The next day was full of arrivals. Rose had turned up at two O'clock in the morning! No one was surprised at this because Rose was always the first one to turn up to anything, even if it did mean waking everyone up and annoying them for three hours until everyone else awoke.
Granny was next turning up at lunch much to Caron's distress of having to answer the door in the middle of serving lunch! If there was one thing about the Crawley family, it was that they turned up at the most annoying times! True no one was going to tell them that. Tony had called ahead saying he had been called back to his house to deal with something quickly.
Carson was now taking a break downstairs before having to return to upstairs for dinner service. Mrs Hughes sat across from him working on some paperwork for the house. Thomas sat at the edge of the table in silence. He wasn't on the best of terms with either of them so he decided not to talk to them. Bates sat in between the three just in case anything got too anger filled.
"Mr Gillingham apparently needs a valet for the weekend. His own valet is sick and cannot come to the party." Hughes directed this at Bates, knowing Barrow would overhear.
"I'm already tending to Mr Blake and Mr Nappier if he ever shows." Bates hated to disagree with Mrs Hughes but if he had too much work, Anna would be on him like a shot!
"Well what about Jimmy or Albert? I'm sure they would be able to deal with one person." Carson said to annoy Barrow further.
Barrow kept back from saying something. He would be off duty for the rest of the weekend if he did say anything bad about the two men.
"Aren't they a bit novice to do that? Maybe Mr Barrow…" Bates suggested to ease the tension.
"Mr Barrow has enough to do." Mrs Hughes interrupted Bates to shut him down.
Barrow shot a thankful glance at Bates. At least Bates had tried. Sometimes Bates wouldn't even do that!
"No, I'm sure Jimmy would be all too pleased to help." Mrs Hughes got up to ask Jimmy.
"Well I must be checking on how Mrs Patmore is getting on." Carson left soon after.
Bates could see how Barrow was feeling. It felt awful to be left out of conversations and not even considered for a job he had done before.
"I tried Thomas. Maybe next time you'll get the job." Bates tried to get on Barrow's good side.
"Well thanks but it seems I'll always be in the bad books around here. Maybe I should find a job somewhere else." Barrow scoffed just thinking about it.
"Don't do a Miss O'Brien. You can't just leave us hanging like that." Bates shook his head, trying not to mention Miss O'Brien.
"You never know Bates." Barrow stood and left the room.
Bates sighed once Barrow was gone. He didn't normally see eye to eye with Barrow but he could see where Barrow was coming from for once! Carson and Mrs Hughes weren't quick to forgive, especially Barrow.
00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
Strallan stared out of the window the whole trip to Downton. Blake didn't want to interrupt him so stayed quiet until Strallan wanted to speak. All that was going through Strallan's mind was how the family were going to react, especially Edith. He had let her down and broke her heart. It wasn't going to be easy to try and gain back her trust. Other than that, Robert might kill him if he even tried to talk to Edith! He then looked over at Blake. Blake seemed to be completely different to him in moods. He seemed to be quite happy to go back. True it probably hadn't been that long since he had been there.
"So how was the family last time you went? Everyone alright, no problems or anything?" Strallan finally spoke, seeing Blake bored.
"I went just after Christmas so it wasn't exactly full of joy. I didn't see Mary for the whole thing and the others weren't very talkative." Blake shrugged trying to find the words to describe the atmosphere.
"Do you think they'll be any better now?"
"I don't know. I think Branson is trying to make everyone feel a little better. Depends on how the guests all interact with everyone."
"Well no one is going to get along with me that's for sure! As soon as they see the family's reaction around me, then they'll freeze me out." Strallan shuddered.
"Well you've got me to back you up. Gillingham might do." Blake tried to keep in high spirits.
"Maybe. I'm not going to keep my hopes up though. How far away are we exactly?" Strallan was getting more and more impatient.
"Twenty minutes sir." The driver answered.
Strallan began to tap his foot as the journey continued. He just hoped Blake was right and that they might be a bit more calm when they arrive at dinner.
0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
Cora had a million things going through her mind as she got ready for that night. Rose has kept everyone entertained even Granny with her stories from her visit to London. Gregson had gotten on with some work he had to do and Edith was only to welcome to help. Edward had gone for a walk for most of the day. Tom had mostly been bragging about how well the party was going so far! Robert wasn't too pleased he was doing this but no one was going to stop him.
It was weird to get ready without Miss O'Brien. She had had Miss O'Brien for years and now getting used to someone else might be a bit tougher then she thought. Mrs Hughes was trying her best but she wasn't exactly the best at this! There then came a knock at the door.
"I just wanted to check on you before we go down." Robert came in smiling from ear to ear.
"Thank you Mrs Hughes." Cora nodded as Mrs Hughes bowed and left the room.
"How's Mrs Hughes doing? I know she's different from O'Brien."
"She's doing fine. Now tell me when Mr Blake is coming and when we should be ready for Strallan to appear if he has the guts?!" Cora quickly changed the subject to what had been in her mind all night.
"I'm still not sure he's coming but Blake said just after dinner, so about nine I suppose." Robert sat down with a sigh.
"I hope he doesn't ruin everything. Tom has worked so hard for all of this!"
