Chapter 11 – Bitter and sweet
When Matthew and Mary entered the dining room, everyone was already settled. Matthew sat between Lady Cora and Lady Edith, while Mary placed herself by her grandmother and Cousin Isobel. "Thank heaven, "said the elderly Countess light-heartedly, "We were on the verge of sending out a search party." She smiled at Mary and whispered to her, "Your betrothal to Matthew becomes you, my dear." Mary unfolded her napkin and threw a sparkling glance towards her granny. "We have good news," Mary told her. "I hope it pleases you."
The Dowager Countess directed her attention to Matthew across the table. "News again?" she uttered, "Cousin Matthew, your propensity for drama astounds me. You have chosen the wrong profession."
The younger Mr. Crawley obliged her. "The good news is that Mary and I have hastened our wedding plans. We will marry in four weeks' time." He looked to Mary and met her gaze. Her eyes were aglow.
Lady Cora gasped. "You cannot be serious. Mary, that is impossible!"
Mary smiled at Matthew. She was the very pith of calm and self-assuredness. "Ma-ma, at one time, I may have agreed with you. But Matthew has convinced me. We will not be swayed." She did not move her eyes from Matthew's gaze. She sensed a lovely ache in her depths.
"I say this is wonderful news," said Lord Grantham.
"Yes, it is wonderful news," Cousin Isobel echoed. "And many hands make light work. It can be readied in four weeks easily." She looked to Lady Grantham for agreement.
"I suppose," Cora said with a high degree of disfavour in her tone. "Why, Mary? June is the perfect month for a wedding. We might have hosted the reception in the garden." Her disappointment was tangible.
"Ma-ma, be grateful that we are not run off to marry in Dublin," Mary said, laughing. "It doesn't bear further discussion. Our decision is made."
"Yes, it is," Matthew concurred. He was happy to be seated directly across from Mary if he could not be beside her. He watched her as she chatted easily with his mother and her grandmother. She seemed to be the great facilitator between the two, a role that was not easily achieved. He marvelled at the length of her neck, and the willowy elegance of her arms. The dinner candlelight played against her hair, her eyes and the lustre of her skin. He wanted to touch her, to let his hands run along her throat, her shoulders, to feel the small curve of her back against his fingertips. He thought of their last evening together. Totally unclothed, her body was lush with pleasures and her surrender to him was transcendent. A hot swell of desire filled his core. As if on cue, Mary looked at him and smiled. He was powerless. He knew then he would do whatever necessary to have her tonight.
"Don't you agree, Matthew?" Lady Edith's voice broke into his reverie.
He was reluctant to disembark from his train of thought but he answered her, "I am sorry, Cousin Edith. What were you saying?"
"I was just saying to Ma-ma how a church wedding would have so much more meaning than one here at the Abbey."
"Mary and I haven't discussed it." He sipped from his wineglass.
Edith continued. "You do recall them, Matthew? You must agree. We really do have the loveliest chapels in the county." She added quietly, "Although perhaps in Mary's particular case, it would not be quite appropriate to be married in a church setting." She sipped her wine.
"I beg your pardon?" Matthew turned to her.
"Edith!" her mother whispered to her harshly. "What are you saying?"
"I only meant that Mary prefers to do things in such grand fashion. A wedding in small country chapel may not suit her at all." Lady Edith allowed herself the faint hint of a smile.
Matthew looked quickly to Mary to see if she had overheard their exchange. He was content to see that she was still animating the conversation between the two matriarchs. "I know very well your meaning, Cousin," Matthew told Edith. "Such incivility doesn't suit you." He took another sip from his glass. He set himself to cutting his meat on the plate before him. "I know that you and Mary have a bitter relationship. I can't say that I understand it."
"It's not your business, Matthew," Edith replied coldly. "It is a wound that is old and deep."
"But it is my business, Cousin Edith. Anything that affects her welfare is my business." He looked at her. "You and I are friends. But I cannot suffer any disrespect towards her."
