This part was supposed to have so much more to it! Usually when I start to write the basics of what will happen and just write, letting the characters take me whoever they go. This time, they took me too far and I just had to stop or it would be ridiculously long! Hopefully I'll write the next part (what would be the rest of this in theory) soon, but I imagine it won't be until the weekend- I really shouldn't have written this now, I've got so much I SHOULD be doing.
I got notified today that I was nominated for a highclere award. Well, I'd never heard of such a thing- but I have now and thank you so much to whoever that was. As always, I appreciate your reviews so much and thank you for them. I love that people say its one of their favourite stories (I bet you say that to everyone lol) and I'm glad you're all still interested.
There's a little bit in here especially for purpleshipper after the review about the battle of text kisses and can I just say... luvgoround- I'm certain it wasn't meant as such but your review read totally dirty to me lol.
Anyway, here's the next bit.
-...-...-...-
"Mmmm. What a wonderful smelling kitchen!" Sybil exclaimed as she approached where Tom was stood at the oven.
Tom continued to stir the contents of the pan slowly without looking up at his wife, "well it ought to be after you made me change what we were having at the last minute."
Sybil reached up to touch the base of his neck tenderly; only then did he turn to face her. She shrugged "I didn't fancy lasagne. And who doesn't like a vegetable risotto? Mmm, it really does smell great. Can I taste?"
Tom lifted the wooden spoon, blowing gently on the end and testing the temperature on his lip before holding it out for her. With her lips around the end of the large spoon, Sybil moaned appreciatively. "People who don't like rice? Vegetables?" He asked her.
She waved the suggestion off with her hand. "Everyone likes rice and everyone needs vegetables. Mary likes a good risotto and I tell you what Mr Branson- that is beautiful."
Tom smiled "thanks. Done a salad too. Did you have a nice soak?" He asked, leaving the spoon in the pan and turning to place his palm on her large stomach covered by her pale pink bathrobe.
"Devine. I really should go get ready, I told her to be here for 7." Sybil eyed the round table in the centre of the kitchen. "Do you think we should set the table properly? Maybe put a candle out?" She chewed on the corner of her mouth, leaning back against the kitchen counter.
"Sybil" Tom sighed.
"Hmm?"
"Mary cannot be your new project."
Without looking away from the table, still wondering if she should have picked up another bottle of wine from the supermarket just in case, Sybil shook her head "I don't know what you're talking about."
"I know you're bored and I know you're fed up of waiting for the baby to arrive. You're not working and the nursery was finished last week. There's nothing around the house for you to do, so now you've decided to play matchmaker."
Sybil scoffed "I am doing no such thing. I have had nothing to do with Mary meeting Matthew."
"No, but ..." He sighed deeply, knowing he wouldn't be able to find the right words without angering her. "Just try not to interfere too much ok babe? Mary's a big girl."
"I know. It's just so exciting! I know she hasn't known him long- she's told me that multiple times, but a girl knows things. A sister knows things and I think this is going to be good for her. I don't want her to mess it up, I just want her to be happy."
Tom placed his hands on each of her shoulders gently as he stood in front of her "she won't mess it up, not if it's right."
"Pretty sure I know my sister more than you. I have experience with these things."
"When was the last time she let you meet a guy she was dating?" Tom asked, already knowing the answer.
Sybil frowned, "well none- not willingly."
"My point exactly." He kissed her forehead quickly "just leave them be Syb. Let's enjoy this evening; you'll meet him, we'll all chat, you can show Mary the nursery and there will be no interfering. Ok?"
Sybil smiled, leaning up to kiss her husband softly. "Ok" she breathed. "I'll be good. I promise... Well, I promise to try." Tom shook his head slowly and Sybil laughed as she lightly and playfully slapped his chest "I'm going to get ready. You stir that before it burns."
...-...-
"Dad" Mary spoke impatiently into the phone, sat at her dressing table, "Lady Mary is mine and mine alone- I'm handling it."
"Mary, stop being so stubborn. You know I am simply trying to help." Mary half listened as she tilted her head back a little for a better angle in the mirror as she applied mascara. "I know you've dealt with legal troubles in the past but nothing like this. I am offering to be there as your father- someone who has business experience. Do you know how many times people have tried to sue me!?"
"Oh well that's a fantastic selling point father." She moved onto her other eye.
"My point is that not one of them have succeeded. It's a cut throat world Mary and you're yet to learn many things." She rolled her eyes at her father's voice. If she wasn't concentrating on readying herself for Matthew then she might have had more answers for him. "Just tell me what time the meeting is. I'll sit at the back if need be... Observe if you like."
