Rating: PG-13 (this chapter)
Spoilers: Season 1 & 2 trough the Christmas Special

Disclaimer: Any names off characters you recognize from Downton Abbey are not mine. All original characters do however belong to me. Fanfiction is in my opinion the ultimate form of flattery to a screenwriter :)

Chapter Summary: Lord Grantham has a surprise for his grandson which has Mary slightly upset. Mary and Matthew have a little talk, perhaps taking the first step towards a new future. Meanwhile at the Strallan residence, a much different conversation is taking place.

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Special thank you to the lovely Tambear for catching missing commas, odd grammar and offering excellent suggestions & advice!

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The Rightful Heir

Chapter 10: "Families Like Ours are Always Hunting Families"

"Where's Mama?" William asked when he spotted Robert by the door.

"She and Matthew are having a little talk in the library. I thought the two of us could go for a walk down to the stables and visit the new colt?"

William grinned and nodded. "May I?" he asked Sophie, eagerly bouncing up and down.

"Of course you may, Master William." The girl fought not to laugh at the ridiculous thought of her denying the Earl of Grantham his request to take his grandson for a walk.

Sophie buttoned the boy's coat and tied the scarf tightly around his neck before slipping on his mittens and hat. He waved goodbye to her as he walked off with Robert, happily chatting about the horses.

William entered the box and the little horse came straight to him. The boy grinned at Robert as the colt nudged his chest.

"He remembers me!"

"I think you're right." Robert pulled out a small apple from his pocket and cut off a piece with his pocket knife. "Here, give this to him. I think he'll like it."

William held out the treat in the palm of his small hand and the colt nibbled gently, making the boy giggle as it tickled. Once the treat was gone, the little horse nudged William for more. Robert gave William another piece before offering the rest of the apple to the mare.

"His eyes are so dark," William said in awe. "Darker than Mama's."

"He's a pretty little horse," Robert said and stroked the colt's back.

Having had enough of the petting and admiring, the little animal scampered over to his mother and nuzzled around for a moment before starting to nurse. William gasped and smiled at Robert.

"He's so cute!"

Robert chuckled and nodded. The colt was swishing his little tail as he nudged and nuzzled his mother.

"Come," Robert said and patted William's shoulder.

William took Robert's hand and the two continued to the tack room. Robert let go of William as he picked up a small saddle and bridle. Ushering William back out, they walked to the end of the row of boxes. Sliding the bolt to the side, he opened the box. A small brown pony stuck its head out, curious about the visitor.

"William, this is Misty. She's an Exmoor pony. I thought that she would be a good horse for you to learn to ride on."

William's eyes widened. "For me?" he whispered.

"Mmm, hmm."

Lord Grantham put the saddle and tack in the hay and grabbed a brush, giving the pony a quick brush down while explaining things to William. The boy eagerly took it all in, though he questioned how he would be able to brush Misty down since he was so small.

"That's quite all right, William," Lord Grantham said with a smile. "Lynch will get her ready for you. I'm only doing it today to show you. Everyone in the Crawley family ride, some of us even hunt. Your mother might not get her horse ready, or put him back after a ride, but that doesn't mean she doesn't know how. She definitely does."

"I see," William said seriously.

"Excuse me, your lordship."

"Yes, Lynch?"

"I thought Master William might need this, my lord."

Robert looked over his shoulder and smiled when he spotted the helmet in Lynch's hand.

"Excellent idea. Would you mind showing William how to put it on?"

"Not at all, my lord."

William eagerly pulled off his cap and watched Lynch as the stable manager secured the riding helmet on his head, adjusting the soft leather strap a little so it would stay in place without choking him.

"How do I look?" he asked and grinned at Robert.

"Like a Crawley ready for a ride!"

William laughed and nodded. "I am!"

"Mary, please come and sit down," Matthew said gently.

She sighed and eased down next to him. He took her hand and tugged a little, wiggling his eyebrows. Mary laughed and leaned against him.

