A Very Modern Arrangement Chapter 2
It was the way of the world, marry a harlot and she shall surely become frigid. Abandon a frigid bride and she will turn harlot in short order. Women are forever confounding ones expectation and quite often in the worst way imaginable or so a great many bachelors secretly believed. And like many bachelors, Sir Richard Carlisle fancied he knew a great deal about the inferior sex. Much to his chagrin, Lady Mary Crawley had confounded each and every belief he had regarding the nature of women. He believed her a frigid virgin, only to discover she had taken a lover. He thought her greedy and materialist, only to see her reject him for a middle class cripple. He believed her a slave to duty and expectations, and she bucked both running off with another man. Richard considered that were he to run such a story in his papers, he would be accused of publishing fiction.
The role of cuckolded suitor, particularly being cuckolded by an impotent cripple, did not suit his nature. Riding back to London on the early train, Richard watched the dawn knife apart the darkness of night, but found his mood remaining grim. From the day, Mary had confessed her past, he had viewed her differently. She was spoilt goods, but he had counseled himself that he had spoilt many a maiden so he could not much object to her status. Besides having a wife with a past would only advance his reputation, and hopefully his circulation. He had intended to marry her, bring her to society as his wife, give her the trinkets and toys that women so desired. Now all of that had been turned to ash.
Oh his competitors would make hay with this, he had no doubt. He would be held up as a laughingstock. He could stomach that, one did not achieve his position while caring overtly or for that matter much at all for the adoration of others. Still, he did not intend to allow Mary or her bridegroom even a moment of happiness. He would smear their names across every newspaper he owned, inform society of her misdeeds, of her impotent groom's status, embarrass and malign them so that no member of decent society would ever admit them to any gathering or event. As the train clicked along, he began concocting a plan to ensure their ruination. Almost at once, he felt a smile ghosting his lips and viewed the dawn with an increasingly cheerful countenance.
.~.~.~.~.'
At virtually the same moment, Mary's eyes opened to the sunlight streaming through the windows at Grantham House, hearing the sound of a Jay chirping just beyond the sash. Stretching her limbs, she felt a delicious happiness sweeping across her body, like the first refreshing rain of spring. For so long during the war and more recently during her engagement, Mary had met the dawn with a muted dread. Days had been something to endure, rather than welcome. Now the war was mercifully over, her beastly engagement terminated and somehow she was married and married to Matthew. It felt utterly like a new life and one most welcome. Glancing down at her finger she smiled at the simple band. "Welsh gold," Matthew had said passed down his mother's side of the family and now resting comfortably on her finger and she thought fitting as if just sized for her….
The thought of Matthew caused her to push the covers back and hurry across the room, throwing open the door to the dressing area with a unreserved, "Good morning husband!" Seeing no one she called, "Matthew?" Almost at once, she noticed that the bed was already remade, the room empty, absent the slightest clue he had ever slept there… The domestic scene felt like a kind of omen, and she felt her cheer dampen even as the day brightened.
.~.~.~.~.'
To say that the news of Lady Mary and Matthew Crawley's marriage had rather stunned the household was putting things rather mildly. Upon hearing the news, the entire household both above and below stairs had fallen into a quarter of an hour of almost silent shock and obvious discomfort. Then after Carlisle had stormed upstairs, and Edith and Anna had helped a weeping Lavinia upstairs, the family and servants had exchanged private, pleased expressions. Only Lady Edith upstairs, and Mrs. Hughes downstairs had said they rather thought Matthew could have done better. Otherwise, the household had felt a reserved pleasure at the marriage, albeit tinged with a certain expectation of difficulties to come.
The mood had carried over the following morning at breakfast, where Lady Edith was enjoying the atypical status of only child, and center of her parents entire attention.
Pleased as she was with the situation, Edith could not allow a chance to rail against her sister pass without comment. "How like Mary," Edith declared tiredly, "Leaving us with her jilted fiancée and her bridegroom's hysterical fiancée to tend to, while she rolls off to a London honeymoon."
"I thought you liked Lavinia." Cora said taking a sip of her tea. Typically she avoided breakfast preferring to start her day in a quieter fashion, but the situation had clearly upturned her typical routines. Also, she thought it best to remain on a kind of alert for whatever event happened next. Between Matthew's injury, Patrick's return, and now Mary and Matthew's marriage she felt her life to be careening on the rockiest of seas.
