Thanks so much, everyone, for your reviews! We really appreciate them all and will try to respond individually to this chapter if you choose to review this as well (*hint hint*), once we've worked out how two people can reply to reviews at the same time!
Anyway, here is part two. In the interest of not getting flamed by Edwardian historians, we should point out that the exact details of undergarments do not interest us remotely. Nor does the historical probability of Matthew actually giving all his servants the night off. We don't care. Neither should you! And we hope it lives up to your expectations!
During the drive back to the cottage Mary was quiet, content to hold her husband's hand in near silence, more upset than she had expected to be at parting from her family, even if only temporarily. She was also nervous now they were going home for the first time and of what was inevitably to come. The shift from being in company to being completely alone seemed very great.
Matthew spent the journey occasionally squeezing Mary's hand, as much to reassure himself as to comfort her. It felt very odd for her to be coming home with him, but definitely pleasantly so.
He was quite relieved to arrive at Crawley House. Giving Branson a nod as they stepped out of the car, he quietly opened the front door and waited for Mary to join him. She got out of the car and looked up at her new home feeling very unsure before remembering to thank Branson before he drove off and they were on their own. She looked back at the house and then smiled tremulously at Matthew.
Smiling fondly back, his eyes lit up. "I would say 'after you', darling, but..." Without warning he leant down, slipped an arm under her shoulders and swept her up into his arms. "I believe it is traditional for me to carry you into your marital home!" He kissed her cheek affectionately before stepping awkwardly through the door, which was definitely slightly too small for the task.
Mary gasped and clutched awkwardly at his shoulder. As he carried her in, her foot got briefly caught on the door and she started laughing silently into his shoulder, thankful for the unexpected ice-breaker and strangely touched by the traditional, romantic gesture, though it was the kind of thing at which she would normally have scoffed.
Matthew's panic ceased as he realised she was laughing at the stumble, and he started to chuckle himself. "Sorry, my dear. It seems this is rather a clumsy way to enter a house; perhaps we had better stick to more traditional methods in future!" Still holding her in his arms, he kissed her softly before pulling back and smiling.
She smiled back. "I don't know... Perhaps you could remind me every once in a while!" She raised her eyebrows expectantly. "You are allowed to put me down now, you know, dearest."
A brief blush of embarrassment lit his cheeks. "I know perfectly well that I am allowed to, darling. What if I was simply enjoying it and wanted to hold you a little longer?" He pulled an expression of mock offence, before setting her down carefully, smoothly moving his hand from her shoulders to take hers. Shivering, he realised the door was still open. He stepped behind her to close it while Mary removed her coat and hat; then turned back, placing an arm around her waist. Deciding it felt very comfortable, he rubbed her upper arm softly with his other hand and kissed her cheek.
Mary leaned against him and wrapped her arm over his. She remained silent for a moment, feeling comfortable yet slightly odd standing in the hallway like this, then said, "Matthew... what should I do?" She was only half teasing. "Should I offer you a cup of tea?" She shifted round so that she was facing him. "Would you like a cup of tea?"
His breath caught suddenly as she turned around against him, his mind suddenly blanking. "If you would like some, darling!" Did she want tea? He decided to agree, just in case. "I think it would provide a nice respite to reflect on the day. It has been terribly busy..." It also occurred to him that it might settle his nerves somewhat.
Mary was not at all sure she wanted tea but decided that this would be a good moment to start acting the obedient wife and hostess of her own home, so she smiled and replied, "Of course it would be. I'll ring for..." She frowned as she stepped away towards the drawing room door. "Is anyone here?"
Matthew frowned. "I'm not sure anyone is. I believe I gave the whole staff the evening off... Well. If you should like tea, I am perfectly capable of making some myself, if you wish?" He really didn't know what to do.
Her hand was still poised on bell. "We're alone?" This was a new experience for her, being completely alone with no servants. She shivered suddenly in the dark, and added more faintly, "Yes, by all means. The -the kitchen?"
"I think that might be a good place to start!" he smiled reassuringly. "I could always telephone up for Molesley to return, if you'd rather?" Suddenly realising it was a bit dark, he flicked the lights on.
Mary blinked in the sudden light and moved more decisively along the corridor, turning back to reply, "Oh no, I wouldn't want him to be deprived of his evening off. Unless you wanted him for something?"
Then she suddenly realised she was not sure where the kitchen was and felt rather silly.
