Author's Notes: And here it is folks. Chapter 100
I want to thank each and every one of you. Thanks to you all Authors has become the most favorited and followed Downton Abbey fanfic on this site.
We have still plenty of story to go though, don't worry!
~MC~MC~MC~
If someone would have told Mary ten years ago that the first major wedding at Downton Abbey in over two decade, one that she herself would be married, would have her letting Edith decide everything she would have laughed so hard and so long that her papa would have probably had her committed. And that included both of her lifetimes that she had led.
Yet there she was, standing near the great staircase, calling out to servants while looking over the list that Edith had given her.
"No, please put that woodcut there," she said, directing one of the maids to put a custom made carving of Sir Michael's coat of arms on a different table. "Wonderful, thank you."
"Do you need any help?" Anna asked, walking over with a smile.
"No and you shouldn't be helping either," Mary declared firmly. "You are a guest, not a servant."
"And you are the one getting remarried today."
"Yes, remarried. Today is Edtih's day, not mine." She screwed up her face. "And how very odd to say that and actually mean it." And she did.
One of her fears, upon having the memories of her previous life pressed into her mind, had been that all those many old hurts would sour her relationship with Edith. Their exile in London had seen them mend many of the broken bridges the two had. Honestly she was half tempted to send a letter of thanks to Carlisle, wherever he was, and thank him for trying to blackmail Lavinia. That plot had brought Edith and her together fully, united against a common foe, and the days spent plotting together in Edith's office had allowed her to see Edith as not merely a troublesome family member that she had to deal with for the sake of good showing but someone that could be her friend. But, with the memories of the previous life and the many horrid things they had done to one another (Edith leaking the story about her and Pamuk, Mary ruining her chances with Sir Anthony) she had been terrified and worried that they would fall back into old habits.
Matthew… had tricked the two into a room and forced them to talk it out.
Mary had rolled her eyes and complained mightily but in the end agreed that it had been for the best. Edith had suffered from the same fears and they had agreed that the people they had been in the previous life were gone, the memories merely memories. They both preferred the women they had become in their current lives and didn't want to change anything about their relationship.
"I would be doing this anyway, if it were merely Edith getting married," Mary said as she began to head up the stairs to inspect the bedrooms, wanting to make sure they were ready for the guests. Glancing back at Anna she added, "It's not too late for us to force you into the wedding party."
"Oh… oh please no," Anna said with fright-filled eyes. "John and I had our wedding-"
"So did Matthew and I," Mary teased. "I am sure we could find you a simple white dress."
"My lady, no," Anna exclaimed in horror. "The people down in the village already call me the Fourth Crawley Daughter-"
"Do that?!" Mary said in utter delight.
"Please don't give them further reason to gossip."
"If," Thomas said, surprising them at the top of the stairs, "you need better gossip I'm sure I can direct their tongues towards someone else."
Mary smiled. "I know you can," she said, walking over and giving the man a hug. That was another change that would have shocked her a decade ago. Only Carson she would have shown such affection with and in private at best. But Thomas had been there with them during the exile, had worked with Matthew, spent many evenings having dinner with her… while they would never be as close as she was with Tom, who truly was her brother, she cared for him all the same. "I am glad you were able to come. I was afraid your work would keep you away."
"The General is my employer," he teased, "and he has a role to play today."
"Only if he's up for it," Mary said sternly. "If he is feeling tired-"
"Allen will still muster through," Thomas assured her. "He is almost completely healed and can manage a walk down an aisle. And Lord Merton will be with him to assist."
While originally the plan had been for Mary and Sybil to wait at the altar and let Edith have her grand walk alone the Dowager had suggested a different option that Edith had quickly accepted. First Mary and Sybil would be walked down the aisle, Lord Merton leading Mary and Sybil led by the General. Then Edith would walk alone with their father, giving her the honor of being the sole Crawley girl given away by the Lord of Grantham.
"Will you be staying the night?" Anna asked.
"I am," Thomas said. "Matthew already arranged for me to have a room near the Lothrops, so no worry about that."
