"You're staring again. If you keep it up, they'll all grow suspicious," Edith warned. She was not looking at Anthony, but could feel his affectionate gaze upon her. Edith was trying to be playful, but she was feeling rather woozy this morning. As the car bounced on a particularly deep pothole, she let out an involuntary "oomph" and had to take a deep, steadying breath.
"Fond as I am of you, I was actually trying to determine just how gray your face would turn before you told me the truth about how you're feeling." Anthony was also trying to keep his tone light, trying not to worry too much over his wife.
"I'm fine, darling. Please don't let it bother you," she said, reaching for his hand. When she caught his worried expression she sighed. "Do I look that terrible? I can't bear to tell them now, today of all days."
They were almost to the church where the new baby's christening was to be held—a Catholic church, which did not please Granny or Papa. Tom had decided to name her Sybil, and that didn't help matters. Only a week since Sybil's funeral, with the family divided on nearly everything Branson-related, and the squabbles about the management and between Matthew and Mary about children, well it was certainly not the day to make an announcement of any kind.
"You don't look at all terrible," Anthony said. Though he knew she wasn't fishing, he added, "You're radiant, in fact. Only I happen to care more about how you're feeling."
"I'm tired. And I seem to have lost my appetite. Otherwise, I'm perfectly happy and quite looking forward to doing something with the family other than mourning. Does that sound insensitive?"
"I didn't know Lady Sybil very well, I grant you, but from what I do know, and from what I know about grief, there is little point in sitting around in bereavement, and I'm certain that's not what she'd want for all of you." He leaned in to kiss her clammy forehead and subtly placed his hand over her flat stomach. "Especially in light of certain happy news, hmm?"
Edith leaned into her husband, closing her eyes against the waves of nausea that were rolling through her. She'd experienced little of this at first, but the last week had been more difficult and this morning was the worst yet.
Anthony wanted to comfort her, but Edith was reluctant to complain. For one thing, she was getting everything she wanted and it felt wrong to begrudge her condition. For another, she knew they were looking at approximately seven months of changes and surprises and she couldn't bear to let Anthony worry more than he already would.
Anthony seemed to read her thoughts. In his most soothing voice he said, "Edith, I know you don't want to burden me, and I know how emphatically strong you are. But darling, I'm your husband, and I know you. You don't have to suffer alone, and you certainly don't need to spare me. Let me help you, please."
Edith, who had been more emotional than usual lately, began to cry. "Oh, you're helping just by holding me. I'm sorry I'm such a mess."
"Don't ever be sorry for this. You're not a mess, you are the mother of my child. Anyway, we do it together, remember?"
"We do it together," she repeated, pulling tighter against him. Anthony wiped the tears from her face and stroked her jaw delicately.
When she seemed more peaceful he added, "Except of course the actual carrying of the child, and the labor, and all those gruesome things. For those I'm afraid you are on your own, old girl." Edith couldn't help but laugh. She gave his ribs a poke, and Anthony replied teasingly, "Ouch. Do you think your temper might be one of the many genetic gifts our child will inherit?"
The Strallans were the last to arrive at the church. It was a small gathering, and Granny's lips were pursed tightly together the entire time. As they stood for the blessing, Anthony's hand rested protectively on Edith's lower back. A small sun break drifted through the stain glass windows of the little stone chapel in blue and yellow and green beams. As Edith's hands rested reverently in front of her, she couldn't help but hold them against her stomach. Nothing was there, of course, but soon enough there would be the telltale evidence.
Edith looked up at Anthony as his clear blue eyes followed the ceremony and that gentle, crooked smile rested on his face. She was so filled with love for him in that moment. And of something else too; the sudden and intrinsic realization that Sybil was giving them her blessing in her own way. Edith slipped her left hand into Anthony's sling, lacing her fingers through his, as her right wrapped around his back.
"Hello, sweet one," he whispered to her. "Feeling better?"
"Immensely," she responded as the others all muttered, "Amen."
