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Chapter 8

Realizing that she had made a horrible scene at her youngest sister's wedding, Mary decided she would sneak upstairs for the rest of the evening in an attempt to keep from drawing any more attention to herself. Unfortunately, she ran into both her mother and Edith, as she tried to go up the back stairs.

"What was that all about?" Her mother asked, horrified. Edith was standing beside her mama with a smirk on her face.

"You had to make this about you, didn't you?"

Mary rolled her eyes. Her sister would be glad that she had screwed up.

"I'm not feeling well. I'm going to go up to my room for the night."

"No, you will explain yourself," Cora interjected. "You made a scene at Sybil's wedding reception. Why were you screaming at poor Tony?"

Mary let out a loud sigh. "He's not poor Tony. He knew Alex Green and he was making excuses for his behavior, 'boys will be boys' and all that nonsense."

Her mother appeared confused, but Edith seemed to comprehend, because her face changed to understanding.

"I still don't understand why…"

"Mama, let's just go back to the reception and let Mary rest." For once in her life, Mary was grateful for Edith's intrusion. "I'll explain it to you."

Mary took this opportunity to dash up the stairway to keep from anyone else trying to speak with her to see what had happened. She would need to apologize to Sybil and Tom, of course, but that could wait until after they came back from their honeymoon. Hopefully, they would be too into their bliss to be too upset by it.

Entering her bedroom, she slid off her shoes. This room, the Queen Caroline, was always where she stayed whenever they had an event at Downton Abbey. As a young child, she had felt drawn to it and claimed it as her own. And even now, in the mist of her drama, it soothed her slightly.

She went to the vanity and sat down to begin taking off her make-up. Even though she could hear the others downstairs, she was going to attempt to go to sleep and forget about this awful evening.

There came a knock at the door and she heard it beginning to open. Mary stiffened, preparing for her father appearing to scold her for her behavior. However, as she glanced up at the mirror, she was surprised to see Matthew standing in the doorway. She immediately turned and stood, inhaling sharply.

"Matthew," she breathed. "How did you find me?"

Matthew lightly chuckled, glancing around at the walls. "I can always find you here."

Those words crushed Mary's heart. This very room was where Matthew had expressed his love for Mary and Mary had reciprocated that love. They had made love for the very first time, right in here. Most of their first had happened in this room.

Mary brushed off those thoughts and shook her head. "Shouldn't you be downstairs with Lavinia, enjoying the wedding?"

"I should," Matthew agreed. "But I am worried about you."

"Me?" Mary feigned ignorance. "Why are you worried about me?"

"You haven't been acting like yourself," he said. "Did Tony do something to you?"

"Not me, exactly," Mary replied. "He apparently knows Alex Green. And he told me he knew that Alex was doing these things. I got angry, rightfully so, and sent him off. I probably shouldn't have screamed at him in the middle of the dance hall, but I could only see red."

"Well, of course." The lines on Matthew's forehead had deepened, showing that he too was disturbed by this notion. He also cared for Anna.

"But I'm alright, Matthew," Mary pressed on. "You can go back down and enjoy the reception."

Matthew remained in his spot, his eyes on her. Her heart skipped a beat and she wished that everything was how it had been. She wished that she could go up to him, hold him, and take back all of their firsts. But she knew that could never be.

"Goodnight, Matthew," she said, reminding him it was his time to go. Matthew gave her a half nod.

"Goodnight, Mary."

-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-

When they arrived at the bar, Anna headed straight up the back stairs to her small flat with John trailing behind her. She hadn't spoken much once they left and John was concerned that her spat with Mary was bothering her more than she had said it was.

Anna went into her flat and she loudly sighed.

"Are you sure there isn't any more to this not believing you thing that Mary said?" John couldn't help himself. The way Mary said it made John worry that someone important doesn't believe Green drugged Anna. It couldn't just be the obnoxious people on the internet, people, whom John wanted to have meetings with each of them individually to show them just how wrong they were.

"What?" Anna turned to face him, rubbing her eyes.

"Who doesn't believe you, Anna?" He tried being more specific. Anna just shook her head.

"I told you. It is the people online."

"It's more than that, Anna. Isn't it?"

John stepped forward, placing his hands on Anna's shoulders.

"What more could there be?"

"Who doesn't believe you?" He tried, yet again.

"I'm so tired. I'd really rather not talk about it anymore," Anna sighed.

John's hands caressed against her skin and he eyed her carefully, "You know you can tell me anything, right?"

"I know." Anna then yawned.

"I'm sorry that you and Mary quarreled."

"It's fine," Anna stated. "We'll get to the other side of it. She and I have been friends for over twenty years. This is not the first quibble we've ever had."

John's hand came up to touch her cheek. "But there's something else?"

"I am worried about her," Anna whispered, her eyes shining with tears. "She's my friend and I think she's losing it a bit. And I'm not sure how to help."

"Oh, my darling," he murmured, bringing her into his arms. She fell right against him and he felt as she turned her head into his chest, fitting perfectly.

Anna glanced up a moment later, smiling.

"What?" He asked, his own lips curling up at the sight of hers.

"You called me 'my darling'."

"Well, you are," John said, kissing her forehead. "You know you mean the world to me, right?"

Anna hummed contently. "You make me very happy," she told him.

He pulled her back against him and just held her tightly. Everything just felt so perfect.

-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-

She had been asleep when she heard the knock on her flat's door. Anna rubbed her eyes, grabbing her phone by her bed to check the time. It was nearing noon, but with her schedule she tended to sleep late and stay up late, as well.