"I missed you this morning."

"I know. I didn't have the heart to wake you."

"You're a sap, Matthew Crawly," she huffed. "Next time you pull that kind of trick I will lock you out."

Matthew laughed and she smiled at him.

"I'm sorry I left you naked," he whispered close to her ear.

"And you should be."

Matthew nuzzled her ear and neck, placing a couple of soft kisses right below her ear.

"Please say you will have dinner with me," he whispered. "Just the two of us. We can take the motor into Ripon."

"That sounds wonderful," she said with a heavy sigh. "I really would enjoy a night away from Downton and my parents."

"I understand." He gently touched her chin. "Would you mind if I tell William? I'd like to know that he's fine with me taking you out."

"Oh Matthew," she said and stroked his cheek. "I'm sure he will be. I often go out back in America, leaving him with Maria."

"This is a bit different though. Not to mention that he's only been here for a little more than a week. The people here are still somewhat new to him."

"Are you trying to guilt me into not going?" she teased, though secretly touched at his concern for William's feelings.

"Of course not!"

"Are you ready?"

William looked up at Lord Grantham and nodded. He held up his arms to Robert who lifted him up on the pony. He adjusted the boy's fingers around the reins before slipping his feet into the stirrups.

"This is how you hold the reins. They should be short, so you can control your horse, though today, because you're on the long leash, we will let them remain slack."

William nodded seriously. He sat stiffly in the saddle holding on tightly to the reins. Robert adjusted one of the stirrups and then rested his hand on William's back.

"Can you stand up in the stirrups?"

William grabbed the saddle and slowly eased up. He gasped as he swayed a little. Robert held onto him, steadying him.

"Am I doing it right?"

"Yes my boy, you're doing excellent!" Robert said and laughed. "You can sit down now."

"Don't let go," William said in a gasped whisper as the pony took a step forward.

"I will be right here," Robert promised.

With a nod from Lord Grantham, Lynch made the pony walk in a circle around him. He had her on a long rope, giving her verbal commands. Lord Grantham walked next to the horse with his hand held firmly against William's back.

After a few minutes William started smiling and he seemed to relax in the saddle. Lord Grantham gave his approval to try a trot, explaining to William how to rise up in the saddle in step with the horse.

William gasped and bounced in the saddle as Misty ran faster, but after the initial surprise, he followed Robert's instructions. The boy laughed as he figured it out. Not wanting to tire his grandson out, Robert brought Misty to a stop.

"Was that fun?"

"Yes!" William laughed, grinning from ear to ear. "Please Poppy, can we do it again?"

"Just a couple of minutes," Robert said. "I don't want you to overdo it."

William rolled his eyes. "It's really fun, Poppy."

"I am so glad to hear you say that."

Lynch made a smacking command to Misty who started forward. This time Robert stayed behind, letting William ride alone. The boy moved in the saddle as his little legs held on tightly to the horse. Robert sighed at the sight of his grandson, for a moment wishing that he had waited to do this until Mary could have joined them.

"Mama!" William ran to Mary.

She caught him and cupped his face, kissing his cheek. "Where have you been? You smell like a barn," she teased.

"I've been riding, Mama! I really have."

Mary turned and her eyes narrowed at the sight of her father. "Is this true, Papa?"

"Yes it is," he said with a smile.

"Did it occur to you that perhaps it would be prudent to ask me, before putting my son on a horse?"

"Mary," he said and squeezed her shoulder. "I would never let anything happen to William. I was right there with him the entire time." He ruffled William's hair and the boy giggled. "You should've seen him, Mary. He's a natural. William might be ready to join the hunt at an even younger age than you."

"I'm sure he is." She held her father's gaze. "In the future I would like you to ask me before you take it upon yourself to teach him something major. Perhaps I had looked forward to it myself?"

