The end is just the beginning.
Continued from the end of the Christmas special.
Matthew held Mary at her waist spinning around in the snow, getting lost in her sweet laugh. As he touched her arm he exclaimed
"Good gosh darling, you are absolutely freezing!" Mary finally came back to earth and realised, yes she was quite cold. She supposed she must have gotten lost in all the excitement and forgot about everything but him.
"Here take this." Matthew said, as he draped his jacket around her shoulders. He pulled Mary into a warm hug, shielding her from the night air.
"It's beautiful out here." She murmured, gazing up at the snow.
"You're beautiful." He replied, nuzzling her neck. Both to involved in each other, neither had noticed Carson hiding in the shadows.
Brushing a tear from his cheek, he whispered
"Don't forget to charge him interest milady." Mary glanced up at him and smiled with joy, and Carson felt prouder than he had ever done in this job before.
One hour later, Mary is sat at her dressing room table with Anna plaiting her hair.
"Milady, forgive me, but you seem rather pre-occupied tonight. Is there something bothering you?" Anna asked, with traces of curiosity seeping through in her voice.
"Oh Anna, quite the contrary." Failing to hide her smile, their eyes met through the mirror.
"This wouldn't have anything to do with that period of time at the ball in which you and Mr Crawley seemed to have vanished from the room would it?" Mary looked guiltily towards her maid, and confirmed with a look that she had been correct.
"Mr Carson has found him a room for the night, the snow was far to heavy for him to walk back to his home."
Anna still wasn't sure she fully understood what Mary was trying to explain so she persisted.
"Lady Mary, are you trying to tell me something here? Now Mr Carlisle has gone, has Matthew said something?" Mary's face was glowing with delight, and Anna could only relate to this look when reminiscing the time in which her and Mr Bates had agreed to marry.
"You know Anna, I always thought if I were ever going to be made this happy I would know. But Matthew defied all the odds and caught me by surprise. Oh I just can't stop smiling." Mary laughed, and when her and Anna's eyes met again, she knew Anna finally understood.
"Oh Milady!" Anna exclaimed. " are you and Mr Matthew going to be married? After all this time?" Her hand flew to her mouth, and tears sprang to her eyes with pleasure for her closest friend. Mary matched Anna's delight and rose from her chair and took hold of Anna's hands.
"Yes, I suppose it has taken quite a while. But all I can say, is this happiness was worth the wait. Matthew and I both knew it was time, he knows everything now, and if anything he loves me more because of it. I know it sounds strange, but I think he really appreciated the fact that there are now no lies between us." She smiled at Anna and pulled her into a hug, thanking her for all she had done.
"So you're not going to New York then?"
"No, I suppose I'd realised that when you said you weren't going to go. If you can brave the storm, then so can I. They only way to beat this is to head it straight on." Anna nodded in agreement and bade Mary goodnight before heading down to the servants quarters. Mary clambered into bed and gazed at the candle to her right, getting lost in the movement of the flame, with nothing but Matthew on her mind.
Matthews room, around the same time.
Matthew gazed up at the ceiling smiling to himself as he remembered the events of the day that had just passed. Finally saying goodbye to that awful creature of Sir Richard, why Mary had felt she had to marry him was finally known, and Matthew was sure they would never see him again. As he reminisced the servants ball, he reminded himself to ask Mary where she disappeared to when she, Lady Rosamund and Anna had all left the ball. But the memory that was most present in his mind was that of just over an hour ago. The happiest moment of his life, when Mary accepted his proposal and he finally took her in his arms, where she belonged. He could sense that she was thinking about that very memory too, and knew then more than ever that he and Mary should be together forever. His love for her was finally returned and Matthew wanted to go and find her right then, but knew he must hold out until morning. Only 8 hours, he told himself as he turned over and closed his eyes, with nothing but Mary on his mind.
The next morning, Mary had entered her parents room and was sitting on their bed talking to her Mother.
"Mama I need to tell you something. Last night after you and Papa had retired, myself and Matthew were talking outside. We both agreed it was time, and he proposed." Mary met her mothers eyes and was finding it hard to read her reaction.
"Mary darling, please don't think ill of me, but I am having the strangest sense of déjà vu." She replied finding it hard to believe that the thing her family had wanted for so long was finally happening.
"Oh I know. But I am quite sure that this time it will keep. We both promised to each other that this was it. It was time we lived our lives together." Cora's eyes lit up with delight and she cupped her hands around her eldest daughters face, and saw before her a girl who was ready to marry. "I suppose I best go find him. He stayed last night because of the heavy snow, and I think we should tell Papa together." She bade her mother farewell and exited the bedroom.
As she walked down the staircase she felt butterflies arise in her stomach and realised just how much she needed to see Matthew. She was approaching the Library when she heard his voice behind her.
