The train to Kings Cross had been stuffy but that had been nothing compared to the heat in the carriage on the train from Kings Cross to the Highlands.
Mary was trying her best to not shout at George and Lottie who had started up their argument once again.
"It'll be a brother because brothers are better. Girls are annoying and confusing!" George said to his sister.
"No! It will be a sister. Sisters are better! Boys are more annoying and smelly!" Lottie shouted back.
"Darlings, please do be quiet." Mary said as kindly as she could.
"Sorry Mama." Lottie spoke up, settling back onto Matthew's lap.
"Sorry Mama." George pouted from his seat.
"Darlings, do try and be quiet. You know that Baby's being a nuisance for Mama." Matthew reminded, kissing Lottie's hair.
"Dear Mama." Lottie sighed, tracing Matthew's tie with her little hands.
Her comment caused the adults to chuckle and Edith had to smile. "Never change Lottie."
The little girl frowned and looked quizzically at her mother who giggled slightly.
"Don't worry darling." Mary smiled, reaching out to smooth over her curls.
"So have you placed your bets then?" Cora asked, looking at her eldest daughter and her husband.
"Well of course we don't mind either way but I have an inkling it's a boy." Mary smiled, caressing her stomach.
"Well we disagree on this, I think it'll be a girl." Matthew smiled as Lottie's eyes lit up. "I guess it's me and you against Mama and George then Princess."
"Oh, why must anyone be against anyone else?" Violet asked, furrowing her eyebrows.
"They're not Granny, simply playing around. Have you taken a guess? I think it'll be a girl." Edith smiled, looking at Lottie fondly.
"Well, why would I do that? Being wrong is not a sensation I'd like to be more acquainted with."
When the cars pulled up at Duneagle a few hours later, Mary was glad of it. Not only was Baby wriggling but George and Lottie had become fidgety as well.
"Castle!" Lottie exclaimed, looking out of the window at the turrets.
"Yes darling." Matthew smiled and pulled her firmly away from the window causing George to laugh at his sister's pout.
She saw Rose run out shouting declarations of welcome as Shrimpy greeted Cora.
"This is so nice of you." Cora smiled, kissing his cheek.
"Nonsense, we are so glad to see you. I was so sorry to hear of Robert's passing. I would've come down for the funeral but I was in America." Shrimpy smiled, turning to greet Matthew.
"Daddy, this is Matthew." Rose introduced the two before smiling at Lottie and George bickering.
"Ah yes, I am sorry I couldn't make it for the wedding but Rose relayed the entire event." Shrimpy smiled, smirking at the children.
"I don't doubt it." Mary smiled at her cousin and kissed Shrimpy. "This is George and Lottie." She gestured to the children who stopped their argument at the sound of their names.
"Ha! See I told you Mama would say me first!" George exclaimed and smiled adoringly at his mother causing the adults to laugh.
"Shh, George! It's a pleasure to meet you Mr Shrimpy." Lottie smiled sweetly at the man who grinned back.
"My! What a proper little lady! How old are you Lottie?" Susan asked, coming to stand next to her husband.
"I'm four Mrs Shrimpy." Lottie spoke back with such confidence that Mary and Matthew couldn't help but chuckle.
"She doesn't quite understand all that yet." Mary smiled, smoothing her blonde curls.
"It's quite alright, I remember you doing the exact same thing." Shrimpy laughed, looking at Cora whose eyes lit up.
"Oh yes, you were so sure of yourself and you threw such a fit when everyone chuckled." Cora laughed, smiling at her eldest.
"Now look at you." Susan smiled and moved to greet her aunt.
"We've got so much planned!" Rose exclaimed, grabbing Mary and Edith as they headed into the house.
"So how are you going to play this?" Edith asked Mary later on, when they were having tea.
"Play what?" Mary asked, trying to sooth her raging headache.
"Dinner." Edith replied with a distinct glance to the children.
"Oh, well, I won't be eating with the family. I'll eat with them and if I'm up to it, I'll come down once they're asleep." The countess explained, rubbing her forehead.
"Will you do that at home?" Edith countered, her eyebrows furrowing.