"You don't know how to simply observe." She trapped her phone between her ear and shoulder, twisting the mascara wand back in place. "Dad, listen. I am perfectly capable. I not the same girl who allowed your help in cutting deals with the best designers we could find. I was young- I suppose I needed the support, but now I don't. I know I don't and you should trust me as a daughter and as a successful woman to know when I do and do not need my father's help."
Her voice was surprisingly calm, Rob noticed. To say that he was shocked when he'd heard earlier in the day that his daughter's fashion line was being accused of stealing designs would be an understatement. Especially considering Mary had been home for dinner only days before and had failed to mention her legal troubles. "Ok, ok" he sighed. "Please just let me talk to Simon Barnes- you still use him don't you? Work hours are over with. If you could give me his contact details, I'll have a chat with him and check everything is in order."
Now concentrating on applying her lipstick, Mary was silent. "Mary. I'm just trying to look out for you, you must understand that."
Mary dropped her lipstick into the clutch bag waiting on her dressing table "I decided not to use Barnes this time. Simon always did creep me out."
"But Mary, he's the best!"
If Rob could see his daughter, he'd know that her eyebrow had raised as she replied "in your opinion, but certainly not mine."
Robert sighed. "Okay Mary, who are you using?" He grabbed a pen and hovered his hand over a piece of paper, expected to be given details of contact.
"Crawley and associates."
Robert sighed an exasperated sigh and dropped the pen onto his desk "really Mary! I do hope you do not mean you intend to represent yourself. You are not qualified to do as such."
If Mary hadn't been so annoyed with him she might have laughed. She pushed her fingers through the roots of her hair, attempting to give her curls more volume. "It's a new firm dad, started by Matthew Crawley. The surname is just coincidence. He's... They're great" she corrected herself.
"I hope you researched them. New firms aren't the best idea, particularly when so much is at stake. This Matthew might be good, but-" the penny dropped. "Oh Mary..." He sighed. "Please tell me he's not the same Matthew I hear that you are 'seeing'."
Mary stood from the chair, her phone back between her ear and shoulder as she applied perfume. "If I told you that I'd be lying."
"You stupid, stupid girl. Mixing business and pleasure-"
"Hey!" Mary was quick to cut him off this time. Partly because she didn't want to hear what she knew he was going to say and partly because she was ready and needed to leave. "I know it's probably not ideal. Certainly not on paper anyway, but it's working for us. Now please, I'm on my way out and I need to hang up this phone- do not call me back and do not go complaining to Mom that I hung up on you in anger, because that is certainly not the case- I have dinner plans and you've made me late. By all means, call me tomorrow afternoon to see how it went. But under no circumstances are you to turn up to the meeting, nor are you to contact Matthew. I've got to go." And without saying goodbye she ended the call, grabbed her brown clutch bag, checked her reflection one last time and left the house.
Mary was pleased that the sun still shone as she walked towards her car. She was wearing a bright red sleeveless playsuit, bound at the waist with a brown rope style leather belt and had earlier wondered if she should have paired it with a pair of nice patterned tights. Now, with the sun still strong for a May evening, she was glad she hadn't- particularly because with tights, her new heeled clogs wouldn't have looked so good and she found that she loved how they looked with the playsuit.
She slammed her car door shut behind her and quickly sent a text to Matthew. 'Running a little late-leaving now. Waist outside for me? Sybil hates people being late and nobody wants to be on the wrong side of a pregnant woman xxx'
When Mary had spoken with Matthew on the phone earlier that afternoon and suggested that she drove and picked him up on the way he'd disagreed and said he'd rather be the one to pick her up. She'd called him a traditionalist and insisted that while she liked that in him (very much), it made more sense for her to drive due to Matthews's flat being on her way to Sybil and Tom's home. Eventually, he agreed as long as she promised not to make a habit out of it. Mary had laughed and promised not to go out of her way to emasculate him and added, with a smile, that she was quite getting used to his chivalrous ways and was certainly not going to discourage them.
Mary heard her phone ping with a reply and waited until she was stationary at traffic lights before reading it. 'No, we certainly wouldn't want to upset her would we. See you soon xxxx'. Mary noted the amount of kisses at the end of his text, smirking to herself as she thought it more sweet than excessive as she may have done in the past. Feeling playful, she began to reply; simply typing a row of five, but traffic began to move and Mary cursed, dropping her phone into her lap before following suit. She was only minutes away from him the next time she found herself sat in traffic and rather than sending the row of five kisses, she canceled the message; that game would have to wait until another day.
