Mary walked into her bedroom to assist Anna. She had let her know that she would be leaving early instead of extending her stay and Anna had been disappointed. She didn't want to talk about it, so she kindly asked her if she would mind helping her gather her things. Carlisle was irritated and decided to leave the house, advising he would come back in a few hours to collect her and the rest of his possessions. That is all she was. A possession to him. Anna was setting up the suitcase, not making eye contact with her. She knew Anna was upset, sensing things were wrong, but she didn't want her to worry. If Anna was too worried, she would talk to her mother or Mr. Carson. She would even go to Tom. Anna was loyal and trustworthy, but she also loved Lady Mary like a sister and would do anything to make sure she was safe and Mary knew that. So, she took a deep breath and walked towards the wardrobe. "Sir Richard is out for a few hours, scheduled us for the last train."

"And that's what you want?" Anna signed, reaching for Mary's red silk robe.

"It's what is required of me." Mary sighed, reaching for her riding boots, running her hands over the leather as she remembered wearing them at the carnival. The way Matthew's hands moved to her face, entangling his fingers in her hair. He had always been so perfect when he touched her and she was reminded how amazing it felt. It was almost like she was being punished for kissing him. They had been together for a moment, his hands on her and her body had relaxed after a lifetime of tension. Then Carlisle was there. In her room. "It's my life."

"But Mary, it's just clear that you're not happy." Anna finally spoke up, her voice almost more forceful than before. Anna was quiet and certainly very sweet. If her tone was like this, she had a reason and Mary was in fear that she was too in the know about what was happening. "I don't mean to overstep."

"You're not, but you don't need to worry. Everything is fine." Mary cleared her throat, nodding her head in confidence. She opened a drawer to retrieve her underwear as she watched Anna go to the window and look out. A look of relief came over Anna's face. "Anna?"

"Mary, I know something is wrong. Maybe you don't want to talk about it, but something is going on and I don't think its as simple as you're clumsy." Anna sat on the bed, which she never did unless they were gossiping or catching up after time apart. "You can tell me."

"Anna, I think you believe I need help and I appreciate your care, but I assure you I have this handled." Mary said firmly, her hand moving over her wrist. Carlisle had grabbed her again this morning, this time pressing down on existing bruises. She didn't want to complicate things and she didn't like people feeling sorry for her.

"Mary, if he's hurting you…"

"Anna." Mary put her hand up, moving to the other side of the room. She didn't understand that Carlisle was not forgiving and she was better to stay out of it. As she reached for a sweater, she saw Anna was running her hands nervously over her wrist. Just before she could say something there was a knock at the door.

"I just got your message to come upstairs." Matthew peered his head into the room, peaking in before Anna waived him to come all the way in.

"Now wait a minute." Mary groaned, realizing now that Anna had told Matthew to come to the house, most likely after learning that Mary was going to leave. "You called him to come."

"Mary, I just thought we needed to talk to you." Anna said, her voice quiet as she gestured to Matthew to close the door. "We don't want to corner you, but we just need to talk to you and we need you to listen."

"Please Mary." Matthew stepped further into the room, distracted for a moment by the suitcase on the bed. He looked at Anna, sharing a look of concern as they realized Mary was annoyed and feeling cornered. "Mary, you don't have to go with him."

"Not you too." Mary groaned, running her hand over her forehead. "Anna…Matthew I appreciate that you guys care, but you've got it all wrong."

"Do we?" Anna said in a voice that let Mary know she meant business. It was a way she only talked to someone when they got too smart with her or she was angry. "Or are we just willing to say what you won't?"

"Excuse me?" Mary bit.

"Anna, can I have a moment alone with Mary?" Matthew sighed, his eyes warming as he walked over to Anna to lift a few objects that she had been packing. They nodded at each other and Anna smiled weakly.