"No, they'll eat with us unless we have guests in which case Mrs Hughes shall have to spare a maid."
"That sounds much more sensible and Lottie will love dressing up."
The sisters laughed and turned back to the main conversation.
"Excuse me but there's a telephone call for you Lady Grantham." The butler spoke and Mary rose, shooing Matthew away.
"Hello?" She asked once she reached the phone.
"Mary sweetheart, it's Isobel."
She was relieved to hear her mother-in-law's voice. She hadn't been away from Isobel throughout either of her past pregnancies and she was missing her comfort terribly.
"Oh it's so good to hear from you, how's everything at home?"
"Pretty much as you left it. How are you my dear?"
"The journey tired me out quite a bit, to be honest I'm glad I have the children to attend to. Dinner sounds like a dreadful idea at the moment. Not food itself just sitting stiffly in a chair for at least two hours." Mary sighed and looked around to check Matthew hadn't followed her out.
"That's perfectly normal, just try to rest as much as you can. Matthew's not being too mother hen like is he?" Isobel chuckled, knowing full well her son's overprotectiveness of his wife.
"No, he's been a darling. He's so sweet, so concerned all the time. I know he wants to do all he can seeing as he missed everything with George and Lottie." Mary smiled, thinking of her husband.
"That's good, I was afraid he'd become rather overbearing. Alright then my dear, I must dash but feel free to call me whenever you wish. If I'm not here, Moseley can take a message."
"Thank you so much Isobel."
"It's nothing sweetheart. I'll talk to you soon. Give my love to Matthew and the children."
"Alright then, goodbye."
"Goodbye."
Mary smiled at the sweetness of her mother-in-law before heading back into the library.
"Who was that?" Matthew asked, moving instinctively closer to her.
"Your mother actually." Mary smiled.
"Goodness, she's already checking up on you." Cora commented. She couldn't help but feel slightly jealous of the bond Mary had developed with her mother-in-law, Mary was her daughter, not Isobel's.
"I truly don't mind. Mostly because I know she knows what it is she's talking about and she's just concerned. I don't want another premature birth, they can be rather messy." Mary replied, looking fondly at George and thinking about how close they'd come to losing him.
"I am sure everything will be fine." Rose smiled, widening it as Lottie handed her a doll. "Why thank you."
"Honestly Rose, give the poor girl her toy back." Susan commented, turning away from her conversation with Violet. Rose looked slightly put out but handed the doll back to Lottie who frowned before skipping over to Mary and Matthew.
"Well hello there Princess." Mary smiled, kissing her daughter's forehead.
"Mama? You talk to Granny Iz?" Lottie asked, a sweet frown on her face.
"Yes, princess and she said to give you and George lots of love." The countess smiled as Matthew lifted Lottie onto his lap.
"Granny Iz?" George asked, running towards his parents and scrambling to sit between them.
"Yes darling, that's who I was on the telephone with." Mary smiled, smoothing down his hair.
"What did she say?"
"She said to give you her love." The mother smiled as George placed a hand over her stomach.
"Baby too?"
"Baby too."
The next day, Cora and Mary were sat in the sitting room at Duneagle. Cora was reading to George whilst Mary sang the alphabet with Lottie.
"Did you catch him?" Cora asked when Edith entered the room.
"Catch who?" Mary asked, looking up from Lottie.
"My editor, he's been invited to dinner tonight." Edith explained, sitting down.
"Oh, I had better get Anna to watch the children then."
"Oh, he won't mind. Don't worry if it's too much hassle." Edith said, glancing down at Mary's bump.
"It's fine truly. I want to meet this fellow." Mary grinned, raising her eyebrows.
"Now I know my ABCs, next time won't you sing with me?" Lottie finished grinning and Mary grinned too, turning her attention back to her little girl.
"Well done princess. Now I think it's nap time."
"No nap! Cake?" Lottie asked and the women gathered laughed.
"Perhaps there will be cake after your nap sweetheart." Mary smiled and lifting the pouting girl into her arms, carrying her out of the room and up the stairs.
