"No" said George, and everyone stared at him shocked.
"No, I will not allow my adopted daughter to marry a commoner, a common bear."
Once again, Paddington's heart broke.
…
Anthony saw Paddington's head fall in bitter disappointment. God, did he know that feeling, to be told you're not good enough for the woman you loved by the girl's father! He put his good hand on the bear's shoulder in comfort.
Victoria choked quietly and hugged the Queen, murmuring "Oh Mama!"
George turned to Colonel Cathcart.
"Your sword, sir."
The Colonel looked at him horrified.
"Sir?"
"Give me your sword please, Colonel."
When Cathcart still didn't obey, George became more insistent.
"Dammit, man, I'm not going to run him through!"
Cathcart was more confused than aghast now, but still wasn't convinced, so George leaned forward to whisper a few words to him.
The Colonel's expression changed and he quickly drew his sword, formally offering the hilt to the King.
George took it and turned to face Paddington.
"Mr Paddington Bear! Kneel before me please."
Paddington looked at Anthony in alarm, but Anthony, who had guessed the King's intentions, reassured him.
"On one knee…It's all right, Paddington. Don't be afraid." Then he stepped back and took Edith's hand and squeezed it.
Paddington trusted Sir Anthony implicitly. He knelt before the King and bowed his head.
George touched him lightly on each shoulder with the flat of the blade, and then declared "Arise, Sir Paddington. The first bear knighted in England."
Paddington stood, his eyes glittering with emotion.
"Now that you have a title, and very much deserved it is too, I warmly give you my permission to approach my daughter. Should she accept you, (and I have no reason to think she won't), you will have my blessing, immediately and without reserve. And now, ladies and gentlemen, I believe we should withdraw and give these young bears some privacy."
He walked over to Victoria, placed a paternal kiss on the top of her head, then took his Queen's hand and led the way out of the room, with Anthony and Edith in happy tears following, and Colonel Cathcart bringing up the rear, closing the doors behind him.
Paddington looked shocked to the core. He took a very deep breath and turned to Victoria.
"My lady."
"Sir Paddington" she smiled. "That does sound rather good."
Taking a few steps towards her, he confessed "Whenever I have imagined this moment, I have always been properly brushed and formally dressed, and you, my love, you have been wearing the most amazing ball gown, and it was late at night, not early in the morning."
Victoria blushed.
"You've…imagined this?"
"Many times. Over and over and over again."
"So have I" she whispered back.
"Really?" he managed.
She nodded and looked into his eyes encouragingly.
"Oh my lovely Victoria!" For the second time that morning, he dropped to one knee, and deliberately spoke in the Bear language.
"Will you be mine? Will you let me love you, and take care of you, forever?"
"Oh, yes, Paddy, my hero, yes!"
"No one's ever called me that before. I like it!"
He rose to his hind paws again.
"I do believe I won't let anyone else call me that. Only you, my gorgeous wife to be! My love, my soul mate."
He took her in his arms and kissed her.
…
Everything was arranged. The wedding would be held at St. George's Chapel, Windsor and conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury. Mr Gruber had been commissioned to make Paddington's wedding suit, and he had been delighted to accept, visiting Strallan House for measurements and fittings, over the moon like a tailor in heaven.
One evening, as they sat around the fire in the library, Anthony asked Paddington "What would you like as a wedding present, my boy?"
"Me and Victoria, or just me?"
"You can have both if you wish, Paddington" replied Edith, smiling.
Paddington thought for a minute.
"I don't know what Vicky would like. We should ask her. But I…"
"Yes?" encouraged Anthony and Edith together.
"I should very much like to live at Locksley, with all those lovely trees. And I want to take all my canine friends from the pound with me and let them have a free life romping around the house and grounds." It had all come out in a rush and he was silent for a moment. "Is that too much to ask?"
"Not at all, Sir Paddington. As usual, giving others happiness is what gives you the most joy yourself. Truly, you are a noble bear" said Anthony. "Besides, I love dogs."
"Why don't we go round there tomorrow? I'm sure Strallan House can cope with a few more animal residents for a while" beamed Edith.
