"But I don't want to go." Mary whined as she paced the floor in her room, Cora sitting on the chair in front of her and Clara at the desk by the window, facing Mary, "Why do I have to greet them?"

"Because you are the eldest." Cora stated as though it was the simplest reason, "You are expected to meet your Father's heir."

"But, Mama-" Clara cut Mary off as she abruptly stood from her seat, causing her Mother and sister to look at her in confusion.

"I'll go." Clara said, "It's been a while since I had taken a Maple out for a ride and today is such a lovely day."

Cora looked over her daughter's petite frame and sighed. If Clara wanted to greet the new heir instead of an arguing Mary, she was fine with that. Seeing her Mother's nod, Clara quickly exited the room and headed to her own, which happened to be four doors down. Entering her room, Clara quickly changed into her riding attire and headed down the main staircase.

Saddling Maple, Clara gave a light kick to her sides and a second later, they were off and racing down the streets. The house that the new heir was residing in was quite small from the outside, but Clara bet that it would be rather homely on the inside. Clara slid off Maple and tied the reins around one of the fence posts, not minding that it was impolite. Giving the door a knock, Clara smiled as the face of Moseley entered her vision.

"Moseley," Clara greeted with a large smile, "How are you?"

"Quite well, Milady." Moseley couldn't help but smile at the second youngest Crawley, "How may I help you?"

"Can you please lead me to Mr. and Mrs. Crawley?" Clara asked and Moseley gave her nod, opening the door for her to enter. Leading her down the hall, Clara came to a stop as she heard the sound of two voices; a lighter one and a deeper one.

"What on earth do you mean?" The lighter voice said and Clara guessed that it was Mrs. Crawley who was talking.

"Well, they're clearly going to push one of the daughters at me." The deeper voice argued and Clara stifled a giggle, "They'll have fixed on that when they heard I was a bachelor."

"Lady Clara Crawley." Moseley announced and Clara walked past him, giving Mrs. Crawley a polite smile.

"I do hope I'm not interrupting." Clara said, noticing that Mr. Crawley was still staring at her but choosing not to say anything about it.

A few moments of silence passed before Mrs. Crawley spoke, "Lady Clara…"

"Cousin Clara, please." Clara said as she smiled gently, "Mama has sent me down to welcome you and to ask you to dine with us tonight." Clara looked over at Mr. Crawley, "Unless you're too tired."

"We would be delighted." Mrs. Crawley answered as Mr. Crawley made no move to respond and continued to stare a Clara.

"Good. Come at eight." Clara turned around to leave when Mrs. Crawley's voice caught her attention.

"Won't you stay for some tea?"

"Oh, no, you're far too busy." Clara said before she looked at Mr. Crawley with a light smile, "And I wouldn't want to push in."

Clara walked calmly out of the house, laughing silently about how well Mr. Crawley and her sister were going to be getting along. Reaching her horse, Clara untied the reigns and pulled herself up. Stroking her horse's mane, Clara was just about to go when Mr. Crawley's voice caught her attention.

"Lady Clara, I hope you didn't misunderstand me. I was only joking." Mr. Crawley said as he stared up at the young woman in front of him.

"Of course," Clara gave a light laugh, "And my sister, Mary, agrees with you. She thinks this whole thing is a complete joke."

With a light kick, Maple took down the street in a light canter and Matthew could only stare at the Lady as she rode away. Matthew didn't know what Lady Mary looked like, but he knew that no one could ever compete with Lady Clara's beauty.

~8~

Clara tried her best to walk gracefully behind her sisters as they formed a line to greet the new heir, Matthew Crawley. The dark blue dress swished to a stop as Clara halted behind Edith, and gave a little huff as a piece of her dark brown hair escaped the bun Grace had put it in. She could feel Sybil tightly gripping her hand from behind her and gave it a light squeeze. Sybil had never met Matthew and Clara knew that she was nervous. Clara also knew that Matthew had no want to be the heir from the way he spoke of the plans her parents had plotted for Mary.