"Of course." Anna walked towards the door, stopping in front of her friend for a moment, she reached for her hand, squeezing it gently. Anna never wanted to or could hurt a soul. Mary knew that, but Mary wasn't Mary anymore. At least she wasn't sure that she could feel that way. "Just if you do anything Mary, please listen to what he has to say or at least try to. I'll be in the hallway."

"Anna…you guys have certainly overthought this." Mary rolled her eyes, pulling her hand away as the room began to feel very small and Matthew kept his eyes glued on her. Anna left the room, leaving Mary and Matthew standing in front of each other. They sat there, silent for what felt like several minutes before Mary shrugged her shoulders and let out a deep sigh. "So, I assume you are here to tell me London is a huge mistake too?"

"No." Matthew shook his head, the sharp rays from the sun shining through the windows.

"Well you're here for a reason." Mary crossed her arms. She stood there as if she was proud, her annoyance so evident in her face as she made it a point to show she was mad. "I mean you're standing in a married woman's room which seems hardly appropriate. What if Richard were to come in?"

"Anna is keeping an eye out for him." Matthew responded, making it clear he couldn't care less. "Let him walk in. I'd love to give him a piece of my mind. For a moment I would love to apply the pain he puts you through.

"Now stop that." Mary pushed, her arms falling to her sides. "You've built a story, you and Anna. A story that says Carlisle is such a bad man."

"Take your shirt off." Matthew said, stepping forward, his voice firm.

"Excuse me?" Mary's eyes widened, stepping back to avoid him. "Matthew, have you gone mad?"

"You don't have to undress, just take the sweater off and let me see you in the camisole." Matthew sounded almost angry. He didn't let up, stepping closer and repeating himself. "Take it off."

"Matthew." Mary groaned.

"Take it off Mary." Matthew demanded, running his hand through his hair and nervously tapping his foot. "If he hasn't put a hand on you, you wouldn't be hesitating."

"I can't." Mary wanted her blood to boil as Matthew tried to insist, she remove her sweater. She wanted to push him away and yell and tell him to mind his own business. That was how she felt, truly. Then there was this part of her that was curious. There was a simple curiosity about the man she once loved. The other night when they had kissed, her body had felt such a way that it hadn't felt in a very long time. They had kissed and before her sweater had slid, Mary had felt warm and content. Instead of cold and tense. "It's not what you think."

"Isn't it?" Matthew asked, pushing a stand of hair behind her ears and smiling weakly and shaking his head. "Where are you Mary? I don't recognize you."

"Matthew, stop." Mary moved her hand over his, her eyes closing as their hands were pressed together. He didn't let go, instead moved his hand that wasn't with hers down to her sweater, pushing it off her shoulders. "No…"

"Mary, I'm going to look." Matthew whispered in her ear, his hands tossing the sweater to the floor. He felt her shake a bit, wrapping his arms around her and kissing her cheek softly. He wasn't going to let her go, at least not easily.

"Matthew…" Mary felt her eyes moisten as he held her close. He was going to look at her, hugging her first before looking at what Carlisle had put her through, but holding her close to assure her it was okay. She didn't want him to see, but Matthew wasn't going to back down after catching a glimpse a few nights before and unlike Carlisle, he wasn't pushy or invasive. He wasn't pushing at her telling her what her duty was. "I'm afraid you'll assume the worst of my husband."

"It isn't assuming the worst if it's the truth." Matthew kissed her forehead, pulling away from her to examine her body. The bruise on her shoulder that caught his eye the other night looked to be fading a bit, yellow taking over most of the black and blue. Her arms, completely covered with the same colors, looking more like a water color painting then her normal porcelain skin. The small nail marks, were scabbing over but he could see what Anna was talking about. There was no other explanation. Richard Carlisle was abusing his wife. No. Richard Carlisle was hurting the love of Matthew Crawley's life. He ran his fingers along her soft skin, fixing the strap on her chemise, before gently turning her around. He stepped forward, placing a soft kiss on her shoulder, as to try to repair the marks her husband left behind. He then moved back in front of her, moving his hands back up and entangling them in her hair, kissing her softly. "Mary, I can't let you go back with him."

