Well, it's turned out to be an eventful Andith Fest so far. Lots of wonderful stories, plenty of activity on Tumblr. And I've collected my first troll. Thank you JF for your kind, brave review. If it hadn't been for you, I might have chucked it all in then and there. *bows low*
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Anthony walked smartly into his study. He needed to pull himself together…but…how could he possibly do that now?!
Edith had said that she loved him.
He forced himself to breathe, and to think. How could he have committed such a dreadful misreading of her feelings? He laughed bitterly: because he was so blinded by his own lack of self-belief. And…and because Robert had not even mentioned Edith's feelings at dinner the night before the ceremony. He'd said he was glad she was happy. He didn't say why she was happy. There again, men of Robert and Anthony's class and generation didn't discuss such things. There was nothing too unusual in what the earl had said.
However, Edith had told him that her family didn't understand her. He should have known that their opinions would differ greatly from Edith's own.
There was one inescapable truth in what he had heard: in his misery, he had spurned the greatest gift a woman can give a man. He felt ashamed, and remorseful, and very, very sorry. Most of all, he felt a huge, burning need to put his mistake right…if he could after all that had happened.
He wiped his eyes and face with his handkerchief, squared his shoulders, and returned to the morning room.
"Stewart said there might be some coffee left? Or has Paddington drunk it all?" he asked brightly.
"Paddington isn't down from his bath yet, so you have a sporting chance of making a dent in it" replied Celia.
Anthony poured himself a warming cup of coffee, and looked at his ex-bride-to-be…and hoped she might still consent to accepting him. Did he see something of what had passed between her and his sister in her eyes? Or was he imagining it?
"I've been thinking about the best way to proceed. And I would welcome your opinions" he said as he sat down with the two most precious women to him in all the world.
"It would be good to have access to lists of all the current MPs and peers" Edith chipped in. "Then we could go through them, identify who's for Paddington, and who's against…"
"…and those as yet undecided…" contributed Celia.
"Absolutely. I couldn't agree more. I've asked Stewart to dig them out of my study when he's finished with Paddington" agreed Anthony.
"Then we should make a list of who we want to visit, and who we can invite here" said Edith.
"And that should include all the 'maybes' and a few of the 'for Paddingtons' just to strengthen their resolve, don't you think?" stated Celia.
"And a few of the 'against Paddingtons' to try to change their minds. But really our strategy all depends on how much time we have. We really don't know whether that's days, weeks, or months" said Anthony with frustration.
"The debate will start with the House of Commons, won't it? And then, if it passes three readings, it will be referred to the House of Lords. So we should start with the MPs, yes?" Edith said.
"I can always depend upon you for that sort of clear thinking, Lady Edith" Anthony smiled proudly, making Edith blink, look down, and blush in the glare of his praise.
At that moment Stewart appeared.
"Ah, Stewart! Good man! Do you have those lists I asked you to find?" asked Anthony.
"Alas, I have not had any opportunity to find them, sir, since I have been assisting Master Paddington. I regret to report that he has, somehow…" (here Stewart couldn't stop himself rolling his eyes just a little)…"accidentally flooded the bathroom while taking his bath. I'm very sorry, sir, but I'm not sure that my abilities stretch to restoring the facilities to their previous acceptable condition, sir. Some refurbishment by outside specialists will be required."
Anthony put a hand on his man's shoulder.
"It's not your fault, Stewart. God knows that bear has the very worst luck! Do whatever you think necessary. And don't worry about the lists. I'll find them."
"Thank you, sir. I'm most grateful."
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So the rest of the morning was spent in the library, with all three of them searching out lists of the members of both Houses of Parliament. Over an informal lunch, they discussed who they should lobby first.
A bit later on, Paddington reappeared looking very sheepish, and still a bit damp. Although Anthony was understanding of misfortunes that might befall the bear anywhere else in the house, the baronet could not stand the thought of anything untoward happening to his precious library.
"Please, Paddington" he said, "you've had a very trying time what with the dog pound and the trial and everything. I do understand that. When you're tired accidents happen. I insist you return to your room and get some rest before dinner."
"If you're sure I can't help…" the small bear bemoaned.
"I do think it's for the best, Paddington" cooed Edith soothingly. "Tomorrow we are going to begin trying to change MPs minds about you, and we'll need you in top form! Go and have a nap and conserve your energy."
To everyone's relief, that's what he did.
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When she thought Celia was deep enough into what she was reading not to notice anything else, Edith walked over to Anthony's side.
"Erm, yesterday, at the court, while you were giving evidence, Mr Murray found me."
"Murray? Was he the chap dressed more formally than the Prime Minister? Grey moustache?"
"Yes. You saw him?"
"Could hardly miss him."
"He's my father's lawyer and man of business. Papa sent the hounds out to find me."
Anthony went white.
"What now?"
"I promised Murray I would call Downton. I'd like to get it over and done with. Might I use your telephone?"
"Of course, of course." He led the way to the back of the hall where the night porter was usually stationed, indicating where the telephone was hidden in a booth with a wave of his hand. Then he began to walk away to give her privacy.
"Anthony?"
"Yes?" He span round again, hopefully.
"I know it's a lot to ask, but...would you stay here...with me...keep me company while I call them? I know I'm going to be told off like a schoolgirl playing truant, and…"
"I will always support you, my dear, in any way you require and whenever you will allow me" he murmured.
She smiled and blushed slightly.
"Thank you."
She picked up the receiver and asked for Downton Abbey.
"Downton Abbey, this is the Butler speaking."
"Hello Carson, it's Lady Edith here."
"My lady!" She heard his surprise in his voice. "Are you safe?"
