A/n: Wow, I didn't think anyone would read this story as it seems the Downton Abbey area is on the dead side, but I'm happy non the less at the response.

Also, before anyone points out the misspelled words like color and jewelry as so many have done on TikTok. I'm American, and that is how we spell these words here compared to how they may be spelled in places like Canada, UK, Australia, and many other places.

Another thing. I have been doing research on items and clothing in the 1910s for the story, and I try to look for the UK version on the names, but when I keep looking, most really won't give me alternative names from other countries, so I'm sorry if it's called different things where you are from. I don't know if this will be an issue with some readers so I want to say this just in case.

Chapter 3: The New Heir Arrives

Today was the big day. Matthew Crawley and his mother, Isobel, were arriving, and the day seemed perfect with the sun shining and the cool breeze of spring blowing. It was the perfect day for travel or something to happen or, in this case, both. It has been a few weeks since the whole fiasco with the duke. After the duke left, Robert wrote to Matthew and even met with him in London to discuss the details. Crawley House had been set up for their arrival. It had to be given a thorough clean as no one has inhabited the house since Violet's mother-in-law. Robert even hired a local man a Mr. Joseph Molesley. His father was a local gardener for the Downton Village. To Lilly, his father was the best in the village, and it was a shame that he never won the best bloom in the village.

Lilly took her time getting ready to go riding as she knew Cora would corner Mary to go and check in on the Crawley's to make sure they were settling in alright and invite them to dine with the family. The main reason was so everyone could be introduced properly, and Lilly would have the rest of the day to ride her stallion Thunder. She had never ridden a horse before in her time, but she was riding like a pro after a few lessons from Mary. According to Mary and Edith, she needed to learn correctly to ride as she had always been the weak rider in the family which wouldn't do as she was approaching the age to participate in hunts.

Lilly had come to find that she loved riding and tried to ride a couple of times a week, if not more. She didn't even mind sitting sidesaddle as she thought it made her look more elegant. Lilly checked herself in the mirror one last time, making sure her hair was up and out of the way. Her black riding habit was in perfect order just in case she passed by Violet on her way down to the stables. At that moment, Anna walked into the room with Gwen. Gwen was a very pretty young maid with fair skin, beautiful red hair, and sky-blue eye. Lilly loved how she had freckles dotted across her nose as well as the top of her cheeks. Lilly had wished the maid's day uniforms were different because that stack-color did nothing for her hair and eye combination, which was a shame.

"Here you are, my lady. I had finished sewing the veil after breakfast, so it shouldn't come off for some time to come." Anna stated as she presented Lilly with her fixed riding hat.

"Oh, thank you so much, Anna! I can't believe the veil off already, and I haven't had it but five months. I'm so grateful that you had time to work some of your magic." Lilly is going to smile, and she took the hat from Anna, placed it on her head, and adjusted the veil to fall correctly into place.

"Nothing a bit of extra stitching couldn't fix. I know the machines are made to be better, but they could still do a double stitch for an extra bit of Insurance. My lady, you changed your bedding again. Gwen and I were going to do it after you left to go rider Thunder." Anne spoke as she eyed the neat pile of dirty sheets on the floor in front of the bedroom bench and the lovely and neatly made bed.

"I know, but I was here and thought why not. You two work so hard, so I thought I would lighten your load a bit." Lilly said as if it was nothing. To Lilly, it was nothing. It was things she did for herself all the time back in her world. She always thought it would be a dream come true if someone was to wait on her hand and foot, but as soon as it started here, she came to find out it wasn't at all what it was cracked up to be and grew bored of it. So, when she could, she did things herself like make the bed, dust, and even tried to mend her riding hat, but sewing was never her strong suit even when she used a sewing machine.

"Beg your pardon, my lady, but how did you learn to make a bed? It just doesn't seem to be something a lady should do. If you don't mind me speaking out of turn." Fair Gwen spoke up softly with a curious look on her face.

"No, you're not out of turn, at least to me. I used to help Mrs. Hughes when she was the senior maid. I'm pretty sure she thought I was just playing, but I learned a lot from her. Plus, making a bed is pretty simple, and also, I have already dusted." Lilly stated as a matter of fact and held her hand up next to the fireplace mantel as if she was Vanna White presenting the answer board on the Wheel of Fortune. Anna walked over and slid her finger over the mantel before looking at it. Clean. She then moved the heavy clock and repeating her previous action, and once again clean as she placed the clock back.

"You clean better than most of the maids, my lady. Maybe we should get you to teach them. It would give Mrs. Hughes less of a headache when she has to tell them to go over it again." A wide smile broke out across Anna's face as she spoke. Lilly grinned.