"What do you mean?" Tears streamed down her face. She didn't want to speak, couldn't speak.

"I can't let you leave. He's going to hurt you again and next time it could be so much worse than this and I can't imagine what that is right now. You have to tell him it's over." Matthew's voice shook, as she began to cry, her body shaking. He placed a soft kiss on her lips as she moved her hands to his face. She cried, kissing him back. Their kisses were desperate, hers seeking comfort and his pleading with her. Pleading with her to stay. "I can save you from this. I can give you the life you deserve."

"What?" Mary whispered, their lips separating. He kept his fingers entangled in her hair and pressed his head against her cheek.

"Don't go back to him Mary." Matthew kissed her cheek, pleading in her ear, his own voice cracking. He didn't want to let her go, he wanted to keep her in his arms and she knew that. "Let me save you. Let me be the one to love you."

"Because you can save me?" She wiped her eyes, pulling out of his arms and looking sadly at him. "Didn't you know, Mary Crawley can't be saved."

"Just this once." Matthew said, reaching for her hand, but she pulled away.

"I said I wasn't looking back. I can't look back and I can't change it. I have to go with him." Mary cried, shaking her head quickly and stepping away from him. "I have to see it through. I made…he's given me a life."

"And he will take it as quickly as he can. He's taken so much from you already." Matthew begged, before saying a truth she wasn't expecting. "Mary, I know about the Turkish Ambassador's son."

"What?"

"I know what happened and I know he holds that over your head." Matthew announced, trying to reach for her but she kept backing up, crying and shaking her head. "Mary it doesn't matter. Let me get you through it and let's move on. We can move on, Mary."

"Matthew, stop." She almost shouted, her tears cracking in her voice. She kept shaking her head no as she backed towards the fireplace.

As she began to cry again, he tried to approach her, but then the door opened and Anna walked in looking terrified. She tried to assess the room before speaking, realizing that Mary wasn't likely to give in within such a short amount of time. "Matthew…"

"What?" Matthew sighed, terrified that he wasn't getting through to Mary as she turned and cried into the corner of the wall by the mantel. She listened as they spoke, but she couldn't hear them. She wanted to tell them she could stay, that she didn't need to go with Richard Carlisle, but she was so far gone. She wasn't sure what was good, what was wrong and where the fine line of life and losing yourself was. She heard them talk and plead.

"Mary, Carlisle is downstairs." Anna said, her friend's voice cracked as she turned around to face her. Anna handed her a handkerchief, knowing that regardless she needed to clean up her face, or at least attempt to hide the tears. "Mary, please tell him to leave. Tell him we'll help you collect your things and move you back to Downton. Surely, there is nothing so terrible he can do to make you stay. You're afraid of him."

"Me? Afraid of my husband?" Mary cleared her throat, dabbing at her eyes as she walked towards the door of the room. "That's crazy."

"Mary…" Anna breathed.

"What?" Mary turned around, reaching for an oversized cardigan and sliding it on over her wounded skin. Anna and Matthew watching in terror as she tried to gather herself together, hoping she would go downstairs and tell her husband it was over.

"Mary, let us help you." Matthew offered, looking over at Anna, raising his hands in defeat. "We don't want you to do anything for us except let us help. Let us get you out of this mess."

"It's my mess. I have to see it through and more importantly, I have to clean it up." Mary dabbed the lace handkerchief at her nose, opening the door to her bedroom and closing it behind her. Matthew was persuasive, but she was so far gone and she knew it. There wasn't a way for him to save her and they had once had their time. Then in his office that day, they had both made sure there was no going back and she couldn't. She didn't trust him the way she wanted to. The way when they kissed, she felt like they should have a chance, but it was too late. They made sure of it and now, she was off to London.