Many, many thanks to everyone who sent me messages of support recently, when a friend of my wife was taken ill and needed all the help we could give him. He's much better now!
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So, finally, Paddington meets Lady Victoria...
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"So, you really have caught poor, old Strallan in the end then?" asked Mary pointedly, but without any real venom.
"Many a slip 'twixt cup and lip" Edith replied, looking down. They were in the drawing room taking coffee and waiting for the men to come through. Although everything seemed to be going well (Papa had given his blessing and Anthony seemed to be more confident by the day), Edith couldn't help the overwhelming dread that it seemed to be going well at this point last time as well…at least to her. And the time before. And then what had happened…both times? Disaster and heartbreak. After the thrill of Anthony's (third-ish) proposal, her nerves were now at a frightening pitch. She looked constantly for signs that Anthony was going to bolt, or was having second thoughts, or that something somewhere was going wrong, because she could not believe she'd be lucky enough for her wedding to go ahead successfully like normal people's do. And even if the ceremony happened as it should, there were still a thousand ways her marriage might fail and falter afterwards.
While all this went through Edith's mind, Mary watched her closely, silently, seriously. She had been different since Matthew had left. Quieter.
"You're frightened that it might all fall apart again" Mary stated. It wasn't a question.
Edith just nodded. She was sick and tired of lying, and done with trying to be brave, but she still found Mary's uncharacteristic insight into her misery just made her feel even more vulnerable to her sister's scheming.
"Is it Granny?"
"No, not really." In fact, the Dowager had been very quiet ever since that first evening.
"If Anthony's giving you cause to doubt him, I'll give him the tongue-lashing of his life!"
Edith looked up startled. Mary looked as if she really meant it. Had she really changed that much?
"What is it you want, Mary?"
"What?"
"You're trying to be nice to me. You must want something" Edith replied wearily.
"No…it isn't…I don't want…"
"Then, what's wrong? You can tell me, you know. I'm done with hurting other people, because it doesn't help, and nothing I do goes right anyway. Perhaps I've just grown up. Since Anthony jilted me, I've learned so much. I've begun to understand how fragile life and happiness can be. Paddington's in royal favour now, but it was only a matter of days ago that he was slapped into pawcuffs and incarcerated in a dog pound! And he showed nothing but dignity and compassion. I wish I was more like him. So, tell me, what's worrying you?"
Mary sighed.
"Matthew." She shrugged. "He's an up-and-coming barrister now, tipped to be a King's Counsel by this time next year. He doesn't need to marry well to further his career. Why would he want to marry me now?" She paused as her voice broke. "Especially after how I treated him."
"Because he loves you?" Edith said softly. "Not everyone thinks of marriage simply as a way of getting on in the world, you know. Some people actually think it might have to do with feelings. The only thing you need to ask yourself, Mary, is whether you have any." Mary began to fluster her annoyance at this but Edith cut her off. "And I, for one, know that you do have emotions, particularly concerning with Matthew. And I know for a fact that he has feelings for you."
"Really? I'm not good at this, Edith. I'm too used to people coming to me without my asking. Tell me how I get to meet him again."
Edith smiled with genuine sympathy. "Come back to London with us. We'll say you're chaperoning me prior to the wedding. And then write to him just congratulating him on Paddington's case. We could invite him to dinner some time. Take it from there." Cautiously she put her hand on her sister's. "I'm sure everything will be fine."
A commotion near the door startled them both. Paddington entered coughing and spluttering uncontrollably, followed by Carson offering the small bear a large glass of water, then Robert and Anthony came at the end, Robert looking very guilty. Cora approached her husband.
"What happened? Is he all right?"
"Well, Paddington introduced me to a scrumptious delicacy on the way home; I was merely returning the favour!...trying to introduce him to something new, something I enjoy! I thought he might like it too. How was I to know?" the Earl wailed.
"His Lordship offered Master Paddington a cigar. I fear it has not agreed with him" clarified Carson as Paddington drank the water and gathered himself once again.
"It wasn't…his Lordship's…fault. I didn't know…I would react so badly either. I've never smoked before."
"And never will again" muttered Anthony to Edith.
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In the end, the entire Crawley family travelled down to Grantham House in London. None of them were actually going to the Palace with Paddington. The invitation made it quite clear that only Paddington would be welcome. But Cora thought that the Crawleys should make a show of supporting him, and thus atone for past difficulties and misunderstandings.
Anthony, Paddington, and Stewart came on the same train as the Crawleys, but on arrival in London, they went directly to Strallan House. The next few days were going to be busy with preparations, and fraught with nerves. The first thing to do was to get Paddington measured up for a suit appropriate to the occasion. Although Stewart had got Paddington to try on Anthony's boyhood formal tail-coat from school, the small bear was very much larger around the waist than Anthony had been. A visit to a very good, and very broad-minded, tailor was required.
"Berthold Gruber^, Tailor" murmured Paddington, looking at the sign outside the modest shop. "That's not an English name."
"No" replied Stewart, "He came here during the war, after his house and shop in Ypres were obliterated. The whole town was in fact."
They entered a pleasant establishment stuffed floor to ceiling with bolts of cloth. An older man poked his head out from the back room, and addressed them in a thick accent.
"Ah! You're here! Sir Anthony said to expect Mr Stewart" he respectfully nodded to the butler, who returned the compliment, "and the young gentlebear in need of his first morning coat!"
Paddington gave the tailor a low bow.
"Thank you, sir, for seeing us so quickly. It is very much appreciated. You must be very busy."
"Not as busy as I once was…" There was a moment of silent, sad recollection.
"I, too, miss my homeland sometimes" Paddington said quietly. "I understand. One can build another home, especially with the help of kind people like Mr Stewart here, but you only ever get one homeland."