"Yes, I can see it now cleaning master class taught by Lady Lilly Maire Crawley. If Granny gets wind of it, she may need her smelling salts to recover." Lilly chucked and threw her hands in the air comically as she walked out of her room as Anna and Gwen grabbed the pile of dirty sheets before moving on to the other family member's bedrooms.

Lilly made her way down the magnificent mahogany staircase, enjoying the slight crunch sound her footsteps make on the crisp scarlet runner. With these types of shoes of this age, it would be hazardous to walk down the stairs without a runner as one would run the risk of slipping and falling all the way down to the floor with a considerable chance of breaking one's neck. As soon as she set foot off the stair, Cora practically comes running out of the drawing-room and makes her way to Lilly as she calls her name. Holding her cream skirt in her hand to raise it slightly higher makes it easier to walk a little faster. Very unladylike, so Lilly knew she must be at her wit's end with something that Cora found very important.

"Lilly darling. I would like you to go down to Crawley House and welcome the Crawley's. Do invite them to dine with us tonight so we can get everyone properly introduced and welcome them to the family." Cora said as she straightened out her skirt to seem like she hadn't been taking long strides. Lilly took a step back. That was Mary's job. She was supposed to do that. That's where she and Matthew meet, and Matthew falls in love with her or at least has been bewitched by her beauty.

"Mama, shouldn't it be Mary to do that as she is the eldest or Papa. He is the Earl of Grantham." Lilly said as she racked her brain to find a reason not to send Mary and keep a frightened look from being visible on her face.

"Dear, your father is very busy at the moment and can't get away. I have been looking for Mary headed out riding this morning right after breakfast, and I can't find the others. So please do me this little flavor for your dear old Mama, and then you can go off riding until it's time to ring the dressing gong." Cora asked in her sweetest voice. The voice that she knew none of them could resist. Lilly knew Cora wouldn't send one of the servants, and if she couldn't find the others, then there was no getting out of this. Lilly sighed.

"Of course, I will go. I wish you wouldn't do that voice; you know none of us can resist it. I'm pretty sure that how you got Papa. I wish I could do that." Humor was written across her face as Lilly said the last part jokingly. Cora laughed.

"You will be able to do it in time, my dear. It's hard to believe you and Sybil will be presented in just two years. My babies will be babies no more, but young ladies ready to find your husbands and start your own lives." Cora smiled sadly as she tucked a strain of hair that had fallen out of place on the side of Lilly's head and rested it on Lilly's right cheek.

"Mary and Edith will be married will be settled long before Sybil, and I will be. Save the saddest for them." Lilly started as she placed her hand around Cora's wrist.

"It will be a sad day when they leave, but it's the youngest that will hit us harder than the others. You will understand when it's your turn to watch the last of your babies leave the nest." Empty nest syndrome flashed in Lilly's mind as she remembers what her mother did when Lilly finished college and wanted to move out and all the crying she did the days up until the day she packed everything in the small Uhaul. Lilly smiled and nodded her head.

"I'm sure I will. I will be off now, but I will be back before Mr. Carson rings the gong." Lilly stated as she let go of Cora's wrist.

"Thank you," Cora said with a sigh, and with one last smile, she turned and headed back in the direction of the drawing-room. Mainly to start up her embroidery project. Lilly made her way to the stables, where Lynch had Thunder geared up and ready to go. Next to Thunder was a chestnut Clydesdale with white feathering at his hooves and white going down the bridge of his nose. He was a gorgeous and powerful creature that there was no doubt about it.

"My lady Thunder is all ready to go, and I just finished saddled up Mimsy. Mr. Lynch went riding with Lady Mary, so I will be riding with you if that is already with you, my lady." Brandon stated as he held both sets of reins. He was a young man in his late twenties with sandy-colored hair, a mustache, and Emerald eyes. His skin was on the tan side as he spent a reasonable amount of time in the sun. He was the one to help exercise the houses when no one from the house is riding as he was the second groom under the head groom, Mr. Lync.

"Yes, thank you. First, we need to head to Crawley house, and then we can play it by ear." Lilly said as Brandon helped her up onto her Thunder. Once she was situated and adjusted her skirt after getting her right leg settled in-between the fixed pommel and the leaping head pommel of the side saddle. Once Brandon was settled on Mimsy they galloped off towards the village in the direction of Crawley House next to the church.

