Dear friends,
Thank you for your patience while we in the UK mourned, celebrated, and buried our Queen. For me, this was personal as I was a schoolboy at Westminster School in 1953, and was therefore present in Westminster Abbey on that wet-weathered, brightly hopeful day, and shouted "Vivat Regina Elizabetha!" at Her Majesty during the service. So forgive, please, an old man his memories and his sorrow.
.
The next day found him at the door of Grantham House, asking the owlish butler if Lady Edith was at home.
Anthony presented his card, and explained that Lord Grantham had suggested he visit.
"If you would kindly wait in here, sir, I shall enquire if Lady Edith is available."
Anthony looked around the parlour, tapping his cane with his gloved fingers. He took the room and correctly guessed that this was a room decorated by Lady Grantham … in co-ordinated colours and with some nice porcelain pieces artfully arranged … but, Anthony was quite sure, it had been organised for the comfort of Lord Grantham … the over-stuffed chairs and the sideboard set of decanters looked much more suited to Boodle's than a home where women outnumbered men. There were no books, but that meant nothing in a public reception. Perhaps there was a library within the house.
A firm but quiet voice asked behind him "I regret that neither my father nor my mother are at home, Sir Anthony. I'm sorry that you have had a wasted journey."
He spun round, heart thumping. She was wearing a simple day-dress in a shade of green that matched the walls. Did Lady Grantham dress the girl as well? Having got his attention, she performed a perfect curtsey, and he, remembering his manners, reached for her hand and bowed over it, low and slow.
"Ah, not … not entirely wasted, Lady Edith. I am honoured to make your acquaintance."
She blushed. She actually blushed.
"Would you care for a cup of something?" she asked, fading into polite pleasantries.
"That would be most welcome, thank you."
She ordered some refreshments from the butler who seemed to be hovering with just a mite too much condescension, and they sat either side of the fireplace.
"Might I enquire how you know my father, Sir Anthony?"
He hesitated. It was hardly going to help his suit if he answered Lord Grantham was a couple of years ahead of me at Cambridge! Instead he settled for "My family estate is in Yorkshire, not that far from Downton."
She poured tea quite as elegantly as she curtseyed. "Indeed. Are you here in London for the season then?"
"No, not really. I'm not all that keen on balls and parties. I can just about cope with dinner engagements." He smiled apologetically at her. "That must sound very boring to someone as young and as lovely as you."
Again, she blushed. Was she truly so unused to compliments? If so, why was that? Her sisters seemed to be so assured in society.
"I'm really just in London to visit my sister, although I do have a modest place out at Richmond for when I have to attend at court. She, my sister that is, is married to a diplomat and is often posted abroad, so we don't have that many opportunities to see each other."
"May I ask what is your sister's married name, Sir Anthony?"
"Mrs Archibald Chetwood … Diana. We have been very close since we were children. Our mother died young. My father … grieved very deeply and died soon after our mother. So Diana and I brought each other up really."
Edith's countenance had changed utterly. She was leaning forward, and her face was lit with compassion. "I'm so sorry to hear that, Sir Anthony. If I may ask, how old were you when … you inherited the title?"
"Twelve years of age." He stared at the rug. "Still a child." He looked up and smiled at her again; this time she genuinely smiled back. "Goodness! This conversation appears to have become very serious very quickly. I had no intention of making you feel sorry for me."
"It's better than discussing inanities about who's whose mistress this season, or whether Lady So-and-So has a new carriage. I confess I cannot see why anyone wants to spend their time in that way. That's why I'm here alone. Mama and Papa have gone to pay a call on my sister and her new husband."
"Would that be Captain Branson?"
"No, no, the other sister and her new husband, Mr Matthew Crawley and Lady Mary."
"And you didn't want to see your sister?"
"Unlike you and Mrs Chetwood, Lady Mary and I have never been close. It wasn't so much a case of my not wishing to see her as her not wishing to see me."
"Oh my dear!" He couldn't help his sympathy slipping out into an endearment.
"I'm used to it. Better that Papa and Mama have a good visit without me. I'm happier staying home and reading."
"Are you fond of reading?"
"Extremely" she whispered, as though it were the most embarrassing thing in the world.
"What are you reading at present?" he whispered back, as though sharing a secret.
"Do you promise not to be scandalised?"
"Well now, Lady Edith, you certainly have my attention now! I promise."
She looked away as she murmured "Mary Wollstonecraft's Vindication of the Rights of Woman. It's actually my sister's book, that is Lady Sybil, but she left it behind when she married."
He grinned and looked at her appraisingly.
"Are you shocked?" she breathed.
"I'm shocked that you think that I might be. As it happens, I read it when it was published last year. I think that she is an astounding woman."
With that, Edith looked at Anthony with what he thought might have been mistaken for affection. And Edith felt that she had, at last, found a true friend.
.
Thereafter, Sir Anthony called on Lady Edith at least twice a week, and frequently more often than that. This did not pass Lady Grantham by.
One evening, as they were retiring, Cora observed to Robert "Sir Anthony Strallan was here again today."
"Mm" answered Robert, who was thinking about something entirely different, although he pricked up his ears at the mention of Anthony.
"He calls on Edith, you know, even though he is really your friend and neighbour."
Robert heard the warning note in his wife's voice and began to listen properly.
"Really."
"I'm not sure that we should be letting him form any sort of attachment to Edith. After all, he is very rich and one day we may need to ask him for a favour or two, perhaps regarding relations between Downton and Loxley. It would be awfully awkward if he felt that we didn't warn him about Edith and … warn him off."
He turned to look her. "How long has he been calling?"
"I'm not entirely sure, but it must be nearly six weeks now."
"Anthony is not a fool. He is exceedingly dull, but he isn't a fool. I'm sure he knows what Edith is like by now."
