Jimmy had sprinted down the stairs to the servant quarters. He had managed to sneak past Carson and get out of the room as soon as Strallan had entered. He had to tell everyone! True they would probably not even listen to him! Daisy might but if Mrs Patmore had anything to do with it, then she would be too busy to listen. He nearly knocked one of the kitchen maids over as he ran but was in too much of a rush to apologise. Anna just about managed to move out of the way as he crashed into the servant hall.
"Jimmy slow down!" Anna said through laughter as Jimmy brushed himself off.
"It's Strallan. He's come after all and he's upstairs. You should see the look on their faces!" Jimmy stifled some laughter as Bates also joined them.
"Jimmy, that's not funny." Anna's tone quickly changed.
"Why? I don't get why it's such a big thing about him being here. Why was there such a big response to him arriving?!" Jimmy shrugged still thinking his reaction was right.
"Did Mr Carson send you down here to get something?" Bates changed the subject.
"No but I…."
"Then you're needed upstairs. Now go on before Mr Carson comes down here and tells you off for missing the drinks." Bates shooed Jimmy on before he lost his temper.
Jimmy swallowed his pride and did what Bates said. He might want to stay down there longer, but nothing was worth getting the wrong side of Mr Carson's or Mrs Hughes' tongue.
"He's almost as bad as Thomas! Maybe I should have a word with Mr Carson about it." Bates sighed.
"Don't. He'll learn and I'm sure you'll tell him if he doesn't." Anna rubbed Bates' shoulder.
Bates smiled slightly when Anna said this. He was more concerned about the family at the moment than Jimmy. Lord Grantham wouldn't be pleased at all tonight when he went to tend to him!
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Blake watched on as Strallan tried to say something to Edith or the room at this point. The room had been quiet for what felt like an hour! Shock mostly. Mary was about to whisper something in Edith's ear but was batted away by her sister. Edith took a deep breath.
"What are you doing here? I mean I thought you were never coming back." Edith plucked up the courage to ask.
"I changed my mind. Mr Blake invited me and I thought I would come along and join you all in the celebration." Strallan tried to lighten the mood.
"You did, did you?" Cora spoke up for her daughter.
Edith looked back at her mother. Cora sat back and let Violet rub her back to try and calm her down.
"We don't want you here. You obviously don't want to be here after your last visit!" Edith moved away from Mary.
"Edith I didn't mean any harm." Strallan could see she was upset.
"Any harm?! You left me at the altar! Alone and stranded! You left me without a second look." Edith's voice was begging to waver.
Mary could see they might need some help with this situation and motioned for Carson to come to her.
"Yes M'lady?" Carson whispered as Edith and Strallan continued their argument.
"Please go and get my father. I think he might need to come and advise Strallan." Mary whispered back.
"Of course M'lady." Carson bowed his head and secretly made his way out of the room.
Mary turned back towards Edith. Strallan had managed to get a word in and was now giving his side of the story. Rose was now going red with anger. She hated seeing Edith or any of the family upset. She barely knew Strallan but had got the whole story from the family when things had sort of calmed down. Isobel quickly grabbed her arm to stop her from getting involved.
"I can't just leave her to deal with it. She needs back up!" Rose tried to get Isobel's support.
"I think Edith can deal with it. If you get involved then it might make it worse." Isobel advised, shaking her head.
Rose made Isobel let go of her arm but had finally agreed with her. Thomas was loving this. Any drama in the family was always good for later. He liked the family but sometimes especially right now, they weren't getting along. Luckily Carson wasn't in the room, otherwise he would be sent back down again just for showing a small smile.
"After what I heard you went through Winter and with Sybil… I couldn't just leave it where I had." Strallan looked more at Mary when he said this.
"Sybil and Matthew were ten times what you were. Hundred times mainly. I don't need your support." Edith managed to gain his attention again.
Before Strallan could utter another word, the door to the dining room smashed open. Robert came storming in with a raging face and headed straight towards Strallan. Gregson went straight over to Edith with Tom going to Mary. Edward and Dr Clarkson stood away from the group just in case something bad happened.
"So the rumours were true! You're daring to show your face around here and want to stay the night!" Robert shouted, making everyone jump.
As Robert continued his rant at Strallan, Gregon held Edith close. She was shaking and he was surprised that she wasn't crying. What he had heard from Robert, he was expecting her to be sobbing.
"Are you alright?" Gregson whispered gently into Edith's ear.
Edith didn't answer and just had her eyes glued to Strallan.
"I just wanted to make things right. Is that so bad?!" Strallan asked the room.
"I think you should leave. Unless you want to be shown the door." Tom strided forward.
"Is that a threat?" Mr Blake stood up for Strallan.
"Why are you standing up for him?! Don't you know what he did to this family." Tom was about to slap Blake if Mary didn't stop him first.
The doors then opened with Bates coming into the room. He headed towards Carson trying not to draw attention. He whispered something into Carson's ear. Carson had to have a double take but then soon told Grantham what was going on.