"I do very much, but her repeated visits have been a bit much." Edith said sighing.
"Well I'm quite certain that is over now." Seeing Edith's dubious expression, Cora added concernedly, "You cannot imagine she will still persist."
"Well she has shown heroic efforts in that direction thus far." Edith pronounced having decided that she rather liked breakfast with her parents minus her sisters. Mary was forever making sarcastic jabs and Sybil sucking up the room with innocence and sweetness. Having the entire room focused on her was perfectly right, Edith decided.
"Lavinia does not worry me." Robert said somberly. "Carlisle will be our problem."
"According to Mrs. Hughes, he left hours ago." Cora noted lifting her cup. "I suppose it is to much to hope he will move on gracefully."
"Rather," Edith said pointedly taking a sip of her tea to prolong the drama of the moment. She had seen Mary pull the trick dozens of times, and Edith had to admit it was one of her better routines. At length seeing both her parents attention settled wholly upon her, Edith said, "Matthew sent a message for Carlisle to meet him at Grantham House this morning at ten.
"They are at Grantham House." Cora questioned holding her tea cup aloft, "Well I am glad about that. Did you tell them to use it Robert?"
"Dear Lord," Robert said. "It did not even occur to me last evening."
"I telephoned Rosamond's last night," Patrick announced matter of factly as he entered the room clutching some envelopes with his un-bandaged fingers. "I invited them to stay at Grantham House. Insisted really."
Edith paled saying irritably, "Why would you do that?"
"Why would any decent person not do it?" Patrick glanced over at Robert, "I apologize if I overstepped, but I feared you might be to busy to consider that detail."
"Indeed I was," Robert agreed. "It was kind of you to be so thoughtful."
Patrick's exposed burned features twisted into an almost smile, "I could hardly imagine the thought of them left alone to honeymoon on the streets."
"Some of us rather liked that idea." Edith murmured to herself, feigning confusion when her parents glanced meaningfully at her.
.~.~.~.~.'
Entering the morning room, Mary radiated cool poise greeting Matthew warmly, "Good morning, my darling." Matthew looked up in surprise. Hus furrowed browed, caused Mary to whisper, "The servants."
"Right you are my dear." He agreed vaguely. "Did you rest well?"
"Better than you." Mary said pretending to glance at the newspaper. "You were up when I came to check on you."
"Did you feel I would require checking?" The question was nicely put, but there was an edge of irritation. A sense that Matthew believed others felt he did indeed need checking, and found it intrusive and galling.
"It seemed the wifely thing to do," Mary replied smoothly.
Matthew seemed to consider her words for a moment before saying only, "The trenches." Seeing her confused expression, he said by way of explanation. "I sleep poorly."
"Why didn't you wake me?"
If anything his expression reflected befuddlement as he said, "Why ever would I do that?"
He said adding pointedly, "I do not require a companion or nurse and I am capable of dressing myself."
Mary found his last bit confusing but soldiered on, "Perhaps I just wanted to see you. Perhaps I was feeling somewhat relieved to wake in a morning without the burden of an unwanted marriage heavy upon me. Perhaps oh I don't' know." She made show of appearing utterly indifferent saying quietly, "I tell you pay no attention to the things I say." She turned to the window studying the activities of the busy street.
Matthew peered at her for a long moment before saying, "I've sent a note to Carlisle to meet me here later this morning." Mary turned around, her entire body clearly tensed by his news. "It has to be done." He said brokering no room for an argument.
"I cannot imagine why…"
"If I learned nothing in the Army, I learned the value of taking the offensive." As if wanting to press his point the added, "Carlisle is a loaded gun, our only hope is to lessen his ammunition."
"You believe you can lessen it?" Mary asked sounding deeply skeptical. "You are an optimist."
He regarded her oddly saying, "Hardly." His tone was dismissive rather than cold, still it unnerved her. "I do believe there are practical reasons why Carlisle may find it best to drop whatever schemes he has conjured."
Mary pored herself a cup of tea, less because she wanted any refreshment…simply wanting something to do, something to distract her from Matthew's words. Still, she felt the need to say,
"Richard is hardly a practical man. He has built his piles of money on risk. I hardly think he will feel any restraint in avenging his humiliation."
"He hardly need feel humiliated, or at least that will be my tact, suggesting that he can spin this saga in a fashion that makes him quite heroic."
Mary took a sip of her tea saying blandly, "He will certainly embrace that ideal."
