She watched as his bed, tables and clothes were manoeuvred in to the new room. Tears crept silently down her pale face as sorrow engulfed her and she brushed them away with a black velvet glove before descending the stairs slowly, one step at a time, down, down, down. The glove stretched tightly over her soft skin as she clung to the banister at the bottom, she slowly released the old wood from her iron grip just as Sir Richard had released her many, many months ago after publishing her scandal.

She heard a voice and looked up to see the concerned face of her husband coming from across the hall. She tried to smile, but that bravado she had always worn was gone, and for the first time in her life she could not just store away her worry and continue unconcerned. She could sense the smile fading and moved away, trying to hide her tears in her hand, but they appeared so fast, and so did he.

"Oh Mary, my darling" His arms encircled her warmly and rubbed her back as he kissed her warm brown hair with his soft lips over and over and she cried gently in to his chest. "I'm so sorry….Shhhh" He stopped moving his arms and just held her tightly, trying, just for a moment to remember their wedding less than three days previously. There had been no wedding night, with her father so ill with the second bout of flu they had both been reluctant to leave his bedside and had remained with him, holding his hands right until his last breath, the wedding itself had been extravagant, and wonderful, yet wholy tinged with that slight feeling of sadness, her father was dying, they had all known it.

She gathered herself together, looking up from her warm cradle in to her husband's big blue eyes and smiled gently,

"I'm sorry darling. I miss him so much…" Her smile faded and she closed her eyes, laid her head back on to his chest once more and drew strength from the steady heartbeat inside.

"My darling, you have nothing to apologise for" Matthew whispered, gently taking her face in his hands and kissing her forehead, hoping with all his heart that his, funny, happy Mary would return soon.

Matthew's eyes blinked open. The ornate wallpaper slowly faded in to focus and the large Earl's bedroom, his bedroom, became clear before him. Mary was asleep opposite him, her face seemed so delicate on the white pillow and Matthew smiled to himself, reminded once again how lucky he was to have her by his side.

He reached out one finger to touch her pale cheek and she opened her eyes. They were large, deep brown pools and Matthew heart leapt in delight as he registered that they were clear of the confusion and sadness that had plagued her these last three days.

He started to draw his finger away again but she reached up and took his hand within her own, and smiled. He smiled back and leant towards her, mouth open and finally, after three days of sorrow, they could be together, be man and wife, and live their lives.

Cora smiled widely as Matthew and Mary entered the dining room together, Mary looked like she had begun to recover from her brief escape with reality and Matthew looked like a picture of health, something the new earl would definitely need to be. The family stood as they appeared and Matthew looked slightly embarrassed as he motioned for them all to sit, taking his place at the head of the table with Mary on his right, the rightful heirs, happy in their rightful places.

Thank you so much for reading, reviews appreciated!

Ell x