XX
"I didn't realize my home was available to let for all occasions." Violet struck the floor repeatedly with her blackthorn cane. "Will the ladies sewing circle be next? Or perhaps the Girl Guides?"
Rosamund looked up from her cup of tea nonplussed. She clucked, "We must all do our bit."
Violet was having none of her daughter's patriotic fervor. "Really dear? Since when? I don't remember you taking in any Belgian refugees when Millicent asked it of you in 1914."
Her daughter sniffed. "That was different. I couldn't have lice ridden farmers in my front room could I? Lord Hepworth's horse charity should go down well in the country. He says they are being treated most ill by the army."
"And did he get the government's charity adviser Sir Edward's approval or did he create this fund himself?"
"Mama what are you insinuating?"
He's a fortune hunter, my dear. A pleasant one, I admit, but a fortune hunter." Violet was blunt. "If he's involved in this so-called charity you can bet he's running the racket for himself. He's just as bad as these war profiteers."
"I like his company." Rosamund declared. "I can handle him."
Violet looked skeptical. "Who else will be in attendance so I can warn them not to donate any money or time to this venture."
"The whole family will be coming. A few London friends. Some county people." She thrummed her fingers on the sofa sidearm, looking triumphant. "I'm hoping Tony will come as I hear from his mother he's on leave."
Violet suddenly understood. "You want to change Mary's mind, don't you? Turn her against young Matthew."
"Why are you in his corner? He's a nobody."
"He's the heir obviously. But he also declared that if the entail had gone in Mary's favour he would not have put up a fight. I rather liked his loyalty. And it's clear they're in love."
"Love has nothing to do with it. We'll find him a suitable wife. Someone who will be grateful for the status elevation while not being overly greedy. Haven't you said yourself couples can be perfectly happy in a marriage even if they don't speak to each other for years?"
"And Mary?" Violet inquired dryly. "What plans do you have in store for her? I assume this has something to do with inviting Lord Gillingham?"
Rosamund's eyes glinted with devious delight. "I intend to make a match there. She's known him since childhood. He's a ranked peer from a long standing noble family. Well connected. Perfect."
"Isn't their house a hospital now?"
Rosamund shrugged. "So is Downton. After the war it'll return to their hands."
"So many have not. Ruined families are all around us. I fear for the future."
"Which is why we need to secure Mary's. If all goes down the drain, Matthew can take the blame and Mary will be safe."
"You married beneath you."
"Marmaduke was a rough diamond to be sure." Rosamund sipped her tea, refusing to take her mother's bait. "But he was also rich. And when he died he left me well put by."
"Don't let Lord Hepworth hear too much about that," Violet had to have the last word. "I'm quite sure he'd know how to relieve you of that burden of wealth."
XX
Mary looked around the room. Matthew said he'd be there by no later than 9pm. He would take the train from York right after the staff meeting he told her over the telephone from regimental headquarters earlier that day.
"This will be your last chance to escape." Rosamund sidled up beside Mary.
Mary had just about enough of her interfering. "Why should I want to?" The wedding was the following Friday and she could hardly wait.
"Think Mary…"
"I am. I love Matthew." Mary responded evenly, but then slyly added, "And didn't I tell you Aunt Rosamund? He's about to become a wealthy man."
"What?"
She knew that would get her aunt's attention.
"He's told me that Reggie Swire has left him his entire fortune barring the finding of one lone man in India…a Mr. Pumpkin or something…"
"Well well…"
"Does that change anything? Will you stop having Lord Gillingham follow me around the entire party now? Please call off your dog. I'm not interested."
Just as she spoke the words another voice answered. "I hope I'm not included in that."
Mary turned to see Charles Blake looking resplendent in his naval mess kit. "Charles," Mary exclaimed pleasantly. "How lovely. I wasn't expecting you tonight as well." She glared in her aunt's direction. Rosamund tutted and murmured as she walked away to leave them together, "you'll see I'm right. Always good have a spare beau around, especially if Matthew's money turns into a puff of smoke."
Mary refused to be rattled and returned to talk civilly to Blake. Rosamund's interfering had nothing to do with him.
"I was invited by Tony." Charles explained. "We both had some time off and tomorrow we head for London."
"I see. I didn't know the two of you know each other."
"We serve together on the Iron Duke."
At that very moment Tony walked over. He too was in the dark navy dress uniform. "Your aunt was insistent we come to show the flag so to speak in order to encourage donations." Gillingham laughed. "But I didn't mind. I wanted to come to see you."
He moved closer to Mary.
She edged away.
"Keep that dance up and you'll both be out the front door. I think the lady's trying to tell you something old man." Charles smirked.