As the house came closer into view and Lilly could spot old Travis, the Downton's chauffeur unloading the motor car and placing the suitcases on the ground before moving them into the house. Poor old Mr. Travis was getting on in years, and being a chauffeur was getting to be more of a job for a younger man every day. By the time they arrived just outside the gate, and they dismounted, Travis and Molesley had just finished bringing in the last of the belongings that were loaded on the car.

"Thank you, and I won't be long, Brandon." Lilly thanked him as she passed him the reins to Thunder to hold as she made sure her riding habit was in place properly. 'First impressions are everything,' she could still hear her mother from her world say in her mind. With a deep breath, she took off towards the front door, grasped the plain gold door knocker, and gave it three firm taps before letting it go. Lilly didn't have long to wait as Mr. Molesley, the new butler of Crawley House and valet to the new heir, opened the door.

"Ah, Mr. Molesley, I had forgotten that you are the butler here. It's good to see you again. I'm here to see our new family." Lilly said as she looked at the older man. He was tall, thin, cinnamon-colored hair had long started to go bald, but his blue-gray eyes held nothing but pure excitement.

"My lady, yes, it's an honor to be working in Crawley House, and I am pleased that I was chosen out of so many candidates probably more qualified I." He exclaimed as he stepped aside to let her in. Before Lilly even stepped a boot into the entryway, she could hear the voices of Isobel and Matthew arguing about him choosing his wife. Mr. Molesley led her down the hallway.

"Well, they're clearly going to push one of the daughters at me. They'll have fixed on that when they heard I was a bachelor." A smooth male voice stated as a matter of fact.

"Lady Lilly Crawley." He announced her arrival as he walked into the sitting room. Before moving aside and letting Lilly enter the room. Matthew's back was to her at first before turning around to face Lilly. His icy blue eyes went wide, causing his golden hairline to push back a tiny casing his side-swept fringe to rise slightly, his mouth dropped, and if it were possible, his fair skin looked even a little bit paler even against the contrast of his dark suit. Isobel was standing in front of the large window. Her equally golden hair pulled up into a standing up of the times. Her Burgundy hat, jacket, and skirt stood out even brighter with the sunlight beaning into the window and illuminating everything in its path. Lilly liked Isobel as she was one of the older characters that kept up with the times, especially after the war.

"Hello. I hope I'm not interrupting a private family matter?" Lilly asked as she placed gloved hands together in front of her left hand over right look from Isobel to Matthew, who still looked like a fish out of water. Isobel smiled.

"Not at all, Lady Lilly." She said with a wide smile on her face.

"Cousin Lilly, please Cousin Isobel, and welcome to Downton Village. May you find it and its people charming as we do. Mama would like to know if you would join us for dinner and get to know the rest of the family unless you tried from your long journey." Lilly watched as Isobel's face brightened up at the prospect and jumped in before Matthew could refuse.

"I'm sure we will, and we would be delighted to join the family for dinner," she stated in a way that left no room for Matthew to say otherwise, not like he could.

"Good, we dine at eight." Lilly smiled while wanting to get out of there as soon as possible. This was a Mary job. Lilly turned to take her to leave, but Isobel stopped her.

"Won't you stay and have some tea?" She asked as Lilly turned back around.

"Oh, no. You have traveled a long way. I will leave you to rest," Lilly said as she turned to face Matthew, "and I don't want someone to think that my father would push his daughter on Cousin Matthew here." And with that, Lilly left. Isobel bit her lip to hide her smile as Matthew finally came to his senses and went after Lilly to try to clear the air. Lilly mounted her horse with the help of Brandon and adjusted her skirt after Matthew caught up to Lilly.

"Lady Lilly, I hope you understood me. I was only joking." He said with a serious face as he was worried; he deeply offended her by his careless comment.

"Of course, but if anyone were to be pushed on to you, it would be my older sisters, not me. I can see how you would think Papa would do such a thing, but I don't see him pushing the issue if you say no. He is a fair man." Lilly said as she stared into his eyes. Sapphire meeting ice. Matthew took a small step back.

"Well, that's good to hear, and I look forward to meeting the rest of your family at dinner. Good day, Lady Lilly." He smiled and played with the edge of his bowler hat.

"Cousin Lilly, please. See you at eight then. Let's go, Brandon; we have of the rest of the day to ride." Lilly said as she urged her horse into a trot as she bid Matthew goodbye. Poor Mary and Matthew, they would torture each other for years before they give it, and it starts tonight, and Lilly was looking forward to that train wreck of a dinner between the two. It would be nice to see the rest of their interaction when they didn't show during the show. Nothing could happen to drive them apart. The story couldn't change that much since she is now, at least she hoped, because everything seemed right on track plot-wise. Patrick was dead god rest his soul, Matthew was here, and the battle of wits will happen tonight. What could go wrong?