"Good," Anna said. "Both for that and because there is no room at the Grantham Arms."
"There is no room anywhere in the village," Mary said with a smirk. "I hear while we have dinner here there is a party planned down there."
"More like a festival," Anna commented. "Or a carnival."
"I wonder if I can convince Matthew to sneak us away," Mary said. "That sounds more fun than the dinner party."
"We'll smuggle you out," Anna teased.
~MC~MC~MC~
"I have it handled!" Mrs. Patmore snapped, making Daisy look up from the puff pastries she was filling. They weren't for the main dinner but rather would a finger food that people could munch on after lunch before the wedding itself. "I know how to do a wedding cake!" She paused. "I admit this is my first one but-"
"Mrs. Patmore," Carson exclaimed, walking into the kitchen to find the cook yelling at Sybil, who had dragged a chair in from the main hall of the servants' quarters and plunked herself down to watch. "Have you lost your mind?"
"No, she's merely offended and I don't blame her," Sybil said with a smile, cutting off the butler's rant.
"If you know that I can handle it then why are you down here?" Mrs. Patmore asked as she worked hard to mix the batter.
"Because if I am here Mary has no excuse to come down and 'assist'."
THAT made Mrs. Patmore pause.
"Thank you for the company," she said with utter sweetness, the kitchen maids giggling at her sudden change in tone.
"Is that really necessary?" Carson complained.
"You do remember how my sister can get, correct Carson?" Sybil said. He, after a moment, nodded his head. "She has only gotten worse when it comes to her baking."
"Well… I suppose in the need to keep things moving along and not to cause any delays… you being here so her ladyship can focus on the wedding is… acceptable." He frowned after a minute, heavy jowls shaking. "But should you not yourself be up there preparing?"
"Honestly there is little left to do other than the food," Sybil stated. "The decorations are prepared, the guest rooms are ready for everyone who will be arriving… all that is left is for us to have lunch and then dress. I'd much rather be down here, protecting all of you from Mary, than sitting up there being bored."
"We don't mind having you down here," Daisy said with a slight smile.
"No, we do not," Carson said though the look he shot her made her duck her head.
"Its fine, Carson," Sybil said.
"Well," Mrs. Hughes said, entering with a bemused look on her face, "isn't this a switch. Mr. Branson is upstairs with his Lordship in the library while you are down here with us."
Sybil smirked at that. "Perhaps I will don his old uniform and drive guests up from the station." She quickly turned to Carson before he could truly begin to sputter. "I'm kidding, of course. I know you have it well in hand."
"Even if we didn't-" He began only for Mrs. Hughes to cut him off.
"Oh relax, Mr. Carson. Everything is ready save for the food and Mrs. Patmore has it well in hand…" she paused, "keeping Lady Mary from having an excuse to come down here?"
Sybil nodded.
"Mrs. Hughes, Mr Carson!" a maid called out, hurrying to them. "One of the guests for the wedding is outside the door."
"The servants door?" Carson said, brow furrowed. "However did they get so mixed up they ended up there? No guest of this wedding should be wandering through there. Not proper."
"It's fine, Mr. Carson," a familiar voice said. "I'm just used to coming in through that door."
"GWEN!" Sybil exclaimed, leaping to her feet and rushed to her friend, giving her a big hug. "Oh, I had hoped you would be able to come! All healed them?"
Gwen quickly nodded. "Turned out it was food poisoning, not the flu," she assured her. "My mistake, trusting Mr. Mitchell when he offered us all chocolate. Probably purchased it out of some back alley and only believed it was true swiss. Was good though… at least going down." Sybil laughed at that before letting Gwen go so she could greet the others. "Mr. Carson."
"Miss Dawson," the butler said with a slight nod of his head. "Welcome back to Downton."
"I am glad to be back," she assured him. "Oh, Mrs. Hughes!"
"Come here now and give us a hug," Mrs. Hughes said, wrapping Gwen in an embrace.
"Who is she?" one of the kitchen maids asked.
