Rating: Mature
Spoilers: mid series one. In this A/U Mary did not spend a night with Kemal Pamuk.

Summary: Lady Mary Crawley has acquired some very naughty reading materials, most certainly not suitable for a lady. Matthew walks in on her reading and one thing leads to another as the two enjoy a lovers' encounter.

Note: I assume that Lady Mary would not know a whole lot about sex. Women like Lady Mary in the Victorian and Edwardian era did not talk about sex, and few mainstream books gave realistic descriptions of what transpired in the bedroom. Still, a stubborn and intelligent woman like Mary would certainly be able to obtain what she needed. I think Mary would very much like to know what to expect as a married woman.

Special thank you to the lovely Tambear for catching missing commas, odd grammar and offering excellent suggestions & advice!

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Speak Softly, Words of Lust & Passion

Lady Mary squirmed a little as her eyes skimmed over the page of forbidden words. She was still amazed at how she had managed to come across these stories. She swallowed hard as she kept reading, absentmindedly stroking softly over her slender neck.

The truth was that Lady Mary would never have considered reading these pages, in the library of all places; had she not been absolutely alone in the house, well, with the exception of the servants of course. Though none of them would ever demand to know what she was reading.

On this clear spring day her mother and Edith had decided to call on her grandmother, the Dowager Countess of Grantham. Since she had not been asked to go, Mary had not volunteered. She hardly ever found herself alone these days and she frankly looked forward to it. Her thoughts went to her youngest sister Sybil, who was in London for a fitting of her frocks for the season. Her father was chaperoning her as he had some business in London with the family lawyer, Mr. Murray. Mary hoped that they were not arguing too much. After the debacle with Sybil's Arabian Nights inspired pants frock she was not allowed to have final say on her frocks, and most definitely not with the ones for her Debutante Season.

With a sigh of delight and a smile on her lips, Mary went back to her thrilling tale. As the story became more and more graphic in nature she felt her cheeks flush and pressed her palm to them to cool them down. This is how her cousin, Matthew Crawley, found her a moment later when he walked in unannounced.

"Cousin Mary," he said, smiling at her.

Mary's head snapped up and she looked like she had been caught red handed. She quickly closed her book, but a page stuck out on the side which Matthew found peculiar.

"Cousin Matthew. I didn't know that we were expecting you," she said, a little flustered.

"You were not. I was out for a walk and decided to stop in. I hope I am not disturbing you."

She frowned at his improper behavior, and then scolded herself for thinking him rude. He was the heir to her father's title and the estate. Matthew had every right to stop in as he had put it, anytime he so desired.

"Of course not," she said and mustered a small smile. "I was just enjoying a little quiet time. No one is here but me."

"And me," he teased with that charming smile Mary could not help but return even though she tried her best to not let it affect her.

"And you," she echoed.

He took a step forward. "What are you reading? It seemed that you were enjoying yourself when I so rudely barged in on you," he teased.

"Oh nothing really," she said quickly and held up the book.

He read the title and chuckled. "There must be more to it than that. I highly doubt that HG Wells would cause you to be so flustered. I believe that you are hiding something inside your book, cousin," he said and laughed. "Perhaps one of Cousin Sybil's pamphlets? Is your father unknowingly harboring a socialist under his roof?"

"Don't be ridiculous!" she exclaimed and made a face. "I would never."

"Then tell me," he said and grabbed the book out of her hands.

"Matthew!" she said and her eyes widened as he started to open it. She jumped to her feet and tried to take it back from him. "Please, don't."

He looked at the worried look on her face and immediately regretted his behavior. He handed the book back to her and smiled.

"Whatever it is, I promise not to tell. Will you not share your secret with me? Is it perhaps a letter from a new suitor?"

Mary laughed and looked away. "No. Far from it." She looked him in the eyes. "Since you already think me a terrible person I guess this will not make me any worse in your eyes."

"Mary!" he said upset. "I think very highly of you, surely you must know that. Yes, you make me angry and upset more often than I care to admit to, but that does not mean that I am not very fond of you."

"Thank you. I will strive to behave better, as long as you do not infuriate me so," she said with a teasing smirk.