Anna grabbed the pants that were on the floor and put them on, before throwing her hair up into a messy bun. She had no idea who could be at the door. It likely wasn't John. He had her key and now they, more often than not, just walked into one another's flats.

Opening the door, she was surprised to find Matthew on the other side.

"Matthew," she said. "I…"

"I'm sorry to drop in on you, Anna," he apologized. "I didn't mean…"

"It's fine." Anna invited him in and then quickly grabbed some of the clutter off of the settee for him to sit. "Sorry it's a bit of a mess, I hadn't been planning on guests."

"Please don't feel you need to clean on my behalf," Matthew said, as he sat down. "I like your new place."

"You're being kind," Anna stated. "I know it's not much, but it's mine. But you aren't here to speak about my flat, are you?"

"No," Matthew agreed. Anna took a seat across from Matthew and waited to see what he was here to speak about. Though Anna had a good guess. "I've actually come about two things."

"You know I can't talk with you about Mary," Anna quickly reminded him. Matthew sat forward, placing his elbows on his knees and his chin in his hands, a thoughtful look covering his face.

"I know you are loyal to Mary, Anna. I've always appreciated how much you care about her, but something isn't right and you know what it is."

Anna straightened up, slightly, twisting her lips. "I might," she carefully agreed. "But that doesn't mean I have the right to share it."

"Can you, at least, tell me if she still cares about me?" These words made Anna's chest tighten. She wanted so desperately to share everything with Matthew, to fix all of this for the both of them. But it was not her secret to tell and Mary still needed to come to terms with what happened.

Anna gave a small nod, her eyes meet Matthew's. "Of course, she does."

Matthew let out a low sigh and then stood, running a hand through his hair. Anna stood as well, not knowing if there was anything else that she could or should say.

"Thank you," Matthew then quietly said. He turned, almost as though he was about to leave, before remembering what else he had come by for. He pulled a small folded piece of a newspaper from his pocket and handed it to Anna. "I can keep papers from using your name, but not the title Lucky One. I also can't keep this from happening. I'm sorry, Anna."

Curious, Anna unfolded the paper. Over the past few days, she had purposely avoided the papers and social media. It was better for her mental state not to read what everyone else talked about. However, as the paper unfolded, her entire body froze and angry tears stung her eyes.

Lucky One's Mother, Sandra Evans, Speaks Out about Case

Anna's eyes then quickly skimmed the short article, her heart hammering wildly within her chest. She shouldn't be surprised, but she was. She had not seen her mother in nearly twenty years. Of course, her mother would take any opportunity to fame even if it meant hurting her daughter.

Refolding the paper and stuffing it beneath some books on her table, she forced a smile on her lips.

"Thank you for sharing that with me, Matthew." Matthew knew very little about Anna's past, but he did know about her strained relationship with her mother.

"I really am sorry."

"It's nothing for you to apologize to me about," Anna assured him. "I should probably shower and get ready for work. Thanks for stopping by." Matthew nodded, giving his goodbye as well. "And Matthew…I really do wish I could tell you."

-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-

He couldn't stop thinking about her. Ever since the other night back in the Queen Caroline's room, it had made his memories stronger. He loved Mary; it was something he could not deny. But he didn't know how to make her speak with him. He had hoped Anna would give him something, anything, but she was loyal to Mary, not him.

Sighing, he stood from his desk and went to walk to the window that looked upon the street below. It was where he often went when he couldn't focus. He liked to people watch and pretend he knew their life stories.

"You always like that window," Lavinia's voice came behind him. Matthew looked over his shoulder to find her standing right in the doorway, with her purse between her hands.

"This is a surprise," Matthew brightly greeted, walking over toward her to kiss her cheek. Lavinia froze slightly and gave him a tight nod. "I thought we were doing lunch at noon?" He checked his watch and sure enough it was still only ten in the morning.

"We were," Lavinia agreed. She inhaled and exhaled, blinking sharply. "I….you still love her," Lavinia then said, her eyes narrowing considerately. "You love Mary and I can't compete with that."

Matthew stepped forward, trying to reach out and grab her hand. But Lavinia stepped back, shaking her head.

"I'm not angry," she clarified. "But I won't be second place, Matthew. I do deserve better than that."

"You do," Matthew had to agree. He knew that in this moment he should convince her that she was number one to him, but that would be a lie. And Lavinia was correct, she did deserve better. "You deserve someone who loves you wholeheartedly."

"So, I guess this is it," Lavinia stated, taking in a shuddering breath.

"I wish things were different and that…"

"You don't have to do any of that, Matthew. Save those words for Mary. I wish you the best." Even now, Lavinia was being kind to him.

"I wish you the best too, Lavinia. I truly do."

-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-

"I'm running into town," John reminded Anna, kissing her on the cheek. Anna was organizing the bar for when it opened in a few hours. Tuesdays were generally a slow night and so no one else would be in for a couple more hours.

"Be safe," Anna replied. She kissed him then, brushing her hand along his jaw. "I'll miss you."

"I'll only be gone an hour or two. Message me if you think of anything you need."

And with that, he was gone. She heard the front door bell ding and knew that she was now alone. Turning, she began organizing the napkins and glasses. Counting them, she realized they were short a shot glass. Her lips twisted, as she searched under the bar to see if she could find it. The door dinged again. She laughed, assuming John had forgotten something.

"We're closed," she playfully called out, standing.

"I know." But the voice was not John's. Anna turned and she pursed her lips into a tight line. "You've gotten older."

"Yes," Anna coldly replied. "That's what happens over time, Mum. What are you doing here?"

To be continued...

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