Matthew had been invited round to talk about the estate, about the cottages they'd renovated a few years ago. God that was when he'd first met Mary. They'd had a chat about some work that the tenants wanted to do to the property and Robert wanted Matthew's opinion. He couldn't care less really, they could do what they wanted with it, it wasn't really his matter to be dealing with, he just told Robert he could do what he wanted.

The family had already had luncheon about an hour ago, Matthew hadn't had the time to have any yet, he'd arrived after they'd eaten. He stood up and shook Robert's hand, saying goodbye and walking out of the library, past a series of doors.

"Damn it!" he heard from a nearby door, a crumpling of paper followed.

Matthew walked towards the voice, bringing him to the door of the small library. He looked in through the open door, to see Mary hunched over a desk, a few sheets of crumpled paper by her side. She couldn't see Matthew, as she was facing away from the door. Should he talk to her? She might know he's there... It would seem rude if he didn't wouldn't it?

"What's wrong?" he asked hesitantly, still staying in the doorway.

Mary turned around at the noise, closing her eyes when she saw it was Matthew. Her hands gripped the back of the chair as she plastered on a faint smile.

"Oh, never mind me, I'm just trying to write this novel and failing" she sighed.

"Oh I'm sure you're not, you've always been so literate" he took a step into the room.

"Well the truth is Matthew sometimes Mary Crawley exaggerates. She says things are wonderful when maybe they are not. How could I say to Edith that writing is becoming a challenge? The reason I wouldn't tell anybody the storyline was mainly because there isn't one... yet" Mary replied, sounding stressed.

"I'm sure you'll think of something soon" he replied softly.

They stayed silent for a couple of minutes, Mary pretending to look busy with her notes. God they couldn't keep avoiding the elephant in the room.

"I'm so sorry Matthew. You can't even begin to imagine how bad I feel" she was still turned away from him, "I shouldn't have sacrificed our friendship like that"

Matthew was about to say something but didn't, instead he chose to say something else, "Oh Mary it's fine, and I hope we can still be friends? I was rather enjoying riding Chestnut if I'm honest" he admitted.

She chuckled lightly, turning herself towards him, smiling wider now.

"Thank you"

"Right I'll be off then, I've got quite a lot of work to do" Matthew announced, unsure where the conversation could go next. Mary nodded, Matthew nodding back and heading out of the door. He began to walk down towards the front door.

"Oh and Matthew?" he heard her call, "I'll have to take you out riding again one day"

"I shall look forward to it" he called back, smiling to himself.

And with that Matthew walked down the remainder of the corridor and towards the front door, Carson meeting him there with his coat. He looked as if he had been waiting a while. In all honesty he had kept him waiting, Robert probably telling Carson to fetch his coat a fair few minutes ago. Not that Carson minded though, as he helped him with his coat, opening the door for him.


"Mary? Are you in here?" she heard her sister call from the door.

"Oh hello Edith, come in" she said plainly, finishing her sentence then going to turn around.

"Sybil? You should be resting!" Mary said startled, looking her youngest sister up and down as she stood next to Edith.

Sybil rolled her eyes, walking into the room, putting her hands on Mary's shoulders, "Mary, I've been in bed for nearly four days. I think if I was bound to that bed any longer, it would become attached to me. Anyway, I feel fully rested and fine"

"As long as you're sure" Mary looked up at her sister, unsure.

Edith also walked into the room, walking to the side of Mary. She glanced down at her papers on the desk, raising her eyebrows, "Hmm... Writing are we?" she inquired, "Let's have a look then"

Mary quickly bundled her papers together and stuffed them into a draw swiftly, "No" she told her sister.

"Yes Edith, you know how an artist hates for people to see unfinished work" she added, smiling at her sister"

"I wouldn't go as far as to call it art, but I agree with what you meant" Mary slightly glared at Edith disapprovingly.

"Fine, fine. I'm just curious as all" Edith backed away from the desk slightly, raising her hands in defence.

"Nosy more like" Mary muttered under her breath.

Edith gave a knowing glance to Sybil, prompting her of the real reason they were there.

"Mary... Could we talk?"


Matthew opened the door and gave Moseley his coat, as he began walking towards the sitting room. His mother was sat on the sofa sorting through some papers when he walked in. She smiled at him as he walked over to the tea tray on the side.

"Hello Matthew, how was your visit with Robert?" Isobel asked.

"Oh, same old same old" he said, sitting down in the armchair adjacent to her.

"Then why are you smiling so much?" Isobel cast a knowing gaze at Matthew.

He hadn't even noticed really, though now he couldn't really hide it.

"I think Mary and I are friends again" he admitted shyly, smiling to himself.


Edith walked over to the nearest sofa, as all three girls sat on it, Mary in the middle.

"My gosh this seems rather formal isn't it? What is it? Come on, out with it!" Mary said, getting puzzled by her sisters' actions.

"Fine. Are you and Matthew okay or not?" Edith stated, getting right to the point.

Mary's mouth opened in slight shock. It's none of her business. She quickly composed herself, "What sort of question is that?"

"An important one Mary," Sybil replied, Mary rolling her eyes, "because you seem somewhat... different with him lately, then it changed again, what about now then?"

"Well I refuse to make my sisters totally privy to my private life thank you. But if you must know we are fine now, we just had a minor disagreement that's all" Mary retorted, taken aback by their forwardness.

"You mean on your ride?" Edith added.

"Whatever do you mean?" Mary plastered a fake smile on, acting oblivious to their points, although she was starting to panic underneath.

"Well... You seemed upset after your ride. I only saw you once the rest of the day and you looked like you'd been crying" Edith explained.

"Oh please. I was tired, Diamond was very energetic and it's hard work!" Mary bit back, trying to cover her tracks.

"But Mary-"

"Look, I'm not angry but you come in here and start answering personal questions. I would rather remain alone for the time being. I need to work anyway" Mary interrupted.

"Fine, if that's what you want" Sybil said plainly, with a hint of sarcasm.

"Yes, it is"

Sybil and Edith made their way out of the small library and as Mary closed the door behind them, they looked at each other. They were no further along than they were before. Except now they knew something was definitely wrong with her. "Time for a change of tactics" Sybil said simply, smiling at her sister with a determined gaze.


Hmm... What next?