"I am sure you will. Now, about your reading material…"

Mary sank down on the small loveseat again and rested her palm on top of the book for a moment. She looked up at him and frowned.

"You must come closer, Matthew. I do not wish for them to hear me in the village," she said, rolling her eyes.

Matthew stepped closer until he was leaning against the side of the loveseat. He glanced down at her dark head, bowed over her book. Soft fine baby hairs covered the back of her pale neck. He closed his hand into a fist to prevent his fingers from reaching out to touch her.

"I came across this in London a few weeks ago. I fear that it is not at all suitable reading material for a lady," she whispered. "But I cannot seem to stop myself."

"What is so unsuitable about it?" he asked curious.

"It speaks of… intimate matters," she said in a hushed voice. "Of things that should only happen between married couples and in the privacy of their bedroom."

Matthew swallowed and felt himself getting warm. "And yet you find such descriptions interesting?" he said weakly, unsure what to say.

"I do," she said and looked up at him. "No one ever speaks about these things. I know nothing about what will happen on my wedding night," she mumbled.

Matthew gestured to the seat next to her. "May I?"

She nodded and he sat down. Gently touching her arm he waited for her to look at him. He smiled, trying to put her at ease.

"I know that most people say that a woman does not need know of these things. That it is her husband's duty and right to educate her once they are married. I personally think it wrong. I think a woman has every right to know about intimate pleasures, and what to expect from her husband, or lover."

Mary blushed and cleared her throat. "Am I to understand that you have been intimate with a woman, Matthew?"

He sighed and met her dark eyes. He nodded. "I have. You asked, and I will never lie to you. I hope you do not think less of me for it."

"Of course not. A man is allowed to engage in such things, even though a woman is not supposed to."

"Unfair, but true. So what does your story talk about?"

"I've only just started this one. The first one I did not much care for, but this one is intriguing."

"What did you not like about the first one?"

Mary blushed furiously and licked her lips a little nervously. "They were spanking the poor girl until her derriere was bleeding. I cannot see how that could possibly be something to enjoy, not even when followed by intimacy."

Matthew nodded. "I think some people do. I have heard of it, but it has never much appealed to me. I had a taste of the rod a few times as a boy and it stung quite a lot."

Mary shivered. "At least we are in agreement on that." She looked up at him with a sad expression. "Do you think that it is something that I should expect from my husband?"

"No!" he exclaimed, horrified at the thought. "If anyone ever lays hand on you, you must tell me. I will never allow it."

"But surely what happens between husband and wife should not be interfered with?" she questioned, feeling warm inside at his immediate jump to defend her.

"Normally yes, but by God, Mary," he sighed heavily and touched her cheek. "Please promise me to let me know if you are ever mistreated. You should never, ever have to put up with that."

She smiled and nodded. "Thank you Matthew. I guess you might yet become my Perseus," she said with a giggle. "That is, if I marry a sea monster."

"I will always be your Perseus," he whispered and caressed her cheek, running his thumb over her cheek bone. "Should you marry a sea monster."

Mary smiled and opened her book, revealing the forbidden readings inside.

"The Pearl," Matthew read. He looked up at her and smiled. "My dear Mary, you do indeed have some naughty reading materials here. I have heard of this. It is supposed to be quite scandalous."

Mary blushed at his teasing words. She opened the small magazine to the page she was on and showed it to him. He read a few passages and his eyebrows shot up. Feeling flustered he tugged at his collar. Eventually he leaned back and looked at her.

"Is it really like that?" she asked, her voice trembling a little.

"It appears to be somewhat realistic," he admitted in a gentle voice. "Though I am not familiar with all of it."

She nodded. Running her slender fingers over the page she read the last passage again. "Is it very painful? For the woman, I mean," she whispered.

Feeling her discomfort he placed his hand on top of hers. "Mary, please look at me," he said gently. When her dark eyes, filled with worry, met his he smiled at her. "I have honestly never been with a woman who had not already been with a man, so I do not know. What I've been told is that yes it does hurt the first time, but that's it. You should expect to bleed a little too I'm afraid."

"That's what it says here," she whispered and shivered. "It sounds frightful."

"When it happens, I'm sure that he will be gentle with you," Matthew said and squeezed her hand. "If he loves you, he will not want to hurt you."

