Chapter 22 - "Mr and Mrs RavenWood..."

Clara's PoV

I was really hoping my speech had worked.

There had been silence for a good 30 minutes between the four of us as cutlery scraped on the plates while we all ate our fruit awkwardly.

I was wondering what John was going right now, seeing as he was stuck in the library on his own, eating his breakfast. A breakfast he wasn't used to.

Dad stood up and walked towards Rory - of whom had heard the entire conversation now. And was standing as awkwardly at the side of the room as we were sitting.

'Mr Williams'

'Yes my lord?'

'Have the spare room at the the end of the house closest to my bedroom made up. Then have all of Mr Smiths belongings and things moved in there'

I gasped that he was doing that. That he was having and allowing John to move upstairs. I knew why it was closest to his room - but even still.

There was a tiny ray of hope that I may have possibly just won.

'But your lordship--' he stuttered.

'Do it' Dad said making Rory nervous. 'Then call Senior Lady Oswald from London to this house and prepare a room for her also'

'Your calling Gran? Your seriously telling Gran on me?' I mumbled into my hand. It was like I was 7 all over again.

'Then have yourself call Mr and Mrs Ravenwood' he said rolling his eyes. We hadn't seen them since Mum had died. He hadn't been interested in them.

'Why?' I asked as Rory left the room in a terrible huff about what had just happened.

'Because if I you are going to insist on doing this and bringing my house down with your idiocy... Them were going to do it right. We'll do this properly and raise as little questions that is possible'

'Mr Williams, you look like you've just taken a beating' Rose chuckled.

'He's only gone and done it hasn't he? He's gone and pissed the Lord Oswald off and managed to wriggle his way into the household. He's only been here less than a year and he's made himself known alright'

'Whatever are you talking about?' One of the maids asked.

'He means to say that Lady Clara and I are engaged to be married. In December' John said standing behind him.

'Have you no shame?' Rory snapped. 'I will not have you down here and don't even think about expecting my staff to wait on you' Rory said again.

'I wouldn't expect it, which is why I have come down to collect my things. I'll be staying in the spare room next to the Lord for now. And wanted some of my clothes'

'Get out of my sight' Rory yelled, stepping towards John as Clara appeared in the doorway of the servants hall.

'Come on John, show me to your room' I said with a smile. I wasn't going to pretend I hadn't heard the way that Rory had just tested John, but I can't blame them either.

I guess they all believe that John is treading on their toes and that they will now have to treat him differently, in a way they are right.

But I'm glad they heard from us first hand instead of getting the house gossip.

- - -

'Mother. Come through. Everyone is through here' Dad said as I greeted gran at the door and followed into the lounge.

'Are you going to tell us what all this is about Dave?' Gran asked (Mums, Mum)

'You have a son correct?'

'Yes'

'And he's how old?'

'Well he was 10 years younger than Ellie, and you are 5 years older than her so he's 35' Gramps said.

'How can I contact him? I think he'll be a fine runner and organiser of this estate. A middle class lawyer. He'll whip everything into shape when the time comes'

'What are you rambling on about Dave? The sooner we can leave the better' she sighed.

'Of course. It's just your granddaughter is determined to make my life a living nightmare by marrying a servant. There is a lot of "what ifs" in this whole set up and I need to make sure that my estate is taken care of because the way handling her is going I could pop off dead tomorrow of stress'

'Don't say that Dad' I said rolling my eyes at his complete over exaggeration.

'Clara. You do understand. I can't and won't just hand my estate over to a servant'

'Listen I don't know where Marcus is. I'll give you his address and you can send a telegram. But after the war we never really saw him. We know he survived but he hasn't married. He doesn't have children. Why would you want him?'

'Like I said. For the estate'

'Hold up' Gran said piping up. 'Your marrying a footman? The only daughter of The Lord Oswald is marrying a footman? A servant?'

'You can't complain to much mother and neither can I. I married down to be fair'

Ellie was different. She was a woman marrying up. It's okay for women to marry up. Men marrying up isn't right. The chances are that he is just trying to wrangle his way into the family?'

'What can I do? I have my priorities and that is getting an heir. Clara's is the only only way I can do that' he scoffed.

'John can stay?'

'The footman can stay under my terms'