He chuckled softly at her hesitation. "It's this way, darling". Taking her hand, he led her into the kitchen, flicking the light on and moving to the stove to set the water to boil. Suddenly, he came over very warm – whether from the stove or the fact that he was alone with his wife, he wasn't sure - and shrugged his jacket off, folding it onto the table.
As Matthew made the tea, Mary stood awkwardly to one side, watching rather fascinated by the whole process. She let her eyes flick over him as he took off his jacket, not sure she had seen him without it – or at least, not very often.
Swiftly rolling up his shirt sleeves, he finished off the tea, wiping his forehead from the heat of the stove. He set all the silverware properly out on the kitchen table, placing a teacup in front of Mary. "You know, I think I have a new appreciation for Mrs Bird. My office is stuffy enough but this is ridiculous!" He blew out a nervous breath.
Mary also found herself growing warm but more at the appealing sight of Matthew with his sleeves rolled up looking hot and flustered. She swallowed, her eyes darting all over him and the kitchen and the tea service. "Yes, it is very warm!" She had nothing to take off that was decent so peeled off her gloves delicately and sat down gingerly at the kitchen table.
"Shall I pour?" she asked, hating herself for being so indecisive. She really did not want any tea.
"If you like!" He smiled appreciatively at her.
She poured them both tea with a slightly trembling hand and cradled her own cup taking a small sip as it was too hot. The kitchen was so warm – why on earth were they drinking tea of all things anyway! She smiled a little desperately. "Do you normally drink tea this late at night or is this a special occasion? I am only trying to learn your habits, you know!"
Matthew frowned gently. "I thought you wanted tea!" He shrugged a little. "I suppose it depends. Sometimes if I have some work to finish late, then I will take some to keep me going. Dear old Molesley is quite understanding of that. And I suppose that this is rather a special occasion, don't you?" Smiling weakly, he took a sip, peering up as his hair flopped over his forehead a little.
Mary frowned slightly and bit her lip. "I suppose it is!"
She could not see anything particularly celebratory about drinking tea in the kitchen and was getting quite annoyed. Really, Matthew seemed far more interested in his tea than in her! She was not quite sure why considering his behaviour the rest of the day. Nevertheless, she continued to sip the tea to at least give the appearance of enjoying it for her husband's sake.
Raising her eyes, she noticed his hair flopping over his forehead and automatically reached out, letting her hand hover over the table, unsure. Then she proceeded, gently pushing it back and quickly dropping her hand, looking back down into her cup of stupid tea.
Matthew blinked in surprise, quite pleasantly taken aback by her gesture. Slowly, he reached his hand across the table and took hers, forgetting about his tea. He looked at her properly, and was quite dramatically reminded of her beauty, and suddenly couldn't think why on earth he was sitting there drinking tea on their wedding night. He raised himself slightly, enough to lean towards her across the table. Pulling her up gently by the hand, he gazed very intently into her eyes.
He touched her cheek lightly with his other hand, then pulled her towards him into a soft, tender kiss. She kissed him back briefly and then pulled away, uncomfortable in this half-sitting, half-standing position.
"Your tea is getting cold!" she accused him defensively. Her heart was pounding a little too much for such a gentle kiss.
His eyes not leaving hers, he held onto her awkwardly still. "I don't care about the tea, Mary. Why would I want to bother myself with tea when my beautiful wife is sitting across from me?" He murmured deeply, "I am quite a stupid man, I think." Swiftly, he walked around the table and pulled her more fiercely to him, kissing her very decidedly.
It was about time. Mary was such a bundle of nerves that she immediately fell trembling against him, her arms going round his neck as she responded with almost panicky breathlessness.
He kissed her again almost desperately, berating himself for thinking of stupid tea when he could have been doing this. Pressing her back against the table, his hands slid possessively around her waist. She tightened her arms round his neck and continued to kiss him but found her breath coming too short, with nerves making her heart flutter too much. She could hardly bear it and pulled away enough to look at him wildly from dark eyes. "I - I - Matthew, I -" Her fingers roamed over his face but she did not know what to say.
Pulling back with ragged breaths he took a few moment's respite, resting his forehead against hers, eyes shut, feeling too overwhelmed to make any immediate response. He whispered, "Hush, darling. I think any words would be superfluous and rather inadequate just now. It doesn't seem enough to say that I love you, for you know that well enough already."
