April 7, 1918

Mont St. Eloi, France

"Colonel Crawley?"

Robert turned around. There was a Captain standing there. "Yes"

"I am Matthew Crawley. You were looking for me?"

"Yes, yes I was. I very am pleased to meet you" Robert stuck out his hand and Matthew shook it. "You are my closest living male relative and I am very happy to have finally met you."

Robert could see that Matthew was a little bemused. "I noticed a little bistro down the street. How about I buy you lunch and I can explain why I have been looking for you."

Over lunch Robert laid out the storey of the entail and how, since the death of Patrick, he had been searching for his heir in Canada whom had now been found in the person of Matthew.

"You cannot break the entail?"

"No, we have had several opinions to that effect"

"What about a private bill in Parliament?"

Robert was surprised that Matthew picked up that point so quickly. "We looked into it but such a bill will only be considered if there is no heir at all".

"So if I were to be killed ..." Matthew smiled to show he was joking.

Robert smiled back. "It is not as easy as that. There is some indication that an even more distant cousin emigrated, or was possibly transported, to Australia and so we would have to scour the outback for his descendants. No, the best solution for all concerned is for you to not get killed"

"I will try my best. To not get killed that is. Now tell me about your family and Downton Abbey"

It was clear to Matthew from the way Robert talked about Downton Abbey how deep his love was for it. It was hard not to be swept up in his enthusiasm. His vivid and affectionate descriptions made Matthew want to see it for himself.

It was Robert's description of his family that gave Matthew pause. He could put up with Robert's mother, opinionated as she may be, and his wife. He had learned early in life to respectfully listen to his elders and if need be, tactfully ignore what they said. The danger lie with the three daughters. Three unmarried daughters. Robert must have emphasized that point one way or another more than half a dozen times. Matthew could see why. If he were to marry one of the daughters Robert could have his cake and eat it too. He decided to throw a little cold water on the proposition.

"Just so I am clear... the entail does not require me to be responsible for your family?" Matthew asked.

Robert's face fell. "No. You would have to honour my mother's and my wife's dower rights, but you have no legal obligation to my daughters." he said glumly.

Matthew held up his hand. "Do not mistake my intention. I would be pleased to honour your moral obligations to your family."

Robert felt relieved although his relief started to wane as Matthew continued.

"You say your two youngest daughters will each enjoy a generous settlement when they marry"

"Yes"

"But your oldest daughter's settlement has been spent and she appears to be emulating Queen Victoria in mourning her late husband ."

"Yes"

"So if she never remarries she and her daughter will be my responsibility forever".

"Yes"

"Does the entail require the Earl to be in residence?"

"No, if you wanted to live in Canada you could be an absentee owner"

"So I could fulfil my legal and moral obligations at a distance."

"Yes"

Matthew was silent for long time considering this strange and momentous future which had been thrust upon him.

Finally Robert could bear it no longer and said "Look I would very much like for you come to Downton and see it for yourself. I can see that you are apprehensive and I know it is a lot to digest all at once."

He handed Matthew an envelope. "This has my address and directions on how to get to Downton. Please come visit your next long leave"

Matthew took the envelope and put it in his inside jacket pocket. "Thank you. I will take you up on that but I warn you it may be quite some time before I can get away. The killing season is upon us."

They both were quiet contemplating this.

Matthew continued. "In that regard we cannot ignore the elephant in the room. It is all very nice for us to discuss my inheriting the earldom and the estate but if this war continues for any length of time you will outlive me. You had better keep looking for that Aussie cousin of ours."

-0-

Later that night, back in camp, Matthew talked over the situation with his tent mate and best friend, Bert Hastings. He had spent the better part of ten hours with the Earl and he had a lot to think about.

"He wants me to move to Downton after the war and learn from him how to run the estate."

"So he wants you to be the son he never had" pointed out Bert.

"No, he wants me to be the son-in-law he doesn't have yet." replied Matthew.

"I think I see what your problem is. Fear of matrimony."

"Exactly. I have no objection to marrying the right girl in due course, but I would have liked to have picked from all the fish in the sea. If I move there I will be fishing in a pond with only three fish, one of whom has already been caught and slipped the hook".

"Come now. You're tough. Just say no."

"Easy for you to say, you're safe here in the trenches. I'll be up there with all those women and their wiles. They might get me drunk or something and next thing you know I'm signing a marriage contract"

They were both silent for a moment contemplating what exactly those wiles might be.

"You say the two younger ones still have money"

"Yes, the older one's husband apparently burnt through hers before he got himself killed"

"I can help you out. You marry the prettier of the two younger ones and I will marry the other one. The estate can hire me on as its bookkeeper" Bert had been an accountant in the real world. "That way if they turn out to be snooty shrews you will have someone to go to the pub with when you need to drown your sorrows."

"I might hold you to that"

"So are you going to take a look see your next long leave?"

"I might as well. The Earl left me an envelope with directions and a wad of cash for expenses. I'm not sure when though. It looks like our summer schedule is booked pretty solid so it'll probably be next winter. But I swear that whenever I do make it there if those high born ladies get all hoity-toity with me it'll be a pretty short visit."

Matthew was almost asleep when Bert said "You know this could solve help solve the problem of what to do with Marie-Claire"

Matthew instantly saw what Bert meant. "It sure would" he agreed. He smiled to himself. If he had to put up with those ladies they could put up with Marie-Claire.

April 10, 1918

Downton Abbey

Robert was late arriving back home. It seemed that every train he had been on was delayed for one reason or another and it was past seven when Branson delivered him to the front door of the Great House. He went straight to his room to dress for dinner.

The ladies were already seated when he finally entered the dining room. After the traditional pleasantries the ladies stared at him.

Finally Cora asked "Well did you find find Mr. Crawley?"

"Yes I did" Robert smiled at them.

"And?"

"I cannot tell you anymore"

"What do you mean" asked Violet.

"I can tell you Cousin Matthew was somewhat overwhelmed by my news that he was my heir. I think a lot of people would have focused on the pleasurable implications of inheriting great wealth but he focused instead on the responsibilities. That impressed me to no end".

"But what about him?" pleaded Edith. "What was he like?"

"I cannot tell you" Robert raised his hand to forestall further questions. "Matthew has agreed to visit us on his next long leave. He is going to check us out and you are going to check him out. He does not want me to prejudice you for or against him. He wants you decide on your own. So I promised I would not tell you anything about him"

"What do you mean – decide?" asked Sybil puzzled.

"At the end of his visit you will vote on whether he comes back. If you decide no then when he inherits he will be an absentee Earl living in Canada."

"We are to vote?" sniffed Violet. "Has Downton Abbey turned into a democracy all of a sudden?"

Yes you are to vote" smiled Robert . "It seems that Cousin Matthew believes in suffrage for women".

"I like him already" beamed Sybil.

"You had better consider the candidate and his platform before you cast your vote" warned Robert. "I should also warn you all that he will also be voting in his own plebiscite. It does not matter how you vote if he decides he does not want to come back."

"When does this paragon arrive?" asked Mary.

They all stared at her. It was the first time she had showed any interest in the conversation.

"I do not know. As Matthew put it, the killing season has started. It may be winter before he can come"

As it turned out, it was August.