"That's Gwen," Daisy said. "She was a maid here, before the war. We all thought she was going to become Lady Sybil's ladysmaid but she wanted a position in business, to become a secretary. Lady Sybil and Mr. Branson assisted her with that."
"Mrs. Patmore," Gwen said, "I'd give you a hug but I know you want to focus on the meal so I'll make sure to greet you properly later."
"That promise is better than any hug!" Mrs. Patmore said sternly but there was a twinkle in her eye all the same. "Now all of you, either git or pitch in! And I don't want you pitching in."
"Think we should do what she says," Sybil teased, taking Gwen's arm and leading her back to the dining area of the servants' hall, Mr. Carson and Mrs. Hughes following behind. "How have you been? Your letter before last said you had to go up north?"
"Yes," Gwen said. "The wild savage lands." She chuckled at the comment.
"Don't let his Lordship hear you saying that Scotland is the savage land. He will bore you for hours stating how wonderful it is up there."
"What were you doing in Scotland, Gwen?" Mrs. Hughes asked as they all settled at the table, Mr. Carson moving to stand to the side since Sybil was sitting until she shot him a look then glanced at the seat next to her, finally getting him to sit down with a glower though with no true fuss. "You didn't move there, did you?"
"Oh no," Gwen assured her. "It was only a temporary thing. We have opened up a new branch and my employers wished for me to train the new ladies that were hired in how to do the job." She shook her head, chuckling at a memory. "I have new found respect for you both… they seemed to always find a way to make a mess of the simplest things and I had to remind myself they were new and learning. They think they know all… oh, but they know nothing. So, consider this my apology for all the trouble I put you both through."
"Thank you Gwen," Carson stated. "I suppose there is some benefit to you leaving us if it allows you to see the hard work we put into your training."
"Now now, Mr. Carson, no need to be bitter. Service isn't meant for everyone." Mrs. Hughes patted him on the arm.
"Of course it isn't, " Carson said, squaring his shoulders. "That is the grand mistake so many make when it comes to our profession. Too many people believe that anyone can be a valet or a maid… they do not understand the hard work that goes into it. Only a select few can actually be worthy of such a position." Sybil wasn't quite for sure if that was an insult against Gwen or not but was ready all the same to defend her friend only for Carson to continue. "That is why I was so upset when you left, Gwen. You were one of the few that understood. It is so rare to have a house maid who truly excels at her position… there are plenty that can do the job but to do it well? Oh, that is a rare thing."
"Something we discovered during the war," Mrs. Hughes muttered and Sybil at once thought of Sophie and Ethel. Last she had heard Ethel had taken a job at a smaller house; there was less prestige there and she was certain she wasn't making as much but forced to do more work due to there being a smaller staff… but it was better than she was sure Sophie had received. Ethel at least was able to leave with some dignity, the scandal not tainting her as it had the other maid.
"You and Anna though?" Mr. Carson said. "You two both understood the job and did it well." He smiled wistfully. "I had a dream… before the War. I thought that Anna would become Lady Mary's ladysmaid. Mr. Crawley had Mr. Molesley so he was all settled. Young William would have trained under Mr. Bates so he might understand how a valet does his job and… eventually… when I was ready to respectfully and with utmost care leave my position here at Downon… he would take my place. And you I had hoped would take over for Mrs. Hughes. A strong foundation." He paused. "A strong foundation."
Sybil grew quiet, wondering about that world that had never been in two of her lifetimes and wondered if they all would have been happy with it.
"You mustn't look at it in that way though, Mr. Carson," Gwen finally said, a smile forming on her lips. "Yes, Downton did lose me… but it is better to think that the world has gained a bit more of Downton."
"Whatever do you mean?" Carson asked, confused by her statement.
"I never forgot the lessons you and Mrs. Hughes taught me. How one must work and behave. I told you that I am no longer a mere secretary… I teach other secretaries how to do their job." She shook her head, her smile growing all the larger. "Oh, you should see some of them, Mr. Carson! They believed that hard work means sitting in a chair and occasional answering the phone. I have had to be strict with them all to get them to understand that isn't the case in the slightest! There is much to do… I rather say it is similar to what you yourself do. You supervise down here but you also see to the paperwork that comes about running an estate… the orders and such. We do the same thing."