Mary continued to smooth his hair away from his face almost compulsively as she caught her breath. "I - I know you do, only I-" She swallowed, feeling his hands tighten on her waist. "Matthew dearest -" She shifted back against the table and knocked over the milk jug. Gasping in shock, her heart pounding all over again, she jumped forward, forcing him backwards, finding herself even closer in his arms.
Matthew watched the milk jug from the corner of his eye, not caring about it in the slightest. Smiling affectionately, he wrapped his arms further around her to hold her more tightly. "Yes, my darling?"
Mary looked wildly round the strange, unfamiliar kitchen to see if she was liable to be attacked by any more pieces of crockery and eventually back at him, trying to be calmed by the way he was holding her and looking at her but for once it was failing and she felt almost trapped.
"I - I only wanted to say that – that-" She opened and shut her mouth. "Now we're alone, I can't be as - as you might wish. It was easier before and I'm sorry! But I wish we had never come in here!" She softened slightly as she continued, "I didn't really want tea, Matthew." She could feel that his arms were bare round her waist and the knowledge distracted her again.
A slight frown crossed Matthew's face before he broke into a chuckle. "Mary... Do you really think I would rather have been drinking tea, than - than –" He trailed off, unable to finish the thought. "I do not 'wish' that you would meekly do as you think I would want you to do. I would far rather wish that you would be honest with me and tell me what you would really rather do, rather than suggest things you think I might!" He frowned, having confused himself quite effectively.
Mary frowned back equally confused. "If I do that then it is only because I want to make you happy and I know that is my role... But if you want to know what I want now - then I do not want to spend another minute in this kitchen!" She was surprised at her firmness and almost smiled, still anxious.
Chuckling at her hesitance, he kissed her fondly. "Alright, dearest. We'll leave the kitchen. And where would you rather be?" His smile dropped, paling suddenly as he panicked about her answer.
She looked at him a long time, calming herself. Finally she said quietly, "I don't know this house very well, Matthew." She took a deep breath and her eyed flashed at him, willing him to understand. "I shall follow you."
He licked his lips nervously, eyes flashing darkly up and down her as the implication of her words sank in. Taking a deep breath, his voice lowered to a soft whisper. "Alright, then." He took her hand and, very carefully avoiding her gaze, led her upstairs. Finally, he stopped outside his bedroom door. Taking both her hands in his, rubbing his right thumb absently over her wedding ring, he looked very seriously at her. "Mary –" He didn't quite know what to say, the moment seemed too tremendous. "I... I love you. So very, very much. I'm quite perfectly happy, and I hope that you are too."
Her eyes flicked to the solid door behind him then back to his face. She suddenly smiled at his seriousness and replied, as if it were enough, "I am with you."
She let the smile fade and leaned forward to kiss him very softly. A deep sigh of contentment left Matthew as she kissed him. His hands reached up to caress her face, before slipping behind to the back of her head. He allowed his hands to tangle in her hair as he had long dreamed of doing. As his fingers found a multitude of hairpins holding it precisely in place, he carefully pulled them out until her hair tumbled around her shoulders. He pulled back a moment to look at her. As he'd never seen her with hair even slightly down before, he found himself utterly entranced. Though he knew he had loosened it very inadequately, he still thought it the most beautiful sight he'd ever seen.
Mary found the feel of Matthew's fingers tangled in her hair strangely alluring and shivered. She found his expression as he looked at her more so. She took his hands again and glanced down, noticing the soft hairs on his arm, and ran her fingers gently over them. After a moment she bit her lip and looked back up at him from underneath a cloud of hair, saying softly, "Open the door, Matthew!"
He shivered at the light touch on his arms. Nodding silently, he softly pushed open the door and stepped inside, pulling her gently in after him. As soon as they were inside, he took her into his arms and gave her a soft, lingering kiss.
The room was too dark to see anything which Mary was glad about as it could not therefore remind her of the last time she had been in a bedroom with a man. She felt reassured by the darkness and kept her hands on Matthew's lower arms as she rather liked that. She kissed him softly back. Wrapping his arms around her, Matthew deepened the kiss, growing more passionate as he felt her respond. She slid her arms up round his neck again and sighed into his mouth, trying to forget.