"I'm afraid no one is going anywhere." Robert sighed sadly.
"Why?" Blake was the first to ask.
"There's a tree down just outside the grounds. No one is going to get past it and I doubt the fire brigade could get here before morning to move it." Robert told everyone.
The storm that had happened a few nights before had turned the whole estate into a state so it wasn't a surprise to hear this. No one in the room was very happy with this, especially not Edith. Edith then stormed out of the room.
"Edith." Gregson called after her.
"Maybe I should go after her." Strallan tried to follow Edith.
"I think you've done enough!" Gregson hissed as he followed Edith walking into Strallan on purpose as he passed.
Strallan moved his head from side to side. Cora could see that everyone needed to calm down.
"I think we should all get some rest. Mr Blake, Sir Antony, Carson will show you up to your rooms." Cora broke up the tension.
"Good idea." Robert quickly agreed, concerned greatly about Edith.
Carson opened the door and let Mr Blake and Strallan go first. Tom said his goodnights and left for upstairs. Mary took Rose and continued to talk to Violet and Isobel as they went up. Edward felt like a loose end but could see Robert and Cora weren't in the mood for anymore talking so quickly rushed upstairs before they turned on him!
"I still can't believe he's here. I mean what nerve do you think that man has!" Robert sighed but was still shouting so the whole house could hear.
"I know but with that tree down I suppose we'll just have to deal with it. Let's hope the firemen and Drew can get here sooner rather than later." Cora rubbed his shoulders.
"I'll send Thomas out later to see what's going on." Robert rolled his eyes seeing what Cora was doing.
"Now come on. If everything's done for the evening we might as well follow our own advice." Cora shuffled her husband out of the room before he could smash something from anger.
Robert tried to protest but knew it was futile against Cora's arguments. She could really hold her own when she wanted to! He nodded, taking her hand in his and going upstairs.
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Edith sat on the bench outside. She had grabbed her coat from her room and ventured out since Strallan's entrance. She wrapped her coat around her as the cold set in.
"Edith!" Gregson called out.
Edith turned to see Gregson coming towards her. He had no coat on so must be freezing. He didn't look like he cared however. He took her in his arms and held her close.
"I'm fine. I just needed some air." Edith smiled.
"I know what happened with Strallan. Carson and your father were quite vocal about it so I heard every word." Gregson could see Edith would start the conversation about Strallan.
"I'm trying not to think about it. He's a guest and I should treat him like one. Even after what happened last time."
"Don't. You have every right to treat him badly. He treated you badly!" Gregson chuckled.
"I think I'm going to find that hard. Maybe I should take some lessons from Mary on it." Edith chuckled back.
Gregson then held out his arm and interlocked it with hers.
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Edward managed to catch up with Strallan. He couldn't keep it back any longer. He checked no one else was around and walked towards him.
"What on earth are you doing here?!" Edward hissed at Strallan.
"I could ask you the same question." Strallan fought back.
"I told you the last time we met, I never want to see your face ever again. Maybe I need to tell you again!"
"No need. I was asked by Mr Blake to come along."
"You obviously are not wanted by anyone around here. Why don't you just leave Strallan?!"
Rose was just about to get a glass of water. She heard the two men arguing and moved back behind her door. She left it open a little though, so she could overhear what they were saying. She didn't know either man very well but knew it must be something important if they were talking this late!
"If you seriously think that you belong here, then you're mistaken." Strallan continued unknowing Rose was listening in.
"You still owe me for getting you out of trouble the last time. You're a trouble maker and it doesn't look like you've changed."
"You deserved it last time."
"You're a dead man, Strallan. Keep a look over your shoulder, you might just find someone standing there." Edward warned Strallan before storming off to his own room.
Rose quickly closed the door as Edward went past. Once Strallan was gone she went to get a glass of water. Hopefully no one else had heard all that!
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Jimmy sat in front of the fire after tea time. He had passed a note to Barrow to meet him there. They had a lot to discuss and didn't want to be overheard. Most of the staff had already gone to bed, so they would be left alone.
"So what is it? I would like to get some rest tonight before working all day tomorrow!" Thomas finally arrived, lighting a cigarette as he went.
"I thought you liked to gossip. Everyone else said that you loved a good rumour and you can't say we don't have enough from today!" Jimmy scoffed.
"I used to. I've changed." Thomas began to walk away.
"I've heard something from Daisy about an argument between the guests. Couldn't we use it for something?"
"If Mr Carson heard you saying that then you'd be dismissed. Now go to bed before I report you!" Thomas warned, motioning to Carson's office.
Jimmy looked to where he motioned and then ran to bed. Thomas chuckled to himself. If that had been him and Miss O'Brien then he would have discussed the day but Jimmy was young. He didn't want to get him in trouble. There would be plenty of time to discuss the whole weekend once everyone was gone. Anyway the weekend wasn't over yet!