"So what did you think of Michael Gregson then?" Mary asked her husband later as they settled down in bed. "It was a good thing he bought those tails."
"Hmm, he's very talkative but he doesn't give much away. A rather odd combination if you ask me. Shrimpy's invited him tomorrow anyway." Matthew settled down next to her and smiled, running his hand over her bump. "Are you alright?"
"Perfectly fine darling but I am rather tired."
"Say no more." With that he turned off the lights and the two drifted off into their dreams.
The next morning, Mary awoke to the sound of bagpipes once more and she groaned.
"Ugh, why must they always play those?" She moaned groggily as Anna crafted her hair slightly later on.
"Your Mama says it's to keep up tradition." Matthew rose, kissing her cheek.
"Hmm, alright, let's round up the troops." She smiled and headed through the door which adjoined their room to the children's.
She had to laugh slightly as George was sat up in his bed, his hair a mess and his hands over his ears.
"Good morning George."
"Good morning Mama, it's very loud." He commented, pouting at his mother.
"Yes darling it is but it doesn't seem to be bothering your sister." Mary smiled, looking at her sleeping daughter in her bed.
"Lottie sleeps through anything." George smiled and climbed out of his bed, walking over to his mother. "How's Baby?"
Mary smiled at how considerate he was and took his small hand, placing it on her belly. "Can you feel that?"
George's face grew into shock. "Mama, Baby kicking you?"
"Yes darling but that's just Baby's way of letting Mama know that him or her is alright." Mary explained, attempting to smooth his hair. "Now, let's wake up Lottie before we miss breakfast."
The countess headed over to her daughter's bed, smiling at her peaceful sleeping form. She took a seat on her bed and stroked her blonde curls off her face. The young girl stirred and hummed, her eyes fluttering open.
"Mama?"
"Good morning darling." Mary smiled, continuing her stroking.
"G' morning."
"Now you must wake up darling, else you'll miss breakfast."
"May I wear my red dress?" The four year old asked and Mary chuckled.
"Yes darling, in fact, let's get you changed now." She went to the wardrobe and pulled out Lottie's dark red dress, laying over the back of a chair. She quickly changed her into it before helping George dress.
"My, we're doing well in here." Matthew smiled, walking through the door dressed and ready for the day.
"Papa? Can you?" George asked, holding his tie out to his father.
"Of course." He smiled and knelt in front of the boy, fixing the tie around his neck.
"Come here Lottie darling." Mary smiled, standing behind a small chair with a brush in her hand.
Lottie pouted but she settled where she was supposed to, sighing as the brush ran through her knotty hair.
"My, you're rather good at that." Matthew said, smiling as Mary plaited Lottie's hair in some fancy way.
"Yes well even I can french plait." Mary smiled, tying one off with a ribbon to match her dress.
"Pretty." Lottie commented, reaching up to touch it but stopping as Mary caught her hand, tutting slightly.
"Come now, let's go down."
The rest of the week went flying by rather quickly and soon enough the Ghillies Ball was upon them. The children were rather put out that it was past their bedtime but Lottie had ooed and ahhed over Mary's dress.
Mary had rushed off to the side after a dance, clutching her belly. Matthew rushed after her, easing her into a chair.
"Truth is, I shouldn't have done that but I couldn't resist." She smiled, closing her eyes as she felt the baby kick vigorously.
"This is exactly what I was afraid of!" Matthew exclaimed, gazing at her in worry.
"Calm down. Everything's fine. This happened a few times at this stage with Lottie. But I wonder, would you mind terribly if I went home tomorrow?" A sweet smile on Mary's face made Matthew melt, his hand coming to stroke her cheek.
"Of course not, I'll tell Shrimpy tonight that we're leaving."
"No, not you. You must stay here." Mary shook her head, smiling.
"What do you mean? I don't want to let you out of my sight."
"But if you come Mama will feel she has to and the party will break up. Also, I don't feel comfortable leaving George and Lottie with Edith and I should hate to end their holiday when they are having so much fun." Matthew felt like rolling his eyes, he wished she wouldn't try to be so proper all of the time.
"You're not going by yourself, I'm coming with you." He put up his fight.