"Yes… I suppose you do. Very important."
"Oh, it very much is! And I make sure all I train know how to work." She chuckled. "They hate me for it at first. Think me cruel. But in the end they see I am right. Or, if they don't, they don't make it."
"Hmmm," Carson said, growing a bit more relaxed. "I do believe you are right. I do like the idea that the world is growing to be a bit more like Downton." He suddenly reached into his pocket and pulled out his watch. "And while I have enjoyed this conversation I must go up and prepare for lunch."
"I'll lead you upstairs, Gwen" Sybil said. They moved away from Carson, heading for the stairs, and Sybil smiled as she leaned in and whispered, "that was very clever of you."
Gwen smirked. "I thought so too."
The both shared a quiet laugh.
~MC~MC~MC~
Edith walked in to find the General laughing.
"Do I even want to know?" she asked, watching the man lean back in his chair and howl like a drunken sailor. Honestly it was only because the room that Isobel had chosen for their meeting had such thick walls that no one had heard him; if he had been in the library they'd have heard his braying from the dining room.
"Yes, actually," Isobel said, shooting Allen a dark look. She and Richard Grey were seated on a long couch, some papers on the table before them while Allen thrashed about in the chair he had claimed as his own. The room was not one they were using for the wedding and she hoped Carson didn't come in because she was sure the butler would die if he saw how dusty it was. She spotted some sheets tossed into a corner and realized that someone had only recently revealed the furniture. "Though I would prefer if he could keep his senses and behave!"
"This is…. This is me… keeping my senses!" Allen gasped out, Richard finally sighing and handing him a glass of water as the man's laughs turned into dry coughs as he struggled to breathe. "Come now… you can't tell me that… and expect me not to react!"
"I thought you'd have more self control," Isobel said sternly.
Edith looked at the three and huffed. "Would someone like to tell me why I have been called away from preparing for my wedding, which is in 2 hours, mind you, to come to a dusty room in Downton where the General is giggling like a drunkard."
"Believe me…" Allen snickered, "you'll love this."
"Drink your water, Allie," Richard said.
"…careful with the pet names, Dickers," Allen said, his laughter turning to something with a slightly sharper tone. "I know plenty of childhood stories to share."
"As do I."
"Yes yes, you've all postured," Edith complained. "Now what is it?"
Richard broke his stare down with his best friend and looked to her. "I know who my heir is."
Edith blinked at that. "Oh."
The search for who would be the next Lord Merton had been one that had dominated the papers for a while with speculation. Some had wondered if Richard would remarry in hopes of producing a male heir to replace Larry and the incarcerated Tim but when he had made no move to be seen in the form of female company (save for Isobel and that had taken a lot of moves on Edith's part to keep her name out of the papers, calling in favors and creating new ones) everyone had begun to search for his next of kin. The problem was that the Grey family had suffered quite a bit of bad luck shortly after Richard had become Lord Merton, which many members of his family passing away due to disease, war, and old age. She herself had quietly gotten a reporter to look into it, not wanting to be accused of ignoring a story just because Richard was a friend of the family several times over, and all they had found was a distant cousin who lived in America, so far separated they might as well have been a stranger.
"Yes," Richard said.
"I don't understand why it is important to tell me today."
Allen snickered again and Isobel passed over some papers that had been sitting on the table.
Edith picked them up and began to read them.
Then read them again.
And again.
Finally she stumbled over to the couch and plopped down between Richard and Isobel, letting the papers fall limping from her fingers onto the table. She barely noticed Richard quickly gather them up and tuck them away into his coat.
"Oh," she repeated.
"Yes," Isobel said. "You see why I needed to tell you."
Edith nodded at once. "Today is not-"
"No," Richard said firmly. "In a week, I think. That is as long as I can wait."