"You do trust me to handle this…situation?"
Mary remained silent weighing the question. "I have unparalleled faith in your abilities, and unparalleled knowledge of Richard Carlisle's penchant for cruelty and machination."
Matthew watched her for a moment an inscrutable expression crossing his face, "You may be surprised at the changes war has wrought upon me."
Mary seemingly staring off into space, while actually watching him offered, "I can stay by your side, assist you…"
"I do not require assistance in all areas of life, merely because I am confined to this chair."
"I did not mean," Mary sighed fretfully, "I certainly did not intend…."
Matthew's jaw set and he purposefully turned the chair, rolling it toward the window lest he be forced to endure facing her. "I will handle matters myself. You need not worry."
Mary watched him for a minute saying, "Perhaps I like…." But the sentence turned to dust in her mouth and she turned and walked out of the room and up the stairs.
.~.~.~.~.'
"I do believe the role of matchmaker just suits me." Rosamund boasted happily causing Violet to eye her most dubiously. "Really Mama you must admit that I handled all the preparations for the wedding perfectly."
"I agree to nothing." Violet replied adding piquedly, "And had you not interfered years ago they could have had a perfectly lovely wedding."
Rosamond shrugged her shoulders, "Never less I was able to arrange their marriage beautifully. It is a mystery why more of my friends do not summon me to assist with their romantic travails."
Violet peered over her tea cup saying sourly, "I have several ideas why they do not…"
"You will stay a fortnight." Rosamond insisted pointedly. "I am having a dinner for them. And it will look more natural if you and Sybil are present. Do you think we can induce Robert off the estate?"
"I cannot imagine why not. Though I am equally puzzled why you feel the need for a dinner."
Rosamond sighed thinking it was very tiresome to be saddled with a family where you had to go on and on explaining every little thing. "Mama, we have to acknowledge the marriage before society."
"As you wish," Violet said dismissively, "It's not as if you will not have your way."
Rosamond smiled blissfully, "Mama I am so glad you have finally accepted that."
"I did not say I accepted it."
Rosamond pursed her lips, but had no chance to respond, as the butler entered intoning "Mrs. Crawley."
"Mary," Rosamond said rising to greet her niece with a kiss on the cheek, "We certainly did not anticipate seeing you today."
Violet watched the door frame expecting to see Matthew walk, no she corrected herself roll in behind his wife. "Where is Matthew? You have not quarreled already?"
Mary sighed worriedly saying only, "Richard Carlisle." And with those words all three women took on concerned expressions and the mood became grave.
.~.~.~.~.'
Tapping the toe of his shoe over the heavy carpet, Richard Carlisle waited impatiently for Matthew. He had been shown in to Grantham House, offered tea and cake, informed that Mr. Crawley would soon be down. That was, he flicked open his pocket watch, a quarter of an hour ago. With each minute Richard felt his irritation growing. Bad enough that this blackguard had humiliated him, making him the laughing stock of Downton. But to now keep him waiting like an errant schoolboy…it was monstrous. He was half a mind to brandish a weapon, seek physical satisfaction.
Even as the thought stuck him, the door opened and Matthew wheeled himself into the room. "Good morning sir, I do apologize for the wait." He said wheeling himself behind the desk.
Richard bristled at his officiousness, as if this was a mere social appointment. "It takes a good deal of cheek inviting me here under the circumstances."
Matthew looked up from the documents on the desk retorting coolly, "Please do drop the wounded suitor performance."
His words caused Richard to sit up bristling, "I don't believe…"
"There is a nice word for men like you… persuasive I'd imagine you would prefer, or we can use the correct term blackmail. You used a threat of exposure to force a young girl to become engaged, and clearly continued to use the threat to push her toward the alter." Matthew said coolly continuing before Richard could respond. "I shudder to think what you might have done to her during the marriage."
"My," Richard said appreciatively, "The slut has quite a defender in the impotent fool." He watched, waiting for Matthew's response, he saw nothing.
"Impotent fool," Matthew chuckled seemingly bemused by Richard's terms. "Thomas used that once, I thought a man of letters would be considerably more inventive." He clucked sounding disappointed. "But I do hear that your sheets are the worst kind of rubbish."
Richard felt off balance. He had heard confidentially that Crawley was a middle class prig of the first order. Yet, he seemed unperturbed by personal insults, and quite good at volleying any type of insult. Deciding to put a quick end to these verbal gymnastics Richard declared, "I intend to make public the account of Lady Mary and the Turk."
