December 24, 1918

Downton Abbey

Matthew opened his eyes. It was early. He looked at his wristwatch and then remembered that Mary had made him take it off. He tried to slide slowly out of the bed but as he moved she snuggled up to him.

"Sweetheart I have to go back to my room."

"Mmmm" Mary turned around and put her arm over him. "Lots of time, go to sleep" She buried her head in the pillow.

"Darling I can't get caught here. And we have a lot to do this morning"

"Hmm... Like what?"

"Set the date for the wedding, get a licence, buy wedding bands"

"All done" she molded herself to him.

Matthew pried her away from his chest so he could look into her face. "What do you mean?"

"New Year's Eve; I've got the licence; I've got the rings; I've even had the Bishop dispense with the reading of the banns." She smiled at him.

"All since last night?"

"All since you confirmed you were coming for Christmas"

"You presumed..."

"I knew" She kissed him. "Besides it is better to ask for forgiveness, than to ask for permission"

"So besides you, who knows about this wedding?"

"Pretty much everyone"

"I was going to ask your father for permission."

"You should still to do it, for the look of it."

"Well, there go my plans for the morning"

She nuzzled him. "Can't you think of anything?"

-0-

That morning Marie Claire made a concerted effort to look into every room on the Great House. She was assisted by a surprising number of allies who fed her and hid her from the searching Matthew and Mary.

She started off in the kitchen with Mrs. Patmore and Daisy who let her stir the porridge and then fed her some. She then headed up the back stairs all the way to the servants' level. By this time the alarum had been raised by Mary. When Matthew and Mary had tracked her to the kitchen and had been pointed to the back stairs she was already in the breakfast room sharing kedgeree with Robert. She did not care for it. Mary and Matthew by this time had split up. Matthew missed her by minutes. Robert told him Marie Claire had gone looking for Isis. But she had not. She had headed back upstairs. When Mary and Matthew meet on the grand staircase to compare notes she was already in bed with Cora sharing breakfast in bed. O'Brien squealed on her.

Mary rushed to her mother's bedroom to find only Cora sipping some tea.

"Looking for something dear?"

Mary scowled at her, looked around the room, checked in the dressing room and then left. She did not look under the bed where Marie Claire was chewing on her sleeve to keep from giggling. When she was sure Mary was gone she crawled out from underneath the bed. She took another piece of toast from Cora.

"Be careful. They will be watching the main stairs. When you go out, turn right, go all the way to the end of the hall and take the stairs there down to the main floor." Core ruffled Marie Clair's hair. "Run along"

As she watched her go Cora thought it was true, having grandchildren was more fun than having children.

Marie Claire made it back to the breakfast room but she was seen by Anna. When Mary and Matthew came charging in only Edith was there.

"Yes?"

This time Mary looked under the table. Marie Claire was not there, she was behind the curtains where they did not look. They left and she came out.

Edith stopped her from leaving the room. "I think they are watching both doors" she whispered. "Let me check" She did and they were. "I'll distract your papa and when I do you head back up to your room. Let them find you there."

Edith left the room, walked up the Matthew, grabbed his arm and turned him away from the door towards the Christmas Tree.

"Isn't it beautiful? I helped decorate it"

Matthew had to admit it was beautiful and while he was doing so Marie Claire slipped behind and snuck back back to the nursery. Which is where Matthew and Mary found her helping Beth feed Patricia. She admitted nothing.

Mary would not admit it, even to herself, but she had been as difficult a child as Marie Claire. She was now discovering that what goes around, comes around. She hugged Marie Claire.

"Do not scare Mama like that again"

Marie Claire gave them both a sweet smile.

-0-

Just before afternoon Matthew asked to speak to Robert in private.

"Sir, I do not know what is the proper protocol is in a situation such as the one I find myself in"

"Oh?" Robert had an idea what Matthew was driving at.

"With Mary being a widow I not sure if I should be asking for your permission but I feel that it is proper that I do.

"Permission? Matthew you have all the permission I can bestow" and he shook Matthew's hand. "although I am not sure that what she does is within my control anymore. You know she has already

obtained a special licence for the 31st?"

"Yes, she told me this morning?"

"You are going to find that Crawley women do whatever they want. All we can do as Crawley men is bear it with good grace." Robert gave Matthew the knowing smile of the old hand to the newbie. "Do you not have to get permission from your commanding officer?"

"I already have it" Matthew grinned at Robert "I obtained it in advance, just in case"

"Excellent, proper planning is the key to military success"

Properly dealing with the situation when your plan goes all to hell is the key to military success thought Matthew but he did not say anything; he did not want to upset his future father in law. He would get enough of that later.