...-...-...-
"I've got it" Tom called as the doorbell echoed through the house. Sybil placed the final two plates on the table and chewed on her lip, wondering if she should have put that candle out in the middle; the table did look awfully bare. However, she told herself, the food was yet to be on the table and Tom had made enough to feed a family of 6.
"Sybil, darling." She heard her older sister's voice and turned to face her. "Shouldn't you be sat? Resting?"
Tom shook his head, "that's what I keep telling her."
"Nonsense. I was only setting the table. Matthew" she smiled, walking towards him and embracing him lightly. His eyes widened a little at her friendliness and Mary simply smiled.
"I did warn him about how touchy feely you are with pregnancy. I also told him that if he dared call you Lady Sybil then I'd be unable to protect him."
Sybil laughed and kissed her sister's cheek affectionately. "Yes, please don't." She turned to face Matthew and only then did she notice the small bouquet of brightly coloured flowers.
"Usually I'd bring wine, but I thought these more appropriate for our host." He held them out to her and Sybil took them with enthusiasm. "And I'll try to remember not to use the 'L' word." He was nervous, Mary could tell. It was shocking to her how quickly she was beginning to know his traits, picking up on his moods or what he was thinking. It was his hands that gave him away this time; clenched by his sides. She placed her palm on his back and he smiled down at her; that slow smile that made her melt more and more every time she saw it. Thankfully, their exchange had gone unnoticed by their hosts as Sybil found a vase for her flowers and Tom returned to the kitchen counter.
"I wish I'd made more of an effort now" Sybil spoke, turning from the flowers (now in the middle of the table) "you both look wonderful." Mary thanked her sister and stole another brief glance at Matthew as her little sister hovered around the kitchen, finding glasses and wine. He did look great- he always did. He wore dark jeans and a white open collared shirt; the kind that fit snugly, with shorter rolled up sleeves which showed off his toned arms beautifully. She remembered him wearing a similar fitting shirt on his Birthday.
"Oh Sybil, don't be silly. You look beautiful, as always. Here." She stepped forward. "You sit, I'll get the drinks." Matthew had to try hard not to stare at her long lean legs. He shifted uncomfortably, wondering how he was ever going to manage the whole night in the company of others with her looking like that. "Matthew?" He blinked hard, hearing her call his name. "Wine with dinner?" He cleared his throat and nodded silently, his eyes roaming one last time as she turned to fill three glasses with red wine.
-...-...-
"More wine, Mary?" Tom asked, filling his own glass.
Mary shook her head "no thank you, i'm driving. Tom, this risotto is so good." She complimented as Tom offered Matthew more from the bottle of red and filled his glass.
"Thanks"
"See, I told you." Sybil grinned. "Everyone likes risotto. He was going to make lasagne" she informed their guests.
"Well, I'm sure that would have been just as lovely." Mary smiled, helping herself to a little more of the salad.
"How are you feeling Sybil?" Matthew asked from across the table, having been relatively quiet so far. "After last night, I mean. You can't have long left to go surely?"
"Why? Because I'm the size of a house?"
"No, I... I didn't mean. I-"
"Oh Sybil, don't be mean" Mary scolded with a smirk, placing her hand on Matthews's arm to reassure him. "She's playing with you."
"Sorry." Sybil laughed. "The baby is due in about two weeks now, so yes, not long to go." She took a small sip of her water. "I'm feeling ok. More embarrassed than anything; I'm a trainee doctor for goodness sake and I didn't realise it was false."
"I'm sure it happens all the time."
"I blame Tom anyway. The contractions had barely started and he was rushing around for the bags, calling the ambulance and then the family."
"The doctor told her to rest" Tom spoke up, answering Matthews's questions properly. "Her blood pressures a little high, but-"
"But nothing to worry about" Sybil finished. "Not unless I'm about to run a marathon" she laughed at her own joke.
"You must take it easy though darling" Mary told her.
"Thank you Mary" Tom nodded, "I'm constantly asking her to sit down."
Sybil rolled her eyes a little "you've made me 'take it easy for weeks' and I've listened- I have." She turned to Mary to assure her of such. "Anyway, enough about all that. I, we totally interrupted your date last night. You went to a fair?" She asked curiously.
Matthew nodded, swallowing a mouthful of food "just a local travelling one. We had a nice time didn't we?" He turned to Mary who was sat beside him and she nodded in confirmation.
"We never went as children" Sybil mused. "Well, I went to Thorpe Park once for a birthday party and of course Disney World but there's something so romantic about fairs. Oh!" She breathed, her eyes suddenly wide, "did he win you a soft toy Mary, like on the movies?" Mary laughed and Matthew soon followed.
"Not exactly"
"She won one for me."