Tony glowered. "How about I get you something to drink." Tony deliberately ignored Blake and spoke directly into Mary's eyes and moved to take her elbow to guide her over to the sideboard.
Mary, however, twisted away as someone's entrance caught her eye. "Excuse me gentleman," She dismissed their attentions with a flick of her hand and, with a deliberate swish of her gown, left them in her wake.
Matthew had arrived. He was wearing his service uniform as he had left immediately after the regimental staff meeting. He felt a bit underdressed and hoped Mary wouldn't mind. She didn't seem to care as he watched her cross the room. Saw how she had handled Tony Gillingham and Charles Blake.
Her suitors…erm…he smugly corrected himself… former suitors. The announcement had been in all the London papers but most probably these men had not seen any of them as they were serving on the North Atlantic.
Mary only had eyes for him. Deliberately slowing her pace so he could watch, knowing how much he enjoyed it. Their own private way of both easing and enlivening the tension they felt before the wedding.
Mary approached.
"Will I have to brush up on my powers of fascination?" He leaned into her.
Mary's body tingled at his intimate tone. She couldn't resist and slid three fingers across his tunic. She winked coyly, "absolutely. But preferably after Friday."
Matthew brushed his lips against her cheek. He saw her aunt's disparaging glance from across the room. "I don't think everyone approves of our marriage."
"Take no notice," Mary walked in the opposite direction from her aunt, "she's had her plans upended."
They walked towards a quiet window seat. "What's the news on Mr. Pumpkin?"
Matthew chuckled. "Pulbrook." He sat down beside her. "It's all still rather complicated. The lawyer's been unable to get any information on his whereabouts. He's not been heard from for months."
"So what does that mean for you?" Mary's curiosity apparent in her quick response.
Matthew didn't really want to talk about it. "Not now. Let's just sit and you go over all the relations that are coming for the wedding. I'm getting them all scrambled in my head."
Mary backed off, understanding his unwillingness to speak. Memories of Lavinia still pained him. She wished she could do or say something to assuage his guilt. He had gotten over most of it, but some lingered.
"Great aunt Beryl will most probably fall asleep during the ceremony and snore," she joked instead. "She's a dear but she's also 90 years old."
Matthew smiled and relaxed. "I'll listen out for her then. Might do wonders for my nerves."
"It's traditional for grooms to be nervous." Mary's eyes darted around the room. Rosamund, as hostess, circulated among the guests. She was currently occupied by flirting with Lord Hepworth.
She glanced over to Matthew. "We've been tricked you know."
His eyebrows narrowed. "Really? How? Isn't this yet another fashionable charity event? I'm sure they do much good but they're also the only ways people can gather socially without it looking like they're being unpatriotic."
"Well I don't believe anything this Lord Hepworth says. Granny is convinced he's a charlatan who's only out to commit some fraud in the name of a good cause."
Matthew's finger slowly moved across his lips as he considered what Mary said. "It's more common than you might know."
"Really?" She was completely distracted by his mouth.
"You hear things at all the parties and gatherings I attend as ADC. Most I cannot divulge but that's why the government had to create an oversight board. Some private charities are not openly fraudulent and truly want to help specific causes like war orphans or like St. Dunstan's those injured by the war. But Lord Hepworth's so-called Horse Relief Fund is not the only shady operation of this sort."
Mary snorted. "Might serve Aunt Rosamund right to get her nose boxed after her shenanigans this evening."
"What now?" Matthew leaned in closer.
Mary arched an eyebrow. "She's been trying to maneuver me into Lord Gillingham's arms all night."
"Can't have that…" Matthew whispered into her ear. He was so close, "Can we?"
"No…" Mary followed his fingers as they trailed seductively down the arm of her sleeve. "We certainly cannot…"
They turned hungry eyes towards each other.
After a few minutes where time seemed to stop and they were the only two people on earth, Mary looked over and saw Rosamund in conversation with Tony and Charles.
The moment struck her as the perfect time to end this once and for all.
She guided Matthew over.
Rosamund got in the first volley, "Mary why don't you ask Tony about his adventure at Jutland…"
Mary blatantly ignored her. "Lt. Commanders Foyle and Blake. I'm not sure you have been formally introduced…" She deliberately enfolded her arm around Matthew's, "to my fiancé Captain Matthew Crawley."
Rosamund's face pinched at being outmaneuvered by her niece. Tony's mouth fell open in bewilderment, but Charles recovered easily. "How do you do. I believe we were both at Downton for Lady Sybil's Christmas fete."
Matthew shook Blake's hand even as he gave Mary a side-eyed glance. He knew he should feel annoyed at being treated like a prize pig at market, but he knew it was Mary's way of dealing with her aunt's interferences. She was positively glowing with delight. "Very nice to meet you," he answered Blake. Since Tony was still in apparent shock, Matthew ignored him.
