Mary decided she wanted to lie down for a while after dinner before the men came through at least. Charles had proposed the night before and Mary has said she would give him her answer after dinner. Now her papa was talking to Charles and having a glass of whiskey and a nice cigar.
She plopped down on her bed and rested her eyes
"It's okay.." A voice whispered , she recognised it to be one of Matthews which chilled Mary's body to the bone.
"You can love another my darling, he's a good chap. I want you to move on, to love again and be happy."
Mary lied in her bed unmoving , squeezing her eyes shut and trying to block out her dead husband to no avail. She took a deep shuddering breath.
"He's not you Matthew. I thought it was going to be me and you , always. It took so long to be yours and I can't just go off with someone else at the drop of a hat." She could feel him beside her, his hand mid way between her waist and him and his warm breath tickling her neck.
"However much you might want to…"
He responded echoing a past conversation which lead to the heartbreak of a young woman.
Mary said nothing and remained still.
"You have to leave me now Matthew, if you want me to be with Charles. I love you and I love him but I can only choose one of you and I choose him. I choose life."
The words left her mouth and she knew what she said was true but a sudden rush of sadness because she knew it would mean Matthew would no longer be there in moments like these.
"I want you happy , and I know he can make you happy so I am going now my darling. Just remember that I will always love you even now. Promise me that you will tell George that his father loves him very much and take my blessing darling. I love to see you smile and laugh darling be sure that you always do. Give Charles his answer tonight he's getting rather anxious as we speak"
"I promise." she whispered and opened her eyes and Matthew was gone and everything was still.
She had accepted Charles and she could swear that Matthew was smiling down at her.