"Well. That's certainly... Modern. Whatever would Granny say?" And she began to laugh along with Mary.
"Sybil tells me you just started a law firm Matt?" Tom mentioned.
Matthew nodded, ignoring the fact that he called him 'Matt'; he wasn't to know he didn't like it and it was certainly better than 'Matty'. "Yeah, it's going well. Recently hired a new lawyer to join us- 3 in total now and the clients are coming in."
"That's good, really good. I think it's really commendable when young people take the initiative to start from scratch" he spoke like an elder at the table, when in reality he was a couple of years younger than Matthew. "Just like Mary and her fashion line. I remember when I first met Sybil, she spoke about her success so much; she was so proud." Mary smiled at her sister across the table.
"Tom wants to open his own garage." Sybil informed the small group.
"Oh?" Mary asked, intrigued.
Tom nodded, "I've been thinking about it yeah. I do me own repairs on the cab and on some of me mates- cheap rates ya know. The business is it there, it's just getting started. Finding somewhere, the legalities. That kind of thing."
Matthew placed his glass back on the table "well, if you've ever got any legal questions, I'll be happy to help."
"Thanks mate, I appreciate it. I think it's something definitely for the future. We should get settled with the baby first though I think, see if Sybil wants to finish her studies or wait a few years."
"How long have you got left?" Matthew asked her.
Sybil sighed "too long. At least another two years. It depends what route I want to end up in eventually."
The group continued to talk about studies and work until Sybil asked if there was any dessert. Tom said there was ice cream in the freezer and the women decided it should be eaten in front of the tv and the group stood to clear the table. Mary took Sybil's plate as well as her own and moved across the spacious kitchen/dinner to the sink. "I'll wash up quickly."
"There's no need Mary" Tom told her.
"I don't mind. You did all the cooking and I won't allow Sybil to do it. Besides, you've already washed most of it" she nodded towards the pans and cooking instruments on the draining board.
Matthew joined Mary at the sink with his own plate, his voice low as he offered to help. Mary smiled up at him, touching his hand briefly in thanks. He returned to the table to collect the serving dishes and Tom voiced his objection again "oh no, I won't have both guests cleaning up."
Now sat back in her chair, Sybil sighed, reaching for Tom's wrist with one hand, the other resting on her large stomach. She shook her head slightly and widened her eyes in gesture to Mary and Matthew who were huddled at the sink together; Mary running the water as the pair spoke in low tones, both smiling. "Will you two be ok if we sit in the living room? I need to put my feet up."
"Of course" Matthew turned, answering politely as he returned to collect the glasses from the table.
"Mary you know where everything is?"
"I do. Go, both of you- go relax. This won't take long." She watched over her shoulder as Tom helped Sybil to her feet and the pair left the room. "Are you ok?" She asked Matthew with a smile.
"Of course. I like her- Sybil. Tom too. They're a nice couple." Mary nodded, lowering the plates into the soapy water. "Do they keep left overs?" He asked, holding the remainder of the risotto.
Mary shook her head "throw it."
He did as he was told, emptying the contents into the nearby bin before returning to her side. "You look lovely tonight." Hs voice was almost shy and Mary turned her head to look at him. "Sorry I've not had chance to tell you sooner, but you are, as always, extremely beautiful."
Mary hoped she wasn't blushing as deeply as she thought. It was the first time a man had directly told her she was beautiful in a way that didn't make her think he was after something. The way his eyes burned through hers made her spine tingle and she had to look away before she backed him into the fridge in a passionate embrace.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to embarrass you" he whispered down into her ear and Mary could no longer stand there without responding. She turned slowly, her wet hand moving to his neck; their lips meeting softly and sweetly.
"You didn't embarrass me" she murmured before kissing him a again; a small kiss on his lips before moving away a little. She ran her hand down his chest, pulling at the collar of his shirt "you look great too." She moved her fingertips to his wrist and tenderly moved them up his arm until she reached the fold of his shirt "this style does a lot for you Mr Crawley." She'd managed to move the mood back to flirting and she was comfortable with this; it felt less serious and this time when she met his eyes, both pairs sparkled with playfulness.
"I could say the same for you Lady Mary." His eyes lowered and one of his hands came to rest on her hip; Mary knew his gaze was on her legs and she smirked. When selecting her choice of outfit, of course she thought of who she was dressing for, but she hadn't thought too much about just how much of her legs were on show.
"A leg man?" She teased.
He shook his head "I never knew what I was until I saw you in this."
"Mary?" Sybil's voice travelled from the hallway and Mary quickly stepped back a little, her face flushed. "Are you almost done? I'm hungry for ice cream and I want to show you the nursery."