"Gentlemen, no business, please. It's not the day for it," Cora pleaded firmly. Matthew and Robert looked less than pleased to be stifled, but obliged anyway. They separated, tightlipped and tense, and joined the others on the sofas. Edith was sipping her tea gingerly, afraid to over-burden her somewhat temperamental stomach, and watching Anthony. He was quite relaxed, and he always treated Tom with the same respect he'd treat any titled man. She was practically glowing with pride and sentimentality when he caught her staring and winked at her.
"Really, Edith, might you spare us your swooning?" Granny asked. Edith looked down at her lap immediately.
"Jealous, Gran?" Mary asked sourly.
"Mary," Cora hissed, "Let's not spoil the afternoon."
"Especially not on my behalf," Edith said, half accusing her mother.
"Oh, now surely you're not still playing that card," Granny began but Anthony shocked everyone into silence by stepping forward.
"Actually, Cora, I don't wish to go against your wishes, but I wonder if I might have a word with Robert and Matthew, please? I've had an idea that might be of some interest regarding the issue of Jarvis' giving notice and whatnot. It won't take but a minute, I assure you."
The whole room balked at him except for Edith, who expected nothing less from her dear, unassuming Anthony.
"Well, I suppose. Of course, Anthony, by all means," Cora stuttered.
"And Tom, of course, if you'd like to join us," he added, not wishing to leave him out.
Tom glanced to Robert and said quickly, "Actually, if you all don't mind, I think I'd like to check on the girls."
"Just all of you, be back in time for luncheon, please," Cora agreed.
As the men left, Lady Violet turned to Edith. "Who was that and what has he done with your docile, stuttering Sir Anthony?" Edith shrugged, suddenly impervious to any jibes. "Don't mistake me, my dear. I'm quite impressed."
"Yes, remarkable feat to stop you when you're on a roll, no?" Mary asked.
"Quite, Mary, thank you. Only don't look so pleased with yourself. He silenced you just as effectively."
"How is the nurse getting on?" Edith asked Cora, not wishing to encourage the little quarrel.
"Oh quite well, I think. Though Tom seems less willing to let her help him."
"He wants to be with his daughters. Can't blame him for that," Edith said.
"Yes, well, hands-on parenting is more natural to his class," Violet agreed. Mary rolled her eyes and willed herself to shut up by getting more tea.
At luncheon Granny's mood did not improve. "Tom take over for Jarvis?" she asked incredulously.
"Of course, it's the perfect solution. Anthony's idea," Matthew said jovially. Turning to Edith he added, "My brother-in-law is a genius."
"You want me to work for you?" Tom asked quietly.
"Well we need someone with farming experience, whom we trust, to manage things now that Jarvis has left, and seeing as how your pride won't allow you to just live here, I think it's a damn good compromise. I don't really want my granddaughters growing up in Liverpool and seeing as how Ireland's out, I ask that you do consider it."
"Tom, I didn't know you had experience with farming," Cora said warmly, trying to contain her excitement at the prospect.
"Yes, I was telling Anthony—Sir Anthony," he corrected.
"Anthony," the dear man on the other side of Edith interjected.
"Anthony. I was just saying that I grew up on a sheep farm."
"Sheep, which is exactly the kind of experience we need, as well as the lay of the land, which Tom will know from driving it so many years," Matthew said enthusiastically. He didn't realize he'd just referenced the unmentionable past as Branson the Chauffeur.
"That is," Anthony said immediately, preventing Granny from winding up, "If it suits Tom."
"Well will we be allowed to call him Branson again?" Lady Violet asked curtly.
"No decisions need be made tonight," Robert declared, changing the subject. Tom looked down into his soup bowl, though Edith couldn't tell whether it was in contemplation or embarrassment.
Cora managed to change the conversation to less sensitive and provocative subjects, and the rest of the meal passed without incident. When Cora suggested the ladies adjourn to the drawing room, Edith spoke up.