"Welcome to Downton." Her Mother greeted and Clara immediately noticed how uncomfortable Matthew looked.

"Thank you." Mrs. Crawley said, and Clara could hear the sincerity in it, "You've been so kind."

"What a reception committee." Matthew said with a smile and Clara swallowed as an awkward silence filled the room. He was making it too obvious that he didn't know what he was doing and she knew that the servants were going to use that against.

After a few more moments, Mrs. Crawley spoke, "Yes, thank you."

"This is Carson." Her Father began and Clara almost thanked him for taking the attention off the pair, "We'd all be lost without him. Mama, may I present Matthew Crawley and Mrs. Crawley." Robert's attention flicker to Violet, "My mother, Lady Grantham."

Clara raised her eyebrow as Mrs. Crawley made her way over to her Grandmother and held out her hand, "What should we call each other?"

"Well, we could always start with Mrs. Crawley and Lady Grantham." Her Grandmother said and Clara had to hold in a giggle at her Grandmother's never-ending bluntness.

"Come into the drawing room and we can make all the proper introductions." Cora finally said as she placed her hand on Mrs. Crawley's arm to lead the way.

Clara followed her Mother and couldn't help but notice that Matthew had decided to walk next to her instead of Mary. Swallowing, Clara pursed her lips and thought of all the issues that this man could cause, and none of them were good.

Sitting down at the dining room table, Clara almost cursed Carson for placing her next to Matthew. He should be sitting next to his potential fiancée, not his soon-to-be sister in law. She could tell that he was nervous as she watched his brilliant blue eyes flicker around the room, never landing on one person for too long.

"Do you think you'll enjoy village life?" Robert asked Isobel as the servants came around to give them food, "It'll be very quiet after life in the city."

"Even Manchester." Violet added as she watched Robert take some food.

"I'm sure I'll find something to keep me busy." Isobel said, smiling lightly at Violet.

"You might like the hospital." Cora said and Clara looked up from her drink to see her Mother's gaze flicker towards her, "Clara often volunteer's there."

"What sort of hospital is it?" Isobel asked, glad that there was something she could do and enjoy, "How many beds?"

"Well, it isn't really a hospital." Violet interrupted before she reached to take some food.

"Don't let Dr. Clarskson hear you. He thinks it's second only to St. Thomas." Robert said as he glanced at his Mother.

"It's a college hospital, but it's well equipped." Clara finally stated. "Most of the time I'm there to keep the patients company."

Clara didn't notice Matthew's look of admiration as he stared at the side of her face.

"Who pays for it?" Isobel asked and Violet shifted uncomfortably in her seat.

"Oh, good, let's talk about money." Violet said and Clara glanced sharply at her Grandmother. She was disappointed that Violet wasn't trying to welcome their guests and the new heir; instead, she was making them extremely uncomfortable.

"My Father gave the building and an endowment to run it." Robert explained, "In a way, he set up his own memorial."

"But how splendid." Isobel complimented.

"And Mr. Lloyd George's new insurance measures will help." Robert continued only to get a scoff from Violet.

"Please don't speak that man's name." Violet sighed, "We are about to eat."

As Clara waited her meal, she heard Thomas whisper to Matthew, "I will hold it steady and you can help yourself, sir."

"Thomas." Clara hissed sharply as she gave the footman a sharp glare. She would have to speak with Father about this later, they were supposed to respect their guests, not bully them.

"Yes, I know." Matthew's voice was short and clipped, no doubt he was insulted, "Thank you."

"You'll soon get used to the way things are done here." Mary smiled cockily as she took a quick glance towards Matthew. Clara's eyes widened at her sister's testing words and sent her a sharp glare.

"If you mean that I'm accustomed to a very different life from this, then that is true." Matthew responded and Clara hid a grin as the cocky smirk fell from Mary's face.

"What will you do with your time?" Sybil asked and Clara gave her younger sister a gentle smile, glad that she wasn't harassing the poor heir.