"That is just it, Matthew," she said with a deep forlorn sigh. She looked up at him with so much sadness in her eyes it tugged at his heart. "I do not expect to marry for love. People like us rarely do, and women like me, almost never."

Matthew felt anger flare up inside of him at the look of despair and defeat in her eyes. This was Mary, the strongest woman he knew, with the exception of his mother. She was witty and sharp, funny and caring. She deserved so much more than what she just described.

"Then marry me," he exclaimed.

Mary burst out laughing. She looked at him and laughed even harder. "You? Dear Matthew, be realistic. You do not love me. You can barely stand me."

He touched her cheek again and she stopped laughing. They looked at each other for a long moment. Her eyebrows shot up and she tilted her head a little in amusement.

"Mary, I do love you. I thought you knew that."

"What? Of course I didn't." She eyed him warily. "Please don't play games with me Matthew."

"I'm not. I would never joke about loving you."

"You really do? Love me?" she whispered.

"I do. I know you don't love me, but some day perhaps you will."

Mary looked down at their still entwined fingers. She stroked the back of his hand before answering him.

"The truth is Matthew, I think I do." She looked up at him, her eyes wide. She laughed and nodded. "I think perhaps I do."

Matthew felt his heart swell at the sight of her, of the sheer joy in her eyes. The spark in her eyes that had seemed to be fading each day was back again, at full force. He laughed and pulled her closer. When he felt no resistance, he kissed her. First softly, then more urgently. He sighed when he felt her soft fingertips stroke over his cheek and then tangle in his hair. He pulled her closer, pressing her hard against him.

Mary took several deep breaths to try and calm herself. She smiled at Matthew and he grinned at her. When he pulled her into his arms she eagerly settled in against his warm chest, resting her palm against his white shirt. He took her hand and played with her fingers, then raised them to his lips to place a soft kiss on each fingertip.

"Do you want to finish the story?" he asked her with a playful wiggle of his eyebrows.

Mary laughed and nodded. She grabbed the booklet and placed it on his lap. Together they dove into the tale. Mary gasped and shivered as the story again became increasingly more graphic. Matthew stroked her back, pulling her against him. At one point he gently cupped her chin and tilted her face up to kiss her. To his surprise she returned it with passion. When they pulled away they were both out of breath and he could tell by the look in her eyes that she was becoming aroused. Matthew smiled as he wondered if she knew what was happening to her. Chancing a more intimate touch he ran his hand over her breast. She gasped and stared at him.

"Matthew! This is not at all proper," she hissed.

"Do you want me to stop?" he asked. She had not moved away, so he was pretty certain about her feelings on the matter.

"No," she said so faintly he almost did not hear her.

Matthew slowly moved his hand over Mary's breast. He smiled when her eyes fluttered shut and her chest rose a little faster. He pulled her closer and kissed her on the neck. She whimpered softly; it was the most wonderful sound he had ever heard.

"Corsets definitely help to protect a woman's virtue," he whispered in her ear.

"I am not sure that is their main purpose," she gasped.

"Had your darling breasts been free of their prison, my fingers would be seeking their prize, the tantalizing little peaks. Your nipples, I am sure are perfect little pink tips. In no time would they be reaching up, hardening under my touch, aching for my lips."

"Oh Matthew," she whispered, trembling in his arms. "I can still feel you, even through the corset."

He smiled, pleased and cupped her face, kissing her softly. Mary's eyelids fluttered and she looked at him. Her lips were fuller than before from their kissing, and her cheeks flushed, but it was her eyes that drew him in. He had never seen them so dark, so filled with passion and desire. He felt that if he did not look away soon, he would fall into their endless depth.

"This story is most definitely a woman's story," he teased. "The things he does to her. They are delicious, I can assure you."

"But she is in such agony," Mary whispered.

"Only for the briefest of moments."

Mary nodded. "I hope that you are right."

"Mary my darling, I can assure you that it will not be a painful ordeal every time."

"Do you know of those other things he does to her?" Mary asked, her cheeks reddening.

"I do." He caressed her cheek and smiled at her. Realizing that she might not have understood all of it, he brushed his thumb over her lower lip to draw her attention. "Do you know what gamahuching means, my darling?"