Mary looked at Edith and Matthew in conversation. Matthew looked displeased. She wondered what had transpired. He was so far away and this dinner service was interminable. She stared at him from across the wide expanse of the table. She hated this distance between them. She watched him as he brought a piece of steak to his mouth. She remembered a time not so long ago when she had to stop herself staring at him, from even looking in his general direction. Now she was able to eye him as much as she pleased without guilt or censure. And he was so very pleasing to look at. His blue eyes were her primary weakness. Often when he stared at her, she felt naked, laid bare and she could see his appetite for her. She could not deny him anything when he looked at her like that.
Right then, it came to her that she must hatch a plan before the end of the evening. There had to be some foolproof method of getting him to and from her room without discovery. Anna knew what it was to crave after a lover. Surely she would help her.
"The ring looks lovely on you, my dear," Isobel Crawley broke into her thoughts. "I see that it fits perfectly."
"Cousin Isobel, it is truly a perfect fit, a perfect ring." Mary answered and looked at it. "I can't tell you how much it pleases me to know its origin. Will you tell me more about it?" Mary asked her.
The Dowager Countess peered from Mary's left. "My, my, that is lovely. A present from Matthew?" she queried.
Mary answered, "Yes, but it is much more than that. It has been passed to me from Cousin Isobel." She smiled at her.
"My late husband gave it to me many years ago upon our promise to marry," Isobel explained. "We were young and very much in love, much like you and Matthew. Luckily, we had fewer obstacles."
"I think we can safely say that no other couple has weathered the intensity of storms that you have, Mary, my dear," ventured the Dowager Countess.
Isobel continued, "I met Edward Crawley in London. He was a still an intern and I was already working as a nurse at a small branch hospital." Isobel looked down at her wedding ring. "He cut quite a handsome figure. I fell for him instantly. I see so much of him in Matthew." She looked at Mary and continued, "I don't think that Edward ever dreamed that Matthew would be next in line to the Earl of Grantham."
"Or that he would be fiancé to his daughter, I imagine," added the Dowager Countess blithely.
"Grandma-ma, make no mistake," Mary reproached her. "It is I who has won the prize."
"I hardly think that Matthew sees it that way, Mary," Isobel countered.
"Well, then, we're perfect for each other," Mary replied, smiling coyly.
Following the lead of Lady Grantham, the three ladies rose and headed into the drawing room. Mary fell back and drew the attention of Carson with a wave of her hand. "Carson, would you send for Anna for me, please? I shall wait for her in the hallway."
"Right away, m'lady."
Mary stood outside of the drawing room waiting for Anna to appear. Anna soon emerged from the servants' passageway. "M'lady, you sent for me?"
"Yes, Anna. I have a favour to ask of you," started Mary.
"A favour?" Anna was curious. This was not a request in the ordinary course of business between a mistress and her servant.
"I know that's rather mysterious." Mary hesitated. "I hope you don't think that I'm taking advantage."
Anna smiled. "As long as it not illegal, m'lady, I am fairly certain that I can be of some assistance."
"Illegal, no," Mary smiled back. "Maybe not quite within the straight and narrow course, I'm afraid."
Anna did not reply. Lady Mary was without her usual coolness and it was unsettling.
"The thing is, Anna, I would like to see Mr. Crawley tonight privately...in my room. It is after all the only venue that affords us any privacy." In low tones, she added, "Before you say anything, I am well aware that my parents would not approve."
"M'lady, I appreciate your confidence, I do. But are you quite sure that this is what you want?" asked Anna. Her eyes looked directly into Mary's.
At that moment, Lady Grantham exited the drawing room. "Mary, we're waiting for you, dear. I thought we might get started on the guest list this evening, before the men join us."
"In a moment, Ma-ma," Mary answered her. She turned again to her maid. "I am sure, Anna. Will you help?"
"What can I do?" asked Anna. Very quickly, Mary gave Anna her instructions. Anna smiled and replied, "That is easy enough." Mary grabbed Anna's hand in hers. "Thank you, Anna. I will not forget this." She hurried to join the others in the drawing room.