Matthew focussed purely on the delicious sensation of her against him, not thinking about anything else. Giving a low murmur of contentment, his hands slowly crept down her side to her hips, barely able to breathe. He pulled back to look at her again, his eyes clouded with passion, before he softly trailed kisses down her neck.
Mary drew in a breath sharply and tilted her head as he kissed her neck, his breath tickling her skin and making the loose hair flutter. She moved her hands down his back, caressing very gently, hardly knowing what she was doing, and feeling rather unsteady.
After an eternally long moment he stepped away, very tenderly turning her around and wrapping one arm around her waist from behind. His other hand gently swept her hair out of the way then curled possessively over her shoulder, giving his lips sweet access to the back of her neck. In response, she dipped her head, shivering slightly as the kisses on the back of her neck sent shoots of heat all through her. She clasped his arm round her waist very tightly and sucked in a breath. "Oh..."
Matthew felt a shiver run through him at her soft exclamation, and he pressed his kisses a little more passionately, allowing his teeth to softly graze her skin. He clutched her a little more tightly around the waist, while his free hand tentatively played with the clasp of her dress, though he didn't quite dare do anything just yet. Mary moaned again, eyes fluttering shut almost in pain and she pressed herself back against him trying to stay upright, her ability for rational thought thankfully entirely evaporated. He sighed against her skin, not aware of anything else at all. His lips grazed over her ear, along her shoulder and to the back of her neck as he finally released the clasp and moved down to the next. She became aware of his fingers against her skin though she was not really sure what he was doing, and she shivered at his touch. Gradually, he worked his way down, before tentatively edging the soft fabric off her shoulder. His eyes glazed over as his lips worked upon the soft, creamy skin revealed beneath.
Mary was suddenly aware that he had unclipped her dress and froze. Then she prized her hands away from his arm to let the dress fall to the floor and shivered again as she stood in her corset and drawers with her head still hanging towards the floor and her hair spread out on either side.
Matthew shuddered delightfully at the exposure of her skin, shimmering softly in the moonlight through the window. He pulled her around to face him again, his eyes roving over her in wonder. "Oh Mary..."
A soft breath carried her name through his lips before he gently pulled her to him for a tender, lengthy kiss, his hands tangling in her hair again. Mary cupped his face in her hands and kissed him back more thoroughly and freely than ever before, fingers carressing his cheek. She pushed herself more closely against him, standing a little on tiptoe, relishing the feel of his body so close to her own. Unable to think or breathe properly, Matthew swayed a little as he threw every fibre of himself into kissing her, moving from her lips to her cheeks to her neck and back again. As he moved against her she clutched him closer to stay up right herself but found herself buckling against him, weak at the knees. Wildly, she kissed whatever part of his face or neck was available eventually finding a convenient spot on the join of his neck and shoulder and letting her lips linger there. He moaned quietly as her lips found his neck, briefly pausing in his kisses as he savoured the sensation. Breathing heavily, his hands worked behind her to fiddle with the laces on her corset.
She was amazed to hear him moan and felt it all the way down to her toes. She kissed his neck more firmly, sucking slightly when suddenly she felt his fingers on her corset ties. They tickled. She giggled slightly into Matthew's shoulder then reluctantly pulled her head up to look at him.
"You'll never manage like that..." Mary began, eyes widening at how different her voice sounded.
She turned round and stood a little ahead of him, moving her hair out of his way, still breathing heavily. "Try now, dearest." Her heart beat fast at the thought of what he was doing and she tried not to think too much about it.
His breath almost stopped in his chest as she turned around. He stood uselessly for a moment, before setting fully to work on undoing the myriad of laces. "I think I have a newfound respect for your lady's maid..." he murmured quietly, a smile upon his lips.
Mary's shoulders shook from the ticklish feeling of his fingers scrabbling around with the ties, but she felt strangely content to stand there half undressed just talking, for it felt pleasingly normal, even as her skin tingled just from its proximity to him.
She murmured, "I wonder... will I be needing her much in future?"
Smiling, he paused in his task to press a swift kiss to the back of her neck. "I wonder. I think we will need to see how successfully I can manage this first!" He felt oddly reassured to be talking, as though nothing out of the ordinary were occurring. Slowly, he began to make progress, growing lengths of lace tangling everywhere.
Mary tried to be patient. "Yes, how are you managing?" she said after a while. She could feel the top part a little looser but not all of it yet. She was beginning to feel just a little bit bored. Balancing slowly on one foot she put her other one backwards until it touched his ankle. She frowned in concentration and, attempting not to fall over, ran it an inch up his leg (any further being impossible).
