The house was quiet and it was still quite dark outside when Matthew arrived early to breakfast. "Carson," he said. "If you don't mind, I would like to take my meal with Robert this morning."
"Of course, Captain Crawley," Carson said, the slightest smile playing at his lips. He had already tipped off the kitchen, having heard the tail end of Matthew and Mary's conversation the night before. He asked Matthew what he would like, and disappeared back downstairs to advise Mrs Patmore.
Matthew was pleased to see Robert was alone. "Matthew! You're up bright and early! Sybil still got you in training?" Robert said jovially.
Matthew grinned. "The training's not stopping anytime soon, Robert, as my recovery still has a very long way to go! But Sunday is our day off, and I am here early as I was hoping to speak with you alone."
"Of course. What is it my dear chap?" Robert looked at him quizzically.
Matthew drew his wheelchair up to the table. He sat back, his elbows on the armrests, and his fingers together in a steeple shape. He looked across at Robert and took a deep breath.
"Robert. Last night I asked Mary to marry me, and she said yes," he paused. "I know I haven't done this quite the right way around, but damn it, Robert, I am here to ask for your blessing."
A look of delight came across Robert's face. "My dear boy, that is quite the best news I have had in a very long time! Of course, you have my blessing. I have been waiting for this day, and now it is finally here!" and he had to blink back a tear suddenly forming in his eye.
He shook his head. "Such very good news," he said a little emotionally. "About time this family had some good news. About time you had some good news!" and his voice shook. "I am very pleased for you Matthew. Pleased for you both!"
He leant across and clapped Matthew on the shoulder, smiling broadly. Sitting back, he reached into his pocket for his handkerchief and dabbed his eyes.
They grinned at each other, and then Robert said, "I don't care a toss what the time is. This calls for a drink." He stood up and rang the bell for Carson, who was soon back.
"Sir, how may I help?" Carson said politely. "If it is about your meal, your kedgeree is still about ten minutes away."
"It's not our meal Carson," Robert replied. "I wanted to ask if you might find us a bottle of Champagne! I've just had the most wonderful news from Matthew," he said effusively. "He and Lady Mary are to marry!"
"Wonderful news indeed!" Carson replied smiling broadly and flashing Matthew a knowing look. Matthew's lips twitched. Robert's announcement had come as no surprise to his Butler.
"Captain Crawley," he said, his smile growing even wider. "Please allow me to offer you my heartfelt congratulations. I am very pleased for you, and for Lady Mary of course," and he shook Matthew's hand with quite some vigour.
"Thank you very much, Carson," Matthew said grinning back. "Lady Mary has waited long enough!"
Carson snorted and quickly turned it into a cough. He turned back to Robert and said, "My Lord, from recollection there is a bottle of Veuve Clicquot on hand that we did not open last night. Would that be suitable?"
"It sounds marvellous," Robert answered.
When Carson returned with the champagne, Robert said "For god's sake, Carson. Pour yourself one as well, and stay here and help me toast the young man, would you!"
The three of them spent a convivial few minutes enjoying the champagne and Robert began to reminisce on his engagement and marriage to Cora, bringing smiles to both Carson and Matthew's faces. Carson kept a discreet eye on the time, and in due course, excused himself, returning shortly with their hot meals.
The two men focused on their breakfast for a while, and then Robert asked whether they had given any thought to where they might want to live. "I can take that into account in your settlement," he explained.
Matthew was silent for a while, thinking. Truth be told, he realised, he had given that question, like so much of his future, no thought at all. Until now his focus had been tightly on the day to day. It had been a necessary step in just surviving and dealing with his new reality. I wonder if it has been the same for Mary too? He thought. And he realised it probably was. In fact, Mary had said as much on one occasion: that keeping focused on the day to day had helped her cope with her constant anxiety over the situation with Carlisle.
"You are quiet all of a sudden," Robert observed.
"You asking about where we might live made me realise how long it has been since I've dared to think of the future Robert," Matthew said steadily. "Aside from thinking about my work. The decision to return to my old firm did necessitate some future thinking, but that's been all." He sighed and then smiled.
"Perhaps planning for a wedding will give us the push we need to look ahead a little more."
"There really is no hurry," Robert hastened to say. "Your home is here as long as you both wish it!"
"You have always made me feel most welcome Robert, and I am very grateful for that," Matthew replied.
