CHAPTER 5 – TENNIS AND BICYCLES

Tennis court, Downton Abbey, October 1912

It was a perfect autumn day, with bright blue sky, crisp air, sunshine and the trees a sea of oranges and reds. Mary inhaled deeply the fresh air and for the first time in over a year felt truly happy to just be alive.

She survived the first anniversary of Matthew's death, a day made both easier and rather surreal by the fact she saw him, or at least a version of him, perfectly alive and well at the dinner table. It was also George's first birthday and, in the circumstances, it was the more difficult occasion of the two. She retired early that night and did spend most of the evening in tears, but the deep sleep without expected nightmares brought her new strength and resolve in the morning. Matthew was alive here. He wasn't her Matthew, but he was still Matthew and she loved him and was convinced he would love her yet. She would see George again one day and this time the poor boy would have both parents to celebrate his birthday with him. There was no point in dwelling on what she had left behind; she needed to focus on what she had and could have now. And on this bright autumn morning it seemed easier to believe than on any occasion before.

They planned a weekend get together and a friendly tennis match with some neighbours and Mary was looking forward to seeing Matthew in his tennis whites. She had enjoyed plenty of games with him in the previous timeline and knew he was good enough to give her a satisfying challenge. And the weather today was perfect!

The servants put up a white canopy over a planned rest area with wicker chairs and little tables. Mary did have a dim memory that they had had such a gathering in her previous life, but she could not remember who had been actually invited. She definitely had not played any game with Matthew then, bent on avoiding him at all costs. Might be why the party was not at all memorable to her. This time they expected the Russells with their only son, Billy, Billy Skelton with his sister, and Lord and Lady Merton with Larry (thankfully at least without Tim, who was still at university). Mary had her suspicions why the party included three eligible young men – four if you counted Matthew and she definitely did – and only one additional young woman. A rather plain young woman too. Of course both Billies and Larry had been visiting Downton since they were small children, living on neighbouring estates of Haxby, Skelton and Cavenham Park respectively, so the novelty was slim to none, but it still paired the young people tidily, with the Crawley sisters making nearly all of the ladies. Mama and Granny obviously were not going for subtlety, even if the chances of a match coming out of it were rather poor.

The guests soon arrived and Mary noticed with pleasure that Matthew was definitely the most handsome of the young men. Billy Skelton was a reedy redhead with his face covered in freckles (his sister Constance shared those traits), Larry was as long as he was thin, to say nothing about near permanent sneer on his face (a trait he shared with his mother) and while Billy Russell looked quite nice with his dark hair and cheerful face, he appeared quite plain next to Matthew. Who definitely looked very becoming in tennis whites. And equally definitely was looking at Mary's legs revealed by her shorter tennis skirt.

Mary smiled smugly and went to talk with Constance Skelton. Her spirits remained high.

xxx

Matthew indeed was watching Mary's legs, although he tried to be discreet about it. He did not entirely succeed, but mostly because Billy Russell was doing the same thing and clearly admitted it.

"Lady Mary really should wear tennis dress more often, shouldn't she?" he asked Matthew cheekily. Matthew's ears became red.

"She does indeed wear it to her advantage," he mumbled.

"And to ours!" grinned Billy. He took pity on Matthew's embarrassment at being caught and changed the topic. "It is nice to finally meet you, after all the gossip over the last weeks."

"I assume there was rather a lot of it," drawled Matthew cynically. Billy laughed.

"Of course! We are rather a boring bunch, very much in need of some excitement, and what can be more exciting than a new face in the neighbourhood? All the people you see gathered here today have been meeting constantly for decades. I have seen Lady Mary in braids and short skirts, fighting with Lady Edith over dolls and beating me soundly in croquet. To have you as the main topic of conversation was a very welcome change."

For a moment Matthew was distracted by visions of Mary in braids and short skirts, but his curiosity was peaked.

"And what was said, to occupy so much of your time?"

Billy waved his hand in dismissal.

