Further Down the Line Chapter 12

"I am not wearing that one," Mary insisted as Matthew held out one of the new dresses she had purchased the day before when Matthew to convince her to purchase several dresses that did not hide her pregnancy.

"Why not? It is very becoming."

"Because I do not want to announce my pregnancy by simply stepping off a train," she said as she grabbed a loose dress that she had brought with her. "Besides, I only agreed to wear those new dresses at home. Not out in public."

"I spoke with mother this morning and invited her to the Abbey for dinner tonight," he informed her. They had agreed last night that they would make the announcement at dinner tonight.

"I called mama who is inviting Granny over as well. I do hope they will all be happy."

"Of course they will all be happy."

"I worry about how Tom will take it," she admitted. "He seems to finally be recovering a bit but I fear this could push him back."

"Perhaps we should speak with him privately before dinner?" Matthew suggested.

"I think we should. I have an appointment when Dr. Clarkson this afternoon."

"Is something the matter?" he asked, the concern obvious in his voice.

"Nothing at all. He wanted me to come in as soon as I felt the baby move, and it has been moving all weekend."

"Of course. I will come with you."

"You really don't have to."

"I know I don't have to, but you need to remember that I want to. Now hurry up or we will miss the train and your appointment."

When the pair went directly from the train station in Ripon to Dr. Clarkson's office where they were ushered right in.

"Lady Mary, I trust you are feeling well," Dr. Clarkson said as he entered the room.

"Very well," she said with a smile.

"Good, good. Well what can I do for you?"

"I felt the baby move on Friday and everyday since."

"Wonderful. Most women feel the baby move any time between 16 and 24 weeks so we still won't be able to pin point an exact time frame for your due date, but I would like to examine your stomach to get a better estimate. Mr. Crawley, you are welcome to step out."

"I would like to stay unless you want me to go," he said to Mary.

"I don't mind if you want to stay."

"Very well. It won't be invasive at all. Let's just take your measurements and weight and compare them to your last few visits." Mary allowed the doctor to do his work.

"Well, Lady Mary, I think you are coming along nicely. I would venture to guess that you are somewhere around sixteen to eighteen weeks."

"When will I be able to feel the baby move?" Matthew asked.

"Not for several more weeks. Perhaps four to six weeks. Now please forgive me, but I need to address an unpleasant subject," Dr. Clarkson said. Mary, knowing what that subject was, reached instinctively for her husband's hand. "Given what happened to your sister, we need to watch you closely for signs of pre-eclampsia. This will involve weekly checks of your blood pressure and urine. I apologize for the indelicacy, but I will need a sample to test," he said as she handed her a small jar. Shortly later, the tests were completed and Clarkson was pleased to inform the couple that at this point, there were no signs of pre-eclampsia.

"Thank God," Matthew said, lifting he hand to his lips.

"But I will still need you to come in for a check on a weekly basis."

As soon as they arrived back at the Mary, Matthew led Mary to their bedroom. Before the door was fully closed he pulled her into his arms and murmured " thank god" over and over. She took his face between her hands and kissed him passionately.

"I need you Mary," he whispered huskily in her ear as he began walking backwards blinding toward the bed and pulling her with him. When his knees hit the bed, he flopped onto it taking her with him causing her to sprawl ungracefully on top of him.

An hour later, Mary was just about finished re-arranging her hair while Matthew was still lounging in bed. "You had best hurry and dress if you want to speak with Tom before dinner," Mary chided.

"How is it you can get out of bed so quickly afterward?" he complained, wanting nothing more than to remain abed, but knowing she was right. Reluctantly, he got out of bed and re-dressed himself.

"You hair is still a bit out of place darling," Mary said.

"I wonder who is to blame for that," he teased.

"Need I remind you whose idea this afternoon escapade was?" Mary replied with a raised eyebrow as she smoothed his hair back into place. "There, now you are presentable again. Now come along, we don't have much time before we need to prepare for dinner," she said as she grabbed the present she had purchased for the baby.

Tom was always to be found there before dressing for dinner as it was after the baby's name and she was usually wide awake and happy that time of day. When they opened the door, Tom was sitting in the window seat holding little Sybil.

"Don't get up," Mary said as he moved to stand. Matthew pulled a chair over next to Tom and gestured for Mary to sit. "We brought a gift for the baby."

"That was't necessary," Tom said.

"Nonsense. She is my niece and my Goddaughter so it is my perogative to spoil her. You must learn to accept that," Mary said with a smile.

"Very well. You hold the baby, and I will open the present," he suggested, gently passing the baby into Mary's waiting arms. He opened the package to reveal a beautiful green dress.