Matthew chuckled softly against her neck, his breath tickling her skin. "I'm getting there, darling. Maybe we need not be quite so hasty in dispensing with your maid just yet."
With one more sharp pull on a lace, the top half of her corset fell significantly open. He simply stared for an entrancing moment at the beautiful expanse of Mary's back revealed to him. Pulling more eagerly now at the remaining ties with one hand, his other tenderly traced the soft skin of her back. She shivered very pleasurably at the feel of his hand on her bare skin.
The corset finally fell to the floor and Mary expelled air in a sigh feeling both free of its restraint and strangely bereft. She certainly felt more vulnerable now standing only in her drawers. She murmured very slightly satirically, "Well done, darling!"
A slight, nervous cough left his lips. Matthew stared at Mary's now completely exposed back for several moments, feeling very strange, yet not nervous any more. "Thank you, dear. I think I may need some more practise at that!" Gently, he placed a hand on her shoulder and trailed kisses along her bare shoulders. Hot, heavy breaths warmed her skin under his lips. Then, he slipped a hand around her waist, trembling at the feel of her skin beneath his fingers.
"We must make sure you get it then!" Her voice trembled slightly and she was not sure she could keep up this blasé approach much longer.
He murmured against her skin, his words punctuated by soft kisses. "I think I can safely say I would not mind that at all." Taking a shuddering breath, he gently turned her to face him once more. His heart almost stopped for a moment at the sight of her, her body more breathtakingly beautiful and enticing in the moonlight than he had ever dared imagine. Holding her almost at arm's length, he allowed his eyes to roam darkly over her, heat pooling in his core as his gaze unhurriedly traced every contour of her body. Breathing shallowly, his tongue flicked across his lips.
Mary slowly raised her eyes to his and was amazed by the passion in them. She flushed from the roots of her hair all the way down her neck. Amidst the natural shyness she felt at being so exposed to him for the first time, was a feeling of awe that she could inspire such a reaction. She might not be a virgin, but under his adoring gaze she certainly felt like one. Matthew remained transfixed, hardly daring to touch her, barely able to believe that the beauty in front of his eyes was reality.
After a moment or two, Mary swallowed and lowered her eyes. She bit her lip and tentatively reached out to his bowtie, and looked up at him for permission. "I - I suppose this cannot be harder than my corset!" She tried to smile but nevertheless could not help feeling anxious, wondering if she was being too forward.
He rested his hands lightly on her waist, his lips twitching into a smile. "No, darling, I think you should manage it in infinitely less time." He sounded breathless, too enthralled to manage a normal tone of voice.
She smiled back much relieved. "Well then!" She managed the bowtie very swiftly and dropped it on the floor, following it immediately with his waistcoat. "I think you're right!"
"You never disappoint me, Mary," he whispered hoarsely, his heart pounding unbearably loud in his chest. He raised a nervous smile.
"Really? I suppose there is a first time for everything!" Her voice caught slightly at the end of this unfortunately timed jest as she turned her attention to his shirt instead, not looking at him, and fumbled with the top button.
He briefly interrupted her with a reassuring kiss before letting Mary continue working on the buttons with trembling fingers. She managed about half before stopping and glancing up at him. She needed to pull his shirt out of his trousers and she hesitated, not quite daring to do so. It seemed such a big step, especially when she could already see tantalising glimpses of bare skin appearing beneath her fingers, a little more exposed with each button.
Noticing her hesitation, he raised an eyebrow. He swiftly decided to hurry things along by tugging his shirt free himself, before raising his hands to the next button. His hands hovered over it, as he half smiled at her. "Shall I continue?"
She saw this smile as a challenge and it helped to restore some of her confidence. "I'm quite able to unbutton a shirt, Matthew!"
She did so very quickly and then paused before pushing it off his shoulders altogether. She tried to keep her eyes fixed on his face but they kept drifting downwards to the dark contours of his chest.
The shirt caught at his elbows where the sleeves were rolled. Swiftly, he tugged them lower down his arms, allowing it finally to fall to the ground.
