Part LXIV:
Robert and Cora led Evelyn to Edith's bedroom but they found that she was not in her room and her chair was still there. Cora shook her head in frustration. She knew her daughter had snuck off somewhere and she wasn't happy about it. Robert tried to think of where she could possibly be when he heard a giggle followed by an Auntie Eddie coming from the nursery. Evelyn smiled and told Robert and Cora that he would like to talk to her on his own without the two of them in the room. They hesitated but allowed him to go to the nursery by himself.
Evelyn smiled at the sight in front of him as he entered the room. Mary and George sat on the floor while he played with his toy soldiers while Edith sat in the rocking chair with Sybbie and tickled the little girl while she squirmed and giggled on her lap. Evelyn cleared his throat and laughed as Mary quickly got off the floor and went to him. She gave her old friend a hug before introducing him to little George.
"What brings you here Evelyn?" Mary asked. She hadn't seen him for quite some time and wondered what was going on.
Evelyn gave Mary and smile before looking over at Edith. "I actually came to talk to Edith." He said. The two sisters exchanged confused looks before Mary went to leave. "No wait. Mary please stay. I might need your help." He said. Mary nodded and sat on Sybbie's bed inviting him to join her. He sat beside her but looked at Edith.
"First of all I want to say how sorry I am that you have to go through what you are going through. But I do not judge you for it. Everyone makes mistakes in their lives and I'm sure you did love him." He said to the astonished girls. Mary had always known how kind Evelyn was and how he never had a mean word for anyone. Not even her over the Pamuk business. He was more upset with him then he had been with her. Edith had never been made aware of his kindness before. She had always seen him as one of Mary's men so she wasn't sure what to say.
"Um thank you Mr. Napier. I do love him and he loved me." She said quietly. Mary gave her sister an encouraging smile before turning back to Evelyn. What was he up to? She wondered.
Evelyn smiled at Edith. "Please call me Evelyn. I'd like to think of us as friends. Now I would hate to see you have to put up with all of those ridiculous rumors and names that people have been saying and I want to help you in any way that I can. So I was wondering if you would become my wife." He said.
Mary gasped at that. His proposal surprised her. He might have been a nice man but to take on a woman carrying another's child when he was young enough to have children of her own was unheard of. Edith had told her about Strallan's visit the day before but Mary could understand him doing it due to his age and his guilt of jilting her at the altar. But Evelyn? There must be another reason as to his offer.
Edith pursed her lips. "And why would I marry Mary's leftovers. I know you two were never a thing but you still wanted to be with her. So why would I marry a man who simply pities me? I know and understand my father's insistence in getting married quickly but to expect me to marry Mar's leftovers is pathetic. I appreciate the thought but no thank you Evelyn." She said.
Mary sighed. "Edith. You haven't much time or many choices. At least you know Evelyn and he was kind enough to come here after he heard the rumors instead of joining in on the gossip." She said.
Edith rolled her eyes. "I understand that Mary. But still! I don't like living in your shadow. And marrying Evelyn would put me right back."
Evelyn nodded towards Edith. "I understand where you are coming from but you see I have long gotten over Mary and honestly we could never have worked out. We are much too different. But the two of us, Edith. We are alike in some ways. We both love to learn and we are both avid readers. You are no longer that rash young girl from before. Simply by reading your articles I can tell how you've grown. I am offering you a friendship as well as a marriage. And you would be giving myself and my family something that we so badly wish for. You see after the war I was told that due to some injuries that I would not be able to produce children. And that would mean that my family's estate would be passed to someone outside of the family as she has a daughter but no sons and she is younger than me. You would be giving me children that I really do want to have. And you'd be giving my family two chances of having an heir." He explained.
Edith frowned. "And if they are both girls? Then what? Would I be tossed away?" She asked.
Evelyn shook his head. "No. No you would not. The estate would then be passed to which ever daughter had a son." He explained. Mary was growing excited for her little sister. Maybe now her sister could have some happiness in her life.
Edith nodded in understanding. "Now I already promised Sir Anthony Strallan that he would be godfather to the youngest twin and he will name that child his heir or heiress. But he will not be considered anything less informal than Sir Anthony." She said.