Mary triumphed at her aunt's displeasure.
Rosamund tried to recover by turning towards the startled Lord Gillingham, "What my niece means is…."
Mary narrowed her eyes and directed a cold gaze at Rosamund. "Is there room for misinterpretation?" she dripped with sarcasm, keeping her arm entwined in Matthew's who gazed adoringly at his ever so clever fiancée.
Mary guided the two men towards a table where punch was being served, recounting a story about how Edith had misplaced a prized first edition Dickens only to find it in a potted plant stand with no memory as to how or why she left it there. The three left Rosamund and Tony in their wake, red faced and speechless.
XX
The party was winding down and eventually they were released to go back to Downton. It had started to rain and the family gathered quickly in the Rolls Royce. Hodgkins drove them back home.
Cora and Robert made a move to retire upstairs.
Her mother turned, looking concerned. Mary said, "It's all right Mama. You can leave us unchaperoned. After Friday all things are permitted."
"Don't embarrass me," Cora blushed but left the two alone. "Good night Matthew."
Matthew walked around the salon's front hall, musing "how many moments of Crawley history has this room seen?"
"And many more to come."
He moved towards her after glancing up the stairs to make sure they were alone. "Come and kiss me."
Mary's face was cast downward but she looked up at him. "Shall I order the car again?"
Matthew, amused at her ignoring his rakish request, answered "I don't think I can make the poor man go out again. I'll walk back to Crawley House."
"It might start raining again."
"Then I'll get wet." He held his hand in front of him for her to take.
Mary started to take a couple steps towards him, then stopped. She folded her hands in front of her.
"So, if they can't find Mr. Pillbox…"
Matthew, resigned to never getting that kiss, put his hand down. "Pulbrook. And they will find him."
But if they don't…"
"Why does it matter so much?" Matthew snapped. "I don't understand why you're so interested. Is it because I have money all of a sudden?"
Mary tensed at Matthew's reproach. "It's just so maddening not knowing."
Matthew paced around the salon. "I will know soon enough. Then I…" He looked at Mary. "Or we will decide what to do."
He made another attempt to take her hand. "I can't keep it. I know that much."
Matthew's doleful eyes met hers. "Please understand."
"I'm trying. But it was given to you in good faith. And could help set you up in life…"
"Because I'm incapable otherwise? You don't want to follow me where I have to live on my wits? Maybe you should have taken Rosamund up on Lord Gillingham's offer."
Mary put a hand to her brow. "Don't say that. I choose you."
"Then you'll have to take me as I am." Matthew declared. "Or not at all." He gave her a small smile and took his leave. "I will meet Joseph at the train station in the morning. We will all be at the luncheon tomorrow as Mother's arrived back from Leeds."
Mary watched as he opened the front door and left. The rain poured onto his head and shoulders. He fixed his cap and flipped the collar of his uniform jacket around his exposed neck.
He didn't look back at her.
XX
The following day didn't break the tension between the two of them. Joseph had arrived on time and as best man he was being introduced to the rest of the family before everyone gathered in the dining room.
Matthew hovered behind him, afraid that Joseph would bump or jostle Granny Violet.
Mary was on the far side of the room, standing next to her sisters. Neither looked towards the other.
"Lady Grantham." Joseph bowed slightly as he extended his hand.
Matthew cringed, knowing it was the privilege of a superior to offer or withhold his or her hand but as blinded individuals they were more used to reaching out first to make it less awkward on each party.
Violet didn't seem to mind, however. "Mr. Hanson," she accepted the handshake.
Matthew tried to calm his nerves but the previous night's heated discussion with Mary combined with Joseph's arrival had put him on edge.
He tried to guide Joseph towards the divan without giving the appearance of doing so when his friend's cane swept forward and struck the wooden leg of a decorative stand. The vase atop started to wobble and then crashed to the ground.
"Joseph you clod watch out." Matthew spat out before he could bite them back.
His friend ignored him and instead spoke to the dowager. "I'm very sorry. What was it that fell?"
Violet moved swiftly to rectify the situation. "No need to apologise young man. That was an ugly wedding present from a frightful aunt. I've hated it for half a century." She then took Joseph by the hand and they moved towards the divan. "Sit down and tell me all about this remarkable fencing ability Matthew has told us so much about."
Matthew turned only to see Mary's face turn a rather embarrassed shade of red. He closed his eyes and stalked towards a corner of the room.
Carson called everyone to luncheon. The meal occurred without further incident. Matthew, Isobel, and Joseph all prepared to return to Crawley House. Neither Mary nor Matthew said a word to each other.
