Matthew couldn't help his leg from bouncing up and down as he sat waiting for the disciplinary committee to call for him. Mary sat beside him, seemingly calm as she scrolled through messages on her phone. After the 'incident', as Matthew had come to call it to himself, people had been basically harassing her for details, not that she was particularly forthcoming. Rather, Mary had stayed silent on what had happened so all that existed was speculation. And that was rampant.
He ran both his hands through his hair, and based on the number of times he had done it already, he was sure it was a mess. His normally neatly combed hair probably resembled more of a bird's nest at this point, but he couldn't help himself from doing it yet again. 'A nervous habit', he had explained once to Mary when she saw him doing it while revising for an exam. He hadn't had much cause to be nervous since that moment so it wasn't surprising to him that he could see her looking at him from the corner of his eye. And he had reason to be nervous. He knew what ever the outcome of this disciplinary meeting was could jeopardize all his future plans, as well as Mary's.
"It's going to be fine." Mary's words of comfort were nice, but not all that comforting. "They'll fine us and then send us on our way." She continued, her fingers reaching out and attempting to smooth out his mussed up hair.
"You don't know that for sure. Who knows what Rick and Tony told them. They probably said I instigated it, that I threw the first punch." He hunched over, arms propped up on his knees as he steepled his fingers over his mouth. "And they wouldn't even be lying!"
"Be quiet." Mary scolded him, looking at the closed doors at the end of the hall in which the disciplinary committee was assembling. "No matter what those two told them, you will be fine." She ran her hand over his back, in some attempt to soothe him, but it didn't help as he shrugged her off.
"You forget that I'm not like you or Tony or even bloody Rick. I'm not even in this college. I don't have the requisite bank account. They have no reason to be lenient with me. And I don't expect them to." He was too wrapped up in his own rant to notice how Mary shrank back at his words, how her face hardened with each barb.
"Stop throwing yourself a pity party, it isn't attractive." Mary snapped back, crossing her arms over her chest and angling her crossed legs so that she could kick him in the shin which she did to force his attention back on her. "News flash, my background has nothing to do with my position here. It doesn't." Mary insisted at Matthew's scoff. "Or did you forget that I went against family tradition of going to that other university to come here. I'm not some sort of legacy and my father doesn't have pull with the Rector. Here, we are all equal. All subject to the same rules and the same punishments." But her words didn't penetrate the haze of self righteous anger that enveloped Matthew. They sounded hollow and like a fantasy to him.
"I love you, Mary, but you can be incredibly blind when you want to be." He stood, pacing the small length of hall in front of the bench where she as seated and watching him.
"Lady Mary Crawley." A stern voice announced, causing both of them to look up. "If you would join us." It was phrased as a question, but based on the pinched expression on the woman's face, it wasn't meant as such.
Mary stood, smoothing out skirt of her dress before grabbing her gown from the bench and slipping it on. She spared Matthew only a fleeting look, and Matthew was unsurprised to see the anger in her eyes.
Mary's heels clicked loudly on the tile floor and could still be heard as she passed through the doorway and into the room. "We'll be with you in a moment ." The woman then announced before closing the door with a thud.
"Take a seat please, Lady Mary." The expression on the woman's face smoothed out slightly from its previously pinched look, but she still looked unhappy to be there. She gestured to a lone chair at the end of a long table, and at the other end, the head of her college and the rest of the disciplinary committee sat silently. There was an additional person seated with them, and Mary assumed it was a representative from Matthew's college. Mary met their gaze evenly, taking the proffered seat and folding her hands in her lap.
"Lady Mary, I want to begin by saying that you are not in any trouble." It was the sub-Rector speaking and she looked down the table at her gravely. Mary nodded, already well aware that she hadn't been summoned due to anything she had done. "But based on the chaos that surrounds the events in question and the unreliability of the views of those chiefly involved, we want you to tell us what happened. What you tell us won't leave this room so do feel free to tell us honestly what happened." Mary nodded again. The committee exchanged glances with each other before the sub-rector spoke again. "Why don't you begin by telling us what happened?"
Mary opened her mouth to speak before closing it again and reconsidering her words. She wet her lips and shifted in her seat to stall before finally sighing and beginning her explanation. "It wasn't Matthew's fault."
Two days earlier…
"Wristband?" The guard at the door requested, scanning the little barcode on the band and checking his screen before waving Matthew past. Mary stood waiting just beyond, having cleared the entrance moments before.
"Ready?" Matthew settled his hand on the small of her back, ushering her forward into the mass of other students waiting to filter onto the transformed college grounds.