"I'm sorry, Mary," Robert said, looking crestfallen. It had not dawned on him that he had stolen this moment from her until it was too late. "I guess I was just too excited to teach him myself."

"Oh Papa," she whispered. Mary stepped closer and wrapped her arm around his neck, kissing his cheek. "I do want you to spend time with William. You're his grandfather. The two of you should have special moments together and make memories that are uniquely yours. All I ask is that you tell me."

He nodded. William squirmed in Mary's arms, eager to get down.

"Can I tell Grammy?"

"Not until after you've had a bath, young man," Robert teased and tickled him. "Off you go. You and I both need baths."

William giggled and ran for the stairs. Robert followed with an amused chuckle. He turned to Mary.

"It is so wonderful to hear children laughing in the house again. Thank you for coming back, Mary."

Mary could only nod, too choked up to be able to respond.

"Have you noticed something off with Violet recently?" Edith asked her husband at breakfast one morning.

Anthony Strallan looked up from his paper and smiled at her. "As a matter of fact, now that you mention it, I believe I have."

"I thought it was just me," Edith said and sighed. She reached for her toast, only to put it down again. "You don't suppose that she is jealous of William?"

"What do you mean?" Anthony folded his paper, setting it aside. "I thought they were getting along splendidly."

"I thought so too, but every time I mention him, or ask if she would like to visit Downton, she says no."

Anthony sighed and leaned back in his chair. "I guess she might worry that William will take your father's attention away from her. All in all I'd say it's a good thing." Edith's head snapped up and she stared at him. "Oh, don't get me wrong, dearest. I am very pleased at how much your parents love our children. I just think that perhaps Violet and Martin are taking it a bit for granted. To have to share the love puts things in a new perspective."

"You're right, of course." Edith smiled and took his hand. "I'm going to try and talk to her again."

"Let me know if you want me to have a go."

Edith nodded and squeezed his hand before letting go.

"Violet, sweetheart," Edith said and smiled at her daughter.

"Yes, Mama?"

Edith held out her hand to the girl who got up from the floor where she had been playing with her dollhouse. Violet took her mother's hand and the two left the nursery, heading downstairs. Edith smiled at Violet as she led her inside the drawing room. The two sat down on the sofa and Violet looked seriously at her mother.

"Violet, I've noticed that you've been a bit quiet since our last visit with Grandmama and Grandpapa," Edith started and caressed Violet's blond locks. "You do know that they love you very much, don't you?" Violet nodded silently. "Are you upset about Cousin William staying there?"

Violet looked up at Edith and her lower lip started quivering. She hiccupped once before she started crying. Edith quickly pulled her onto her lap, holding her tightly, as she tried to sooth her. To her horror, the more she tried, the harder Violet seemed to be crying.

"Please, darling, tell me what's wrong?"

"I can't," the girl whispered. She looked at Edith, her blue eyes still filled with tears. "I'm bad. No one will ever love me again."

"Dear Violet, you're not bad," Edith said and smiled at her. "Why do you think you've been bad?"

"Because I have!" the girl cried out and started to cry again.

"Please tell me," Edith whispered.

The words poured out of her daughter and Edith's eyes widened in surprise that Violet even knew the word she had used in reference to her cousin.

"I know it was wrong, Mama," she cried.

"Hush now, darling. I'm sure it will be all right."

Violet sniffled and whimpered, still crying.

Mary paced in her room, uncertain what to do about the situation. Edith was coming over to visit with Violet and Martin. The two had not spoken since their last visit and Mary worried about the three children spending time together. With an exasperated sigh she straightened up and left to get William.

"Aunt Edith and cousin Violet and Martin are coming over this morning," she said to her son as they walked downstairs.

"Must I play with them?" William muttered.

"I'm sure they would like to."

"Well, I don't! I want to go to the stable with Poppy."

Mary squeezed his hand and they continued downstairs. As they crossed the grand hallway the doors opened to reveal Edith and her two children. Mary stopped, William standing silently next to her.

