December 25, 1918
Strallen FArm
"Major Crawley there is a telephone call for you"
Matthew got up from the breakfast table. He plunked Patricia onto Tom's lap. "Here mate, you have to learn sometime"
Matthew followed Sir Anthony's butler down the hall to the telephone.
"Matthew Crawley here"
"Violet Crawley"
"Yes my general"
"He is on his way over there to discuss terms. He should be there in twenty minutes."
"I see"
"You know what to do" and she rung off.
He went back to the breakfasters. "He is coming."
-0-
The Rolls stopped in front of Sir Anthony's house. No one got out.
Matthew came out of the house. He walked up to the auto, Robert got out. He looked as if he had not slept at all.
They did not shake hands. They stood there in the cold clear morning.
"I would like to apologize"
Matthew did not reply.
"I would like them to come back"
Still Matthew did not reply.
"They can have their settlements"
Matthew stared at Robert. He turned and started to walk back to the house. His hand was reaching out for the doorknob when he heard a faint 'please' behind him. He turned around.
"Please. I will do anything. I am so sorry"
Robert looked like he was going to crumple. Matthew went up to him and put his hand on his shoulder.
"We will all come for tea this afternoon. You will welcome us all with the spirit of the season. We will open our gifts and the little girls will entrance us all.
At some point Tom will ask to speak to you in private. You will give him permission to marry Sybil. You will discuss your practical concerns with him. You will promise to help them in any way you can. You will insist on the wedding being in Downton. They are going to live in Ireland, he has an offer of a journalist job in Dublin. You will promise to visit them there. You will smile a lot. You will call him Tom.
You will be happy for Edith and Mary as well.
I should tell you that Mary and the girls will be sailing for Canada next month. We are going to live there until I am admitted to the bar.
You will invite us all to stay for dinner. We will stay for the night as if we had never left. Tom doesn't mind staying in his old lodgings.
No one will say a thing about last night, including you, provided you do your part.
Because it is Christmas you are getting this one chance. It is your only chance. Do you understand?"
"Yes"
"Do you agree to these terms?"
"Yes"
They shook hands.
Robert got in the car and left.
Matthew turned and looked at the house. He could see more than one set of curtains still moving.
-0-
"Welcome, welcome I am so happy you could come"
As they got out of Sir Anthony's auto Robert greeted them with the all the bonhomie of a man reprieved from the noose.
They could see Violet and Cora standing in the doorway with Rosamund and Sir Richard behind them.
Robert hugged Mary and Edith; shook hands with Matthew and Sir Anthony; kissed Patricia and Marie Claire.
Then the universe, or at least that part of it in the immediate vicinity, held its breath.
Sybil and Tom stood by the auto holding hands.
Robert held his arms out to Sybil. She was tentative but then she allowed herself to be hugged. Robert whispered something in her ear and she whispered something back to him.
They separated and then Robert held his hand to Tom. "Welcome to the Crawley family Tom"
Tom took his hand and they shook.
Robert turned to the door. "Let us get inside, this cold air is making an old man's eyes water."
He was standing between Sybil and Tom and he gestured that they should go together in front of him.
-0-
Tea passed without incident. Robert and Tom only spoke when spoken to. The rest chatted as if nothing at all had happened.
The first hurdle came with the opening of the gifts.
Marie Claire of course cleaned up. She was particularly taken with the doll given to her by her Mama and Papa. Patricia was too young to understand the exact import of the occasion but she picked up on Marie Claire's joy and squealed with excitement..
Then came the distribution of gifts to the adults.
Cora went first. "Robert and I have gifts for each of our prospective sons in law."
She gave a small box to Robert who handed it to Matthew. There was another box for Sir Anthony. Then Cora gave Robert a third box. There was a hint of a pause and then he gave the box to Tom.
Matthew opened his box. Inside was a beautiful Rolex watch. He looked up and could see Sir Anthony and Tom also had received the same. Sybil and Tom were looking at the back of Tom's watch and so he turned his over.
He showed what he read there to Mary
'For Matthew & Mary
1919
Love Robert & Cora'
Matthew looked at Cora. She smiled at him. He looked at Violet. She nodded to him. They hadn't just purchased these watches. That engraving took time. How long had they been planning this? Inside Matthew shivered. Whatever he did with his life he must never get on the wrong side of these women.
The most unusual gift of the night was Mary's to Matthew.
It was a small thin rectangular package. As soon as she handed it to Matthew and and he felt the uniform gird of squares underneath the paper he knew what it was. He grinned at her.
"Should I open it now or should I save it for later?"
"Later, much later"
"What happened to the other one?"
"I ate it. Every time I missed you I ate a square. And before I knew it it was all gone"
"You know my gift to you pales in comparison"
"Speaking of which, where is it?"
"Marie Claire it is time"
Marie Claire ran over to Edith and whispered to her. Edith got up and the two of them went over to the Christmas Tree. Edith reached up and picked a small box out from amongst the branches. She gave it to Marie Claire.
Marie Claire walked up to Mary, curtsied and handed her the box. Mary thanked her.
"Should I open it now or should I save it for later?"
"Your call"
Mary chose to open it and Matthew found her squeal of appreciation most gratifying.
The second hurdle was dinner. Or more properly, dressing for dinner.
As Matthew was putting on his regimentals, which were much were much better fitting this time round, majors having first call, he was sorry he had not insisted that they dine en famille. Tom was going to stick out like a sore thumb.
He need not have worried. Tom was attired in a beautifully tailored set of formal wear. The ladies had struck again.
After dinner, when the gentlemen had rejoined the ladies, Matthew sought out Violet.
"My general I must know, why did you do it?"
"I should think it is obvious. I do not have so many granddaughters, nor does Cora have so many daughters, that we can afford to throw one away."
"When did you know about Sybil and Tom?"
"For some time now. In hindsight it was obvious. A beautiful, warm, vibrant, well bred young woman of good fortune had no suitors. It could not be"
"Mary said that was because she was a nurse."
"Please. Would that have stopped you and any of those young wounded heroes to whom she ministered?. Of course not. And she was not corresponding with any lover. It had to be someone local. By a process of elimination we arrived at Tom. Once we knew how serious it was, and knowing her character, we decided to make the best of it."
"Why did you choose me to be your terrible swift sword?"
Violet looked at him. "Robert would only accept it from one person... his son"
"What if he had not agreed to your terms this morning?"
She gave Matthew a very cold look. "There would be a new Earl tomorrow"