When Matthew left the library he found Sir Anthony waiting to go in. He gave him a thumbs up.

Fifteen minutes later a beaming Robert was preparing to announce not one, but two sets of forthcoming nuptials.

Everyone was gathered in the drawing room. His mother, Cora, Mary and Matthew, Edith and Sir Anthony, even Rosamund and Sir Richard. Everyone except Sybil. Where was she? The joyful anticipation drained out of him.

Matthew left Mary talking to Cora and went and sat by Violet.

"Are all your pieces in place?"

"Yes, my general"

"Now we wait"

"This is always the worse time, waiting to go over the top. You have time to think what can go wrong, once the whistle blows there's no more time to think."

"We have thought of every possibility"

"Does he have a gun in this room?"

She put her hand to her mouth "I do not know"

"If he goes for one I'll tackle him"

Violet changed the subject "What do you do while you are waiting to attack"

"Go to the jakes, say a prayer, check my revolver; not necessarily in that order."

"You had better say the prayer, you do not have time for the rest" Violet was looking at the door.

Sybil was standing in the doorway. Beside her Branson was standing, dressed in a suit. They were holding hands.

It took a while for Robert to register this but register it he did.

Branson dropped Sybil's hand and walked up to Robert. Everyone was holding their breath.

"Sir I would like to speak to you in private" Branson said in a clear steady voice.

Everyone watched Robert. His face was way beyond thunder and lightening. It was volcanic.

"NO!" he roared. "You seduced my daughter!" He started to undo his belt.

Matthew stood up. A horsewhipping was not part of the plan. "There will be no laying on of hands" he said in his best parade ground voice.

Robert looked down and started doing up his belt But he continued his tirade. "You are fired! Get out of this house!" He pointed at the door. "Get out!" he yelled.

Carson started to move towards Branson. Matthew moved to block him. In a low voice that no one else could hear he told Carson "Back off or I'll knock you down"

Carson took only a second to assess the situation. He was taller and heavier. He was also older and fatter. And he did not like the cold look in Matthew's eyes. He gave a small nod and backed up.

"I love him!" Sybil screamed at Robert "If he goes I go!"

Robert turned to her. "Go then, you are no daughter of mine! And you will not get any settlement from me!"

"Keep your damn money!" Sybil took Branson's hand and they started walking towards the door.

"Get out!" Robert was screaming as he pointed at the door.

Matthew looked at Violet. She nodded. The ram's head had touched the gate. "Sybil, Tom!" Matthew called. They stopped. "Wait for us by the main door. Sir Anthony, could you have your driver take us to the train station?"

"Certainly" Sir Anthony answered. "Carson would please..."

Carson nodded and left the room.

Mary stood up. "I will go get the girls ready"

Robert whirled on her "Where are you going?"

Mary glared at him. "We have daughters. We will not stay in a house that casts out its daughters"

"Nor will I" Edith stood up. "Anthony do you have enough room at your house for all of us?"

"Yes, we will have to shake out some dust but I do believe we accommodate everyone"

"Get out! All of you get out!" Robert raged. "You ungrateful lot. You are all cut off."

They left. Robert was left panting in the middle of the room. He turned to Violet and Cora. "Do you believe that? After all I have done for them? Where is the loyalty?"

Where Robert was red with anger Cora was white with a cold rage. She went up to him and stuck her finger in his chest. "You have just destroyed this family. And do not talk about loyalty, I know all about Jane!" Cora turned to Violet. "Do you have room for me in the Dower House?"

"Yes I do" Violet stood up, she leaned on her cane. "come Sir Richard, Rosamund you are going to have to drive us home" She waved her cane at Robert. " I have never been so disappointed with you in my whole life. I thought I had raised you better than this. This is not the nineteenth century anymore"

They left. Robert was drained. He slumped in a chair. He could hear them bustling about in the hall, the whole household was in an uproar. Then there was silence. They had gone.

-0-

"Sir.?"

Robert looked at Carson.

"Can I get you some dinner, sir?"

Robert waved him away.

"Can I get you anything else Sir?"

"No. There is nothing you can do"

Carson left.

Robert sat there in the drawing room as the winter light failed.

When the room was dark Robert stood up. He walked to the side board He ran his fingers over the decanter's crystal stopper. He did not pull it.

He walked into the hall. He looked at the Christmas Tree. The gifts under the tree.

He knelt and shuffled through them. There were a lot of gifts for the little girls. His granddaughters. There would never be gifts for his grandsons.

He dropped his chin onto his chest. He wept.