Mary slowly shook her head. "No. Only that it is something very intimate and that the woman seemed to enjoy it."

"It is definitely done with the woman's pleasure in mind, though I must say it is a mutual pleasure."

"I still do not understand," she said; embarrassed at having to depend on him for an explanation.

"When a woman becomes aroused, she gets wet in her most private place," he whispered in her ear.

Mary gasped and looked shocked at him. "You mean I will soil myself? How frightfully embarrassing!"

He chuckled and shook his head. "Not at all. It is how your body reacts to a lover's touch. You will feel a tingle down there, and then you will become slippery. It makes it possible for a man to enter a woman. If you are not slippery I imagine that it will not be very pleasant for either party."

Mary frowned. She had felt some of what he was talking about the other night when she had been reading another of these stories. She moved a little and gasped when she felt that she was indeed wet in her private area. She looked away, slowly stroking her neck to calm herself.

"Oh Mary, you feel it, do you not?" Matthew caressed her cheek and pulled her closer. "You are very passionate. I cannot wait to experience this with you."

"You never finished telling me," she mumbled, steering him back to his explanation.

"Oh, I apologize. A woman has a spot which feels good when touched. A man can stroke it with his hand or with his tongue."

"What?" she exclaimed. She stared at him. "You mean..? You would put your mouth… kiss me down there?"

He nodded. "It is a wonderful thing, darling. I cannot wait to show you. I am sure that your essence will be delightful."

Mary blushed furiously. "So that is what they are talking about in this story? He is pleasuring her between her legs with his mouth."

"Yes," Matthew confirmed. "And his hand."

"In the other story a woman was doing it to the girl," she whispered.

"I have heard of that too. Some women prefer a woman's touch to a man's. Sometimes a woman takes a female lover before she gets married in order to preserve her virginity. No one really asks questions if two women are alone together."

Mary nodded. It was all true. She tried to imagine doing such things to a woman and she could not think of any woman she would like to be close to like that. Then her thoughts went to Anna and an image of Anna's blonde head between her legs flashed through her mind and she blushed.

"Have you actually engaged in this?" Mary wondered, her fingers playing with the corner of the little booklet.

"I have. Would you like me to show you?"

Matthew held his breath, waiting for her answer, worrying that he had overstepped and yet again angered her. Mary's silence dragged on and he was torn between rushing out of the room in embarrassment and asking her again.

"What would that make you?" she asked very quietly. "My lover?"

"If you accept my proposal, I would say your fiancé."

"What if we do not marry?" she said and looked at him. "I would be ruined."

Matthew smiled and stroked her cheek. "Darling Mary, there are a great many things that we can do and still make sure that you are a virgin on your wedding night. A night I hope you will spend by my side."

Mary smiled at him and nodded. "I will only answer if you ask me properly. I am a lady," she said stiffly, but her eyes twinkled.

Matthew rolled his eyes and took her hands.

"No, on your knees and all," she said quickly before he could say anything.

Matthew huffed but eased off the sofa and knelt before her. He took her hands and grinned at her.

"Lady Mary Crawley will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?"

Mary laughed and squeezed his hands. She nodded eagerly. "Yes! Yes I will."

He cupped her face and kissed her, delighting in how she curled her arms around his neck. He got up and pulled her up. The book and magazine fell to the floor with a slight thump. Matthew quickly scooped them up and stuck the forbidden magazine in his pocket. Mary made a face at him.

"Give it back. It is after all mine."

"Perhaps we should read it together from now on?" he said and tugged her against him. "If you want me to, I'll even read it to you."

Mary blushed and tried to look angry, but a smile played on her lips that refused to go away. When Matthew eased his grip on her she took his hand. She shot him her most devious smile as she pulled him out of the library.

"Perhaps it is time for you to see all of Downton, even the closed off wings."

Matthew's eyebrows shot up and he swallowed hard at the possibilities.

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Author's notes:

The Pearl was a Victorian era underground erotic magazine that existed for a short period of time. It was published in London in the late 1900s, but I imagine that it would still be possible to come across a copy in 1913 when Mary was reading it.

You can find electronic versions of it online if you are interested in learning more about the kinds of stories that had Matthew and Lady Mary so worked up.

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To be continued…

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