Matthew was frustrated watching his wife pacing around the room and shifting things on the mantle piece pointlessly. "For goodness sake Mary, what's wrong?" He let a trifle more frustration into his tone than he had meant to but really, she'd been so flighty all afternoon. She was being quite impossible. They were supposed to be discussing whether they were going to London with the family for the season or not.

Mary broke out of her revere at Matthew's exclamation, ceasing her pacing before she made the carpet more threadbare, her hands clasped at her front awkwardly. "Nothing's wrong…" she was trying to appear normal, but she couldn't concentrate and Matthew's constant presence was maddening, just hearing his relentless sighing was driving her to distraction. How was she meant to talk to him calmly when he was aggravating her so? Especially when this was a pointless discussion, of course they wouldn't be going to London, not now…she quickly reminded herself that he didn't know that…yet. She let out a long breath and stood with her back to Matthew, looking out the window and watching the drizzle sail down the glass.

"That's clearly not the case" Matthew ventured carefully, as he stood from the chaise and walked over to the fire. It was obvious that she was not herself, but in typical Mary style she would be the last to admit that anything was amiss. "You've been distracted all afternoon; I can't second guess your mood all the time" his voice was light in an attempt to keep his irritation at bay so as not aggravate her further.

"I'm sorry" Mary sighed as she turned her head slightly to the side. She could just see him, over her shoulder, leaning against the mantelpiece; he was illuminated by the soft glow of the fire. "I'm just feeling a little out of sorts". She turned to face Matthew with a small but genuine smile, aware of how her distraction might appear as disinterest to him.

"Maybe you should get Anna to run you a bath and go to bed early, I know you've not been sleeping well" he suggested affectionately, however much she tried to hide it she was always so tired and restless in the mornings as of late.

At this Mary stiffened "Oh, please don't coddle me Matthew. I'm not a child" the defensive retort came effortlessly before she could think twice about it. But if he was like this now, what would he be like when he knew of her…condition.

"Darling, I didn't mean…" Matthew stuttered, he'd said the wrong thing again, which is all he seemed to be capable of doing these last few weeks. "I just though it might relax you. That's all" He moved from his perch by the fireplace and walked to Mary, who had now returned her gaze to the window. His arms snuck around her waist "And I am aware that you are not a child, in fact, I know you to be very much, a woman…" he dipped his head to kiss the crook of her neck as his arms moved to encircle her into a tight embrace.

Mary's posture stiffened once again as he held her, why was this so hard? It was good news wasn't it? So why was she having such difficulty thinking about it, let alone saying it. She decided that she needed to get used to the idea before sharing it with Matthew; feeling suddenly stifled by his tight embrace, and suffocating closeness she shrugged off his kisses and broke from his grip. Without so much as a backward glance at Matthew she fled the room as a guilty weight settled over her. By the time she was flying up the stairs she was in tears and angry at herself for letting her frustration show. That was a very un-lady-like and most certainly a very un-Mary-like thing to do. She was so caught up in these thoughts that she didn't notice quite how hard she slammed their bedroom door; flopping down on the bed, tired, exasperated and angry at herself. Trusting that Matthew would come and find her when he was ready; she hoped that she'd be ready to talk to him too.

The echo of their bedroom door slamming made its way through Crawley house and into the drawing room where a slightly bewildered Matthew sat.

Isobel's head appeared around the door and she threw a quizzical glance at Matthew who was slumped in his chair nursing a brandy. Looking quite dejected she sighed, did she really want to get involved? They were adults after all…

"What an earth's happened?" Isobel stepped in and headed to the chair across from Matthew.

He looked up "Ah… mother…I hardly know" he said apologetically as he ran his hand through his hair and let out a sigh. "One minuet we were talking, and the next she's running upstairs."

"I've never known Mary to take off in an argument… I'm surprised, however, that the door is still on its hinges. Well, what did you say to her?" Isobel questioned, if she knew her son, Matthew had most likely said something not realising it might upset her.

