June 1, 2019 - At long last! Another chapter! So, when you make a promise to your readers that you will not abandon a story, then you start a rather intense college program, you find that such promises are a wee bit difficult to keep. So…an embarrassing three years later….my sincerest apologies, dear readers. I still have this story in my head. I just need to write it…which is sometimes more difficult than it seems. Here we go. Enjoy.

CHAPTER THREE

As Matthew held his fourth child for the first time, simultaneously, he harboured incredible relief, joy, wonderment, and nagging guilt for not being more eager for the little one's arrival.

"Another boy!" he exclaimed. "Well, Margaret will be disappointed. She'll now have three brothers to contend with."

Mary smiled. She was exhausted but basking in the glow of new motherhood.

"I don't know," she softly replied. "She might like that no one else will usurp her title of being your little princess. And she will finally get to be the older sibling."

Matthew grinned at Mary, then glanced down at his baby son again, taking in every detail of his facial features, his tiny nose, the dimple on his chin, the light brown colour of his hair, and the unmistakable scent of a newborn that he, as a father, hadn't smelled in five years. In this moment, his youngest son was perfect, a gift from God, and he would never regret Mary's fourth pregnancy again.

"Well, so far, he's a quiet little thing. He reminds me of George right after he was born. Just content to sleep. What do you say, David? Will you sleep through the night for your mama?"

"David? So, you do like that choice then?" said Mary, barely keeping her eyes open.

"Yes, he is definitely a David. A king after God's own heart. A boy who will slay giants. Metaphorically speaking, of course."

"You better be. No unnecessary heroics for my little boys."

For a long while, Matthew quietly sat in Mary's hospital room, holding their baby son, while Mary slept. Thinking that little David could very well be their last baby, he wanted the joy of this moment to last as long as possible.

Five years previously, after Margaret's traumatic birth, and the interminable wait to see if Mary would recover, there was no celebration at the birth of his daughter; only extreme anguish for him, and the entire family. Matthew spent days at Mary's bedside, and had to be coaxed by Isabel to even look at his newborn girl. The baby girl spent days without a name because Matthew had refused to decide on one without Mary. Although he had already faced incredible trauma because the war and his injuries, the emotional stress felt like nothing compared to the thought that he might lose his wife, and his children would lose their mother.

When it was determined that Mary was out of the woods and no longer in danger, and Matthew was finally released from his despair, he felt this incredible euphoria rush over him now that his family was safe. He was also overcome with enormous guilt that their newborn daughter had been so terribly neglected by him. To make up for lost time, for weeks, whenever little Margaret wasn't in Mary's or the nanny's arms, she was in Matthew's. He doted on her endlessly, and that early bonding formed a special father-daughter relationship. There was no doubt that Matthew was also devoted to his sons, but his relationship with his little girl would always be different.

"Peter, you're annoying me. Go away." said George. Although he was the calmest of all the Crawley children, his younger brother could seriously test his patience at times.

"Why are you reading that stupid book for?"

George did not look up. "It's not stupid. It's about pirates."

Peter was surprised and a bit impressed at George's book choice. Pirates? The do-gooder was reading about pirates?

"Why don't we go outside and play pirates? It will be a lot more fun."

"No, I'm at a good part. Jim's just been taken hostage by the mutineers."

"Who's Jim?"

"The protagonist."

"What's a protagonist?"

George, exasperated, stopped reading and turned to his brother. "The main character of the story! Now, go away. Find something to do. Go play with Margaret."

"She's playing with dolls. I am NOT playing with dolls." In truth, it's not that Peter didn't like playing with his sister. It was just that their play often ended with Margaret crying over something, and running to Papa, and Peter inevitably getting into trouble.

At that moment, Lord Grantham, knocked on the door and entered the nursery. "Excuse me, Miss Joad, just wanted to…"

"Oh, my goodness, Lord Grantham. I wasn't expecting you. Had I known we would have cleaned up our messes. Miss Margaret get up off the floor in your dress. Master Peter, please pull up your socks."

"Please, Miss Joad, there's no need. I am here to deliver some very big news." He said with a big grin.

Little Margaret gasped and held her breath. George and Peter's eyes grew big.

"I am happy to report that the three of you have a new baby brother!"

Before the children could react, Miss Joad excitedly prattled on: "Oh, m'Lord. That's wonderful news! Isn't it wonderful news, children? We've been thinking about Lady Mary all day. Have they chosen a name yet? Oh, it's so wonderful that it's a boy. He must be a very handsome baby, no doubt. What do you have to say to your grandfather, children? I must admit, I thought it was a boy. I was just saying to the other servants this morning, "I'm sure she's having a boy!' Anna thought it would be another girl. But I said "No, I dreamt she had another boy. And my dreams are often correct." Oh, you and Lady Grantham must be absolutely thrilled! How is Lady..."

Lord Grantham stopped her. "Miss Joad, please!"

"I'm sorry, m'Lord." She whispered.

He turned and looked at his grandchildren. "Your mama is doing just fine. Your father is with her right now at the hospital. I believe they're choosing a name today."

The three Crawley children stared at him blankly.

"Well. What do you say?"

"Are you sure it's a boy?" asked Margaret, sadly.

Lord Grantham looked down at her. "Yes, it's a boy, my darling girl. But you now get to be a big sister! Won't that be lovely?"

Margaret's lower lip curled, and tears started to form. "But I wanted a little sister."

Lord Grantham patted her on the head. "Oh, you don't need to worry, dear one. Once you've seen your little brother, I am sure you will feel very differently."

"Is Mama all right? Truly?" Asked George. He had been very little when Margaret was born, but still retained a distinct memory of that time, even if he didn't understand it completely.

"Yes, George. She is doing just fine. And Peter? What have you to say?"

Peter looked at the floor. "Nothing."

"Master Peter! Don't you…" started Miss Joad.

"Miss Joad, please!"

"Sorry, m'Lord."

There was then an awkward silence.

Lord Grantham was a little surprised at his grandchildren's low-key reaction, but he quickly and wisely thought that fear of change, and perhaps a little jealousy, was playing a large part in their lack of enthusiasm.

"Having an addition to the family is an adjustment for all. And I assure you, that when all three of you were born, we were all thrilled. Every Crawley baby is cherished. As is your little brother. And we don't want to hurt your mother's feelings, saying anything otherwise. Understood?"

"Yes, Grandpapa." Said all three children quietly.

Turning to leave the room, Lord Grantham added: "Miss Joad, perhaps the children need some fresh air to brighten their spirits. It's a warm fall day. I'd say some energetic romping around the grounds is in order. Don't you agree?"

"Yes, m'Lord".

For the first time that day, Peter smiled.

***End of Chapter***