PART THREE: An Important Knowledge (Three of Three)
Just as Isobel is leaving her place outside the library, the pair inside detect the woman's footsteps and grow alert.
"Someone is bound to be looking for us," figures Matthew aloud, resting his hand on that of his wife with fervour. She nods and moves to get up from the sofa, where they have been serenely silent together for the past minute.
The man smiles at Mary, knowing now the perfect time it is to make the announcement to the family. "Who knew we'd be celebrating much more," whispers he; and Mary takes Matthew's arm to help him up. They exit the room with harmonious thoughts, rejoicing for this excerpt of their lives because nothing - and they believe this - can impede their joy, anticipation, love.
...
"Where have you been for so long?"
It is Edith, surprised by her cousin's sudden reentrance into the drawing room (where she left the family seven minutes previously). But the new grandmother purses her lips so as not to give anything away, and replies, "Just waiting outside for a while. No sign of Matthew yet."
"And where is Mary?"
The question demands Isobel to practise equivocation. "She is looking forward to the evening, naturally."
"Isobel, we're in desperate need of your opinion on this," the Earl calls from the opposite end of the room. He, Tom, Cora, and the Dowager have taken to a game of bridge whilst awaiting the missing family members. The widow looks over to the group and wonders, "My opinion?"
"Yes, come and see this..."
Edith experiences detachment once Isobel's delightful presence drifts away; she begins to find a seat when the drawing-room doors open widely.
Everyone is embarrassed as they swerve their heads to see a reserved-looking Matthew, and, behind him, a puzzled Mary. "Hello," the former greets everyone - trying to allow them the chance to sing "Surprise!" - but to no avail.
Isobel is speechless. They are going to tell everyone the news in due time, thinks she; and this is enough to stall her vocals. As for the others, suspicions bring them to the conclusion that Matthew had knowledge of their gathering in the drawing room to surprise him.
Breathing is the point of interest for a moment, as hardly a single person feels obliged to utter the first word.
And then -
"Perhaps it's wrong of me to belie all of you, when you have prepared so considerately for my arrival." Matthew steps into the room a bit more. "Thank you for being here. It brings me such joy to find those whom I love -"
"Mmhmm."
Mary's eyes widen upon hearing her father's verbal gesture from across the room. Does he know? she asks herself fearfully. No one can... We must have this moment, Matthew and I -
Violet rises from the bridge table, gripping her cane with considerable strength. She eyes her granddaughter carefully. "Are you quite well, Mary dear? Your face has turned scarlet."
Matthew spins around. Mary cannot move. He returns his gaze briefly to the crowd gathered before him. "Er, if Mary and I could sit down..."
Edith, who is nearest the chagrined husband and wife, offers, "Why don't you sit down right here. The fire will keep you warm."
Cora nods automatically, still uncertain and therefore feeling a little bereft of information. Meanwhile Robert's anxiety gets to him, and once his daughter and son-in-law are seated on the comfortable sofa, he approaches them. "My dear boy, I am very sorry for our failed attempt at starting the evening on a joyous note."
"We, ourselves, were taken by surprise!" adds Violet candidly. Matthew frowns. "Oh? Didn't you all know I'd be here before half past six?"
"Isobel was outside watching for your car," explains Edith, not piecing together the evidence at hand: Matthew's immediate appearance shortly after Isobel's return, the reserved nature of the latter woman...
And soon enough, Mary understands it. She looks behind her left shoulder so as to locate her mother-in-law. Isobel resorts to a statue-like state with fright yet swimming in her eyes.
"But you came in here seconds after she did!" Cora recalls. "I don't understand how - Matthew?"
He whose attention has been summoned focuses completely on his wife, who now peers at her lap in total abstinence from movement. "What is it, my darling?" Matthew asks her quietly.
Robert is standing in the centre of the room, and is practical. "Surely we shouldn't dwell on any of that. After all, Matthew is here, isn't he? I'll go to fetch Carson so we can eat."
"Wait, not yet."
Matthew's words cause Isobel to stand, though her movements are swift and soundless. All others furrow their brows in shock: since when, they wonder, does Matthew Crawley speak up in such a manner? Cora supposes there is something he feels he must tell them - something that cannot wait - and so she prompts him, "What is it, Matthew?"
Mary is shivering, but now it is out of happiness that does so. Matthew believes, nevertheless, that his wife is being slightly indolent. So he takes the initiative.
"I've asked for dinner to be put off for just a minute because I have had news. News from my wife, who took me aside before I entered here and informed me of a rather timely matter."