"So you are. Very well managed, darling," he murmured deeply. With a shuddering breath he took her hands, placing them softly around his waist and stepping towards her into a wonderfully tender kiss. Mary placed her hands gingerly on his waist and for a moment kissed him only very tentatively, concentrating on the strange, new feel of his body directly under hers. Feeling more at ease now, Matthew kissed her slowly and deeply, wrapping his arms around her waist, hands roaming across her back. As her bare skin met his for the first time, a delicious shudder swept through him. Then his passion carried her along with him and she moved her hands more purposefully across his back with feather light touches. Her head was swimming.
He continued kissing her thoroughly, in part to distract himself from the fact that his thumbs were hooking into her silken drawers, beginning to slide them over her hips. He felt very, very pleasantly lightheaded.
At first Mary failed to notice what his thumbs were doing except that they were lower than they were before, for she was too intent on exploring all over his back and shoulders, her touches growing more confident as she pulled his body closer to hers. Dragging her mouth away from his, she pressed her cheek closely against his and then kissed her way back to his lips. A deep sigh of pleasure left his lips, small thrills of desire shooting right through him at her kisses. He rested one hand warmly on the hollow of her lower back as the other daringly slid her drawers far enough over her hips that they fell to the floor.
It was only thanks to the draft that Mary realised she was now completely naked apart from her shoes and stockings and she felt dreadfully embarrassed by it. She pulled back from Matthew far enough to look at him in blushing consternation and then bury her face in his neck.
Her look of alarm threw him slightly. Pulling her into a tight, warm embrace, he hugged her closely to him. "Mary, darling." As he spoke, he dropped soft kisses onto her shoulder. She closed her eyes tight and sighed, warmed by his proximity.
"You are more thrillingly beautiful than I had ever dared to imagine," Matthew continued with a slight tremor in his voice. He pulled back a fraction and tipped her chin up towards him, kissing her softly in the hope of reassuring her, his heart hammering in his chest.
Although Mary wanted nothing more than to kiss him again and remain locked in this close embrace indefinitely she was becoming aware of a strange sense of confusion at their position. She pulled away again, just enough to look at him. "Matthew…" She frowned and licked her lips as her hands continued to lightly caress his back. "Matthew, I am trying to forget but I can't help it, I'm afraid, and I don't understand and – how long are we going to be doing this before – Dearest Matthew, you – you don't have to answer!" Fearing as she spoke that her words could be taken the wrong way, she added seriously, looking at him with eyes that were dark and filled with passion, "I do trust you!"
Matthew frowned slightly at her, touching his hand to her cheek gently. "Mary, darling, we need not rush things. I know that –" He took a breath, desperately not wanting to think about her past experiences. "I know that this is different, Mary, but it's alright to just enjoy this." Panic filled him suddenly and he pulled his hand back, looking unsure. "You... You are enjoying this, aren't you?"
Her cheeks flamed and she was quite unable to answer such a question directly, though his words did go some way towards reassuring her.
"What do you think?" she replied flirtatiously and then grimaced at how out of place such words were in the situation.
He caressed her cheek again, looking almost sadly at her. "Mary. I think –" He stopped, unsure how to continue. Moving his face a little closer, he gazed deeply into her eyes. "You do trust me, don't you? Do not be coy with me, my dear; tell me plain."
Mary squeezed her eyes shut and sighed, her heart swelling. She whispered, "Oh, Matthew, what have I done to deserve you?"
She looked at him again and silenced any protest by putting a finger on his lips. "I'm not sure I can speak plainly." She thought a moment. "If a child knew he were to undergo an examination at some point in the afternoon, how would he be able to enjoy his lunch, however nice it was?" She shuddered slightly but her eyes nevertheless remained serious. "That was a rather terrible analogy, wasn't it?"
Gently, he kissed the finger on his lips and murmured against it. "It served its purpose."
He took her hand in his, allowing him to speak freely, before he sat down on the edge of the bed and drew her to sit next to him. "Darling, it troubles me to think that you should look upon this as a fearful examination! What can I do to reassure you? Tell me and I will do it."
Mary sat down carefully on the bed, feeling far more aware of being unclothed now than she was a moment ago and also feeling rather cold. She gave a little shrug as she became irritated with herself. She had been enjoying herself a few moments before and now she seemed to have killed the mood altogether.
"Nothing really, I expect! I - I didn't mean to compare it to an examination - I think they last a great deal longer! I would just rather like to be sure that –" she ducked her head before continuing very quickly, "that you will not die in the attempt! But I cannot be sure until - until it has been attempted!" She met his eyes ruefully again.