"Hello Edith," Mary said and gave her sister a sharp look.

"Mary, William. It's lovely to see you again."

"Hello Auntie Edith," William mumbled, avoiding looking at her, instead staring at his shoes.

"Edith…"

"Mary, please wait," she said and held up her hand to stop her sister. "I think Violet has something to say to William."

Mary's eyebrows inched up as she turned her eyes to the little girl. Violet Strallan was holding her mother's hand in a tight grip, chewing on her lip as she eyed her cousin. Had the situation not been so tense, Mary might have chuckled at the sight when Violet let go of her mother's hand with a determined look on her face.

"William," Violet whispered as she stopped right in front of him. "I'm sorry. I said something very bad. Will you forgive me?"

Mary's eyes darted to her son, then to Edith. Edith smiled and made a gesture for Mary to wait. The two women watched the interaction between the children with eager anticipation.

"You were really mean," William said stubbornly. "It's not nice to say things like that."

"I'm sorry," Violet said again, her voice breaking as she fought the tears.

"I have a Papa!"

"I'm sure he's very nice," Violet whispered. "Perhaps he's on a very important mission somewhere?"

William finally looked up at her. The two children sized each other up, and finally he nodded.

"He was."

Violet held out her little glove-clad hand to her cousin. "Will you forgive me?" she said in a small voice. "I'm really sorry."

William looked at the girl. Taking her hand he nodded. "I'm sorry too, for yelling at you."

Mary laughed and covered her mouth. Edith stepped closer, taking Mary's offered hand.

"You should be," Violet huffed. "A gentleman doesn't do that to a lady."

William giggled. "You weren't a lady. Ladies don't say things like that."

Her eyes widened. "Oh!" she gasped and her face turned pink.

"It's all right," he said quickly. "I forgive you."

Violet giggled and then to William's surprise she kissed his cheek. "Thank you."

William nodded and shuffled his feet, clearly a bit embarrassed.

"Can we go to the nursery and play now?"

Edith and Mary burst out laughing at Martin's plea. The little boy was obviously bored by the situation.

"Of course, darling," Mary said and smiled at her nephew.

"Thank you, Aunt Mary."

Mary's hand flew to her chest and she let out a tiny gasp. It was the first time she had been called aunt and it overwhelmed her a little.

Edith put her son down and pushed him towards the stairs. "You go ahead, lead the way."

Martin laughed and ran for the stairs. Violet and William quickly followed. Mary fell into step next to Edith as they slowly walked upstairs.

"I only found out yesterday," Edith said softly. "I am so sorry, Mary. Apparently Violet overheard one of the servants talking, using that word."

"Well clearly she has some Strallan sense of honor in her," Mary said with a teasing smile. "She's much more polite than you ever were."

Edith laughed and nodded. "We were quite wretched towards each other as children, weren't we?"

Mary nodded. "I don't want that for William, or your children for that matter."

"I agree."

"I've told him who his father is," Mary said and stopped in the hallway. The children's voices filtered through the open door to the nursery further down the hall.

"How did he take it? What about Matthew?"

Mary laughed. "What?"

Edith rolled her eyes. "How could it not be Matthew? William is a Crawley trough and through, Mary. He might look like you, but when you see his eyes, it's like looking at a miniature version of Matthew."

"I see," Mary said and looked away. "Well, you are correct of course." She turned her eyes back at Edith. "We're still working it through."

"He loves you, Mary," Edith said very softly, and touched her sister's arm.

"I know," Mary said with a heavy sigh. "But sometimes that's not enough. Whatever happens between the two of us, we are in agreement that we must consider William's happiness first."

"You will find a way," Edith said with an assertive nod. "You've always been so strong, Mary. If anyone can make it work, you can."

"Oh Edith," Mary whispered.

The two sisters embraced, silently holding each other, glad for the other's support and friendship.

To Be Continued…