Mr Gruber looked at the small bear appraisingly.
"It was said in the newspapers that you are a remarkable young bear. I now see this to be true with my own eyes. I should very much like to get to know you more."
"And I you, Mr Gruber, sir" replied Paddington warmly.
Then the tailor recovered himself, reached for a measuring tape, and briskly began to take measurements.
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The day before Paddington's appointment at Buckingham Palace, Mr Gruber visited Strallan House to deliver the world's first morning suit created for a bear. Once Paddington had changed into it, he came down to the library to show everyone.
"My goodness!" exclaimed Anthony, "you look marvellous Paddington."
Mr Gruber scurried over to adjust the hang of the clothes. "You do look very good, Mr Bear! I took some liberties with the cut so as to make it more comfortable for your figure, and I am gratified to see that they don't notice, while also doing their job."
"Do I really look all right? For tea with their majesties?"
"Absolutely, Master Paddington" added Stewart, "as long as you don't rip it on the stairs, or cover it with marmalade, or…"
"Point taken, Mr Stewart. I will be very careful" Paddington replied with humility.
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Much to Stewart's surprise, Paddington didn't spoil his new suit. The next day he and Anthony were in a taxi on their way to the Palace.
"I'll be waiting outside in the lobby. Take your time, and just be yourself. I'm sure they just want to meet you."
"I know, I know" blubbed Paddington. "Thank you for coming with me, Sir Anthony."
"It will all be fine, I know it. You are an exceptional bear, Paddington. Go and make some wonderful memories."
The taxi drew up, Anthony and Paddington got out and were shown to a splendid waiting room. Then another equerry met Paddington and ushered him alone to follow him to the Royal Apartments.
He walked down a long corridor lined with many fine portraits, too nervous to say anything to the equerry. Finally, the man opened a pair of doors into a magnificent parlour, and announced "Mr Paddington Bear". He straightened himself, walked in and was met with smiles from Queen Mary, King George, and Lady Victoria. Paddington was stunned. Victoria was a bear exactly like him except that she was a little more petite, her fur was a lighter brown, almost golden in places, her eyes were a dark blue, and she wore a simple, but beautiful, lilac day dress with a matching bow behind one ear. Paddington thought she was the loveliest lady bear that he'd ever set eyes on.
"Thank you for coming, Mr Bear" said the Queen, shaking Paddington out of his reverie. He gave a very deep bow.
"It is my very great honour, your majesty. I thank you for your gracious invitation."
"It is we who should thank you, Mr Bear. Because of you, our darling Victoria now has the freedom to be herself."
"I'm very glad to be of service to your majesties, and to the fair Lady Victoria." Paddington's eyes glazed over again as he looked at her. Victoria smiled and blushed.
The Prime Minister, Mr Lloyd George, was announced just then.
"Your majesties!" he boomed, "what a pleasure it is to witness this extraordinary piece of history!" He bowed to the King and Queen, turned to Lady Victoria and bowed to her too, then reached over to shake Paddington's paw. "Mr Bear! We meet at last! My warmest congratulations on your victory". He gave Paddington a smile under his walrus moustache as mellifluous as his Welsh accent.
And from then on, everything went swimmingly. Lloyd George (who was no stranger to romance himself) noticed Paddington's fascination with Victoria almost immediately, and gently assisted by mentioning topics of conversation that might draw the two bears together. The King and Queen were enthralled by their new ursine friend, and delighted that Victoria had found a friend of her own kind at last. The two bears even conversed briefly in Bear Language much to the amusement of everyone, especially when in turn Mr Lloyd George gave a demonstration of the Welsh language*. After a very pleasant hour, the ceremony of the signing of the Act into law took place and everyone said their farewells. Paddington and the Prime Minister walked down the long corridor together. They hadn't got very far when Lloyd George stopped and turned to his companion.
"Young bear, if I might make so bold, I suggest you obey your heart. Go back and talk to that young lady bear. You might not get another chance. I'll wait for you here. Go on!"
Paddington didn't need to be told twice. He ran back to the reception room where he found Victoria sitting quietly by herself, deep in thought. She jumped up when she saw him.
"Paddington! I…I mean Mr Bear."
"Lady Victoria, might I…I…erm…would you permit me to see you again?" he stammered.
Beaming at him joyfully she replied "I would like that very much."
"Would you be free to come to tea at Strallan House tomorrow?" Inwardly, he cringed at how desperate he sounded, but Victoria thought it was sweet that he was so keen.
"Around four o'clock? Yes, that would be lovely."
"Until tomorrow."
Paddington bowed to her, but then ruined the decorous impression he'd given by running out of the room, whooping with joy. He swerved around the doorway, and ran headlong into the Prime Minister's legs.
"Oh! Your Right Honourableness! I'm sorry! It's just…she said 'yes'!"
"I heard, young bear. You didn't shut the door. But I'm very glad for you."
They resumed their walk out of the Palace. It wasn't long before Anthony heard the Welsh Wizard's advice to his new friend as they approached.
"Always remember to appreciate your lady. They like to be told what you feel about them, believe me. And don't take them for granted."
"I won't, sir, I promise. Thank you so much, Prime Minister. I do hope we shall meet again."
They shook paws and Lloyd George departed.
Anthony stood looking at Paddington with astonishment.
"Romance tips from the Prime Minister?"
Paddington shrugged, trying to look suave.
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^ I've appropriated Mr Gruber, the antiques dealer, from the original Paddington books, to be a tailor to bears. I hope no one minds.
* Lloyd George's native language was Welsh, English was his second language, a trait unique to him among British Prime Ministers. (He was also a notorious womaniser.)