Chapter Eight

Since returning to London, Lavinia Swire had been trying her best to move on and be happy. But it was hard after having her heart broken so devastatingly. OF course, she held no ill will towards Matthew and Mary, she understood that you couldn't help who you truly loved and witnessing the way they had been the night she had fallen ill with the flu…it only made her feel just how right the two of them looked together. She had released Matthew from their engagement and wished nothing but the best for him and for Mary.

Since then, she had heard of the end of Mary's engagement to Sir Richard Carlisle and that in a matter of days, her ex-fiancé would be marrying the Earl of Grantham's eldest daughter. She only hoped that one day she would be able to find the same level of happiness that Matthew must have found with Mary.

It was the morning after a terrible night of thunderstorms and Lavinia had barely gotten any sleep during the night. When she dressed and headed down for breakfast that morning, she sat and the table with her father and barely touched her food.

"Lavinia? Are you unwell?" her father asked.

She shook her head.

"I'm fine, father. I just didn't get much sleep is all." She replied.

Reggie Swire folded his paper and met his daughter's gaze with concern. Lavinia smiled weakly, trying to reassure him that she was merely tired, but his blue eyes were always filled with worry for her. She knew it was only natural for him to worry. Her mother had died in childbirth, and it had always been her and her father. She had always wondered why her father had never remarried and he had always said he didn't want to find another great love the way he had loved her mother. From that point on, Lavinia wanted to make her father proud and protect him the way he had protected her. Especially with all that business with Sir Richard Carlisle all those years ago…

"Do you have any plans for today?" Reggie asked.

Lavinia shook her head.

"I might go shopping, just to give me something to do." She replied quietly.

"My dear, I hope you can start seeing your friends again, it's been three months since you returned to London and in all that time, you've been miserable." Reggie sighed unhappily.

"I will, father. Don't worry. Just give me some time, please?"

Reggie nodded his agreement.

"I know that the next few days will be hard for you, my love. I know you told me all that transpired between you and Matthew Crawley, and I hold no ill will towards him, if you hadn't insisted you both end the engagement, I know he would have kept his word. But, I can't lie and say that I'm happy for the hurt he's caused you."

"Father, I will be happy again. I know I will." Lavinia smiled weakly.

Checking his watch, Lavinia bade her father goodbye as he headed off to his office for the day. Lavinia readied herself and headed out to go shopping, although nothing took her interest. She ran into a few of her friends that she had not seen for a while and made plans to host them for tea in a few days before she returned to the house after walking in Regents Park. By the time she had finished luncheon, she had decided to read a book and settled on one of Dickens' novels. She sat comfortably in the sitting room, getting lost in Oliver Twist when she heard the door knock. Her attention lifted, the book forgotten about as the butler came in and announced the arrival of Sir Richard Carlisle.

Lavinia closed the book, setting it on top of the side table and rose from her seat. Her heart was pounding nervously against her chest as she felt the blood rushing through her veins. Why was Sir Richard here? She hadn't seen him for months. The last time she recalled even speaking with him was when they had both been guests at Downton Abbey and that was a while ago now.

"Sir Richard, to what to I owe the pleasure?" Lavinia asked politely.

Sir Richard waved his hand to the butler, gesturing for him to leave and close the door behind him. The butler did so and as Lavinia heard the click of the door in the doorframe, she felt her nervousness become greater.

"I think we can skip the pleasantries, Miss Swire, don't you agree?" Sir Richard stated firmly.

Lavinia nodded her agreement. The quicker they got to the real reason behind his visit the sooner it would be over. The man made her skin crawl. She knew that he wasn't a man to be crossed and those that did cross him ended up regretting it. He was the type of man that she wished she had never had the opportunity to know, he went against everything she was raised to believe all men should have. Honour. Integrity. Morals.

Sir Richard had none of those.

"I'm here Miss Swire because people we mutually know are getting married in a matter of days."

"You mean the Crawley wedding?"

Sir Richard nodded.

"Yes," he confirmed, "Two people whose wedding is being dubbed the grandest wedding that Yorkshire will see for decades. Lady Mary is expected to look exquisite and the picture of happiness with her new husband."

"Not that you aren't bitter about that." Lavinia muttered.

Sir Richard raised an eyebrow.

"I've come here today, Lavinia, because there is something I need from you." Sir Richard stated.

"I think I've done you enough favours for one lifetime, Sir Richard." Lavinia said meekly.

"I disagree. You see, now that Matthew Crawley has thrown you over for that harlot, I have found that I have great need for you." Sir Richard argued.

"Such as?"

"I need you to be my wife."

Her blue eyes widened as she fell back into her chair from shock.

Had he really just proposed to her?

Why did he want her to be his wife?

She didn't like the man. She was scared of him.

"You'll agree to be my wife today and we'll marry in a month. I've bought a property in the country which you'll manage with a household staff. You'll bear my sons and enjoy a luxurious lifestyle and be a dutiful wife." Sir Richard stated.

