"Victoria is the name of Her Majesty's bear-in-waiting…so called because they found her on Victoria Station just after she'd arrived from Peru."
"Good heavens, Paddington! Did you hear that?"
But Paddington was so shocked and astounded that he couldn't speak.
Anthony turned around to Edith. She wasn't there.
Looking for her desperately, he saw her walking away in the company of her father, out of the stone halls of government, and out of his life.
...
Stewart sensed his master's disappointment, and even Paddington, elated with his freedom as he was, could tell that he should keep quiet and just be there for his friend.
Suddenly, the expression on Anthony's face changed and he began to walk after Robert and Edith, breaking into a run when he got outside. But he was still too late. The Crawleys had got into a taxi and were driving away.
Quickly, Anthony hailed another just as Stewart and Paddington reached him, and all three bundled into the vehicle.
"Follow that taxi!" Paddington instructed the cabbie. He looked round into Anthony's and Stewart's astounded eyes.
"Sorry. It's just I've always wanted to say that, like they do in the movies." Stewart giggled, but Anthony was too distracted by watching the car ahead. After a while Stewart said "I do hope Mrs Chetwood finds her way to Strallan House, sir."
It was clear that Anthony hadn't spared a single thought about Celia, Matthew, or Dickie when he had started chasing after Edith, but quickly thinking about them now he said "I'm sure my sister has the gumption required to get back. Dickie was staying at his club, I believe, and Mr Matthew will want to be included in the lawyers' discussions after the debate. The main thing is to make sure that Edith is…is…"
"…is not being unduly coerced by her father" Paddington finished for him.
Anthony nodded, his pain clear.
It soon became obvious that Edith's taxi was heading for…Strallan House! Had Anthony got it all wrong? He was confused and embarrassed, but there was no time to ponder because soon enough the two taxis had drawn up at their destination.
Anthony rushed out and ran up after Edith up the stairs to his town house, closely followed by Paddington, leaving Stewart to pay the cabbie. Robert was paying his own fare, and Paddington, in a moment of supreme understanding decided it would best if Anthony and Edith had a moment to themselves. He barrelled into the earl, sending all his change flying.
"Oh good God!" swore Robert.
"Goodness! Please accept my apologies, my lord! I tripped. Let me help you pick up your money."
"Don't you think you've done enough, bear?" Robert growled.
"I really didn't mean…" pleaded Paddington.
Anthony left them arguing. When he went through his front door, he found Edith halfway up the first flight of stairs to her room. She stopped and looked round, the sadness heavy in her eyes.
Anthony walked right up to Edith without hesitating.
"Edith" he hissed, "what's happening? Are you all right?"
"I'm returning to Downton with Papa. I've come back to collect my things. If you recall I left Yorkshire without telling anyone where I was going and I've been here for much longer than I thought I would be. I owe it to Papa, and Mama, to return and let them tell me off like the runaway child I am."
"You owe them civility and very little else, Edith. You're a grown woman of considerable talents. I understand that you would want to return to apologise for how you left, but you don't need to stay there and be treated like a truant. You are so much more…you…you could stay here if you…it would…I mean…"
He passed his good hand over his eyes, then he took a deep breath and recovered himself.
"Edith, when I left our wedding, I thought it was for the best, for you I mean. But over the last few days I have come to understand much more what you were trying to say to me, that you were going into the marriage with your eyes open and willing to take what I could offer you without grieving for what I could not. Is that still your view?"
"Yes, of course it is" she said quietly.
"Then…" Anthony knelt down on one knee before her "…could you forgive me and grant me another chance? Will you marry me?"
With tears streaming down her face she nodded and whispered "Yes, my love, I will".
"Oh Edith! My dearest darling!"
Robert, Paddington and Stewart entered the building just at that moment to find Anthony kissing Edith with every ounce of love and reverence that he possessed.
Robert looked down at the bear.
"I blame you for this."
"I don't believe I am responsible, my lord, but if I were I would be very happy and proud of it" replied Paddington, sternly.
Robert sighed.
"So you should, so you should. You changed the law today as well."
"With the help of my friends, yes. I didn't do it all myself. You yourself helped, my lord, and for that I am very grateful."
"You're welcome. And thank you, Mr Bear." He glanced back at his daughter and her fiancé. "I made a mistake when I tried to deter those two from building a life together. I'm grateful to you for bringing them back together again…they are right together." He turned to Stewart. "But I really must insist that Lady Edith visits her mother. She has been worried sick."
