was all Larry really cared about, which is why she never had any interest in him. Tom had never cared beyond the difficulties it would cause her that she was a lord's daughter. And Matthew… She smiled suddenly. Matthew was a man who chose who he chose. Lavinia had been middle class, and Mary certainly hadn't, and Sybil herself was coming to understand that Matthew saw her in a completely different way than he had seen Mary. He valued her input in the jam and cheese business. She had asked him about his work as a solicitor and he had been surprised and shyly pleased that she had taken an interest in his cases. Mary had always viewed his being a lawyer as a sort of amusing quirk, something that he did that she allowed but that held little interest to her. It was one of the differences, just like how she sometimes reveled in being able to talk about a book or a play or something from her childhood without having to take care that it might rankle Tom's pride. Tom's flaw, something she had always tried to help him with, was that he sometimes allowed his pride to overcome his normal good sense. Matthew's flaw was a tendency to worry about everyone except himself.
And Larry was a dishonest cheat. She got up from the table. "I'm going with you," she said quickly to Matthew. He frowned but only just, she suspected he was more embarrassed that he was about to fight Larry like a school boy than any objection that she wanted to watch.
"Yes, come along, Lady Sybil," Larry jeered. "I'm sure he'll need your help. He's a whipped cur of a mama's boy."
Matthew rolled his eyes and smirked. "I'm not the one who is throwing a fit like a child over his parent remarrying." He then made a show of gesturing to Sybil to sit down. "Lady Sybil, I appreciate your wish to cheer me on but I think you'll recall who got the worst of it the last time we went to a fight together. I doubt your father will be as forgiving."
Sybil acquiesced, especially when she caught the stern look from her mother, and the more worried look from her father. She glared at Larry. "Larry has proven by his actions in the past that he'll cheat rather than fight fair. I want someone observing this lesson in manners. To make sure Larry doesn't cheat."
"How dare you!" Larry said angrily.
"You drugged my husband!" Sybil shot back. "You drugged him so he'd make a scene so you could be cruel! Let's be clear, Larry, the only reason you were invited tonight was because we all like Cousin Isobel and we all like your father. You were invited as a kindness to your father, and my father asked my permission to allow it as you had been so incredibly rude and nasty previously. I gave permission because I hoped you had grown up and look at where we are!" She turned her attention to Matthew. "When you teach this particular lesson, please teach it well."
Matthew nodded, his eyes twinkling. "I do promise, Lady Sybil."
"And," Michael said as he rose to his feet, "I will monitor the lesson. I am a reporter by trade, after all. Lady Sybil, would that be acceptable?" Michael smiled winningly at her. She nodded agreement. Michael graciously gestured at Matthew and then Larry. "I trust this will be a round of traditional fisticuffs?"
Matthew nodded. So did Larry. Without further ado, the three men left the dining room. Robert made a gesture to Barrow, and the under butler followed them out.
"I am terribly sorry for Larry's behavior," Lord Merton began. Robert waved it off.
"He's a grown man," Robert said easily. "There's a point where one's children become responsible for their own behavior, Lord Merton. I take no offense against you at all and I congratulate you and Isobel on your decision to wed. You both deserve much happiness." He gave Sybil an amused look. "And Sybil, I think we didn't get a chance to comment on your news but your mother and I are quite pleased. How do you feel about it, Isobel?"
Sybil tried not to smile at how blatantly and awkwardly her father was changing the subject. Isobel, for her part, was clearly still taken back by Larry's outrage.
Finally, the older woman nodded with pleasure to Sybil. "It was a surprise when the notion first reared its head but... I think you're both well suited and uniquely aware of the challenges of marriage. I am certain the two of you will have a successful courtship." She smiled and then turned her attention to Lord Merton. "I am concerned about what just happened…"
"I'm not," Merton said. He put his hand over hers on the table. "My son is a grown man, as Robert says. I will always be his father and it is his decision to accept my choice of second wife. I mean really, it's not as though you'll be tucking him at night. He's being quite childish and rude."
"Still, it's something to consider," Isobel said worriedly. Sybil wondered at that, but then realized what was troubling her. They were father and son and Isobel didn't want to make the relationship worse. That is something we'll need to consider, Sybil realized suddenly. George and Katie were both very young but it can be awkward when they get older. George will be titled, any children we have together will be titled, and Katie will be Tom's daughter which could make her resentful. George likewise could find himself feeling as though he's the odd one out, saddled with responsibilities and a stepmother instead of a mother.
She shook off the thought as Matthew and Michael strode back in. Michael was smiling, while Matthew was brushing himself off and straightening his clothes. They both took their seats. Everyone looked expectantly at Matthew. He took a sip of wine. "Larry will not be rejoining us at the table, I'm afraid. Mr. Barrow is taking him to have his nose and eye tended to by Doctor Clarkson, but he has agreed to tender apologies in person to each of you tomorrow."
Rose broke the silence by tittering. "He agreed to that?"
Matthew nodded. "I explained in brief detail how much worse things would be if he decided to not keep his word. Mother, you will be first… and you must let me know if you find the apology acceptable." He winked at her. "At the very least, I think I've established where I stand with my new stepbrother. Lord Merton, I have no concern about how you will treat my mother. I am sure it will be with love and respect. I hope that you and I will have a warm relationship as well… but I do demand that your sons conduct themselves like gentlemen when it comes to my mother, and I will administer more lessons if they are needed."
"Well said," Robert chimed, holding up his drink. That seemed to end the matter, the chatter went back to the upcoming holiday. Matthew then surreptitiously wrapped his napkin around his knuckles.
Sybil took his hand, under the table. In a low voice, she asked, "Are you all right?"
He shrugged. "A little sore. Fighting is foolish, after all is said and done. But after what he said about you, and Tom, and Mother… Some things can't be allowed to pass." Then his good humor seemed to come back into his voice. "For the record, I am convinced the dull witted son is Larry, not Tim. I mean really, Sybil, he insults the mother of a man he thinks is a mama's boy? And doesn't expect a thrashing for his troubles? You were wise to choose Tom over him. Even Mary said that."
It made her smile.