She looked up at him, still in shock.

"Why would I marry you?" she asked before she could think.

Sir Richard frowned at her and glared at her angrily through steely eyes.

"You'll marry me because I want you to." He replied firmly.

"But why? What purpose could I have to?"

Sir Richard grinned evilly.

"If you refuse me, then I thought you would like to see the draft of tomorrow's papers."

He reached into his coat pocket, throwing a folded piece of paper at her. Lavinia looked up at him confused as she unfolded the paper, her eyes looking down at it until she gasped and covered her mouth with her hand.

On the front of her paper was her picture and bold but large writing above it revealing her as the source behind the Marconi scandal. She had never thought he would go back on his word never to reveal her part in the scandal. To reveal that she had been the one to cause it. Of course, he had threatened that it was always within his power to do so which is why she had never gone against him and tried to stay out of his way.

But now he was telling her that he would publish if she didn't comply to his request.

"B-but y-you promised!" Lavinia whispered harshly.

"I did. But like I said, I need something from you. And in business you have to use whatever resources you have available to you to achieve what you want." Sir Richard replied.

Lavinia looked up at him, tears filling her eyes.

"P-please." She pleaded.

"I won't reveal your secret if you agree to marry me. I'm not leaving here until you give me your answer." Sir Richard threatened.

"What if I say no?"

"Then you've sealed your fate, my dear. Not only will the police come looking for you for the role you played in the Marconi scandal, but your dear father will be ruined also. He's a successful lawyer with such a grand reputation amongst his acquaintances. Nobody would ever do business with him again and you and he will end up destitute and in poverty."

The tears flowed down her face freely.

"And if I say yes?" Lavinia asked, fearing the answer.

"I've already told you. A grand house to run, children to bear. Lots of children to inherit my empire that I plan to keep building. You will be part of my legacy." Sir Richard replied firmly.

"B-but it's not in me…I'm just a small person…meant for a simple life…" Lavinia cried.

"But you would have been the Countess of Grantham if you had married Matthew Crawley." Sir Richard reminded her.

She didn't know how to respond to that. If she hadn't insisted on breaking her engagement to Matthew, one day she would have been running a grand house. Living and dining in luxury. Bearing children to inherit a dynasty. She would have held functions and events. She would have been on several boards of several charities overseeing good work. What Sir Richard was offering her was the same.

But Sir Richard was the complete opposite of Matthew Crawley.

Matthew was a good man whereas Sir Richard was not.

But she felt that she had no choice.

"Fine. I'll marry you." She conceded with a sniffle.

Richard grinned harshly, snatching the paper out of her hand, and folded it back up before placing it back inside his coat pocket.

"Excellent. Well, my dear, shall I wait until your father returns home? We can tell him the good news together!"

Drying her eyes, Lavinia nodded her agreement, thinking it best to just comply with his demands and requests. Whatever the future held for her, she knew that any possibility of happiness had now been thrown out of the window.

oOo

Their hands were joined, the cloth knotted over them as Travis lifted their hands into the air. Mary looked to her right, smiling in unison with Matthew as she met his loving gaze.

"Those whom God hath joined together, let no man put asunder. Forasmuch as Matthew and Mary have consented together in holy wedlock and have witnessed the same before God and this company and thereto have given and pledged their troth either to other and have declared the same by giving and receiving of a ring and by joining of hands, I pronounce that they be man and wife together."

She couldn't help but feel deliriously happy. For years she had believed that she would never have this with Matthew. And now she was his wife.

His wife.

Mrs Matthew Crawley.

"In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen."

The congregation chanted 'Amen' that it echoed throughout the Church. The next thing she knew, her arm was looping itself through her husband's and they were walking out of the Church. The family and guests were gathered on either side of the pathway as they walked, confetti being thrown over their heads as Matthew laughed happily and rushed through the crowd, pulling her with him as his lips descended on hers in a blissful kiss.

When he pulled away, he led her to the waiting carriage and helped her up the steps before she took her seat and he sat next to her. Their hands met in a tight squeeze as they looked on each other wearing a matching grin.

"So…Mr. Crawley…whatever awaits us next?" she asked happily.

"A wedding reception and then travel to London." Matthew replied.

She rolled her eyes but laughed as the carriage pulled away from the Church to return them both to the house.

"It feels like a dream, that we're married." Mary admitted quietly.

Matthew kissed the back of her gloved hand.

"I assure you, it's completely real." Matthew assured her.

"I know. I used to dream and regret that I never gave you an answer the first time you proposed but now we're here…I feel so happy."

Matthew smiled.

"I love you, Mrs Crawley."

Mary raised an eyebrow.

"I might be your wife, darling. But I still have a title." She chided affectionately.

"How ever can I make it up to you, my lady?" Matthew whispered huskily into her ear.