"I've got a job in Ripon, and I've said I'll start tomorrow." Matthew said and Clara could see how proud he was of his achievement from the smile that graced his face.

"A job?" Robert asked, flabbergasted.

"In a partnership. You might have heard of it. Harvell and Carter." Matthew explained, the smile still on his face, "They need someone who understands industrial law, I'm glad to say. Although I'm afraid most of it will be wills and conveyancing."

"You do know that I mean to involve you in the running of the estate?" Robert said and Clara inwardly winced at the sharpness of his tone.

"I'm sure that this is just for now, Papa." Clara quickly interrupted, ignoring the surprised looks she got from her family members, "Before he inherits the estate he must keep himself busy somehow."

"Yes, don't worry." Matthew agreed as he served himself some gravy, "There are plenty of hours in the day. And, of course, I'll have the weekend."

"We'll discuss this later, we mustn't bore the ladies." Robert said as he looked around the table with a smile.

"What is a weekend?" Violet asked and Clara hid her grin with a mouthful of food as Matthew looked around the dining room in shock.

~8~

"Why are you so against him?" Sybil asked as she pulled on her gloves and glanced at Mary. Clara turned to look at her too, but moved slowly so that Grace could continue to fix her dress.

"Aside from the fact he's planning to steal our inheritance?" Mary asked as she watched Anna pull up her hair.

"Your inheritance." Edith corrected as she stared at Mary, "It makes no difference to Sybil, Clara, and me."

"We won't inherit, whatever happens." Sybil added as she looked down at her gloved hands.

"He isn't one of us." Mary explained and Clara rolled her eyes at Mary's weak excuse.

"He doesn't want to be part of this either, Mary." Clara said and she brushed the light red skirt of her dress, "He loathes the thought of marrying one of us. I heard him say it when I first invited him to dinner. Don't think that you're the only victim in this."

Clara ignored Mary's glare and turned to thank Grace for her help before next to Ethel on Mary's bed. Reaching behind her, Clara grabbed the beautiful black book and opened it, happily surprised when it turned out to be Jane Austin's Emma.

"Cousin Freddie's studying for the bar, and so is Vivian MacDonald." Sybil stated as she walked towards the full-length mirror and stared at her reflection.

"At Lincoln's Inn. Not sitting at a dirty little desk in Ripon." Mary said and Clara sighed before closing her book, "Besides, his Father was a doctor."

"But at least we know that he's a man who can provide." Clara pointed out and Mary turned to look at her younger sister, "Besides, what's wrong with doctors. Everyone needs doctors."

"We all need crossing sweepers and draymen, too. It doesn't mean we have to dine with them. Why are you so defensive over him?"

"I can't help but think about how confused they must be." Clara said as she folded her hands in her lap, "I mean, imagine. There in completely unknown territory for them."

Hearing a knock at the door, Clara watched as Anna opened it and slightly bowed as their Mother entered the room, looking beautiful as always. Clara sometimes envied her Mother's beauty: her long ebony hair that elegantly curled and her stunning, light blue eyes. Her sisters, Mary and Sybil, had gotten their Mother's lovely ebony hair, while she had gotten a mixed color of their Father's once blond hair and their Mother's black hair, creating a darkish brown. Each of the Crawley sisters held different eye colors: Mary, dark brown, Edith, light brown, Sybil, light blue, and Clara, hazel.

"Whom don't we have to dine with?" Her Mother asked as she entered the room, donning a beautiful black dress.

"Mary doesn't care for Cousin Matthew." Edith drawled as she looked at the corner of the room, refusing to meet her Mother's eyes.

"Sybil, be a dear and fetch my black evening shawl." Cora said after a few moments of silence, "O'Brien knows which one. Edith, can you see that the drawing room's ready? And, Clara, please go check on the kitchen staff to make sure that everything has been prepared."

Giving her Mother a slight nod, Clara gave Mary one last look before exiting the room with her sisters and heading to the kitchen. Much to her Mother and Father's disappointment, Clara had spent most of her childhood in the kitchen learning how to bake whenever she had the time to. The kitchen staff had become nicely acquainted with her and they made no fuss to her coming down, unlike when her Mother or sisters did.