"Still, I would be happier if you could have a word with him. Make it plain to him that Edith can be capricious and resentful."
Robert was many things, but he was not dishonest. He sighed.
"I'm afraid I can't really do that, Cora. You see, he has asked for my permission to marry her."
"What? You really must reason with him! Tell him that we don't want him to make a mistake that he will come to regret."
"Edith is not an easy girl, I know, but there is no going back."
Cora narrowed her eyes at him. "You accepted money from him, didn't you?"
When her husband did not reply, she took that to be an affirmative answer.
"Oh, Robert! This is Tom and Sybil all over again. We will be so in debt to that man!"
"He doesn't want repaying."
"I don't mean money. I mean, he will have this family over a barrel whenever he needs a favour or support. What does he really want? Is he standing for parliament?"
"I shouldn't think so. I believe that he was just keen to … to make his suit to Edith and wanted my blessing. He's not a bad old stick. He was jolly decent to me at Cambridge."
Cora shook her head, realising that she would not convince Robert of the danger in which he had placed Downton and the Crawley clan. She would just have to convince Sir Anthony herself.
.
On a bright spring afternoon, Sir Anthony called at Crawley House, more nervous than he had been for thirty years since he had stood in the Court of the College of Arms to claim his title after the death of his father. Carson opened the door to him, but before he could ask for her, Lady Edith was behind the butler, greeting him with her customary warmth.
"Sir Anthony!" His broad lopsided grin appeared the moment he heard her.
"Lady Edith. I hope I am not presuming too much, but … well, it's such a fine day, I thought you might like to come for a spin. If you're not too busy?" He stood aside giving her a view of his two sleek grey horses harnessed to a silver-coloured phaeton. She gasped. "You got it! You … your new carriage!"
"My gallant steeds and I await my lady's pleasure" he smiled, his own enjoyment dancing in his eyes. He took her hand and helped her up onto the box seat and then took his place next to her. "Where would my lady like to go?"
"Oh, anywhere … as long as you don't mind me being with you."
After all this time, and becoming as close as they now were, she was still so sure that she was not worthy of his attention.
"In that case, perhaps we could take a turn around St. James's Park? There I am bound to have my pride inflated by the envious looks of young bucks since I have the company of such a beautiful and accomplished lady."
He was rewarded with one of her deepest blushes, and, smiling, he expertly urged the horses to a delicate trot.
"You drive exceedingly well, Sir Anthony."
"Why, thank you. You are too kind."
"Where did you learn?"
He hesitated, then answered "When I was in India."
"India?!" exclaimed Edith. "You were in India?!"
"It is no secret that that is where I made my fortune. I had to find a way of securing finances to save Loxley. My father … was not naturally gifted in the ways of finance. So I began by working with the East India Company, but I found its methods … distasteful so I left and set up as an independent trader. I was there for most of my twenties."
"How interesting!"
"Interesting, and dangerous. The Company does not take kindly to competition. I had to learn other skills beside driving carriages."
"Such as …?" Her eyes were shining, he was startled to realise. But now was not the time to address her concern.
"One day, perhaps, I will tell you, my sweet one. But I thought today was going to be a day of joy and enjoyment."
"I know you are a man of unregarded depths, Sir Anthony. Most of society is pleased to consider you … " she hesitated, and he filled in the blank for her: "dull to the point of boring."
She looked down, inclining her head. "But I flatter myself that I know better. I do hope that one day, as you say, you will let me truly see the real Sir Anthony Strallan."
"But that, my dear, will require me to trust you completely, without reservation. I … I hope that day is not far off, and that when it arrives, that trust will be reciprocated."
"I do hope so." She whispered, then sat back and changed the subject. "What brought you back to England?"
"I had made an obscene amount of money, and wanted to return home. My fortune was so large because I was working alone, but the sums that Company officers make, well it's literally abysmal, bottomless. I believe that I traded equably and earned my money fair and square, despite that requiring me to accept lower returns. The Company is not known for its trading morals, shall we say. Mark my words, The Company will be brought down not by the Indian peoples wanting their countries back, but by its own greed."
They rode in silence for a while, each trying to gauge the other's reaction to what have passed between them.
"I know you to be a good man, Sir Anthony. I'm sure your money was ethically acquired."
"Thank you, Lady Edith." He cast her an earnest and awkward glance. "And I know you to be a very brave, fascinating woman. In fact, I was wondering if you would accept a small gift, indeed something I brought back from India?"
"Oh, oh thank you, but you don't need to …"
"Er, well, actually I rather think I do."
He pulled up beneath some trees and took her hands in his.
"You see, it really would be improper of me if I didn't."
"I'm sorry, I don't understand."
I really shouldn't tease the girl. Get on with it, Strallan!
I believe that it is the done thing to have a ring to give to a lady, if you want to ask her a question, a very important question."
She went pale and gripped his hands.
"No!"
Well, that's told you, you old fool!
His face fell, and he went to release her hands, only for her to hold on to him more firmly.
"I don't mean, 'no' in answer to your question! I just don't truly believe that you would want to ask me … Well, if, for the sake of argument, you do ask it, let us say, you will get a very different answer" she stammered.
His heart leapt and his mouth rushed on ahead like an over-enthusiastic puppy.
"Edith, will you marry me?"
She couldn't speak, but she did nod, quite enthusiastically.
He couldn't control his smile. "Really?"
"Yes, really."
"Oh, my sweet one." He fumbled about in his frock coat pocket until he withdrew a ring set with a large ruby. "I don't suppose it will fit you, but we will get it adjusted." Slipping it onto her finger, he was proved correct. It was far too large for her delicate hand.
"Never mind" she whispered. "I don't love you for your money."
"My dearest darling!" he answered, totally overcome, as he pressed his lips to hers, so very gently.