She shivered. Not because she was cold but because of his teasing tone of voice. If she were to be honest, she would much rather skip the entire wedding reception, ignore her guests, and drag her husband up to her bedroom and have her way with him. But she was a Lady and there would be plenty of time tonight to make love to her husband for the first time. She had already picked out a rather lacy nightgown to wear for Matthew tonight and just the thought of Matthew loving her in a way that she could only dream of for years…it made her heart soar.

The wedding reception went by in the blink of eye, Mary was thankful to say. She retired to her room to change into her travel clothes and Anna packed up the last of her things and took them down to the car. Mary exited her room, smiling at her husband in greeting as he offered her his arm and his eyes travelled over her body.

"You look exquisite." Matthew whispered.

"Thank you. You don't look too bad yourself." Mary smiled in reply.

They descended the stairs together, sharing many kisses to various cheeks and thanking people for their attendance, gifts and well wishes before they scrambled into the back of the car that drove them to the train station. Once on the train, they sat alone in their private first-class compartment with Mary content to lay in his arms and snooze. Even though she dozed lightly in Matthew's arms, his scent filled her and made her hum happily in her slumber. For so long, on so many lonely nights when she had prayed to God to keep him safe and to bring him home, she had dreamed of this. Of course, for her to dream of Matthew and her like this was selfish, back then she had never thought for one second, she would truly have him, but now she knew it was meant to be.

This was the favourite part of her wedding day. It wasn't the dressing in her wedding dress, having her hair elegantly styled with the tiara. It wasn't seeing Matthew's loving look at her as she walked down the aisle with papa. It was now. Being in his arms as she rested from the most tiring but exciting day of her life. Content that years of longing and pining and heartbreak were over, and she could now live a life truly happy with the love of her life.

The countryside whizzed past them in a blur until Matthew stirred her as they reached the train station in London. Aunt Rosamund had arranged for a driver to meet them at the train station and drove them to Painswick House where Mead announced a light dinner had been prepared for them when they were ready. Mary retired to their bedroom, had Anna help her change for dinner and she met Matthew down in the dining room, her heart fluttering as she was merely hours away from being his true wife.

Dinner was a quiet affair; she barely touched her food. In truth, she wasn't hungry. Matthew didn't appear hungry either until he told Mead that he and Mary were retiring early for the night, and they would ring if they needed anything. Smiling nervously, Mary rose from the dining table and headed up to the bedroom she would share with her husband.

Once inside the bedroom, she closed the door and had Anna help her out of her dress. Her heart was pounding in her chest, fluttering formed in the pit of her stomach as Anna handed her the lacy nightgown, she had picked for her wedding night. As Anna helped her into it, Mary couldn't help the question that slipped out of her mouth.

"Anna…when it was your wedding night with Bates…how was it?"

Anna blushed slightly but gave her an encouraging smile.

"It was everything I ever hoped for, Milady." Anna replied.

"Did you fear it?" Mary asked quietly.

Anna picked up the discarded clothes and handed Mary her robe which she pulled on and tied around her.

"It's normal to be nervous, Milady. But Mr. Matthew is a good man, and he will treat you well." Anna reassured her.

"I have no doubt…my only fear is that…before with Pamuk…"

Anna smiled and squeezed her hand reassuringly.

"Milady, push those thoughts out of your head and focus only on your husband. Trust in him and you will have a night you won't forget…" the maid said quietly.

Mary nodded, feeling a little hot in her cheeks as Anna bade her goodnight. Mary stood at the foot of the bed, taking a few deep breaths to calm her beating heart. The door clicked open and her head turned to the doorway, smiling as Matthew entered the room in his pyjamas and locked the door behind him.

"Good evening, Wife." Matthew said softly.

She closed the gap between them, wrapping her arms around his neck.

"Good evening husband." Mary whispered sultrily.

Matthew groaned at her tone and claimed her lips with his own, kissing her hard. Mary closed her eyes, feeling weak in the knees as she held tightly on to his shoulders. She gasped against his mouth as the kiss deepened desperately and he lifted her off her feet. She felt the soft sheets against her back as she broke the kiss to catch her breath.

She looked up at her husband, running a hand through his hair and noted the flame of desire in those pools of blue she could lose herself in so easily. That she had lost herself in so long ago.

"Oh darling, I love you so much." Matthew whispered.

"I love you, Matthew…"

Her hands untied her robe and she moaned as he pulled it open and off her shoulders. She smiled contentedly as he groaned at the sight of her in her nightgown.

"Do you like it?" Mary asked quietly.

"Oh my darling…you are so beautiful…" Matthew replied in a stammer.

"Make love to me, Matthew," Mary whispered, "Make me yours."

Growling, Matthew pressed his lips back to hers in an urgent kiss.

It was safe to say that Mary would question the next day why she had ever felt nervous about her wedding night.