"Good," Edith said, still in a slight daze. "Good." Allen, having finally gotten control of himself, poured her some water and Edith took a drink. She began to sip it, focusing on the sensation of the water sliding down her throat, cold and crisp, pooling in her stomach and making her chest chill. By the time she was done she had control of herself once more and was able to properly think. And Edith found that with an understanding of the situation planning their next steps were actually helping her focus. In fact she felt more calm than she had all morning, the worries about the wedding flowing away. "I'll get with Michael… tomorrow we'll send a telegram from the station."
"You'll have time?" Richard asked.
"Michael and I agreed we are staying in England for our honeymoon." After their previous life Edith was never letting Michael leave the country ever again. "Worse case we catch another train… they won't cancel our reservation, not with how much we paid." She got up and began to pace. "You've clearly had this verified?" She didn't wait for the answer, knowing they must have as they wouldn't have told her otherwise. "Michael and I will begin what we can do on our end." She shook her head. "This is going to be rather messy."
"Oh, the chaos is going to be wonderful!" Allen said and broke down into laughter once more.
Edith agreed, though she didn't laugh.
But… she was glad she wasn't going to be there in a week when everything exploded.
~MC~MC~MC~
"Ah, Matthew," Violet said with a smile, waving him over to join her. He was dressed, hair perfectly in place, vest on and looking very dapper. While she knew he wouldn't want to draw too much attention to himself, seeing the wedding as Edith and Michael's and not his own… he did make for a dashing figure. Like a prince out of a fairy tale. Though she did hope that he proved far better than most of the ones she remembered reading; the true ones where the Grim in Grimms' Fairytales wasn't just for show. "Come sit with me… I think we have a bit of time before we must make our way down to the church."
Matthew smiled, moving to join her on the little bench. The weather was cool but not unbearable, which was perfect considering the layers both of them were wearing. Honestly sometimes Violet wanted to take her dresses and lock them in an ice box for a few hours before donning them for a summer celebration. And they lived in England! She simply didn't know how people in the South of France or Spain or any of the warmer climates managed it. Maybe that was why they were so wild and untamed… the heat reduced their brains to a pudding that hadn't set right.
"This will be a grand affair," Violet said, though she wasn't looking towards Downton or even the village, where she knew everyone was waiting for the family to begin to parade that would get them to the church. She could imagine in her mind: the children throwing flower petals, the women crying tears of joy, the men smiling and memorizing every detail so they could tell their grandchildren they had been there the day all three of Lord Grantham's daughters were wed. Oh, it didn't matter that Matthew and Mary had married years ago or Sybil and Tom had run off and eloped and would soon have a baby… in everyone's mind this was the true wedding for the three of them.
"I keep reminding myself that this is for everyone else and not actually for us," Matthew said. "I mean no offense but I preferred my first wedding far more."
"Yes, there is something when it comes to your first," Violet said, not turning her head towards Matthew. She was not one to concern herself with what others thought, never truly seeing anything she did as dangerous or even a risk. She understood so well the world that she was quick to dismiss thoughts that would lead to trouble and only took actions that would lead to her desires. She didn't dither and worry. She didn't second guess herself.
And yet in that moment… she paused.
"But… which first are you referring too?" she finally asked. "In this life… or the one you lived before."
Matthew started and at once Violet knew she had guessed correctly.
"I… I don't-"
"Don't try and deny it," she told him. "I am smarter than that, Matthew. And… I have an advantage no one else does."
He stared at her, jaw dropping almost comically and she fought the urge to tell him to shut it before he embarrassed himself. She supposed that sometimes people were allowed moments of startled surprise. "You… you as well?"
"Yes," she said, admitting her greatest secret.
"All this time you remembered?"
"I did… but not like you," she said.
"I don't understand."
"My first life ended the day Mary was born. I… made mistakes, Matthew. Allowed my selfishness and self-centeredness lead me to make terrible mistakes that hurt all whom I loved. I died trying to save Mary… and awoke the day I made my faithful-" and how ironic the use of that word was, for it had been faithlessness that had led her down such a dark path in her first life, "-choice."