"Matthew, it isn't fair on Susan and Shrimpy. Especially when I'm perfectly alright. It's only a couple more days."
"Which is exactly why I feel it wouldn't be too much hassle to leave a couple days early. Everyone will understand."
"I'm not sure George and Lottie will."
"Of course they will my darling. I'll tell you what, why don't we head back tomorrow and I'll enlist Cousin Violet to make sure that your mother stays put. That way, she can keep an eye on George and Lottie so we don't have to cut their holiday short." Matthew explained, smiling as he thought of his plan.
"Well alright then." Mary relented, smiling. "I think I may head upstairs."
"Of course my darling."
The next morning, Mary and Matthew were heading off.
"Darlings, you must be good for Grandmamma." Mary smiled, bending down in front of the children, the baby bump getting in the way slightly.
"See you soon?" George asked, hugging Mary tightly.
"Yes my prince, and we'll have someone else to introduce you to probably." Mary smiled and George gasped.
"Yay!" He exclaimed, hugging Matthew and then moved back to stand next to Cora.
"Bye Mama." Lottie smiled, hugging Mary with a smile.
"Goodbye Princess." Mary kissed her curls and then her cheek before standing.
"Bye Papa." Lottie gave her father the same treatment, smiling as he lifted her into his arms.
"Promise you'll be good for Grandmamma and Aunt Edith?" He asked and she nodded.
"See you soon." She kissed his cheek and wriggled out of his arms, moving to stand next to her brother.
The two of them climbed into the car and blew kisses as they were waved off.
"The truth is darling, I don't think Lottie quite understands." Matthew smiled. "Darling?" A look over at his wife made clear that she was upset and he pulled her into his arms. "Oh my darling."
"It's just that I've never been away from them for more than a day." Mary replied, turning her head into his shoulder as the tears fell.
"Where Papa?" Lottie asked, looking up at her grandmother. It was a few hours later and they were sat in the library.
"Papa's gone back home darling, with Mama. Your new baby brother or sister will be here soon." Cora explained.
"See Papa?" She asked, smiling sweetly.
"Well darling, he's gone back home." Edith smiled, handing her a doll.
"Oh. See Mama?" She then asked, looking at her grandmother again.
"She's gone with Papa Lottie." George explained, trying to appease his little sister.
"George is right darling, how about some cake?" Cora smiled and handed her the plate.
"No! No cake! See Mama!" Lottie screamed and threw the plate on the floor causing a maid to come rushing in.
Cora scooped George up whilst Edith grabbed the struggling Lottie to keep them away from the broken china.
"What's going on?" Rose asked, rushing in.
"See Mama!" Lottie continued to scream and Rose took her from Edith who was struggling to hold her.
"You know Lottie, I don't believe I've shown you my rocking horse." Rose grinned and carried the young girl out, bouncing her on her hip to calm her as much as he could.
Back at Downton, the train was pulling into the station.
"Darling are you quite alright?" Mathew asked, helping her out of the carriage.
"Oh yes I don't want to alarm you but could we go to the hospital straight away?" Mary asked, rubbing her stomach.
"Of course, I'll tell Pratt straight away." Matthew rushed off and Mary informed Anna of her instructions.
"Come on milady." Anna ushered her towards the car.
"Oh get Mrs Crawley straight away please as well Anna." Mary realised, grabbing her maid's arm.
"Of course milady."
Isobel arrived when Mary was in the last stages of labour.
"Matthew you must wait outside." Mary was saying, trying to usher him out the room. "Ah Isobel thank the lord, can you please get Matthew out of here?"
"Matthew, you shan't want to be in here and I know Mary will not want you in here. Now out." Isobel said, moving towards him and taking his arm.
"But…"
"There's no buts about it, she'll be perfectly fine."
"I have done this twice before my darling." Mary smiled, her smile assuring Matthew and he left.
"My, he put up a fight. How are you my dear?" Isobel smiled, grabbing her daughter-in-law's hand.
"Oh, I'm alright. This one's not as early as George was anyway."
Isobel smiled as Doctor Clarkson walked in.