"Oh, nothing really exciting, since not much is really known about you. That you are hopelessly middle class and what misfortune fell upon Downton to lose a proper heir. But letting yourself be seen in person should restore some of your reputation, since you at least look and speak more like an Earl than quite a lot of actual ones. I think this kind of gossip is going to die out before your first proper London season is done."

"Thank you, I assume," said Matthew doubtfully, "So basically you're saying I shine by comparison despite my meagre origins?"

"Have you looked at Billy and Larry over there?" asked Billy incredulously. "Billy is mad like a hatter and Larry is one of the nastiest pieces of work I have ever had displeasure of being acquainted with. And I had plenty of opportunities for the displeasure of his company since not only we live on adjacent estates, but we were both in Eton and Cambridge together. Steer well of him if you can."

"But you consider yourself alright?" smiled Matthew. Billy grinned at him.

"Of course. I may be deluding myself, but with this lot I'm pretty sure I shine by comparison too."

Both men laughed and went together to pick up their tennis rackets.

The matches were soon started, first with Matthew and Billy Russell paired against Billy Skelton and Larry Grey, followed by Mary and Sybil paired against Edith and Constance. The winners were then matched against each other, which meant Matthew and Billy playing against Mary and Sybil and getting trounced by them. Matthew would have never admitted that his distraction with Mary running in front of him played any part in their defeat, but it was very much a fact, one very clearly observed by some of their audience.

"Your cousin seems quite enraptured by Mary," noted Constance Skelton, a plain redhead, who at twenty five, was considered a spinster for all practical purposes. She didn't seem to mind very much and Edith quite envied her self-assurance. She was passionate about breeding horses and spiritualism and it was rumoured she smoke cigars like a man.

"Men often are," admitted Edith sourly. "At least until they get to know her better."

Constance gave her a sideways glance.

"Be careful or people will think you're jealous," she warned.

"You know her enough to know I am right!" protested Edith. Constance laughed.

"Mary certainly knows how to make enemies or get rid of annoying people," she admitted. "But I bet that if she was actually interested in getting a man, she could keep his interest. I think she just never was motivated enough to try."

Edith just glared gloomily at her.

xxx

"Could I tempt you into a rematch?" Matthew asked Mary over cucumber sandwiches. She grinned cheekily at him in response.

"I see you're determined to restore your honour?"

"Somewhat," admitted Matthew. "It was not one of my best performances, but I feel confident that I can yet do better."

"Oh, you're feeling confident, are you?" teased Mary and Matthew's stomach did an unexpected flip-flop. "I'm afraid though that our partners are otherwise engaged" she said, pointing at Billy in a deep discussion with Sybil, with Larry trying to get a word edgewise, rather unsuccessfully.

"Then maybe we could play against each other, just the two of us?" asked Matthew, inexplicably nervous. Mary though accepted his invitation without hesitation.

"Of course. Should we settle on a reward for the victor?"

"You want to raise the stakes, Lady Mary?" teased Matthew, leading the way towards the tennis court.

"To make the game more interesting and increase our motivation," said Mary breezily.

"And what reward are you proposing?"

Mary cursed inwardly. With all the fun and repartee between her and Matthew she got too much in the spirit of how things had been between them before her travel in time. Then they had been playing for kisses. Only now they were not only not married or even engaged, but they also barely knew each other.

"An afternoon activity together," she improvised. "The winner will pick something to do on an afternoon of their choosing and the loser has to agree and accompany them without too much grumbling."

Matthew gulped but accepted her terms eagerly. He had no idea what activity he would propose if he won, but realised with enthusiasm that winning or losing, he would spend an afternoon with Mary. And despite just few weeks of acquaintance that perspective filled him with joy and anticipation. Whatever happened, he did not expect to be bored.

The game started and it soon was obvious that not only Matthew was not allowing himself to be distracted anymore, but that both parties were treating it extremely seriously. A true spirit of competition overtook them and soon the rest of the company ceased most of their conversation to observe the fiercest match of the day.

"I see you indeed have slacked in your previous game, Mr Crawley," hissed Mary, running to intercept particularly well served ball. She grinned when she succeeded in sending it back to Matthew. "Was it just to lure me into false sense of security?"