Mary cleared her throat and put her hands back into the sink of water, passing Matthew a clean plate. He looked down at it for a few seconds before balancing it on the draining board with the others. "Yes, almost." She tried to sound casual and Sybil smirked, having caught the pair jumping away from each other; probably assuming more was going on than what was actually true.
"Well leave them to soak. I can't wait any longer." Mary did as she was told and dried her hands on a nearby tea towel when Tom returned to the kitchen, opening the fridge and offering Matthew a beer. "You boys do whatever boys do, we'll be right back."
Sybil had took hold of Mary's hand and led her through the hall, past the living room, downstairs toilet, and a small box room she used as a study and didn't let go until they reached the stairs. The home was a modest 4 bedroom detached house, completely different to what they grew up in as children, nothing like the manor Edith lived in now, or the town house Mary owned but it was right for them. At the top of the stairs, they passed the master bedroom and Sybil pushed open the door to the bedroom immediately after it. "Now maybe you'll finally believe me when I say we don't know what we're having yet."
Mary smiled "I believe you. It was Edith that thought you were keeping it to yourself." They stepped inside and Mary was met with a vision of mint green and light brown. "It's lovely Sybil."
They stepped further inside and Mary found herself 'aww'ing at the jungle themed bedding inside the cot. She momentarily frowned at herself; Mary never cooed over anything. Sybil pointed to the far wall and Mary turned to see hand painted animals around the window- a giraffe, elephant, tiger, lion and zebra. "It's beautiful."
"Tom did them. Who knew?"
"And we thought his own talent was with cars."
Sybil pushed Mary slightly "hey! He has more talents!"
Mary laughed, one eyebrow raised "I'm sure he does." Her tone was enough to tell Sybil what she was insinuating.
"That's not what I was talking about!" Sybil shrieked before laughing with her. "... But now that you mention it."
"No" Mary held up her palm "I don't want to know."
Sybil laughed harder, "no, no details. But even pregnant- this pregnant, he knows exactly what to do with me."
Mary groaned "Sybil, you're my little sister."
"I'm your married and pregnant sister and you started it! Anyway, while we're on the subject... How are things with Matthew in that department? I saw you in the kitchen just now, practically ready to jump each other."
If there was anyone else within earshot, Mary was sure she'd have covered her face with her hands and refused to even listen to her questions. "We were not ready to-" she began to protest, but at Sybil's raised brow, Mary corrected herself, remembering that she was, indeed, ready to jump him, "well, we wouldn't have and who knows what he was thinking at that precise moment."
"But you?"
"It's his eyes" she whispered as if Matthew and Tom would be able to hear if she didn't. "And everything really but-"
"He has got pretty eyes. And that shirt!"
"Hey!"
Sybil laughed "sorry. But seriously, things are good in that department? They must be for you to be seeing him this often."
Mary crossed her ankles, swaying slightly "things haven't exactly progressed in that department yet." She spoke slow and purposefully.
"Really?" Mary nodded. "Wow" she breathed. "I'm shocked."
"Hey!" Mary poked her sister's arm "just because you're pregnant, don't think I won't hurt you."
Sybil stood back, looking her sister up and down slowly before settling on her face, "you know what. I'm impressed. I can't believe you've managed to hold out that long!"
"It's not even been two weeks Sybil."
"Considering the amount of times you've seen him... You've been drunk with him- that's long."
Mary considered this quietly for a moment before nodding "it's not because we haven't..." She stopped herself from speaking, knowing she couldn't possibly tell Sybil that if she hadn't received Tom panicked call the night before then she would indeed have already spent the night with Matthew- Sybil would never forgive herself... Well not in her present state anyway. "It will be happening. Soon."
Sybil folded her arms across her large stomach, pursing her lips, her head nodding slowly "that shirt, those eyes..."
"Oh yeah."
Then suddenly, her expression changed and she grabbed Mary's hands enthusiastically. "Mary, you know what I think this means? Dating, waiting, the shirt, the eyes, Matthew." Mary looked at her little sister like she'd gone crazy and Sybil took this as permission to continue. "I think it finally means you found him."
Mary rolled her eyes; Sybil the sap was back.
"The one that'll ruin your lipstick instead of your mascara!" The excitement of her tone, the serious expression and the words she'd said mixed together was enough for Mary to burst into laughter. "I'm serious!"
"I know, I can tell. That's what's so funny." Mary laughed. "Where on earth do you come up with these things!?"
Sybil shrugged, a small pout gracing her lips as she let go of Mary's hands "I read it somewhere. Twitter I think."