Robert and Tom sat at the breakfast table the next morning. Each held a newspaper, yet neither was reading.

It was Tom who decided to break the silence.

"Mary and I have decided to speak to Cora," he said from behind his paper.

Robert furrowed his brow and emphatically announced, "You will do no such thing,"

Shocked at such a statement, Tom threw his paper beside him and stared at his father-in-law.

"Do you want to know what I think the two of you should do?" Robert asked, also retreating from behind his armour.

Tom nodded, wondering what it could be.

"Go to London and get married, today, tomorrow, whenever. Just do it."

Robert looked into the younger man's eyes. He had seen him change from the confident chauffeur who strode into the library stating that he enjoyed books on socialism, to the journalist who married and mourned his Sybil, and now he was the man who kept his estate afloat and loved his Mary. Robert loved him as a son, respected him in a way that he could not any other man. None of Mary's suitors had met the mark. Each would have their own demands on her, either taking her away from her home or relying on her every hour of every day. Mary needed an independent soul, and she had found that in Tom. The sooner they married, the better. They deserved their happiness, he only wished Cora would see that.

Tom cleared his throat. "I take it we have your permission then?" He asked.

Lord Grantham smiled, nodding. "You don't need it, you've proven that. But yes, you have my permission."

Rising from his seat excitedly Tom said, "I suppose I'll go and propose then," He walked to the door, grasped the handle and stopped. "Robert," he said, "Mary and I both value your opinion. Thank you for giving me your permission, and for being so accepting."

Laughing, Robert rose too and jerked his head. "Come on," he whispered, "let's find her a ring from the vault. You can't propose without a diamond."

▫️

Finding the perfect ring had taken longer than anticipated. Tom had never know that the Crawley's possessed such jewels. After an hour they had narrowed it down to three. The rings lay before him, each in their velvet box. The first was very similar to Mary's engagement ring from Matthew. The diamond was small and delicate and lay in a silver band. However, Matthew had bought his ring new. Robert insisted that Tom not do the same, citing "rotten luck" amongst his reasons.

The second ring was the one that Tom had immediately been drawn to when Robert opened the large box. The large, round, sparkling ruby set amongst small diamonds on a delicate platinum bands entranced him. It reminded him of Mary.

The choice lay between the ruby and an square emerald on a gold band. Tom asked Robert for his opinion.

"I suppose if you cannot choose you should look to the meaning behind the stone." Robert shrugged.

Rattling his brain, Tom remembered that the ruby signified passion and love. The emerald, rebirth. While the meaning behind the emerald was quite fitting, Tom could not imagine the ring on Mary's finger. It was too masculine for her small hand.

The ruby, while rather large, befit Mary. Besides, Tom loved her in red. He held up the ruby ring and nodded.

"This one," he told Robert.

"Good, I was hoping you'd choose that one. She's loved it since she was a girl."

▫️

Mary sat in the living room that she and Matthew had stolen for their own use. She remembered how excited they had been choosing the wallpaper and fabric for the chairs and curtains. It was rather a waste really, they had rarely used it. She had not been in the room since his death, as Tom had not been in Sybil's room since hers. The family thought that it would have been hard for her to sleep in the room she had shared with her first husband, but it hadn't. On the contrary, it had been a comfort. But that room had been furnished and decorated for them, they had no say. This living room had been entirely theirs and Mary could feel his presence better here. In the chairs she saw his nervous face as he asked whether she liked the fabric he had chosen. In the curtains she saw his exasperated sigh as he read the cost of them on a receipt and heard his "Really Mary? On curtains?"

On the walls she felt his arms around her as he snuck up behind her as she chose the wallpaper.

This was Matthew's room. It was "Mary and Matthew's room" and when she shut the door they remained inside.

She did not know why she had chosen to go there today. Perhaps she missed Matthew, or Tom. She had been unable to find him all day. Still, it was nice to revisit the past sometimes, especially when one had been recently been thinking of the future.

▫️

Tom knocked on the door of the room that Mary was in. Anna had told him where she was.

"Mary," he called, standing in the doorway, but not walking into the room. "Do you want to go for a walk?"

She looked up from the spot of the floor that she had been stating at for the last few minutes. His comforting brown eyes met her questioning ones and she rose slowly.

"Do you even have to ask?" She smiled and walked over to him, taking his hand.

"Anna gave me your coat and hat," he smiled and helping her into the red coat he had requested.

"Ah, the red one. Did you know it's my favourite colour?" Mary asked slipping her arm into one of the sleeves and raising an eyebrow.

"I had guessed," he smirked behind her, patting the ring in his pocket.

She turned and placed her hat on her short hair. He patted it down playfully and kissed her cheek.

"Shall we, m'lady?" He offered his arm and she took it, smiling.

"Lead the way Branson,"

▫️

A.N: You can find a picture of the ring on my Twitter- Elegance Personified