Disclaimer:
I do not own Matthew, Mary or any of the Characters of Downton Abbey. Sad, right?
Summary: Set in Modern Day London, Mary is married to Richard Carlisle and they live in the heart of London, only visiting Haxby on holiday. Matthew now owns a major London based law office, though still resides on Downton Abbey. Lavinia is still dead, however she died from the flu. After a run in at a Downton harvest party, Matthew has his suspicions on Richard's treatment of Mary. Warning: Occasional violence and smut. Not at the same time. Also you will read about several Downton characters including sweet Anna, but she takes on more of a close friend role.
The weather in London was getting a bit chilly as Mary sat in a stiff emerald tufted velvet chair, holding a cup of tea close to her heart. She looked out at the London street, noticing a man walk by with his small puppy as the leaves became less and less green, slowly falling away from the trees. It wasn't an unusual site to see in London, but she was finding herself fascinated by the people living their lives outside of her window while she sipped away at the tea. Richard was in the office early that morning, leaving her some much needed alone time. While he spent most of his time in the office, those moments that he made it home or they made their way out on the town, she felt like she was drowning. She was stuck under water and he was holding her there. He exhausted her and yet he seemed to love her. He claimed to love her. He promised her that he loved her when things got...he just promised. Everything he did was out of love. Every yell and moment of shouting, he said he did it when it was good for her. It was his way of fighting he promised.
She took another sip of her tea, lowering the cup to see how much was left, ignoring her aching arm. She would need another cup, but it could wait another minute. As she watched the man cross the street, she heard her phone buzz. She laughed quietly as she looked at the text Tom. The brother in law of her late baby sister had a wicked sense of humor and never failed to make her laugh. It was a text asking her to make up her mind about appearing at her family's estate at Downton Abbey. The family was hosting a party to celebrate the harvest and it had been a little over a year since she had returned home. It was tempting to drop everything and just go now, even though it was two weeks away and she had a function to attend with her husband that evening. Mary was a society girl and had grown up knowing her role would be that of wife and entertainer, even arm candy at times. However, this life, wasn't one she imagined. When she left Downton, she thought she would be close by but Richard Carlisle wasn't a fan of her being so close to the people she came from. Well not the people, just one person who meant a lot to her. He was easily intimidated, though he would never admit it. One day she thought, he wouldn't question her so much. Instead they argued most nights, some being so intense she wondered when the environment would lighten up. She looked at the time on her phone, immediately hearing the side door of the house opening from the garage. She smiled lightly. Anna.
"Mary!" A petite blonde walked down the hallway of the home. For years, Anna tended to Mary's every need. Then when she married Richard Carlisle, Anna made the choice to stay on at Downton Abbey with her husband, John Bates. She walked into the large kitchen carrying several garment bags and a large tote. "Sorry I am running late. The train was total chaos and then I stopped at Harrods for your shoes and well, that line was outrageous."
"Not a worry." Mary smiled wide for the first time in weeks. Anna would come help her get things in order at least once a month and help make sure she was ready for any major functions. The rest of the time, Mary went on without an assistant or as they would say in her Grandmother's day, a lady's maid. "How are you?"
"Very well." Anna smiled, straightening up her black blazer. "Mr. Bates is in Germany with your father. They return Monday."
"I heard Papa was in Germany, although I am not sure why he decided to drag Bates there for some boring sporting event."
"John was hardly complaining." Anna giggled, walking over to the cabinets. "The dress for tonight is ready to go, but since we have several hours before we must get you ready, what else can we accomplish. Shoe rack? Dishes? Do we need to move furniture? Are we doing a whole Marie Kondo thing?"
"Oh Anna, don't you know sometimes I just want to catch up?" Mary laughed weakly, leaning against her marble counter tops.
"Linen closet?" Anna laughed, reaching for the kettle on the stove.
"Sure." Mary opened the cupboard, reaching for a second mug for Anna. "May as well have a bit of fuel."