"Me? I didn't say anything!" Matthew bit back "Why must it always be my fault?" What was it with these women, they were so changeable… "And it wasn't an argument"

"Matthew" Isobel gently chastised "All I mean is that you must have said something to make her act like that, whether her reaction was warranted or not" she softened "why don't you go upstairs and talk to her, I'm sure it's nothing, she's still adjusting to her new life, have patience".

"She's lived here for four months now; she assures me that she is quite settled." He stood, drawing in a breath and set down his glass. "It wouldn't bother me so much if I had any clue as to why she was so upset."

Isobel sighed, men, they could be so obstinate. Matthew particularly could be very dense for a clever man. "Perhaps the best course is just to talk to her, calmly; there might be a perfectly good explanation if you give her a chance."

"Mother, you're supposed to be on my side. And you know as well as I do that when it comes to Mary any conversation is on her terms, it's impossible to talk if she doesn't want too. I'm convinced that she would make a better Lawyer than I do the way she skirts around things" Matthew felt the beginnings of a smile tug at this thought; his Mary was truly wonderful with words. Well, most of the time at least. He sighed and smoothed down his shirt. "It's not as if we argue often…ever" Not that it was an argument Matthew reminded himself.

Isobel chuckled at this "That is exactly what I mean Matthew, you rarely argue, so there must a reason. And really, I do not take sides; you can be so childish sometimes…"

Matthew scoffed at this, but decided against a reply that might have him quarrelling with both of the women in the house. He wasn't sure if he could survive if they were to unite against him. "Well thank you mother, it's nice to know that you'll never change" He said wistfully, casting a glance out the window. Noticing the change in the weather he decided that he should go for a walk to clear his head, and to give Mary some time. "Well mother, since the weather seems to have cleared up, I think I'll go for a stroll." Seeing his Isobel's expression he quickly added "Don't worry, I won't be long…" He smiled at his mother and bent down to kiss her cheek. Before leaving he turned back in the door way "Oh, and… thank you mother".

Isobel smiled at her son, basking in the genuine affection coming from, previously a very agitated Matthew. "You never change either…" She whispered to herself once he was out of view, he really had no clue.

Matthew ascended the stairs, he needed to retrieve his gloves and hat, it may have stopped raining but it was still bitterly cold outside. He reached his dressing room and cast a furtive glance to their bedroom door; he resisted the urge to go in telling himself to give her some time to calm down. It was funny, he mused; only ten minuets ago he was angry and confused, and now… He was still confused, but he wasn't worried or angry anymore. Mary would tell him what was wrong in her own time, and he would be there to listen.

On entering his dressing room he went to the cabinet to find his gloves when he noticed something was missing, Matthew was never overly bothered about keeping his possessions in any strict order. As it was he didn't use this room much at all, only for changing. And even then it was for propriety's sake more than anything. But he knew that on the cabinet in between his box of cufflinks and a photograph of Mary, sat a small stuffed dog. He had tried to return it to her on their wedding night but after inspecting it she pushed it back into his palm telling him that he would 'need all the luck he could get', not before he made her promise to take it back should she ever need it. He smiled at the memory and a blush crept onto his cheek as he remembered what had followed that conversation. But where had it gone? His smile drooped as he checked it had not fallen behind or under anything near. "It was here this morning…" Matthew said in a low tone of voice. After shifting everything about it appeared that it was indeed gone. He sighed and rested his hands on his hips in deep thought, looking around he caught sight of the door to the adjoining room; their bedroom, it was ajar.

Matthew slowly approached the door to peer through the crack, the room was bathed in the warm glow of the lamp and his eyes immediately sought Mary. She sat in the middle of the bed with her legs crossed and skirts bunched up around her knees, a smile spread across his face; she looked so young and unguarded, he had rarely seen her like this. She was staring intensely, eyebrows gently creased; engrossed in fiddling with… ah, so that's where it had gotten to. Matthew saw the opportunity for an easy way into conversation and he was about go and reclaim the toy when he was stopped by the sound of Mary's quit voice…

"So, what do you think…humm?" Mary said, just above a whisper as she fingered the toy in her hands "Do you think your papa, will be pleased?"