"Actually, I was wondering if I might go pop in on Madeline and the baby. I haven't seen much of them and they are my nieces, after all. I don't live with them like the rest of you do."
"I'll take you up," Tom offered. No one would accuse him of being anything less than adoring and devoted when it came to his girls.
"Mind if I join?" Anthony questioned, earning the surprised stare of everyone in the room except his wife.
"Of course," Tom said, rising from the table and nodding to the rest as he went.
Up in the nursery Edith sat in the window seat, cradling the well-bundled newborn in her arms while Anthony hovered over her, smiling. Madeline was taking a nap, but the baby was quite alert, her great eyes staring right up at Edith. "Oh Tom, she's so beautiful, and so like Sybil."
"Both my daughters look just like their mother. I can't tell yet if it's a gift or curse. It almost hurts just to look at Madeline when she smiles."
"Is there anything we can do to help, Tom?" Anthony asked reverently.
"My wife is dead. I'm beyond help," he muttered, staring past them through the window. Realizing how ungrateful he sounded, he immediately turned to Anthony. "Oh I'm sorry. I know how kind you've been, and I'm very thankful."
"Won't you take the job?" Edith implored.
"I don't know, to be honest with you. I appreciate what an offer it is, but I don't know if I can live here, on your father's land. It goes against every political principle I've held."
"But think of the good you could do, with the farmers and the villagers. And please, please don't take my nieces so far away."
Edith looked to Anthony then, silently asking his approval. He seemed to know exactly what she was thinking. He just smiled and briefly hooked a finger under her chin.
"Tom," she said, standing and rocking the baby lightly. "I don't want you to think I'm trying to sway you one way or another… Actually, that's exactly what I'm trying to do. Please, know that I like you very much, and so does Mary and Matthew and Mama. We're all terribly fond of you, and support you in whatever you do. Papa is stubborn, but he'll come around. You'll see."
"Lady Edith," he began but she shook her head.
"No, that's not all. Anthony and I are going to have a baby. And I can't bear the thought of our child not knowing yours. I've always imagined the Bransons and the Strallans running mad through the gardens and the halls together. Can't you just picture it? Please, think about it before you decide."
"You're having a baby?" he asked breathlessly.
"I am. And I'm sorry, I know the timing is terrible, but I just," she apologized.
"No, it's not terrible at all. Sybil would've been so, so pleased, I know. She always talked about cousins for the girls. Playmates."
An awkward and emotional minute passed, all three of them staring down at Baby Sybil and all three filled with hope and expectation and loss.
"I'll think about it," Tom finally said. "But I can't make any promises."
"I am glad, old chap," Anthony said sincerely. It hadn't occurred to Edith until that moment that Tom was probably the only person in the family who had never dismissed Anthony as dull or dry, and that they might have the potential to be great friends.
Tom nodded and asked, "I'm assuming you're waiting to tell the rest of them?"
"As long as humanly possible," Edith replied quickly.
He nodded once and said, "Sybil waited. She was five months gone at your wedding." But tears suddenly welled in his eyes and he excused himself immediately.
When Edith looked up at Anthony she was on the verge of crying, but he just shushed her.
"I told you, darling, we're none of us going anywhere."
"Alright," she said firmly, shaking away her doubts.
"Now, let me see about this baby business," he said brightly, sitting in the window seat and locking his left arm in position. Edith was surprised, but all too eager to oblige, placing Sybil in his arm gingerly. The little bundle looked even smaller in his great hand.
Anthony smiled at the little face and bounced her easily as Edith stood above them, completely overjoyed.
"Look at that, my love," he said with a wide and boyish grin, "I'm a natural."
The sun may just be shining once again on the Crawley clan. :) Will Tom let go some of his pride and keep the family in tact?
(I borrowed a couple lines from the latest episode that were just too priceless to pass up. Also, I'm trying to weave some of the 'real' DA in so it's easier to watch the new episodes. Because they are BRUTAL. :)
Thank you so, so much for continuing to read and review. I am loving this.