"But your words do make me realise there will be a number of things now that Mary and I need to plan for, now we have decided to marry. One of which, of course, is where we might live."
As they sipped their tea after the meal, Matthew asked delicately, "Robert, what do you expect Cora's reaction to be? I have a sense that she may be less pleased."
Robert scowled. "Leave Cora to me. She, well… Matthew, she and I disagree on what is best for Mary. And she fails to see how strong yours and Mary's love is for each other. What I hope is that over time she will learn to accept what is to be, but I must warn you I do not expect her to take the news easily at first."
"That's what I thought," Matthew said, a little sadly. "I think that Cora believes that Mary will eventually resent being in a childless marriage. And she does have a problem with me not being able to walk. That has never been an issue for Mary, but you need to know that the question of children is a major reason why it has taken me so long to propose to her."
"Yes of course," Robert paused for a moment. Then he looked across at Matthew and said firmly, "The fact is, Matthew, that Mary will not be happy with anyone else but you. She has loved you for a very long time, and you bring out the very best in her. I cannot see a better match for her, ever, children or no children."
He continued to look at Matthew in silence, and then he said, "You could adopt, of course. I always thought you'd make a wonderful father."
Matthew stared at Robert, surprised.
"I... I understood that the entail prohibits adopted children from inheriting?" he countered.
"Isn't what you and Mary might want more important than just an heir to the blasted title?" Robert swore.
"Of course… Robert, I..." Matthew stopped and smiled all of a sudden. "You surprised me, that's all."
"Well, perhaps the war has changed me too. With a bit of luck, for the better," and for the second time that morning, he reached across to clap Matthew on the shoulder.
0-0-0-0-0-0
Mary awoke with a start and saw immediately that it was still quite early. Wondering why she suddenly remembered the events of the evening before and a delicious feeling of anticipation spread through her. With any luck, Matthew was talking to her father already. She sat up and hugged her knees, remembering how it had felt to be wrapped in Matthew's arms watching the snow spiralling down around them. Smiling, she leant across and rang the bell. Today was not a day to linger in bed.
When she arrived in the dining room for breakfast, her sisters were there alone.
"Mary!" Sybil said excitedly. "Papa and Matthew have just left. They told us your news! We're thrilled!"
"I'm pleased for me too," Mary's eyes sparkled. "I had reconciled myself to a long wait. And to come back and have him ready to ask. Well, it's marvellous! And I know that Matthew is going to make me very happy. Very happy indeed."
"It is wonderful news, Mary," Edith said. "Matthew is a fine man, and he is already making you happy! We have seen that for months now," she smiled at her sister.
"What about Mama though?" Mary asked worriedly. "She's been positively frosty toward Matthew of late. And I could feel her disapproval across the room last night when I was sitting talking with him!"
Sybil snorted. "It's not her decision," she said firmly.
"I know that. And she won't make me change my mind. But she could make things difficult. You know what Mama is like!"
"That's true," Edith said thoughtfully. "I never told you this, but Mama tried to get Lavinia to come back, you know."
"When?" Mary said, aghast.
"Just after you went to take care of Aunt Rosamund," Edith replied, rolling her eyes. "I overheard her on the telephone. It didn't work though. The gist I got from it was that Lavinia might have someone else. And Mama looked quite disappointed when she hung the receiver up!"
Mary felt shocked. If her mother had gone that far in her efforts to force her and Matthew apart, it didn't bode well for how she might be now that they had announced they were to marry.
"Just what is Mama's problem?" she said, looking questioningly at her sisters.
Sybil and Edith exchanged glances, neither of them wanting to voice what they had surmised was their mother's concern with her eldest daughter marrying her husband's heir.
Rather than answer Mary's question directly, Sybil said, "If I were you, I'd get married as soon as you can.
"The less time she has to scheme and plot and get cross with you, the better. And once you are married there's no going back. There never is, for our kind of people."
"How about an Army wedding?" Edith said unexpectedly. "Matthew is not discharged. Neither are you, for that matter. And I imagine you'll want to invite a lot of people working here, not to mention some of the convalescing officers like Evelyn! It might provide a good excuse for getting married sooner. A simpler wedding, and you marrying a decorated Captain.
"And it could be slightly more palatable to Mama," she finished.
Mary looked at her sister, frowning slightly. "You know Edith, I quite like that idea. Strange because if you had asked me to consider such a thing even a year ago my answer would have been an emphatic 'no!'
