I do not own Downton Abbey Julian Fellowes does. This chapter is a bit shorter but not by much. Please rate and write reviews. I have lots of ideas for chapters to come. Its something to write while I'm in lectures. I hope to upload two or three chapters a week if people like it. Sometimes it'll be one depending on how fast I write then edit as I type it up and depending on how much work I have to do for University.

Chapter 3- The Announcement Tea

Mary's POV

Matthew returned from Granny's house. He wouldn't say what had happened or what he had in his pocket. Tea was served as usual in the library at 2pm with Granny and Cousin Isobel making up the party along with Mama, Papa, Edith, Matthew and I. The only person that was missing was Sybil and by default Branson or Tom as I should call him. I was glad to see that Anna and Carson were serving tea. Matthew sat next to me on the sofa he had occupied the night before. I wanted to touch him but propriety prevented it. We knew Mama had an announcement to make. When everyone was settled Mama casually said

"I had a letter from Sybil the other day."

"What did it say?" Edith asked for once with feeling.

"She and Branson or Tom as we should call him are expecting a baby." I couldn't believe that my little sister was pregnant. I looked to Papa. He was cold in his face and generated a bad feeling about him. I could tell he wasn't happy about the news. I was happy for my sister. Being an aunt will be a good thing. The youngest child producing the eldest grandchild that is something. She and Tom were happy that is all an eldest sister could hope for. I could tell Mama was ecstatic at the news of her first grandchild. Granny on the other hand wasn't "Congratulations to Sybil. The chauffer has a lot to answer for. He bagged an Earl's daughter then within 6 months gets her pregnant." Granny shouldn't be so harsh on Sybil she couldn't help who she fell in love with any more than I could. I couldn't wait to be pregnant with Matthew's child. We didn't know if Matthew could have children after what happened during the war. There had to be a specialist somewhere to help us if we couldn't do it naturally. Dr Clarkson had been proven wrong before and hopefully he'd be proven wrong again.

"Is this the only announcement?" Edith asked

"No it isn't." Papa said. I was nervous as was Matthew. I could see his forehead was sweating. He secretly squeezed my hand "Early this morning I was asked into the library. There Matthew asked my permission to marry Mary. I gladly gave it." Papa announced. There our secret was out. We stood up and everyone congratulated us and whished us well.

"We will make an announcement in the Times tomorrow. What with Bates and Pamuk this family needs as much good news as possible. I read the papers earlier and it is not as bad as we thought but Carlisle only got back to London yesterday. I fear the worst is to come but we must not think about that. We must think about the good news we have just received." Papa announced. He was right we did. I looked into Matthew's eyes. He wanted to escape as much as I did as we knew that Mama, Cousin Isobel and Granny would want to plan our wedding. Papa suggested the announcement for the paper be:

"The Earl and Countess of Grantham are pleased to announce the engagement of their eldest daughter Lady Mary Josephine Crawley to Mr Matthew Charles Crawley the heir to the Earldom of Grantham." It made us look like brother and sister not third cousins twice removed. I could see Carson and Anna beaming with pride at the news of our engagement. I glanced at Matthew as if to say 'Lets escape to 'Our Bench''

"Excuse me I must go and do some paperwork. I have been neglecting my duties over the Christmas period." Matthew said. I knew it was a hint for me to follow him.

"I will show you out." I said. We stood to leave.

"I will send the car round Mr Crawley" Carson added much to my

"No need Carson I will walk. I am still slightly hung-over and the walk will do me good." We hurriedly exited to Our Bench. He put his arms around me then reached into his pocket for a small black velvet box. I opened it. There nestled inside was the ring of my dreams. The ring I had played with as a child. It was a round cut diamond ring sat on a gold band with two sapphires next to the diamond. It was beautiful. He slipped the ring onto my finger a place it would remain for the rest of my days. I knew where he got the ring from. Granny. I knew I didn't want a big society wedding. It would be the opposite of what I would have had if I'd been marrying Richard. It would be small like Sybil's but larger as I was marrying the heir to the Earl of Grantham despite him being a Middle Class Lawyer. I didn't care that he was a lawyer or that he was the heir to my father's estate. He was just Matthew to me. We'd come a long way in the 8 years we'd known each other. There'd been the previous proposal, Mr Pamuk, the war, Matthew's injuries, Lavinia and Richard. It was only now I realised how much I loved him. This bench was symbolic to our relationship. I could see us sat on this bench with our children and grandchildren in years to come.

Next Chapter: Wedding Plans