"Promise me that you won't make a fool of yourself, should you come face to face with Tony and his lot." Mary asked. She had asked him before they had left for the ball, and the night before that and the night before that. He had agreed each and every previous time, so why she felt the need to ask again, he didn't know.
"You do you assume I'd make a fool of myself? Tony's the fool." Matthew joked away the question, only to be met with Mary's eye roll.
"It's because I know you, you stupidly noble man." She bumped her shoulder against his and he feigned a wounded expression.
"I wouldn't call being noble, being stupid. It's like an oxymoron." Mary narrowed her eyes at his answer and he gave in with a sigh as they finally passed through onto the ground. "Yes, I promise." He grabbed two flutes of champagne from the tables set up around the entrance, handing one to Mary as they stepped further into the ball. "But I doubt we'll run into them. After all, look at this place, it's huge." He downed the champagne, dropping the flute onto an abandoned table before taking her hand. "I'm sure after three years, you know of some secluded spots. Let's go stake our claim on one."
"I may know of some secret spots the ball committee set up." Mary finished her champagne and discarded the plastic flute into the trash. "But first the bar." She allowed Matthew to take her hand as they shuffled towards the nearest bar.
"Sounds like a perfect plan." Matthew couldn't help but smile, leaning down for a kiss. For once, Mary didn't even try to put up a token protest at the PDA and Matthew took that as a sign. It was going to be a fantastic night.
"You know, it's incredibly ironic." Matthew mused aloud. His arm was draped over Mary's shoulder as they swayed slightly in the small hammock that was supposed to act like a bench, but more uncomfortable. After finding one of those more secluded areas (and by secluded, he meant less in the flow of traffic. There will still quite a few people milling in the area around them), Matthew had followed through with his idea of staking a claim to a spot and not really leaving. It had taken them a few adjustments to get comfortable in the hammock but once they had, Matthew hadn't really wanted to get up. Part of that was due to his apathy for the ball in general. He had no desire to get drunk, or dance the night away, which was the primary function of these types of events. But the larger part was due to the fact that the only comfortable way to really sit in this contraption was for Mary to lean into him, resting most of her weight against him. They were basically cuddling, but in public. And Matthew wasn't about to disrupt that.
"What's ironic?" Mary's head was resting against his shoulder, her fingers twisting the buttons of his shirt almost to the point of distraction.
"Silent discos are not really silent." Matthew laughed, raising his drink to his lips for a sip. The gin and tonic had pretty much gone flat, but he wasn't going to get up to get another.
"When you get that many drunken people into one spot, silence is scientifically impossible." Mary shot back, but with a smile. Matthew's responding laughter was quiet compared to the noise from the main part of the ball.
"True." He pushed his foot against the ground, setting them to sway slightly as they listened to the sounds of the ball. Mary looked up at Matthew, only to see his eyes closed as he continued to make them away gently. She didn't stop the impulse she felt to brush her fingers over his lips, causing him to blink his eyes open in surprise.
"Like what you see?" He teased, kissing her fingers as they fluttered past before trailing down his neck.
"It's alright." It as hard to shrug the way she was seated but Matthew understood her teasing.
"Just alright." He muttered in response, shaking his head. "I'll have you know that my girlfriend finds me completely irresistible. Just alright. Ha!" He scoffed, his gaze focused on her face. Every few seconds, Mary could see his eyes flicker down to where she leaned against him. The angle was just right for allowing him a peek at what was underneath her dress.
"Does she really? Well, maybe –". She trailed off as her eyes fixed on someone over Matthew's shoulder. As the person turned towards them, she recognized Tony and she immediately tensed, causing Matthew to turn from teasing to serious in an instant.
"What is it?" He couldn't look see Tony from his angle and Mary was grateful.
"Nothing. Nothing." She patted her hand against his chest, pulling away and trying to sit up. "I just need to stand up and walk. I think we should go see the rest of the ball while we have a chance."
"But–". Matthew frowned, but stood helping Mary out of the complicated seat.
"Come on." She purposefully tried to be flirty, a tactic she only used because of her desire to be as far from Tony as possible. And while most of her attention was focused on Matthew, part of her was acutely aware that Tony could at any moment spot them.
"The things I do for you." Matthew said fondly, standing and settling his hands on her waist. "Alright, let's explore." He leaned in for a kiss and Mary wanted to fall into it, but couldn't. Because at the moment Matthew pressed his lips to hers, Mary saw Tony spot them and begin to move towards them, his group of friends trailing behind.
"Let's go." Mary stepped back, pulling his hands from her waist and using them to tow him further into the ball. Thankfully it was dark enough that Tony didn't see them as they merged into the crowd and Mary finally let out the breath she had been holding.