"It is lovely. Thank you."

"I thought green for Ireland - she is Irish after all ," she told him.

"Thank you, it was very thoughtful and she will look beautiful in it."

"Tom, we wanted to tell you something before we tell the rest of the family," Mary said gently. "You see, Matthew and I are going to have a baby." She risked a glance at his face and it showed none of the surprise she expected.

"I know," he said softly.

"How?"

"That night you were sick and left the dinner table, it reminded me of when Sybil did the same thing so I asked her that night and she told me. I know it was supposed to be a secret, but she always said that sharing secrets in bed didn't count." There was a sadness in his eyes when he spoke of Sybil, but sharing good memories made him feel closer to her and was becoming a little easier with each passing day.

"No, I don't think they do count," Mary said, reaching out to squeeze his shoulder.

"I am happy for you and she was too. And it will be good for little Sybil to have a cousin."

"She will be the older one, so she'll have to teach him the ropes," Mary said with smile.

"Her, she will have to teach her the ropes," Matthew corrected.

"Sybil thought we were having a girl. I think there might be something to a mother's instinct," Tom said.

"Don't encourage her. Mary is already too sure of herself by half," Matthew said.

Soon the dressing gong rang and Mary and Matthew returned to their room to prepare for dinner.

"Wear this one," Matthew said, holding up one of her new dresses.

"If I wear that one, there will be no need to make an announcement at all."

"You did promise to wear them around the house. Besides, you know how much I like seeing you in these."

"Oh very well," she said, rolling her eyes and taking the dress as Anna walked in and Matthew retreated to his dressing room.

"What a lovely new dress my lady," Anna said as she held it up to examine it.

"I have a gift for you Anna, but part of it must be our secret," Mary said as she handed a wrapped box to her, thinking that no one in the family would approve of one of the gifts the box contained.

"A gift? But why?"

"Because I wished to. I wanted to get you something nice for when Bates is released. Heaven knows you deserve it."

"Oh my lady, it is beautiful," Anna said holding up the new dress Mary had gotten her. Anna gasped and blushed as she held up the lovely nightgown in the bottom of the box.

"Remember, that last part is our secret," Mary said with a smile.

"Of course and thank you. It was very kind," Anna said, hoping that she would have a private opportunity to wear the gift for her husband.

"And don't worry about when you can wear it. I know how important it is to have private time with your husband. I will speak to Papa and Matthew and finding a cottage for you and Bates. It might not happen right when he is released, but I promise that it won't be long."

"Oh my lady, you don't know how much that means."

Soon Anna had Mary dressed and ready for the evening. "I suppose the secret is out in this gown," Mary said, examining her figure in the mirror.

"Shall I get a looser dress?" Anna offered.

"No, my husband has a strange since of fashion and in a moment of weakness, I promised to indulge him."

"There is nothing strange about it. You are beautiful like this," Matthew said from the doorway. "Everyone is in the drawing room. Shall we?" he said, offering her his arm. She took a deep breath to prepare herself and then took his arm.

When they walked into the drawing room, all conversation stopped as the occupants all stared at Mary.

"Mary and I have an announcement to make," Matthew said after clearing his throat.

"My dear, I think the thing has announced itself," Violet said, gesturing to Mary's stomach.

"Mary, why haven't you said anything? You must be several months along," Cora said, standing to embrace her daughter.

"Four months actually, maybe a little more," Mary offered.

"Well done," Lord Grantham said, patting Matthew on the back. "Carson, the best champagne we have in stock please."

"Of course, and may I offer the most sincere congratulations from all the staff."

A week later, Matthew was reading his newspaper in the library when Carson entered. "Sir, I wondered if I might have a word with you in private?"

"Of course Carson. What can I do for you?" Matthew replied.

"Sir, I have pondered this all morning. When sorting the post this morning, this was included," he said, showing Matthew an oversized envelope. "It is for Lady Mary."

"Then why are you discussing it with me? I would never censor her mail."

"It is from Sir Richard. I know they did not part on good terms and did not wish to allow anything that villain might say to upset her, especially at this time."

"You were right to bring it to me. Thank you Carson," Matthew said, taking the envelope. Once Carson left, Matthew paced the room trying to decide what to do with the envelope he was holding. Should he open it and invade Mary's privacy? But if he did, he could prepare her for what is inside and soften any threats it might contain. On the other hand, he remembered how angry he was when Mary opened Mr. Swire's letter even with the best of intentions. He sat and stared at the envelope wondering what to do and silently cursing Sir Richard for coming back into their lives.

TBC