"There… there are others like us," Matthew said.
"I sense you mean more than just you and me."
Matthew nodded. "At first it was three. I found myself in this second life the day the Titanic sank. Sybil did as well."
Violet nodded. "I thought as much, once I realized that you were like me. Sybil's delirium… it suddenly made sense. Everyone else forgot what she said, simply equated it to have a fever, but I realized eventually she remembered." She paused. "The third?"
"Sir Michael."
"…of course," Violet said with a slight smile before her mood grew grave. "What happened, Matthew? My own second chance came from tragedy… was the same true for all of you? How horrid was your first life?"
"It was… I don't want to call it a horror because there were wonderful moments within it."
"Tell me," Violet said, hungry for information.
"Mary and I did not get along at first… while in this life she was upset with me stealing Downton from her on my part… well, quite frankly I was a prat." He chuckled. "I was everything you most likely feared."
"Oh, I don't know about that. I have an active imagination. My worst fear would have been you as some barefoot American southerner, tracking mud into the hall and chewing on a piece of grass."
Matthew laughed at that image. "Yes, I suppose you are right there. I wasn't that bad. But I was priggish to everyone. I believed that you all wanted to change me and as such I decided to be as difficult as possible. Rather than compromise I tried to force you all to accept me as I was. It… cost as all much time."
"But you and Mary…?"
"Yes," Matthew said with a smile but all at once Violet could see how pained it was. "But… she listened to Rosamund."
"Oh…" Violet said, shaking her head. "Foolish girl. I told Rosamund that it was madness to toss you aside. I could tell that you were a good fit for her and I knew that you would not take kindly to her dismissing the engagement."
"I was bitter," Matthew said. "I broke it off and enlisted."
"You went to war," Violet said, another piece of the puzzle falling into place. "That is how you knew that the tales of the War being a quick thing where young men would all win glory were a lie."
He nodded. "In my first life I didn't meet Allen until after Mary and I were married. I remembered the conversation… I tried to save who I could."
"William," Violet whispered. "The poor boy."
He nodded.
"But… you and Mary…"
"We eventually found each other again. We were married. We were happy."
"What happened, Matthew?"
He sighed. "Everything that could go wrong did. Edith did not meet Michael until after the War and she had her heart broken by Sir Anthony."
"Strallan?" Violet asked. She… just couldn't see it. "She would have spent her days playing nursemaid to him."
"She was broken, I think, byso much regret and disappointment. She saw in Rosamund her only choice when it came to happiness… a few years of married life and then wealth to do as she wished."
"The poor girl." Violet paused. "Tom then… if Sybil didn't know Sir Michael…"
"He remained the chauffeur and their marriage was a scandal. They fled to Ireland, only returning when Tom got in trouble with the law- it was fine, he didn't do anything himself. He was in the wrong place at the wrong time. But Sybil and him-"
Matthew stopped.
"What is it?" Violet asked. No, demanded. "Matthew, what happened?"
"Sybil."
"Yes, yes, what about her?" she asked testily.
"She died."
At once her anger left her.
"…no," Violet whispered. She… she had gone back for that reason. To save Mary. And later she had seen that her actions had saved Edith and Sybil as well. She'd never regretted it, not for the slightest… but Sybil to still die… to leave them… it wasn't…
"I can stop," Matthew offered.
"No," Violet said, shaking her head and steeling her nerves. "I am being foolish. Death triggers the trips back, I see that now. I died and returned. Sybil died and returned…" She suddenly looked at Matthew. "Oh dear."
He managed a weak smile. "Auto accident… the day my son was born. Sybil died in childbirth. Sir Michael… we think he and Edith had a child together. We believe he died the day that child was born."
"The person must die when a child of Crawley blood is born," Violet whispered. "I'm sorry, Matthew… I didn't realize this would be such a heavy topic when I raised it. I had hoped to let you know that you weren't alone, give you a bit of relief before your wedding-"
"Its fine, Violet," Matthew was quick to assure her. "I mean it. This is not me being noble on the like. While it is sad to remember all that… we are all here. Mary and I are married. Sybil will live."