"We're turning you out or it'll be bad luck for tomorrow." Cora tried to be humorous but everyone sensed the obvious tension between the bride and groom.
"It was a lovely lunch." Isobel covered for her morose son who hovered in the doorway. He nodded and quickly stepped outside.
Joseph walked behind.
Isobel let the two young men walk ahead of her, letting them resolve their differences.
Matthew fell into stride with his friend so Joseph could keep up. "I'm sorry for what I said back there Joseph. I didn't mean it."
Joseph nodded, accepting Matthew's apology. "The bigger concern is this rift with Mary."
Matthew shoved his hands in his uniform trousers. "It's to do with this Swire inheritance. She doesn't understand why I can't take it. She's too aristocratic to ever turn down someone offering money."
"Is that all of it?" Joseph wondered. "I think you need to speak to her."
Matthew muttered something incoherent.
"As best man I see it as my duty to make sure the wedding goes off as planned. Why don't you walk back and ask to speak with her?"
Matthew stopped in his tracks. "What? Really?" He looked back towards the house. Isobel overheard Joseph's suggestion and nodded agreement.
"Maybe you're right." Matthew knew they had to settle this before the wedding. He had to talk to Mary. With more need than confidence, he started back towards Downton. When he reached the threshold, he hesitated and turned to take a walk around the garden first to settle his mind.
Sybil saw him out the side window and came outside. "Matthew?"
"I… I wanted to see Mary. But I don't know where she is or if she wants to see me."
"She's upstairs in her room." Sybil glanced back inside. "I can take you there if you want. Follow me."
Matthew had to smile. There was nothing Sybil liked more than skullduggery. They slipped in through another side entrance and up the stairs before anyone saw.
"Her room is to the left down that corridor."
Matthew hesitated.
"Go do it. You know you two won't be happy with anyone else while the other walks the earth. I feel the same about Tom. Hasn't this war taught us to never take that for granted?"
Matthew knew she was right. "Thank you."
With an encouraging push from Sybil, he started down the corridor and knocked lightly on Mary's door.
"Who's there?" Mary's voice from inside.
"I just need a word. Come to the door."
'Matthew?" Mary's voice was a bit faint but got stronger as she moved closer to the barrier between them.
"I won't look at you." He tried to joke.
"That's only if we're getting married which given our quarreling maybe we're not. Maybe we should be brave and back away if our differences are so divisive."
"No, my darling. We are getting married. I know we'll fight all the time. About money, about how to raise our children. Any number of things…" He trailed off as his voice got thick with emotion.
"And that's good? How can it be?"
Matthew's eyes closed. "I'm not sure. I just know the truth about something Sybil just said. That I will never be happy with anyone else as long as you walked the earth. And… I think you feel the same about me."
There was no immediate response. It was agony not seeing her. How could he live without always seeing Mary every day of his life?
"Can I kiss you?" He reached out and put his hand on the door. "Because I need to very much."
"Only if you close your eyes."
He smiled to hear the humor in her voice. "Only if you do the same," he riposted.
"You musn't cheat." Mary stepped back as the door opened. She knew how much it hurt Matthew to close his eyes to the world. Would he do it for her?
She had to cheat a bit to see if he did it for her. She flicked her eyes open and sure enough his were closed. He walked slowly around the door, a gentle smile on his face.
She shut hers again quickly and approached him. Her hand forward until she felt his uniform. Her hand slid up to his face. A memory flooded into her brain of another time with closed eyes feeling his face.
Having his fingers touch hers.
The very first time they met. Did she know even then she would marry him?
His cheek. So warm. So soft.
She touched his lips. Rubbed them slowly. They kiss. Matthew pulls away reluctantly. He knew this did not resolve their differences. Nor his fears. But he felt in her kiss the desire and the passion he too felt. Surely that would be enough to guide them into an uncertain future.
"Good night." He said softly.
"Good night."
Mary removed her hands from his chest. She heard the handle of the door as he grasped it.
"You will be there, tomorrow? Right?" Matthew asked in jest. "I can be completely sure you will?"
Mary wouldn't let him off that easily, "I assure you of one thing, dearest Matthew. I will never be that predictable."
A low, resonant chuckle was the last thing she heard as the door closed behind him.
XX
Ok… we'll get these two married and off to their m rated honeymoon (hehe) in the next chapter I promise! But there is a lot of baggage at King's Cross station to still deal with. ::hint—there will be no Robert losing all the money in a bad investment:: Robert in this story is far more sensible and we'll be dealing with more likely scenarios of life at Downton after WWI and the far more personal struggles of Mary and Matthew dealing with married life.