This is a very AU story but actually I think it's going to be good. Please please review and tell me what you think! It's inspired by Birdsong

Chapter 1

When Matthew set off to the home of Richard Carlisle he did not know what he had expected but it was not what he discovered. He had been sent to stay with Carlisle to find out more about his newspaper business as Carlisle was a new client for his law firm. He was to stay there for several weeks and shadow Carlisle in his day to day work. Normally, his firm did not usually pay so much attention to a client, but Carlisle was different. He was the wealthiest, most influential and important client that they had ever had and impressing him was vital for the law firm. All of these facts had prepared him only for several weeks of grovelling and boring talks of business but the reality was very different.

….

"Ah, Mr Crawley, it is so good to have you with us." said Richard Carlisle.

He gave Matthew a small smile which did not meet his shrewd eyes as he looked Matthew up and down, clearly sizing him up.

"Thank you Sir Richard, I am very much looking forward to working with you and finding out more about the business" said Matthew, politely.

"Let me introduce you to my wife" said Richard. "Matthew, may I present Lady Mary Carlisle my wife."

When Matthew saw Mary, he could not believe his eyes. She was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. Her eyes sparkled and when she smiled in greeting, Matthew was stunned. Before she had even spoken a word, he could feel himself falling for her.

"I trust your journey was not too taxing Mr Crawley." She said with a dazzling smile and when she grasped his hand briefly in greeting, Matthew had to stop himself from not letting go.

"Yes thank you, the train was on time and quite comfortable" Matthew replied.

"Well, it is lovely that you are here." Said Mary, her face that of a perfect hostess.

"Thank you Lady Mary" said Matthew.

"Please call me Mary" said Mary.

"Then I insist that you call me Matthew." Said Matthew.

Although he could not put his finger on it, Richard Carlisle was not entirely comfortable with the exchange and decided that now was the time to stop it.

"Well, I must insist that I show you your room so that you can get settled in." said Richard.

"I would be grateful" said Matthew.

"I shall see you at dinner Matthew" said Mary, taking her leave.

…..

That night at dinner, Matthew was shocked to see two children at the table. The eldest was a girl who was about fifteen or sixteen and the younger who looked to be about ten years old. He did not realise that Carlisle had had children and Mary looked nowhere near old enough to have two children of those ages.

"These are my children Louisa and Luke." Said Richard. "Children, this is Mr Crawley who will be staying for a while. They do not usually join Mary and I for dinner but I felt that since it was your first night that you should meet."

Matthew was seated next to Mary which pleased him enourmously and they were enjoying a lovely chat.

"Forgive me for being so direct, but you look too young to have such grown up children" said Matthew.

"They are not mine. They are Richard's children from his first marriage. His wife died several years ago and we were married about a year after her death." Mary explained.

"How very sad for the children to lose their mother" remarked Matthew.

"I do believe they were very fond of her" said Mary, carefully. Just at that moment Richard pulled Matthew into a conversation about plans for the coming days.

….

That night, as Matthew lay in bed, he could have sworn he heard a scream but he dismissed it as a figment of as his imagination.

…

The next morning at breakfast, he noticed a bruise on Mary's forehead.

"I do hope your head is alright Lady Carlisle." He said.

Mary did not know what to say and as she paused her busband cut in.

"Mary was very silly, she tripped over her own shoe and bumped her head! You should really be more careful my dear" said Richard, clearly wanting to stop anymore talk of the matter.

"Yes, I was rather silly" said Mary, falsely whilst keeping her eyes on her plate.

Matthew could sense something was going on but he decided to ignore it, after all it was not his place to question private matters. Despite that, he could not help feeling uneasy.

….

A/N So what do you think? Please review! I know this is quite short an update but longer ones will come….