Robert walked ahead of us as he welcomed Isobel and Matthew as they entered the Abbey for the first time and ushers them into the great hall as everyone files into the room. The servants lined up by the servant's entrance, and the rest of the family members lined up as well. Cora is in front, followed by Violet, and finally, the girls lined up oldest to youngest. From where Lilly was standing in the last place, she could see Matthew's single-breasted waistcoat and cravats were more cream than white and stood out against the sallow tailcoat and matching trousers. Lilly looked over to Mary and noticed that she saw this as well. Mary could be such a snob at times. Lilly turned her attention back to the matter at hand. Lilly looked over to see Isobel in a formal dark plum dress still sporting a little bit of Edwardian style with a high collar with a sheer fabric, with tiny black dots on the material, connecting the collar to the rest of the dress. Her sleeves were sheer and had the most beautiful embroidery design.

"Welcome to Downton." Cora welcomed them to her home with a smile on her face. Lilly couldn't believe that it wasn't forced as she knew Cora, Violet, and Mary were still plotting to break the entail and make Mary the heiress. They wouldn't see that it was a losing battle, but Lilly guessed if she hadn't seen the show, she probably would have the same optimism as they did.

"Thank you. You've been so kind," Isobel replied with a shy smile to Cora while Matthew looked around at the great hall, the servants' line, and then the family line. Lilly could tell he was very nervous. She didn't think he would have expected this much of a welcome or the grandeur of the Abbey that was around him.

"What a reception committee." He stated but seemed to instantly regret saying that and tried to cover it up with another nervous smile before letting it drop and then reappearing again. Robert and Mr. Carson seemed shocked for a moment before regaining composure. Lilly looked to the rest of the family, and they just looked bewildered at his comment. Poor Matthew, that was all Lilly could think about. Seeing all this and all these people, it all could be overwhelming. She, too, was once ever intimidated by it all when she first got here, so she did understand how Matthew felt so put out by it all. Isobel recovered quickly and tried to smooth over the incident.

"Yes, thank you." She said to Robert giving him her full attention.

"This is Carson. We'd all be lost without him." Robert looked at Mr. Carson as he said this, and Mr. Carson raised his head a little higher and puffed out his chest a little more as he was praised while Robert turned back to Matthew and Isobel and then looked towards his mother.

"Mama, may I present Matthew Crawley and Mrs. Crawley, my mother, Lady Grantham." Robert introduced his mother. Isobel's face lit up as she begins to move forward. I knew she would be happy to have some closer to her age. She stopped in front of Violet and held out her hand.

"What should we call each other?" she asked happily. Violet looked taken back by Isobel's boldness.

Well, we could always start with Mrs. Crawley and Lady Grantham." She snapped back. What a rude thing for a lady of breeding to say, Lilly thought. Violet could have said something a little better than that, but thankfully Cora stepped forward and jesters in the direction of the drawing-room.

"Come into the drawing-room, and we can make all the proper introductions." Cora was trying her best to make up for her mother-in-law's comment as everyone walked to the drawing-room with Matthew falling in step alongside Lilly. Lilly looked over at him.

"Relax, Cousin Matthew; no one is going to eat you alive. They can be a little intimidating, but they are all brake and no bite." She told him to help soothe his nerves. He looked at her.

"It's easy for you to say you're their daughter." He stated, but Lilly just laughed.

"That may be, but it also means I know their characters." Just give them time to warm up to them. It's new for everyone involved, but we are doing our best to go about it." She spoke softly. That seems to make things click in his mind.

"Yes, forgive me, you are right." He flashed her a genuine smile. She gave him one right back as they entered the drawing-room—either of them seen the disapproving look Thomas gave the pair. Well, not the couple, more like the look was Matthew before he closed the door.

A/N: Happy fourth of July, everyone! I finished this chapter on a full stomach, which is hard to do when all I want to do is take a nap, but I have work tomorrow, so I have to go to bed on time tonight. I know it's such a way holiday for Monday, but the office will be open for anyone wanting to get a head-on some work, and I'm one of those people that like to get ahead. I have no idea when I will upload this chapter, so if it's after the fourth, oh well, but I have just hosted my last get-together at my apartment, and I'm having a bittersweet moment about it.

I would like to thank everyone who has reviewed and favorited my story on , A03, and Wattpad because it means so much to me that some people are reading and enjoying my story. I hope to start the next chapter soon.