"Hardly," puffed Matthew, busy doing a run of his own. Mary's ball was awfully fast. "How were I to know that you will want a rematch?"

"Then what could have been the reason? You obviously know how to play tennis."

"Oh, so you admit I can play?" deflected Matthew, serving another ball. Mary sent it right back at him.

"Denying it would be an obvious lie and I do not lie if I can help it. However, whether you are a better player than me remains to be seen."

Mary won the first set and they stood for a moment, panting and grinning at each other. The polite applause of the crowd, with Sybil's loud cheers, brought them back to awareness that they were hardly alone and so they resumed their game in haste.

xxx

Ultimately Matthew won three to two, although the last set was a close one and the previous four tied. Which left him with a dilemma what to do on this afternoon he won. Thankfully Mary didn't demand an immediate answer, joining her mother and granny instead to drink some tea. Matthew accepted congratulations from Billy Russell and Sybil and sat heavily on a chair next to his mother and Lord and Lady Merton. The last match, after previous two, tired him.

"It was quite a good game you two had," noticed Mother cheerfully. It was good to see her son enjoying himself so much and visibly feeling more at ease with his new family.

"Lady Mary is a worthy opponent," Matthew answered, reaching for a glass of lemonade handed to him by a footman. "I really had to work for this victory."

"She always had a problem with her attitude," sniffed Lady Merton. "Being so competitive is hardly ladylike."

Matthew stiffened, but before he could open his mouth to defend Mary her godfather intervened.

"Ada!" he said sharply. "It was uncalled for. The whole purpose of playing tennis is to compete."

Lady Merton was undaunted by her husband rebuke but decided to redirect her attack.

"Mrs Crawley, how do you find country life? Must have been quite a change for you."

"Indeed it was," answered Isobel calmly, throwing a warning look at her scowling son. "But I find it quite pleasant. I was worried at first that I will be bored, but since I got involved at the hospital, I find myself occupied enough."

"You're involved at the hospital?" asked Lord Merton with interest. "I am on the board myself. I actually wanted to study medicine, but my father didn't find it a suitable profession for a future baron, much to my chagrin."

"And he was right!" hissed his wife, which he ignored and inquired instead what brought Isobel's own interest in the hospital work.

"My father Sir John Turnbull and my brother Doctor Edward Turnbull were both doctors, as well as my late husband. And I trained as a nurse during the war."

"You were in South Africa?" asked Lord Merton, impressed.

"I was," admitted Isobel, gratified by his obvious interest. "My husband was working as a doctor with a regiment there and I accompanied him. Matthew was at school at the time."

Matthew remembered this time well enough – missing his parents during the school holidays, admiration for their dedication and sacrifice, concern for their wellbeing while in the middle of a war on another continent. He was immensely proud of his parents but did not like to be reminded of those times.

"My father served in the South African war as well," said Mary, suddenly showing by his elbow and nearly making him jump. He didn't notice her approach. "I remember missing him and being quite afraid for him a lot."

They looked at each other in understanding.

"He did his duty for king and country, as he well should," interjected Lady Merton dismissively. "Although why he had to go at all as the future earl, I have no idea. It should be left to younger sons or commoners."

Mary clenched her teeth, reminded vividly that both of Lady Merton's sons had avoided the front somehow in another timeline. Maybe it was hypocritical of her, since she fully intended to prevent Matthew from going if it was at all in her power, and she could well understand a mother wishing for the same for her sons, but Lady Merton's derision rankled. She saw Matthew's visible irritation as well, as much as he tried to contain it for politeness' sake.

"It was a noble choice, both for Robert and for Mr and Mrs Crawley," Lord Merton chastised his wife again. "I would gladly listen to your tales from that time, Mrs Crawley, when the time allows."

Isobel was quite mystified how such sweet and polite man as Lord Merton ended up with such a shrew for a wife. Nevertheless, she politely promised to talk about her experiences if the occasion for it ever happened, which she rather doubted would occur.

The party wrapped up soon after, with guests slowly making their goodbyes. Mary and Matthew managed to find a quiet spot on the fringes of the group to discuss setting of their challenge.