Matthew had to strain to hear, and he wasn't quite sure what she was saying to the little dog, but he reasoned that it was probably about him, which meant that he didn't want to know. He thought about leaving her to her secret mumblings, but leaving the house now seemed a silly idea. His bedroom was warm and inviting and contained Mary, whereas outside was, well cold, damp and of course he would be alone. It was with this thought that he pushed open the door separating them and strode into the room to join his wife.

Mary was stroking her fingers deftly over the small dog; she was ready to talk to him, and although she was nervous, she was excited. It was only confirmed after lunch and Matthew was still at work when Clarkson left, she had been in a complete daze the whole afternoon. But now she had processed the news she felt… well she didn't know how she felt, but it was a good feeling. However, she couldn't be truly happy until she knew that Matthew felt the same. Mary looked down at the charm in her hand "such good luck…" she whispered to herself, and as if on cue Matthew appeared from the dressing room.

Mary's head whipped up when he entered the bedroom, but after a moment she recovered herself and uncrossed her legs to slide them into a less uncouth angle. Matthew came to sit beside her on the bed, not risking reaching for her just yet, if there was one think he learnt about Mary is was that she was good at hiding her feelings.

Matthew cleared his throat "So, you're in need of a little luck?" he gestured to the stuffed dog in her hand.

"It would seem I do…I have something to tell you" Mary continued hesitantly. She shifted on the bed to face him, gathering the courage to gage his reaction, whatever it may be.

"I see, is that what you two were discussing?" He looked down to the dog in her palm and moved his hand to cover hers enclosing the toy between them, whilst gently rubbing his thumb over the back of her hand in encouragement.

"Oh Matthew" Mary laughed to herself quietly "…I wasn't talking to the dog…" it was time. Matthew noticed a change in her countenance, they were rarely uncomftable talking to each other and it concerned him. However a small smile started to pull at the side of her mouth as her free hand moved to cover their already clasped hands on her lap.

She drew in a long breath "I'm pregnant…" her eyes were wide, looking directly into his.

A drawn out silence filled the room "What?" Matthew was stunned, he was struggling to take it in, did she really mean it? Could she be? He broke out into a wide grin "Mary…that's brilliant news!" He paused to take in her expression, her brows were creased and she looked almost fearful. Her grip on his hand had become vice-like and her back was stiffened. "Isn't it?" he hesitated "Mary?" Panic flickered over his face…

"Do you think so Matthew? Do you really?" Her tone was desperate and her voice was barely above a whisper. Then it hit him. She was worried that he wouldn't be pleased… "My God Mary, of course I am, it's wonderful news"

Mary's face relaxed and she released the breath she was holding, looking into his eyes all she could see was love and adoration "Oh Matthew, I love you so much!" her eyes shone with tears and she pulled him down into a kiss, smiling against his warm lips.

When their long and sweet kiss broke, she wore an expression of such a divine relief that he could do nothing but pull her into his lap and into an all encompassing embrace.

"I love you too, my darling girl." He breathed in the scent of her chestnut hair and pressed a kiss to the top of her head. As an after thought he added "and I will love this little one too" He smiled "The first little Crawley…"

Mary chuckled and laced her fingers through Matthews, whose hand had already snaked unconsciously to her for now, flat abdomen. She laid her head onto his shoulder and yawned. He scooted back a little so his back was against the headboard. Tomorrow was going to be a tiring day, but he couldn't wait to tell the whole family, and well, anyone who would listen. They held on to each other for a long time and as another wave of excitement gripped Matthew, he looked down to find Mary's face relaxed completely in sleep. He sighed happily and carefully removed his jacket, she curled against him automatically and he chuckled to himself replacing his arm snugly around her waist.

A little later Isobel came to check on Mary, a little concerned because Matthew had not returned form his walk. But she found them both fast asleep, still fully clothed and atop the bed sheets.