When he lived in Peru, Paddington, like Uncle Pastuzo and Aunt Lucy, had slept high in the trees. Sleeping in the lifeboat where Aunt Lucy had stowed him away was necessary but made him feel rather uncomfortable.
The room Sir Anthony had taken him to was enormous, and the bed was like no human bed he'd ever encountered. At the corners it had posts. From the posts hung a canopy and curtains.
Sir Anthony saw the little bear's jaw drop at the sight of it. Misinterpreting his astonishment for horror, Anthony was quick to reassure him.
"It's a very old bed, but quite comfortable. The bathroom is through that door. Get some rest, Paddington. You deserve it. Sleep well."
"I'm sure I will. Thank you, Sir Anthony." Paddington gave his host a tiny bow as he left. Then, not able to contain his excitement, he scrambled up one of the bed's posts and settled on the canopy: the largest and most luxurious bear bed he'd ever had the honour to lie down on. Within minutes he was snoring gently and dreaming of marmalade trees.
...
The next morning, Paddington was still worried about the rug. So nervous was he that he waited twenty minutes to meet Sir Anthony on the stairs 'by accident', so he could go down with him and not have to face Mr Stewart by himself.
"Did you sleep well, Paddington?" his host enquired politely.
"Very well indeed, thank you Sir Anthony. That bed is extremely comfortable. How was your night?"
"To be honest, I didn't sleep much. I doubt I will ever sleep well again."
Sir Anthony looked so sad that Paddington changed the subject.
"What did you have planned for today?"
"I should be beginning my honeymoon with Lady Edith. I have nothing else to do that could possibly compare." He looked at Paddington's stricken furry face. "Oh, I'm sorry. I expect I shall be rather melancholy to be with for a while, but I assure you that it is a pleasure and a comfort to have your company, Paddington."
They had arrived at the dining room. Stewart was checking the tea and coffee pots...and there was absolutely no sign of the previous day's misadventures.
"Good heavens, Stewart! However did you achieve such a fabulous result?" exclaimed Anthony.
"Trade secret, Sir" he replied with satisfaction, pushing the bottles of bicarbonate of soda and white vinegar further behind the cereals.
"I am very grateful to you Mr Stewart, and I'm sorry I caused you more work" said Paddington. Stewart's heart melted. "I know it was an accident, Master Paddington. Please think no more of it."
Over breakfast, they discussed the options of how to find Paddington a proper, permanent home. It was agreed that the first thing to do was to visit Anthony's solicitor for advice.
...
The office of Doolittle, Delagh, and Fale, solicitors to the Strallan family for over a hundred years, was on Ludgate Hill, ideally placed between the Royal Courts of Justice and the Old Bailey.
Anthony and Paddington were shown into an imposing room lined with bookshelves stacked with leather-bound legal books. The secretary who accompanied them was plainly wary of having a bear around, but that was as nothing compared to the treatment Mr Doolittle gave him.
"I'm sorry, Sir Anthony, but I don't quite understand. You want to know the legal procedure for a foreign bear, which has arrived in this country through extraordinarily dubious means, to be adopted into a British family home?"
"Yes, it's quite simple really, isn't it? We just need to know the equivalent process to that of the adoption of a child. That's all."
"I'm afraid it is simple, since there is no such procedure...apart from depositing it in a zoo" he added, glaring at Paddington.
Anthony looked horrified, and glanced at the small bear by his side.
"But there must be a proper way of rehoming lost bears!?" Anthony wailed. "They have rights just like any other thinking, talking, sentient being."
"The truth is, Sir Anthony, that they do not have rights, and, therefore, the State has no responsibility for them. If you were to take it to your local authority they would refer it to their pest control department...as a problem to be...eliminated."
"This is totally unacceptable, outrageous!" Anthony had rarely been as angry as he was now. "Come, Paddington, I can see we will not find any useful answers here!"
"But...Sir Anthony...it's just..." Mr Doolittle flustered, but he stopped as quickly as he had started because Paddington was staring at him, and it wasn't just any old ordinary normal stare. It was a very hard stare that caused Mr Doolittle to blush quite furiously and to feel extremely hot, uncomfortable, and ashamed.