~8~

"Have you been able to explore the village?" Robert asked as the two families dined. Clara carefully took a sip of her drink as she casted a rather nasty look at Carson, who pretended to not see it. Once again, Carson had sat Clara next to Matthew instead of Mary.

"Indeed I have." Isobel said as she took some food off her plate, "And I thought the hospital a great credit to your father's memory. But I'm afraid the good doctor and I did not see eye to eye."

"Oh," Clara glanced towards her Grandmother as she chuckled, "You amaze me."

"He's treating one of your tenants, John Drake, for dropsy." Isobel explained and Clara looked at her when she heard the familiar name. She had not gone to the hospital in quite some time, now that she thought about it, "But seems reluctant to embrace some of the newer treatments."

"Drake is a good man and far too young to die," Robert agreed, "But I suppose the doctor knows his business."

"Not as well as Mrs. Crawley, apparently." Violet said and Clara watched as Isobel leaned forward to reply to her statement but was but off by her Father.

"By the way, if ever you want a ride, just let Lynch know and he'll sort it out for you."

"Oh, Papa, Cousin Matthew doesn't ride." Mary said as she gave a chuckle and Clara glanced at Matthew's face, already knowing that it held offense and hurt.

"I ride."

"And do you hunt?" Mary pushed and Clara noticed how disgruntled she looked.

"No, I don't hunt." Clara frowned slightly as she watched Matthew look down at his plate, trying to escape her Father's eyes.

"I dare say there's not much opportunity in Manchester." Violet laughed.

"Are you a hunting family?" Matthew asked Mary and she gave him a smirk.

"Families like ours are always hunting families." Mary said as she looked at her Father.

"Not always," Robert said before taking a spoonful of soup, "Billy Skelton won't have them on his land."

"But all the Skeltons are mad." Mary scooped fish onto her plate.

"Do you hunt?" Matthew asked as he looked at her.

"Occasionally." Mary placed the spoon on the plate before fully looking at him, "I suppose you're more interested in books than country sports. Much like Clara, I suppose."

Clara felt her face burn as all the attention was suddenly shown upon her. She didn't know why Mary found it an embarrassment to not hunt. Clara hated killing animals and when her father used to take out hunting when she was younger, they always had to leave because her wails drove the animals away.

"I probably am." Matthew said as he stared at the woman next to him and Clara noticed some sort of unknown emotion in his eyes, "You'll tell me that's rather unhealthy."

"Not unhealthy." Mary smiled at her sister's embarrassed cheeks, "Just unusual. Among our kind of people."

"Yes, well, there's always time to learn, Mary." Clara finally spoke, not noticing the looks of gratitude Matthew and Isobel gave her.

"I've been studying the story of Andromeda." Mary said and Clara knew that she was trying to push Matthew's buttons, "Do you know it?"

"Why?" Matthew asked as he stopped cutting his meal.

"Her father was King Cepheus, whose country was being ravaged by storms. And in the end, he decided the only way to appease the gods was to sacrifice his eldest daughter to a hideous sea monster." Clara saw the look Mary gave Matthew and frowned, "So they chained her naked to a rock…"

Her Grandmother's chuckle interrupted Mary's story, "Really, Mary. We'll all need our smelling salts in a minute."

"But the sea monster didn't get her, did he?" Matthew asked as he took a bite of his meal.

"No. Just when it seemed he was the only solution to her father's problems, she was rescued."

"By Perseus." Matthew stated and Clara saw the look of shock cross Mary's face.

"That's right. Perseus. Son of a god. Rather more fitting, wouldn't you say."

"That depends." Matthew said, "I'll have to know more about the princess and sea monster in question."