"Of course, my lord. I will make arrangements immediately."
Anthony and Edith came down the stairs, as Stewart went up them to pack, shaking his master's hand warmly as he passed.
"Papa? Will you give us your blessing, and properly mean it, this time?" she asked.
"Of course, my darling girl. I see it now, how good you are for each other. Anthony!" He took his old friend's left hand. "You remember…before…you asked me whether I was happy about this marriage, and I gave you a reprehensibly lukewarm response. I am truly sorry for that. I should have seen how happy you make each other. Now, I am very happy about it, and I give you both my most earnest blessing."
Edith hugged her father though Robert's expression changed drastically from joy to alarm as he felt his legs also being squeezed. He calmed down when he looked down to find it was just Paddington embracing his lordship's noble knees out of sheer happiness.
…
Robert, Anthony, Edith, Stewart, and Paddington took the tea time train back to Yorkshire. Celia had got herself her own taxi back to Strallan House, and was overjoyed to find that the proposal had finally happened. She gave everyone a hug and promised to come up to Locksley later on, then instructed Stewart to send her luggage back to her own house and departed as quickly as she had come.
Settling into the train journey, it didn't take long for Paddington and Robert to acquaint themselves with each other and to decide that they could be friends, especially after Paddington offered Robert his last marmalade sandwich. The gesture was much appreciated by the earl, and, to his surprise, he found he really enjoyed the delicacy, although he swore all present to absolute secrecy about it particularly as regards his mother! At Downton station, Robert insisted that Anthony join them to go to the Abbey to tell everyone the good news.
"About bears being free?" asked Edith mischievously.
"About your impending nuptials, of course!" Robert replied. "I think everyone would be happy if you wanted to arrange it as soon as you see fit."
"Even Lady Grantham?" murmured Anthony, and they knew he hadn't meant Cora.
"Yes, even her. You may be surprised to know that she does, very occasionally, change her mind. I hope this may be such an occasion."
"We can but hope" said Anthony, mostly to himself, sending Stewart on to Locksley.
...
But the Dowager Countess was as implacable as ever.
"What is it the actors say? 'Never appear with cripples or animals?' " she declaimed on being introduced to Paddington.
Edith bit her tongue on what she wanted to reply to her grandmother, and the poor bear began to give Violet a Very Hard Stare (which, for the first time ever, was having absolutely no effect) until Anthony placed a steadying hand on his shoulder.
"I don't believe that wording is quite accurate, Mama" said Robert, trying to placate her. Instead he unintentionally poured oil on her fire. "Why don't you, like me, accept that we were in the wrong. Wish them well and let them go." The look mother and son shared then convinced Violet that the choice of words was deliberate.
"Edith, I want you to acknowledge right now that I have said that you will become a very disappointed wife. Whether I live to see myself justified remains to be seen, but I expect my prediction to come to pass sooner rather than later bearing in mind your fiancé's age."
She was slowly leaving a stunned and silent room when Carson showed Stewart in, preventing her from going.
"Sir! Sir Anthony! This was delivered to Locksley not an hour ago. I knew you would want to see it as soon as possible."
The loyal butler put into Anthony's good hand a large envelope bearing the Royal Crest. The silence in the room changed quality. Anthony proved that he was possessed of sang froid by saying clearly but calmly "Lady Edith, would you be kind enough to open it and read it aloud to all present? Thank you."
Edith, with shaking hands, did as she was bid. Clearing her throat she declared "Their Majesties and Lady Victoria Bear request the pleasure of the company of Mr Paddington Bear at tea at Buckingham Palace Monday next to witness the signing of the Royal Assent for the Emancipation of Intelligent Non-Humans (Bears) Act 1920, in the presence of the Prime Minister. 3:30pm for 4pm. RSVP"
There were several gasps, lots of smiles, and a sense of triumph settled on Anthony, Edith, and Paddington, although it was mildly worn. Anthony and Stewart began talking about trains and getting back to Strallan House. Robert and Cora nodded at each other, their love and support obvious. Violet and her spiteful prophecy were forgotten. It was unprecedented, but as she left for the Dower House, she suddenly felt very old, and in the wrong.
...
If you've been reading this and you've got as far as here...THANK YOU SO MUCH! If you've taken the time to review, I AM VERY GRATEFUL! There will be one more chapter I think. Watch this space.
There are so many wonderful Andith fics on the go at the moment. I just want to thank all my fellow Andith authors for producing such amazing stories.
I love you all.