The apparent absurdity of her concern caused him to laugh suddenly. He swiftly stopped himself at her glare, remembering how traumatic it must have been for her. "Oh Mary! I assure you I am in perfect health and have no intention of dying in the attempt!" Smiling gently, he rubbed her hand fondly in both of his. "I am sorry, my dear, but... Well. Shall we just worry about that if it comes to it?"
"I would rather it didn't!" she replied with a shiver. "I know that it is very unlikely as other people do it all the time so I worried it might be me. But I suppose that is silly as well!"
She swallowed and looked at him again with more determination, getting fed up with herself, not to mention increasingly chilly. She took a deep breath and said in a low, intense voice, "You made me almost forget before. Could you do that again?"
Dipping his head slightly, he looked at her with eyes full of love, passion and intent. "If you will allow me to, I will certainly do my best."
He stood up again, breathing shallowly. His voice sounded, slow and level in the quiet night. "Take your shoes off, darling."
She nodded in silence, barely conscious of deciding to obey him, and reached down to unbuckle her shoes by touch, never breaking eye contact with him. She kicked them to the floor one by one.
In the interest of not allowing her any more time to think too deeply about things, Matthew swiftly removed the rest of his clothing and pushed her very gently backwards. He leant on his elbows above her, with his hair flopping into his face and she looked up at him feeling pleasantly dominated. Her heart fluttered somewhere near her throat. Leaning down, he kissed her softly, very aware of not wanting her to feel overpowered or not in control.
Mary let him kiss her, allowing the sensation to drown out her fears. She held his face between her hands and met each of his light kisses with similar ones of her own, allowing them to grow in passion. As he pressed more firmly down on her she squirmed under him, arching her back to bring her ever closer to him.
When he was finally forced to pause for breath, she ran one foot up his lower leg and back down it. "What about the stockings?" she asked against his lips, her voice coming out in a low, trembling murmur, quite different from her normal voice.
Matthew gasped sharply, his breath, when it returned, ragged and shallow. His lips parted and he gazed down at her in enthralment, his entire body on fire at the feel of her beneath him and the sound of her voice, low with arousal. Recovering himself with a nervous gulp his lips twitched mischievously, a dark sparkle in his eyes. "No… No, I think you can leave them on."
Daringly, he ran a hand enticingly up her leg. She shuddered at his touch, looked down between them both and felt a stab of desire unlike what she had felt before. She briefly pressed her eyes closed, sucking in a breath, then gently put her hand on top of his, holding it to her thigh.
An intense shiver of desire caused him to suddenly freeze. He swallowed, licking his lips nervously before lowering his head to kiss her softly again, pressing her back onto the pillows. The feeling of her being completely his was almost too much to bear, and he lost all power to think coherently. His actions were no longer conscious; every touch and kiss a result of raw instinct. He relished every new sensation immensely. Scintillatingly, he kissed his way down her front, his lips and tongue leaving a wet trail across her skin until he reached her belly, before working his way back up to her lips.
Mary was finding it easier than expected to forget when he kissed her over and over again in places she had not even imagined she could be kissed. She gasped at every single one, her breaths coming more and more rapidly as he worked his way back up her body until her moan was lost in his mouth. One hand fell limply beside her and fisted into the bed clothes with an iron grip, her one allowance to a most pleasurable terror and anticipation, while her other went to his head and tangled in his hair, grazing his scalp.
Matthew lost himself completely in her then, letting his heady desires take over any rational thought. Tenderly and sweetly, he made love to her, lovingly exploring her body and placing soft kisses all across her skin. Finally, he reached a blissful, shuddering climax and collapsed in exhausted pleasure slightly beside her, with one arm draped tenderly across her stomach. His entire body continued to twitch and tremble gently as he drew in deep, shaking breaths.
Mary stared up at the ceiling still breathing heavily, only slightly relaxing her grip on his hair. She gently loosened her clutch on the sheets and intertwined her fingers with his. After a long while, she looked at his prone form and murmured in mingled tones of wonder and self-mockery, "You didn't die, my love..."
Having managed at last to calm his breathing to a more regular rhythm, Matthew's eyes fluttered open at her, smiling sweetly (albeit awkwardly) from where his face was planted in the soft pillows. He felt utterly languid and relaxed. "No, darling, it would appear not... I told you I wouldn't."