"Of course." Anna reached for a canister of tea. "So when is Sir Richard due home?"
"He's not. I am to meet him at the Ritz before seven." Mary reached for her phone, checking to see if her husband had sent any other instructions. "He doesn't want to risk being late. He said he would be there to open my door when the car drops me off."
"So I take it this night isn't a romantic one." Anna handed Mary her tea, before pouring her own.
"Never." Mary reached for the honey resting on her kitchen island. "Its some sort of fundraising event that he has given his name to in order to network with some executives in from America."
"Don't sound so thrilled." Anna laughed, reaching for the tote she walked in with as Mary followed her into the hallway and to the stairs. "I'll put the warmer sheets in the laundry today and get them put away."
"I never know quite what to do with this house and you always come in, ready to bail me out." Mary breathed, walking up the stairs behind Anna. She never was one to appear weak, but Anna was a close friend and seemed to know her better than she knew herself.
"I can come up more if you need." Anna offered as they reached the second floor and walked to the hall closet, opening the French doors. "Mr. Carson won't mind. Especially if it's for you."
"How is he?" Mary asked, running her hand over her wrist, toying with the thin beaded bracelet. "Not working as much I hope?"
"Mr Carson? He's still working the same amount." Anna laughed, pointing to the top shelf of blankets. "Let's start with those. Then move on to the sheets."
"Sure." Mary stood on her toes, reaching for a pile of cashmere blankets she had picked up when she was in Paris a few months before, the sleeve of her robe sliding a bit.
"Mary, what is that?" Anna gasped, looking at the bruise very distinct on Mary's wrist.
"What is what?" Mary handed the pile of folded blankets to Anna.
"Those markings." Anna pointed, raising Mary's sleeve.
"Oh, I don't know." Mary frowned, shaking her head quickly. "Probably from trying to move my closet around last weekend. You know I bruise like a peach."
"That is very true." Anna laughed, imagining all the times Mary had ended up with random bruises over the years. She was a clumsy one which she had barely noticed until she no longer saw Mary daily. "You know, Mr. Crawley asked how you were doing."
"Oh? When was this?" Mary moved to sit on the floor, crossing her legs as Anna joined her. It had been over a year since his beloved Lavinia Swire had passed away from a terrible case of the flu. She had been engaged to Richard Carlisle at that time, but for a moment she thought Matthew still loved her. Once Lavinia had passed, it was clear that Matthew didn't want her and she proceeded with marrying Richard that following Spring.
"Yesterday. I was talking with her Lady Ship and the Dowager Countess and he came to have tea with them." Anna explained, separating the linens based on materials, season and color. "I mentioned tomorrow was my day out here for the month and he asked how you have been."
"What did you tell him?" Mary asked quickly, shaking her head. "I mean you told him I was doing well, right?"
"I told him you were still madly in love with him." Anna rolled her eyes, tossing a pillow case at her.
"I'm serious. What did you tell him?"
"I told him you were doing well and Richard was as busy as ever." Anna sat back, compiling a stack of blankets that would be reserved again for the top shelf. Mary and Richard Carlisle were tall enough to be able to reach them. "He's actually been in London a lot lately for work. They're opening another office near Ealing."
"Well that's nice." Mary rolled her eyes. Sometimes Anna would tell her what Matthew was up to as if she was expecting some grand reaction. "London's a big place. Plenty of room for the both of us to coexist."
"Are you happy?" Anna said suddenly, knowing that Matthew being so close at times would mean they would possibly run into each other. Both of them were too stubborn to admit their supposed argument was wrong. It was wrong and now Mary looked like she was constantly tired of the life she had now. "Truly?"
"What do you mean?" Mary frowned, leaning back against the sleek taupe walls in the upstairs of her home. Sir Richard had fired the first two painters to come and paint their home, reminding her that life was constantly about business and not much else. Life was business and she was just there to be his wife. A woman to fulfil what he needed and he never let her forget that. They didn't talk. Not deeply anyways. Anna was always the easiest to talk to, even when she didn't need to get anything off her chest. "Truly what?"