"You look breathtaking." The compliment came from over her shoulder. The voice was a familiar one, but not a welcome one. Mary suppressed her shutter of disgust.
"What do you want, Rick?" She couldn't keep her exasperation in check as she spoke to him. She refused to turn and look at him, instead focusing on Matthew as he waded through the crowd at the bar to get her a drink.
"Can't I just pay you a compliment?" He stepped into her eye line, smugness radiating off him in waves. And it wasn't just by his behavior. His tux was outlandish, ostentatious just to show he could afford to do so.
"Save your compliments for your date. Surely she wants to hear them, while I, on the other hand, do not." She hated the way Rick seemed to take pleasure from her rebukes, his eyes lighting up with joy at every jab.
"I'll have you know I'm dateless tonight. Flying solo. On the prowl. Sowing my wild oats. You know." He laughed at his own words and Mary had to stop herself from scowling.
"What do you want, Rick." Her patience had been used up and all she wanted was for him to be gone.
"I think we should talk, you and I." He leaned close as he spoke, so close that Mary could feel his breath on her cheek. Mary's eyes instinctively flickered towards Matthew where he stood collecting their now completed drinks and turning back towards them. Rick followed her gaze, and stepped back, but he had a devious expression on his face that sent chills down Mary's spine.
"Mary." Matthew's voice was wary as he stepped up to her side. She took her vodka and cranberry from him gratefully, using the excuse of taking a drink from having to speak. "Richard Carlisle. Long time, no see." Matthew's frosty greeting wasn't lost on Rick who didn't seem to mind.
"Matthew. What an unexpected surprise. I didn't know you could make it to this ball." Mary frowned at the hidden insult in Rick's words. Matthew, wisely Mary was happy to note, stayed silent. "I was just inviting Mary here to join Tony and me at the private after party. Oh, and you of course." The purposeful hastiness of the last bit had a clear message. Matthew wasn't welcome any more.
"I don't think we are really up for anymore after this." Mary answered for them both, stepping into Matthew's side and forcing him to wrap his arm around her, not that he objected.
"Now you know what I am talking about Mary. Stop playing obtuse." Matthew looked at her in confusion as Mary stared at Carlisle murderously.
"I want nothing to do with that club of yours." Mary replied and Matthew's confusion only grew.
"Oh, please." Rick seemed to be over playing coy. "You know you want to join us and leave all this." He cast a disdainful eye over their surroundings. "I was sent to be the messenger as to the location. Now let's go before I just leave you here with the unwashed masses." Rick turned on his heel and began to push through the people around them.
"Do you want to explain that?" Matthew kept his voice free of any suspicion even though she knew he didn't appreciate the secrets that Mary just clearly exchanged with Rick.
"Later. We should probably follow him." Together they trailed after Rick, past the lights of the ball and into the darkness of the closed portion of the college grounds. Rick only looked back once to see that they were following before reaching a door and knocking softly. The door swung open and they were ushered in as the door quickly swung shut behind them. They quietly headed down a darkened hall until they reached a door that was haloed by light. Another knock from Rick and the door opened to reveal a well appointed room, only somewhat filled. Bottles of alcohol were scattered everywhere as were substances Matthew didn't want to know the effects of. Mary and Rick acted as if all this was second nature to them, but to Matthew it seemed like something out of a movie. A secret after party with an exclusive invite list? Surely this wasn't real.
"I promise I'll explain later." Mary whispered to him, pulling him out of his shock.
"Welcome to the club with no name." Tony greeted them, arms wide. Mary nodded at his greeting as Rick dropped onto a couch where he was immediately surrounded by girls.
"No name?" Matthew questioned aloud, much to Tony's seeming amusement. "No name, because we don't exist, mate." Tony winked waving them forward. "Now left's get you two some drinks!"
"This is surreal." Matthew spoke quietly to Mary, watching as the others did any number of illegal activities.
"It's ridiculous." Mary countered, hand gripping a drink she refused to taste. She didn't trust any of these men not to dose her in an effort to 'loosen' her up and Matthew didn't exactly blame her. But it seemed that it was two to one, female to male, which Matthew found odd as he watched the party unfold. And while Matthew recognized the men, he didn't recognize any of the women.
Mary watched Matthew's face as he took in the debauchery. "They are escorts." Mary supplied without prompting, guessing that Matthew was trying to make sense of the people around them.
"What?" He sputtered, coughing on air.
"They should be gone soon." Mary nestled closer to him, pulling the arm that rested around her shoulders in tighter as if it would shield her from what was going on around them.
