Chapter Nine

The whole month that Mary had spent in France with her husband had been pure bliss. And it had certainly opened her eyes to a few things.

For starters, she found herself silently admonishing herself for ever thinking that Matthew was dull. Of course, it had been many years that she had ever thought that of him and when she had it had mainly been about her sulking over the 'great matter' and hiding any good feeling she did feel about him. Matthew captured her interest with even the simplest conversation or topic that interested him. And she found that hearing him read aloud to her from a novel of her choosing or his choosing each night before they slept, the sound of his voice soothed her in so many ways.

Secondly, when it came to their intimacy and lovemaking, Matthew was indeed rather…skilled. She had always assumed that lovemaking would be lying back and thinking of England as Granny had always alluded to. When she had been with Pamuk all those years ago, she had done just exactly that. Just lie there, accepted his kisses, and had enjoyed what the man had shown her, to some extent. But Matthew…Matthew had shown her what lovemaking was truly about. Not just the act but their connection, their love, their pleasure together was more meaningful than anything Kemal Pamuk had given to her.

Thirdly, she had found herself feeling rather lustful at varying points of the day. An urge that she felt unable to control and that Matthew was the only one who could sate that urge. It surprised her that she could feel that way about her husband. Of course, she knew that her parents had a deep love, and they shared a bed each night unless there was good reason not to. Growing up, she had believed that married couples should sleep separately, that's what her grandmother had always told her anyway.

Since her marriage she had decided that she and Matthew would never sleep in separate bedrooms. She had grown used to sharing a bed with Matthew, waking up each morning to him, on the few occasions she had woken before him and watched as the sun shone on his face through the tiny gap in the curtains, it only illuminated his face even more in her eyes.

Their first morning after arriving back from their honeymoon, Mary groaned as she heard the curtains swipe open and the sunlight hit her face. She smiled up at her husband, sleep still in her eyes as she felt his arm squeeze her waist as she noted that they had slept in each other's arms after a night of lovemaking.

"It seems shocking for Anna to find me en deshabille." Matthew yawned.

Mary let out a light chuckle as she rolled on to her back and smiled at her maid.

"I'm made of stout stuff, sir, don't worry about that." Anna said with a smile.

Anna opened up the rest of the curtains as Mary rolled on to her back.

"Is there any news on Bates?" Mary asked.

Anna shook her head.

"He's being imprisoned, they are still investigating the death of his late wife. Mr. Murray is hopeful that he can move the trial to York." Her maid replied.

"Send him our best wishes when you next hear from him."

Anna gave a nod of the head and a brief smile before exiting the bedroom. The door closed and Mary wiped the sleep from her eyes.

"I'm sorry it still seems odd to be found in your bed." Matthew whispered amusingly.

Mary smiled as she leaned up over him.

"But very nice." She cooed.

"Oh as nice as nice can be." Matthew agreed with a smile.

She met his lips as he leaned up and kissed her, Mary broke the kiss and cuddled back into his chest, holding him close to her that she could hear his heart beating in his chest. She sighed contentedly as she felt his right hand settle on her shoulder as his left hand held the one of hers that rested on his bared chest.

"I'm going to see Jarvis today to find out what houses are available." Matthew said quietly.

"Do you have to?" Mary sighed disappointedly, "These are our last days here. I thought something might have turned up while we were away, but it seems it hasn't."

"Would you rather wait until we have to go and find a new house then?" Matthew asked.

"I don't know. Perhaps you could talk to Papa and view the accounts? Just to get an idea of how bad things truly are?"

"I plan to. But the fact that Carlisle now owns a lot of the shares of your father's investments doesn't give me much hope."

"I still can't believe he did that for me. I was prepared to face the fallout of breaking away from Carlisle." Mary sighed.

She leaned up and looked down at him, moaning in surprise as he sat up a little and pulled her on top of him and claimed her lips in a fierce kiss. Her arms wrapped around his neck as his wrapped around her back. She could feel him adjusting his legs and one of his hands move down her body to find the hem of her nightgown. When she broke the kiss, she looked down at him, biting her lip.

"I think we need to push out all negative thoughts at the moment, darling, don't you agree?" Matthew whispered huskily.

All Mary could do is nod before she found herself being flipped on to her back and welcomed her husband's lips back to hers delightfully.

oOo

Luncheon that day was filled with discussions of their new neighbour at Haxby. Mary remembered the property, a grander one filled with expensive paintings, vulgar statues and furnishings, ancient rugs that could do with replacing and the promise that it would be hers to fill and redesign at her leisure. Of course, that had been when she was engaged to Sir Richard and deep down, she knew that him buying the property would be his way of proving his prowess to the world. If she had married Sir Richard, she would have given him access to the society connections that he desperately craved. Their children would have been the grandsons and granddaughters of an Earl, noble blood running through their veins. She would have elevated him in the eyes of society, and he would have given her a house to run, have access to a grand allowance and raise their children under his instructions.

How different her life was now, she mused. As she glanced at her husband as she took a sip of her drink, she found herself realising that it was only since breaking from Carlisle that she was truly happy. She had married the love of her life and what she had with Matthew was a million times better than what she could have ever had with Sir Richard Carlisle.

"Did Sir Richard sell the property after Mary ended their engagement?" Edith asked curiously.

"Why should I know what he did with it?" Mary questioned.

"I was merely curious." Edith answered sharply.

"Do we know who the new neighbour is yet?" Isobel interrupted.

