PART TWO: Wedding (Two of Two)

As planned, the party following the nuptial ceremony took root back at the abbey. That is to note, several congregations throughout Downton Village gathered at intervals during the afternoon hours, but husband and wife were only truly spotted outside the big house.

Canopies sheltered everything from cakes to settees and blankets on the ground, on which the youngest of children played. Since the season was spring, warmth was relatively absent from the scene; which was why the Earl and Countess - as well as the Dowager - spent the duration of the afternoon and evening inside, socialising with guests from every region in Great Britain.

"I don't understand why so many are out here, when they could very well be comfortable inside," remarked Mary. She and Matthew, ironically, were just then ambling round the perimeter of the outside festivities, enjoying the casual nature of their walk whilst buttoned up in their nuptial clothing.

"Why, then, are we outside?" questioned Matthew, grinning once Mary realised their context. "After all," the man continued with a gentle pressure upon her hand (which he held), "the day is probably one of the nicest we've seen this spring."

"Perhaps, but I still wonder..." Mary frowned jestingly, causing her accompaniment to chuckle. "What?" she asked in a mock-protective tone. "You mustn't blame me for having a mind so fixated upon the most insignificant of details. Our morning began too perfectly, and so I'm purely beside myself with joy." They halted in their walk, and she kissed Matthew's cheek genuinely. "I happen to be disoriented from all the happiness," she finished.

Matthew's heart skipped a beat. He took a deep breath, inhaling both the beauty of the fields amid them but also the far greater radiance of his wife's presence. "I hope you remain disoriented...especially if -"

"Now wait just a moment!" Mary blushed on the spot, having anticipated what he had planned to assert after the pause. Turning cross only temporarily, she admonished, "Please let us go back to finish greeting our guests. If you're going to start with that -"

"Start with what?" The countenance that had, seconds ago, been one of jubilant expectancy, immediately disappeared; Matthew frowned at Mary, wondering why she had become offended. "Mary, I only wanted to conclude with the hope that you'll not refuse to dance with me later."

"But you can't be serious!" The woman had covered her mouth only partially; intrigue captured her thoughts as she figured she was hearing nonsense. Why would he think me so generally opposed to dancing with him?

Before Matthew could explain, Mary motioned toward the bench that lay across from them against a tree. "Can we please sit down?"

...

Meanwhile, Edith - who had thus far been keeping watch over the Roman clock in the library - was about to interrupt her father regarding Mary and Matthew's hour-long absence. Most of the guests had migrated outside, and Robert had begun to walk toward the library door, as was his conversation. But, just when Edith had cleared her voice to request the Earl's attention, Cora announced from behind, "Oh, my... Mary and Matthew are dancing!"

"Where?" Robert asked, his interest now consumed completely by the words of his wife. "Have they returned, then?"

"From their walk, yes, it seems," Violet observed, her head cocked so as to see the party from the library window. "And those very talented musicians appear to be accompanying them."

Edith hurried over to her grandmother for a better look. Isobel Crawley, also, joined them, happiness flooding her body. She turned to face Cora and Robert.

"Your daughter has already brightened up my son; and for that I am most thankful." Cora came at once to embrace Isobel, whereupon Robert could not help but to grin at the guests and to announce, "Well, we'd all better make haste before the bride and groom decide they've had enough dancing."

"It seems as if they never will have enough of it," thought Edith aloud: but her voice was faintly audible, and she smiled slightly upon recognising her sister and brother-in-law's achievement for what it was.

...

Sybil and Tom had been outside for the entire afternoon; they had prompted the musicians to commence playing a slow dance - one which was Mary's favourite - and had effortlessly persuaded Matthew and Mary to act in kind.

For a while, Matthew focused on their movements: it was a waltz, and so he was thankful to have unintentionally practised months previously, because their audience had started to grow.

But five minutes into the dancing, both Matthew and Mary made eye contact and simultaneously thought of their conversation prior to returning to the party. It had concerned that which they were gracefully performing now, which was why every step, every stride together felt invaluable to them.

"Why were you afraid of me not wishing to dance with you?"

"I thought that...perhaps, because the last time we'd done...we were cursed."

"Truly you don't believe that."

"No, not as I used to swear upon it. But I feared you would be ashamed to dance for the first time with me since the incident."

"Matthew... I understand how you perceive it. It was a misfortune, and one that we could have controlled... But we both know how the seasons have transformed since then. We are two people made different - and, I think, better - by what happened that night and thereafter. So I couldn't refuse to dance with you."

"I am aware of the changes that have transpired, of course. We're married, we've fought, we've cried, and time has gone by. In fact... The truth is that I wasn't worried about you being disinclined toward dancing; I was worried that it would be me."

"That you would prefer not to...?"

"Precisely. Now, however, I see that dancing with you would take the form of a different symbol... It would mean, now, that we are bound to one another in holy matrimony, that we..."

"Oh, my darling..."

"I should cry, Mary. I must. To show you how grateful I am to you for this new life you have given me -"

"Surely I must thank you in kind! Matthew, no greater day has brought me the hope that today has done - that you have done. And I am sort of glad, actually, that we're talking about this. Perhaps we needed to make amends with our past memories."

"I think you're right about that... I suppose, then, that we should return to the party."

"With a request for some music, I hope?"

"You read my thoughts."

The pair were engrossed in the rhythms of the ascending sequences as much as one another. An abundance of tears from the audience danced with the music: it was a hopeful harmony they sang, one of certainty that husband and wife had found resolution in this moment and on this day of overwhelming vows and celebrations and embraces. Above all, Robert, Isobel, and Cora discovered a new triumph in their children's graceful "one, two, threes" across the grass.

Settlement was nigh. And so were a number of hopeful, delightful promises: of Downton's future, of healthful change, of cooperation, of children...