"I don't understand any of this." Matthew muttered into her ear, averting his eyes from the increasingly sexual overtures happening right in front of them.
"Good." Mary replied. "That only makes me love you more."
"How did you like our little event?" Rick asked hours later. The escorts were gone, as were most of the other guys leaving Mary and Matthew alone with Rick and Tony.
"It was…interesting." Matthew said politely.
"That's one way to put it." Rick laughed, taking a swig from an open bottle.
"Sorry for surprising you with it. I had wanted to tell you earlier where to find us, but I lost you in the crowd." Tony spoke to them both, even though his eyes were focused solely on Mary.
"Why isn't Mabel here?" Mary asked in return. Tony seemed to frown at the mention of his girlfriend's name before Rick answered for him.
"She isn't a member." Rick sat with his arms splayed out beside him and his legs crossed, as if her were the master and this his domain.
"Neither am I." Mary retorted quickly.
"You're an honorary member." Tony corrected her.
"Why only honorary?" Matthew questioned, bringing all three sets of eyes onto him.
"Men only. Only the elite of the elite. Mary here just happens to fit all the selection criteria for members though." Rick explained, eyes scanning Matthew as if he were found wanting.
"Except for my anatomy." Mary supplied, much to Rick's amusement.
"Yes. But I happen to enjoy your anatomy so I won't object." Rick leered, irritating Matthew. Even Tony seemed to be annoyed with the blatant come on, but Rick ignored them both as he focused on Mary. "How could I? When you look so amazing in any situation?" Matthew watched as Rick pulled out an envelope from behind the couch and broke open the seal. "But when you grow up looking as you did, well, you could only become more beautiful with age." He threw a photo onto the table before them and the image made Matthew turn away. He hadn't seen it before, but he hadn't needed to know what it was. Mary had told him all about them.
They were of her. When she was fourteen.
"How did you get these?" Matthew glad to hear the steadiness in her voice as she pushed the image away. Tony grabbed it before it could slip away, studying it intently.
"Its a funny story actually. Did you know that your aunt and uncle kept your cousin Patrick's room a shrine to him? It hasn't changed at all in the five years since his unfortunate death." Seeing that he had all the attention on him, Rick continued. "You see, your aunt and uncle recently hired a house keeper, someone to clean their home, take care of things, including Patrick's room. But this woman, well, she wasn't much of a housekeeper."
Rick paused to make sure he had all of their attention on him before continuing. "She was a thief and was using the job to knick some things before skipping town. She figured that she'd start in the room that was now a shrine, after all, neither of her employers ever went in there so it would be months, if not years before they noticed anything gone. So while she was searching his desk, she came along this." Rick held up the envelope, flipping it between his hands. "She knew what she had was a payday so she sought out one of my family's papers, intent to sell the contents. And I bought it off her. For a hefty price I might add." Rick seemed delighted to be telling this story, even as Mary and Matthew sat there in increasing anger. Tony seemed entirely confused as to what he was looking at. "Don't worry, I made her sign a NDA. Your secret is safe with me."
"So not safe at all then." Mary bit out.
"Don't be that way, Mary." Rick tsked, shaking his head.
"Rick, what is this?" Tony interrupted, still holding on to the photo.
"Do you want to tell him, or should I?" Rick taunted, staring Mary down. Mary refused to be the first to give in and stayed silent, meeting his gaze head on. After a few moments of silence, Rick finally laughed and looked towards his friend. "Me it is! You see Tony, Mary here isn't the innocent she wanted us all to believe she was. No, see, the cold and careful Lady Mary was a slut in her teenaged years."
"You don't know what you are talking about." Matthew growled out, hand bunching into fists.
"Oh, so he knows?" Rick grin widened. "But you didn't tell Tony? That doesn't seem right, does it?"
"Will one of you just tell me what the hell it is that I am looking at?" Tony shouted. Rick just smirked at Mary before speaking again.
"Those my friends, are some shots of our dear Mary after her deflowering. And at fourteen too. How scandalous." Rick seemed to delight in telling Tony the details. His eyes were still intently focused on Mary, a battle of wills that neither was willing to back down from.
"What?" Tony was shocked, his face falling at the reveal.
"It was with that guy Pamuk, right? Your cousin's buddy. No wonder you never slept with Tony here. He not foreign enough for you? Not adventurous enough?"
"I'd stop this if I were you Rick." Matthew sat forward, blocking Mary from Rick's view and effectively ending their staring match. "You don't know what you are talking about. You could go to jail for those photos."