"You are going to ensure that?"
"Why do you think we've all been pressing her to return to London?" Matthew asked. "She died because she was here and didn't have the medical care she needed. We won't make that same mistake again."
"I will personally drag her to London myself."
Matthew smiled at that. "And… I said that it was the three of us originally."
Violet stared at him for several moments, working out just what he meant by that. "You… mean to say…"
"The Spanish Flu," Matthew told her.
Violet leaned back in her chair, utterly gobsmacked by that. "My word," she whispered. "Then…"
"Not like Sybil, Michael, and myself. Edith, Mary, and Tom all remember two sets of lives. I think… well, Mary said that the Mary of her first life said she wanted her reward but wouldn't steal it from this Mary."
"I… won't even try and figure that out." Violet glanced at Matthew and let out a sigh. "But we are all here now, in this life you have forged for all of us."
"Yes," Matthew said. "And thank you."
"Oh, it is nothing. You have someone to confide in now, more than I had. I am actually rather proud put the pieces all together… small comments you and Sybil made without realizing it. Took me far longer than I care to admit-"
"I wasn't referring to that," Matthew stated. "Sybil and Michael and I… we know we are reaching the point where our knowledge of the future is completely gone. Even with Mary and Tom and Edith remembering that has only extended things about a year and a half to two years… it is foggier for them. Sybil died a few months from now-" and how that still made Violet wince and she wasn't for sure if she'd ever be able to hear anyone talk about that without it causing her pain, "-and I died about a year after that. Michael was about a year and half later but he didn't have as many interactions with Downton. As such… I admit we've all begun to worry about what will happen when we got to the point of our deaths. Would we die again? Would we forget? Be sent back to relieve these last few years over and over?
"You… you have provided us answers. Blessed ones. You wanted to give me a bit of relief?" He reached over and placed a hand over hers. "You have given us all so much. You have removed a great burden. And I can't thank you enough."
"Well," she said, forcing her voice to remain steady. She opened her mouth to say something pithy or witty… but found herself merely rotating her hand, grasping Matthew's in her own and giving it a squeeze before sitting there and admiring the view before her.
~MC~MC~MC~
"Well papa?" Edith asked as she came down the stairs, smiling as she ran her hands along the front of her wedding dress. "How do I look?"
Robert stared at her for several long moments, mouth parted slightly as he took her fully in. "You… you look beautiful," he whispered at long last.
"You aren't disappointed?" Edith asked. "I know that you always imagined it would be Mary-"
"No," Robert said, cutting her off. "No my darling girl. How could I ever be disappointed on your special day?" He moved to meet her at the foot of the stairs, offering his hand to her which she finally accepted. "Edith… I am very sorry that you felt you were lost in the shuffle of things. I don't deny that your mother and I paid more attention to Mary… I can't take back what we did. All I can do is try and make up for that… and assure you that there is no one I'd rather walk down the aisle today than you."
Edith pressed her lips together, face twitching slightly. "Papa, please be careful… I don't want to ruin my makeup."
"I think all of us will be tearing up before the day is through," he told her as he led her outside.
The drive to the church was just as magically as he had hoped it would be. They rode in the carriage, the horses that he'd rented for the occasion doing a wonderful job of going fast when they needed to while slowing down when they reached the village proper so that all could see them. Edith beamed as she waved to the villagers, laughing as they threw rose petals down so that they were in a swirling storm of reds and pinks and whites. Honestly, with how Edith was laughing in delight he wanted to order the driver to take them around for another lap… or ten. But soon they reached the church and Robert descended, moving to help Edith down.
"Are you ready, my dear?"
"Yes papa," Edith said, voice wobbling with emotion. "I have… been waiting for this for so very long."
"Well… let us not keep them waiting."
And with that, Robert led his daughter into the church, were Mary and Sybil were also waiting.
He had been right… they all were fighting tears even as they smiled.