"But now, the very last thing I want for Matthew and myself is a big society wedding. It doesn't fit with what's important to us. And who we have become."
Edith and Sybil looked at each other and smiled. This post-war Mary was indeed very different to the Mary they had grown up with. And it was a difference they realised they both quite liked.
The three of them were silent for a while, and Mary toyed with the food on her plate.
"I'll talk to Matthew about it. But the more I think about it, the more I like it. Especially if we can make it happen soon."
"Well, soon would be nice for Edith too," Sybil said unexpectedly. "Are you and Anthony still keeping to the same date? It was early May wasn't it?"
Edith sighed, a shadow crossing her face. "I do hope so. It will all depend on his recovery. He is still quite unwell."
"Perhaps Matthew and I could look at the beginning of March then," Mary said thoughtfully. "I don't like the idea of us marrying in the dead of winter, but that might be early enough in the spring to allow enough time for you to keep with your date Edith, and hopefully Anthony will be well enough by then for you to keep to it."
Immediately after breakfast, Mary went in search of Matthew. She found him in the recreation room, reading the paper.
"Good morning, my darling," she said, keeping her voice low, as there were other officers about.
"Good morning Lady Mary," he said looking up at her with a delighted smile. "I see you haven't slept in!"
"For some reason, I just couldn't," she replied, her lips twitching. She sat down beside him. "I've just had breakfast. My sisters were very pleased to hear our news!"
"As was your father," Matthew said, and he lifted her hand to his lips and kissed it gently. "In fact, he was in tears!" he batted his eyelashes at her in an alarmingly alluring fashion. "He even gave me some Champagne, which I must say has put me in a most agreeable frame of mind this cold morning," and he gently kissed her hand again.
His magnetic blue eyes gazing into hers, and the touch of his soft, warm lips on her hand sent a frisson coursing through her body. Mary gave a breathless sigh. Oh, God. How were they going to be able to wait until their wedding night?
Her yearning for him grew as she watched him, his eyes roaming across her body, his mouth slightly open, his breath quickening. Desire was written all over him.
Matthew found himself moving imperceptibly towards her, fully intending to kiss her rosebud lips when he suddenly remembered where they were.
Oh goodness. Champagne this early really hadn't been a good idea after all. He shook himself, sat up and asked in a very ordinary voice, "Mary. Would you like to go to Church with me? And afterwards, I'd like to see Mother."
His words had the desired effect, bringing Mary back to where they were with a jolt. She couldn't help giggling.
"Of course I'd like to come to Church with you, my darling," she said mirroring his ordinary voice. And then she put her hand to her mouth and whispered: "But I don't think I can stand how long I will have to wait till we are married!"
Matthew gave low chuckle in reply. "Neither me!" and he raised his eyebrows. He took a deep breath and tried to quell the heat consuming his body. He rubbed his face vigorously with his hands, took another deep breath, sat up and looked across at her expectantly.
"If we do want to get to church, we had better get ready," he said. " "Do you mind walking there?" He asked, putting his hands on his wheels.
"Can you really make it all the way in your chair?" Mary said in surprise.
He grinned at her. "Yes. All the way. New trick."
"I'm in awe of you," Mary said admiringly. "You've made so much progress while I've been away!"
"Thanks to your sister," Matthew added. "We'll need to dress warmly though. How about I meet you in the entrance in fifteen minutes."
Even though the snow had not settled in the end, it was very cold out of doors, and they could see their breath as they made their way up the drive.
They began to talk about their wedding and when they should hold it, and Mary shared Edith's idea of an Army wedding. "I have to say, I quite like the sound of it, myself," she mused. "Means we can hold it sooner, and it would give us the excuse to invite some of the medical staff and officers it might not otherwise be the done thing to do," she added.
Matthew was quiet for a while, thinking. "Are you all right?" Mary asked eventually. "Or is an Army wedding too much a reminder of hard times?" she asked delicately.
"That's what I'm trying to reconcile in my mind," he said slowly. "But I think there are more positive's associated with it, strangely enough, than sadness for me," he said, and he glanced across at her.
"You, doing what you have towards the war effort. You weren't at the Front. But you've done so much to support those of us who were. It feels like something we've been through together."
"I think that's why I liked the idea when Edith raised it," Mary reflected. "We've shared this experience, you and I. And the people that really matter to us, well they have shared in this experience too."