Cora shook her head.

"Not yet. I was thinking of extending them an invitation for dinner." Cora replied.

"Splendid idea. It'll be nice to welcome some new blood to the county." Isobel smiled.

"New blood brings more change. Why change something that is already fine the way it is?" Violet mused.

Mary smiled as she saw Isobel roll her eyes at Granny's comment.

"Well I suppose it will be nice to have some new company over for dinner one night." Robert concluded.

"I'll write to them after luncheon, I might send one of the staff over with the note, so our new neighbours know that we'd be delighted to get to know them."

"I'm sure they would appreciate the thought." Isobel mused.

Luncheon continued with more discussions about who their new neighbours could possibly be.

oOo

"Lady Carlisle?"

Lavinia turned her head from her book and looked at her butler but said nothing.

"Yes Jenkins?" she asked.

"There's a letter here for you and Sir Richard from the Countess of Grantham." The butler replied.

"Thank you, Jenkins."

The butler handed her the letter and exited the sitting room, closing the door behind him. Lavinia opened up the invitation, noting just how the letter wasn't specifically addressed to her and her husband but invited them for a dinner at Downton Abbey just the same. The letter noted that they would love the opportunity to get to know their new neighbours, but Lavinia was unsure if she should respond to the invitation.

Nearly a fortnight ago she had married Sir Richard at a small ceremony in London with just her father and a few witnesses in attendance. Sir Richard had procured a special license for them to marry and had arranged everything, including her wedding dress and flowers. The wedding breakfast was all arranged for Sir Richard's tastes and their wedding night had not been the romantic, loving picture she had always imagined. Whenever Sir Richard made love to her, she squeezed her eyes shut and let him do what he wanted…and when it was over, he would kiss her forehead, bid her goodnight, and leave her bedroom.

Of course, whenever they were in the presence of guests, Sir Richard would put on a show. He would gush about his young, beautiful bride and make people believe that he genuinely loved her, but Lavinia knew that he didn't. Their marriage was a lie, built on blackmail and threats. When they had travelled to Haxby a few days after their marriage, he had shown her the rather large house and told her what he expected her to do with it before he returned to London to manage his business empire.

Haxby was large but Lavinia had never felt more trapped and smaller in her entire life.

She missed her life in London. She missed having dinner with her father each night and she missed being able to do what she wished. Now she was expected to do everything she was told to and submit to her husband's every wish and demand. This wasn't the equal marriage she had pictured herself once having.

No, that was now a distant dream that she had waved goodbye when she had broken her engagement to Matthew Crawley.

Lavinia had resigned herself to the fact that she never would see Matthew again and now she was on a neighbouring estate to the Crawley family and would have to see them at some point or other. As she re-read the letter from the Countess of Grantham, she didn't hear the sitting room door open as Richard entered the room.

"Good afternoon, my dear. I trust you enjoyed your luncheon?" Richard asked.

Lavinia nodded.

"I didn't know you were arriving so soon. I would have greeted you outside upon your return." Lavinia replied.

"No need. I wasn't entirely sure of my plans. I returned earlier than I thought I needed to."

"We have a letter here from Lady Grantham."

She noted the pleased smile on her husband's face which caused her to shiver in fright. She knew that Richard had some plans for the Crawleys but she wasn't certain of what they were. She knew that him blackmailing her into marriage had something to do with the Crawleys but she couldn't determine what they were. So, she kept quiet. She was smart enough to know when to keep quiet when it involved Sir Richard.

"And what does Lady Grantham say?" Richard asked curiously.

"That she heard they have some new neighbours in the county and would like to host us for dinner to make our acquaintance." Lavinia replied politely.

Richard let out an amused chuckle.

"If only they knew that they already know their new neighbours." He chortled.

Lavinia forced a smile.

"Should I reply?" she inquired.

Richard nodded.

"Yes. Tell her that you would be delighted to accept her gracious invitation and that we have no plans any evening this week." He instructed.

"Of course." Lavinia said, bowing her head.

As she crossed to the desk in the corner of the room, she sat on the chair and felt her husband come behind her, placing his hands on her shoulders.

"And make sure you sign it as 'Lady L C' and not your name. I don't want to ruin the surprise." Richard whispered.

Lavinia nodded stiffly, pulling out a sheet of paper and a pen. As she pressed the tip of the pen to the paper, she shivered as she felt her husband's lips at her ear.

"And once you're done writing your reply, go and wait for me in your bedroom. I think we need to make more effort into conceiving my heir, don't you agree my dear?"

Lavinia breathed deeply and nodded, staying silent. She felt her husband nip at her earlobe before leaving the room as she shuddered when she heard the door close behind her.

oOo

That evening over dinner, Mary sat opposite her husband as her mother told the family that the owners of Haxby had written back to her. The note had been brief, only stating that their new neighbours would be delighted to accept a dinner invitation and were free every evening this week. There had been speculation about who these new neighbours were and how much they knew of Yorkshire if they didn't have a single engagement to attend to in their evenings.

"But what I found odd was that didn't sign her name, only her initials." Cora finished.

"Well that is odd," Mary agreed, "It's almost as if they want to keep their identities hidden."

"Well whatever the reason, it's only made me more intrigued to know them. I'm writing back in the morning to invite them both to dinner." Cora informed the family.

"I suppose we'll uncover the answer to their mysterious identity when they come to dinner." Robert mused.

The dinner conversation moved on to other topics and the curiosity of their new neighbours was left for one night.