AN: Consider yourselves lucky- here comes a second update for the day! I never though I could do it! Annnd it's pretty long! (for me, at least!)
Earlier that morning, Mary had Anna help her into her prettiest day dress before rushing down to breakfast. To her dismay, she was forced to sit next to Edith, as both she and Sybil were up already along with Robert. Perhaps I shouldn't have had Anna take the time to do my hair so elegantly… Coughing lightly, she turned to her father.
"Papa, isn't Cousin Matthew supposed to be arriving today?" she asked, nibbling on some toast.
"Already?" Edith was bored at the prospect of a suitor focused solely on Mary.
"How thrilling!" Sybil exclaimed, masking Edith's droning.
Robert was engrossed in his newspaper and didn't lift up his eyes to say, "Oh, he's already here."
Mary choked on her toast. "What!"
"Yes, I just got a telephone from the train station. I told him to settle down in Crawley House and we'd have him over for dinner. His mother didn't come." Robert said.
"Why, you ought to have said." Mary attempted a laugh. "It's not proper to leave our guest waiting. I'll just go down and welcome him, and invite him over officially." She cast a significant look at her father.
"I'm afraid I didn't think of that." He frowned. "You'd better hurry on over right now."
Mary took the opportunity to head towards the door, but Sybil called after her, giving her pause.
"Do tell us if he's handsome!" she giggled, eyes sparkling.
Edith groaned, rolling her eyes, as Mary thought- oh, he most certainly is. But she simply said, "Of course, darling. We can hope so." She caught her father's quietly pitying gaze then, and she turned quickly to go. Would you pity me enough to save me from marrying him, if I didn't like him? Her lip curled, and she ran towards the stables.
Mary dismounted before Crawley House and tied her horse up with shaking hands. Matthew is there, just inside. What shall I say? What will he do? Taking a deep breath, she strode towards the house.
Molesley opened the door, clearly startled to see her. He nearly lost his grip on the tea tray he was clutching. "Lady Mary!"
"Go get another cup; I'm taking tea with Mr. Crawley." She said steadily, catching her breath. He's right there, though that door…
"Of course, my lady." Molesley dashed quickly to the kitchen, and Mary surveyed her windswept appearance in the hall mirror, desperately attempting to fix her hair.
Molesley came back seconds later with the extra cup. "I'll tell Mr. Crawley that you've arrived before I return to fetch you, my lady. He wasn't expecting a visitor."
"Thank you." Mary took a deep breath and bit her lip, watching Molesley walk to the parlor and open its door- and there she saw him, the side of his face, eyebrows raised, startled at Molesley's appearance- and Mary could not stop herself any longer. She sped towards him, bursting through the door in the middle of poor Molesley's sentence, his words turning to pesky buzzing in her ears.
Her eyes met Matthew's and her heart stopped- the whole world stopped. There was only him. Nothing filled her mind but memories of the simple sensation of Matthew. She heard her voice say vaguely "Thank you, Molesley. That will be all.", but her eyes never left Matthew's face. Molesley set the tray on a side table and backed out, shutting the door with a click.
As soon as it closed, they fell automatically into each other's arms, all previous fears forgotten. Mary's fingers danced across Matthews back as his hands tangled in her hair, tipping her hat off her head, letting it thud on the floor. Mary pulled her lips from his to nuzzle into his neck, breathing in the scent she had so sorely missed. He's here. I'm here. We're together. Together. Her thoughts chased around in elated circles, and she pulled back to give him a long, lingering kiss. A drop of water landed on her cheek before she could deepen it, and she looked up to see Matthew's tearful face.
"My darling, I thought I would never see you again." His voice shook, and his cheeks stretched into a beaming smile. She reached up, cupping his face in her still-gloved hands.
"Nothing shall ever come between us again, no matter what happens next. Not after what we're already been though." She breathed, trembling. "I refuse to be without you."
And, tears mingling, they kissed again; hope mounting in their shared heart.