"I just mean, are you happy…here?" Anna wasn't sure why she was asking, other than the fact that sometimes Mary seemed tired and a little overwhelmed. Mary was always a charmer and up for so much, but in the last year her confidence had shifted. "In London, with Sir Richard?"
"Of course, I am. With my house and Sir Richard." Mary said quickly, folding the corners of a Hermes blanket she had been given at her wedding from some cousin she had never heard of. "Why wouldn't I be?"
"I'm just asking. You seem quite tired." Anna smiled, wondering if that was the truth. If it wasn't, one thing was for sure. Mary wasn't the type to show something was wrong if she could help it. She had seen Mary through so much heartbreak with Matthew and after Lavinia died, everything had completely fallen apart. From what little words Mary said, they had a final screaming match, before Mary ran into the house and told Richard she wanted to schedule the wedding as soon as they could. In Anna's mind it seemed like she was trying to make a statement more than take a leap of life long happiness. Even on the wedding day, Tom, Mr. Bates and Anna locked eyes several times as if to say, 'This madness has to stop.'
"I'm not." Mary said firmly, getting up from the floor quickly and placing a stack of blankets on the top shelf. She wasn't tired. She wasn't anything, but someone just trying to clean out their linen closet, before a big event with her husband. She hated when people told her she looked tired, miserable or even sad. She wasn't any of those things and she knew her own mind. "And before you say anything yes, Papa, Tom…my mother says the same thing. Well, you're all wrong. Sir Richard and I are as happy as ever."
"Of course." Anna responded apologetically, standing up alongside Mary, handing her a queen sized down comforter. "Top shelf and then I want to toss the rest of these in the laundry to freshen them up before we put them away."
"You know you're not required to do my laundry." Mary let a small smile escape her lips. Anna was always outdoing herself, bringing her small gifts, taking on house projects and trying to make her life easier than it already was. "Of the very little I do myself, laundry is one of those things I have since learned to do. Laura comes to clean every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday morning. She even cleans the doorknobs, but I do the laundry."
"Well I like to remind you of home." Anna giggled, tossing some blankets into a basket., before pulling it up to rest on her hip. "Now lets go, you can show me how domesticated you are."
"You could quiz me." Mary laughed lightly, her first solid excitement all morning. "Make sure I don't end up with cotton candy pink sheets in my master bedroom."
"Pastels could be in for spring."
"I think Sir Richard would have a heart attack." Mary laughed as they made their way down the wooden steps. Richard Carlisle wasn't known for his sense of humor and she was pretty sure if she messed up the laundry and gave them pastel pink sheets, he'd probably fly off the handle and send her to order new ones within minutes. He had his moments of laughter, but they were few. He was a man of business and he reminded her constantly that his life was serious. When she wanted to cut loose, he had her go on without them. Even on their honeymoon, he worked while she saw the sites and took her time on the French beaches.
Mary watched as Anna tossed some sheets into the laundry for a quick load. She missed her time at Downton, gossiping with Anna, joking with Tom and even battling a bit with Edith. Downton Abbey felt worlds away, having not been there for over a year. After her fight with Matthew and the wedding, Mary felt like going back would have been a mistake. There was hurt there and Richard never liked her being around Matthew. She imagined it had something to do with her husband's pride. They had a large house there in Haxby, but they had not yet once stayed there for a night. It was this plot of land not too far away that was supposed to be where they began their family, but London seemed easier for Richard and to be honest, Mary was starting to be okay with not being so close to Downton Abbey and the people or persons in it. Her life with Richard was different, an adjustment. Things weren't always perfect, but as Carlisle had said, life wasn't meant to be. Life was about failure and success and sometimes, Mary felt ever so much as if her life was failing.