"I'd want Alex to be my best man, you know, " Matthew said after a few moments. It would honour him too, wouldn't it, if he could be there, in uniform as Colonel Shipton."
"It would. And that's important," agreed Mary. "And Mr Mason and Daisy must be there too," she added.
Matthew stopped wheeling his chair and looked across at her. "Do you really mean that Mary?" he said in surprise.
Mary nodded. "I really do."
"But what about…?" Matthew began.
"Oh bully for propriety!" Mary frowned. "How about honour! William was your friend. He saved your life! Of cours, his people should be with us!"
Matthew looked at her, shaking his head slightly, and then he said "Oh, my. I never..." and then he couldn't stop the tears.
Mary put her hand on his shoulder. "I'm sorry," she said gently. "I didn't mean to upset you."
"You haven't... well you have and you haven't," Matthew tried to explain, wiping his eyes with the back of his gloved hand.
"Have you got a handkerchief?" she asked. He nodded and reached into his greatcoat pocket to retrieve it. He wiped his eyes and took a deep breath. "Thank you for saying what you said," he began. "It means so much to me hearing you say that!
"But it does remind me. I miss him a lot you know. Most days I think of him. He had so much ahead. He was only a boy, Mary! Full of life, and ideas. So capable. Such a goddamn waste," his voice shook with emotion.
Mary knelt down beside him and clasped his hand. She said nothing, knowing he just needed some time.
"Sorry," he whispered when he had calmed down.
"Matthew," she said gently. "Never say sorry. Not for this. He was your friend."
"Are you all right to keep going?" she asked after a moment. He nodded, and she stood up.
"How about I push your chair for a bit?" she offered.
Matthew nodded. Grief was exhausting, he decided.
They resumed their progress. After a few minutes, Matthew reached back and put his hand on Mary's. "Thank you," he said, and his voice was a little brighter.
They were mostly silent for the rest of the journey. Mary couldn't stop thinking about the war and what he had been through. How many friends has Matthew lost? She thought grimly to herself. She knew it wasn't just William that he grieved for.
Most of his lawyer friends from University had died. His work colleague had died. And what about the countless men in his regiment he had lived with and fought with day in and day out, and who had never come back.
She dreaded to know just how many of them had died in front of his very eyes. In some brutal, horrific fashion. It was unfathomable. She gave an involuntary shudder.
"Are you all right?" Matthew twisted round to look at her.
She sighed. "Just a little sad is all. Sad for what you have been through, and the friends you have lost," she said solemnly. Matthew sat back and looked ahead. He said nothing. But after a moment, he reached back and put his hand on hers again.
Isobel arrived at the church entrance at the same time that they did. Molesley and Mrs Bird were just behind her.
"Mary!" she exclaimed with a warm smile. "What a pleasant surprise! It is so good to see you home!"
"It is wonderful to be home Isobel," Mary smiled. "I missed Downton and everyone very much." She came around and stood by Matthew. They glanced at each other, and Matthew reached for her hand and gave her a slight nod. "And Isobel, we have an announcement to make."
"We do, indeed," Matthew echoed, giving Mary's hand a squeeze. "Mother," he began looking steadily at Isobel. "Mary and I are going to get married."
Isobel gave a little gasp and put her hand to her mouth. "Oh, my dears," she said, and she began to blink rapidly. "That is such wonderful, wonderful news!" she exclaimed. She put her hands on Mary's shoulders and kissed her on the cheek, and then leaning down, she did the same to her son. And then, at a loss for words, she simply stood and beamed at them.
Mr Molesley and Mrs Bird had turned back and were looking on curiously, Isobel's exclamation having caught their attention.
Matthew beckoned them over, smiling. "Mrs Bird, Molesley," he said. "I am delighted to announce that Lady Mary and I are to marry."
"Oh! What a thing! Well, I never!" Mrs Bird said her face breaking into a wide smile. "That is the very best news! Mr Crawley, m'Lady: You make a fine pair, I must say!"
"Congratulations Sir, Lady Mary," Molesley said, genuinely delighted. "I'm so very pleased for you. Very pleased indeed!"
"Who else knows?" Isobel asked, spontaneously reaching to clasp her son's hand.
"All of my family here in Downton, except for Violet. We hoped to see her here this morning," Mary replied.
"You should," Isobel nodded. "She normally attends this service. And will you both be joining me for luncheon afterward?"
"If that is convenient, we would love to!" answered Mary.