"I know. Do you think Gregson might stand up for Edith? I mean I know they're close but I don't know if it will stretch that far."
There then came footsteps outside with hushed voices accompanying them. Robert quickly stood back up again and urged his wife to join him downstairs. It didn't look like they were going to be able to discuss this much further, they would just have to wait and see.
0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
Mary felt a little left out as the group sat down for dinner between Lord Merton and Tom. Tom was still boasting about what was going on during the weekend he had planned and someone had sat Isobel and Lord Merton together so she was getting ignored on both fronts. Larry and Edith sat across from her and by the looks of Edith's face, she would rather be anywhere else! She caught the eye of her father who seemed a bit out of the conversation himself. Luckily for Mary, Grantham was very good at getting the whole table involved in conversation.
"So Gregson has your paper got any important events it will be covering anytime soon?" Robert interrupted the quiet conversations making everyone sit up.
"Oh yes and may Edith be writing about some of them?" Isobel chimed in excitedly to hear about what Edith had been up to.
"I'm sure there will be Lord Grantham and if Lady Edith would like to be involved in writing something for it then she is most welcome." Gregson replied making Edith blush which Larry was quick to take advantage of.
"So Gregson, are you married or just flirting with everyone you meet up with?" Larry asked, taking a massive gulp of his wine.
The whole table sat in silence waiting for Gregson to respond.
"I haven't found the right person yet but I'm sure someone will come along soon." Gregson diplomatically answered.
"I hear you're involved with the nearby hospital, Miss Crawley." Edward supported his friend.
"Yes I am and it's going very well at the moment." Isobel answered before Larry could make another remark.
"Well hospitals run themselves nowadays. I don't really see what input you could give." Larry muttered but the whole table still heard it.
"Larry!" Merton hissed, trying to calm his son.
Larry shrugged his shoulders and went back to eating what was left of his dinner. Isobel frowned as the dinner continued. It was nice of Merton to jump in but the comment Larry had said still stung.
"Don't worry about him. I think your job is very important and you should be proud of it." Edward whispered to her, seeing her upset.
Isobel smiled shortly and got back to her dinner. Edward stared at Larry. He had only just met the guy but already had a strong dislike of him.
Larry tried to make more remarks but was quickly stared down by his father and Edward. The dinner was a much calmer affair after that incident.
"Are you alright? You're a bit quiet." Tom whispered to Mary.
"Just a bit tired." Mary answered sharply.
"I was only asking. You don't have to bite my head off! Aren't you enjoying the party?" Tom continued to press Mary's buttons.
"Just leave it Tom." Edith mouthed to Tom from across the table.
Tom tapped the table with his fork and turned back to Violet to make more conversation. If Mary wasn't going to talk to him nicely, then there was no use in talking to her at all!
0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
Mary was the first one into the study after they had all eaten. Tom had suggested to the men that they should play cards which nearly all of them agreed to do. Most of the women gathered ignored Mary as they had heard her outburst at dinner. Not that she was anything like what Larry said. Before Carson could attend either party, there was a knock at the door.
"Who on earth could that be?!" Carson said, sending Bates and Anna to answer it.
Anna and Bates were also confused as to who was there. Most of the servants had worked out that Mr Blake wasn't coming since it was so late and a storm had been predicted for that night! They opened the door and stepped in a soaked Mr Blake and….. Strallan.
"Mr Blake, Sir Antony." Bates quickly snapped out of anger from seeing Strallan prompting Anna to do the same.
"Evening Bates. Sorry we're so late, the car got stuck in a bit of mud and had to run for it instead." Blake saw the confused looks on both the servants' faces.
"Yes sir. May we take your coats, you look wet through." Anna smiled.
Anna and Bates took the coats off the two gentlemen and let them wander upstairs. Anna and Bates looked at each other in surprise.
"This isn't good." Bates shook his head returning to the servant quarters to tell the others what they had seen.
0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
Strallan stopped before he went into the room. He could familiar voices inside and had managed to get past any of the servants. He gulped as Blake drew nearer.
"Stage fright?" Blake asked.
"Something like that. Maybe this isn't a good idea. Maybe I should go." Strallan tried to leave but Blake stopped him.
Strallan looked down at Blake's arm on his shoulder. The door then opened with a bemused Carson on the other side.
"Evening Carson. Are you going to let us in?" Blake asked, trying to keep the head butler in a good mood knowing who was standing next to him.
"Of course Mr Blake. Come on in." Carson opened the door more and let them both in.
"Stay strong. You're going to be fine." Blake whispered one more time to Strallan before they went in.
"Mr Charles Blake and Sir Antony Strallan." Carson's voice wavered as he introduced the gentlemen to the room.
The whole room turned as one as the names left Carson's lips. Edith quivered and nearly dropped her glass as she saw Strallan standing there. Mary rushed to her sister's side. Cora stood firm trying to understand why he was here. Isobel and Violet were just in shock. Blake turned to his left to see if Strallan was going to say anything.
"Good evening everybody." Strallan finally said something.
Strallan stood steadfast as the room stared back at him. He felt alone once again as they continued like this. Maybe this wasn't the best idea after all!