"So, have you decided already what are you planning to do with me?" asked Mary archly. Matthew hoped dearly he didn't blush in response.

"Not yet," he admitted, "But you will be the first to know when I make my decision."

"Don't spend too much time on making your decision," said Mary, trying not to sound too sultry. "Or I might find myself otherwise engaged."

She realised again that she was apparently incapable of not flirting with her husband. Who wasn't her husband here. Who was barely an acquaintance, even if distantly related one. She barely stopped herself from dropping her head into her hands in mortification.

Thankfully Matthew decided to accept her words in good faith.

"Don't worry, I won't keep you waiting too long," he promised and made his goodbyes soon after.

Mary wasn't sure if she was more disappointed or relieved to see him go.

Crawley House, October 1912

Matthew could not sleep.

What could he actually do with Lady Mary on an afternoon of his choosing, which would be both appropriate and hopefully entertaining for her?

If the weather permitted, a picnic was a possibility, but it was October, after all. Besides that, he wasn't sure how appropriate it would be for them to have a picnic unchaperoned – they were not even courting! He could instead take her on a walk through the village, it would be public enough, but seemed also a rather boring choice to make. He would like to take her for an adventure somehow, somewhere away from Downton, but still within reach...

Matthew's eyes suddenly lighted up when he came up with an idea.

Crawley House yard, October 1912

"You want me to ride a bicycle?!"

Mary was staring at the offending contraption in pure disbelief, gaping. Matthew grinned.

"We did specify both agreeing to winner's choice of activity and not too much grumbling in the rules of our bet, didn't we?"

Mary threw him a furious look.

"But I don't even know how!" She folded her arms stubbornly and quickly added. "Not that I ever wanted to learn. It's completely undignified and middle class."

Matthew was nonplussed.

"I assumed you don't know, but I am willing to teach you. You are obviously athletic and have a great sense of balance if you can ride in the side-saddle as you do, so I don't think it will take you long to master it. And then we can go for an excursion together," he finished, beaming at her.

"I am not dressed properly for it!" cried Mary, grasping at straws.

"You are," assured Matthew with irritating cheerfulness. "I see you did as I asked and you have shorter skirt and walking shoes. You should manage without too much difficulty. This is a special lady's bike, after all, it should accommodate your skirt."

Annoying, annoying man! She was fully determined to do better by him this time. To be more considerate of his wishes, less selfish and self-centred, sharing his interest instead of just expecting him to join her in hers. But riding a bicycle? He had never been stupid enough to propose that in their previous life.

Then again, they hadn't been exactly on speaking terms at that point in time.

She huffed in a mix of annoyance and resignation.

"How have you even managed to get a lady's bike?"

Matthew grinned triumphantly, sensing she was relenting.

"I borrowed it from Miss Reed, the schoolteacher. If you end up liking it, I can buy you your own, but for now we have the use of this one."

"Very well," said Mary gloomily. "Show me what I should do."

Drawing room, Downton Abbey, October 1912

"You were riding a bicycle?!"

It was Mama who shrieked, but they were all staring at her in shock. Mary inspected her gloves with the air of affected disinterest.

"Yes, I was. What of it?"

She was met with disbelieving silence. At last it was Granny who broke it.

"You should understand our amazement, my dear, considering that it was hardly ladylike of you."

Mary pursued her lips.

"It was perfectly proper, I assure you, Granny. We were by a public path, hardly secluded, and riding bicycles together cannot be considered so much different than riding horses. And anyway, we did not actually go riding together yet, since Matthew spent most of the time just teaching me how to do it."

She refrained from describing how Matthew had to hold her to help her keep her balance before she got the hang of it. Or how the touch of his hands on her waist made her feel. Or how close she was to turning in his arms and kissing him breathless as the result.

Matthew had been a perfect gentleman, but she had strong suspicion neither of them hoped for her quick progress.

Matthew's bedroom, Crawley House, October 1912

Again, Matthew found he could not sleep.

But he could still feel his hands on her perfect, slender waist.