"We shall have a lot to talk about then," Isobel looked very pleased indeed. "And we must have Violet to join us as well."
"I hate to interrupt, but I think we should go in," Molesley said politely. "It's almost time." He grasped the handles of Matthew's wheelchair and carefully backed him up the steps to the door. Isobel, Mary, and Mrs Bird followed.
"Thank you Molesley," Matthew said when they reached the foyer. He spun his chair around and was wheeling himself in when he heard someone call out "Captain Crawley!" He stopped and turned the chair back around again. There was Charlie Connell dressed in his Sunday best with an older woman who he surmised must be his mother.
"Private Connell!" he said. "Or are you going by Mr Connell these days?"
"Private to you, Sir!" said Charlie with a grin. "This here's me Mam. Mam, I'd like you to meet Captain Crawley. And this here is…?" he said looking at Mary.
"Lady Mary Crawley. My fiancé," Matthew said with a wide smile. God, it feels good saying that, he thought.
"An honour to meet you, Lady Mary," Charlie finished, bowing his head politely.
"It's nice to meet you at long last, Mr Connell," Mary said kindly. "I've heard a lot about you from Matthew!"
Charlie blushed. "Only good things, I hope!"
"Of course," Mary smiled. They turned to his mother then. Mary greeted her, and Matthew followed, saying, "It is a pleasure to meet you finally, Mrs Connell."
"The pleasure is all mine, Captain Crawley!" She gave him an earnest look. "Captain, I'm glad of this opportunity. For we have so much to thank you for! You've got my lad into work, and good work at that. Do you know, his position was confirmed as permanent this week. And with it he's got a pay rise!"
"Charlie did it, himself, you know," Matthew said gently. "He's a hard worker and a good lad. You can be proud of him. We just gave him a bit of advice on how to go about it."
"You've no need to be modest, Sir," she said firmly. "I know you did quite a lot more than that, and I've talked with some of the other lads you're giving a hand to as well. This village is lucky to have the likes of you and Lieutenant Napier helping out. And Mr Molesley!" She nodded her head in his direction. "It means such a lot." She gave him another warm smile and turned and followed her son to her seat in the congregation.
0-0-0-0-0-0-0
Oxford St was busy, and a light drizzle was falling, as Mary and Isobel made their way into yet another clothes shop. As she stepped through the door a little too quickly trying to get out of the rain, Mary bumped into someone.
"I beg your pardon," she said, distractedly.
"Mary!" said a voice in surprise.
She looked up to see Lavinia smiling at her.
"Lavinia, what on earth are you doing here?" she said, pleased to see her after so long.
"I could ask you the same thing, except that this very morning I received the invitation to yours and Matthew's wedding, so I do have an idea why you might be visiting this store!" she laughed prettily.
She held out her hand, upon which was a simple diamond on a gold circlet. "Jonathan and I are engaged," she said a little shyly. "We marry in the summer, so I've started looking at dresses."
"That is wonderful news!" said Isobel, who was taking off her coat and trying to shake the water out of her hair. "Is this the same Jonathan as before?" Isobel went on.
"Yes, in fact, it is. Funny isn't it. Mary, you and Matthew got back together, and that's what happened for myself and Jonathan," she said. "Jonathan and I have known each other since we were quite young," Lavinia added, seeing the quizzical look on Mary's face.
"His father worked with my father in banking for many years. We spent time together the year I was studying music, and then we drifted apart when his family moved to France. They came back half way through the war and we found our way to each other again in recent months!" She gave a wide smile and her eyes had the softness of someone in love.
"I'm really pleased for you Lavinia," Mary said sincerely, genuinely glad to hear that Lavinia was in love and had a wedding to look forward to.
"Have you time to join us for tea? I'm sure I won't be too long here and it would be lovely to catch up on all your news."
"Unfortunately I have to go," she said. "I've got to meet my father with his solicitor in a little while to look over some investment documents. But I am greatly looking forward to seeing you properly at the wedding, and Matthew of course. And do tell me quickly how he is, I have been wondering of late."
"To be honest, he's amazing. He's made huge progress with his physical recovery, and he's back at work a few days a week now," Mary said. "But it's everything else he's doing that is astounding us. He and Evelyn have been organising the unemployed veterans, and out of that, they have got quite a number of them back into proper jobs, including quite a few with serious impairments. And Matthew is formidable if he thinks the local employers aren't giving the returned soldiers a fair go," she smiled.