When he felt the lawyer had been taught enough of a lesson, Paddington stopped, tipped his hat and wished the lawyer 'Good day' politely albeit rather coldly, and followed Anthony out of the office.
"I am so sorry to have exposed you to such prejudice, Paddington. It was unforgivable." He turned to look at the building. "They may have been my family's solicitors for generations, but I shall be moving my business to another firm in the very near future."
He looked at the bear, noticing that he was trying not to show how upset he had been.
"I think we deserve a little something pleasant at a much nicer place I know" he smiled.
...
Mrs Patmore's Tea Shop was the oldest and best in the City of London. The cakes were freshly baked throughout the day, served to a clientele of tourists and City workers, barristers and lawyers.
The staff were delighted to be visited by such a polite and handsome young bear, building a tower of cushions on the chair for him so he was the right height, and they were happy to supply marmalade sandwiches even though they weren't on the menu. What was on the menu was something he had never heard about before but which very quickly became another of his favourites things: Marmalade Cake with Orange Icing.
Anthony toyed with a scone and sipped his Earl Grey thoughtfully, while Daisy, the Manageress, fussed over her furry customer, and even Mrs Patmore herself came out from the kitchen to accept Paddington's compliments, and to discuss with him the finer points of making the best marmalade.
When they had concluded, agreeing that only Seville oranges made really good preserves, Anthony spoke.
"Mrs Patmore, you must serve a large proportion of Her Majesty's judiciary here."
"More lawyers have eaten here than you can shake a wig at!" she joked.
"If someone were looking to engage a new legal adviser, some bright, young solicitor with a sharp mind and a compassionate heart, who would you recommend?"
"Oh, that's easy, Sir. I wouldn't hesitate to say Mr Matthew Crawley, fresh from Manchester. Such a nice young man and going places, they say."
Anthony blanched. "Did you say 'Crawley'? Is he related to the Downton Crawleys?"
"I believe so, but very remote-like, second cousin once removed, I believe."
"Thank you, Mrs Patmore. I will look him up."
...
That is how Paddington and Sir Anthony found themselves in a tiny, cramped office untidy with properly read and used books, sitting across from Mr Matthew Crawley. He rented the space from a much more established firm. Despite his obvious studiousness and welcoming manner, it was plain to Anthony that the young lawyer was struggling to attract enough clients to make ends meet. It wasn't the only thing he noted in Mr Crawley's demeanour.
"I believe you have recently relocated from Manchester" Anthony began.
"Yes, I...erm...I needed a change, a new challenge if you will."
"Forgive me, Mr Crawley, but would this desire for pastures new be inspired by a young lady's treatment of you?" Seeing Matthew's discomfort he quickly added "I only ask since I myself am in London purely because of a broken engagement."
"I am sorry to hear that, Sir Anthony, truly" he nodded with sympathy. "You infer correctly that my move here was caused, at least in part, by a lady refusing my proposal. But there are enough distractions to remind me that life doesn't stop just because one falls for a girl one doesn't deserve. Your own visit, for instance. Although I have not had the pleasure of exercising ursine law before, I admit I am excited to have the opportunity. How can I be of service to you two gentlemen?"
Matthew's eloquence confirmed the decision Anthony had been making since leaving Mr Doolittle.
"I want to pursue a legal challenge against the position that bears, even bears blessed with intelligence and the ability to communicate, have no rights in law."
Matthew stared at the man, then looked to the bear, who was also staring at Anthony.
"Really, Sir? You want to engage me to raise a test case? Golly!"
"Not just a test case, Mr Crawley. I want you to ensure that the law is changed."
...
A/N: I was overwhelmed by the response to the first chapter. I had thought I was the only one daft enough to contemplate something as silly as this. Boy, was I wrong! So, I've done something I swore I'd never do again...have more than one story on the go at the same time. I hope you will forgive the slow down in posting which will be the consequence, but I promise you that I haven't forgotten When I Say Run, or the awkward position in which Anthony and Edith were left there at the end of the last chapter.
LONG LIVE ANDITH!