"I don't think I will." Matthew wasn't sure what Rick was referring to with this answer, but the smile that continued to grace his face told Matthew all he needed to know.
"Mary?" Tony's wounded voice cut through the tense silence and they all watched as he got up and sat beside her. Matthew wanted to push him away, but he could only watch as Tony looked at her with a pitiful expression in his eyes.
"Was it me? Is that why you didn't tell me? Why we didn't work out?" He seemed genuinely upset, his composure slipping. "You have to know that I don't care about your past. Who you slept with before me didn't matter, doesn't matter. If anything it takes the pressure off." He reached out for one of Mary's hand, placing it between both of his own. "I don't think being sexually aware makes you a slut, unlike what Rick said."
Mary seemed frozen, unsure what to do as she sat between Tony and Matthew. The former stared at her beseechingly, ducking his head to try and meet her eye. The latter watched in horror.
"Now that its all out in the open, you can dump this one," Rick pointed to Matthew, "and be happy with Tony." He took the photo Tony had cast aside, slipping it back into his envelope.
"You have no idea what you are talking about, do you?" Matthew finally shouted, standing as he stared between the two men. Rick seemed smug, Tony hopeful, and Matthew lost any of the reserve he may have had long ago. "Mary, let's go. Now." He held out his hand and she took it, allowing him to help her up. He tried to usher her out the door, but Mary stopped him with a hand on his arm as she turned to face the two men.
"I was raped, Rick. That envelope? It's proof of that." Mary watched as Tony's eyes widened at her words while Rick's narrowed.
"Being passed out proves nothing. I imagine in your inexperience, Pamuk must have worn you out. What is it they say in racing? Rode hard and put away wet?" Rick stood, matching Mary's stance.
"You son of a –" Mary heard Matthew shout before all hell broke loose.
"Security heard the commotion and that's how they found us." Mary concluded. Her hands were gripped so tightly in her lap that her knuckles were white.
There was silence from the other end of the table as they absorbed the news. None of them seemed to want to be the first to speak.
"So you see, it wasn't Matthew's fault." Mary repeated into the silence. "He was only trying to protect me. If anything, the fault is mine."
"Lady Mary, if what you say is true, then we have much larger issues than just fighting and destruction of property on our hands." The sub-Rector finally spoke.
"Of course what I said is true. Why would I make something like this up?"
"We aren't suggesting you are, Lady Mary." One of the other committee members spoke up. "But we can't take accusations like this lightly."
"I think it'd be best if we reconvene after we can do a thorough investigation. You are free to go Lady Mary. Mr. Crawley as well." Mary didn't hesitate after that announcement. She immediately stood and was out the door before another word could be spoken.
As soon as she entered the hall, Matthew stood. His hair was once again a mess, and he looked as if someone had put him through the ringer. The sight of him caused whatever had been holding her together until that point to snap. She rushed towards him, burying her head in his shoulder as she worked to keep from breaking down into tears.
"Mary? What happened? Are you alright?" His words came in a rush as he held her as close as physically possible. Her body shuttered in his arms, causing his alarm to increase as he tried to comfort her as best he could.
"We can go." She finally managed to utter, lifting her head and meeting his eye. His expression was still troubled and she knew he was moments away from asking what had caused her to react in such a way so she forced herself to look away from him and back to his hair. "Your hair is a mess." She smiled softly, reaching up to smooth it out much like she had before walking into that room.
"But I have to speak to them next." He nodded towards the doors at the end of the hall. Matthew didn't push Mary is answer the unspoken questions that lingered between them, sensing that she wasn't going to answer even if he did ask.
Mary just shook her head. "No. They dismissed you for now. They'll call us back later." Mary reached for him again, burying her face in to the softness of his sweater as he stroked a hand up and down her back. Belatedly, she realized she was probably ruining her makeup against the soft cashmere, but she couldn't be bothered to do anything about it now.
Matthew continued to stroke his hand up and down her back as they stood rooted to that spot. "What do you need? What can I do?" He whispered, pressing a kiss to the crown of her head, the only part accessible to him from where she was buried against his shoulder.
Mary lifted her head after his questions, wiping her fingers under her eyes to make sure she didn't look completely like a train wreck. "Let's go home, Matthew. Take me home."
So that's what he did. He didn't ask any questions when Mary told him to take her to his place. Instead, he just took her to his flat and let her use him as a human pillow as they laid there in silence.
"Its going to get out. What happened." Mary finally spoke. "Rick's family's papers are going to make it into a spectacle."
"Doesn't matter." Matthew squeezed her shoulders gently in reassurance. "We'll get through it together."
AN: So...what do you think?