He let his eyes flutter closed again, but gently tickled her belly with a free finger. She giggled a little and curled up on her side, looking at him out of half closed eyes very fondly, unable to find him at all ridiculous even in that position. "You did! I shall not doubt you in future." She pulled very gently on the strand of hair she was stroking.
Opening his eyes again, he gently swept away the hair that had fallen around her face, tucking it behind her ear then leaving his hand resting gently on her cheek. "I'm glad that I was able to honour my words!" He propped himself up on one elbow, looking fondly at her. "Mary... I hope that you have been quite recovered of your fears now."
She turned her head to press a kiss to his palm. "Yes, I think so." Feeling deliciously warm all over, she smiled mischievously. "Well, perhaps not entirely! You might have to remind me of how little there is to fear!"
Matthew grinned, trying to hold back a slight snigger. "I would be happy to remind you, darling. In any case, I am in desperate need of familiarising myself with the removal of your undergarments, so more practise will be required! They are quite alien to me, I'm afraid. And I shouldn't like anything to do with you to be alien to me."
Mary laughed softly again at his response and the fact that he was actually able to articulate it. "Perhaps not your most finely expressed sentiments, dearest, but I am nevertheless glad to hear you say so!"
She shivered a little as the heat she was feeling began to subside and looked him over speculatively. "Get up a moment, Matthew!"
He frowned slightly, a little confused. "I'm really far too comfortable..." he muttered, before reluctantly rolling off and standing up.
Mary slid under the bedclothes and looked up at him, blushing at the view but too languid to be embarrassed by it. "You'd be more comfortable now!" She had a sudden thought. "Unless... you'd rather I went elsewhere?" She realised she had no idea if she even had her own room or where it was. She did not really want to leave and could not really imagine doing so but she was aware it was probably the custom at this point.
Matthew's eyebrows rose sharply in disbelief. "Why on earth would I rather you went elsewhere?" He shook his head incredulously; he really could not understand her sometimes. Sliding under the covers, he took her into her arms, lying with his nose to hers. A fond, determined glare crossed his face. "You shall very well stay here, Mary. Unless... you wish to be elsewhere?"
She slipped her arms round him happily and kissed him. "No, there is nowhere else I want to be!" This did not seem the time to bring up her education in the ways of married couples or to ask if she even had her own room – she certainly had no desire for it at present.
His eyes drifted closed as he kissed her joyfully back, allowing it to deepen for a moment. Really, though, he felt far too contentedly lethargic for that now. "I am glad to hear that, for I would not wish you to be anywhere else either."
He let his top hand drape softly over her neck, idly curling her hair between his fingers. Mary thought that she would be happy to spend the rest of her life like this and after a little pause said drowsily, "Matthew... I think I am perfectly happy..." She kissed him gently again.
He gladly let her kiss him, before settling back into the pillow, gazing at her in wonder. "I'm glad that you are, darling," he murmured quietly. "That's all I'd ever want."
She smiled languidly at him. "And you, Matthew?" She tangled her fingers in his hair again and bumped her forehead against his very gently, feeling extraordinarily relaxed and tired as the day began to catch up with her. "Are you happy?" She knew he was but wanted to ask anyway.
Affectionately, he rubbed his nose against hers, smiling lazily as his eyes drifted closed. His thumb rubbed distractedly across her cheek. "Of course..." He kissed her nose fondly, without opening his eyes. "I don't think I could possibly be happier, darling Mary," he whispered as he tucked his arm snugly around her waist.
She shifted closer and intertwined her legs with his, issues of modesty having completely disappeared in the warm desire simply to be as close as she could to him. She found his hand between them and laced her fingers with his. Her eyes closed and she tucked her head under his chin.
"Darling, I think I'd like to sleep now; it must be very late..."
He smiled, pressing a lazy kiss to the top of her head, very much enjoying the feel of her lying warm against him. Sleepily, he murmured, "I've lost all track of time, dear, but I think you might be right." Squeezing her hand gently, he snuggled closer against her. "Darling, I think I'd like to sleep in this manner for the rest of my life. I can imagine nothing quite more perfect…"
His voice came out as little more than a barely comprehensible, sleepy mumble. And then, utterly content with his wife tucked warmly against his chest, and his arms around her, he drifted off to sleep.
A/N: Well, there you have it- hope you enjoyed it! There may be an epilogue eventually... when we've written it... :)