A/N: set after they finds out Matthew's letter is a valid will.

Chapter 2 – Things are settled

Dinner seemed to be endless that evening. Lord Grantham had a very long speech about duties they had to pay now they know Matthew's letter was a valid will.

"It won't be easy for you Mary, you have lots of things to learn and we have lots of decisions to take, don't we Tom? ..."

Tom nodded and said nothing, but glanced at his sister in law with a gentle look.

"…Tomorrow morning we have to discuss some urgent issues, we've waited enough."

"May I ask what exactly, papa?" Mary tried to ask him.

"This is not the proper place to discuss them. I don't want to bore your mama and you grandmama with technical details."

"You've already done, my dear." Lady Grantham whispered to her husband with a smile and so he diverted his attention on Mrs Patmore's cheese soufflé to change subject.

"Tomorrow I'll explain you all." Tom said to Mary while her father was saying to a surprised Mr Carson to congratulate with their cook for the wonderful meal.

"Don't have to worry too much, my dear," her grandmother added, "I'm sure you can't manage things worse than your father."

Luckily, Lord Grantham didn't hear his mother's remark.

It was a relief for Mary when she finally could wish goodnight to everyone and go upstairs.

She felt so tired that she only wanted to close her eyes and have a good sleep.

She was just going into bed, when the door opened and her husband came in, wearing his blue pyjama.

"Matthew… You're back!"

"I am, my darling." He reached the bed, sat near Mary and kissed her. "I'm a man of honour, you know."

"I know you are." She smiled tenderly and this time she kissed him.

"So… You've found my letter…" He started when she removed her lips from his.

"Yes… Papa's read it first, then granny's read it and then they've finally thought I should have read it too."

"It's been my fault. I should have done things properly, as you like…" he said looking down, "But I didn't think you would ever read it…" He added raising his eyes to her.

"I know, my love", she sighed, "At least things are settled now."

"But your father is not very pleased…"

"Pleased or not pleased, that's what you wanted and he will have to listen to me from now on."

Matthew giggled, then they embraced each other and stayed without saying anything for a while.

"They sent your lucky charm too." He said gazing at her dressing table.

"It's odd to see it back here."

"It's yours after all… And I don't need it anymore."

Mary sighed deeply again and held him tighter.

"Don't worry my darling," he continued, "It works very well… It saved my life once…"

"Only once…" She murmured.

"It happened, we can't do anything now."

"Oh Matthew… I'm trying to move on as I promised you… But it's so difficult…"

"Don't be so hard on yourself. You just need more time, believe me."

"You're always so sure…" she said with her sarcastic tone.

"And you're always so tough…" He replayed raising his brows.

Mary rolled her eyes.

"Hmmm… My Mary is back", he chuckled, "Have you seen? I was sure she and I was right."

"I won't argue with you."

"Why not?", he teased her, "You like arguing and thinking people are wrong…"

"I don't want to waste our time together, it's so precious." She said seriously.

"So… Let's not waste our time…" He smiled at her and kissed her again.

"Tom's showed you the estate and all the tenants' lands." He told Mary after a few moments of silent, while he was playing with her hair.

"I have so many things to learn."

"He will teach you what he knows. He's a good chap."

"I must say he's taking his role of agent very seriously..."

"… And I must say cousin Violet had a really good idea."

"Do you think someone has inspired her?"

"Maybe…" He smiled.

"Please, don't tell me you've been in her dreams too..."

Matthew couldn't restrain a giggle. "No, I haven't. She wouldn't approve for sure… Although I've always thought she's more modern than she thinks she is."

"The words 'modern' doesn't suit to granny, believe me, and there's no need to argue about it…"

"But she was right. She's very pragmatical… As you are... You've always been very practical… That's the real reason why I've chosen you to run the estate. " He teased her again.

"Yes, I think I am… And I'll do something very practical right now…" She gently pushed him against the bed's headboard and gave him a very passionate kiss.

"I don't want to be a sport spoiler, but… Do you know that, almost certainly, you won't remind anything of this tomorrow morning?" Matthew said, surprised by her move.

"I don't care. I just want to kiss you." And she kissed him again and with more passion than the first time.

"Honestly, I don't care either." He replayed when he could breathe again.

They both smiled and kept kissing for a while, then Matthew stopped and said, caressing Mary's face, "You're looking tired, darling."

"Did I kiss you so badly?"

"No…" he smiled and shook his head, "…But you have to rest now. Tomorrow will be a long day for you, believe me, I know how stubborn your father can be."

"I can be more stubborn than him."

"I do believe you my love, you're his daughter after all…"

"I'll do it for you."

Matthew smiled. "Tom is on your side, he'll help you."

"And granny will support me too. This evening she also told me I can't manage things worse than papa…"

"Hmm… Very cheering!"

They both laughed.

"I'm on your side too," he murmured sweetly, "I always will."

"I know."

And then he added "Now it's really time for you to sleep and it's time for me to go."

"Can't you stay all night long?"

Matthew shook his head.

Mary sighed, then she slipped under the blanket and placed her head on the soft pillows.

Matthew bended over her and whispered "Goodnight, my love." Then he gave her a soft goodnight kiss on her brow, "And good luck."

"Good night, Matthew." Mary closed her eyes and fell asleep.

When she woke up the next morning she didn't know why she was smiling.

"Good morning, milady." Anna said entering her bedroom and going to the windows to open the heavy curtains.

"Good morning, Anna." She said sitting up.

"Have you slept well, milady?"

"Yes, I think I have… I woke up with a strange feeling inside…"

"What kind of feeling?" The maid asked her noticing an unexpected happy expression on Mary's face.

"A nice feeling, a very nice feeling indeed… I can't describe it, really."

"You've dreamt something nice, probably." The maid ventured, putting the breakfast tray in front of her.

"Yes, maybe I have. But I can't remember anything." She looked on her left and noticed that sheets and blankets were a little wrinkled.

"Mr Carson said his Lordship will wait for you in the library after breakfast."

Mary sighed deeply. "Very well." She answered and suddenly her eyes looked for her lucky charm on her dressing table.