"I'm not so sure about Stewart though!" murmured Anthony, "but we'll cope somehow."
In the event, Stewart was as keen as any of them. He had become very fond of the little Chihuahua that he'd met when he, Mrs Bird, and Paddington had visited before, and he had been visiting the small dog secretly on his days off. He was overjoyed to learn that he was now not only being allowed to adopt her, but all the other inmates were going to live with them too.
…
In the not so grand surroundings of Downton Church, Anthony stood near the altar with his Best Bear, awaiting his bride.
He turned slightly towards the Dowager Countess, who nodded at him approvingly. He gave her a small bow in return, turned back and breathed out like a runner pacing himself.
"Are you all right, Papa?" asked Paddington.
"I'm sure I will be, thank you."
"I won't let anything stand in your way to happiness, Sir Anthony."
"Thank you, Sir Paddington."
Edith arrived at the church door on her father's arm, confident that, this time, all would be well. The man waiting for her at the end of the aisle was kind, handsome, honourable, and desperately in love with her.
And she loved him; oh, how she loved him! When she arrived in front of Rev. Travis she turned and smiled at her almost-husband.
"Good afternoon."
"Good afternoon, my sweet one" he replied, taking her hand and kissing it. He held her hand all through the ceremony, only releasing her to take the ring from Paddington's paw to place on his bride's finger.
Afterwards, Edith surreptitiously threw her bouquet towards her elder sister who caught it, glanced at her fiancé, and blushed. She then sat in the open carriage and sighed.
"Are you matchmaking, Lady Strallan?" asked her husband.
"I don't know what you are referring to!" she replied innocently. "I mean, Victoria didn't catch it, did she?"
"I don't think Victoria has anything to worry about. Paddington is mad about her."
"Let's see if that's still the case when we return from Italy."
"My dearest darling, I think it will take more than a month for that bear to lose those stars in his eyes, if he ever does. Just as I will never lose them when I look at you." Gently, he kissed her.
…
True enough, five weeks later, Sir Anthony was standing at another, much grander, altar. This time, he was Best Man to Sir Paddington Bear, and St. George's Chapel, Windsor, held eight hundred guests. To one side of him sat Queen Mary. Soon Lady Victoria would walk down that long, elegant aisle towards them on the arm of King George. He checked his waistcoat pocket for the hundredth time, and once again found the large, bear wedding ring was still there. The Archbishop of Canterbury frowned at his fidgeting.
"Are you all right, Paddington?" he asked, more to cover his owns nerves than out of any worry for the bear by his side.
"I'm just about to marry the bear of my dreams. I am very lucky. When I think back to where you found me…"
"…at Paddington Station without a home…you've come a very long way, young bear."
"And there will be more adventures, more achievements…"
"I know there will. And I wouldn't want it any other way. Good luck, my boy."
The music began. Minutes later, Victoria arrived by Paddington's side, looking astounding in a long-trained, pastel blue dress with silver lace. She said something in Bear, and Paddington blushed furiously. Anthony smiled, and looked up to catch his own wife's eye. Edith gave him a glowing smile, as the ceremony began.
…
"Well, I thought the whole service was lovely" said Mrs Bird.
"I didn't say it wasn't" retorted Stewart. "But can you imagine what Strallan House is going to look like when we have everyone living there? Locksley can take it, but the London house?"
"There's not going to be that many of them!" she challenged.
"The Master and Mistress, and any children they are blessed with" Stewart began, counting on his fingers, "plus you and me, in addition to all the dogs (not that I mind them at all, of course!) and then Sir Paddington and Lady Victoria and all their cubs…"
"Oh gawd!" Mrs Bird exclaimed.
Thank you all so very much for reading and reviewing. I am truly ashamed to see that it has taken me so very long to finish this. Despite this, I hope you got some fun out of it.
Thank you especially to Ladies Kymby, SpottedHorse, JF, Tarlea, and Redlornie, who have been amazingly supportive throughout. I couldn't have finished it without you. Bless your cotton socks forever!
LONG LIVE ANDITH!