"I rather thought that you might," Matthew answered thoughtfully adding, "Quite predictable and in my mind a poor strategy."
"And suddenly you know about the newspaper business?" Richard chuckling with no mirth whatsoever.
"I know nothing of the newspaper business," Matthew agreed easily, "However, I do know a bit about the society you covet but clearly misunderstand." Before Richard could object, Matthew continued expounding, "In our current patriotic state my wife is quite the war hero. Killing a potential enemy. But some may not view it as such." He conceded but instantly shifted to a new tactic, "Perhaps those readers might be predisposed to judge her, but even among those few would view you as anything but the vilest form of suitor."
"You are very glib Mr. Crawley," Richard conceded, "But surely you recognize how my newspapers will slant this story." Richard said feeling he was regaining the upper hand. "We will paint a young harlot of no morals, and in a moment every door in London will be shut to the pair of you."
"I am unsurprised by your tactics," Matthew replied sounding rather bored by the admission, Frankly they are a bit predictable and therefore disappointing. Still," Matthew said analytically. "Whatever papers you do not own, will most certainly run a somewhat different story." He paused before continuing, "One of a young girl willing to put aside her happiness and motherhood to nurse a wounded cousin, only to discover her fiancée smearing her name with baseless accusations…" He waited a moment letting Richard take his words in before adding, "You will be viewed as the heartless unpatriotic cad. And that will of course lead to renewed allegations about precisely why you sat out the war, and the amount of profits you allegedly generated from the carnage of the past few years." Matthew paused letting his words settle before adding, "And of course as a solicitor I can entangle you in a case that would make Jarndyce and Jarndyce look like an afternoon's consultation."
"You think I am afraid of that."
"No." Matthew answered. "I think fear has no place in your character. Boredom is your fear and months of the same old allegations and questions will leave you listless. And," He said pausing only a breath before adding, "That is why for your own sake, you would do well to drop your plans and simply move forward."
Leaning back Richard seemed to be taking in Matthew's words. At length he said, "You may well be right." He smiled thinly saying, "I do find boredom crippling." He shrugged and gathered his hat and gloves. Rising he shifted his gloves from one hand to the other, "Well Mr. Crawley you may be victorious in this round, but I assure you that this situation is far from over."
"I rather expected that."
"I will return to your life the instant I find a justification to do so."
Matthew smiled, "I would be disappointed if you did not."
Turning on his heel Richard called, "Good day until we meet again." In seconds Matthew heard the front door close.
.~.~.~.~.'
An hour later when Mary returned she found Matthew with an H.G. Welles novel open across his lap, but his attentions clearly focused elsewhere. Any questions she might have put forth, and indeed felt she should have put forth were ended by his purposeful greeting, "What a lovely surprise." He said acknowledging the women entering behind Mary.
Isobel trailed slowly behind glancing around curiously. "Just as I expected." Her tone conveying her displeasure with the house.
Mary strolled over to Matthew and brushed her lips over his cheek whispering. "Is everything alright?"
Matthew smiled at her vagueness, "Certainly!" She did not quite believe him but was not inclined to press. Instead she pushed his chair beside the sofa. She sat down beside him keeping his hand in hers.
"How did you resolve Carlisle?" Violet queried directly.
"I merely pointed out it would be better for him to be a understanding former beau, than a vengeful one."
"That sounds a great deal to simple to my mind." Violet observed critically. "Still, I would be perfectly content to never utter that vile name again."
"Then let's don't." Matthew agreed easily.
"I have some good news of a sort." Isobel said as if wanting to switch the conversation to a warmer tone. Everyone including Violet turned giving her their attention. "I had a meeting this morning, with a contact from the room. I have been offered a permanent position at the Red Cross." Isobel announced not without a touch of pride.
"I am merely surprised that the Army did not recruit you to run operations." Mathew remarked dryly.
"I will allow none of your sarcasm to spoil my mood." Isobel retorted seriously. "And do not worry out an interfering mother-in-law Mary," She said provoking Mary to look up in surprise, "I will be living at the Red Cross center."
"That will undoubtedly be a great relief to us all." Violet put in quickly, images of a Downtonless Isobel dancing prettily before her mind's eye, only making the estate even more precious to her.
"Well I have some news too…" Sybil announced cheerfully.
"Oh my heavens." Violet mused looking simultaneously peevish and concerned.