"Yes, Carson, I'm fine, thank you for being concerned. I daresay you and Mrs Hughes are the only people who were."
"His Lordship has been very concerned, my lady." Of course Carson would defend Papa; he always did. But she noticed the loyal butler's careful choice of words. Before she could ask him to clarify whether her father was concerned about her or about the Crawley name, Carson had excused himself to fetch the earl.
She waited nervously, whispering to Anthony that Robert was being found. He smiled encouragingly back, although she could see that he too was nervous.
"EDITH! Where are you?!" Her father's roar caused her to hold the receiver away from her ear.
"Hello Papa."
"Have you any idea how much trouble you have caused by running off in the night like that?"
"Actually, Papa, I didn't think anyone would miss me."
"You've been gone days." Robert was beginning to quieten down a bit. "Of course we missed you, my girl. Your mother has been at her wit's end. Murray said he'd found you and you looked all right, but you wouldn't tell him where you are staying, although he had a suspicion that you might be doing something rather reckless."
"Papa, I'm a grown woman of twenty-five. I don't believe I have to ask for your permission to visit London."
"But it would have been polite to tell us you were going. I thought we'd brought you up better than that."
Now Edith was feeling thoroughly reprimanded.
"Yes, Papa. I'm sorry. I just…I was feeling…"
"I know, my dear girl. It's quite natural that you should feel confused and upset after what that blasted cad Strallan put you through."
Anthony, able to hear everything Robert said, winced.
"I needed to talk to him, Papa. I needed to know why he did what he did."
"Oh, Edith…!"
"It's fine, Papa. I understand now. I'm feeling much calmer. And I've found a cause."
"Yes, that bear. The papers are making a meal of that. Do you have to continue to be involved?"
"You haven't met him, Papa. He's a very brave and noble bear, and I believe his cause is just. Won't you meet him, and make up your own mind?"
"Certainly not. The very idea. But where are you staying Edith? Please tell me Murray was wrong. You're not living in sin with…"
"I'm staying with…Mrs Celia Chetwood."
"Chetwood? What?! Isn't she…?"
"Sorry Papa, I can't hear you very well…"
Edith rubbed her hand over the speaker to create static and then cut the call.
She replaced the receiver and turned to find Anthony had stepped towards her.
"Oh Edith!"
Edith sniffed her hurt away.
"It's all right. He's always a bit like that when something's gone against him. I'm…I'm sorry he called you a cad."
"He has every right to call me a cad, because that is what I am."
She looked up into his eyes.
"No you're not. You thought you were saving me from a wasted life of drudgery and lost opportunities."
"That is what I thought…then."
His face was set and determined. She almost reached up and kissed him there and then.
"There you are!" cried Celia. "I've just discovered there's a number of MPs involved with animal welfare. We should start with them, don't you think?"
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The first meeting was a soirée a few nights' later for a group of MPs who supported Paddington's cause. Anthony, Edith, and Matthew all thought that a positive gathering should be the first one that Paddington had to experience. He might have to deal with negative opinions later, so having met advocates first would help him endure that.
"Paddington, may I introduce the Right Honourable Mr Edward Shortt, the Home Secretary" said Edith, with a reassuring hand on the bear's shoulders.
"Mr Bear, I am very pleased to meet you." Paddington shook paws with a tall man wearing a monocle, immaculately dressed in a fashion that was ten years out of date.
"Thank you very much, sir. I do hope my friends and I haven't inconvenienced you at all" replied Paddington with his usual polished manners.
"No, certainly not! Sometimes it's rather refreshing to be able to support a clear, moral case. Is that not so, Freddie?" he addressed a man behind him, who stepped forward to join the little group.
"Absolutely, Teddy. It's an honour to shake paws with you, Mr Bear" he said.
Mr Shortt continued the introductions.
"Mr Bear, this is my Right Honourable friend, Sir Frederick Banbury. He's one of His Majesty's opposition and Chairman of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals."
Paddington looked from one man to the other. They seemed, well, almost friendly.
"I'm sorry, gentlemen, but I thought that your party political differences might extend to your views on my case?"
"Of course not!" said one.
"Everyone believes that, because we sit on opposite sides of the House, we must be at each other's throats all the time hating each other personally, like Gladstone and Disraeli, when in actual fact it couldn't be further from the truth. We have to work together most of the time, Mr Bear. It helps if we can get along, and indeed we share many opinions on a variety of issues" said the other.
"Do you think that will apply to the rest of your honourable friends?" asked Paddington, hope lighting his eyes.
"I sincerely hope so! And please rest assured that we shall be lobbying all of our colleagues to convince them of the strength of the ethical argument in favour of granting you your rights in law."
"Absolutely. Then there's the economic and diplomatic advantages of being the first country in the world to acknowledge intelligent non-humans. We mustn't forget that!"
It'll be one in the eye for the Americans, eh?" They chuckled as another man, equally well-dressed was introduced to Paddington.
And so it went on. All night.
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It was past midnight when the last guest left, and everyone was able to sit down in the library to draw breath, take a nightcap, and relax before bed.
"It seemed to go very well" observed Matthew.
"But they were all people who had already decided to support us" moaned Paddington "and I was nervous enough as it was. How will I cope with Members who are hostile?"
"You will have us all to back you up, young bear" said Celia.
"Certainly" agreed Edith.
"Courage, Paddington. We're on the home straight!" added Anthony.
Paddington gave them all a weak, tired smile.
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Mr Edward Shortt and Sir Frederick Banbury were real people. I've based their positions, dress, and backgrounds on their entries in Wikipedia so they must be true (!).
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If you don't know how Paddington flooded the bathroom, may I suggest you watch the first Paddington film to find out.