Evelyn smiled. "That sounds great. Now we know for sure that both children will be saved from ridicule."
Edith nodded and sighed. "I'm not thrilled that I have to marry Mary's leftovers and that I hardly know you. But I will marry you Evelyn. As long as I can stay here at the abbey until after the twins are born." She said.
Evelyn smiled. "My parents are still alive although my father will not last for many more years now but we will stay here as long as you need or want to stay here." He said.
Mary smiled. "I'm so happy you two are getting married! You'll have to get married soon so maybe a week or two but in the meantime go home Evelyn and tell your parents then come back here so you two can get to know each other properly." She said rather bossily. Both Edith and Evelyn rolled their eyes.
"Evelyn Dr. Clarkson is coming here tomorrow to give me a checkup. He'll be here in the evening so if you can you could leave now and come back by then. Could you make it?" She asked.
Evelyn nodded. "Of course. I'll be back as soon as I can. Well I'd better leave now. Goodbye Edith. Take care of yourself until I return. Goodbye Mary and Georgie." He said before leaving.
Mary smiled at her niece. "Auntie Eddie's getting married!" She said excitedly. Sybbie squealed and clapped her hands together although she wasn't quite sure what getting married was.
Part LXV:
That evening as the family sat to eat Edith cleared her throat.
"In a week or so I will be getting married to Evelyn Napier." She announced. Everyone at the table clapped and congratulated her. Even Thomas, Carson, And Mosley offered their congratulations. Edith was glad that her family was so happy. Maybe now Robert could accept the pregnancy a bit more. And maybe now Susan wouldn't be so rude. Things were looking up for the Crawley family and Edith ate her dinner in peace.
Part LXVI:
Evelyn arrived at the estate not long after dinner and asked his parents to see him in the drawing room. His sister was visiting along with her husband and their little girl.
"I have an announcement to make." He announced. "I am getting married in a few week to Edith Crawley." He said.
His mother smiled as his sister grinned. "Finally! I'm getting a sister!" His sister squealed. Her husband shook his head in amusement before congratulating Evelyn.
His father frowned. "Why so soon?" He asked.
Evelyn sighed. "I am marrying her initially for two reasons. The first is that she is pregnant. She is currently carrying twins. And from what I understand he left before she found out she was pregnant to divorce his insane wife to marry Edith. But he has gone missing and is now believed dead. And so to help her reputation and that of her children I am going to marry her and claim them as my own. The second reason is so this family can have an heir. She has a chance of producing one or two boys and that son will be named my heir. I also think we can learn to care and even love each other." He explained.
His mother smiled fondly at her only son. "I am very proud of you for doing this for her and I will hold judgment of her until after I meet her." She said much to Evelyn's relief.
His father nodded in understanding. "I am proud of you son and this does solve several problems at once. I will give you both my blessing." He said. Evelyn was slightly surprised at his answer. He had always been so traditional that Evelyn thought he would have to argue with his father over his marriage to Edith.
His sister looked at her brother in amusement. "Evelyn and Edith Napier. It has a nice ring to it. And you two could even give the twins e names to match you both." She said.
Evelyn chuckled as his nice walked over to him. "Uncle Evelyn? When you get married can I be the flower girl?" She asked.
Evelyn smiled at his 6 year old niece. "You'll have to share with Edith's niece but I'm sure she won't mind." He said. Now all he had to do was make it back to Downton in time for Edith's checkup. He only hoped everything was alright with Edith and the twins.
(Quick question! Are flower girls in English weddings? I know English and American weddings have differences I just wasn't exactly sure what. I really hope I haven't messed this up! Thanks!)
(This is the twenty fifth chapter for Breakfast Woes! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you to all who have read and reviewed! It means the world to me! Oh and the questions I was asked in the reviews I can't answer right now as although I have an idea of what will happen things could change as I write it. Read and Review. Thanks! This takes place in the 4th season. I do not own Downton Abbey no matter how many stars I wish upon. It belongs to Julian Fellows.)