I am going to speak to my friend Vera today," Sybil explained taking a bite of her biscuit. "She says there are great opportunities in London."
"Opportunities," Violet scoffed. "What kind of opportunities."
"For women in medicine." Sybil replied adding, "The war has made me see what an utter rot politics are. Besides I like the practicality of medicine."
Violet sighed saying resignedly, "I suppose that means you intended to continue nursing."
"Not at all."
"Well thank heavens for that." Violet said a note of relief evident in her voice.
"I'm going to be a doctor." Sybil announced happily.
"Good for you!" Isobel congratulated Sybil enthusiastically, tossing a superior expression at Violet.
"I do despair for this family." Violet declared fixing a critical eye on all assembled. "Between undead heirs, rushed marriages, and career women I do wonder if there will be a brick of Downton left to preserve. And if there is the estate will clearly be filled with a house of feeble minded imbeciles."
.~.~.~.~.'
That night as the grandmother clock in the hall chimed eleven, Mary heard the creaking of the chair alerting her that her husband was near. A single knock confirmed her feeling, "Come in," She invited softly.
"Do you have a moment?" Matthew requested rolling in and turning to push the door close.
"So formal husband." Mary teased lightly. "You know you do not have to knock or ask permission if you want to speak to me."
Matthew looked slightly abashed admitting, "I am afraid it may take me some time to get used to this marriage business."
"We have time. Decades."
"Mary," He said softly as if pained by her words.
She merely smiled at him via her mirror before saying, "Is Richard gone for good?" Between Isobel and Sybil's news, the family had sat happily discussing the future for a good part of the afternoon and evening. Mary had joined in when necessary, but wanted nothing more than to ask Matthew more questions about his meeting with Richard.
"For good." Matthew repeated dubiously. "I doubt, for the moment perhaps." Seeing her visibly look downcast at the news he said, "We'll handle him. The longer we are married the less his story matters." Almost comfortingly he said, "It matters less today, and tomorrow it will matter less. And no matter what we will get through it." She looked up and her expression was so warm, that he felt the need to cough and glance away. Deciding to steer the conversation toward safer waters he inquired, "How would you feel if we stayed here in town for a bit?"
Mary took the idea in for a moment, contemplating all it might mean before asking, "Because of Richard?"
"Not wholly," Matthew said selecting his words carefully, as if negotiating a verbal mine field. "Besides with mother and presumably Sybil here…" He said adding, "A fresh start, more opportunities." He let his reasons fall away, admitting, "It will be easier here to…less reminders of what could have been…." As always she caught the half wistful tone in his voice when he spoke of the past.
Wanting to provide whatever little comfort she might provide, Mary reached to take his hand into hers. "You have been a great use to me." Not wanting him to object again to any hint of seriousness she added, "Besides I thought I married a country solicitor."
"That is another thing." Matthew said seemingly more relaxed by her movements. "With the war ending and new industrialization there might be more opportunities now here. Opportunities we will need to keep the estate."
Mary let the economic implications go untouched, preferring to buffer his self- confidence offering, "I'm quite sure with your cleverness any firm…"
"Your faith crippled solicitor is as touching as it is unrealistic." Matthew said testily.
"A wife is supposed to adore her husband." It was almost a challenge, as if her words were playing against his… Almost like their old banter…
"Not in our kind of marriage." He said brusquely withdrawing his hand. "I cannot do with fawning adoration, I need real, practical."
Mary nodded, "Well practical or not I expect you to be a great success." Seeing his jaw set in frustration she quickly added, "But with Sybil's plans perhaps us remaining in London is a good idea. And," She added cattily, "It would mean I can miss the traveling circus that is certain to be Edith's wedding to Patrick."
"How odd the world is…" Matthew mused thoughtfully. "I used to be baffled by your constant warring with Edith, now it calms me somehow. Convinces me that for all the changes, life does remain the same. I do wonder what that says about me…"
Mary considered this a mere moment before proclaiming, "It says that you have become well enough acquainted with Edith to understand how irksome she truly is…"
Matthew chuckled a rare smile quirking at his lips, "With that I say goodnight wife." As a parting gesture he gave her arm a final squeeze.
Mary watched him roll back into the dressing area, waiting until she saw the light go off moments later. Only then did she softly whisper, "Goodnight husband."
Replies get to hang out with all the cool people at Rosamond's Eaton Square house.