"Hello." He said, as she turned to face him. He looked at her in a way that made Mary feel complete. Like there was nothing that could harm her. He took her hand in his and raised it to his lips, making Mary feel just a little faint. "Shall we go through?" He asked. Mary nodded in agreement, and she and Matthew entered the library. They looked around to find it empty, and walked to the sofa to take a seat. Matthew's eyes gazed around Mary's face as she blushed with content. Matthews arm snaked around her neck and pulled her close to him. She reacted smoothly and fitted herself to his body. She sniffed the air and noticed it was filled with Matthews manly aroma.
" You look wonderful. As you always do." he complimented her, and Mary was glad he could not see her face. They may well be getting married, but Mary did not want Matthew thinking she was weak. The redness faded away from her cheeks before he tilted her face towards him and brushed his lips against hers. Smiling a little, Mary responded with great enthusiasm and their lips met again.
" This is it, isn't it?" She murmured, brushing her cheek against his.
"If you want it to be." Matthew replied. Who knew what the future would hold? But for now Mary was content with being held by the man she loved, who she was sure loved her back.
An hour has passed, and the family are all sat together in the drawing room.
"Oh Matthew! What did I tell you? I knew you wouldn't be able to resist my advice for long!" Isobel seemed rather amused by the news of her sons engagement. Matthew bowed his head with embarrassment as Mary looked at him quizzically.
" For once I find myself agreeing with cousin Isobel. Finally you decide to listen to your elders advice do you? Oh the youth of today! Far to defiant for my liking!" Violet lectured. Mary seemed unfazed by this comment as she gazed at her fiancé, while her parents looked on proudly. Edith was the only one who remained subdued.
"Edith, what is the matter?" Violet asked.
"Oh absolutely nothing Granny. Infact, I don't think I have ever been this happy. My elder sister is engaged to be married, and my younger is to have a baby! I feel quite delighted actually! Mary I think it's time we called a truce don't you?" Feeling defeated Edith had finally seen sense to make up with her older sister.
"Oh yes, I agree. Now what's this about Sybil pregnant? What have I missed?" Mary demanded. Feeling a little crestfallen at her thunder being stolen.
"Mary, we completely forgot. With your big news it slipped our minds. Sybil wrote on New Years eve that she and Branson are to have a baby!" Robert explained, smiling graciously at his daughter. Mary's face was unreadable as she rose from her chair and asked to be excused.
"Mary?" Mary's thoughts were interrupted by Matthews voice. She turned to face him, out in the snow again. Matthew was shocked to see tears streaking down her cheeks, and he rushed forward to comfort her.
"Darling, whatever's the matter?" He hushed, gently rocking her from side to side.
" Oh, really it's nothing, it's just that… well…I…"
"Sweetheart you're not making any sense. I don't understand?" Mary pulled away slightly as she replied.
"I suppose I just miss Sybil. With all the excitement of us, and Mr Bates, I completely forgot about her, living in Ireland. I just feel so hopeless here, and now with her being pregnant, what if something happens?" She asked.
" Mary, Branson's got a good head on him. He won't mistreat her! If he did, your Father would do something about it for sure. And if you feel a little sad that your younger sister is married and pregnant, well don't be. Because if I know you, it won't be long before there is a little Crawley running about Downton." Mary looked up at Matthew for confirmation, and with one look at his face, she knew he was serious. Tears just kept on falling, and a smile stretched across her face when she saw Matthew was crying too. Holding each other they waltzed around in the snow laughing and crying just like the night before. Only it wasn't as cold, and they were know excited not for themselves, but for another little person who might be joining them very soon.
Sitting in the Library Mary and Matthew are discussing wedding plans.
"Oh Matthew I really don't see the point in delaying any longer. I want to marry as soon as possible, a fresh start, just the two of us." Mary looked up at Matthew thinking about what may happen in the next few months.
"Yes, I suppose you're right. How about April?" He asked. His answer came in the form of a kiss, sweet and tender confirming Mary's decision.
"Just think. This time next year we could be not just a married couple, but parents." He speculated, sliding his arm around Mary's neck.
"Yes, but right now I am happy to be with the man I love, who I know will never leave me. My knight in shining armour!" Matthew brushed the hair out of his fiancés face and gently stroked her cheek.
"My darling Mary, you don't need to be rescued. You are perfect just the way you are, and don't let anyone ever tell you any different. The mistakes we have both made are part of us now, and they will be forever." Feeling reassured by this, she smiled and lent on Matthew for support. Speaking no more, they enjoyed a while just being themselves. Cuddled up on the sofa they looked like any ordinary couple, but of course this was true love. A love that will never be defeated no matter what may come their way.
This is the end of chapter 1, I will continue writing although it may be a while before chapter 2 is uploaded as I have GCSEs coming up in January that I need to be studying for. Hope you enjoyed reading this, and any criticism is welcome, it may help with my English creative writing!