Previously: "But the XO did all the work."

"My point exactly"

"But where could I find an XO like that...oh"

"Yes, you're marrying her next week."

"But I can't put all the weight on her."

"My understanding is that she's been doing it since her father first went to war. Watch her and learn and when the time comes you can take the load off Mary." Bert stood up. "So concludeth the lesson for the day."

Violet concluded her lecture on the care and management of man, subset married. It had been entertaining and informative, peppered as it had been by illustrative examples from the pupils' own lineage (neither granddaughter having been spared). It had not been a lecture in which one could sit in the back row and read the newspaper; not when the lecturer in husband husbandry was so fond of the Socratic method. It left Edith thinking 'I can do this; it might be fun'. It left Mary whiny.

"Grannie I know all this, I just cannot do it."

Violet resisted the urge to rap Mary across the knuckles with her cane. It would not do if the wedding band would not slip onto the bride's finger because said finger was swollen to the size of a cucumber. "And why not?"

"I do not know! Afterwards I realize what I did wrong; like with Anna, I know I should have chastised Matthew in a much gentler way; or hiring Molesley, I know I should have let Matthew decide on his valet; but at the time I just acted without thinking. I am not like that at all. All my life I have watched you and Mama and Aunt Rosamund play Papa like a piano; I learned from all of you; I can manage Matthew so that we have a happy life together; I know how to; I want to; I just cannot do it!' Edith handed Mary a handkerchief which Mary proceeded to worry.

"There, there" Violet reached over and patted Mary's knee. "Take a sip of your nightcap and calm yourself".Violet took a sip herself and thought. Mary did know what to do. She had proven herself many times over after Robert had been gassed. So why was she stumbling now? And for that matter why had the charming aviator turned into a petulant five year old tonight? She could see one of them going off the rails, but both of them at the same time? It beggared belief unless...unless it was the curse. She nodded to herself. Yes, the Adversary was being subtle. She realized now that the curse would not be ended merely because Mary and Matthew were united by rituals and legalities; it would only end if they were united in love. Destroy their love by misplaced anger, misunderstanding and petulance and the curse would continue on until the Crawleys were no more. She had to preserve their love but how? Mention 'curse' to Mary and the spectre of Pamuk would rise from its burial spot at the crossroads sans stake through the heart. And she remembered the indulgent look 'that old women do tend to rattle on about the strangest things' Matthew had given her when she had mentioned the curse to him when they had first met in the church after Robert's funeral. So how could she preserve their love, strengthen their love, without bringing up the curse? How? Violet sat and pondered.

-0-

Edith's closest relatives were starting to get on her nerves. Her grandmother was sitting and staring at her hands clasped over the head of her cane. Edith would have thought her Grannie asleep except that every few minutes she would reach for her glass and take a sip of her sherry. Without looking Mary was picking at the seam of the handkerchief Edith had given her. Edith could see that Mary had the corner up, in a few minutes the whole seam would be up and the square of fine linen would be unwoven. She could not stand it any longer. "Alfred could you please ask Carson when he expects the gentlemen will be joining us" she asked.

A few minutes later the footman returned with Carson.

"The gentlemen have just concluded their meeting with Mrs. Patmore so I expect they will be coming through shortly."

Mary stood up. "Mrs. Patmore? Oh dear, I had better..."

"Forgive me my lady I did not mean to alarm you" Carson interjected "I was not privy to the meeting but I can tell you that Mrs. Patmore left it in good spirits. It appears that she and Lord Grantham have resolved any concerns regarding dinner to their mutual satisfaction."

"I see" said Mary and she sat back down. She did not see, not really.

Violet and Edith smiled at each other.

-0-

When the gentlemen finally did enter Matthew apologized for their tardiness in rejoining and added "I also apologize for my boorish behaviour during dinner which took away your enjoyment of a very fine meal. I beg your forgiveness." He bowed to the ladies and was intending to draw Mary away from the others so he could tender a more personal apology to her when he was forestalled by Violet.

"These things do happen" she assured Matthew, her smile not quite concealing the steel in her words "what is unforgivable is if they should happen again."

Matthew's nod to her conveyed both his understanding and and his undertaking not to do any such again.

Violet stood up "Now it is my turn to beg your forgiveness. I am an old woman and I need my rest. Come Mary give me your arm while we trundle out to the door. You three go on ahead" and she waved her hand in dismissal of Edith, Matthew and Bert.

Once the slowness of old age and infirmity had created a sufficient gap to the others so that they could not be overheard Violet told Mary "You must speak to Matthew tonight. You cannot let this fester between you overnight."

"But he is going to bed. I am going to bed. When can we..."

"In bed"

Mary stopped, shocked. "Grannie we do not...we are not... we cannot.." She was too embarrassed to complete a coherent sentence, all she could manage was "it is improper..."

Violet rolled her eyes. "The proprieties are guidelines honoured more in the breach. Like the whole idea of separate bedrooms" Violet gave Mary a sharp look. "Speaking of which, where is the propriety in you and Matthew being the only ones sleeping on the family floor?"

"I never thought of that" Mary sputtered.

"Well do not start over thinking things now. Get in bed with him tonight and talk this out. Pillow talk is the best talk. And do not bite his head off no matter the provocation. Count to twenty, by Roman numerals if you have to, before you say anything in anger."

"But Grannie we are not married yet"

"So? Who is to know? Besides you will be married in week anyway. Consider tonight a preview."

"But Grannie if we are in bed we might do.. ah..."

"All I am suggesting is that you talk" anything more is a bonus Violet thought "now we had better get a move on before they send a search party for us."

-0-

"Mary you go on up to bed, Matthew can walk me out to the automobile" Violet instructed.

Mary gave her grandmother a goodbye kiss on the cheek. She blushed when Violet whispered in her ear "A dab of perfume behind each ear and at the base of your throat would not hurt."

At her insistence Matthew walked Violet around the auto to the side away from door of the Abbey. When he went to open the auto door for her she stopped him. In a quiet voice the others could not hear she told him "You must speak to Mary tonight. You cannot let this fester between you overnight."

"But she has already gone to bed."

"Your objection being?"

"That she will be in bed"

"So get in bed with her."

"But, but, but..." Matthew stuttered.

"But what?"

"But she doesn't want me to..ah..."

"How do you know? Have you asked her?"

"No, of course not.."

Violet patted him on the chest. "Well ask her. I think you will be pleasantly surprised. You know a husband and wife should not go to bed angry at each other. My husband and I lived by that rule and we had a good marriage, mind you it was not always a well rested one. Now give me a kiss like a good grandson so I can go home"

-0-

Violet leaned back in her seat. She had done all she could. You can get two lovers into bed but you cannot make them talk. That was up to them.