Hearing her husband commence the announcement so elegantly wiped all of Mary's shyness away, and she, too, rose from the sofa to make her presence equally known among the family. Calmly she stands there, as Matthew's pause prevails whilst the others stare at Mary, connecting her lack of actions with his lengthy sentences.
"And we fear," Mary continues, flashing a loving smile at her husband, "that it would be a disservice to withhold the matter from you for much longer. Now, we are very happy to announce -"
"Ecstatic, more like," Matthew cuts in, gleaming and grinning.
"To announce that -"
Cora and Robert fight tears of joy, and Tom and Edith ache for the news to be complete, even though they understand.
"- that Mary and I await the arrival of our firstborn child."
"So we hope you all would be willing to celebrate that tonight, above all else," Mary chimes in, her heart filled with an indescribable fulfilment as the people whom she loves gather round her and Matthew - not too closely so as to drown them - and exchange embraces, "ahhs", and words of encouragement.
The first to speak is Robert. "My daughter... I am going to burst, you have made me so very happy... I don't deserve you. Nor your husband, whom I trust and love as my own son. Do remember that, Matthew."
"I certainly will, Robert. Thank you." The men shake hands firmly and fervently, whilst Mary kisses her father's cheek and whispers, "Thank you, Papa."
The Dowager Countess, her thoughts beyond words, embraces her granddaughter and cousin.
Next is Cora, whose face shines of simultaneous pride and amazement. She is touched.
Before she can speak one word, Mary holds her mother's arm and assures her, "It's all right, Mama. We love you and thank you, and we understand what news this is for especially you and Papa."
Nodding, Cora beams at her daughter and at Matthew, squeezing Mary's hand and whispering, "You know me too well."
Edith and Tom approach whilst Cora lingers for a moment, admiring her children but marvelling at her daughter all the more. When the Irishman confesses, "I hope we're not intruding your turn, Lady Grantham," Matthew shakes his head and greets the two newcomers.
"Truly wonderful this is, to celebrate the forthcoming birth of your child on such a day," Tom remarks.
Mary allows her mother to dispatch and joins Matthew, Tom, and Edith. "Ah, my dear sister and brother-in-law."
"Congratulations to you both, Mary and Matthew. Sybbie thanks you for answering her wish for a first cousin."
The four of them chuckle lightheartedly, knowing too well how Sybbie's young age has her focused on other things aside from the English language.
At this time, Edith is stunned by her sister's mention of her being "dear". Politely she verifies, "Mary, what you just called me... You truly meant it?"
"Of course she does," intervenes Matthew gleefully, his enthusiasm an attempt to prevent his wife from making a dry remark toward her sister. Upon Matthew's confirmation, Edith blushes.
"Well, you have me in tears. Of course I'm crying of happiness for the news; I am thrilled for both of you..."
The younger of the two sisters stops her voice because she cannot breathe. Only momentarily, whilst Mary hugs her only remaining sister closely to her, delighted. They disengage after a few seconds, but the older smiles and admits, "I am genuinely calling you my dear sister, Edith."
...
"Might I raise a toast?"
It is the first and only time Mary and Matthew have heard Isobel Crawley speak after their revelation in the drawing room. All are willing and eager to hear the woman's speech, whereupon she proceeds with reverence for her son and daughter-in-law.
"A confession, foremost: I should have not been so rude earlier to Matthew and Mary. I overheard their conversation and its contents before they came to share them with the entire family.
"My dearest son and daughter-in-law, please forgive me. However I cannot express what it means to me that you have brought one of your own into the family. Everyone here, I am certain, agrees that such gives us joy. And so this toast is to you and to your baby, all three of whom I - and we - love very much."
It breaks Mary's heart to have heard an apology from her mother-in-law. During this time all others seated at the dining-room table cheer, "To Mary, to Matthew, to the baby."
Minutes transpire, as do conversations; and yet Mary is scarcely a part of the latter. So fixated is she upon the nature of Isobel's former toast, which has proved to the young woman the magnitude of honesty and love existing in her mother-in-law.
Matthew only notices his wife's discontent after the fact, when they are bidding good-byes to Violet and to Isobel. "What's wrong, Mary?" he asks her.
She first must embrace Isobel and her grandmother before responding, but even when she does answer Matthew, her voice is small and her words are few.
"Nothing's the matter."
For the present time, he presumes she's overwhelmed by their knowledge of the baby.
Naturally - as happens with new fathers, whose hearts are always pulsating at a hundred beats per minute - Matthew is wrong.