"Well, I've been studying the tale of Beauty and the Beast." Clara said after a few moments of silence and gently dabbed her napkin to the corners of her lips. "It's quite interesting, isn't it? How the beautiful young maiden thought the Prince to be a horrible Beast just because of what he looked like on the outside." Clara could feel the gazes of her family members and of Matthew and Isobel, but she ignored them and stayed focused on Mary, "Only when she truly looked into the Prince's heart did she see that he was not a Beast at all."

The silence that followed spoke for itself and Clara couldn't help but mentally congratulate herself on her victory against Mary. Unbeknownst to her, Matthew couldn't help but stare at the young woman next to him. He had never thought that someone from this family would actually stick up for him and his Mother. Taking a sip of his wine, Matthew than made up his mind. If he were to choose his bride, Clara would be the one he would choose.

~8~

Standing on the balcony of her room, Clara sighed when she felt the gently nice breeze caress her face. After dinner, Mary had stormed up to her room and had refused to come out. Clara had tried to apologize to Matthew on Mary's behalf but he said that it was fine and had bided her goodnight. The sound of a running car caught her attention and Clara looked down to see her Grandmother walking Matthew out.

"I'm sorry Mary was rather sharp this evening." Violet apologized and Matthew gave a light chuckle.

"I doubt Cousin Mary and I are destined to be close friends." A moment of silence passed between the two, "I don't blame her. Her father's home and her mother's fortune are to be passed on to me. It's very harsh."

"What would you say if the entail were set aside in Mary's favour?"

"I should try to accept it with as good as grace as I could muster."

"Would you?" Clara didn't need to be down there to know that her Grandmother was staring at Matthew with curiosity, "And what do you think of Clara?"

"She is very lovely. Kind, polite, beautiful." Clara felt a flush creep up her neck as Matthew spoke those kind words about her. It wasn't every day that the second youngest Crawley sister got noticed by a man.

Feeling guilty for listening to their conversation, Clara quickly stalked back into her room and tried to close the doors as quietly as possible, wincing when they gave a light slam. Matthew, hearing the noise, turned around and looked up before giving a soft smile. He could tell that it was Lady Clara from the way her hair was placed on her head, in a tight bun with a few strands hanging down. The light around her creating the glow of an angel.

~8~

"Why must we all go to the hospital?' Edith moaned as the four sisters made their way down the hall and to the staircase.

"I'm afraid Papa wants to teach Granny a lesson." Mary said and Clara glanced at her as pulled on her black gloves, "Poor Granny. A month ago, these people were strangers. Now she must share power with the mother and I must marry the son."

"You won't marry him, though, will you?" Edith said and Mary sent her a smirk.

"What? Marry a sea monster?"

Clara rolled her eyes as Edith and Mary laughed, "That was very unkind Mary."

"But he must marry someone." Edith pointed out and Mary looked at her with confusion.

"Edith, what are you thinking?"

"You know, I don't dislike him as much as you do."

"Perhaps you don't dislike him at all."

"Perhaps, I don't." A frown grew on Edith's face as she responded to Mary's words.

"Well, it's nothing to me. I've bigger fish to fry." Mary said as the four sisters reached the final set of stairs.

"What fish?" Sybil asked.

"Are we talking about 'EN.'" Edith asked and Clara noticed the smirk on her face.

"How do you know that?" Mary's tone was harsh as she stopped and looked at Edith, "Have you been poking around my things?"

"Of course not."

"Come on. Who is he?" Clara asked and Sybil nodded in agreement.

"It's not fair if you both know." Sybil added.

"You two won't be any wiser, but his name is Evelyn Napier." Mary informed them with a smile.

"The Honorable Evelyn Napier. Son and heir to Viscount Branksome." Edith added and Clara and Sybil shared a look of shock.

"Who wants an old sea monster when they can have Perseus?" Mary sneered before she stopped and turned to face her three younger siblings. "You know, know that I think of it, I believe Clara will marry him." Mary smirked at the look of shock that crossed Clara's face, "After all, she's the one who sees beauty in the beast."


Thank you for all the reviews!

For Guest: I picture Lily Collins as Lady Clara Crawley. It should be the first picture that pops up on google images.

Please review!

See you soon,

Ana