"So he's able to get out and about?" Lavinia said in surprise.
"Quite well, all things considered," said Isobel with a smile. "You'll understand when you see him next!"
"I will look forward to it," she said a little wistfully. "I'm just so very, very glad he survived and I know both of you played a major part in that." She blinked back tears and gave them another of her pretty smiles. "I really must be off or Father will start to worry. And such good luck with finding a nice dress, Mary!"
Lavinia bade them a good day and left for her meeting with her father.
Isobel hastened Mary into the shop and beckoned an assistant, aware they still had a lot to do. They chatted together, discussing Lavinia's news as the assistant showed them through the racks, pulling out this and that for Mary to view.
Much to Mary's delight, the store had several dresses that she liked, and she and Isobel finally settled on one of them, a warm cream colour that contrasted nicely with her dark hair and eyes. The material had a heavy, luxurious feel, which Mary felt instinctively would be good with the early spring timing. A spray of fine beads ran up one side and across one shoulder, in a very flattering effect.
"You are going to look lovely, my dear!" said Isobel warmly, as they left the shop after Mary had been fitted, and the order placed.
"Thank you so much for coming with me Isobel," Mary said. "You can't know how much I appreciate it," she said with feeling.
Unspoken between them was Cora's absence. Cora had made it clear that she was helping Mary with the wedding preparations simply because Robert had insisted, and that she could not support their union. She and Mary had ended up having a row.
"Mother, you spent the first three years that Matthew was here at Downton pushing me to marry him. Now that I am to marry him, you are implacably opposed!" she said in frustration.
"The situation is different," Cora said firmly. "How is it different?" Mary raged. "I love Matthew, and if you must know, I love him much, much more than before!"
"He cannot give you children," Cora said tightly.
"We will adopt," Mary said stubbornly.
"You won't have the life of a married woman!" Cora bit out. "You will be little better than a nursemaid! I don't want that for my daughter!"
"That is not true, and you know it," said Mary coldly. "You have written him off. That's what you have done. You ignore what he can do, what he is doing, and you ignore how much he loves and supports me." She glared at her mother.
"Have you thought how it will look Mary?" Cora beseeched. "How can you possibly take your place in society on the arm of a a …"
"I see," Mary interrupted, her voice even colder. "It's all about how it looks, is it? I cannot believe you, my very own mother can be so shallow, not to mention downright callous.
"I have chosen to be with him, Mama. And for your information, I will be enormously proud the day I take my place in society with Matthew at my side." Mary turned on her heel and left, her heart beating fast in her chest, her fists clenched.
Now, leaving the dress shop with Isobel, she couldn't help but feel the absence of her mother most keenly. She sighed, and Isobel said perceptively "You want Cora, don't you, my dear."
Mary nodded, but couldn't speak. Isobel led her into a nearby teashop, and they sat down in a quiet corner towards the back.
"I'm so angry with her, Isobel," Mary said at last. "She spent three years trying to force me to marry Matthew, and now when both of us want it so much, she won't support us!
"She treats Matthew like he is inhuman. I cannot abide it."
Isobel sighed. "Mary, your mother is worried for you. You may not understand her reasons for that worry, but strange as it seems, it will be coming from a place of love where she is concerned.
"Try to carry on as normal, and perhaps just act towards her as if she does support your marriage. I do hope, like you, that she will get to a point where she sees Matthew instead of seeing his wheelchair, but perhaps that's going to take her longer than the rest of us. But we shouldn't judge her for that."
"But it's not fair on Matthew!" Mary burst out, tears pricking the back of her eyes.
"Mary," Isobel said patiently. "Let Matthew fight that battle. It's his to fight," and then she smiled. "And to let you in on a little secret, Matthew is strong enough in himself now to see it as quite funny. And he's chosen to be patient with her and wait it out. Perhaps you need to do the same."
"Has he really?" Mary asked in surprise, blinking back her tears.
Isobel nodded and smiled. "It's become a bit of a standing joke between us I must admit over the past months! Humour can make a lot of things bearable! And it's allowing Matthew to be patient with her."
Mary took a deep breath. "Right now, it's going to take me quite a while to forgive her, you know," she said a slight tremor in her voice. "She said some truly awful things when we rowed."
She looked at Isobel and gave a small smile. "But hearing you say how Matthew is dealing with it does make me feel just a tiny bit better. Thank you so much for telling me that."